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 31
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Rome township, Lenawee county, consists of township six south, range two east, watered by the head branches of
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Beaver creek. Stasistics as per census :- Population, 826. 9,221 bushels wheat, 5,937 bushels corn, 3,935 bushels oats, 120 bushels buckwheat, 1,035 lbs. flax ; 562 head neat stock, 36 horses, 60 sheep, 1,059 hogs.
Romeo village and post office, Macomb county, Wash- ington township, pleasantly situated one mile from the north branch of Clinton river. Here is an academy, 4 stores, an iron foundery, a tannery, a lawyer and 2 physi- cians. The academy here is in a flourishing condition ; number of pupils 50. Two rail-roads are to pass through it. Romeo is surrounded by an excellent farming coun- try. Distant 22 miles from Mount Clemens, and 32 north Detroit.
Romulus township, Wayne county, consists of township three south, range nine east. Population, 389.
Rose township, Oakland county, is comprised in town- ship four north, of range seven east. Population, 202.
Rouge river (of Grand river,) has its source in two small lakes in the county of Montcalin, and flows south-west through the counties of Montcalm, Oceana, and Kent, and empties into Grand river 12 miles from the mouth of the Thorn Apple, and six miles above the Grand Rapids. It is 40 miles long, and has its banks shaded with lofty forests of white pine.
Rouge river (of the Detroit,) consists of three principal tributaries, the north, the west, and the south branches, which severally take their rise in the southern part of Oak- land and western part of Washtenaw counties, and after flowing in a south-westerly course, they unite in the eastern part of Wayne, and discharge into the Detroit five miles below the city of Detroit. It is navigable for small vessels to Dearbornville. Towards its mouth it is deep and slug- gish, but the greater portion of it is very rapid, having great descent, and, with its numerous branches, furnishing almost any assignable amount of hydraulic power. It is the larg- est stream flowing into the Detroit. Its length, in a direct line from its head branches, is about 30 miles, though by its meanderings, much longer.
Round Island, an inconsiderable island in the northern part of Lake Michigan.
Round Lake, a trifling body of water of this name, about a mile north of the Looking-glass river, in the south-east- 30*
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ern part of Clinton county, surrounded mostly by marshy land.
Round Lake, in the south-eastern part of Van Buren county, near the county line, is a collection of water of per- haps 500 acres in extent.
Royalton, a village and post office in a township of the same name, in the county of Berrien, is situated on the St. Joseph river, three miles from its mouth. It is a small set- tlement, with a pleasant location, containing 2 stores, a physician, and perhaps 100 inhabitants. It is distant three miles south of St. Joseph.
Royalton township, Berrien county, consists of township five south, ranges seventeen, eighteen, and nineteen west. Statistics as per census :- Population, 175 .- 2 saw mills ; a merchant; 42 bushels wheat, 1,170 bushels corn ; 100 head neat stock, 20 horses, 215 hogs.
Royal Oak, a village and post office in the south-eastern part of the county of Oakland, containing a banking asso- ciation, a steam saw mill and a store. Though this place is now small, it has the prospect of being a place of some importance. This is a station of the Detroit and Pontiac rail-road, which passes through it. Distant 15 miles from Detroit.
Royal Oak township, consists of township one north, range eleven east, watered by the Red river, and crossed by the Saginaw road. Population, 825.
Ruldaus creek, a tributary of the Rouge, in Wayne coun- ty, rising west of Campbell's creek, and running parallel and emptying into the Rouge on its northern side,. three miles from its mouth.
Rush creek, a very small rivulet in the eastern part of Ot- tawa county, that empties into Grand river.
Rush Island, an islet lying at the mouth of Detroit river, below Grosse island.
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Saddle Bags Island. (Vide Isle St. Vital.)
Saginaw Bay, the largest bay in the State, and the largest of the inlets that serve to indent the shores of Lake Huron. It is in the eastern part of the State, and is com- puted to be 60 miles in length and 30 in width, and has a number of small islands, the largest of which is Shawan-
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gunk island, situated near the centre. The navigation is safe for vessels of any burthen, and its numerous coves and islands present some of the best harbors on the lake. 'The Saginaw is the principal stream emptying into it.
