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 30
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Pine run post office, in Genesee county, on the Saginaw road, toward the head branches of Pine creek.
Pipestone creek, a small stream in Berrien county, rising on its eastern border, and flowing westwardly, into the St. Joseph river.
Pitt township, Washtenaw county, consists of township three south, range six east ; watered by Mullet's creek. It contains a post office of the same name. Statistics as per census :- Population, 1,208 .- 19,337 bushels wheat, 239 bushels rye, 15,710 bushels corn, 33,295 bushels oats, 937 bushels buckwheat; 319 lbs. flax; 4,368 head neat stock, 270 horses, 800 sheep, 2,002 hogs.
Pittsford township, Hillsdale county, consists of town- ships seven, eight, and nine south, range one west. Statis- tics as per census :- Population, 510 .- 2 merchants; 4,093 bushels wheat, 50 bushels rye, 3,223 bushels corn, 1,405 bushels oats; 309 head neat stock, 27 horses, 18 sheep, 456 hogs.
Plainfield township, Allegan county, consists of town- ships one, two, three, and four north, range eleven west. Population, 317.
Plainville post office, Allegan county, on the Kalamazoo and Kent mail route.
Plaisance Bay, is the indentation of the coast of Lake Erie, to a considerable extent, on the north-eastern border of Monroe county, at the mouth of the Raisin river.
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Plaisance creek, an inconsiderable stream in Monroe county, emptying into Lake Erie, a little south-west of Plaisance bay.
Platte river, is a stream rising in the Peninsula, in the western part of Mackinac county, and after flowing in a north-westerly direction, empties into Lake Michigan, in ·latitude 45° north, and at a distance of some 15 miles north of river aux Betsies.
Pleasant Lake, a body of water in the south-west part of Cass county.
Pleasant Lake, a small collection of water, lying in the northern part of Jackson county, and drained into the Grand river, from which it is three miles distant.
Plum creek, a stream in Monroe county, about three miles south of the river Raisin, with which it runs nearly parallel, and empties into Plaisance Bay. It is about 12 miles long.
Plymouth, (or Plymouth Corners,) a village in a township of the same name, in the county of Wayne, situated on the West branch of the Rouge, in the north-west corner of the county. Here is a post office, a presbyterian church, 5 stores, a banking association, 3 taverns, a druggist, a lawyer, and 3 physicians. The State road from Detroit to Ann Arbour passes through it. The village is flourishing, and in the midst of a fine farming country. The population is esti- mated at 300. Distant 25 miles north-west Detroit.
Plymouth township, Wayne county, consists of town- ship one south, range eight west; watered by the head branches of the west branch of the Rouge. Population, 2,246.
Point a la Mission is situated south of Wagooshance, or Fox point on the north of the Peninsula, in the strait of Mackinac, and at L'Arbour Croche.
Point au Foin is a projection of the Upper Peninsula into the centre of " The Bay" of Lake Superior, on its southern shore, six miles south-west of the mouth of Red Carp river.
Point aux Barques is a cape at the northern extremity of Sanilac county, projecting into Lake Huron, and be- tween the waters of Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay.
Point aux Ciques, a cape at the entrance of Swan creek, on Lake Erie, in Monroe county.
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Point aux Clinton is a cape on the south-eastern shore of Macomb county, extending into Lake St. Clair, two miles south of the mouth of Clinton river.
Point aux Huror is a cape lying north-east of Point Mouille, at the mouth of the Huron river, and on the coast of Lake Erie.
Point aux Peaux, a cape on the shore of Lake Erie, be- tween Stony Point and the mouth of Swan creek, in Mon- roe county.
Point aux Sable is a point of land extending into Sagi- naw Bay, on its western side, opposite Shawangunk island, and at the right entrance into the river aux Sable or Sandy river, on the eastern coast of Arenac county.
Point aux Trembles, a cape of the southern part of St. Clair county, at the entrance of the north channel of the St. Clair strait.
