▁to ▁Michigan ▁from ▁New ▁York ▁and ▁New ▁England ▁following ▁the ▁completion ▁of ▁the ▁Er ie ▁Canal ▁in ▁New ▁York ▁in ▁ 1 8 2 4 . ▁Most ▁sett lers ▁chose ▁to ▁locate ▁on ▁the ▁G og u ac ▁pra irie , ▁which ▁was ▁fert ile ▁and ▁easily ▁cultiv ated . ▁ ▁A ▁post ▁office ▁was ▁opened ▁in ▁Battle ▁Creek ▁in ▁ 1 8 3 2 ▁under ▁Post master ▁Pol l odore ▁Hudson . ▁The ▁first ▁school ▁was ▁taught ▁in ▁a ▁small ▁log ▁house ▁about ▁ 1 8 3 3 ▁or ▁ 1 8 3 4 . ▁ ▁As a ▁Lang ley ▁built ▁the ▁first ▁saw mill ▁in ▁ 1 8 3 7 . ▁ ▁A ▁brick ▁manufact uring ▁plant , ▁called ▁the ▁oldest ▁enter prise ▁in ▁the ▁town ship , ▁was ▁established ▁in ▁ 1 8 4 0 ▁by ▁Simon ▁Car r ▁and ▁operated ▁until ▁ 1 9 0 3 . ▁ ▁The ▁town ship ▁was ▁established ▁by ▁act ▁of ▁the ▁legisl ature ▁in ▁ 1 8 3 9 . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁ante bell um ▁era , ▁the ▁city ▁was ▁a ▁major ▁stop ▁on ▁the ▁Under ground ▁Rail road , ▁used ▁by ▁fug itive ▁slaves ▁to ▁escape ▁to ▁freedom ▁in ▁Michigan ▁and ▁Canada . ▁ ▁It ▁was ▁the ▁chosen ▁home ▁of ▁noted ▁abol ition ist ▁So j our ner ▁Tr uth ▁after ▁her ▁escape ▁from ▁sla very . ▁ ▁Battle ▁Creek ▁figured ▁prom in ently ▁in ▁the ▁early ▁history ▁of ▁the ▁Se vent h - day ▁Advent ist ▁Church . ▁It ▁was