SAGINAW CITY, a village, the seat of justice for Saginaw county, situated near its geographical centre, on an elevated location of about 30 feet above the water, on the western bank of the Saginaw river, 23 miles from its mouth, com- manding a handsome prospect of the river above and below it. This site was formerly occupied as a trading post, and during the late war by a military force. Here is a post office, a deputy collector's office, a banking association, a printing office, 2 dry goods stores, a hardware store, 2 warehouses, a tannery, one steam saw mill in operation and another erecting, a druggist, a lawyer, and 2 physi- cians. There are owned here a steamboat, a sloop and a schooner. The village is very recent, having been com- menced only three years since under the auspices of a com- pany for its settlement, but it is remarkably flourishing. Many buildings were erected the two past seasons. As far as natural and artificial advantages are concerned, the loca- tion is favorable to become a place of future importance. It is the termination of the Detroit and Saginaw turnpike, and is expected to be of a rail-road whose construction is in contemplation. Distant 100 miles north-west of Detroit, and 626 north-west Washington city. Population estima- ted at 400.
Saginaw, (Lower.) (See " Lower Saginaw.")
Saginaw river is one of the largest rivers watering the Peninsula of Michigan. It is formed by the confluence of several large tributaries from opposite and different regions of the State. These tributaries are the Cass from the east- the Flint and Shiawassee from the south-and the Tittiba- wassee from the north-west-all of which are described un- der their proper heads. The length of the Saginaw, from the mouth of the Flint, where it may be said to commence, is about 25 miles in a direct line to its mouth, though the length of some of its branches, following their various meanderings, exceeds more than four times the length of the main stream. It pursues a north-easterly course, empty- ing into the head of Saginaw Bay in the county of Saginaw. It varies in depth from 25 to 30 feet. Its waters are rather
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sluggish, which causes the country in some places on its banks to be unhealthy at particular seasons of the year. There is a sand bar in the river below Saginaw city. The water cumulates upon it sometimes to the height of eight feet, and falls at others to four and a half. The usual height is from five to six feet. This cumulation of water is owing entirely to the winds upon the lake. A north-east- erly wind frequently raises it three feet above its usualflevel. Its name originated from the name of the Sauks, a tribe of Indians who formerly dwelt upon its banks. It is under- stood that the word Saginaw signifies the same as "Sauks land." This tribe was nearly exterminated by the combin- ed forces of the Chippewas and Ottawas. The battle was fought on a small island in the river below Saginaw city. They were so much reduced in this defeat, that they found it expedient to quit the country. They afterward settled on the west of Lake Michigan, where they exist to this day.
Sailors Encampment Island, a small island south of Su- gar island, and north-west of St. Joseph island, in the St. Mary's strait. A British vessel was frozen in and wintered here in 1817. (Neebish Isle.)
Salmon Trout river, a stream that rises in the high lands of the Upper Peninsula, between the head waters of the St. John's and Huron rivers. Its course is north-easterly, and it discharges its waters into Lake Superior, on its southern shore.
Salem township, Washtenaw county, consists of township one south, range seven east, containing Salem and Summit post offices. Statistics as per census :- Population, 1,354. 2 saw mills ; 1,264 bushels wheat, 455 bushels rye, 15,865 bushels corn, 16,530 bushels oats, 1,000 bushels buck- wheat ; 1,000 head neat stock, 226 horses, 875 sheep, 1,927 hogs.
Saline river, a stream rising in the interior, and near the centre of Washtenaw county, in the township of Lodi, and emptying into the River Raisin, in the township of Raisin- ville, Monroe county. Its course is south-easterly, and its length, in a direct line, 20 miles.
Saline river, a rivulet rising within a mile of the eastern border of Macomb county, and flowing south through it, and emptying into the northern part of Lake St. Clair. Its length does not exceed ten miles.
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Saline township, Washtenaw county, consists of town- ship four south, range five east. Statistics as per census : -Population, 1,130 .- A grist mill, 3 saw mills; 4 mer- chants ; 9,130 bushels wheat, 8,640 bushels corn, 15,921 bushels oats, 55 bushels buckwheat ; 778 head neat stock, 124 horses, 177 sheep, 174 hogs.
Saline, a village and post office, in a township of the same name, pleasantly situated on the east bank of the Sa- line river, and on the Chicago road, in the county of Wash- tenaw. Here is a church for methodists, a banking asso- ciation, 3 stores, 2 physicians. Near the village is a flour- ing mill and saw mill. Valuable salt springs have been dis- covered in the vicinity. It is in the midst of a fine farm- ing country. Distant 9 miles from Ann Arbour, and 40 from Detroit.
Salt river, discharging into Lake St. Clair, on the north, has its origin and extent in townships three and four north, range fourteen east.
Salt river rises in Isabella county, and flowing east into Midland, empties into the Tittibawassee river, ten miles above the mouth of the Chippewa river.
Sandstone township, Jackson county, consists of town- ships one and two south, of ranges two and three west.
