The History of Oscoda County and Mio
Picture courtesy of www.courthouse.co
Under the Saginaw Treaty of 1819, the Chippewa tribes ceded 6 million acres to the United States, including the land comprising present day Osocda County. Prior to becoming Oscoda County the area was originally part of Comins Township which was part of Alcona County. Once the area population reached the level where it could support a separate government it was set off from Alcona County and Oscoda county was incorporated March 10, 1881. The name “Oscoda” comes from two Chippewa words, “ossin” meaning pebble and “mushcoda” meaning large prairie.[1]
Oscoda County originally consisted of three townships: Atherton, Mt. Pindus, and Comins. Since then, there have been as many as nine townships, as the population ebbed and flowed with the lumbering & railroad industries.[2] Oscoda County is currently comprised of the following six townships: Greenwood, Elmer, Clinton, Comins, Big Creek and Mentor
The Act of 1881 which established Oscoda County, also designated Union Corners, in the southwestern corner of the County, as the temporary county seat and directed an election to choose a permanent location. [2]
The town of Mioe was founded in 1881 by Henry Deyarmond, Colige Comins, Reirlo Fosdick, and John Randall. The town was originally named “Mioe” after Henry Dyarmond’s wife. The county seat for Oscoda County was moved from Union Corners it Mioe in March 1882. Temporary offices were set up in a rented building owned by John Randall, one of Mioe’s founders. A post office in Mioe was opened on May 3, 1882. Then on November 21, 1883 the town name was changed to its present day name “Mio” . [3]
The county supervisors purchased block 70 in Mio from John Randall for $100 in 1885. This land would be site for the County’s courthouse. After having voters turn down a bond to raise the construction costs, the county supervisors eventually borrowed $1,000 to begin the courthouse project. The County hired Bay City architects Pratt and Koeppe to design the courthouse. In contrast to the elaborate stone and brick courthouses being built at the time, the firm designed a modest wood frame structure. In July 1888 county residents finally voted to approve the borrowing of $2000 to finance the building. The courthouse was built by George Hunter who also built the woodshed and outhouse. The construction lasted from July 1888 to May 1889. The final cost for the courthouse project was $3,794.80. [2] The two wings were constructed in 1908 at a cost of $1,692.14 [1]
Oscoda County originally consisted of three townships: Atherton, Mt. Pindus, and Comins. Since then, there have been as many as nine townships, as the population ebbed and flowed with the lumbering & railroad industries.[2] Oscoda County is currently comprised of the following six townships: Greenwood, Elmer, Clinton, Comins, Big Creek and Mentor
The Act of 1881 which established Oscoda County, also designated Union Corners, in the southwestern corner of the County, as the temporary county seat and directed an election to choose a permanent location. [2]
The town of Mioe was founded in 1881 by Henry Deyarmond, Colige Comins, Reirlo Fosdick, and John Randall. The town was originally named “Mioe” after Henry Dyarmond’s wife. The county seat for Oscoda County was moved from Union Corners it Mioe in March 1882. Temporary offices were set up in a rented building owned by John Randall, one of Mioe’s founders. A post office in Mioe was opened on May 3, 1882. Then on November 21, 1883 the town name was changed to its present day name “Mio” . [3]
The county supervisors purchased block 70 in Mio from John Randall for $100 in 1885. This land would be site for the County’s courthouse. After having voters turn down a bond to raise the construction costs, the county supervisors eventually borrowed $1,000 to begin the courthouse project. The County hired Bay City architects Pratt and Koeppe to design the courthouse. In contrast to the elaborate stone and brick courthouses being built at the time, the firm designed a modest wood frame structure. In July 1888 county residents finally voted to approve the borrowing of $2000 to finance the building. The courthouse was built by George Hunter who also built the woodshed and outhouse. The construction lasted from July 1888 to May 1889. The final cost for the courthouse project was $3,794.80. [2] The two wings were constructed in 1908 at a cost of $1,692.14 [1]
Interesting Facts
Record Temperature
The highest temperature in Michigan of 112 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded in Mio on July 13, 1936. [4]
The highest temperature in Michigan of 112 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded in Mio on July 13, 1936. [4]
Big Cedar Tree
One of the largest and oldest white cedar trees in Michigan is located in Mio along the AuSable River. The tree has a girth of 153.5 inches, a diameter of 47.8 inches and total height of 43 feet. While efforts to determine the age of this ancient tree have only been partially successful, the tree is assumed to exceed 350 years and would have been a seedling or small sapling when the Pilgrims landed a Plymouth Rock. The trees isolated location and defective condition have probable saved it from the various local forest fires and early loggers. The tree is located on U.S. Forest Service lands. Travel 2.5 miles east of the traffic light in Mio on County Road 602 to Forest Road 4354 (on the left). Travel north on FR4354 approximately 1.5 miles to the intersection, proceed left to partking for the Big Cedar Tree
One of the largest and oldest white cedar trees in Michigan is located in Mio along the AuSable River. The tree has a girth of 153.5 inches, a diameter of 47.8 inches and total height of 43 feet. While efforts to determine the age of this ancient tree have only been partially successful, the tree is assumed to exceed 350 years and would have been a seedling or small sapling when the Pilgrims landed a Plymouth Rock. The trees isolated location and defective condition have probable saved it from the various local forest fires and early loggers. The tree is located on U.S. Forest Service lands. Travel 2.5 miles east of the traffic light in Mio on County Road 602 to Forest Road 4354 (on the left). Travel north on FR4354 approximately 1.5 miles to the intersection, proceed left to partking for the Big Cedar Tree
[1] Oscoda County, www.courthouses.co.
[2] A Brief History of Oscoda County, www.oscodacountymi.com.
[3] Romig, Walter (1986). Michigan place names: the history of the founding and the naming of more that five thousand past and present Michigan communities. Wayne State University Press (page 373).
[4] “The Geography of Michigan”, Netstate.com, 23 April 2015
[5] “Big Cedar Tree”, www.oscodacountymi.org, 08 Mar 2015
[2] A Brief History of Oscoda County, www.oscodacountymi.com.
[3] Romig, Walter (1986). Michigan place names: the history of the founding and the naming of more that five thousand past and present Michigan communities. Wayne State University Press (page 373).
[4] “The Geography of Michigan”, Netstate.com, 23 April 2015
[5] “Big Cedar Tree”, www.oscodacountymi.org, 08 Mar 2015