"Preserving The Past For The Future”
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The Bellevue Museum holds many of Bellevue’s historical artifacts; period clothing, books, obituaries, scrapbooks, vital records and much more, including mastodon bones which were found in the area. The museum is open Wednesday evenings from 6 until 8 pm or by appointment.
Join the Bellevue Historical Society!
$10 per year for Individuals
$15 Families
$125 LIFETIME
Mail your membership fee to:
Bellevue Historical Society and Museum
212 North Main St. Bellevue, Michigan 49021 Phone: 269-763-9676
About the Bellevue area:
Bellevue is located in the outermost southwest corner of Eaton County, Michigan, along Highway M-78. Bellevue was the first township in Eaton County and served as the county seat from 1837 to 1840. The Village of Bellevue was incorporated in 1867.
Many families from Connecticut, Vermont, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, New York and Canada found a place to raise their children and sow their pedigrees. There was abundant farm land and other resources in the area, such as limestone, with which they could earn a living. In the early years, from 1833 to 1838, many inhabitants of Bellevue had no idea that they had neighbors until a stray cow found their way to another farm, looking for invaluable animal-brought friendships.
Local History – Early Settlements -Emigration of 1835-1836
(Taken from the book “Past and Present of Eaton County”)
The first settlement in Eaton County was made by Captain Reuben Fitzgerald in July 1833 in what is now the township of Bellevue. Fitzgerald's daughter, Sarah, whose birth took place on November 12, 1834, was the first white child born in Eaton County.
The first white male child born in Eaton County was Isaac E. Crary Hickok, son of Captain James Hickok. He was born on September 7, 1836.
Captain Hickok was the first settler in the town of Walton, but his son was born in Bellevue.
On December 26, 1855, Sarah Fitzgerald was married to John Spaulding by Reverend G. W. Hoag. A few prominent and well-documented first inhabitants of Eaton County were Sarles, Rogers, Hayt, Baker, along with native Americans.
