O I i v 4f QF fiR f SAGINAW VAI4iEY, JTS RESOURCES; PROGBX8S flIMESS INTERESTS By TRUMAN B. POX. JAU 0 t #ft 0%% S I I 1~~ADVERkT [S-MENTS. F OP SALE:~ Fams famngLnds, Pie and Grass Lands, City Lots,'Dwellingy Houses, SALT AND WLL LUVTEQNs Ot-F S IA —MT.A.W 3IzIVEE?~, Cit ofSaginaw, Mi~ch. TheWorl Renowned ADVERTISEMENTS. ORGANIZED 1851. CA R PERPETUAL. HIillu f amm v n ttg SPRINGFIELD, tASS. CASH ASSETS, - - - $3,000,000 PUJBELIY MIUTUAL. DIVIDENDS declared and paid ANNUALLY. All Profits equitably divided among the Policy Holders, increasing every year, until the Policy eventually becomes a source of Income. All Policies Non-Fiorfeitable. Massachusetts protects by Law all Policies from forfeiture, if the payments are not paid when due. No other State offers the same advantages and security. HEENRY PLESSNER, GOe'l Agent fr Miohigan. 205 GENESEE STREET, East Saginaw, Mich. Local, District and Traveling Agents wanted. ADVERTISEMENTS. T~TLO2~ HOU9~ SAGINAW CITY. Wf. H T YL OR, PR OPRIETO.R. Street Oars pass the House every twenty minutes. AND DEALER IN READY-MADE CLOTHING. ALSO,~~s A1I " 9 109~ ant[ Mm licaln its'sirm U GENE.T181e33 STRSET33 (Opposite Irving Hall) EA dST SA4 G IKI TIH I^ VICHIG-4N2nT ADVERTISEMENTS. G-LAIDWIV <& BE9EBE, PROPRIETORS OF )ast LaSM W'' gTOW Located on Genesee Street near Chestnut. Beer supplied to the trade at liberal rates and warranted pure and wholesome. East Sagcinaw, JMich. WHOLESALE DEALERS IN Foreig Wines & Liqu ors Domestic Brandy, Catawba Wine, Rectified Whiskey &c. Brick Block, North Water Street, bet. Tuscola and Water Sts., EAST SAGINAW, MICH. ID. FO I0 i J ST, Manufacturer of and Dealer in %ost0, tjeos, t at je, in bings, AND EVE7YTtHI PERTAINIITG TO TEE TBADE. ItESPfjfITvG- OJFE UTPOJ SHOi fJTOCICE. Particular Attention paid to the Manufacture of Sewed Work. Pendell Block, Washington St., East Saginaw. M... TO EC 3- TR/ ZE. TITATCWHE, East Sagina, X.ich. DEALEN 1 E IR L A STAT21 AND PROPRIETOR OF THJATCIHER* S AIDIETION., On the South Boundary of the City of East Saginaw. ADVERTISEMENTS. D s 3PG 13T S-P 3 D. J. (a. SSe M XTX1 1 Room No. 11, 2d Story, Hess Block, first door North of Loveland's office. EAST SAGINAW, MICH. Every practical invention or improvement in the profession made use of as may be desired. H3OYT & PIERKt3NSX ATTORNEYS AT LAW AND COLLECTION OFFICE, H. H. HOYT,aw, D. W. PERKINS, Cot *gin8ut "Ith. G-ARRIG —TEJS & C00., MANUFACTURERS OF CHLORIDE CALCIUM, CHLORIDE MAGNESIUM MAGNESIA AND BROMINE, ZIL WA. UIEE, - - JIICHIGAI. W Q.. Q. VATWOOD, DEALER IN &lM~~~ AND) LANCDS ALSO, G3ENERAL TAX A 3 ENT Office, South East cor. Water and Tuscola Sts., EAST SAGINAW, MICH. HISTORY OF THE SAGINAW VALLEY, ITS RESOURCES, PROGRESS AND BUSINESS INTERESTS By TRUMAN B. FOX. EAST SAGINAW, MICH. DAILY COURIER STEAM JOB PRINT, BUCKHOUT BLOCK. 1868. complete in all of its appointments. () _ PANTLIND, WITT & CO., Proprietors. B --- —- — 4- I= *- ---- i --- —--- -. --- J INTRODUCTORY. Nearly eleven years ago the writer of this published a pamphlet entitled " A History of Saginaw County," in which he endeavored to give a correct idea of its growth, its advantages, resources, and early history. At that time the facilities for publishing such a work were meagre indeed, and although the materials were abundant, it required the most strenuous exertions and perseverance to collect them. The roads were almost impassable, the Flint and Saginaw plank road being the only plank, and in fact the only tolerable road of any kind in the Saginaw Valley. No bridges spanned the rivers; no public stage routes, save that to Flint, afforded means of transit; no railroads, with their thundering locomotives and rolling palaces, had as yet made our acquaintance; street railways were unheard of among us; horses and carriages were few and far between, there being in reality but little use for them-in short, although we prided ourselves on our greatness as a community, we literally possessed no facilities whatever when compared with those of to-day. Then it took at least three days to visit Detroit and return. Now we take a leisurely breakfast at home, step on board the cars, take our dinner either in Detroit, Jackson or Lansing, as we may elect, spend four or five hours in business or pleasure at these places, and then saunter at our leisure into a splendid car, and arrive home in time to take tea with our families the same day. In reviewing the history of Saginaw, we shall endeavor to treat candidly and impartially the various subjects connected with it, 4 HISTORY OF THE SAGINAW VALLEY. simply stating facts and showing figures, and leaving all comments for the reader, except such as would naturally be expected in noticing the development and progress of matters pertaining to us. In speaking of Saginaw we do not propose to make any invidious distinction of localities, but shall speak of it as a unit, embracing all the business points on the river, as possessing an identity of interest, stimulated only by a laudable emulation, and together comprising one great commercial community, characterized alike by thrift, enterprise and brotherly feeling. Of course, in a small pamphlet, it cannot be expected that a full history of all the cities and towns in the