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HISTOS WASHTENAW
MICHIGAN
ISTORY
WASHTENAW COUNTY
1881
HISTORY
Co ulice auf 21° 1551 1
OF
5.51. 7
WASHTENAW COUNTY
MICHIGAN; .
TOGETHER WITH SKETCHES OF ITS CITIES, VILLAGES AND TOWNSHIPS, EDU- CATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, CIVIL, MILITARY, AND POLITICAL HISTORY; PORTRAITS OF PROMINENT PERSONS, AND BIOGRAPHIES OF REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
HISTORY OF MICHIGAN,
EMBRACING ACCOUNTS OF THE PRE-HISTORIC RACES, ABORIGINES, FRENCH, ENGLISH AND AMERICAN CONQUESTS, AND A GENERAL REVIEW OF ITS CIVIL, POLITICAL AND MILITARY HISTORY.
ILLUSTRATED.
CHICAGO: CHAS, C. CHAPMAN & CO., 1881.
BLAKELY, BROWN & MARSH, PRINTERS, 155 & 157 DEARBORN ST., CHICAGO.
DONOHUE & HENNEBERRY, BOOKBINDERS, 105 & 109 MADISON STREET., CHICAGO.
PREFACE.
In presenting this volume to the public, we wish to sketch briefly the history of its compilation. This we believe due to the many who so earnestly co-operated with us in the work.
The PIONEER SOCIETY appointed a Historical Committee to confer with publishers, relative to compiling and publishing the History of Washtenaw County. This committee consisted of three members, Dr. Thomas Holmes, Horace Car- penter and Samuel G. Ives, all gentlemen of undoubted ability, and in whom the people of the county have the greatest confidence. During the early part of 1880 several conferences were held by this committee with publishers, but no definite arrangements made. In the month of September of that year, after an exam- ination of our style and plan of historical publications, as well as of numerous testimonials, by the committee, we made a satisfactory agreement with it, and imme- diately entered upon the labor of writing and compiling the History of Washtenaw County.
To insure as great accuracy as possible in the work, the President of the PIONEER SOCIETY, according to instructions from the society, appointed three additional members to the Historical Committee, for the revision and correction of the manuscript of the general history; and a committee was appointed for each township, to revise and correct the histories of their respective townships. A sim- ilar committee was also appointed for the cities of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. Thus there were twenty-three committees, consisting of seventy-two men, to insure, so far as was practical, to the people a full and correct work. Great care was taken in the appointment of these committees, and the wisdom of the selections made proved itself; for, with but few exceptions, each committeeman came forward and did his duty nobly. They were men of ability, who earnestly desired a true and faithful record of their county to be made; and for this labor of love posterity will owe them a debt of gratitude which it can never repay.
When these committees were appointed, we promised to submit the manuscript to them, giving them liberty to make all changes, additions and corrections they deemed necessary. Thus the great responsibility of having the work full and accu- rate was taken from our shoulders and vested in them. As evidence that we faith- fully fulfilled the promise made to the PIONEER SOCIETY, that we would submit the manuscript, and that each of the committees performed its duty, we publish on the following pages certificates signed by the various committees, which were signed by each of the committee, to that effect. The labor of revision, although tedious, was pleasant, the greatest harmony prevailing between the committees and ourselves. Not once did we ever hesitate to make the change ordered or follow their suggestions.
We extend to the members of these committees the thanks of grateful hearts for the material aid received from them in our labor of compilation, and for the studious care with which they examined the prepared manuscript.
While we believe there never was a local history published where such a united effort was made to insure accuracy, as with the present volume, yet errors
1
-
1
PREFACE.
will be found in its pages. It is a physical impossibility to write a book of such magnitude, where so many thousands of facts are related, and tens of thousands of names and dates given, and have it free from mistakes. We believe, however, that this book is practically correct, even in detail.