Point de Tour is in latitude 45° 54' north, opposite Drummond's island, and the west cape of the entrance into St. Mary's strait.
Point Guiguolet, a cape extending into Lake St. Clair, eastward from the boundary line between Macomb and Wayne counties. It is the north-eastern extremity of the latter.
Point Iroquois, (or Nad-o-waw-e-gu'-ning, signifying in the Indian language, the place of Iroquois bones,) is situ- ated on the south shore of Lake Superior, and extends north into what is termed "The Bay," at its outlet. It lies west of the mouth of Carp river, and 15 miles south- west of Sault St. Mary, and immediately north of the strait of Mackinac. It received its name from the memo- rable and exterminating slaughter of the Iroquois Indians, who were making their hostile incursions into the southern borders of Lake Superior, and upon the Chippewa In- dians, in 1680; the latter secretly and with much arti- fice, collecting themselves, made an unexpected and sud- den attack upon them at night, while they were asleep. The Iroquois awoke to receive the death blow of their ene- mies, and very few of the party escaped to relate the tale of woe.
Point la Barbe is a projection of the Upper Peninsula into the strait of Mackinac, opposite, and 4 miles distant from Gros Cape, of the Peninsula proper.
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Point Mouille, a cape at the mouth of Mouille creek, on the border of Lake Erie, and county of Monroe.
Point St. Ignace is a village, situated on the Upper Pe- ninsula of Michigan, at the strait of Mackinac, 5 miles west of Mackinac. It has a Roman catholic chapel and missionary school. Population, 200. Distant 5 miles from Mackinac.
Point St. Vital is a cape, five or six miles west of Point de Tour, projecting into the northern part of Lake Huron, from the south-eastern extremity of the Upper Peninsula. A reef off this point.
Pokagon township, Cass county, consists of township six south, range sixteen west. Statistics as per census :- Population, 506 .- A saw mill ; a merchant; 15,710 bush- els wheat, 145 bushels rye, 12,057 bushels corn, 26,800 bushels oats, 292 bushels buckwheat ; 660 lbs. flax ; 514 head neat stock, 159 horses, 472 sheep, 1,017 hogs.
Pontiac township, Oakland county, consists of township three north, range ten east, containing the village of Pon- tiac. It is watered by the Clinton river and its branches. Statistics as per census :- Population, 1,700 .- 3 grist mills, 3 saw mills, 2 carding and 2 cloth dressing shops, a distil- lery, 4 merchants.
PONTIAC, a village, post office, and seat of justice for Oakland county, situated on the river Clinton. It contains a court house, jail, a Branch of the University, a bank and three banking associations, a church for congregationalists, 2 flouring mills (of 1 and 3 run of stone), 2 saw mills, a full- ing mill, an iron foundery, a tin ware manufactory, a cabinet manufactory ; together with the usual supply of mechanics. There are likewise 7 dry goods stores, 2 shoe stores, 4 groceries, a hardware store, a druggist, 2 printing offices, from which are issued 2 weekly newspapers ; 5 physicians, and 6 lawyers. The turnpike from Detroit to Saginaw passes through it, and the Detroit and Pontiac rail-road terminates here. It is now very flourishing ; and the pros- pect of its future growth is quite flattering. Distant 24 miles north-west Detroit-550 north-west Washington city. Population, estimated at 1,000.
Portage Lake is a body of water of the extent of four or five square miles, on the northern boundary line of Wash- tenaw county, and base line of the public surveys, and is a
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mere expansion of the Huron river to the width of two miles in breadth, and three miles in length.
Portage Lake, a trifling body of water in the south-east part of Ingham county. Its waters are conducted into the Portage lake of Huron river, by Portage river.
Portage Lake, a considerable body of water in the south- ern part of Kalamazoo county, and drained by Portage river and Mc Inlerfer's creek into the St. Joseph river.
