John Bauer and wife, Magdelina, came to the U.S. from Germany c. 1844. Their three sons, Leonard (ll), George (9) and Thomas (3), came with them. They lived in Detroit until moving to Saginaw from where they came to Genoa township in 1850. (Baby Margaret was born 1847.)
The earliest Bauer land purchase is recorded in Section 2 of Brighton Township in 1852. By 1855, 80 acres in Genoa Township are in John and Magdelinas name. She also buys 160 acres nearby in a few years. These lands all border what we now call Bauer Rd., north of Brighton Rd. No need to wonder how Bauer Rd. got its name.
By 1840 there were already several families from Germany who had settled in Genoa. Among their near neighbors were George and Caroline Rousher who had already settled in 1835, Section 24 (NW SW). By 1854 there are two boys and daughter, Barbara, born 1839. When planning a new home so far from ones native land it must be comforting to neighbor with those who speak ones mother tongue.
C. 1860 George Bauer and Barbara Rousher marry. By 1875 they own 200 acres, a portion of which was acquired from her parents. By the turn of the century the Bauer name is on several 100 acres of Genoa Township land. Altho conducting a farming operation he is also recorded as being a shoemaker and having a cobbler shop in town. (Where?) He is also noted as serving as J.P. in Genoa in 1879. Research indicates George and Barbara had five children, several of which also married neighbors offspring.
C. 1900, son Ed, was farming 150+ acres on the corner of Challis and Bauer Roads. In the October 16, 1935 issue of the Argus one finds For Sale- Squash, pumpkins, potatoes. Phone 63F21 Ed Bauer & Son. Grain and cranberries were grown; to wit the title of CRANBERRY CREST for his farm. This is somewhat puzzling since the cranberries we know grow on very acidic soil and are flooded for picking. These conditions did not exist. Eds might have been a viburnam cranberry or even grown from seeds brought from Europe where a type of cranberry is grown. They also had milk cows and Ed owned a threshing rig. Neighbors, often youngster, were hired to pick the cranberries. Any extra produce could have been shipped to market on the railroad that ran diagonally across Eds farm. Eds brother, Alberts 200+ acre farm has become the ever popular Mount Brighton.
Compiled by Marieanna Bair from Early Atlases, obituaries, and Early Land Owners of Livingston County compiled by Milton Charboneau. Also thanks to Dorothy Boettger, John Coddington and Merrill Herbst and the Livingston County Cooperative Extension Services Gretchen Voyle.