PREFACE. THIS work was originally intended as a sketch to be used for the purposes of the Centennial Committee of Michigan, and was prepared in more haste than was otherwise desirable. The time allowed for it was not sufficient to permit any very extended researches among original materials. Although, for some twenty years past, the writer has made occasional collections of such material, yet his work must be regarded as largely compiled from his predecessors, who have been so frequently relied on that this general acknowledgment is more appropriate than would be any attempt to credit them in particular places. He has drawn freely from the Lanmans, and Mrs. Sheldon, from the "Historical Sketches of Michigan," and from the local sketches of Judge Witherell and Mr R. E. Roberts, as well as from Parkman and the French authors especially Charlevoix, La Hontan, Hennepin, Tonty and Joutel,correcting them, so far as he could, by the French documents. In matters concerning the War of 1812, Mr. Lossing's "Field-Book" has been of much service Upon that war there is no lack of authentic documents and histories. Much, also, which has not been recorded by the historians, has been found scattered through early and modern biographies, books of travel, and other less pretentious works, as well as in newspapers and private writings; and many interesting facts appear incidentally in public documents and land books and other local records. The early recording officers placed on record a great many private papers which were not muniments of title, but related to family matters. A long residence in Detroit has given some opportunities for procuring information from living sources, and for observing things which were not without value for reference. It has also enabled the writer to understand and explain some things which could hardly be comprehended from writings alone. Many gentlemen have busied themselves with gathering and preserving historical material, and have accumulated much that, with sufficient time and labor, will be some day made a very valuable addition to the annals of Michigan and the Northwest. Besides the numerous documents preserved by the Historical Society, and the narratives and sketches gathered by the Pioneer Society, it is not improper to mention Hon. C. C. Trowbridge, Hon. Charles I. Walker, Robert E. Roberts, Esq., Bela Hubbard, Esq., and Hon. Levi Bishop, as active workers in this field. It is to be hoped that the results of Judge Walker's diligent researches will be given to the public in a durable form. To all these gentlemen, as well as to Hon. E. A. Brush, and many other personal friends, who have aided him by information and suggestions, the writer records his acknowledgments. He trusts that his imperfect sketch will not be without some value, as a contribution upon a subject which, as yet, has been very far from receiving exhaustive treatment from any one. DETROIT, May 1, 1876. CONTENTS. Preliminary. No popular government until Councils of 1824 and 1827. Chief growth has been since that time. Eventful close of the first half century of the United States. Michigan of French origin, and with institutions unlike those of English colonies. Part of New France and Canada. French writers and explorers. La Salle, Hennepin, Tonty, La Hontan, Char- levoix. Full records in the Department of the Marine. French régime despotic and peculiar. Attention of govern- ment extended to private affairs. Intrigues in Church and Early explorations. Michigan was a part of New France. ments delayed by its Canadian connection, in the interests of fur trade and of missions. Date of discovery unknown. An- cient resort for beavers and furs. Hurons or Ouendâts. Le Détroit, or the Strait, known very early. Champlain and the Récollêt Missions. Michigan not held by the Iroquois. Mis- sions in the Upper Peninsula. Raymbault, Jogues, Mesnard. Mission of St. Ignace and Mackinaw. Père Marquette. Cou- reurs de bois and fur trade. Character of contraband adven- turers. Bushrangers the first explorers and soldiers. Jesuit Preparation for Western occupation. Territorial ambition of Louis Eminence of their leaders. The regiment of Carig- nan Salières. English encroachments. Hudson's Bay Com- pany. New York ceded to the English. Colbert offers re- wards for discovery. The Religious Orders and their influence. Grandfontaine sends out Joliet. Voyage to Akansas country. La Salle ennobled, and authorized to explore. Tonty. Pre- parations for journey. The Griffin. Skilled mechanics. Early settlements in Michigan. La Salle sends men to Michigan to wait for him. Teuchsa Grondie and the early settle- ments on the Strait. Karontaen, whether the same as Carontouan. Many forms of the same names. Champlain's knowledge of the Strait. Griffin at the Detroit. At Lake Ste. Claire on St. Claire's Day. Lake Ste. Claire known as Otsi- keta, Chaudière, Kandekio and Ganatchio. La Salle reaches Mackinaw and goes southwest. At St. Joseph. Strife with Iroquois and English for the fur trade. Eminent adventurers. Du Luth, De la Forêt, Durantaye, Lusigny. Duchesneau complains of Frontenac and Du Luth as favoring contraband trade. Amnesty to coureurs de bois. Colonial intrigues. Du- Luth goes to France. Importance of Lake Erie. Correspon- dence between De la Barre and Governor Dongan. Denonville sends Du Luth to build Fort St. Joseph, at the outlet of Lake Huron. McGregory and Roseboom expeditions and capture. Tonty, La Forêt, Durantaye, Du Luth and Beauvais de Tilly go east with the prisoners, to join the Seneca campaign. La- Hontan sent to Fort St. Joseph. Lafontaine Marion, guide to McGregory, shot. Grisolon de la Tourette, brother to Daniel Grisolon Du Luth. Iroquois claim against French control of the Detroit. Mackinaw an important point. Hurons and Ottawas. Industry of the Hurons. Fort St. Joseph abandoned. La Motte Cadillac. New York covets the western trade. Coureurs de bois or bushlopers valuable to the Colonies. Cadillac proposes a fort at Detroit. Livingston recognizes importance of getting Detroit or Wawyachtenok. Cadillac goes Detroit under Cadillac. Iroquois complain of French occupancy. |