USA > Michigan > Gazetteer of the State of Michigan, in three parts with a succinct history of the State, from the earliest period to the present time with an appendix, containing the usual statistical tables, and a directory for emigrants, &c > Part 20
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227
OF MICHIGAN.
LA PEER.
public lands south of Grand river have been located. Lands of the richest quality, lying north of Grand river, supposed to be two-fifths of the county, remain unsold, although portions of it have been settled by "squatters." This county belongs to the Grand River Land District. The first settlement of the county was made at Grand Rapids, about four years since, but the greater portion- nine-tenths of its population, have settled within the two or three past years.
Kent, in conjunction with Ottawa and Ionia, elects one representative, and belongs to the sixth senatorial district, which sends two senators to the legislature. Population, 2,022.
LAPEER COUNTY
Is bounded on the north by Sanilac, east by St. Clair, south by Macomb and Oakland, and west by Genesee and Saginaw. It was organized in 1835, and contains 828 square miles. Seat of justice, Lapeer.
Water courses .- Flint and Belle rivers ; Black, Cedar, Elm, Bottom, Kearsley, Farmer's and Mill creeks, and the north branch of Flint.
Organized Townships .- Atlas, Bristol, Floa, Hadley, Lapeer, Lomond, Metamora, Richfield.
Villages .- Lapeer, Newburg.
The surface is gently undulating. The southern part is mostly oak openings, and the south-eastern, " brush land." There is half a township west of Lake Nepissing, almost entirely sugar maple, long since known as the "Nepissing Sugar Orchard." The soil, on the intervals of the Flint and its branches which irrigate this county, is very rich, and of a quality well fitted for farming. The timber of the northern part is mostly oak, linn, elm, beech, ma- ple, and pine. The pine on the north of the Flint river is of an excellent quality, and in abundance, intermixed with the other timber before mentioned. The quality of the water is equal to any other portion of the State. The hydraulic power is sufficient for all purposes of manufac- turing. There is one mill of some description on nearly every stream, and many more mill sites which remain un-
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228
GAZETTEER
LENAWEE.
occupied, though they might be occupied to advantage. The most dense population is in the southern part of the county. There are considerable quantities of public lands in the county, of the first quality, un-entered. The eastern range of townships belong to the Detroit, and the balance to the Saginaw Land District.
Lapeer elects one representative to the legislature, and belongs to the third senatorial district, which returns three senators. Population, 2,602, exclusive of one township not returned.
LENAWEE COUNTY
Is bounded on the north by the counties of Jackson and Washtenaw, east by Monroe, south by the State of Ohio, and west by Hillsdale. It was organized in 1826, and con- tains 735 square miles. Seat of justice, Adrian.
Water courses .- Rivers Raisin and Ottawa ; Tiffin's or Bean creek, Macon, Little Raisin river ; Goose creek, Evans' creek, Bear creek, Beaver creek, Wolf creek.
Lakes .- Michemanetuc or Devil's lake, Evans' and Wam- pler's.
Organized Townships .- Blissfield, Cambridge, Dover, Fairfield, Franklin, Hudson, Logan, Madison, Macon, Me- dina, Ogden, Palmyra, Raisin, Rollin, Rome, Seneca, Te- cumseh, Woodstock.
Villages .- Adrian, Tecumseh, Clinton, Blissfield, Pal- myra, Rollin, Hudson, Canandaigua.
The surface of this county is rather undulating. The northern part is somewhat hilly. The southern portion is the best timbered. The soil consists of black, sandy loam, and in some places, argile is a component part. It is gen- erally dry and free from stone, and the bottomis are rich and prolific. It is natural for grass, corn, oats, and wheat, which can be raised in abundance. Iron ore has been found in the township of Franklin, and is said to be of good quality. It is about twelve years since it was first settled, but it has received the greatest accession from emi- gration within three or four years past. Lands that are ta- ken, sell from five to twenty-five dollars per acre. The pub- lic lands of the best quality, are mostly taken up. The
229
OF MICHIGAN.
