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 32
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township, together with the village of Franklin, in its north- western corner. Population, 956.
South Haven township, Van Buren county, is comprised in township one south, ranges fifteen, sixteen, and seven- teen west, and township two south, ranges sixteen and seventeen west. Population, 65.
Spring Arbour, village and post office, in a township of the same name, county of Jackson, situated near one of the head branches of the Kalamazoo river, at the site of an ancient Indian village, and in the midst of burr oak plains. Here is a store, 2 physicians, and a few families. Distant 9 miles from Jackson, and 89 from Detroit.
Spring Arbour township, Jackson county, consists of township three south, range two west ; crossed by the head branches of the Grand and Kalamazoo rivers. It contains the villages of Barry and Spring Arbour, and an Indian village in the southern part.
Springfield township, Oakland county, embraces town- ship four north, range eight east. Population, 403.
Springville, a village situated in the northern part of the county of Lenawee, contains a post office, store, and a few families. Distant 12 miles from Adrian.
Spring Wells township, Wayne county, is situated on the Detroit and Rouge rivers, and south of the township of Greenfield. Population, 960.
Square Lake, a diminutive body of water in Bloomfield township, Oakland county.
Stirling post office, Washtenaw county, on the Ann Ar- bour and Ionia post route.
Stirling, (formerly Jefferson) township, Macomb county, township two north, range twelve east. Statistics as per census :- Population, 523 .- 2 saw mills; 2,322 bushels wheat, 232 bushels rye, 1,444 bushels corn, 1,711 bushels oats, 190 lbs. flax; 305 head neat stock, 39 horses, 337 sheep, 445 hogs.
Stockbridge township, Ingham county, consists of town- ship one north, of range two east.
Stone Island, an islet in the Detroit strait north-west of Fort Malden, and between Grosse island and the Canadian shore.
Stone Lake, a little body of water in Lagrange town- ship, county of Cass, one half mile south of Cassopolis.
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Stony Point is a cape on the border of Monroe county, extending into Lake Erie, in a south-easterly course, and is the most extensive projection of land in this part of the lake, north of North Cape. It is located between the mouths of Swan and Stony creeks.
Stony creek is a stream of Lake Erie, lying mostly in the county of Monroe, but rising in Ypsilanti, the most south- easterly township of Washtenaw, and flowing south-easter- ly through Monroe county, discharges into Lake Erie at the village of Brest, five miles north-east of the mouth of the Raisin River. Its length, in a direct line, is about 30 miles.
Stony creek, a stream rising near the central part of the county of Clinton, and flowing in a westerly course into Ionia county, and discharging into the Maple river, two miles from its mouth. Its length is about 25 miles.
Stony creek, a stream that rises on the eastern confines of Oakland county, crossing into Macomb and re-crossing in- to Oakland county, where it empties into the Clinton river. Its general course is south, following the boundary of Oak- land and Macomb.
Stony creek, a village situated on the north side of a stream of the same name, in the eastern border of the coun- ty of Oakland, and township of Avon. Here is a baptist church, a flouring mill, with 2 run of stone, a saw mill, a fulling mill, a carding machine, and a store. Distant 11 miles north-east of Pontiac, and 26 from Detroit.
Stony Lake, a small lake situated in Oakland county, in the centre of township five north, range ten east.
Strait of Mackinac. (See " Michillimacinac Strait.")
Strawberry Plains are in the township of Webster, in the county of Washtenaw, east of Portage lake.
Sturges' Prairie, is a rich tract of prairie land, in the township of Sherman, St. Joseph county, crossed by the Chicago road. Sherman post office is on its north-eastern border.
Sturgeon river, a trifling stream of the Upper Peninsula,. that empties into Kew-y-wee-non bay.
St. Clair Lake. (See " Lake St. Clair.")
