History

Savannah , was laid out in 1818, by John Haney, son of Rev. James Haney, on the latter's land. It was first called Vermillion, but more frequently went by the name of "Haneytown", after its founder. Its first settler was Joseph Fast, a carpenter. The first schoolhouse was a log building, erected on the northeast corner of the town plat. Jacob McLain was the first brickmaker and hatter in the town and township; Garnett Whitelock, the first blacksmith.

Some of its first settlers were John Downer, a cabinet-maker; Eliphalet Downer, hatter; William Bryan and Joseph Marshall, blacksmiths, and James Duff, weaver; they all lived in log houses. In 1836 or 1837, the names of town and post office was changed to Savannah; and from this time until 1840 the town was at the zenith of its prosperity; there were three stores, two public houses, and a supply of mechanics, all doing a fair business. It was a leading stopping place between the productive country south and the market on the lake, north. Several efforts were made between the years 1830 and 1840 to erect a new county, with Savannah as the county seat; this failing, the town declined for several years.

In 1858, an institution of learning called the "Savannah Male and Female Academy " was started, which seemed to put new life into the town.

CURRENT SAVANNAH INFORMATION & DEMOGRAPHICS