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 25
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458 bushels oats, 202 bushels buckwheat; 106 lbs. flax; 195 head neat stock, 19 horses, 203 hogs.
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Fall creek, an inconsiderable tributary of the Big Fork of the Thorn Apple river, in the central part of Barry county.
Farmer's creek, a stream rising on the confines of Oak- land and Lapeer counties, and, running north-easterly through the latter, empties into the Flint river, at the vil- lage of Lapeer. It is about 12 miles long, and is possessed of fine mill sites and good bottom lands.
Farmington village and post office, Oakland county, situ- ated in the southern part of the county, on one of the head branches of the river Rouge. It contains 2 flouring mills with 3 run of stone-one propelled by water and the other by steam,-2 saw mills, 2 stores, 1 druggist, and 2 physi- cians, and perhaps 20 families. This is a flourishing vil- lage, and is surrounded by a fine farming country. Dis- tant 14 miles from Pontiac, and 19 N. W. Detroit.
Farmington township, Oakland county, consists of town- ship one north, of range nine east. It is watered by the North branch of the Rouge and Powers' creek. Popula- tion, 1,784.
Fairfield township, Lenawee county. Statistics as per census :- Population, 203 .- 1,071 bushels wheat, 2,305 bushels corn, 610 bushels oats; 146 head neat stock, 264 hogs.
Fayette township, Hillsdale county, consists of townships six, seven, eight, and nine south, of range three west. It is watered by the St. Joseph river. Statistics as per cen- sus :- Population, 685 .- A grist mill, 4 saw mills, 6 mer- chants ; 3,891 bushels wheat, 3,813 bushels corn, 1,952 bushels oats, 395 bushels buckwheat ; 40 lbs. flax; 373 head neat stock, 69 horses, 29 sheep, 517 hogs.
Fentonville, is a small settlement in Genesee county. It has a saw mill, a store, and physican, and some mechanics. Distant 18 miles from Flint village.
Fire Steel river, a stream that empties into Lake Supe- rior fron its southern shore, and east of the Ontonagon river. It has its source in the Porcupine mountains, in the Upper Peninsula.
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Fighting Island, one of the most considerable islands in Detroit strait, and situated about midway between Lakes Erie and St. Clair, below the confluence of the Rouge. It is about seven and a half miles long, and contains per- haps eight square miles.
Fine Lake, a small portion of water, situated in the southern part of Barry county. Its waters are conducted into the Big Fork of the Thorn Apple river.
Fish Lake, a trifling body of water, lying on the border of Wilder's Prairie, and near the St. Joseph river, in the southern part of the county of Calhoun. Its waters are conducted into the Nottawasepee river. It is noted for the abundance and excellence of its fish, from which it proba- bly received its name.
Flat Rock (or Smooth Rock), a village and post office in the township of Brownstown, and county of Wayne, sit- uated on the river Huron, six miles from Gibraltar, with which it is connected by canal. Here are 4 stores, 2 saw mills, a flour mill with 2 run stones, and perhaps 250 inhab- itants. The fall of water is about eight feet, and it is esti- mated that there is hydraulic power in the lowest stage of water, to propel at least 25 run of stones. Roads to De- troit, Monroe, and Ypsilanti, pass through it. Distant 24 miles to Detroit, and 18 to Monroe.
Flat Rock Point, is a projection of land into Lake Hu- ron, from the Peninsula, opposite the Thunder Bay islands.
Flat river, (or Co-cob-au-quosh,) heads in two small lakes in the northern part of the county of Montcalm, and, after flowing a south-westerly course through the counties of Montcalm, Ionia, and Kent, discharges its waters into the Grand river. It is eight rods wide at its mouth. It is a shallow stream, and the country on its borders is hilly and broken.
Flint river, one of the most considerable branches of the Saginaw river, takes its rise in the south-eastern corner of Lapeer county, and flowing first north-westerly, then south- westerly, through a part of the county, passes into Gen- esee, it then changes to a north-westerly course, in which it continues through the county of Genesee and a part of Saginaw, where it discharges into the Saginaw river, about 30 miles from its mouth. Its course is quite serpentine, and its entire length cannot be less than 100 miles. This
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stream affords much hydraulic power, as well as its tributa- ries, and is being applied to various manufacturing pur- poses. There is much excellent heavily timbered land up- on this stream. There are some groves of a good quality of pine. It is boatable some 20 miles from its mouth.
Flint river, (North branch, ) is a considerable . tributary of the Flint river, that waters the northern part of Lapeer, and the southern part of Sanilac counties.