LIVINGSTON.
county is included in the Monroe Land District. It sends four representatives, and belongs to the second senatorial district, which sends three senators to the legislature. Pop- ulation, 14,540.
LIVINGSTON COUNTY
Is bounded on the north by Shiawassee and Genesee, east by Oakland, south by Washtenaw, and west by Ing- ham. It was organized in 1836, and it contains 576 square miles. Seat of justice, Howell.
Water courses .- The Shiawassee and Huron are the principal. South branch of the Shiawassee, Ore creek, and Ore creek of the Shiawassee, Woodruff's creek, Portage river.
Lakes .- Bass, Portage, Crooked.
Organized Townships .-- Brighton, Deerfield, Genoa, Green Oak, Hamburg, Handy, Hartland, Howell, Iena, Iosco, Marion, Oceola, Putnam, Tyrone, Tuscola, Una- dilla.
Villages .- Howell, Benton, Livingston, Unadilla.
Livingston is very well watered. The surface is undu- lating, and the soil, in the openings, is a black, sandy loam, with an occasional mixture of clay, and peculiarly adapted to grain growing. In the northern part, it is well timber- ed with the forest trees usually found in this State ; togeth- er with a small tract of good pine timber. The remainder, and the larger portion of the county, is open land. There is considerable hydraulic power, especially on the branches of the Huron, in the south, and of the Shiawassee, in the north, some of which has been improved for manufacturing purposes. Saline springs have been discovered near the centre, and iron ore in the south-east part of the county.
The first settlements were made in 1832, and emigra- tion has been much directed to it for two or three years past. It is settled mostly by permanent settlers. It is embraced in the Detroit Land District.
Livingston, in conjunction with Ingham, elects two representatives, and belongs to the fifth senatorial district, which sends three senators to the legislature. Population, 5,029.
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230
GAZETTEER
MACKINAC -MACOMB.
MACKINAC COUNTY
Is divided into two parts, by the Strait of Mackinac. One portion includes all the region of country in the Peninsula, lying north of Saginaw Bay, and the counties of Arenac, Gladwin, Isabella, Montcalm, and Oceana, and between Lake Michigan on the west, and Lake Huron on the east. The other portion, located in the Upper Peninsula, and ex- tending from the county of Chippewa on the north, to Lake Huron, Strait of Mackinac, Lake Michigan, Green Bay, and Wisconsin Territory on the south, and from the river Monestee and Strait of St. Mary on the east, to the Terri- tory of Wisconsin on the west. It likewise includes the islands of Mackinac, Bois Blanc, Drummond's, and several other smaller ones. It is organized, and contains an area, . excluding lake surface, of 27,684 square miles-13,464 in Upper, and 14,220 in Lower Michigan. The seat of jus- tice is Mackinac, situated on an island of the same name. Mackinac sends one representative, and belongs to the fourth senatorial district, which elects two senators to the legisla- ture.
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Holmes is the only organized township in the coun- ty. Population, as per census, 664. (See farther, " Upper Peninsula.")
MACOMB COUNTY
Is bounded on the north by St. Clair and Lapeer, east by St. Clair and Lake St. Clair, south by Lake St. Clair and Wayne, and west by Oakland. It was " established" Janu- ary 15th, 1818, and contains an area of 458 square miles. Seat of justice, Mount Clemens.
Water courses .- The Clinton is the principal stream ; Frog creek, Saline river, Red river, Price river, Beach creek, Beaver creek, Stony creek, Partridge branch, Heaty branch, Middle branch, north and east forks of the Clinton.
Organized Townships .- Armada, Bruce, Clinton, Har- rison, Hickory, Lenox, Macomb, Orange, Ray, Richmond, Shelby, Stirling, Washington.
Villages .- Mount Clemens, Utica, Romeo
The surface in the eastern and north-eastern part is rather level, and for the most part heavily timbered ; yet it is suffi-
231
OF MICHIGAN.