' We cannot lay down our pen without returning deep thanks to the PIONEER SOCIETY, as well as making personal reference to some of these, who aided us so materially in the preparation of this work-men whose kindness we can never for- get. First among them we will mention LORENZO DAVIS, HORACE CARPENTER, DR. THOMAS HOLMES, GEN. EDWARD CLARK, JUDGE CHAUNCEY JOSLIN, JOHN Q. A. SESSIONS, JOHN GEDDES, F. S. FINLEY, J. W. WING, WILLIAM M. GREG- ORY, the County Clerk, EVERETT B. CLARK, and the Register of Deeds, ERASTUS N. GILBERT. There are hundreds to whom we feel grateful, and who deserve per- sonal mention for the kind assistance given us, but want of space alone prevents this offering.
We desire to tender our thanks to PROF. ALEXANDER WINCHELL for the very able chapter on Geology, and Gov. ALPHEUS FELCH for the article on the Courts of the County, and PROF. ADAMS for the history of the University of Michigan. To PROF. ADOLPH COVERT, who prepared the chapter on Ornithology, and Miss E. C. ALLMENDINGER, who wrote that on Botany, we beg to offer our acknowl- edgments.
The newspaper Press, realizing the importance of local history, displayed a rare unanimity in supporting the work. During the period of our stay in the county the editors of the various journals were always ready to co-operate with us, and to the aid thus afforded is due much of the completeness which marks the chapters of this volume. Therefore to them we desire to tender thanks.
We will not forget the hundreds who made the publication of this book a pos- sibility. To these, who so liberally subscribed for it, and for whom this work was compiled, we shall ever feel grateful; nor can we close this preface without an expression of thanks to our historians for the assiduity and faithfulness with which they labored. Especially does S. J. Clarke deserve our thanks for the very great care manifested in preparing the general history of the county, as also does M. A. Leeson for editing the histories of the townships and cities.
We feel that our duties have been fully, faithfully and impartially discharged all our promises fulfilled, and the laborer's pay earned. With a full consciousness of all this we present the History of Washtenaw County to our subscribers.
CHIAS. C. CHAPMAN & CO.
CHICAGO, May, 1881.
CERTIFICATES.
The Pioneer Society, at their December meeting, 1880, passed a resolution instructing the President of the society to appoint three additional members to the Historical Committee, to form a committee to revise and correct the general his- tory of the county ; and revisory committees, from each township, to revise and correct the histories of their respective townships.
Below we give a copy of the certificate signed by this committee, showing that we complied with our promises to submit the manuscript, and also that its members performed their duties. We also give a copy of the certificates signed by the township committees. These certificates are all worded alike. We therefore deem it unnecessary to subscribe each of them in full, but give the names of the signatory members. These certificates will also show to those who examine this work that great care was taken to have it authentic and reliable.
We, the undersigned, members of the General Committee appointed by the President of the Pioneer Society of Washtenaw county, to correct and revise the manuscript of the History of Washtenaw county, written and compiled by Chas. C. Chapman & Co. of Chicago, Ill., do hereby certify that we had free access to said manuscript, at any and all times, and that we did to the best of our ability follow the instructions given us. We examined said manuscript, and made all the changes and additions that we, in our judgment, deemed necessary.
THOMAS HOLMES, Chairman, LORENZO DAVIS, JASON C. GILLETT, HORACE CARPENTER.
Committec.
Washtenaw County, Mich., February, 1881.
Following is the certificate of the committees for the respective cities and townships :
We, the committee appointed by the President of the Pioneer Society of Washtenaw County, to correct and revise the history of [our respective townships] for the History of Washtenaw County, written and compiled by Chas. C. Chapman & Co. of Chicago, Ill., do hereby certify that said manuscript was submitted to us, and that we did make all the changes and additions we deemed necessary.
Salem Township.
Ann Arbor Township.
Sharon Township.
Calvin Wheeler,
John Geddes,
James H. Fellows,
T. D. Lane,
Isaac N. S. Foster.
John J. Robison.
E. T. Walker.
Ann Arbor City.
Manchester Township.
Webster Township.
John Q. A. Sessions,
J. D. Corey,
J. D. Williams,
Lorrin Mills,
A. Conklin, Arthur Case. Bridgewater Township.
Wm. H. Glenn,
Ira Crippen,
Wm. D. Smith,
F. P. Galpin,
N. L. Conklin,
David Conklin,
John K. Yocum,
F. S. Finley,
R. S. King. Saline Township.
D. M. Joslin,
B. Emerick,
F. A. Reeves. Ypsilanti City.
Myron Webb. York Township.