Portage river, a stream rising in the southern part of Kalamazoo county, near the branches of the Kalamazoo river, and flowing southerly and south-westerly through Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties, and discharging into the St. Joseph river, at the village of Three Rivers. It is a copious and excellent mill stream, passing through some tracts of excellent land.
Portage river, of the Kalamazoo, takes its rise west of Sandy lakes, and near the source of the Portage river, of the St. Joseph, and flows north, through Kalamazoo coun- ty, and empties into the Kalamazoo river, at the village of Bronson.
Portage river, a stream rising in a small lake of the same name, in the county of Ingham, flowing south and then east, on the confines of Livingston and Washtenaw counties, empties into Portage lake of the Huron river. It interlocks in many places with the branches of the Grand river.
Portage creek, has its source in Unadilla township, Livingston county, and flows westerly and south-westerly through a part of Washtenaw and Jackson, and empties into the Grand river, four miles below Jackson. It is a deep, muddy stream, fifteen yards wide at its mouth, and passing in its course through a chain of low, marshy prai- ries. Its branches interlock with those of the Huron of Lake Erie, and the Indians, by crossing a portage of one mile and a half, pass from one stream to the other.
The name " Portage" seems to have been applied in eve- ry case, where the river, creek, or lake, so called, was in the vicinity of some other, and so near as to furnish points from which the Indians and fur traders embarked and trans- ported their canoes and baggage across to some neighbor- ing lake or creek. Thus between the Grand and Huron, the St. Joseph and Kalamazoo rivers, there were " por-
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tages," and hence the creeks and lakes, the places of arrival and departure, received the name.
Porter, village and post office, (formerly called Union post office,) in the southern part of the county of Cass. This place is but newly laid out, and has two taverns and a few families.
Porter township is located in the south-eastern corner of Cass county, and is abundantly supplied with water and water power by several branches of the St. Joseph river, which passes through it.
Port Huron (formerly Desmond) township, St. Clair county. Statistics as per census :- Population, 824 .- A grist mill, 2 saw mills ; 6 merchants.
Port Huron, (formerly called Desmond,) a village in St. Clair county, at the confluence of Black river with the St. Clair, two miles from Lake Huron. Here is a post office, a steam saw mill, a steam flour mill, tannery, and twelve stores ; a printing office from which a weekly newspaper is issued, sub-collector's office, 3 lawyers, and 2 physicians. It is situated on the Fort Gratiot Turnpike, and it is ex- pected that the rail road, to be constructed from Lewiston to London, (Upper Canada,) will be extended to opposite
this place. The northern rail-road has been located to commence here. It is a thriving village, and, being the central point for the lumber, business, it is considered the most flourishing of any in the county. It possesses excellent facilities for ship building, and furnishes an abun- dance of the best material, especially spars, for that busi- ness. The lumber business, and the good farming country around it is its principal support. It is healthy, and well supplied with excellent water. Distant 12 miles from Pal- mer, and 57 north-east of Detroit.
Prairie creek (Muscota river, or River of the Plains,) a rivulet rising in Montcalm county, and flowing southerly into Ionia, empties into the Grand river, 18 miles (by land) from the mouth of the Rouge of Grand river. It enters the Grand river with a rapid current, and is about 40 feet wide.
Prairie creek, a trifling stream in the southern part of Clinton, rising in a tamarack swamp, and flowing north-west into the Looking-glass river.
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Prairie Lake, an inconsiderable body of water, contain- ing about 600 acres, lying in the north-eastern part of Cal- houn county, and drained by Rice creek into the Kalama- zoo river.
Prairie Ronde is a beautiful tract of prairie land, and equal to any in the State for fertility. It lies in the south- west corner of Kalamazoo county, is four miles in diameter, and mostly surrounded with wood-land. Near its centre is a beautiful grove of timber of about a mile in breadth, con- sisting of sugar maple, hickory, and black walnut.
Prairie Ronde, a small prairie lying about four miles north-west of Detroit, on the Grand river road.