Sandstone creck, a tributary of the Grand river, in the county of Jackson, rising near Spring Arbour, and flowing north into Grand river.
Sandy Bay lies on the eastern coast of the Peninsula, in Mackinac county, north of Thunder bay. It is inclosed by the shores of the Peninsula on the one side, and three islands intercepting it from the lake.
Sandy creek, a stream running south-easterly through a part of Monroe county, rising and flowing between the River Raisin and Stony creek, and discharging into a part of Plaisance Bay. It is perhaps ten miles in length.
Sandy Lakes are several bodies of water, lying a little south of the geographical centre of Kalamazoo county, the waters of which are conducted into the St. Joseph river.
Sandy river. (See R. aux Sable.)
Sandy river, an inferior stream about ten miles long, rising in a small lake in Fayette township, Hillsdale coun- ty, and flowing north-east into the St. Joseph river.
Sandy river, a small stream that rises in the Penin-
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sula in the south-western part of Mackinac county, flows in a westerly direction, and empties into Lake Michigan, at a distance of perhaps 20 miles north of Pere Marquette river.
Sandy river, of the Upper Peninsula, rises in the high lands which divide the waters of Lakes Superior and Michi- gan, and east of the Monestce river. It flows in a souther- ly direction, and empties its waters into Lake Michigan, at its northern extremity. The soil on its banks indicates its name.
SANDWICH, a village in the Province of Upper Canada, in Sandwich township, Essex county, very pleasantly situated on the east bank of the Detroit strait, three miles below the city of Detroit. It is the seat of justice for the county, and contains a post office, court house, jail, a catholic and epis- copal church, one steam flouring mill, a carding and fulling mill, brewery, 3 taverns, 1 physician, 6 lawyers, and a respectable school. It is a small village, but beauti- fully located, has considerable wealth and some trade.
Saratoga of Michigan, a village located on the border of Portage lake, in the county of Washtenaw, six miles from Dexter, and 55 from Detroit. It is surrounded with pure water, and chalybeate springs are reported to have been dis- covered in its vicinity. In the rear of the village is Pros- pect Hill, which rises 300 feet above the lake. The settle- ment is yet in its infancy.
Saugatuc post office, Allegan county, on the Michigan city and Grand Haven post route. (See Newark.)
SAULT DE STE. MARIE, (commonly written Sault St. Mary, and pronounced Soo St. Mary, ) a village on the south, or American shore of the rapids of St. Mary's strait, has a post office, and is the seat of justice for the county of Chippewa. It is elevated and pleasantly situated, and was formerly the site of an ancient French Fort and military station. It contains a jail, catholic church, a church for baptists, in which is also kept a missionary school, both for white and Indian children. This school receives the annual appro- priation of $1,000 from the general government for the sup- port of an Indian school, agreeably to the treaty of Fon du Lac. The school is generally well attended, and the In- dian children exhibit an unusual fondness for learning. The day school is attended by about twenty pupils. The
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methodists have a house of worship and a missionary school. They have had great success and have been very useful. A school is kept in the fort, in which are taught the chil- dren of the citizens and officers. There is a banking asso- ciation located here, three stores kept for retailing, one for the garrison, and one belongs to the American fur compa- ny. Steamboats occasionally visit here in the summer with parties of pleasure. Vessels from Lake Superior come to the head of the rapids, and in the course of the summer per- haps twelve or fifteen vessels from the lower lakes come up to the foot of them. Those with cargoes destined for Lake Superior, unload and transport the same to the head of the rapids by land, where they are again re-shipped. A mail is received at the post office once a week in the summer, and once in six weeks in the winter season. Here is established an agency of the American fur company. There is an agency of the Hudson Bay fur company at the settlement on the opposite side. Here is Fort Brady, and at present garrisoned by two companies. It was established in 1822. The summers are pleasant, though subject to the most vio- lent changes ; the winters are very severe, and mercury sometimes congeals with cold. It is not uncommon for the thermometer to stand 25° and 30° below zero. (See Cli- mate, First Part.) Navigation opens for vessels the first of May, and closes the 20th of November. The river does not generally freeze till December, but it keeps closed until the month of May. Very few vegetables or grains are raised, although the soil is said to be susceptible. The inhabitants depend, for provisions, manufactures, &c., al- most exclusively on the imports received in exchange for furs, fish, and sugar. Fish of various kinds, especially white fish, are caught here in great numbers, and of the best quality. (See St. Mary's strait. ) The population is partly American and Canadian, but mostly French, and a mixture of French and Indians, or Mestizoes. They employ them- selves mostly in a trade with the Indians for furs, and in the fisheries, which are very profitable. The permanent popu- lation is estimated at 800, though it is much increased at some seasons by the influx of fur traders and Indians. The distance to Detroit is estimated at about 400 miles, to Mackinac 90, and to Washington city 928. (See Rapids of St. Mary's strait.)