valley will be given, but we will endeavor to give a synopsis of everything of importance, hoping thereby to furnish a work that can be sent by mail, and impart to those abroad some idea of Saginaw. THE FIRST SETTLEMENT. Up to the year 1818, the vast expanse of territory lying north -of Detroit, to the upper Lakes, was an unbroken forest. No human footstep save that of the native red man, or an adventurous trapper had ever fallen, to disturb the mighty solitude that reigned supreme through all that vast domain. Wild bands of Indians roamed unrestrained through the forests, and paddled their birchen canoes or bathed in our beautiful streams, as yet undisturbed by the inventions and innovations of the "pale face." But the fiat of civilization had gone forth, the red man's doom had been pronounced, and the hunting ground of his fathers was destined to pass into the hands of the white man, while he himself was to become a stranger in the land that gave him birth. During the winter of this year (1818) Orson Allen commenced the first white settlement north of Detroit, where Pontiac now stands, in Oakland county. Detroit was, of course, his nearest and only trading point. The following September, General Lewis Cass, then in the strength of his manhood, concluded a treaty with the Chippewa Indians at Saginaw, which secured to our government an extensive tract of territory, the southern boundary line of which passed near Springfield, Oakland county, running northeast to Lake Huron, west into Livingston county, then north to the headwaters of Thunder Bay river, including a portion if not all of the rich and fertile valley of the Saginaw. In the year 1822, two companies of United States troops were stationed where Saginaw City now stands, for the purpose of protecting the fur trade and watching the movements of the Indians, who at times were inclined to be mischievous. Prior to the arrival of the troops, Saginaw had been used as an Indian trading 6 HISTORY OF THE SAGINAW VALLEY. post, although by no regularly organized companies, but by individuals, who bartered with the Indians for their furs, giving in exchange whisky, blankets, beads, etc. We are indebted to Hon. Zina Pitcher of Detroit, for information concerning the arrival and departure of the troops, together with other interesting facts. He says: "In June, 1822, having been appointed an asssistant surgeon in the army, I received an order to report to Major Daniel Baker, of the 3d Regiment of United States Infantry, then stationed at Green Bay, who, with two companies of that regiment, I was informed, would arrive at Saginaw about the 20th of July, the troops to reach their destination by transports from Fort Howard, and I by land from Detroit. Finding a guide in the person of the late Captain Knaggs of Detroit, who was then agent for the Saginaws, we made our way through the woods by an Indian trail, from Williams' Mill, situated where the village of Waterford, Oakland County, is now located, to the wigwam of the old chief Kish-ka-ko, on the east side of the Saginaw river, where we arrived just in time to see the troops pitching their tents on the other side. The vessels by which this detachment was transported from Green Bay, I believe did not enter the mouth of the river, the men composing it and their supplies being conveyed from the Saginaw Bay to the site selected for the post in small boats. The officers of this detachment were Major Daniel Baker, Capt. John Garland, Lieuts. Edward Brooks, Otis Wheeler and Henry Bainbridge. Capt. S. H. Webb, and Lieuts. Baker and Allen, the last two of whom died here, joined a short time afterwards. John Dean, (the sutler,) Thomas C. Sheldon, Chauncey Bush and Elliot Gray, also had business connections with the command of Major Baker. "These persons, with the enlisted men and the families of Baker Garland and Brooks, constituted the little military colony which laid the foundation of Saginaw City. Joseph Campau and family, Antoine Campau, Archibald Lyons, (Indian interpreter,) Mr. Pro vensal, (Indian blacksmith,) Mr. Corben, and a Frenchman whose name I have forgotten, (Indian farmer) made up the civil commu HISTORY OF THE SAGINAW VALLEY. 7 nity. The road from Saginaw to Smith's trading house on Flint river, where Flint city now stands, was cut in the winter of 1822-3, by a party of soldiers commanded by Lieuts. Brooks and Bainbridge, the latter of whom served his country honorably from that time, including the Mexican war, and lost his life a few years since in the Gulf of Mexico, by the burning of a steamer on which he was a passenger. "The winter of 1822-3 was very cold, and much snow fell. When spring came on, the rapid solution of it caused a great flood in the Tittabawassee and other tributaries of the Saginaw, so that most of the prairie between the post and Green Point was under water. The succeeding summer was very warm, and the troops being unused to the climate, became sickly as early as July, when, late the following fall, they abandoned the fort and moved to Detroit by water, in two schooners, one commanded by Capt. Keith and the other by Capt. Walker. Before the military occupancy of the Saginaw river, a Mr. Hudson had made an attempt to evangelize the