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Ensley post Office was located on the Benjamin Ensley farm in the eastern part of Ensley Township, where, in the days before railroads, Ensley kept a famous "Half Way house" on the road from Grand Rapids to Leonard (now Big Rapids). The first Postmaster was Asa C. McConnell. On Feb. 14th., 1898, the post office was moved across the county line into Montcalm County and was discontinued in 1903. The Half Way House also served as a meeting place for the pioneers. On October 18th., 1858, a meeting was held for the purpose of organizing a township. Ben Ensley offered $100.00 to pay the costs of organization, plus an amount to cover the beginning operating expenses of the young township, providing that it be named after him. His offer was accepted and Congressional Township 11 North, Range 11 West, became Ensley Township. It took the state five years, January 1863 through July 1868, to build the road north from Cedar Springs to Big Rapids. By the spring of 1864 it was completed past the Half Way House. A second road started at Newaygo and ran via Croton to Ben Ensley's Corners, where by that time Ben had built a hotel. Beside the Hotel and Post Office this was also the stage coach stop, tavern, trading post and store. |