St. Clair, a strait uniting Lakes Huron and St. Clair. It is a large, noble stream, receiving, from the southern ex- tremity of Lake Huron, the accumulated waters of Superior, Michigan and Huron, and conducting them in a south- 31*
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westerly direction, when, towards its latter course, it breaks into no less than six principal, and numerous smaller chan- nels, and disembogues into Lake St. Clair on its north-east- ern shore These channels are the " channel a Carte," on the east, and, successively, Squirrel channel, Walpole chan- nel, Eagle channel, Turtle channel, and the North chan- nel, which latter, on the Michigan side, is the only one navigated in ascending and descending the strait. The islands are few and trifling, except those made by the chan- nels just mentioned. These are Stromness, Harsons, and Walpole, of which, the latter is by far the largest, and be- longs to the British. The tributaries are none on its east- ern shore ; but on the west, it receives from St. Clair coun- ty, the Dulude or Black, the Pine and Belle rivers, all streams valuable to the Peninsula. It has several flourish- ing villages on its banks, at Fort Gratiot, Port Huron, at the mouth of Black river, Palmner, Hallville, and Newport on the Michigan, and Southerland on the Canada shore. The length of the St. Clair river is 40 miles, with 35 miles of ship channel, and, on an average, one half mile in breadth. The depth is, on an average, 50 feet, and the cur- rent three miles per hour, with an entire descent of 13 feet, as near as has been ascertained. Its descent for 30 miles, is four inches per mile. It is an exceedingly beautiful stream, of clear, transparent waters, easy of navigation, meandering majestically through a region of country de- lightful by nature, and occasionally improved by the enter- prise and arts of civilized life ; alternately regaling the mind with a view of the romantic wilds of nature, and the rich plantations of the husbandman, teeming with the fruits of domestic and agricultural improvements. As to the gene- ral character of its features, in other respects, it resembles the strait of Detroit.
St Clair township, St. Clair county, on the strait of St. Clair, watered by Pine river. Statistics as per census :- Population, 501 .- 2 saw mills ; 6 merchants ; 1,240 bush- els wheat, 22 bushels rye, 289 bushels corn, 3,150 bushels oats, 170 bushels buckwheat, 60 lbs. flax ; 212 head neat stock, 188 hogs.
St. Helena Island, a small island near the strait of Mack- inac, in Lake Michigan. Here is a good harbor.
St. Joseph Island is a considerable body of land, in the
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St. Mary's strait. There are the remains of an old fort and establishment of the British government, on its southern ex- tremity.
St. Joseph Lake. (See " Baubese Lake.")
St. Joseph township, Berrien county, is comprised in township four south, ranges seventeen, eighteen, and nine- teen west. Statistics as per census :- Population, 599 .- A saw mill ; 10 merchants; 70 head neat stock, 55 horses, 32 hogs.
St. Joseph river (of the Maumee.) This stream origi- nates north of the central part of the county of Hillsdale, in numerous branches, and flowing in a southerly course, collects its waters on the southern border of Hillsdale; it then takes a south-westerly direction, across the north-west corner of the State of Ohio, (Williams county,) into La- grange county in Indiana; and, pursuing the same course, forms a junction at Fort Wayne, with the St. Mary's river, which, together, constitute the Maumee river, or Miami, of Lake Erie. Its numerous head tributaries abundantly water the whole southern half of Hillsdale county, furnishing many and valuable mill streams. The principal of these is the Little St. Joseph river, which rises in the western part, and flows south-easterly into the main stream. Without esti- mating the devious course of the St. Joseph, it is upwards of 60 miles, in a direct line, from the source to its mouth.
St. Joseph river of Lake Michigan, takes its rise in the north-eastern part of the county of Hillsdale, and flowing north-west through Hillsdale, south-west through Calhoun, Branch, St. Joseph and Cass counties, into the State of In- diana, thence west through Elkhart and St. Joseph coun- ties in that State; thence passing north-west into and through the county of Berrien in the State of Michigan, discharges its waters into Lake Michigan. In length and volume of water, it will rank as the second in the Peninsu- la. Its course is very serpentine and irregular, and it has been estimated by some to be 250 miles in length, following its many deviations ; but from the source to the lake, in a direct line, it would not exceed 120. It is navigable for keel boats, to Lockport, 130 miles. The breadth, near its mouth, is one fourth of a mile, and its depth from 9 to 14 feet. At the mouth is a good harbor, which, when the pier is finished, will be sufficiently capacious for any assigned
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number of vessels, and to answer all the purposes which a lake port in future may require. There is a sand bar at the mouth, upon which is six feet water. The general govern- ment have appropriated $35,000 to remove it, and improve the harbor, and operations have already commenced. The St. Joseph river is a beautiful stream, of gradual descent and equable current. It is not often known to rise at its mouth more than 18 inches, even in times of the highest freshets, although far above, it rises from four to six feet. It admits a number of considerable streams, many of which water a rich and fertile country, and furnish fine mill sites for manufacturing. Among the largest are the Elkhart, the Little Elkhart, Pigeon, Prairie, Hog, Pine creek, Port- age river, McInlerfer's creek, Dowagiake and Pawpaw.