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Scio township, Washtenaw county, consists of township two south, range five east, watered by the Huron river, Honey and Mill creeks. Scio post office is in the northern part of the township. Statistics as per census :- Popula- tion, 1,442 .- 2 grist mills, 3 saw mills ; 6 merchants.
Scipio township, Hillsdale county, consists of township five south, of range three west. Statistics as per census :- Population, 469 .- A saw mill ; a merchant ; 5,078 bushels wheat, 3,466 bushels corn, 3,484 bushels oats, 381 bushels buckwheat ; 60 pounds flax ; 294 head neat stock, 70 hor- ses, 20 sheep, 356 hogs.
Scipio post office is in a small settlement, in a township of the same name, in the county of Hillsdale. Here are per- haps 10 or 12 families.
Schoolcraft Mountain, between Presque Isle and Granite Point, Lake Superior.
Schoolcraft, a village and post office, Kalamazoo county, pleasantly situated in the south-western part of the county, near the centre of Prairie Ronde, and in the midst of a rich and fertile farming country. Here are a banking associa- tion, 3 stores, 2 lawyers, and 2 physicians, together with the usual supply of mechanics. It is a healthy and thriving village. Distant 14 miles from Kalamazoo, and 160 west of Detroit.
Sebewa creek originates in the north-western part of Eaton county, and flows north into Ionia, in the south-eastern part of which, it discharges into the Grand river. It is a good mill stream, 20 miles long, and for the last four miles of its course very rapid, with a hard, stony bottom.
Seneca township, Lenawee county, is embraced in town- ship eight south, ranges one and two east. Statistics as per census :- Population, 431 .- A merchant ; 4,925 bushels wheat, 100 bushels rye, 3,564 bushels corn, 2,950 bushels oats, 127 bushels buckwheat ; 230 pounds flax ; 1 ton pot- ashes ; 309 head neat stock, 33 horses, 12 sheep, 259 hogs.
Seven Mile creek, an inferior rivulet, running in a south- westerly course across the north-west corner of Calhoun county, into the Kalamazoo river.
Sharon township, Washtenaw county, consists of town- ship three south, range three east. It has within it a post office of the same name. Statistics as per census :- Popu- lation, 782 .- 2 saw mills; 2 merchants; 34,423 bushels
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wheat, 10,340 bushels corn, 20,055 bushels oats; 1,818 head neat stock, 130 horses, 59 sheep, 1,030 hogs.
Shawboaway's village, on the Chenoux channel.
Shawangunk Island is located near the centre of Sagi- naw Bay, opposite Point aux Sable, about 15 miles from the eastern and western shore, and, 30 from the mouth of Saginaw river. It is by far the largest island in the Bay.
Shelby township, Macomb county, consists of township three north, range twelve east; watered by Clinton river. Sta- tistics as per census :- Population, 1,153 .- A grist mill, 3 saw mills; 3 merchants; 18,855 bushels wheat, 2,616 bushels rye, 8,508 bushels corn, 9,810 bushels oats, 2,800 bushels buckwheat ; 14,455 lbs. flax; 876 head neat stock, 179 horses, 1,076 sheep, 1,193 hogs; 3,268 yards woollen and cotton goods.
Sheldrake river, an inconsiderable stream of the Upper Peninsula, that flows east, and discharges its waters into " The Bay," near the outlet of Lake Superior, and about 4 miles north of the mouth of the Tonquamenon river.
Sheridan township, Calhoun county, is comprised in townships one and two south, range four west ; watered by Rice creek, and containing the village of Waterburg. Statistics as per census :- Population, 353 .- A saw mill ; 3,324 bushels wheat, 1,520 bushels corn, 2,740 bushels oats ; 50lbs. flax ; 342 head neat stock, 47 horses, 396 hogs.
Sherman township is situated in the south-eastern part of the county of St. Joseph, south of the townships of Colon and Nottawa, and east of White Pigeon ; watered by Prai- rie creek. Here is a post office of the same name. Popu- lation, 1,043.
Sherwood township, Branch county, consists of township five south, ranges seven and eight west. Statistics as per census :- Population, 217 .- A saw mill; 2,169 bushels wheat, 2,409 bushels corn, 1,650 bushels oats, 243 bushels buckwheat ; 35 lbs. flax; 229 head neat stock, 28 horses, 362 hogs.