Saginaws, but meeting with no success, he had left the place before the troops under the command of Baker arrived, leaving behind an unfinished house on the east side of the river, some distance below the old Saginaw City ferry." It would seem that when the treaty was made with the Saginaw Indians, they were to have a blacksmith and a missionary sent to them. Accordingly Mr. Hudson came among them in the latter capacity. The probabilities are that this man of God's influence with them, when brought to bear with the villainous whisky of the trader, had but little weight, and they therefore being annoyed at the restrictions which the Missionary's presence placed upon them, sent back word to Washington that they had too much missionary, and wanted to swap him off for another blacksmith. Grieved in spirit at the perverseness of the "untutored Indian," the good man packed up his few effects, and turned his back forever upon the home of the Saginaws. Among those who died at the fort were a brother and son-in-law of Major Baker, the commandant. This event so disheartened the 8 lHISTORY OF THE SAGINAW VALLEY. Major, together with the many hardships and privations to which the troops were subjected, that he reported to the Department that the climate was so unhealthy that "nothing but Indians, muskrats, and bullfrogs could possibly subsist here." Nor was it strange that himself and those under his command should yield to the discouragements of the times, for here they were far from their homes,, in the midst of a howling wilderness, surrounded by untamed savages, whose mighty whoopings and infernal pow wow orgies were more appalling than even the cries of the wild beasts, and exposed to the extremes of a climate to which they were unused. No wonder, therefore, that the order for their removal was hailed with delight by the poor troops. In the fall of 1824, the American Fur Company established a trading post at Saginaw, taking partial possession of the block houses which were erected in and about the stockade used by the trobps. William McDonald, a stirring, whole-souled Scotchman,, had the management of the Company's affairs. The fort, or stockade, rather, was constructed upon the brow of the hill, near where the Taylor house stands, and commanded a view of the river from Green Point to some distance below, where it was lost sight of in the wild, unbroken forests that skirted it upon either side. A few years after, the Hon. Gardner D. Williams purchased the interests of the American Fur Company here, and established himself as an Indian trader. There wereere re, then, besides himself the families of Louis Campau and John B. Cushway. At that time (1827) but two white families resided between Waterford, eight miles north of Pontiac, and Saginaw, and these belonged to Rufus W. Stevens and his father, who lived at Grand Blanc, Genessee county. Aside from the small "clearings" of these two families, the whole tract of territory lying between the above named points was one unbroken wilderness. In my sketch of Saginaw City, I shall endeavor to resume its early history, and condense it to the present time. The Saginaw Indians at that time were composed of Chippewas, mostly, although occasionally an Ottawa half-breed might have HISTORY OF THE SAGINAW VALLEY. 9 been found among them; and they were governed by a chief (a usurper in power) named Kish-ka-ko, a miserable tyrant, a villianous coward and a drunken sot. The early settlers of Oakland county were very much annoyed by this chief and his cowardly band, as they passed through that section of the country, on their way to Malden, to receive their annual presents from the British Government. Kish-ka-ko was in the habit of traveling with thirty or forty compaions whom he called his warriors, and taking advantage of the sparseness of the settlements upon the borders, would levy contributions upon the poor settlers, who could ill afford to furnish supplies to others, having all they could do to get along themselves. If the old chief's demands were not speedily complied with, he would take what he wanted by main force, such as cattle, hogs, grain, etc., thus subjecting the settlers to great suffering and continual fear. Upon one occasion, after his arrival in Detroit, which happened a few days before payment day, his men being hungry, he applied to the authorities for food, saying, "unless my young men get something to eat, it will be impossible for me to restrain them from robbing the settlers along the route." "Sir," returned Gen. Lewis Cass, "if your young men commit any more depredations, upon the settlers, I will send my young men to punish them!" Kish-ka-ko at length came to his end in a manner strikingly in keeping with his wicked and cowardly career. One day while encamped at a place a little above Detroit, known as the Chein Farm, he got into a drunken row and killed an Indian. He was arrested by the civil authorities, and imprisoned in the old Detroit jail, where he remained several months. Feeling assured from his past conduct that he need expect no mercy or lenity from the hands of those he had so often outraged, he anticipated the law by taking poison supposed to have been provided for him by his squaws. His successor