Doyle Township

Doyle Township is a civil township of Schoolcraft County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 624 at the 2010 census. This area is known for its pristine beaches on Lake Michigan and inland lakes, such as Gulliver Lake, McDonald Lake, and Clear Lake, among others.

A petition was first filed to form a township, Gulliver Township, in May 1890. Upon filing the petition, it raised much opposition in Manistique and from a few local families in Gulliver. For political reasons and an approaching election year, Manistique did not want to lose their voting power involving districts 41–45, Range 14. For an unknown reason, the subject was tabled until the meeting of October 15, 1890. The same petition was again presented and the same groups of people opposed the forming of a township. There was so much opposition that name calling and fist fights broke out at the meeting. Detailed reports from the Pioneer Tribune in Manistique recorded these fights and named the people involved. A main point in the case was the accusation that the names listed on the original petition were fraudulent and would have to be checked for legal residency. Through the legal battles, the case eventually came before the Michigan Supreme Court. The submitted petition checked out fine. However, one of the objections made by a State Representative was the name “Gulliver” brought to mind a village of elves and giants. The name was hastily changed on the petition to Doyle Township after Michael J. Doyle, a Democratic legislator from Sault Ste. Marie, was recruited to negotiate a settlement. The citizens were so impressed by his negotiating skills they decided to name the township after him than for either of the feuding politicians. Michael J. Doyle had been practicing law in the Sault since 1887, became a City Attorney in 1890, and was then elected Chippewa County Representative to the Michigan Legislature in 1891.

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