USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I > Part 31
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Brick of the common kind is made at Clio, Atlas, Duffield, Gaines, Grand
clays containing oxide of iron.
The county of Genesee contains many artesian wells, the most prominent one being the mineral well at the corner of Saginaw and First streets, in the city of Flint. This well is about three hundred and seventy-six feet deep. When it was first bored, and not to its present depth, Dr. Orson Millard, of Flint, a physician and chemist of recognized ability, analyzed its waters and found it to contain organic elements as follows :
To one pint of water-
Sodium Carbonate
Magnesium Carbonate
Ferrous Carbonate
Calcium Carbonate
Potassium Chloride
Sodium Chloride
Magnesium Chloride
Calcium Chloride
Calcium sulphide
Silica
Alumina
Org. matter and loss.
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The well bored for salt by H. H. Crapo was also an artesian well and flowed for many years; its waters were too salty for domestic use and were also charged with minerals other than salt. Artesian wells have been drilled at
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Blanc, South Mundy and Otisville, being the ordinary red brick, from the
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many places in the town of Davison, the one in the village near the depot being typical, the depth running from two to three hundred feet. There are many flowing wells in this township. In Mundy township, and near the line between Flint and Mundy, there are quite a number of artesian wells, also some near the Genesee line northeast of Flint. On the river flats near the Chevrolet plant there are several such wells in use, and of great utility.
Another plant that uses the materials of the county economically to a great extent, is the Builders' Supply Company, of Flint, which manufactures building blocks, tile and ornamental cement work, from the cement made at Fenton of the marl described above. This company also finds in the sands of the county another material for its manufacturing purposes, and is now putting out twelve to thirteen hundred blocks of different dimensions per day, all of which is eagerly waited for by the builders of Flint.
Tile making from the clays of the county has been an industry of Grand Blanc, Atlas and Davison, and also of Duffield, but the present operations are small.
That the greater portion of Genesee county is underlaid by coal strata of economic value is quite certain. In times past there have been attempts to open mines for taking out coal, but until recent years it has not been of great success, nor is it at the present time of importance in supplying the needs of the city and county. Mr. Brueck, of Bay City, at one time operated a mine in the northern part of the county, in Montrose, but it was not a paying business and soon ceased. The Genesee Coal Company and others in recent years have opened some shafts in the vicinity of Flint, especially on the Burr farm in the eastern part of the city, but their output has been small and difficulties in getting rid of the water has made the mining costly. The industry will probably become important in the future when engineering has solved the water problems, and perhaps it is for the benefit of all that this valuable natural resource be conserved in nature's storehouse under the county of Genesee for the future use of its teeming thousands, than to have it exhausted by the present generation.
The latitude of the city of Flint is forty-three degrees and one minute north; its longitude is eighty-seven degrees and four minutes west. As the city is nearly the geographical center of the county, the latitude and longitude of the other portions of the county may be determined from that of the city.
The altitudes of the various railway stations, as determined from rail- way surveys and levelings, are as follows: Crapo Farm, 774 feet above sea level; Davison, 788 feet; Duffield, 780 feet; Fenton, 907 feet; Flint City, at the Grand Trunk depot, 712, and at the Pere Marquette depot, 711 feet;
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Gaines, 857 feet; Goodrich, 733 feet; Grand Blanc, 839 feet; Linden, 872 feet; Otterburn, 771 feet, and Swartz Creek, 779 feet. At the weather bureau station in Flint, the altitude is 726 feet.
FLINT TOWNSHIP.
The surface of Flint township is undulating, comprising some fine stretches of level land, varied by gentle declivities, which give variety to the landscape and make it one of the most attractive townships in the county. The soil is a mixture of clay and sand, and generally of good quality, though varying in localities, and affords a bountiful crop to the farmers. The streams of water which traverse its surface are the Flint river and Swartz creek, the first of which passes through the city, flows through the northern portion of the township and passes out near the northwest corner. Swartz creek rises in the township of Gaines and enters the southwest corner of the township of Flint, meandering in a northeasterly direction, flowing into the Thread, and eventually into the Flint river.