was O-ge-maw-geg-a-too, which signifies the Chief Speaker. He was in every respect antipodal to Kish-ka-ko, being a high-minded and an honorable man, a great favorite with the 10 HISTORY OF THE SAGINAW VALLEY. whites and an eloquent speaker, but at times much given to dissipation. He was not the head chief by birth, but merely by promotion or appointment, on account of the loftiness of his style, the beauty of his expression, and his powerful and commanding eloquence, which always carried conviction with it. The chief proper was Miz-co-be-na-sa, signifying the Red Bird. He was a quiet, unassuming man, possessing no desire whatever for fame-no aspirations after greatness. Only give him his pipe and tobacco pouch well filled, and place by his side a jug of fire water, and he cared but little if anything about affairs of Indian state. Ie had, however, been considerable of a warrior in his day, but the fire of youth had passed away, and with it all the energies and ambitions of a youthful spirit. It is a melancholy and lamentable fact that as the country becomes settled by the whites, the native energy and spirit of the red man grows less and droops, for he beholds the broad domains which his fathers possessed, in the hands of the pale face-he sees the graves of the chosen of his race desecrated by strangers, and the cherished hunting grounds which were his own melting away before the sun of civilization. As society advances, the red man recedes and degenerates, and one would hardly recognize in the miserable, filthy wretch that brings berries, baskets and muskrat skins into our cities and towns to exchange them for food and whisky to-day, the once noble and lordly possessor of the soil. Although many other chiefs besides those mentioned by us, ruled their tribes in the Saginaw country, at various times since the opening of our history, the above were really the only ones of any note. Old Knock-a-chick-a-ma is at present chief of the fragmentary tribes that roam through the valley. He is a venerable and patriarchal-looking Indian, possessing not a little of the dignity of his forefathers, and intensely fond of the scoot-a-wah-boo of the pale face, which he imbibes with true Indian stoicism. During the summer of 1837, the small pox broke out among the Saginaw Indians, making fearful havoc among them and taking off.half if not two-thirds of their number to the hunting grounds of HISTORY OF THE SAGINAW VALLEY. 11 the Great Spirit. Their bloated corpses were found lying in every direction; now in thickets, where the poor creatures had crawled to shield them from the rays of the burning sun; now half immersed in the bayous or floating down the rivers into which they had fallen in their feeble endeavors to cool the dreadful fever which was consuming them. Not a single white person in the whole valley was attacked with this fearful disease-a circumstance which led the Indians to believe that the Great Spirit was punishing the children for some outrageous sin committed by the fathers generations before. The whole number of Indians in the Saginaw Valley at present, cannot exceed five hundred souls. A few are engaged in farming, but the majority lead a desultory, roaming life, without any apparent aim or object in view. Although it would be no difficult matter to point out to the stranger the location of Saginaw as it appears on the map, with its beautiful rivers, and the little dots representing its cities and villages, it would be a thankless task to attempt by maps, or even words, to convey to his mind any adequate idea of the growth, progress and importance of the Saginaw Valley. By reference to the map of Michigan, the reader will observe that the Saginaw country occupies nearly a central position in the State, and is not, as many have idly imagined, in an extreme northern latitude, and almost beyond the reach of civilization. Indeed, but a few years ago, this portion of the State was considered almost unapproachable, and even after getting here, not fit to locate upon. The Saginaw Valley proper is comprised of the counties of Sag. inaw and Bay, although in a general sense a portion of the counties of Tuscola and Midland, including a goodly stretch of the Bay shore, are usually embraced in the term. We intend, however, to treat more particularly upon the Saginaw Valley proper, and should space permit, allude briefly to those other counties, so far as their interests are identified with ours. There are in Saginaw and Bay counties about 650,000 acres, a small portion of which have been set down in the field notes as swamp lands. Actual survey and a looking up of these lands have proven that a great portion 12 HISTORY OF THE SAGINAW VALLEY. of them marked thus are among the finest farming lands in Michigan, susceptible of the highest state of culture. Many farms thus entered have not the least appearance of swamp lands about them, but, on the other hand, contain splendid uplands, well timbered with beach, maple and oak. There are, it is true, in the vicinity of the Bay, and along some of the rivers, some wet prairie lands, which, with but few exceptions, are far from being useless, for they furnish thousands of tons of very good hay annually, which often brings in the