Flint township, Genesee county, is embraced in town- ships seven, eight, and nine north, ranges five, six, and seven east. Statistics as per census :- Population, 1,288. A grist mill, 7 saw mills, 11 merchants.
FLINT, a village, post office, and seat of justice for Gen- esee county, situated on Flint river. It has a banking as- sociation, an edge tool manufactory, saw mill, 2 dry goods stores, 2 groceries, 2 physicians, a lawyer, and the land office for the Saginaw land district. The United States road passes through it. There is a good supply of water power in, and around it. The emigration to this place has been very great the two past years, and still continues. The village is flourishing, and the farming country around it excellent. It is estimated to contain 300 families. Distant 58 miles N. W. Detroit, and 584 N. W. Washington city.
Florence township, St. Joseph county, consists of town- ship seven south, of range eleven west. Population, 440.
Florida township, Hillsdale county, is comprised in town- ships seven and eight, and fractional township nine south, of range two west. Statistics as per census :- Population, 156 .- 2 saw mills, a merchant; 453 bushels wheat, 428 bushels corn, 95 bushels oats, 155 bushels buckwheat ; 78 head neat stock, 10 horses, 84 hogs.
Flowerfield township, St. Joseph county. Statistics as per census :- Population, 406,-2 grist mills, a saw mill.
Flowerfield post office, Flowerfield township. Mail once a week.
Fort Brady was established in 1822, at the village of Sault de Ste. Marie, on the St. Mary's strait, in north lati- tude 46° 31'. It is garrisoned, at present, by two compa- nies. (See Sault de Ste. Marie.)
Fort Gratiot stands at the head of a rapid at the outlet of Lake Huron, the entrance of which it commands. The present fort was built at the close of the late war (1814).
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It consists of a stockade, including a magazine, barracks, and other accommodations to a garrison of one battalion. Distant 71 miles N. E. Detroit.
Fort Holmes. (See Michillimacinac village.)
Fort Mackinac. (See Michillimacinac village. )
Fort Malden is situated on the Detroit strait, at its mouth, on the Canada shore, near Amherstburg, and oppo- site Grosse Island.
Fort Michillimacinac, Old Fort. (See Michillimacinac, Old Fort.)
Fort St. Clair, ( Old Fort,) situated at the mouth of the Pine river, at its confluence with the St. Clair strait, and opposite the village of Palmer, in St. Clair county.
Forty Acre Lake, a trifling body of water in the county of Washtenaw, Lima township, drained by the north branch of Mill creek, into Huron river.
Forty Mile Point is a projection of land into Lake Hu- ron, at the mouth of the Cheboiegon river, on the Peninsu- la Proper.
Four Mile creek, a rivulet rising in the southern part of Barry county, and passing south through the north-east cor- ner of Kalamazoo county, and emptying into the Kalama- zoo river.
Four Mile Lake, a body of water lying a little south-east of the centre of Van Buren county.
Four Mile Prairie is a dry, rich prairie, lying in Cass county, near its southern border. It contains some eight or ten square miles, and is mostly taken up and improved. It is not very well supplied with timber.
For Island, a small island lying south of Fighting island and between Grosse island and Canada.
Fox Isles, two in number, situated a few miles south- west of Great Traverse Bay in Lake Michigan.
Frenchtown is an ancient settlement situated on the north bank of the Raisin, opposite the village of Monroe, with which it is incorporated. (See " Monroe.")
Frenchtown township, Monroe county. Statistics as per census :- Population, 1,503 .- A grist mill, a saw mill, 5 merchants.
Franklin, a village and post office, Oakland county, situ- ated on one of the head branches of the Rouge. It has a saw mill, fulling mill, carding machine, and a store. Here,
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and in the vicinity, is considerable water power. It is but a small village, though flourishing, pleasantly located and healthy, and contains 10 or 12 families. Distant 8 miles from Pontiac and 22 from Detroit.
Franklin township, Lenawee county. Statistics as per census :- Population, 989 .- 2 saw mills; 12,040 bushels wheat, 15 bushels rye, 8,802 bushels corn, 16,084 bushels oats, 406 bushels buckwheat, 1,135 lbs. flax ; 904 head neat stock, 127 horses, 175 sheep, 1,540 hogs.
Freedom township, Washtenaw county, consists of town- ship three south, of range four east. Statistics as per cen- sus :- Population, 795 .- 5,622 bushels wheat, 5,137 bush- els corn, 7,485 bushels oats; 798 head neat stock, 70 horses, 1,030 hogs.
