Casco Township, Michigan
History of a Community in Allegan County
History of a Community in Allegan County
HAWKHEAD POSTOFFICE
also known as Hawk Head and Hawks Head, was located at the junction of 107th Avenue and 68th Street,
Two miles West of Leasure. The post office operated here from March 23, 1882, to January 31, 1902.
also known as Hawk Head and Hawks Head, was located at the junction of 107th Avenue and 68th Street,
Two miles West of Leasure. The post office operated here from March 23, 1882, to January 31, 1902.
Theron & Adalbert Johnston
Hawkhead Post Office opened March 23, 1882. Discontinued Jan. 31 1902.
It became "HISTORICAL" on 06-Jan-2010
by Ellis, David M. Michigan Postal History
It became "HISTORICAL" on 06-Jan-2010
by Ellis, David M. Michigan Postal History
David Johnston, who was born on Long Island in 1712 and married Sarah Lawrence,
a daughter of John Lawrence. They settled in Monmouth county, New Jersey.
Child: John I. Johnston was born near Freehold, in Monmouth county, New Jersey, April 7, 1784.
He married Mary Gifford and they settled in Cincinnati, Ohio. and after a time moved near
Connersyille, Fayette county, Indiana, as one of the early pioneer families, where they spent the
remainder of their lives. They raised a family of thirteen children, among them William Wilshire
Johnston, near Connersville, Indiana
William Wilshire Johnston, born Dec. 8, 1824 in Indiana, married Mary Overhiser in Indiana.
In the fall of 1864 they moved to Casco township, Allegan county, Michigan, and settled upon
a 160-acre piece of uncleared land. They were among the early settlers in that locality and cleared
and brought under cultivation the farm. William Johnston died in 1906.
His wife Mary had seven children; Martha; the first, died at the age of two years;
then John C, who moved to South Haven; Amanda, also to South Haven;
Charles M.; Adelbert; and Theron. all remained in Casco township;
and Marion to Indianapolis, Indiana.
Theron Johnston was born in Raleigh, Rush county, Indiana, September 18, 1861, he came with his
parents to Michigan in 1864, where he has resided most of the time since. His early life was spent
upon the farm and at the district school, where he was taught the common branches of learning.
Later he followed the carpenter trade for several years, afterward being engaged in hospital
work for a time.
In 1893, in company with Adelbert, a brother, he bought a stock of goods and a general store on
the SW corner of 107th Ave. and 68th St. The partnership was discontinued after a time,
leaving Theron Johnston the sole owner.
On May 10, 1894, Theron Johnston and Rose Bugden were married and later she became a
member of the firm, contributing her share to the success of the enterprise.
They had three children - Claire, Helen and Hazel.
At that time this store came into possession, a postoffice known as Hawkhead postoffice
Giving his attention to the management of the business resulted that it increased steadily, until it
became necessary to enlarge the store building to accommodate the increased volume of business.
His stock included such articles as are usually found in a general country store and the orderly and
well-kept appearance of the premises, together with careful attention to the details of
management, have had much to do with the success of the business.
Theron Johnston held the office of postmaster at Hawkhead. the post office operated there from
March 23, 1882, to January 31, 1902. It was discontined by reason of Rural
Theron Johnston served several times consecutively as township clerk. Fraternally he was a
member of Star of the Lake Lodge, F. & A. L, No. 158, at South Haven, Michigan,
Notice that Adalbert Johnston became owner of the farm on 107th Ave.
where my grandfather worked.
From: A Twentieth Century History of Allegan County, Michigan by: Henry Franklin Thomas.
a daughter of John Lawrence. They settled in Monmouth county, New Jersey.
Child: John I. Johnston was born near Freehold, in Monmouth county, New Jersey, April 7, 1784.
He married Mary Gifford and they settled in Cincinnati, Ohio. and after a time moved near
Connersyille, Fayette county, Indiana, as one of the early pioneer families, where they spent the
remainder of their lives. They raised a family of thirteen children, among them William Wilshire
Johnston, near Connersville, Indiana
William Wilshire Johnston, born Dec. 8, 1824 in Indiana, married Mary Overhiser in Indiana.
In the fall of 1864 they moved to Casco township, Allegan county, Michigan, and settled upon
a 160-acre piece of uncleared land. They were among the early settlers in that locality and cleared
and brought under cultivation the farm. William Johnston died in 1906.
His wife Mary had seven children; Martha; the first, died at the age of two years;
then John C, who moved to South Haven; Amanda, also to South Haven;
Charles M.; Adelbert; and Theron. all remained in Casco township;
and Marion to Indianapolis, Indiana.
Theron Johnston was born in Raleigh, Rush county, Indiana, September 18, 1861, he came with his
parents to Michigan in 1864, where he has resided most of the time since. His early life was spent
upon the farm and at the district school, where he was taught the common branches of learning.
Later he followed the carpenter trade for several years, afterward being engaged in hospital
work for a time.
In 1893, in company with Adelbert, a brother, he bought a stock of goods and a general store on
the SW corner of 107th Ave. and 68th St. The partnership was discontinued after a time,
leaving Theron Johnston the sole owner.
On May 10, 1894, Theron Johnston and Rose Bugden were married and later she became a
member of the firm, contributing her share to the success of the enterprise.
They had three children - Claire, Helen and Hazel.
At that time this store came into possession, a postoffice known as Hawkhead postoffice
Giving his attention to the management of the business resulted that it increased steadily, until it
became necessary to enlarge the store building to accommodate the increased volume of business.
His stock included such articles as are usually found in a general country store and the orderly and
well-kept appearance of the premises, together with careful attention to the details of
management, have had much to do with the success of the business.
Theron Johnston held the office of postmaster at Hawkhead. the post office operated there from
March 23, 1882, to January 31, 1902. It was discontined by reason of Rural
Theron Johnston served several times consecutively as township clerk. Fraternally he was a
member of Star of the Lake Lodge, F. & A. L, No. 158, at South Haven, Michigan,
Notice that Adalbert Johnston became owner of the farm on 107th Ave.
where my grandfather worked.
From: A Twentieth Century History of Allegan County, Michigan by: Henry Franklin Thomas.