market, from eight to ten dollars a ton. FACE OF THE COUNTRY-SOIL. The impression seems to have gone forth that the face of the country is low and monotonous, and unrelieved by hill, or dale, or upland. Now in the immediate vicinity of some of the rivers and the bay, this may to a certain extent be true; but away from these there are to be found, in localities all over the Saginaw country, beautiful rolling lands and splendid ridges, covered with a luxuriant growth of every species of timber peculiar to this latitude. The bottom lands that abound in the Saginaws must not be confounded with the wet prairie that skirts some of our streams. While the latter is usually part and parcel, so to speak, of the stream itself, being covered with wild rice or tall, rank grass and reeds, and is submerged a good portion of the season, acting in.sympathy with the natural rise and fall of the streams, being about upon a level with them, the former also skirt the rivers and water courses, but lie several feet above the ordinary water mark, and in their native state are lined with a rich growth of walnut, linden, soft maple and wild plums. These trees are usually festooned with grape vines, which attain to immense size and produce abundant fruit. The soil is composed of the richest alluvial formation. These lands, of course, are subject to inundation, usually in the early spring, the waters receding in time for the farmer to prepare the soil for seed. The strength of this soil is wonderful, and the crops it produces, particularly cereals, are remunerative in thehighest degree. The bottoms also afford the best meadow lands in -the world, yielding not less than two tons of hay to the acre. The HISTORY OF THE SAGINAW VALLEY. 13 advantage these lands possess over the rolling or higher lands is, they seldom if ever suffer from a drouth. During the present almost unparalleled hot season for this region, we have taken occasion to observe the effects of the drouth in various localities in the valley. While corn was literally rolling together like a scroll, and vegetation generally upon the more elevated farms suffered severely, those crops which grew on the bottom lands looked fresh, vigorous, and full of vitality. Another error in regard to the Saginaw lands seems to have crept into the minds of casual visitors to the valley. Because large tracts in different portions of Saginaw and Bay counties are level and seemingly monotonous, and at certain seasons of the year, especially late in the fall and in early spring, wet and forbidding, they have been pronounced by casual visitors wholly unfit for cultivation, because in their minds they could not be drained, and thus warmed into life and usefulness. That such an impression should have been received at first sight, without a knowledge of facts, is not strange, but we are prepared to prove that there is not an acre of land in the Saginaw Valley, with the exception, it is true, of the wet prairie bordering on the streams, but that can be drained and rendered susceptible of a high state of cultivation, no matter how apparently unredeemable paid land may have appeared. Take, for instance, the low, wet bayou land that spread over a large tract of the city of East Saginaw but a year or two ago. This was known to be a perfect quagmire-the abode of innumerable reptiles, and from whose bosom noxious vapors and miasmas were constantly arising, to the detriment of good health and comfort. Many supposed there was no remedy for it, as the level condition of the country would not admit of drainage, so for years it remained a perfect nuisance and a stench in the nostrils of decency. After awhile some long-headed individual discovered that this quagmire was located several feet above the level of the river. Measures were at once adopted by our city fathers, to have it drained, and a brick sewer was accordingly built, leading to the river, at a cost of about $16,000. To-day the spot where this quagmire was, is perfectly dry, and a portion of it covered 14 HISTORY OF TIIE SAGINAW VALLEY. with buildings and fine gardens. So, also, have we seen many other parcels of land in the vicinity of our towns which were considered about worthless on account of their spongy proclivities, redeemed and made valuable by a proper system of drainage. In this connection it is gratifying to know that a thorough system of ditching and drainage has been adopted in this county, and commissioners have been at work for some time in opening long lines of ditches, thus affording facilities for draining lands in every portion of the country. RIVERS. Nature has furnished the Saginaw country with an abundance of drains and irrigators in the way of rivers, there being not less than ten dignified with the name, besides a number of small streams. THE SAGINAW RIVER divides the counties of Saginaw and Bay nearly east and west, and is one of the largest and most beautiful streams in the State. It is navigable for first class steamers and vessels, and is about twenty-five miles in length, being formed by the Cass from the east, the Flint and Shiawassee from the south, and the Tittabawassee from the northwest. It pursues a northeasterly course, and empties into the head of Saginaw Bay. It