MIDLAND.
ciently uneven to drain off its waters in healthy channels : the western part is rolling and somewhat broken, or hilly, and consists of oak openings, plains, and prairie land. These plains and openings, as well as the prairies, are ex- ceedingly fertile, and produce every kind of grain in abund- ance. It is well fitted for grass, and possesses every advan- tage for a grazing and dairy country. The forests are heavily timbered with white oak, elm, ash, basswood or lin- den, whitewood, and other timber peculiar to rich, moist land. It is, in a measure, owing to its vicinity to superior timber, as well as other natural advantages, that Mt. Clemens is beginning to be noted for its facilities for ship building, which has been carried on to some extent, both by residents and by persons living at Detroit, and without the State. The county is well supplied with hydraulic power by the Clinton river, and its subsidiary streams. The proximity of this county to navigable waters, and to markets, give it natural advantages superior to many of those in the interior. The advantages of this, as well as some of the other eastern counties, have been in a measure overlooked in the rage for going farther west. But for the two or three past years the attention of capitalists has been attracted, and large sums are expending both for permanent improvements and manufactories ; and it will probably be noted in the future history of the State, for its manufactures. There are two salt springs in this county, one in the town- ship of Washington, reserved by government, and another near the north branch of the Clinton, both of which are thought to be valuable.
The public lands of most value are located by actual set- tlers. The county is embraced in the Detroit Land district.
Macomb elects three representatives, and is embraced in the fourth senatorial district, which sends two senators to the State legislature. Population, 8,892.
MIDLAND COUNTY
Is bounded on the north by Gladwin and Arenac, east by Saginaw and Saginaw bay, south by Saginaw and Gratiot, and west by Isabella. It is unorganized, and attached to Saginaw for judicial purposes, and contains 680 square miles.
232
GAZETTEER
MONROE.
Rivers .- Tittibawassee, Chippewa, Salt, and Pine.
Midland is said to be either level or undulating in sur- face. 'The north and south-east parts contain heavy for- ests of Norway and white pine timber. The remainder is well timbered, and is naturally a good farming country. There are but few or no settlements yet made in it. It is embraced in the Saginaw Land district.
MONROE COUNTY
Is situated in the south-eastern part of the State, border- ing Lake Erie, and is bounded on the north by the counties of Washtenaw and Wayne, east by Lake Erie, south by the State of Ohio, and west by the county of Lenawee. It was constituted a county by proclamation, July 14th, 1817, and contains 532 square miles. Seat of justice, the city of Monroe.
Water courses .- Rivers Huron, Raisin, and Ottawa. Swan creek, Stony creek, Sandy creek, Plumb creek, Plaisance creek, Otter creek, R. aux Vase, Bay creek, Vance creek, Saline river, Macon river, Little Raisin river, Grandcouille, and Monille.
Organized Townships .- Ash, Bedford, Dundee, Erie, Exeter, Frenchtown, Ida, La Salle, London, Milan, Monroe, Raisinville, Summerfield, Whiteford.
Villages .- Dundee, Oakville, Lisbon.
The surface in the north and eastern parts is level and heav- ily timbered ; the western and southern parts are rolling, al- ternately abounding with prairies, openings, or heavy groves of timber. It is mostly of a rich soil, and is well watered. Sand sometimes predominates, and in the southern part a sandy loam. It produces good crops of corn, wheat, oats, rye, barley, and other grains. The county is peculiarly well fitted for grazing. It is well supplied with building stone from the beds of the rivers, especially from the Raisin. There is a lime-stone quarry four or five miles from Dun- dee,-said to be excellent. There are sulphur springs in various parts, one of the best quality is found in Raisin- ville-one near Monroe. A large spring of this kind in - Erie county produces water sufficient to propel a run of stone. This county is generally settled. The public lands
233
OF MICHIGAN.
MONTCALM .- OAKLAND.
having been in market for several years past are mostly taken. It belongs to the Monroe Land district.
It elects three representatives, and with Lenawee and Hillsdale, three senators to the legislature. Population, 10,646.