S. J. Chase,
Benj. Thompson,
W. F. Hatch,
A. H. Hotchkin,
R. Shaw,
Morrell Goodrich,
Horace Carpenter,
William Warner,
David Depue, Randall Boss. Lodi Township.
E. L. Brainard,
H. W. Bassett, F. A. Fellows.
Geo. Sutton,
Hanson Sessions.
J. B. Frisbie. Lima Township.
Wm. Watling. Pittsfield Township. -
S. H. Reynolds. Augusta Township.
J. Webster Childs,
Chas. H. Lemmon. Scio Township.
George Bennett, Aaron Childs. Northfield Township.
A. D. Crane, Geo. A. Peters, J. W. Wing.
Rice A. Beal. Superior Township.
M. McDougall,
George Lazell,
William Wood. Lyndon Township.
L. L. Kimmel. Ypsilanti Township.
Elnathan Skidmore. Sylvan Township.
Wm. M. Gregory,
Chas. H. Wines,
C. Joslin,
L. H. Reynolds,
Russell C. Reeve. Dexter Township.
CONTENTS.
HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
Mound-Builders 17
Large Cities.
20
State Normal School. 90
Agricultural College 90
Manners and Customs 22 Other Colleges. 92
Charitable Institutions
84
State Public School.
94
State Reform School.
95
Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, and the Blind ... 96
Asylum for the Insane, at Kalamazoo. 96
6.
Penal Institutions.
97
98
98
Hull's Surrender.
57
State Fisheries ...
98
Perry's Victory.
58
State Firemen's Association 99
Close of the War
60
State Board of Public Health 99
Political.
62
State Land Office 100
State Library 100
Banks
101
The "Toledo War.".
76
Geology. 107
Administration of Gov. Horner
79
Newspapers 108
Population
108
State Officers
109
Topography.
111
A Retrospect.
111
HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
IN THE BEGINNING. 115
Organization of the County. 123
Political Divisions. . 124
First Roads ..
125
The Territorial Road.
125
CHAPTER III.
INDIAN INCIDENTS AND PIONEER
LIFE.
129
An Indien Legend. 129
Indian Antiquities. 133
Black Hawk War
135
Pioneer Life ..
137
CHAPTER IV.
GEOLOGY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY. 141 CHAPTER V.
NATURAL HISTORY
. 173
CHAPTER VI.
FLORA OF WASHTENAW COUNTY .. . 195
CHAPTER VII.
THE TOLEDO WAR ..
207
CHAPTER VIII.
COURTS AND BAR.
229
County Court.
220
Curcuit Court ...
224
Supreme Court
225
Chancery Court 225
First White Men in Washtenaw County 116
District Court.
2:25
Washtenaw: its Meaning
119
Probate Court
226
Rivers of the County 120
Area and Position ...
122
The PresentBar.
229
CHAPTER IX.
DARK DEEDS.
231
Murder of Patrick Dunn. 231
Murder of Simon M. Holden. 231
Murder of Henry Clay. 231
A Diabolical Deed ..
232
Murder of Mrs. Lucy Washburne 233
Probable Murder
234
Murder of Henry Feldman 231
Murder of John C. Depew 234
Murder of Wm. S. Bentley 234
Murder of Mr. Sherman.
235
Murder of Martin Breitenbach. 235
Murder of Bryan.
Killing of George Coleman. 236
Killing of Hiram B. Warren. 236
Murder of Richard Flannary 236
Murder of Ludwig Miller.
237
Murder of Mr. Rumsey
238
Shooting of Wm. Batey
238
Horrible Murder. .
241
CHAPTER X.
POLITICAL.
243
Election Returns.
250
CHAPTER XI.
SOME OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS DEAD
.. 262
John Allen.
262
Hon. James Kingsley. 263
Hon. Samuel W. Dexter 267
Munnis Kenney
269
Hon. Wm. S. Maynard.
270
.
Michigan as a State.
80
Administrations of the State Governors .. 82
War of the Rebellion
88
Public School System.
88
State University
89
Indians.
21
European Possession 24
Detroit.
