Rose Township was originally populated by the Chippewa
Indians. According to documents, Chief Tipsico frequented this area in the
late 1800’s. He has the reputation of being an accomplished athlete,
strong ruler and a friend to the settlers. Tipsico Lake was formerly
known as Long Lake. The name was changed as a memorial to this great
chief.The earliest records of land ownership in Rose Township were made by
Jacob N. Voorheis and Daniel Hammond.
The first log house was built in 1835 by Daniel
Danielson. Records show that in 1836 there was a rush of settlers which
included Baits, Coffin, Doty, Garner, Gage, Soper, Thomas and Wendell. This log
house was located on Joel Road and was the first home of George and Sarah
Pittenger. The Act of Legislature creating Rose Township was approved on March
11, 1837. Research shows the population of Rose Township to be 1,084 in
1874. In 1970 there were 2,000 people and, according to the 2010 census,
Rose Township is home to over 6,800 people.
The act of the legislature creating the township of Rose was
approved March 11, 1837, and appears in the session laws as follows: "All
that portion of the county of Oakland designated in the United States survey as
township 4 north, of range 7 east, be, and the same is hereby set off and
organized into a separate township by the name of Rose; and the first township
meeting therein shall be held at the house of David Gage, in said
township."