varies in depth from fifteen to twenty feet, and its average width is about 240 yards. The banks of the river in some places are quite bold, while in others they are low and skirted with wet prairie. One peculiarity of the Saginaw river and its tributaries, is observable in the numerous coves or bayous which diverge from them, in many instances extending miles into the country, and are often deeper than the rivers themselves. A few years ago, before these bayous were used by boom companies and lumber and salt manufacturers, they were bordered with a plentiful growth of wild rice, and were consequently the resort of all kinds of aquatic fowls, especially ducks, which during the fall of the year, when the rice was ripe, came hither in "clouds," to fatten upon it, thus affording rare sport for gentlemen of leisure. This river, during the early spring, is subject to inundation, caused by the rapid solution of the ice in the upper streams, and the great masses of snow that accu HISTORY OF THE SAGINAW VALLEY. 15 mulate in the dark forests of pine and hemlock that lie along their banks. To this river as a basis, the rich and fertile valley of the Saginaw is indebted for its wealth, its wonderful growth and prosperity. While it serves as an outlet for a vast expanse of country above and around us, millions of logs are annually floated down it, and converted into lumber by the almost innumerable mills that line its shores its entire length. And its commerce, which but a few short years ago was confined to the transactions of a limited number of small steamboats and vessels, has now swelled to enormous proportions. Vessels load at our docks with products of the valley, which they ship, without interruption, directly to European ports, and lines of first class steamboats bring us into direct communication with points which until recently were considered almost as the antipodes. The first dock erected on this river ras built at Saginaw City, about the year 1836, in connection with an extensive warehouse, now used as a shook factory, by Mr. D. B. Ketchem. To-day it would be a difficult task to number the docks and wharves that line the Saginaw river, connected with warehouses, mills, salt works, etc. The original Indian name of this river was Sac-haw-ning, signifying the place or home of the Sacs, as this nation was supposed to have been the early possessors of the valley. We shall have occasion to speak of this river again. TITTABAWASSEE RIVER -This is a magnificent stream, rising in the northern portion of the State, pursuing a southeasterly course, and emptying into the Saginaw. Its depth is from four to ten feet, and its width about fifty yards. It is navigable for small steamboats to Midland City, a flourishing village about thirty miles from its mouth. This river passes through some of the finest farming lands in the State, and the banks, in many places, rise from ten to twenty-five feet above the level of the stream. Nothing can exceed the beauty and romantic appearance of the Tittabawassee during the summer season. The high banks, covered with verdure, are crowned with rich forests of maple, elm and butternut, whose foliage is often festooned with the twining grape and ivy, giving them a singularly beautiful and attractive appearance, as 16 HISTORY OF THE SAGINAW VALLEY. they overhang the bright river and mirror themselves upon its laughing surface. Some rich bottom lands are found skirting this stream, which equal if not exceed, in strength and durability of soil, the far-famed valley of Genessee, in the State of New York. All along this river may be seen finely cultivated farms, with good orchards, substantial dwellings, and well stocked. Indeed, the oldest farms in Saginaw county are located upon the banks of this stream, some of which produce all kinds of fruit in abundance. At the county agricultural fairs held in East Saginaw, the samples of fruits of almost every variety and species, together with vegetables and grains raised here, astonished visitors from other States and counties, by their wonderful perfection and superior excellence. Upon the banks of this river may also be found, in exhaustless quantities, after removing the rich soil, deposites of brick clay. A large number of brick yards have been in active operation here, for several years, and the brick manufactured, with all the modern improvements, are exceeded in no other locality. This river is the only lumber thoroughfare for the vast region of pine that lies above, embracing an area of upward of one hundred miles in extent. The number of feet of pine logs rafted out of this stream during the year 1866, was 186,000,000. The Tittabawassee Boom Company, which was organized in 1864, has about thirteen miles of booms, and employs during the active season, between 200 and 300 men, besides expending for rope alone, for rafting purposes, about $20,000. CASS RIVER.-This river rises in Sanilac county, pursues a southwesterly direction, and empties into the Saginaw about three miles above Saginaw City. Its banks in some places are low, while in others they are bold. Rich bottom lands are found in its vicinity, as well as heavy timber, and some oak openings. This river passes through some of the most charming and beautiful country in the world, and affords an outlet for millions of feet of pine lumber every year, heavy forests of which skirt it for many miles. During the year 1867, the Huron Log Boom Company rafted out about 72,000,000 feet of pine logs. A number of flour HISTORY OF THE SAGINAW VALLEY. 