Georgetown Township

Georgetown Township, made up of Jamestown, Zeeland, and Blendon, with most of the inhabitants living in the present Georgetown, was organized in 1839. In April 1840, seven men met at Jenison and held the first Township Meeting.

• Supervisor: Hiram Jenison
• Clerk: H. Burton
• Treasurer: L. French
• Assessors: H. Jenison, G.M. Barker, L. French
• School Inspectors: Joseph Gallup, H. Burton, H. Gridley
• Constable: Hiram Jenison
• Constable: Joseph Forman

$100.00 was voted for contingencies and $50.00 for the support of the poor. At the second election in 1841, Hiram Jenison was reelected Supervisor and Burton as Clerk. At the third election, 1843, Jenison again as Supervisor and S.L. Lowing as Clerk. (There is a question as to whether this was Stephen or Holden - County Histories differ on this point.)

After Georgetown Township was organized they voted at Jenison for many years. Until 1847, part of Georgetown extended to the north side of the river and part of Talmadge was on the South side. In 1847, the Legislature straightened this line, so no voter crossed the river to vote. There was often, friendly rivalry between voters on opposite sides of the river. At one tie the southsiders wanted a candidate whom the north siders opposed. Just before the election (1847) the southsiders heard that Talmadge Township had been set off and those voters were to vote in Talmadge Township. For some reason the voters on the north side were not informed of the change in voting place. They arrived at Jenison and first spent time in the saloon, before going to the polls. Here they were informed they were no longer allowed to vote in Georgetown. It was too late to reach the polls in Talmadge before closing time, and the south siders candidate won.

The Daltons and Harrises always held this against Stephen Lowing for not informing them on their arrival.

Georgetown voted at Jenison until 1874 when the Georgetown Grange was organized. They met, for a few years, in homes, and then built the Grange Hall on Section 16. It was then a building 25x60 feet and 18 ft in height, costing about $900.00. The township leased this place as a voting place for 99 years.