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The county was formed in 1840 and given the Indian name of its chief river, the name of which the Historical Society of Manistee says means spirit of the woods, referring to the sound of the winds through the forests. The town was named after the county. Deciding upon the site in 1840, John, Joseph and Adam Stronach built the first permanent sawmill here in 1841, thus laying the foundations of the village. Stephen Batchelder became its first postmaster on January 31, 18950. The office was closed on July 23, 1851, but was restored from July 24, 1854, to date. Incorporated as a city in 1869, the fire of 1871 nearly wiped it out, but another lumberman, Charles Rietz, led to its rejuvenation by successfully drilling for salt here in 1880-81. Informational excerpts from Michigan Place Names, by Walter Romig, L.H.D.
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