The soil on the intervals is eminently rich, and generally uncommonly deep, and gives the greatest luxuriance to every agricultural production. From the mouth to the vil- lage of Niles, the intervals are very heavily timbered ; then, in passing up the stream to its source, are oak openings, and occasionally, prairies. (See " St Joseph river," p. 85.)
ST. JOSEPH, the seat of justice for the county of Berrien, and in a township of the same name, is a village handsome- ly situated at the confluence of the St. Joseph river with Lake Michigan. It has a jail, bank and banking associa- tion, a church for episcopalians, 2 steam saw mills, post office, a printing office from which is issued a weekly news- paper, 4 large forwarding and commission stores, 10 dry goods stores, an extensive grocery establishment, a drug- gist, 3 physicians, and 4 practicing attorneys. It is eligi- bly located for commerce, and is the first of that character on the western side of the Peninsula. There are three steamboats owned here, though the amount of other shipping is very trifling. Prospectively, there may be said to be a good harbor ; $35,000 have been appropriated by the general government to improve it. A pier and other improvements are constructing, and 2000 feet of wharf is already built. A bridge across the St. Joseph, at this place, is now being constructed at an expense of $15,000. The harbor at present admits vessels drawing 62 feet of water. Here ter- minates the State turnpike, and the State rail-road from De- troit. Several companies have charters to connect this place with Cassopolis, New Buffalo, Niles, &c., by rail-
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roads. Whether, or when, they will be constructed, is un- determined. St. Joseph is elevated from 45 to 60 feet above the harbor, and commands a pleasant view of Lake Michigan. It is at present very thriving, and increasing in both wealth and population. The latter of which is said to have doubled within two years past. Its population is esti- mated at 1,200 or 1,500. Distant 180 miles from Detroit, and 706 from Washington city.
St. John's river, a considerable stream of the Upper Peninsula, which rises in the high-lands of the interior, and after flowing in a north-westerly course, discharges into Lake Superior, on its southern shore, between the mouths of the Salmon Trout and Barsalo rivers.
St. Mary's Strait, (Indian name Poiwateeg.) This strait unites Lake Superior, (of which it is the outlet,) with Lake Huron. It is a large stream, rising on the south-east- ern extremity of Lake Superior, and, after conducting its waters in a south-easterly course, disembogues into Lake- Huron by three mouths, called the East, the Middle, and the West straits. There are four large islands in this strait, which, together with several smaller ones, serve to block up its waters, and divert its course into a number of de- vious windings, and cross channels, in their passage to Lake Huron. The first, in order, after leaving the Bay of Supe- rior, is Sugar Island, the next is Sailors Encampment Island and Lime Kiln island, then comes the St. Joseph, and lastly, Drummond's Island at its mouth. They are large, and although interspersed in the successive order here men- tioned, those contiguous, have but small channels between them.
This stream is the most difficult to navigate of any in or around the State, if not in the world; and no one but an experienced pilot can ascend or descend it without the most imminent hazard. This is attributable to the dense fogs, common to the warmer season, and to the multitude of is- lands, shoals, and sunken rocks, in every part of the stream. The usual ship channel in ascending the strait, is to pass up the west strait, and up the stream on the west of Drummond's island, on the south of St. Joseph and Lime Kiln islands, east of Sailors Encampment, and north-east of Sugar islands. It can then only be ascended with a north-east wind. Its
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length, by this circuitous route, from the mouth to the vil- lage of Sault St. Mary, is estimated at 60 miles. The main channel of the river forms the boundary line between the United States and the British Province of Upper Canada. Its breadth, on an average, is three-fourths of a mile, and its current, (exclusive of the rapids,) moves at a medium rate of a mile and a half per hour. It is navigable for large vessels both above and below the rapids, which are 15 miles from Lake Superior. These rapids entirely obstruct the
navigation of the river for large vessels. They are three- fourths of a mile in length, and have a fall of 22 feet 10 inches. The entire fall of the river from its head in Lake Superior to its mouth is 44 feet 8 inches. To render the river perfectly navigable, it is proposed to remove a sand bar in a part of the river called Lake George, and to con- struct a canal around the falls for steamboats and vessels of the largest class. This strait abounds with excellent fish, the taking and exporting of which afford profitable em- ployment for the people inhabiting its banks. The princi- pal kinds are white fish, bass, and their varieties ; trout of two kinds, sturgeon, herring, mullet, eel-pout, cat, gar, sunfish, pike, pickerel, &c. (See Sault de Ste. Marie.)