27
National Policies 30
Ordinance of 1787 .. 34
French and Indian War. 39
Massacre at Michilimackinac.
41 44
Siege of Detroit.
American Revolution. 46
Tecumseh. 50
State Agricultural Society
Okemos.
56
Pomological Society
Administration of Gen. Cass. 66 " Geo. B. Porter
65
74
Pontiac.
97
The Bar of the Past.
226
CHAPTER II.
ORGANIZATION AND POLITICAL DI- VISION 123
1
CONTENTS.
Joshua G. Leland 271
Rev. Charles G. Clark
272
In Memoriam
487
Rev. I. M. Weed.
272
Members of the Society
493
State Pioneer Society.
514
Prof. James C. Watson
282
Volney Chapin
284
CHAPTER XII.
EDUCATIONAL
287
Public Schools
287
University of Michigan
291
Graduates
326
State Normal School.
332
CHAPTER XIII.
VARIOUS THINGS ... 333
The Patriot War.
333
Wild-Cat Banks
337
Temperance.
3338
Railroads.
340
Public Buildings 343
The Old Court-House 344
The New Court-House. 345
The Second Jail Building. 350
Legislative Council.
350
Constitutional Conventions 350
Second
66
Convention of 1850.
351
" 1867 351
Legislature.
352
Supreme Court
353
National Representatives in Congress .. 354
County Officers.
354
The German Element ....
356
First Entry
357
Peep into Washtenaw County
358
Statistics of Olden Time ..
358-367
CHAPTER XIV.
WASHTENAW COUNTY IN THE WAR. 368
Roll of Honor.
422
CHAPTER XV.
REMINISCENCES
431
By Mrs. Harriet L. Noble. 431
By " N. H. Pierce 436
By " Timothy W. Hunt
443
By Samuel Pettibone.
446
By Mrs. Alvin Cross.
449
CHAPTER XVI.
AUTHORS AND ARTISTS
458
Prof. James C. Watson
458
" Alex Winchell, LL. D
459
Randolph Rogers.
460
Miss Kittie J. Rogers
463
Ezra D. Seaman ..
464
Thos. M. Cooley, LL. D 464
B. F. Cocker, D.D , LL. D 465
Edward Olney, LL. D 46,5
Donald MacLean, M. D. 466
Alonzo B. Palmer, A. M., M. D 466
Edward C. Franklin, M. D 467 Prof. C. L. Ford. 467
Clara Doty Bates 468
Rev. Martin L. D'Ooga, Ph. D. 471
Mrs. Charlotte Finley 471
Prof. Gabriel Campbell.
471
CHAPTER XVII.
PIONEER ASSOCIATION 472
The Celebration. 477
First Annual Meeting 479
Second
480
The Re-organized Pioneer Society.
481
Constitution.
481
Third Annual Meeting
484
Fourth 66
484
Fifth
66
485
16
Sixth
66
486
Seventh Annual Meeting.
486
Fourth of July
518
50th Anniversary of the Settlement of
Washtenaw County ... . 518
HISTORICAL ADDRESS OF HON. L. D.
NORRIS.
521
The First Map of Michigan. 522
Iron ore and Salt Springs.
523
The Meeting 50 Years Ago
523
Whisky and Politics.
524
An Early Temperance Crusade.
521
The Situation in 1824
525
Settlement of the County 527
Roads and Trails
528
Alpha Washtenaw
528
From 1830 to 1840
528
Early Railroading
531
Turnpike Travel.
532
Woman's Work ..
533
Pioneer Trading and Prices
533
The Educational System 535
CHAPTER XIX.
AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE 536
The Agric. and Pom. Society
536
The Pomological Society
541
Agricultural Statistics
546
Value of Real Estate.
551
CHAPTER XX.
THE PRESS
552
ANN ARBOR PAPERS :
Ann Arbor Argus.
556
Ann Arbor Courier.
559
Ann Arbor Register
564
Ann Arbor Democrat
568
The Washtenaw Post
570
The Daily News.
570
YPSILANTI PAPERS :
The Sentinel.
572
The Commercial.
573
The Ypsilantian
576
DEXTER PAPER :
Dexter Leader
576
CHELSEA PAPER :
Chelsea Herald.
