From Michigan Place Names
Oakland County: among the first settlers in area, Jonathan Carpenter, of Dutchess County, N.Y., took up land here about 1834. Needham Hemingway built a dam across the Paint Creek for his grist mill in 1835. William Goodison bought and enlarged the mill and the settlement around it was named for him. Lemuel P. Tower became its first postmaster on Dec 12, 1872. The office was closed on Jan 26, 1873, but was restored on Jan 20, 1874. [Mrs. C. G. Lorion; PO Archives]