[4] Andrew Whistler built a sawmill here in 1855 that was operated by persons named Dunning and Hopkins.

[5] Gilchrist was a station on the Michigan Lake Shore Railroad located between Dunningville and Hamilton in 1873 and on successor railways.

[5][6] Hamilton is an unincorporated community in the northwest corner of the township, where M-40 crosses the Rabbit River at 42°40′38″N 86°00′22″W / 42.67722°N 86.00611°W / 42.67722; -86.00611.

[7] The first white settler was Charles Butler, who purchased the entirety of section 6 in 1835.

Aaron Willards platted a village named Rabbit River in 1862, with a second post office opening in July 1864.

13.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.