MONTCALM COUNTY
Is bounded on the north bv Mackinac and Isabella, east by Gratiot, south by Ionia, and west by Oceana. It is un- organized, and contains 576 square miles. It is attached to Ionia for judicial purposes.
Water courses .- The Rouge and Flat rivers, and Prairie creek.
This county is new, inhabited only by a few Indians, and perhaps by some squatters who have recently made loca- tions. This, and the adjoining counties north and west, are in progress of survey. As far as information has been received, it possesses some excellent lands, especially on the intervals. The face of the country is similar to the adjacent counties. It is included within the Grand river Land district.
OAKLAND COUNTY
Is bounded on the north by Genesee and Lapeer, east by Macomb, south by Wayne and Washtenaw, and west by Genesee and Livingston. It was organized in 1820, and has an area of 900 square miles. Seat of justice, Pontiac.
Water courses .- The Clinton is the principal stream ; Stony creek, Paint creek, North Fork of Clinton, north and west branches of the Rouge, Red river, Kearsley creek, Thread river, Woodruff creek, Shiawassee east branch, Beaver and Beach branches of Red river.
Lakes .- The principal are Stony, Thompson's, Square, Elizabeth, Orchard, Pine, Whitney, Burt, Walled, Silver, White, and Society lakes.
Organized Townships .- Addison, Avon, Bloomfield, Brandon, Commerce, Farmington, Groveland, Highland,
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234
GAZETTEER
OCEANA.
Holly, Independence, Lyon, Milford, Novi, Oakland, Orion, Oxford, Painsville, Pontiac, Rose, Royal Oak, Southfield, Springfield, Troy, Waterford, West Bloomfield, White Lake.
Villages .- Pontiac, Auburn, Rochester, Farmington, Franklin, Birmingham, Kensington, Stony Creek.
The face of this county is varied from a rolling to a hilly surface-the southern part being rolling and well timbered with oak, black walnut, elm, beech, maple, white wood, &c., and the northern part hilly and interspersed with marshes. The soil, though of a great variety, is in some parts sandy. It may be said to be divided into the soil found in the plains, the openings, and timbered lands. The county presents a very singular appearance, being com- pletely maculated with small lakes of pure water. Around and at a distance from its geographical centre, of from one to ten miles, are not less than fifty small lakes, varying from an eighth of a mile to a mile in diameter. They
abound with excellent fish.
Oakland is remarkable for the great quantity of its hydraulic power, especially on the Rouge and the branches of Red river, Clinton river, Paint and Stony creeks, and the extreme branches of the Huron. Many of the mill sites are improved, and, comparatively speaking, there is con- siderable manufacturing, of different kinds, done in the county. Although there are some unsold public lands, they are mostly taken up. It is embraced in the Detroit Land district.
Oakland elects six representatives, and is included in the third senatorial district, which elects three senators to the State legislature. Population, 20,176.
OCEANA COUNTY
Is bounded on the north by Mackinac county, east by Montcalm, south by the counties of Kent and Ottawa, and west by Ottawa and Lake Michigan. It is unorgan- ized, and attached to Kent for judicial purposes. It con- tains an area of 834 square miles.
The rivers are the Rouge, Maskegon, and White. It is said to contain a body of excellent land, but it is in pos-
235
OF MICHIGAN.
OTTAWA.
session of the Indians-though in progress of survey. It is embraced in the Grand River Land District. (See Ottawa county.)
OTTAWA COUNTY
Is bounded on the north by Oceana, east by Kent and Oceana, south by Allegan, and west by Lake Michigan. It was organized in 1837, and contains about 794 square miles.
Water courses .- The Grand, Maskegon, and Black rivers ; Pigeon creek, Rush creek.
Organized Townships .- Maskegon, Ottawa, Talmage. Villages .- Grand Haven is the principal.