17 ishing villages are located upon itsbanks, together with many finely cultivated farms. The farming lands all along this river are superior, and great inducements are held out to actual settlers, who are not slow in taking advhitage of them. In 1837, Mr. E. W. Perry, now of this city, commenced clearing the floodwood from this river, which to him appeared to have been the accumulation of ages. It was, however, an absolute necessity, as he had recently erected a sawmill in Tuscola county, upon Perry Creek, near Cass river, and having made a contract to furnish lumber to the company engaged in building the Webster House, in Saginaw City, there was no other possible means of delivering the lumber but through the medium of this stream. After months of toil, the Herculean task of clearing out the obstructions was accomplished, although at the expense of health, and quite a fortune expended by Mr. Perry from his own means. The original name of this river was Onottowaysebewing, signifying the home of the Onottoways, who resided upon its banks long years ago. FLINT RIVER.-This river, whose Indian name is Pe-wa-ne-goink-sebe, takes its rise in the southeastern corner of Lapeer county, pursues first a northwesterly, then a southwesterly course through part of the county, after which it changes to a northwesterly course, and empties into the Saginaw river a few miles above East Saginaw. Its banks, not unlike those of the other rivers, vary in height, there being some low places and bottom lands skirting it, highly enriched by inundation. Pine in abundance is found in the vicinity of this river, although many miles above. In 1865, 30,000,000 feet of pine logs were rafted out, while in 1867, there were not 6,000,000, all told, boomed there. This falling off is not attributed to the particular decrease of pine along this river, but. to the increase of mills near its headwaters, which very naturally cut off the great supplies that formerly were rafted into the aginaw. There are splendid farming lands all along the route of this river, and many improved and well stocked farms show that this 8 HISTORY OF THE SAGINAW VALLEY. fact has not been overlooked ty the shrewd seekers after homes and comforts. SHIAWASSEE RIVER.-This is a large tributary of the Saginaw, and a rapid, beautiful stream. It rises in the interior of Livingston and Oakland counties, pursues a meandering, northwesterly course through the county of Shiawassee, and joins the Flint to help form the Saginaw, a few miles above Saginaw City. Near its mouth it is low and marshy, but as you advance up the stream, the aspect changes, and farming lands with improved farms appear, to gladden the eye. The soil is exceeding fertile, being in many places of alluvial formation. An excellent quality of stone coal is found along this stream, which bids fair to become a source of considerable profit to those engaged in exhuming it. This river retains its original name, which signifies beautiful or delightful. BAD RIVER rises near the southern limits of Saginaw County, pursues a northerly course, and empties into the Hareriver proper, a tributary of the Shiawassee. The lands bordering this stream are rich bottoms, generally, and make good farms. This river also affords an outlet for millions of feet of pine logs, which are cut upon it and its tributaries. In the year 1866, not far from 23,000,000 of feet were rafted down by the Bad River Boom Company. MICHESEBEE.-This is a small stream originating in the western part of Saginaw county, and emptying into the Saginaw river about two miles above the mouth of the Flint. Good farming lands abound in this vicinity, some of which are being improved. MISHTEaAYOCK-This stream rises in the southern part of Genlessee and Shiawassee counties, pursues a northerly course, and flows into the Flint river three miles above its mouth. It is about forty miles in length, and runs nearly midway between the Shiawassee and Flint, until it discharges into the latter. Some splendid farming lands and fine timber are found in the neighborhood of this stream. KAW-KAW-LIN RIVER.-This rises in Arenac and Midland counties, pursues a southeasterly course through Midland and Bay HISTORY OF THE SAGINAW VALLEY. 