History

Reed City's history is rich in agriculture, logging and petroleum. But the history of the Crossroads is undeniably one of the greatest strengths from which Reed City began and which will secure its formidable future.

 Osceola County History

The land that is now known as Osceola County was acquired through an 1836 treaty with the Native Americans. The land was surveyed in 1838 and approved by the Legislature on April 1, 1840. The county was first named Un-wa-tin, after an Ottawa chief. In March 1843, the Legislature changed it to Osceola.

Osceola County was named after Seminole Indian warrior, Chief Osceola (c. 1804-38), who fought the U.S. in the Second Seminole War in 1837. After defeating U.S. troops in several battles, he finally agreed to Gen. Thomas Jesup’s request to meet under a flag of truce to discuss peace. But Jesup captured him there and imprisoned him at Fort Moultrie, S.C., where he soon died. Due to Jesup’s deception, Osceola’s name grew highly respected. Many towns and counties in the U.S. were named after Osceola as a protest.

            The first white settler to the area was Nathan Hersey, a fur trapper, who arrived in 1840 and settled near the town and river that still bears his name.

            Reed City, first known as Tunshla, then Todd’s Slashing and finally named after J. M. Reed, was plotted in 1870 by Charles Higbe, Ozias Slosson, and Fredrick Todd. The land was named after Reed with streets and avenues of the village named after the other incorporators.

Reed City’s first school was opened in 1872 after the Grand Rapids & Indiana and the Flint & Pere Marquette railroads made travel to this area possible for many.

The village was incorporated by a special act of the Legislature in 1872 with a population of less than 20. This act was declared illegal by the courts and the village was re-incorporated in 1875.

Ten years later, the population was about 2,000. By the late 1890s and early 1900s, the village had a population of about 2,690, 6 hotels, 7 saloons, about a dozen manufacturing places, 12 passenger trains serving the village, as well as a 100-bed hospital.

In 1933, the village of Reed City was officially changed to that of a city and Milton W. Brown was elected as its first mayor.

Notable residents of Reed City include:

• Thomas Schall, U.S. Representative in Minnesota's 10th District (1915-1925) and U.S. Senator from Minnesota (1925-1935) born June 4, 1878.
• George Bennard, American hymn composer and preacher is best known for composing the famous hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross”. Bennard retired to Reed City, where he died on October 10, 1958.

For more information on Reed City’s history, see the Old Rugged Cross Museum page "The Old Rugged Cross."

 Today residents and visitors are still able to enjoy the County's many rivers, streams, trails, and wooded areas and enjoy Michigan’s great "Up North!"