For the next twelve years, he and his wife were the only permanent white residents of the county.

The next permanent resident in the township was William H. Bockes, a native of Medina County, Ohio and a Civil War veteran.

Another early resident in the Barker Creek area was John H.F. Letherby, born in England and moved to Canada at the age of 16.

[6] In section 36 in the southeast corner of the township, a few related families originally from Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, made their homes.

Elisha W. Clement, from Brantford, Ontario settled in section 14 in December 1867.

Albert T. Kellogg, from Cortland County, New York, settled in section 14 in September 1868.

The township was organized in 1868 so that residents in the area would be able to vote in the presidential election without having to travel all the way to Antrim County.

A post office with the name of "Clear Water" had been established in May 1869 and renamed "Clearwater" in December 1873.

Barker Creek was a station on the Chicago and West Michigan Railway (now the Pere Marquette Railroad).