History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.., Part 100

Author: Western historical company, Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas & co.
Number of Pages: 814

USA > Michigan > St Clair County > History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.. > Part 100

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Supervisors-Henry Stephens, 1866; S. P. Mason, 1867; Stephen' Moore, 1868-69; J. McMartin, 1870-73: T. Lymburner, 1874-76; J. A. McMartin, 1877; Townsend Lymburner, 1878-82.

Justices of the Peace-Joseph Davis, 1874; Thomas Sutherland, 1874; Julius Granger, 1875: James Quail, 1876; James Hall, 1877; Daniel Mooney, 1877; Joseph Davis, 187S; R. E. French, 1879; Daniel Mooney, 1880; Julius Granger, 1SS1; Joseph Porter, 1882.

In April, 1882. the Citizens' ticket was elected, as follows:

Supervisor-Townsend Lymburner, 311.

Clerk-James Sutherland, 15S.

Treasurer-James S. Button, 180.

Justice of the Peace-Joseph Porter, 179.

Highway Commissioner-Daniel Mooney, 164.

School Inspector (Two years)-Edward Hollis, 304.

School Inspector -- (One year) George W. Howe, 300.

Drain Commissioner-Thomas S. Skinner.

Constables- James Richardson, 183; Jay Shaw, 290: Christian May, 309; Duncan McKellar, 309.

UNITED STATES LAND BUYERS.

The original land buyers in this township, from 1825 to 1836, were Jeremiah Harrington, Hartford Tingley, De Garmo Jones, Lucius Beach, Gilbert Elliott, Samuel Wilson, William Lamb, Fortune C. White, John Desnoyers, A. Coburn, S. N. Dexter, A. B. Eaton, C. Masten, James L. Kelsey, Charles Butler, D. D. Dualsy, J. J. Andrews, Edward Bingham, James Scott, Charles G. Glover, John Howard, Simeon Cummings, Alexander F. Ashley. Eben Batcheller, James W. Sanborn, J. M. Wade, Phineas Davis. David Oakes, Isaac R. Stone, John Kennelly, John Brooks, Orus Field. A. W. Campbell. F. H. Stevens, Samuel C. Webster, and John Brookes. A portion of Sections 34 and 35 was reserved.

FORT GRATIOT VILLAGE.

The region now known as Fort Gratiot is historic ground. Nearly two centuries have elapsed since the first white man set foot upon its soil. It is necessary in this work to divide the record into two periods. We shall speak of the early history as an epoch ending in 1836, and of the recent history as dating from that year. Assistant Surgeon Taylor, of the United States Army. writing in 1871, deals very minutely with the history of the post. He states: " The location of the Recollet Mission in this vicinity is uncertain. According to Bell's History of Canada, it was an important one, and known as St. Marie. As the Jesuits had one also of the same name located among the Hurons at the head of the Georgian Bay, it would seem that some confusion has arisen in relation to these missions, both as to their importance and position. Judge Campbell is of the opinion that the Recollet Mission was located at the present site of Sarnia, and nearly opposite this post. Furthermore, it is known that the Hurons had a large village near the present site of Detroit. called Teuchsagrondie, and that the intercourse between this village and the main tribe on the Georgian Bay was by the water channels. Intermediate, there were several other villages along the lake shore and St. Clair River, all of which had been visited by the Coureurs des Bois long before La Salle and Hennepin made their famous voyage through the Straits."

There were several practicable routes for the traders to reach this section. The original and most noted one was by the Ottawa River, Lake Nipissing and Georgian Bay, which, though long and very hazardous, was the principal channel of intercourse between the Huron

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

country and the headquarters of the trading interests on the Lower St. Lawrence. Its chief advantages consisted in its immunity from predatory exenrsions of the tribes on the side of Lake Ontario. The second was by the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario to the Trent River. thence up that stream to Lake Simcoe and the Georgian Bay. This was the usual route of the Iroquois in their forays against the Hurons, and was one of the best. The third was from the present site of Toronto and thener to Lake Simcoe. The fourth was by the head of Lake Ontario. the Grand River to Lake Erie and Thames Rivers and Lake St. Clair. This became a very important line of traffic, except during the time of open hostilities with the Iroquois. It was the safest and easiest route to reach the great Saginon or Saginaw fur producing region. The fifth was by the Niagara River. but probably seklom resorted to for the trans- portation of valuable goods, because of the proximity of the hostile tribes in what is called Western New York.