Prairie Ronde township, Kalamazoo county, consists of township four south, of range twelve west. Statistics as per census :- Population, 665 .- 2 saw mills ; 4 merchants ; 16,502 bushels wheat, 170 bushels rye, 15,340 bushels corn, 37,915 bushels oats ; 545 pounds flax ; 719 head neat stock, 259 horses, 433 sheep, 1,113 hogs, 510 peltries.
Prairie river is a considerable tributary of the St. Joseph river, having its source in the southern confines of the county of Branch, in several small lakes, and discharging into the St. Joseph river, two miles south of the village of Three Rivers, after meandering in a north-westerly course through the counties of Branch and St. Joseph. It is be- tween 40 and 50 miles long, and is generally noted for the excellent interval lands, and the copious and superior mill privileges on the river and its tributaries.
Presque Isle river, an inferior stream of the Upper Penin- sula, that enters Lake Superior on its southern shore, north- west of Dead river.
Presque Isle river, an inconsiderable stream of the Up- per Peninsula, rising east of the Black river, in the Porcu- pine Mountains ; it flows north, and discharges into Lake Superior. The falls of this stream are a sublime spectacle.
Presque Isle Bay, an indentation of the southern coast of Lake Superior, between Garlic and Dead rivers.
Price river, an insignificant stream in Ray township, Macomb county, emptying into the Middle Branch of the Clinton river.
Prospect Hill, in the northern part of the county of Washtenaw, near Portage lake, and a recently laid out village, called " Saratoga of Michigan." It is quite ele-
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vated, and affords a fine view of Portage lake and the sur- rounding scenery. It is said to be 300 feet above the lake.
Putnam township, Livingston county, consists of town- ship one north, of range four east. Statistics as per cen- sus :- Population, 367 .- A grist mill, a saw mill ; 4,580 bushels wheat, 2,557 bushels corn, 2,217 bushels oats, 170 bushels buckwheat ; 136 head neat stock, 48 horses, 51 sheep, 473 hogs.
Putnam's creek, a rivulet in Cass county, rising in La- grange township, flowing west through Howard and Poka- gon townships, and discharging into the Dowagiake river.
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Quincy township, Branch county, consists of townships six, seven, and eight south, of range five west. Statistics as per census :- Population, 569 .- 1,630 bushels wheat, 210 bushels rye, 3,065 bushels corn, 1,880 bushels oats, 150 bushels buckwheat ; 201 pounds flax ; 282 head neat stock, 46 horses, 338 hogs.
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Rabbit river, a considerable branch of the Kalamazoo river, rising, by various tributaries, in the eastern and north- eastern border of Allegan, and south-eastern corner of Ot- tawa, and flowing in a westerly and south-westerly direc- tion, discharges into the Kalamazoo, seven miles (by land) from its mouth. It passes, in its various course, through a variety of soils and timber. There is considerable swampy, though much arable land on it and its branches.
Rabbit's Back, or Sitting Rabbit, an isolated cliff, north- west of Mackinac.
Raisinville post office, Monroe county, in Raisinville township, two and a half miles east of Dundee.
Raisinville township, Monroe county .- Statistics as per census :- Population, 614 .- 2 saw mills; 3,362 bushels wheat, 5,290 bushels corn, 13,441 bushels oats, 1,900 bush- els buck wheat ; 430 pounds flax ; 802 head neat stock, 225 horses, 265 sheep, 996 hogs.
Raisin township, Lenawee county, consists of township six south, of range four east, watered by the Raisin river. In this township is a post office of the same name. Statis- tics as per census :- Population, 1,076 .- 21,997 bushels wheat, 790 bushels rye, 19,421 bushels corn, 34,264 bush-
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els oats, 352 bushels buckwheat ; 1,770 pounds flax; 1,480 head neat stock, 207 horses, 382 sheep, 2,198 hogs.