Frog creek, a trifling stream emptying into Lake St. Clair on the north. It passes near the boundary line between St. Clair and Macomb counties.
Fulton's Line, a line between Ohio and Michigan, run- ning due east from the southern extreme of Lake Michigan and claimed by the latter as her rightful boundary.
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Galain river, a stream rising in the southern part of the county of Berrien, flowing south westerly, and emptying into Lake Michigan in the south-western corner of the county, at New Buffalo. It is about 20 miles in a direct line from its extreme source to the mouth. There are some tracts of good timber on its banks. At the mouth, for three miles, it widens into an estuary.
Garlic river, a diminutive stream that enters Lake Supe- rior on the southern shore, west of Presque Isle river, in the Upper Peninsula.
Geloster, a village in Richland township, in the northern part of Kalamazoo county, on Gull Prairie. It contains a post office, 2 churches, 4 stores, and several mechanics. It is a flourishing village, first commenced in 1833, and now contains many families.
Geneva, a small settlement situated on the north side of Deadwood Lake, in Cass county. It has an iron foundery and 2 stores. The country around it is very heavily tim- bered. Distant 21 miles east of Cassopolis, and 178 from Detroit:
Genoa township, Livingston county, is comprised in township two north, of range five east. Statistics as per
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census :- Population, 361 .- 907 bushels wheat, 147 bush- els corn, 45 bushels buckwheat ; 301 head neat stock, 23 horses, 297 hogs.
Gerard post office, Gerard township, Branch county, on the Marshall and Coldwater post route.
Gerard township, Branch county, consists of township five south, of ranges five and six west. It is watered by Hog creek. There is an Indian village near the centre of the township. Statistics as per census :- Population, 448. A saw mill ; a merchant ; 4,767 bushels wheat, 3,599 bush- els corn, 9,814 bushels oats, 366 bushels buckwheat, 170 lbs. flax, 10 lbs. hemp ; 380 head neat stock, 60 horses, 37 sheep, 553 hogs.
Giant's Arch. (See " Michillimacinac Island." )
Gibralter, a village and post office in the township of Brownstown, and county of Wayne, situated on the west bank of the Detroit, at its entrance into Lake Erie. Here is a banking association, 2 stores, a large store house, a large hotel, and perhaps 15 or 20 families. The harbor here is said to be good. A light-house is erected, and about 150 feet of wharf built. The road from Detroit to Monroe passes through this place. The Gibralter and Clin- ton canal terminates here, and about three miles are com- pleted. By this canal, 13 feet of hydraulic power is crea- ted, which may be valuable. The canal passes through a valuable quarry of lime stone, about half way from Gibral- ter to Flat Rock. Distant 20 miles south Detroit.
Gilead township, Branch county, is comprised in frac- tional township eight south, of range seven west. Statis- tics as per census :- Population, 184 .- A saw mill ; 3,452 bushels wheat, 2,975 bushels corn, 1,146 bushels oats; 48 bushels buckwheat ; 142 head neat stock, 39 horses, 93 sheep, 569 hogs.
Gilead Lake, a small collection of water in the south- western part of Branch county.
Gilead post office, near Gilead Lake, in Branch county. Mail once a week.
Gillet's Lake is a collection of water lying on the western border of Grass Lake township, in Jackson county. Its waters are drained into the east branch of Grand river.
Goose creek takes its rise in Wheatland township, Hills- dale county, in some of the highest lands in the State. It flows through a corner of Hillsdale, Lenawee, and Jackson
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counties, and forms the north branch of the Raisin. It is possessed of considerable unimproved hydraulic power.
Grand Blanc settlement, in the southern part of Genesee county. Here is a physician and a store. It is located on the Detroit and Saginaw road. It is thickly settled in the vicinity, and there is a rich farming country around it.
Grand Blanc Lake is situated on the corner of Oakland and Genesee counties. It contains perhaps 800 acres, and is drained into the Flint river by Swartz creek. On its southern shore is an Indian village.
Grand Blanc township, Genesee county. Statistics as per census :- Population, 691 ; a saw mill ; 4 merchants.