FENTON TOWNSHIP.
The physical features of Fenton township are varied and interesting. The principal stream in the Shiawassee river, an insignificant stream at its entry in the southeast corner of the township, but attaining to respectable proportions before it leaves it on the west. Its general course is northwest, and its waters furnish several excellent mill-powers-notably at Fenton and Linden villages. After leaving Fenton, it receives the surplus waters of numerous lakes, large and small. Of these lakes, the township contains no less than twenty, covering a total area of about 2,160 acres, apportioned as follows: Long lake, on sections 2, 11, 13, 14, 23 and 24, 850 acres; Hib- bard's lake, section 12, 30 acres; Crooked lake, section 13, 50 acres; Loon lake, sections 15 and 16, 150 acres; Squaw lake, principally on section 15, 60 acres ; Ball lake, section 21, 40 acres; Mud lake, section 22, 225 acres; Silver lake, sections 27, 28 and 33, 275 acres; Pine lake, sections 28, 29, 32 and 33, 160 acres; Byram lake, sections 29 and 30, 130 acres; others, 190 acres. Aside from these, are millponds, making the total lake and pond area of the township about 2,200 acres, or more than that of the entire balance of the county.
Many of the lakes of Fenton possess clean, bold shores, sandy bottoms and deep waters, and most of them abound in numerous varieties of fish,
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such as bass, perch and others. Silver lake is tributary to Mud, and through the latter to the Shiawassee river, and is so named from its clear waters and bed of light sand. Byram lake was named from an early settler on its shore, and the others, from various circumstances and surroundings.
Long lake, the principal sheet of water in the township and county, is about three miles in length and averages nearly half a mile in width. With the exception of its southwestern shore, which is marshy in places, its borders are most picturesque and beautiful. The southern extremity, below "the nar- rows," is in most places shallow and wild rice grows profusely in localities. High banks extend along a great part of the eastern shore. The outline of the lake is broken by "points" and bays, and a fine island of over twenty acres is situated near the center, north and south, and somewhat nearer the western than the eastern shore. Another small island is near the extreme southern margin of the lake. Long lake is one of the prettiest inland lakes in the country and has become one of the most popular summer resorts in southern Michigan.
The vicinity of the lakes of Fenton was the favorite resort of the red tribes who occupied the region ere the advent of a paler race. The clear waters tempted them to launch their canoes thereon and entice from their depths their finny inhabitants, or disport in wanton glee amid their waves. The surrounding hills and forests afforded them rare sport in the chase, for deer, wolves, bears and other animals-fit targets for the hunter's skill- abounded. So much attached were the red men to this beautiful "land of lakes" that it was their desire, when their days of hunting on earth were over, to be laid to rest amid the scenes made dear by life-long association. Here, on the border of the lake, their remains were laid, their faces to the setting sun, and the rippling waters murmured their funeral songs, while the breezes wailed a mournful requiem through the pines, as the spirit of the warriors journeyed to the happy hunting-grounds of their fathers.
The principal Indian burial-place in the township was on the northeast shore of Mud lake, and close by was their camping ground. A large number of graves were long to be seen in the burying-ground. Others were also found, but not as extensive. The Indian corn-fields were sometimes sources of inconvenience to farmers, as they were difficult to plow, owing to the fact that corn was year after year planted in the same hills, while the latter were raised a little higher each year and were often ten or twelve feet apart. Quite an extensive corn-field was found east of the present village of Linden. This was on a farm once owned by Alonzo J. Chapin.
