Before the township was given a name it was designated as township 13 North, of Range 8 East by the State of Michigan. Three years later, on 31 December 1855, at a meeting of the board of supervisors the township was officially given the name of Fair Grove. The first school district organized for the township was the Hinson District, named for then resident D.P. Hinson. The first school house was built in the spring of 1856 and was run by Caroline E. Stoddard, of Rogers.