St. Martin's Islands, three of the same name, one of which, 8 miles north of the Island of Mackinac, is about 4 miles in circumference, and is said to contain gypsum in abundance.
Sucker river, an inconsiderable stream of the Upper Pen- insula, emptying into Lake Superior, north-west of the head waters of the Monestee river.
Sugar Island is one of-the largest islands in the St. Ma- ry's strait, and belongs to the British. It is the first island encountered in descending the river below the Bay of Lake Superior, and is a little below and south-east of the rapids.
Sugar Island, a small islet at the mouth of the Detroit strait, east of Elba Isle.
Sugar Loaf Rock. (See Michillimacinac Island.)
Summerville, village and post office, situated on the Dow- agiake river, in Cass county. Here is a saw mill and a store. Distant 11 miles from Cassopolis.
Summerfield is a small settlement in the township of the same name, in the county of Monroe, situated on the River
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Raisin, about sixteen miles from Lake Erie. It has a post office, saw mill, and several families.
Summerfield township, Monroe county. Statistics as per census :- Population, 1,128 .- A grist mill, 3 saw mills ; 4 merchants ; 3,747 bushels wheat, 342 bushels rye, 9,954 bushels corn, 5,128 bushels oats, 441 bushels buckwheat; 690 pounds flax ; 2 tons potash ; 645 head neat stock, 131 horses, 95 sheep, 878 hogs.
Summit post office is in Salem township, Washtenaw county, on the road between Pontiac and Ann Arbour.
Superior township, Washtenaw county, is comprised in township two south, range seven west. Statistics as per census :- Population, 1,378 .- 2 grist mills, 6 saw mills ; 2 merchants.
Swain's Lake, a small collection of water in the county of Jackson, four miles south-west of the village of Jackson. It is a mere expansion of the South Branch of Grand river.
Swainsville, a village and post office, in the township of Napoleon, county of Jackson, has a flouring mill and 2 stores, and a number of mechanics.
Swan river, a rivulet in the southern part of St. Clair county, rising in China township, and flowing south into Lake St. Clair, on the north.
Swan creek, a stream rising in the south-western corner of Wayne county, in a wet prairie, flows south-easterly across the north-east corner of Wayne county, into Lake Erie, between Stony creek and Huron river. It is 15 miles long. At its mouth it opens into a frith, two miles in length.
Swan creck rises in a lake uear the central part of the county of Branch, and flows south-westerly into St. Joseph county, and north-westerly into a lake, an expansion of the St. Joseph river.
Swartz's creek is a stream originating in Grand Blanc lake, . on the north-west corner of Oakland county, and flowing north-westerly and north-easterly, discharges into the Thread river, near its junction with the Flint.
Sycamore creek, a stream watering the western portion of Ingham county, rising by several branches, in its southern part, and flowing north-westerly into the Red Cedar river, at its confluence with the Grand river. Its length is up-
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wards of 15 miles, and its bottoms are covered with a rich growth of the various forest trees of the Peninsula.
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TECUMSEH, a village and post office, in a township of the same name, county of Lenawee, situated at the junction of Evans' creek with the River Raisin, on its northern bank, at the crossing of Plaisance Bay road. The seat of justice is to be removed to Adrian in the fall of '38. (See Adrian.) Here is a court house, jail, bank and banking association, printing office that issues a weekly newspaper, a flouring mill with 3 run of stone, 2 saw mills, a carding machine, a tannery, 9 dry goods stores, 2 large grocery establishments, a large shoe store, 3 lawyers, and 2 physicians. There is an episcopal church erected which has a respectable congre- gation. The presbyterian congregation is likewise large. There is a flouring mill erecting for 6 run of stone .- Through this passes the Chicago road and the rail-road from Palmyra to Jackson. There is an abundance of water power in its vicinity. Tecumseh has a pleasant location, much capital, does a good amount of business, and is a place of considerable public importance. It is estimated to contain 1,000 inhabitants. Distant 10 miles from Adrian, 55 south- west of Detroit.
Tecumseh township, Lenawee county, consists of town- ship five south, range four east, containing the village of Clinton, in the north, Tecumseh in the south, and watered by the River Raisin. Statistics as per census :- Popula- tion, 2,462 .- 3 grist mills, 7 saw mills, 2 carding machines, a cloth dressing shop, a distillery, 24 merchants ; 12,981 bushels wheat, 1,625 bushels rye, 12,725 bushels corn, 28,731 bushels oats, 1,256 bushels buckwheat; 1,397 pounds flax ; 1,132 head neat stock, 386 horses, 507 sheep, 2,481 hogs.
