In 1845, John Pintler and his family blazed a trail through the wilderness and arrived at the site of what was to become the village of Lisbon.  Curtis A. Pintler, son of John, was the first white, male child born there on November 3, 1847.

 

In 1846, using John Pintler's homestead as a starting point, Samuel Free and John Brooks began a survey for a public road between Newaygo, to the north, and Grand Rapids, to the south.  Mr. Pintler assisted, in his locality, with the felling of trees and clearing of brush in preparation for the construction of the road.  Mr. Pintler ran an inn at this location for three years.

 

The village of Lisbon, originally called Pintler’s Corners, developed in the area of John Pintler's original homestead, located around the intersection of 12 Mile Road/Coolidge and Kenowa Avenue.  Like Gooding, Lisbon was located in both Sparta Township, Kent County and Chester Township, Ottawa County. 

 

Chester Township’s first post office was established at Pintler’s Corners December 21, 1847.   John Pintler became the first Postmaster.  A few years later, a relay station was established for the Grand Rapids and Big Rapids Coach Lines where people could transfer to the Muskegon Line. 

 

The name of the community and the post office were changed to Lisbon on November 21, 1859 when it became an incorporated village.  Lisbon was the only incorporated village in Chester Township.  In 1904 an election was held and it was decided to vacate the village’s charter.