This old general store stands in the southern Michigan town of Algansee. Located on the eastern edge of Branch County, Algansee was established in 1838, separating from Quincy Township. Luther Stiles and Ludovicus Robbins are considered the first white settlers in the area. Remarkably, both families arrived on the same day, despite not knowing each other. Robbins was leading the journey when he got stuck in the mud, allowing Stiles to arrive slightly ahead, earning him the distinction of being the first permanent resident.
The inaugural township meeting and election took place at Horace Purdy’s residence in early May 1838. The settlers initially favored naming their new township “Carlton,” but the state legislature, seemingly fascinated with “Indian names,” opted for “Algansee.” This name, likely a product of the era’s fascination with Native American culture, appears to be a fabricated term with no actual meaning in the indigenous languages of the region.
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