Parkman states that the earliest recorded visitation of this region by the French was in 1669, when the Sulpitian priests, Dallier and Galinac, in connection with La Salle, made an effort for a systematic exploring expedition of the lake country. They selected the western extremity of Lake Ontario as their starting point. La Salle. however, becoming dissatisfied with the purposes, delays and trammels of the priests, severed his connection with them and proceeded in the direction of the Ohio River, while the priests proceeded by the Grand River route and thence along the north shore of Lake Erie, passed this point the spring following, and thence to Mackinac and the Sault Ste. Marie, and finally returning to Montreal by way of the Huron Missions at the head of the Georgian Bay. The earliest map made of this region is said to have been made by Galinac, partly from his own observations and partly from sketches made by Joliett three years before, that is on his return from Mackinac in 1666. La Salle traversed this route the following year on his private account and alone. By this he obtained sufficient data to warrant him in making a formal voyage of discovery in the name of the provincial authorities, and at the same time improve his financial condition by engaging in the lucrative fur trade. it was not, however, until ten years thereafter, that he succeeded in organizing his expedition, and started in the Griffin, * accompanied by the priest Hennepin, to make the famous voyage round the lakes. Instead, therefore, of dating the discovery of this section from the time of this voyage of La Salle, it should be from Joliette's return from Mackinac in 1666, if not as far back as Champlain's excursion to the Georgian Bay in 1612. All the circumstances attendant upon the organization of this expedition of La Salle, the orders he gave to some of his party the year before to proceed to certain points indicated. particularly the islands at the mouth of Green Bay, hardly admit of question that in this matter he aeted from previous knowledge of the country derived in part from his own observations, those of Joliette and the adventurers preceding him; and that this expedition was for the purpose of taking formal possession of the great lake country, in the name of the King of France under nominal governmental authority, and at the same time to gratify his personal ambition, and improve his fortunes, sadly redneed from his previous unthrifty investment.

Leaving his anchorage in the Niagara River, he traversed Lake Erie, and on the 23d of August, 1669, being Sainte Claire's day. he entered the beautiful expanse of water to which, in honor of that personage, he gave her appellation, and the day following he passed this point into Lako Huron, thenee round the lakos to the Illini country. The history of that voyage is too well known to require further attention here, save to remark that in La Salle's account of it, as well as in Hennepin's narrative, there was a manifest want of proper acknowledgment of the previous explorations of Joliette and the Coureur des Bois.

HISTORY OF THE POST.

In a military and commercial point of view, the geograpical importance of this post was very early appreciated. Seven years after La Salle's expedition, M'Du Chut. then command- ing at Mackinac, was instructed by the Governor General. Count Frontenac, to establish a fort on the Detroit, a term applied to both the connecting rivers between Lakes Huron and Erie, and garrison the same with fifty men. The English had been, and were still making strenuous efforts to connect their interests on Hudson Bay with those in New York, and there-

* The Griffin was so named from the figure of a griffin on ber prow.

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

by circumvent their rival's schemes for territorial acquisition west of the lakes, and with that the control of its valuable commerce, looking to the alternate extinguishments of the French influence along the St. Lawrence and its tributaries. It will be seen. therefore, that it was a death struggle for supremacy over a vast region, and that every political, military, religious and commercial appliance was brought into requisition in aid of the respective parties. To this end the early occupation of this post by the French had a double purpose-one to thwart the English schemes, and the other, say the instructions, " to protect our savages who may go to the chase and serve them as an asylum against their enemies. In obedience thereto, Du Lhat proceeded to the entrance of the Strait from Lake Huron, say the accounts, where he erected a fortified trading post which he named Fort St. Joseph. There is some reason to believe that in this selection he was not only actuated by geographical and strategical considerations, but his private interests were likewise considered.