On the lake shore, bordering this and the county of Oce- ana, the soil is sandy, with occasional sand bluffs, which rise in some cases, to a great height. Passing eastward a short distance from the lake, the country assumes an undulating, sometimes a rolling surface, covered with pine and hem- lock, to a considerable extent, and with hard timber, of sev- eral varieties. In the eastern part, it is rolling, with bluffs, especially along the Grand river, and abounding in forests of the same kind of timber as is found in the western part. In the interior, is a large grove of timber, consisting of Norway and white pine, and extending from near the Black river on the south, to the Maskegon on the north, and from eight to ten miles in width. The soil is generally a red, sandy loam, in the southern part, and of a rich quality, especially on and near the Black river. South of the Grand river is found marl, of a good quality, and, after calcina- tion, is an excellent substitute for lime, and is much used in building. The soil, in the northern part, is a black, sandy loam, and of the richest quality, and is the same on the intervals of the Maskegon river. Contrary to the received opinion of many, there is but little swampy land in the southern part of the county. A greater portion of it is arable, when cleared, and but little irreclaimable. In the northern part are a few small prairies, and some openings, but they are few. It may be remarked, that vegetables, vines, and grains of different kinds, grow, both in this, and in the county of Oceana, in the greatest luxuriance. It is
236
GAZETTEER
SANILAC.
said that good crops are frequently produced on the pine lands. There is considerable hydraulic power, but not equal to some other counties. The soil is generally free from stone, and but little of the latter found suitable for building. In the bed of Grand river, twelve or fifteen miles from the lake, are found some good stone for quarrying. Brick are mostly substituted. Iron ore has been found in several places south of the Grand river. The county com- menced settling two years since, and is rapidly increasing in population. It is estimated to have increased three fourths within the last three years. Emigrants have not only located the surveyed land on the south of Grand river, but have extended their settlements into the northern part, in the valley of the Maskegon, and as far north, in the county of Oceana, as White river. Ottawa is said to be as much settled on the unsurveyed lands, as on those which have been brought into market. The settlers are, in most cases, combinations of men, (or squatters,) formed to lo- cate a particular section of country, in the expectation that government will, when the lands are brought into market, extend to them the right of pre-emption. The lands north of the Grand river, in Ottawa, Kent, Ionia, Montcalm, and Oceana, are not yet brought into market, though they will probably be soon, as they are in progress of survey. They are all included in the Grand River Land District.
What has been said in the description of this county, will, in a great measure, apply to Oceana, and, with some exceptions, to the western border of Mackinac, as far north as Monestee river. (See Third Part, under the heads, Grand, Maskegon, and North Black rivers.)
Ottawa, in conjunction with Kent and Ionia, sends one representative, and is included in the sixth senatorial dis- trict, which elects two senators to the legislature. Popula- tion, 628.
SANILAC COUNTY
Is bounded on the east by Lake Huron, south by St. Clair and Lapeer, on the west by Saginaw and Saginaw Bay, and north by Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron. It is unorgan-
237
OF MICHIGAN.
SAGINAW.
ized, and attached for judicial purposes to Lapeer and St. Clair. Its area is about 2,460 square miles.
Rivers .- The principal are the Cass and Black. 'The creeks and smaller streams are numerous, especially on the Lake Huron coast.
The surface of the county is gently undulating. The soil is a yellow loam, and almost entirely free from stone. In the western part, there are some lands of the best qual- ity. Although this county is entirely new, and no experi- ments have been made in farming, yet, it is believed, that, from the reports of surveyors and those acquainted with it, the soil is mostly second rate. The timber is of great vari- ety, as is common to other counties ; but beech and maple, interspersed with pine, predominate. Beech and maple heavily timber the western part of the county, along the bottoms of Cass river ; pine, which is of the heaviest growth, is found in the eastern part of it. Tamarack is found here in great excellence, and, with the pine, furnishes inexhaustible supplies of the best of spars. It is believed, that after cultivation and improvement, it will be a good grazing country. The streams in the different parts of the county, furnish excellent water privileges. It will proba- bly be noted, after settlement, for the manufacture of lum- ber. There is a tract of country, in the eastern part of the county, running south, from Saginaw Bay to St. Clair coun- ty, represented as a swail; but there is very little which is irreclaimable. It abounds in almost every species of forest game, except wild fowls, which are few. The most noted wild animals of this region are, the elk, moose, and mar- tin, which, in numbers, are supposed to equal any other part of the State. But a small portion of the public lands is taken. The eastern part of the county, lying east of the line dividing the eleventh and twelfth ranges of townships, belongs to the Detroit Land District ; the balance west of said line, belongs to the Saginaw Land District.
