Asa Blakeslee, Thomas F. Norton, B. F. Norton, Isaac Ames, J. O Corey, Erastus Corey, Ansel Gammon, M. W. Gammon and C. D. Gammon were among the settlers in the years 1852–53. Blakeslee took up a claim on the prairie in the central part of the township where there were no other settlers. He bought 200 head of cattle since there was plenty of empty pastureland. He bought lumber in Ottawa, Illinois that he transported to his claim to build his home and farm buildings.