Michigan Place Names, by Walter Romig, states that Curran Everts served as the first and only postmaster of Aabec in Antrim County from April 19, 1895, to May 12, 1896. David M. Ellis’ Michigan Postal History – The Post Offices also notes the post office’s existence, but the location is not noted on this map. No map has been found that shows the short-lived town’s location, but I believe I have found the location.
Findagrave.com states that Curran Everts was born on June 13, 1816, in Logan, Schuyler County, New York. Curran married twice, first to Mary Dickerson, then to Esther Ann Dickens. He lived most of his life in Schuyler County, New York, but moved to Antrim County, Michigan just prior to 1880. Curran died in Antrim County on April 15, 1896. Where he was buried is unknown, and its possible that his spouse Ester provided postmaster duties for the four weeks following his death.
Looking at the 1880 Census, Curran Everts is noted as a farmer living in Custer Township in Antrim County, just across the border from Helena Township. After Aabec closed, mail was redirected to Alden, which is in Helena Township.
I found the 1897 Plat Map of the township at https://historicmapworks.com and there is a plot of land marked as “C. Everts” in Section 18. Look for HELENA printed vertically, and it’s the second property in from the A. The post office Aabec must have been there. Note the northwest corner’s proximity to the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad railroad (the curved hatched line).
On the 1910 plat map, Esther Ann Dickens, Curran’s second wife, held the same acreage.
Here is a Google Earth screenshot of the northwest corner of the property. Looking closely at the tree line, one can see where the railroad ran. Also note the road, which would have been the western border of his property, and how it curves near the railroad.
It is my belief that the Aabec post office was located somewhere near the center of that image.