Sherwood's Mills is located on Pine creek, near its junc- tion with the Kalamazoo river, in the county of Allegan. It is the oldest settlement in the county, and contains 2 saw mills, a flour mill with 2 run of stone, a store, and a few dwellings. The settlement is growing. Distant 9 miles from Allegan. .
Shiawassee is a small village recently laid out, a little
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south-east of the centre of the county of Shiawassee, and on the Shiawassee river. Here is a flouring mill with 4 run of stone, a saw mill, 2 stores, a physician, a lawyer, and a few mechanics. The village is flourishing. Distant 75 miles north-west Detroit.
Shiawassee river. This is a superior stream of the Pe- ninsula, and a large tributary of the Saginaw river. It is more than 50 miles in a direct line from its source to its junction with the Flint, though its winding course would probably increase it to 75 miles or more. It is a quick and beautiful stream, rising by various sources in the interior of Livingston and Oakland counties, watering all the northern part of the former and the north-western part of the latter, with the southern part of Genesee, where it collects itself near the village of Byron, and meandering through the county of Shiawassee in a north-westerly, and the south of Saginaw, in a northerly course, joins the Flint, to form the Saginaw river. The intervals towards its mouth are low. It is boatable to the centre of Shiawassee county. On it and its tributaries, are many desirable mill sites, improved and unimproved, and lands of a rich and imperishable soil, both open and timbered, that may suit the fancy of every agriculturist and manufacturer.
Silvan township, Washtenaw county, is comprised in township two south, range three east ; watered by the North branch of Mill creek. Here is a post office of the same name. Statistics as per census :- Population, 480 .- A grist mill ; a merchant; 6,893 bushels wheat, 2,530 bush- els corn, 8,280 bushels oats, 1,409 bushels buckwheat ; 101 lbs. flax; 576 head neat stock, 62 horses, 98 sheep, 660 hogs.
Silver creek township, Cass county, consists of township five south, range sixteen west; watered by the Dowa- giake river. Statistics as per census :- Population, 108 .- 115 bushels wheat, 486 bushels corn, 57 bushels oats, 125 bushels buckwheat ; 83 head neat stock, 34 horses, 48 sheep, 427 hogs.
Silver Lake, in Waterford township, Oakland county, is located between Thompson's and Vananden's lakes. In extent it is diminutive.
Sister Lakes, are several bodies of water, lying on and near the north-western corner of Cass, and on the border of Van Buren counties.
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Skonawba river, a river of the Upper Peninsula, rising in the highlands of the interior, near the sources of the Chocolate river, and emptying into Green Bay.
Skull cave. (Michillimacinac island.)
Sleeping Bear. This is a curiosity, interesting both to the mariner and traveller. It is located on the eastern coast of Lake Michigan, between Point aux Betsies and Great Tra- verse Bay, 30 miles north of the former and 50 south of the latter. It consists of a conical cliff of white sand, with a circumference at the base of about two miles, and rising to an altitude of between 300 and 400 feet, and per- haps higher. On the apex of this cliff is a clump of pine trees and shrubs of various evergreens, clustered together in such a manner, as, by contrast with the whiteness of the sand below, to resemble a black bear in a sleeping posture. It is supposed that this cone of sand was formed by the ac- tion of the lake winds upon the beach, causing the sand to drift into this shape. It is seen by the mariners of the lake, a distance of 35 or 40 miles.
Smithfield post office, Jackson county, in the western part of the county, on the road from Jackson to Waterburg, and near the St. Joseph road.
Society Lakes, (thus named from their proximity,) are several little lakes, in the vicinity of each other, no one of which exceeds perhaps 50 acres in extent, lying in High- land township, Oakland county, south-west of White lake.
Somerset township, Hillsdale county, consists of town- ship five south, range one west. It contains some of the highest land in the State. (See Wheatland.) Statistics as per census :- Population, 441 .- 2 saw mills ; a merchant ; 3,507 bushels wheat, 2,222 bushels corn, 4,160 bushels oats, 228 bushels buckwheat; 75 lbs. flax ; 326 head neat stock, 40 horses, 93 sheep, 603 hogs.
South Black river. (See Black river, South.)
South branch of South Black river. (See Black river, South. )
Southerland, a village in Upper Canada, on the St. Clair strait, opposite the village of Palmer.
Southfield township, Oakland county, consists of town- ship one north, range ten east; watered by the head branches of the North branch of the Rouge. In it, are Tonquish post office, and one of the same name of the
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