From Michigan Place Names
Hillsdale County: first settled by Samuel Riblet and Henry Stevens in 1834. Platted by Hervey Smith and his son David Lewis Smith, and recorded as Smithville, in 1836. Hervey Smith became its first postmaster On Feb. 3, 1837, with the office named Columbus, and it was renamed on Aug. 12. 1837. Mr. Stevens had it renamed after Litchfield, Conn. whence some of the early settlers had come. Incorporated as a village in 1877 [Vivian Lyon Moore; MPH 33:736 1903 PO Archives]