On the edge of the township of Mundy dwelt a small tribe whose chief
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was one "King Fisher," or Fisher, corrupted from Visger, the name of a French-Indian half-breed. Their burying-ground was the one mentioned as having existed near Mud lake, in Fenton, and at present no traces of it can be found, owing to long cultivation. Fisher was a lover of athletic sports, as well as whiskey, and on occasions of town-meetings was accustomed to visit the village and join in whatever of the nature of sport was going on. Among the feats of the young men of that day was the one of jumping over a string held at a certain distance above the ground. Alonzo J. Chapin was rather more than the equal of Fisher, one of whose toes was so long that it would catch on the string. The chief would take hold of it angrily, and exclaim, "Toe no good ! Me cut him off-me jump you!" He was exceed- ing loth to speak English, except when under the influence of liquor.
In the fall of 1877, while constructing a dirt-road across Crane's Cove, on the west side of Long lake, a party of workmen found a skelton of very large size, some two or three feet below the surface. As it is a well-known fact that this locality was the favorite Indian resort for hunting and fishing, the skeleton was supposed to have been the frame-work of a gigantic warrior, though why he should have been buried just there was not satisfactorily explained, as it was some distance from their common burial-place on Mud lake.
GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP.
The surface of Grand Blanc township is a rolling upland. Originally, the northern part was covered with dense forests of the deciduous trees so common to Michigan, while the central and southern parts of the township afforded a fair representation of the lands called hazel-brush openings.
Thread river, its principal water-course, takes its rise in Oakland county and, flowing to the northwest, leaves the township near the center of the north border. This stream in its course affords good water-power privileges, which were early utilized, and with its numerous small tributaries rendered feasible a complete system of ditching and drainage adopted where swampy lands existed.
Grand Blanc lake includes a small portion of section 31 ; Slack's lake, of sections 34 and 35. A small lake of some twenty acres in extent, called Smith lake, is situated upon section 22. Numerous springs are found in various parts of the township, some of them quite strongly impregnated with magnesia.
The soil is of an excellent quality, and consists of a dark, sandy and gravelly loam, alternating with clay loam and alluvial deposits of a vegetable
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character. Peat beds are found in some portions of the township, also brick and potter's clay of a good quality. The staple products are live stock, wool, pork, corn, fruit, sugar beets, beans and the various cereals. The cultivation of winter wheat is especially successful.
ATLAS TOWNSHIP.
The surface of Atlas township is rolling and, in a state of nature, was quite heavily timbered in the north part. The southern portion consisted generally of rose-willow and hazel-brush openings. The soil-a sandy loam -is of an excellent quality and in the quantity and excellence of its products Atlas takes a front rank among Genesee county townships.
Its water courses are the Thread and Kearsley rivers. The former takes its rise in Oakland county and flows in a northwest course across the southwestern corner of the township. The latter stream also finds its source in Oakland county and, entering the township from the southeast, receives as a tributary the outlet of Lake Neshinaguac, flows on in a northwesterly direction through the central part of the town, and leaves it from the north border of section 4. In its passage the Kearsley affords excellent water- power privileges, which have been in use at the villages of Goodrich and Davisonville (Atlas) since the first settlement of the township.
Neshinaguac lake, with an area of about one hundred and sixty miles, lies in the central part of section 27. Other small bodies of water are sit- uated upon section 3. Numerous springs, several of whose waters are im- pregnated with iron, exist in all portions of the township and, as a whole, the township is well watered and drained. The people are successfully en- gaged in agricultural pursuits and their farms are in an advanced state of cul- tivation. Neat residences and farm buildings abound on every side.
FLUSHING TOWNSHIP.
The township of Flushing is watered by the Flint river and its tribu- taries, enters near the southeast corner of the town and, after a winding course, leaves it near the center of the northern boundary. The mill-sites along the river were early improved, and it still furnishes power at numer- ous places within the limits of the county. Along the river the surface of the township is somewhat varied, the banks in places being high and steep and the land in the immediate vicinity rolling, while at others they are gently sloping and the neighboring country nearly level. A large portion
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of the township is exceedingly level and the whole was originally covered with a dense growth of heavy timber, in which was considerable pine.
The soil of Flushing is of the nature of that common to this region, having a large proportion of sand. Upon the lands where pine grew thickly it is more sandy than elsewhere, and some of the "pine plains," or "pine barrens," as they are called, are of comparatively small value. Flushing is one of the wealthiest townships in the county.