Grand Haven is a village, in Ottawa county, situated on the south bank of the Grand river, one-fourth of a mile from its confluence with lake Michigan, containing a post office, a sub-collector's office ; 3 steam saw mills ; 2 stores, a large grocery establishment, 6 spacious ware-houses, a druggist, and 2 physicians. A presbyterian church is building and will soon be completed. The principal road that leads to it is the one passing through Grandville, lead- ing from Detroit. Here are owned a steam-boat of 100 tons, and three schooners, with an aggregate of 350 tons, the former of which plies between this and the Grand Rapids. Steamboats and vessels from Chicago to Detroit touch here on their passage. The river forms the best harbor on this side of the Peninsula. It is 65 rods wide, bold shore, with a depth of from 15 to 30 feet water, and at its entrance on the bar at the mouth, never less than 12 feet. There is a light-house erecting at its mouth. The location of this village, in point of natural advantages, has no superior on the west of the Peninsula. It is ele- vated 25 or 30 feet above the river, on a dry soil of sandy loam, supplied with the best water, presenting a handsome prospect of the lake to the west and north, and of the scenery around. On the opposite side of the river is one of those sand downs or bluffs, so common on this shore of the lake. It rises to the height of 250 feet, covered with evergreens, and interspersed with various kinds of tim- ber. It has a romantic appearance, and from its summit presents an extended and noble view of the lake. The village is now flourishing, and increasing in population. Three years ago there were but 20 individuals; there are
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at present upwards of 400 inhabitants. It is distant, north- west of Detroit, 175 miles, and 700 from Washington city.
Grand Island is situated on the southern shore of Lake Superior, on the coast of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and immediately north of Green Bay. Here is a village of Chippewas, numbering about 100. This island, from its position with the main land and the lake, forms a good har- bor in the bay adjoining it.
Grand Isle Bay, on the southern shore of Lake Superior, and between the main land and Grand island. Here is a good harbor. The shore of the Peninsula side is high and rocky.
Grand Prairie, is a dry, fertile tract of prairie land, ly- ing on the eastern border of Brady township, in Kalama- zoo county, three miles directly west of the village of Kala- mazoo. Here is an Indian village.
Grand Rapids .- These consist of an obstruction in the Grand river, 40 miles from its mouth, " caused by a stra- tum of lime rock which shows itself in the bed of the river, and in both banks, for a distance of a mile and a half. Its inclination is remarkably uniform, causing the water of the river to descend with a velocity due to fifteen feet fall, with- out noise or commotion." Their length is about one mile. The banks at the head of the rapids are no more than four feet high above the surface of the water, and they keep a nearly horizontal level from thence to the foot of the falls where they are nearly 20 feet above the water. The width of the river is here about 60 rods. A canal is constructing by the Kent company, around the rapids, on the south side. Its dimensions are 81 feet wide and five feet deep. There are to be two locks constructed, each 40 feet wide and 150 feet in length, so that the largest steamboats that navigate the river above may pass. The estimated expense of a canal around these rapids, made by the engineer appointed to survey the Grand River, was $43,751. The rapids en- tirely obstruct the navigation of the river, except for boats descending in high water.
GRAND RAPIDS, a village, the seat of justice for Kent county, located on the south bank of the Grand river, at the Grand Rapids. The presbyterians and episcopalians have each organized churches and settled ministers. It contains a church for catholics, a printing office that issues
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a weekly newspaper, two banking associations, court house, 12 stores erected or erecting, three commodious hotels, four practicing physicians, and six lawyers. A Branch of the University has been located here. The fall in the river is fifteen feet, and, by employing the entire volume of water, an immense hydraulic power can be obtained, and there is every reason to believe that it will become a place of much note for manufacturing. A large mill, called the "Mam moth mill," believed to be the largest and most expensive in the western States, when completed will be in length 160 feet, 60 feet wide, and five stories high. The first two sto- ries are of stone, the wall is 4 feet thick and 20 feet high. About $20,000 have already been expended upon it. The entire expense, when completed, will be $50,000. It is intended for the manufacture of lumber and flour. Three saws and two run of stone have just commenced operation. A charter has been granted to a company to connect the opposite banks of the river at this place by a bridge, the estimated expense of which is $15,000. It has great natu- ral and prospective facilities for commercial intercourse, not only with the interior but likewise with foreign mar- kets. It is approached to the foot of the rapids by steam- boats from the lakes, and from their head to the village of Lyons, steamboats are continually plying. A canal is con- structing to connect the waters of the head with the foot of the falls. Several roads laid out and in contemplation will connect it with different parts of the State. The principal one completed leads to Detroit. When the line of rail-road from Grand river to St. Clair is finished, the "Great Western" thoroughfare may be said to pass through it. Salt springs and gypsum have been found, within a few miles, of a good quality. The conveniences for building are numerous. Pine lumber, building stone, lime stone, water lime stone, and materials for brick manufacture, are abundant. The village is well supplied with pure spring water. The loca- tion is handsome, airy, and healthy, and commands a fine view of the rapids and the country around, of the In- dian village Bokatink, and its ancient cultivated fields, mounds, and burial places on the other side of the river. It may be said to be one of the most flourishing and impor- tant villages of Michigan. The first settlement (except for the purposes of the Indian fur trade) was made in 1833, but
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the greatest accession to its population has been within the two or three past years. It is now handsomely laid out, and the buildings erected are generally in good taste, and much building of various kinds is now going on. The population is estimated at 1,000. Distant from Grand Haven 33 miles, 142 north-west of Detroit, and 668 north-west of Washing- ton city. (See the preceding article.)
