The first rural free delivery in Michigan began at Climax on December 3, 1896, with Lewis A. Clark and Willis L. Lawrence as the first R.F.D. carriers, aided by U.S. Senator Julius C. Burrows. The first Congressional appropriation to try delivering mail to farmers' homes was secured through the strenuous efforts of the national and state Granges in 1896, and the amount was 40,000.00 dollars. Climax had been discovered by Colonel John Mullet, a government surveyor, in November, 1825, its name was selected by Daniel B. Eldred in May, 1831, and the first permanent settlers were Judge Caleb Eldred and his sons, who located on Section 3 in June, 1831. Nearly 300 farmers receiving mail on the three rural routes out of Climax each contributed one stone from their farms to build the monument, erected in appreciation of James H. Brown, who helped start rural free delivery in Michigan and designed and constructed it, and it was dedicated July 26, 1917.