Frontenac's instructions allowed and, in fact, encouraged traffic with the nations as a means of reconciliation of tribal differences and animosities, as well as keeping them bound to the French interests, while allowing at the same time liberal perquisites to the officials in charge; and it is probable that Du Chut's way had been opened and in some degree already prepared by the traders or Coureurs des Bois in accordance with this historical policy, so that he had only to take formal military possession, and extend and improve what already had been commenced, in order to accomplish his purpose. That post was located on the present site of Fort Gratiot. This and Fort St. Joseph on the western shore, at the mouth of the river of that name, are the oldest forts in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, and antedate the establish- ment of Ft. Pontchartrain at Detroit by La Motte Cadillac, fifteen years. The time of its occupation for purely military purposes, according to La Honton, was only two years, and he states he was present at its abandonment and destruction; but De Nonville, Governor General of Canada after Frontenac, says "it was maintained eight years, and exercised a powerful influ- ence against the English." It is possible that the officer had reference alike to its occupation as a trading post anterior to the military establishment, and its formal occupation under authority of the government, when the statements of both gentlemen would be correct.

The year following Du Lhut's arrival war was determined upon by the French against the Iroquois along Lake Ontario, and this officer, together with Durantage at Mackinac, and Tonti, at Fort St. Louis, a post supposed to be located somewhere on the Detroit River, were directed to organize the forces at their command and join the main expedition concentrating at Ft. Niagara, with the view of invading Western New York. Five hundred Indians and 200 French Canadians were there collected, organized and equipped, and taken to their desti- nation.

Nimecanee, or Lightning, a son of old Kioscanee, served under Sinclair, on garrison duty, in the old fort at the mouth of Pine River. Judge Bunce states that when he came to the county, this Indian was one hundred and five years old, tive and a half feet high, energetic and capable of attending to his corn-field, four miles south of Black River, as well as to the chase. Every New Year's Day, he was accustomed to sail down the river in his large birchen canoe, on the bow of which he would fling the American colors to the breeze. On such an oc- casion, he would don his gold-laced coat, beaded moccasins and leggins, and all the orna- ments in his possession. Nimecanee reached the age of one hundred and twelve years. It is related that Kioscance was clnef of the Otchipwes in their wars against the Wyandots and Six Nations. In his expedition from Lake Superior to Lake Erie, his fleet was so extensive as to cover the St. Clair River from Fort St. Joseph, or Gratiot, to Walpole Island. On his return from the lower lakes, he camped at Fort Gratiot, and afterward made the district his home. Nicholas Plane, Sockscotowa, is a grandson of Nimecanee, and chief of the Sarnia Indians.

Shignebeck, a brother of Nimecance, was one hundred and nine years old at the time of his death. Mrs. Ogotig, a sister of the chief, lived to the age of one hundred and seven; old mother Rodd is said to have been one hundred and fourteen years old at the period of her death; Onsha, the third son of the chief Kioscanee, reached a very old age. The Kioscanee, or Rapid Tribe, must be considered the first actual settlers of St. Clair County. Previous to their coming, the Indian settlement was on the east bank of the river, about a mile northeast of the present village of Point Edward.

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

While this was being arranged, Dongan, Governor of New York, sent an expedition to capture Mackinac, under command of Maj. Orange. It consisted of about forty mon, all of whom were captured by Da What's and Durantage's forces on Lake Huron. They were piloted, says DeNonville, by a renegade Conrenr des Bois, and the route taken for the purpose of avoiding this post was by way of the west end of Lake Erie to Saginaw Bay. Others say they were aided by the Fox tribe of Indians then occupying the region round about Grand Traverse Bay and the shore opposite.

The failure of the French expedition against the Iroquois left all the posts along the lower lakes greatly exposed, while the channels of supply were entirely interrupted. As a consequence, Forts Frontenac and Niagara were hastily abandoned, and this post left as the only barrier against the English and Iroquois; but being deemed too exposed and insufficiont for that purpose, it was also abandoned and the stockade burnt under the supervision of La Hontan. and the forees and supplies transferred to Mackinac, which, from its accessibility by way of the Ottawa ronte, was to be the object of the concentrated onergies of the French. But although compelled to relinquish the control of this region for the time being. Frontenac, who had been recalled to the Goveror Generalship, determined to reinstate the French authority as soon as practicable, and recover what had been so indiscretely lost by his predecessor. Accord ingly. La Motte Cadillac, then commanding at Mackinac, was permitted to visit France secretly to avoid the intrigues of the Jesuits, with a view of obtaining a direct commission from the crown granting authority for the establishment of another military post along the Straits for the double purpose of securing and confirming the French title to the territory, and collecting as many of the northern tribes around the same as might become practicable in settlements or colonies, the whole under the sole control of the immediate military commander, hop- ing thereby to raise up a bulwark of sufficient strength to be its own protection, as well as security for all their interests northward, yet being independent of the religious orders which were continually interfering, not only with the general administration at Quebec, but with every military commander in the provinces.