Grand river .- (Indian name Washtenong. )-This is the largest stream lying wholly within the State of Michigan. Its course from its head branches to its mouth is very ser- pentine. At its source are two tributaries-the East and South branches. The former takes its rise on the western confines of Sharon township, in Washtenaw county, and the South branch on the northern border of Wheatland township, Hillsdale county. They both unite in Jackson county, a little above the village of Jackson. The river then pursues a northerly course to the northern boundary of the county, then westerly for the distance of about eight miles, when it returns to a northerly route, following the boundary line dividing Ingham and Eaton counties ; then taking a north-westerly course, crossing the north-east cor- ner of Eaton and south-west corner of Clinton, passing over the eastern part of Ionia; it then strikes a westerly course, passing through lonia, Kent, and Ottawa counties, and en- ters lake Michigan fifteen miles south of the mouth of the Maskegon river, 245 miles south-westerly of the strait of Michillimacinac, and 75 miles north of the St. Joseph's river. It is 270 miles long, including its windings, and, at its mouth between 50 and 65 rods wide, and of sufficient depth to admit vessels drawing 12 feet water. It is naviga- ble 240 miles for bateaux, and receives in its course as its principal tributaries, the Rouge, Flat, Maple, Looking- glass, and Red Cedar rivers, on the northern side, and the Thorn Apple on the south. It is navigable for steam- boats 40 miles, to the Grand Rapids, below which it has not less than four feet of water. At the rapids a steamboat canal is constructing ; and, after it is completed, steam- boats may go up to the village of Lyons, at the mouth of the Maple, a distance of 50 miles from the rapids, without difficulty. The river is subject to freshets, and the inter- vals, in some places, to inundations, though the high banks generally afford them sufficient protection. At the mouth
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it is never known to rise more than a foot, but at the rapids it sometimes rises to the height of 15 feet. The country along the river for 20 miles from its mouth is generally level, in some instances swampy, with lofty forests of various kinds of timber, and bearing an almost impenetrable thicket of under growth. Proceeding upward, whether deviating to the sources of its numerous tributaries, or following the main channel, almost every variety of soil and timber is to be met with ; sometimes the fertile prairie or opening, and again the rich alluvial bottom, and grove of timber. The region of country irrigated by the Grand river and its branches, is not less than seven thousand square miles, and includes some of the richest and most valuable lands in the State. These lands are now in demand by emigrants from the east, who are fast increasing its population and improve- ments, and raising flourishing villages, in testimony of their inherent fertility. (For a farther description see Grand river, First Part, article Internal Improvements.)
Grand Traverse Bay is a considerable inlet of Lake Michigan, which sets up into the Peninsula, in the north- western part of Mackinac county.
Grand Traverse Islands. A cluster of islands which pass by this name, located in the mouth or entrance from Lake Michigan into Green Bay. There are perhaps ten or twelve. The names of some of them are, Plum Island, Detroit, Brule, Palawaton ; the latter is the largest.
Grandville, a village, handsomely situated on a small prairie, on the western border of Kent county, on the south bank of Grand river, at the confluence of Buck and Rush creeks. It contains a post office ; 7 saw mills, located on the two last mentioned streams; 3 stores, 1 hotel, 2 smithe- ries, a sash factory, a ware-house, several mechanics shops; 2 lawyers, and a physician. There is considerable water power in its vicinity, and extensive pineries that supply the mills for manufacturing lumber. Salt springs, and gypsum beds in abundance are within three miles of the village. It has fine facilities for internal and external intercourse, both present and prospective. Schooners and steamboats of the first class can ascend the river as far as Grandville, and smaller boats as far as the rapids. The first settlement was made in 1835, but its greatest increase and improvements were in 1836. It is now a small but thriving village, sup-
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