MUNDY TOWNSHIP.
The natural characteristics of Mundy township are much the same as those of its sister towns, consisting of a generally level surface, with por- tions considerably undulating, a variety of soil and originally a considerable acreage of timber. In many respects it is one of the best townships in the county and its improvements are very generally excellent. It was settled by an energetic, thrifty class of farmers and the success which has attended their efforts to build up substantial and comfortable homes in the wilderness is everywhere apparent in the fine farms and dwellings, and the various accompaniments of a well-ordered agricultural community. Its first settlers possessed intelligence and this, combined with enterprise, wrought a wonder- ful change in the face of the region which frowned upon them many years ago in all the majesty of a forest-crowned domain, where the axe of the pioneer had never swung nor its strokes echoed through the primeval aisles. But as change is the order elsewhere, so was it here, and the pleasant and peaceful homes of today are a marked contrast to the wilderness of earlier years.
ARGENTINE TOWNSHIP.
Much of the surface of Argentine township is rolling and many pleas- ing landscapes are within its borders. Its soil has the same character- istics as all that in the immediate region. Fine improvements are met with throughout the township and evidences of prosperity and wealth are seen on nearly every hand. The township is well watered by the Shiawassee river and its tributaries, which furnish considerable power, and numerous lakes and ponds add to the water-area. Principal among the latter are Lob- dell, on sections 35 and 36, named after an early settler on its shore; Mur- ray, on section 34, named after first settler in the township; McKane, on sections 28 and 32; McCaslin, section 22; Bass, section 27, etc. Lobdell lake was changed somewhat in area by the raising of a dam at Argentine
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village. The shores in many places are marshy, and in various parts of the township tamarack swamps exist. A large acreage of timber is yet left, al- though but a portion of this township was heavily timbered, the balance being "oak-openings."
MT. MORRIS TOWNSHIP.
In its natural features Mt. Morris township is very similar to other interior divisions of the county already described, the surface being slightly rolling and covered originally with heavy forests of beech, maple, oak, ash and many other varieties of deciduous trees indigenous to the soil in this section of the state. The Flint river, in its flow to the northwest, crosses the extreme southwest corner. Devil's lake, a small body of water containing from ten to fifteen acres, is situated upon section 35. Brent's run takes its rise from this lake, and flows northerly through the central part. Several other small tributaries of the Flint cross the township and flow in a general northwest course. Stone similar to that obtained in the Flushing quarries is found in the bed of the river upon section 31. The soil is very productive. The people are chiefly agriculturists. and wool, live stock and wheat are the principal products.
GENESEE TOWNSHIP.
The township called Genesee received its name from the pioneers, many of whom came from the "Genesee country" in western New York, and a goodly number of them from Genesee county. It was but natural that they should desire to perpetuate the name of that fair country, whose fertile soil had already made it famous throughout the country as a sort of modern Arcadia, where to dwell was to enjoy the best things of life-not alone in a material, but also in an aesthetic sense. And it was also fitting that this township, having so large an area of the beautiful oak or timbered openings, thus resembling in its primitive form that pleasant land, should also bear its name.
Its surface is comparatively level, though it might properly be called lightly rolling in some parts, principally on the south and east side of the river. About one-fourth of the surface was originaly covered with pine, the pinery generally following the course of the river and lying principally on its south bank. The soil of the pine land was of a light, sandy nature. The rest of the town was timbered with hardwood, white oak predominating,
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and in the southwest part there was considerable timbered opening. The soil in the parts of the town free from pine is of a fine quality and com- posed of a rich clayey loam, mixed with some gravel and sand.