19 counties, then northeast into Midland again, thence east, and empties into the southwestern extremity of Saginaw Bay, not far from the mouth of Saginaw river. The banks of this stream are low in many places, the soil being rich and productive, and susceptible of high cultivation. About two miles from its mouth, a few years ago, there was an Indian village and mission, but it was vacated by the Indians, who left to take possession of lands donated farther west, by the Government. Quite extensive lumbering operations are now being carried on here, by Messrs. Ballou & Kaiser, and other parties. About 14,000,000 feet of logs were got out here by these parties, and by them converted into lumber. HARE RIVER, to which Bad river is tributary, empties into the Shiawassee twelve miles above Saginaw City. It passes through occasional groves of good timber, and the soil along its banks is finely adapted to farming purposes, being rich and durable. In addition to the above are a number of smaller streams, among which are the Ma-qua-na-ka-see, or Bear Creek, Che-boygun, Zaw-wis-haw-ning, or place for bass, and Squy-haw-ning, or last place, so called because near its mouth is an island supposed to have been the place where the last or decisive battle was fought between the Sacs and Chippewas, in which the destiny of the former tribe was decided, they being completely routed and nearly annihilated. The first of these streams rises in Tuscola county and empties into the southeastern extremity of Saginaw Bay. The second also rises in the same county, and flows northwesterly into the Saginaw river, about eight miles from the Bay. The third rises in the northern part of Bay county, flowing into the Saginaw river about seven miles from the Bay. The fourth originates in the northwestern part of Bay county, flowing east into the Saginaw river, about six miles from its mouth. These streams are mostly skirted with prairie and bottom lands, with an occasional show of timber. Upon some of these streams may be found cultivated farms, and upon the Cheboygan an Indian village containing about fifteen families, is located. 20 HISTORY OF THE SAGINAW VALLEY. TIMBER. The Saginaw Valley furnishes an excellent and valuable variety of timber, including oak, beech, maple, (hard and soft,) hickory, blackwalnut, butternut, cherry, basswood, ash, elm, pine and hemlock. The oak found here is excelled by none in the Union in point of toughness, flexibility, elasticity and durability, which properties render it invaluable for ship and steamboat building. It has been pronounced by competent judges, to be equal to the old English ship oak, and superior to most of the oak found elsewhere in the United States, it having been thoroughly tested by shipbuilders here, who stand ready to vouch for the truth of the statement. This oak is found in large quantities throughout the valley. There are, however, several kinds of oak here, viz., white or upland, black, red, yellow, swamp, and some scrub oak. The white and swamp oak are used for shipbuilding and staves. The manufacture of all kinds of staves is carried on in the valley upon an extensive scale. Of this branch of industry we shall have occasion to speak again. It is confidently affirmed by those well informed upon the subject, that there is enough stave oak in the valley, notwithstanding the great inroads made upon it, to furnish an extensive trade in that direction for many years to come. The basswood, or linn, which is found in abundance, is discovered to be of great utility in ship building, and many other kinds of business where flexible lumber is required. The pine, of which we shall.speak in another place, aside from the lumber it yields, furnishes superb spars for vessels. The hard or sugar maple is a beautiful tree, and the pride and glory of an American forest. It is not alone its beauty and magnificence that render it an object of pride, but the happy combination of the useful and ornamental which it possesses. While this tree is eagerly sought after for its shade, timber, lumber, and the superior firewood it makes, it is highly valuable on account of the immense quantity of excellent sugar which is annually manufactured from the rich saccharine sap that flows from it during the spring months. The soil in which the maple is found, and also beech, is always considered of a superior HISTORY OF THE SAGINAW VALLEY. 21 quality, being generally of a dark, sandy loam, varying from fourteen inches to two feet in depth, of a rich alluvial formation, covering & substratum of clay, and almost entirely free from stones. The butternut and soft maple are usually found upon the rich bottom lands that skirt the streams, while the blackwalnut, hickory and cherry, all of which are valuable, grow more abundantly upon the lands farther back, or uplands. A few oak openings are found in some portions of the valley, the soil of which, although not possessing the strength and durability of the timbered land, is finely adapted to agricultural purposes. The following able and interesting article relating to the lumber regions of Michigan, written by Rev. C. H. Brigham of Ann Arbor, was handed us, with a request to insert it in our pamphlet. We do so with pleasure, as it covers a portion of the ground proposed by us in the original plan of our work. We commence with THE PINE LANDS OF MICHIGAN. The "lumrber region" is the region in which the pine grows in utilcient quantities and of suitable size for use in the saw mills. There may be a pine country which is not really a lumber country, as, for instance, the old colony of Massachusetts. It is not neceszary, to make a good lumber region, that the pine should be the exclusive growth, or that it should grow in large, compact masses. The best pine is found among trees of firmer grain. The pineries of Michigan differ from those of the Eastern States, in being less homogenous. On the best pine lands the quantity of hard wood is