577
MANCHESTER PAPER :
Manchester Enterprise.
578
SALINE PAPER :
Saline Observer
580
CHAPTER XXI.
MISCELLANEOUS
581
Tremendous Tornado. 581
Rain Storm.
581
Miraculous Escape
582
Boiler Explosion at Ypsilanti.
585
Washtenaw Co. Bible Society.
585
Crime ...
586
Marriage Record 586
Births
588
Over the River
589
Divorce Record.
593
Cholera War
594
Washtenaw County Census.
595
A Retrospect.
595
Washtenaw County of To-Day
598
CHAPTER XVIII.
First Convention of Assent.
350
Social Life
534
351
CONTENTS.
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES AND BIOGRAPHIES.
Ann Arbor, 871
Augusta. 1437
Salem. 599
Bridgewater. 1354
Saline. .1369
Dexter 717
Scio. 820
Freedom
1291
Sharon 1296
Lima.
800
Superior. 1062
Lodi ..
1275
Sylvan. 751
Lyndon 738
Manchester
1312
York
1412
Northfield
636-1449
Ypsilanti. 1092
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Map of Washtenaw County. 14 & 15
Hieroglyphics of the Mound-Builders 19
Eastern Asylum for the Insane at Pontiac 73
State Public School, at Coldwater 81
The Capitol, at Lansing. 91
Indians Attacking Frontiersmen 31
University of Michigan
102-3
Gen. George Rogers Clark. 37
Gen. Arthur St. Clair 43
Trapping. 49
Tecumseh.
55
Union School, Manchester 1283
Saline
1283
PORTRAITS.
: Allen, L. C.
529
Almendinger, Charles.
931
Holmes, Thomas 475
Arms, James B .. 693
Beal, Rice A. 565
Begole, William A 767
Kimmel, L. L. 105
Blaess, Leopold.
1171
Blakeslee, John W 1319
Boyden, Edward L. 673
Boyden, Luther .. 683
Brown, Daniel B. 877
Burnett, Calvin T. 311
Morton, Mrs. Almira 1135
Murray, Philemon C. 839
O'Brien, Morgan. 655
Owens, T. C. 365
+ Palmer, David. 1209
Parshall, J. J. 329
Parsons, Chester. 437
Pierce, Darius 803
Potter, D. P. 1190
Potter, Mrs. Lurena ... 1191
Pray, Esek. 203
703
Dorr, S. W. 419
Ewing, Alexander, M.D.
547
Farrand, Bethuel 221 Felch, Alpheus. 131
· Feldkamp, A. L
.1337
Foster, Mary.
257
Gardiner. David G. 1265
Geddes, John. 986
Geddes, Mrs. Julia Ette 987
Geddes, Robert .. 185
Goodale, Norman C. 821 White, Eber.
Gooding, Othniel. 383
. Green, Richard B 1246
. Green, Mrs. Anne E. 1247
Gregory, Wm. M. 401
Hill, Comstock F 913
Mills, Lorrin.
239
Moore, Caleb.
293
Burnett, William. 713
Campbell, Robert. 1041
Carpenter, Horace 510
Carpenter, Mrs. Ann A.
511
J Chamberlain, B. F
Chittenden, N. E.
731
Conklin, A. 1227
Cornwell, Cornelius. .1097
· Cowan, John W
1301
Davis, Lorenzo
149
Depue, David. 1005
Reade, J. Stanhope.
Robinson, Loammi
491
Sears, Solomon F. 637
967
Skidmore, Elnathan. 749
1153
Van Atta, James B. 619
Warner, Dennis. 858
Warner, Mrs. Martha M. 859
›Webb, Walter.
583
*Westfall, Elias. 785
167
Williams, Jeremiah D. 895
Wilson, Willliam.
1078
Wilson, Mrs. Sophy
.1079
-
James, Luther. 279
Kelley, C .. 949
Lowry, John. 455
Morgan, E. W. 1023
Morton, J. G. 1134
Present "
114
Union School Building, at Ypsilanti .. ]
1115
Pontiac
61
Hunting Prairie Wolves in an Early Day 67
La Salle Landing at the Mouth of St. Joseph River ... 25
Pittsfield. .1241
Webster. 668
Sears, Thomas S.