Raisin river, heads in Wheatland township, Hillsdale county, and empties into Lake Erie, two and a half miles below Monroe, after passing, in an extremely winding course, through Jackson, Washtenaw, Lenawee, and Monroe coun- ties. It is the most serpentine stream of the Peninsula. Its course is first north-easterly, then south, then north-easter- ly, and south-easterly. In a direct line from its head to its mouth, it is 60 miles ; but by its meanderings, it is not less than 130 miles. It is one of the most important streams in Michigan ; affording as much hydraulic power as any other ; having high and beautiful banks, and an extreme- ly rapid current ; the bottom being a limestone rock, which produces a good quality of building material, is exten- sively quarried for that purpose. The water power. is improved to a considerable extent, and has been the means of building up respectable villages at Manchester, Clin- ton, Tecumseh, Adrian, Palmyra, Blissfield, Petersburgh, Dundee, and Monroe. Its name is derivedfrom the dense clusters of grape vines which formerly lined both banks.
Rapid river, a trifling stream of the Upper Peninsula, that discharges itself into Lake Huron.
Rapids of Grand river. (See Grand Rapids.)
Rapids of the St. Mary's Strait, (or Sault de Ste. Ma- rie,) the largest of the three which impede the naviga- tion of the strait of St. Mary, between Lakes Superior and Huron, and which puts a final stop to ship navigation of the northern lakes, is 15 miles below the foot of Lake Superior, and 90 north-west the island of Mackinac, in north latitude 46° 31'. The fall is 22 feet 10 inches in three fourths of a mile. Canoes and barges can go up with only half a load, the balance being transported over the portage. A ship and steamboat canal is about being constructed around them, and $50,000 have been appropriated by the State to that object. (See St. Mary's strait, both in this, and the First Part.)
R. aux Betsies is an inconsiderable stream, that rises in the Peninsula, in the western part of Mackinac county. It flows in a westerly course, and empties into Lake
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Michigan at a distance of about 30 miles north of the mouth of Monestee river.
R. aux Carpes is a considerable stream that rises in the north-eastern part of the Peninsula, in Mackinac county, and flowing north-west and north, empties into the strait of Mackinac, south-east from Bois Blanc island.
R. aux Ecorces, a small stream in Wayne county, empty- ing into the Detroit strait, between four and five miles south of the mouth of the Rouge river.
R. aux Miners, a superior stream, originating in a spur of the Porcupine mountains, in the Upper Peninsula, a few miles north of the Great Bay de Noquet, flowing north, and discharging into Lake Superior, a little east of Grand Isl- and Bay.
R. aux Misere. (See Miserable River.)
R. aux Sable, an inconsiderable stream of the Upper Peninsula, emptying into Lake Superior a few miles east of the mouth of the Chocolate river.
R. aux Sable, an inconsiderable stream that rises in Mackinac county, in the Peninsula, and flowing south-east, through Arenac county, empties into Saginaw Bay.
R. aux Trains, a stream that rises in the interior of the Upper Peninsula, north of Green Bay, and after flowing in a northerly direction, enters Lake Superior, a few miles east of Laughing-fish river.
R. aux Vase, a trifling stream in Monroe county, that empties into Lake Erie, between Bay creek and Otter creek, one and a half miles from the latter.
R. de la Pte. Mouille. (See Mouille creek.)
Ray township, in the northern part of Macomb county. Statistics as per census :- Population, 786 .- A grist mill, 4 saw mills ; a merchant ; 4,222 bushels wheat, 353 bush- els rye, 4,628 bushels corn, 2,408 bushels oats, 735 bushels buckwheat ; 667 lbs. flax ; 766 head neat stock, 99 horses, 512 sheep, 792 hogs.
Reading township, Hillsdale county, is comprised in townships seven, eight, and nine south, range four west. Statistics as per census :- Population, 227 .- 715 bushels wheat, 613 bushels corn ; 160 head neat stock, 9 horses, 131 hogs.
Readingville post office is located in the south-east cor-
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ner of Washtenaw county, in Ypsilanti township, on Paint creek, near Oakville.
