Local History

It was founded by Townsend North and James M. Edmunds in 1849 and named by Mr. North for Matthew Vassar (the uncle of Mr. Edmunds' wife, founder of Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., who loaned money to get the village started.

Dr. William Johnson became the first postmaster on September 26, 1851.  Incorporated as a village in 1871 and as a city in 1944.

Informational excerpts from Michigan Place Names, by Walter Romig, L.H.D.