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Bern, Township of

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For more information on this location, please contact our research library.

Author:
Mary Moltzan

Location:
T. 30 N. - R. 3 E.

Formallized:
January 4, 1902

Background:

Population: 1905-433, 2000-571.

Bern Township was created out of the western part of Halsey Township. Swiss, Germans and middle Europeans settled the township. The first Swiss settled on Schweizer Road and came from Bern, Switzerland, and it was from them the township received its name. Most came to escape poverty or religious persecution in their homelands.

First Public Official:
John C. Searing

Post Office Established:
May 4, 1881

First Postmaster:
Edward Graffam

About The Post Office:

P.O. named Werlich, located in SE 1/4, Section 13, was discontinued May 18, 1882. This was the only P.O. ever in Bern Township.

Churches:

See Athens

Schools:

1. District #2, Gad School, Section 6

2. District #4, Beaver Creek School, Section 14

3. District #5, Van Buren School, Section 27

Industry:

Cheese factories, logging and sawmills, and a barrel factory

Farming:

The northwest corner of Marathon, once covered with a dense forest of pine, became available for the first farmers after the land was logged over. As with most logged-over areas, clearing the land was difficult, but once done, many fine dairy farms developed supplying local cheese factories.

See Village of Athens