The town is well watered. Flint river, the principal water-course, enters from Richfield, near the southeast corner of section 12, and pursues a some- what torturous course through the town in a general southwest direction, passing through some parts of sections 12, 13, II, 10, 15, 16, 21, 28, 29 and 32, at the southwest corner of which it crosses the line in the township of Burton. Its course is crooked and its current generally sluggish. Near the southwest corner of section II it is more rapid and furnishes a very good water-power which has been utilized for many years. The stream second in importance is Kearsley creek, which enters from Burton at the southwest corner of section 35, crosses sections 34, 33 and 32, till it reaches Flint river, into which it discharges its waters a little south and west of the center of the latter section. The third stream is Butternut creek, coming from the north, draining portions of the towns of Forest and Thetford. It enters near the northeast corner of section I, crosses it in a southerly direc- tion, flows across the corner of section 12, turns to the west, and crosses section II till it joins the Flint river, a little distance east of Geneseeville. Stanley creek, Bray brook, and a half dozen or more lesser streams are tributaries of Flint river.
GAINES TOWNSHIP.
The surface of Gaines township is generally level and was originally covered with a dense growth of heavy timber. In places slight undulations are met with, but nothing rising to the dignity of hills. The soil is very good and adapted to the growth of all grains raised in this region. The township had a large acreage of timber and its development has been per- haps less rapid than that of most of the other townships in the county. That its resources are abundant, however, is evident from the fine improvements in its older settled portions. It has no streams of consequence, a branch of Swartz creek, in the northern part, being the principal one. Along the banks of the latter, in early years, were extensive groves of maple, and a trail reached from Flint, which was used by the Indians, who manufactured here large quantities of maple-sugar. The ancient trail has disappeared and the dusky people who threaded it eighty years ago and more have been laid to rest beside their fathers and entered upon the happier hunting-grounds of which they dreamed.
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BURTON TOWNSHIP.
Burton township is comparatively level, yet sufficiently elevated above the bed of its water-courses to afford good surface drainage. It was heavily timbered, originally, with fine forests of beech, maple, red and black oak, basswood and other varieties of deciduous trees. Upon sections 5, 6, 19 and 20 was found considerable pine, while sections 27 and 34 were what was termed by the original settlers "staddle lands."
The Flint, Thread and Kearsley rivers are the principal water-courses. The former flows in a southwesterly course across the northwest corner of the township; the latter runs in a northwesterly direction across the north- east corner of the same; while Thread river enters the town from the south and, flowing in a general northwest course, leaves the township near the center of the west border.
The soil consists of an admixture of sand and clay loam, alternating with a dark vegetable mould, and in it general characteristics are the same as predominates in all drift formations. It is highly productive and, with careful cultivation, yields handsome returns to the husbandman. The peo- ple are chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits. Their farms are under a good state of cultivation and neat farm houses and substantial outbuildings abound. The rapid growth of the city of Flint has taken largely from Bur- ton township, first for factories and later for many additions and plats for residence and business purposes.
CLAYTON TOWNSHIP.
Clayton, with the exception of a few slight undulations, is generally level. The soil is of the nature peculiar to this part of Michigan and, from appearance of the farms and their improvements-Clayton is exclusively an agricultural township-the inference is that its fertility is beyond question. Originally the township was covered with a dense forest, where the nightly howl of the wolf resounded; where the lithe panther often lurked; where bears found safe retreats; where the pride of the forest-the deer-had his home, and where the red man was the only human being who trod its mazes, "ambushed his foe, and stalked his game." A more herculean task than that of clearing away this sturdy greenwood and preparing the pleasant farms which today dot the surface, can scarcely be imagined. It was only the indomitable will and perseverance of the pioneers coupled with their ability
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to undergo long and severe toil, with all its attendant hardships, that accom- plished the mighty work. That it was accomplished is the pride of the actors in the scene, who, axe in hand and rifle on shoulder, marched conquering through the wilderness. There is said to be no better agricultural land in America than obtains in Clayton township.
VIENNA TOWNSHIP.
The surface of Vienna township may be described in general terms as an elevated plain, cut by the rather deep ravines formed by its water courses. On several sections to the immediate west and southwest of Clio village pine originally predominated. The remainder of the township was covered prin- cipally with heavy forests of deciduous trees, common to this portion of the state.
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