[4] The first permanent white settler was Simeon Pike from Monroe County, New York, who arrived in 1839.

A post office named Cheshire was established on March 8, 1856, with Jonathon Howard as the first postmaster.

The name of the office was "Lake" from April 10, 1858, until February 18, 1863, when it reverted to Cheshire.

[6] A post office was opened on January 10, 1896, with Herman D. Clark as the first postmaster, and operated until May 31, 1904.

It is named after the S.S. Chicora, a steamship that sank in Lake Michigan on January 21, 1895.