Tekonsha post office, Calhoun county, on the Marshall and Coldwater post route.
Tekonsha township, Calhoun county, is comprised in township four south, range six west. Statistics as per cen- sus :- Population, 278 .- A saw mill ; a merchant ; 3,285 bushels wheat, 1,765 bushels corn, 1,275 bushels oats, 85 bushels buckwheat; 526 lead neat stock, 38 horses, 466 hogs.
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Tekonsha, a small village in Calhoun county, in a town- ship of the same name, 12 miles south of Marshall, on the St. Joseph river, containing a post office, 2 stores, a saw mill, several mechanics, and a population of 150. It is flourishing.
Ten Mile creek, a stream rising in the south-east corner of Barry, flowing south-westerly, and entering the north- west corner of Calhoun, and discharging into the Kalamazoo river.
Thorn Apple river, a considerable tributary of the Grand river, originates in the central part of Eaton county, and flowing for the first part of its course westwardly, through Eaton and Barry counties ; it then takes a northerly course, leaving Barry and entering Kent, where it discharges into the Grand river, ten miles from the mouth of Flat river. Its length is upwards of 80 miles. It has one considera- ble tributary, the Little Fork, entering it on the east, about 12 miles from its mouth. There is considerable excellent land, both open and timbered, lying on the Thorn Apple and its tributaries, the latter of which irrigate an extensive region of country. Much of it may be termed first rate land. It possesses numerous mill sites, but few of which are im- proved. At the mouth of this river, is one of the most re- spectable Indian villages in this section of the State. It contains 12 or 15 families, under the chief Nong-gee. There are two other villages on this river, one .20, the other 26 miles from its mouth.
Thorn Apple Lake is an expansion of the Thorn Apple river, in Barry county, below the mouth of Muddy creek.
Thread river is a stream that originates in the north- western part of Oakland, and, running north-westerly through a corner of Lapeer, passes into Genesee, and enters the Flint river near the Flint village. The Saginaw road follows the valley of this river.
.Three Rivers, a village situated on the St. Joseph river, between the confluence of Portage river and Stony creek, and opposite Lockport, or Buck's post office, in the coun- ty of St. Joseph. Here are a flouring mill for 6 run of stone, a saw mill, 2 stores. The State road from Centre- ville to the mouth of St. Joseph, passes through it. The St. Joseph is navigable to it for boats of 30 tons. The 32
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St. Joseph, Portage river, and Stony creek, each affords an abundance of water power,-especially the two latter streams,-which may be used to any extent. Capital is em- ployed, and arrangements are making by constructing a dam across the St. Joseph, above Lockport, to take the water from the river and carry it to Lockport for manufac- turing purposes. By this means, a fall of upwards of ten feet is obtained in a distance of 96 chains. It is intended to consolidate the two villages of Lockport and Three Riv- ers, after which and the execution of the contemplated im- provements, it will become a place of considerable impor- tance. Distant 6 miles from Centreville, and 146 south- west Detroit.
Thompson's Lake, a collection of water, of perhaps 1,500 acres, lying across the boundary line between Ponti- ac and Waterford townships, in the county of Oakland. It is drained into Clinton river, by way of Silver lake.
Thunder Bay, an inlet of Lake Huron, on the eastern coast of the State, and on the north of the strait that leads into Saginaw Bay. The waters are of a reddish color. Here is an excellent harbor, with a depth of five or six fath- oms water.
Thunder Bay Islands, two small islands on the eastern coast of Michigan, east of Thunder Bay, and near the en- trance of it. When the wind is from the north, a good shelter is found for vessels on the south and west of these islands, 40 or 50 rods from the shore, in five or six fathoms water.
Thunder Bay river rises in the Peninsula, in Mackinac county, north of Saginaw Bay, and flows in a south-east- erly direction, and empties into Thunder Bay.
Tiffin's ercek. (See Bean creek.)
Tittibawassee river, the largest branch of the Saginaw river, rises in the Peninsula, in the southern part of the county of Mackinac, and after flowing south and receiv- ing a number of important tributaries, through the coun- ties of Gladwin and Midland, thence south-east through Midland and Saginaw counties, empties its waters into the Saginaw river, near the mouth of the Cass river. It is boatable from its mouth to 40 or 50 miles above the mouth of Pine river, and has a strong but equable current. The
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soil on its banks is of a rich quality, covered with heavy timber.
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