Cadillac being successful in obtaining the object of his visit to the King, roturned and fixed the location of his post at the foot of Lake St. Clair, on the present site of Detroit. By his sagacious management, he induced many of the isolated bands of Hurons, Chippewas. Sax and Foxes, as well as the Miamis-between some of whom there had been bitter fonds for many years- tribes scattered as they were, from Mackinae to the south shore of Lake Erie - to gather about him. After he had succeeded in establishing Ft. Pontchartrain, this section was abandoned as a principal settlement, both by French and Indians, save in a single exception, that during the Pontiac war it was the termination of and for a short time occupied by a hostile expedition starting from Mackinac in aid of the siege of Detroit by that chief.

Ii was occupied, however, as a military station after the Pontiac troubles had been quieted in 1763, when the English began to Jook to the permanent settlement of the lake country. Two years thereafter, a British officer by the name of Patrick Sinclair built a largo military and trading post a few miles below this point, and where is now located the village of St. Clair. This was a regular fortification, consisting of earthworks, mounting artillery with a stockade. rally- post, etc., in the most complete order; and he occupied it for about seventeen years. acquiring meanwhile from the natives a title to about four thousand acres of land bordering on the river. He was the first permanent English settler, and the only one along this river, until 1782. When Mai. Rodgers took formal possession of the country in behalf of the British crown, in 1766, both the river and the lake had the appellation of Sinclair rather than the original ono given by La Salle, In 1782, nineteen others joined him. and thereafter the chain of settlements became continuons from Lake Huron to Detroit and Lake Erie.

In 1807. soon after Gen. Unll became Governor of the territory, this post, and the border along the River St. Clair, were occupied by the forces under his command, consisting of militia, chiefly under one Capt. Roc. The headquarters of the command were located in a small block- house just below the present site of Marine City, and the troops were scattered along the river bank from Lake Huron to Lake St. Clair. This company of about forty men, with arms and equipments, were captured by a British force sent from Canada soon after the declaration of

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

war in 1812, and during the earlier demonstrations against Detroit. But immediately after the defeat of the British in the battle of Thames in the year following, measures were taken again for a more effective defense of this section. Accordingly, Maj. Forsyth, of the regular army, supported by a detachment of the Second Infantry, commanded by Capt. Cobb and a force of Militia Rangers, as they were called, under Capt. Joe Roe, with Capt. Gratiot as an engineer officer, left Detroit May 11, 1814, for the purpose of establishing a defensive work at the foot of Lake Huron. They were transported in twelve batteaux and a small sloop carrying one field piece. and reached their destination the 13th. On their arrival, they found the old French post occupied by a Canadian Frenchman with a small house, and about two acres in cultivation. This Maj. Forsyth took possession of, and commenced the erection of a stockade and earthworks for artillery the next day, and at the same time sent Roe's rangers across the river to scour the country to ascertain if there were any hostile forces in the vicinity. These troops remained until some time in 1817 or 1818, when they were relieved by a detachment of the Fourth Infantry, transferred from Maine, under the command of Capt. Fowle. At its establishment it took the name of Capt. Gratiot, the engineer officer in command, and the cost of construction was $305.25.

With the reduction of the army in 1822, this post was abandoned by the military and the buildings turned over to two missionaries by the names of Hart and Hudson, of the Presby- terian denomination, who opened a school for the education of Indians and what few whites were in the vicinity. This continued for about one year, when the school was broken up and one of the missionaries went to Mackinac for a like purpose. The works at this time were in so dilapidated a condition that Gen. Cass, then Governor of the Territory, called the attention of the Legislature to the subject, as well as to the bad condition of the fort at Detroit.