Red Cedar river. This is a considerable stream, ori- ginating in the interior of Livingston county, through which it passes in a north-westerly course, into Ingham; thence across the north part of Ingham, where it discharges into the Grand river in township four north, of range two west, about midway between Grindstone creek and Looking-glass river. It is 35 yards wide, and can be ascended by small boats 25 or 30 miles.
Red Carp river originates in the interior of the eastern part of the Upper Peninsula, and, flowing north, enters " The Bay," in Lake Superior, near its outlet.
Redford, a village, located in a township of the same name, in the county of Wayne, on the North branch of the Rouge. It contains a post office, a store, 2 saw mills, a flour mill with 2 run of stone, and 2 taverns. The settle- ment is small. It is situated one half mile from the Grand River road, on the road from Detroit to Farmington. Dis- tant 13 miles from Detroit.
Redford township, Wayne county, consists of township one south, range ten east; watered by the North branch of the Rouge, and Powers' creek. Population, 1,021.
Red river, the largest branch of the Clinton river emp- tying on its southern shore. It has its source in several branches, rising in the south-east part of Oakland county, and collecting its waters and flowing north-easterly through the south-west part of the county of Macomb, and enter- ing the Clinton river, six miles above Mt. Clemens.
Rice creek, a considerable tributary of the Kalamazoo river, rising in Jackson county, and flowing west through a part of Calhoun county, into the Kalamazoo river, at the village of Marshall. The Indian name for this stream is Nimuisepee.
Richfield township, Lapeer county, consists of township eight north, range eight east, and the northern half of township seven north, range eight east.
Richland township, Kalamazoo county, consists of the large and beautiful prairie called Gull Prairie, Gull Lake, "and the villages of Geloster and Millport. Statistics as per census :- Population, 720 .- A grist mill, 5 saw mills ; 4 merchants ; 12,970 bushels wheat, 510 bushels rye, 7,300
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bushels corn, 37,625 bushels oats; 970 head neat stock, 162 horses, 17 sheep, 1,062 hogs.
Ridgeway is a village and post office in the county of Lenawee, situated on the Monroe turnpike, five miles east of Tecumseh. It contains a store, tavern, and steam saw mill. Distant 15 miles from Adrian.
River of Islands, an inconsiderable stream, west of Con- nor's creek, in the Upper Peninsula. It rises in the Porcu- pine mountains, and discharges into Lake Superior.
Rives township, Jackson county, is comprised in town- ship one south, range one west.
Robinson's Lake, a body of water in the central part of the county of Kent, in the great bend of the Grand river. It contains perhaps 600 acres.
Rochester village and post office, Oakland county, town- ship of Avon, pleasantly situated in the eastern part of the county, at the forks of Paint creek and Clinton river. It contains a flouring mill with 2 run of stone, a saw mill, an iron foundery, a tannery, 4 stores, a druggist, 3 physicians. There is a considerable water power in the vicinity of Rochester. Clinton river and Paint creek both furnish mill sites that might be very profitably employed, and capi- tal likewise well invested. Distant 10 miles from Pontiac, 25 north Detroit.
Rocky river, a stream in the western part of St. Joseph county, discharging into the St. Joseph river.
Rollin, a village and post office in a township of the same name, situated on Bean creek, in the western part of the county of Lenawee, has a flouring mill with 2 run of stone, a saw mill, a store, and a physician. It is a new but growing place. It has considerable water power in it. The State road passes through, and it is expected that the Erie and Kalamazoo Rail-road will pass through it. Distant 16 miles from Adrian, and 80 south-west Detroit.
Rollin township, Lenawee county, consists of township six south, range one east, watered by Tiffin's creek. Sta- tistics as per census :- Population, 508 .- A grist mill, 2 saw mills; 2 merchants ; 4,476 bushels wheat, 3,154 bush- els corn, 1,305 bushels oats, 170 lbs. flax : 262 head neat stock, 27 horses, 20 sheep, 615 hogs.
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