Sweetland, O. C ...
601
Old Court-House
347
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8
HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
Michigan! If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look around you, in Michigan. Every visitor at St. Paul's church, London, is over- awed with the magnificence of that structure, the work of Sir Chris- topher Wren. He wants to know where the remains of Wren are now; in the crypt of the church they lie, where the following is engraved upon the headstone: Si monumentum requiris, circum- spice,-If you seek a monument [of Wren], look around [and behold the work of his brain in this mighty building]. The State of Mich- igan has appropriately adopted for her motto this expression, with a slight alteration, thus: Si queris peninsulam amænam, cir- cumspice,-If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look around you. And indeed Michigan may as justly feel proud of its resources as Great Britain, of St. Paul's church,-yea, and infinitely more. What
with her substantial foundation in agriculture throughout the southern counties, in horticulture throughout the lower peninsula, and especially the fruit belt along her western boundary, in piner- ies in the central portion of the State, and with her crown of iron and copper in the upper peninsula, tipped with silver, she stands the real queen of the utilitarian world.
It is a pleasure to write the history of such a State. Contrast this pleasant task with writing and studying the histories of States and empires which we have been taught to ponder and revere from our youth up, histories of European countries cobwebbed with intrigue, blackened with iniquity and saturated with blood. What a standing, practical reproof Michigan is to all Europe! and what a happy future she has before her, even as compared with all her sister States!
Now let's to our chosen task, and say first a few words concern- ing the prehistoric races, observing, by the way, that the name " Michigan " is said to be derived from the Indian Mitchi-sawg- yegan, a great lake.
MOUND-BUILDERS.
The numerous and well-authenticated accounts of antiquities found in various parts of our country clearly demonstrate that a people civilized, and even highly cultivated, occupied the broad sur- face of our continent before its possession by the present Indians;
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HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
but the date of their rule of the Western World is so remote that all traces of their history, their progress and decay, lie buried in deepest obscurity. Nature, at the time the first Europeans came, had asserted her original dominion over the earth; the forests were all in their full luxuriance, the growth of many centuries; and naught existed to point out who and what they were who formerly lived, and loved, and labored, and died, on the continent of America. This pre-historic race is known as the Mound-Builders, from the numerous large mounds of earth-works left by them. The remains of the works of this people form the most interesting class of antiquities discovered in the United States. Their character can be but partially gleaned from the internal evidences and the peculiarities of the only remains left, -the mounds. They consist of remains of what were apparently villages, altars, temples, idols, cemeteries, monuments, camps, fortifications, pleasure grounds, etc., etc. Their habitations must have been tents, structures of wood, or other, perishable material; otherwise their remains would be numerous. If the Mound-Builders were not the ancestors of the Indians, who were they? The oblivion which has closed over them is so complete that only conjecture can be given in answer to the question. Those who do not believe in the common parentage of mankind contend that they were an indigenous race of the West- ern hemisphere; others, with more plausibility, think they came from the East, and imagine they can see coincidences in the religion of the Hindoos and Southern Tartars and the supposed theology of the Mound-Builders. They were, no doubt, idolators, and it has been conjectured that the sun was the object of their adoration. The mounds were generally built in a situation affording a view of the rising sun; when enclosed in walls their gateways were toward the east; the caves in which their dead were occasionally buried always opened in the same direction; whenever a mound was partially enclosed by a semi-circular pavement, it was on the east side; when bodies were buried in graves, as was frequently the case, they were laid in a direction east and west; and, finally, medals have been found representing the sun and his rays of light.
At what period they came to this country is likewise a matter of speculation. From the comparatively rude state of the arts among them, it has been inferred that the time was very remote. Their axes were of stone. Their raiment, judging from fragments which have been discovered, consisted of the bark of trees, interwoven with feathers; and their military works were such as a people would erect who had just passed to the pastoral state of society from that dependent alone upon hunting and fishing.
The mounds and other ancient earth-works constructed by this people are far more abundant than generally supposed, from the fact that while some are quite large, the greater part of them are small and inconspicuous. Along nearly all our water courses that are large enough to be navigated with a canoe, the mounds are almost invariably found, covering the base points and headlands of the
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HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
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