Frankenhilf, meaning "Help of the Franconians," was one of four Bavarian settlements in the Saginaw Valley and was founded here in June 1850 with the arrival of two families and a pastor; the community later became known as Richville. The first home, built with a special large room and dedicated August 17, 1850, served as the first site for worship services and stood in the northwest corner of what is now the church cemetery. After the settlement grew to 21 families, the parish built a 36x25 log church and dedicated it on St. Michael and All Angels Sunday in 1853, when the name St. Michael's was adopted. By 1875 the community had grown to 35 families, and a 75x40 frame church was erected and dedicated on St. Michael and All Angels Sunday of that year; it served the parish for 96 years before being razed in 1971. The third St. Michael's church was occupied on March 21, 1971, and formally dedicated on St. Michael and All Angels Sunday, September 26, 1971.