From the time the post was vacated by the missionaries until 1828, I find no record, but in that year troops were sent to occupy it, and the year following it was rebuilt, the grounds enlarged and inclosed in a stockade, the earthworks leveled down to its present condition, and the buidings arranged according to the present plan, with the exception of the hospital, which was inch nearer the river. In 1847, the troops were withdrawn and ordered to Mexico, but it was again regarrisoned at the close of that war, and remained so until the opening of the rebellion, when the troops were ordered off. At the close of the war, a detachment of the Seventeenth Infantry was stationed here and it has remained in military possession since; after the Seventeenth Infantry, by the Forty-third Infantry, and then by two companies of the First Infantry, who garrisoned the post in 1871.

Understanding that the early history of this post was incomplete, and much relating to it very imperfectly understood, and believing that as time advances the early settlement and military occupation along the northern borders of the United States will possess an increasing interest, I have taken considerable pains to investigate this subject, and herewith somewhat imperfectly present the results. Its geographical position was of great importance to the French during their occupation of Canada, and in many of the contests between the authorities on either side of these northern waters. It also promoted the more peaceful relations of the natives among themselves, and with the whites it exerted an important influence."

Le Sueur, a noted voyageur, was at the mouth of the St. Clair for the first time, in 1683, making his way np the Fox River and down the Wisconsin to the Mississippi, thence to the Sionx country, where, at different periods, he spent seven years.

In 1684, Nicholas Perrot, who had assisted St. Lusson in 1671, it will be remembered, again made his appearance at the place. Perrot is a most notable figure in the early history of the Northwest. He employed a considerable number of men, and carried his operations as far as Lake Pepin. He was the trusted agent of the Government, and was invested with more extensive authority than ordinary traders. He was commissioned to manage the interests of commerce from Green Bay westward, and was employed as Indian agent for many years. He procured a peace among the Sioux, Chippewas and Foxes, and so far put to sleep the animosity of the latter toward the French, that while he was their agent they remained friendly. " I was sent hither," he writes, "charged with the commission to have chief command there, and in the most distant countries on the side of the west."

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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

In 1686. Daniel Greysolon Du Ehut, better known as Du Luth, arrived at the post and assumed military command under the superintendency of the commandant at Mackinaw. While making preparations to go to war against the Iroquois, he was assisted by Perrot in collecting In- dian allies. The last mentioned voyageur was then trading among the Foxes in the Northwest. On the Sth of May. 1689, he ( Perrot ), then commanding a post among the Sioux, was com- missioned by the Governor of Canada to manage the interests of commerce among the Indian tribes of Green Bay, and he proceeded to make more certain the taking possession of the whole country in the name of the French King. In other words, he supplemented the work of St. Lusson done in 1671.

During the same year. the Baron Le Hontan visited the locality and was entertained in a distinguished manner by the Saes, Pottawatomies and Menomonees, as well as by the Otchip. wes and Frenchen.

In the autumn of 1678, La Salle, upon the St. Lawrence, in order to forward his design of erecting a fort upon the River Illinois, sont fifteen men up the lakes to trade for him, with orders to go hence to that river and make preparations for his coming next year. Some of these men went on as far as Green Bay. where they collected a large store of furs; and here. on one of the islands at its month, La Salle, in the " Griffin," the first sailing craft that over floated on the upper lakes, found them in the month of September, 1679. La Salle resolved to send back his vessel from this point, laden with these furs and others collected on the way. She fired a parting shot, and on the ISth of September set sail for Niagara, with orders to ro- turn to Mackinac as soon as she had discharged her cargo. But the "Griffin" was never heard of from that time. She was engulfed in the wild waves, probably, of Lake Michigan soon after leaving the island. La Salle, with fourteen men in four canoes, proceeded to the country of the Illinois. The fur traders, who, it will be remembered, preceded the Jesuit missionaries to this region, maintained their relations here with more or less regularity for a great many years.

Following the visit to Green Bay of the fur traders under La Salle, in 1678, and of that famous explorer the year after, was that of Louis Hennepin, in 1680. Ho and his party, as a detail from La Salle's expedition to the Illinois, reached the month of the St. Clair in that year, on his way from the Upper Mississippi down the great lakes, passing down this river to the older posts on the St. Lawrence.

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History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.., Part 100

Author: Western historical company, Chicago. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas & co. Number of Pages: 814

Author: Western historical company, Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas & co.
Number of Pages: 814