SAGINAW COUNTY
Is bounded on the north by Midland and Saginaw Bay, east by Sanilac, Lapeer, and Genesee, south by Genesee and Shiawassee, and west by Gratiot and Midland. It was organ-
238
GAZETTEER
SHIAWASSEE.
ized in 1835, and contains 1,031 square miles. Seat of jus- tice, Saginaw.
Water courses .- Saginaw, Cass, Flint, Shiawassee, Mish- tegayock, Tittibawassee, Michessibee, Bad, Kewkawlin rivers. The Saginaw is the principal, and the remainder, except the last, are subsidiary to it.
Saginaw county composes one township only, under the name of Saginaw.
The villages are Saginaw (or Saginaw city) and Lower Saginaw.
The face of the country is generally either level or gen- tly undulating. The soil, a dark, sandy loam, varying from eighteen inches to two feet deep, of a rich, alluvial forma- tion, covering a sub-stratum of clay. It is generally free from stone. In the northern, and in some other parts of the county, are found some marsh and wet prairie. There are no dry prairies. The county is irrigated by the Sagi- naw river, which receives the Cass, Flint, Shiawassee, and Tittibawassee, near its centre. They are all comparatively large streams, possessing fine intervals, covered, generally, with hard and heavy timber. In the vicinity of Saginaw Bay, the surface is level. Oak, beech, maple, pine, hicko- ry, &c. are the predominating species of timber. Pine is found mostly in the south-eastern and eastern portions of the county, and it is supposed that one third of the county is of this kind of timber. There are no quarries of stone, except in the north-western part, near the Bay, where lime- stone and gypsum are found. Settlements have been made mostly upon the rivers. During two years past, the acces- sion of emigrants has been very great. There are large quantities of the public lands yet unsold. It is included within the Saginaw Land District.
Saginaw sends one representative to the legislature, and is embraced in the fourth senatorial district, which elects two senators. Population, 920.
SHIAWASSEE COUNTY
Is bounded on the north by Saginaw, east by Genesee, south by Livingston and Ingham, and west by Clinton. It
239
OF MICHIGAN.
ST. CLAIR.
was organized in 1837, and has a surface of 544 square miles. Seat of justice, Corunna.
Water courses .- Shiawassee, Looking Glass, and Mishte- gayock rivers.
Organized Townships .- Antrim, Bennington, Burns, Owasso, Shiawassee, Vernon, Woodhull.
Villages .- Shiawassee, Corunna, Owasso, Byron.
The surface is rolling in the central and south-eastern part, but in the western and northern part it is level. The soil is admirably adapted for agriculture, in the south-east and central part, consisting of oak and timbered openings, of a superior quality. In the south-west is a large prairie, called Looking-glass Prairie; and in the north, a large body of flat and somewhat swampy country, well adapted to the'raising of cattle. Large crops of corn, rye, oats, bar- ley, and potatoes, are raised, especially on the bottom lands of the Shiawassee river and its branches. There is a good quarry of stone near the centre of the county, and a mine of stone coal, which may be valuable. Mills of various kinds have been and still are erecting in different parts of the county. A great number of excellent mill-sites are to be found on the Shiawassee, Looking-glass, and Maple rivers, which could be profitably employed either in the manufacture of flour or lumber. For two or three years past, there has been a great flow of emigration to this county. There is yet much excellent land, which is not yet entered. The southern tier of townships belongs to the Detroit-the bal- ance to the Saginaw Land District.
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