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OF

ST. CLAIR COUNTY,

MICHIGAN,

CONTAINING

AN ACCOUNT OF ITS SETTLEMENT, GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND RESOURCES; AN EXTENSIVE
SKETCH OF ITS CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES-THEIR IMPROVEMENTS, INDUSTRIES,

MANUFACTORIES, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS AND SOCIETIES; ITS WAR RECORD,

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, PORTRAITS OF PROMINENT MEN AND

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IN these pages an

PREFACE.

N these pages an effort has been made to treat the history of the county in a full and im With the exception of the first chapters-a concise history of Michigan-the work is distinctively local. The story of the French and American pioneers is very fully treated: so also is that of the old and new settlers of the county.

The biographical history has been compiled from the most certain sources.

A large sum of money, much labor and time have been expended on this section of the work. Even after the notes were made by the township historians, they were rewritten, submitted in many instances, again placed on the type-writer, and mailed for revision and approval to the parties interested.

The plan adopted in the arrangement of subjects and the minuteness of description pursued render the work a most valuable record book. All things relating to the State are dealt with in the chapters of Michigan history, which form, as it were, an introduction to the general history of the county. The latter is carried down from the earliest times, treating fully and impartially every item of interest connected with the county. In searching old documents and French pamphlets, the writer arrived at new facts which, on account of their connection with the St. Clair region, are introduced into the history of the county, rather than into that of the State.

The reminiscences of early settlement were compiled from writings in possession of the Pioneer Society, or from facts related by old settlers. The papers by Mrs. B. C. Farrand, Rev. O. C. Thompson, Moses F. Carleton, Samuel Carleton, William Grace, Judge W. T. Mitchell, Dr. Taylor, U. S. A., and Aura P. Stewart were of material assistance; while the offices of the County Clerk and the Register of Deeds yielded up a mine of facts of great value. The introduction of anecdotes is to the personal history of the county just as important as that of legends is to the general history, and on that account they find a place in this work.

To the members of the Historical Committee of the Pioneer Society, and also to the editors of the Times, Commercial and St. Clair Republican, all of whom placed the files of their jour nals at our disposal, we desire to extend our sincere thanks for the material aid rendered us in the compilation of this work. The manuscript copy of the general history was submitted to the Committee early in September, 1882, and on the 29th of that month the work of correcting errors in dates, names and events was completed.

Throughout the pages of the general history, a desire to deal fully and fairly with the subject cannot fail to be evident. Regarding township and city history, much has been done toward rendering it a plain story of men and events. While the general history of the county contains almost every important item of township history, there are many facts and names, so identified with the townships, as to necessitate a sketch of each division of the county. In the compilation of such sketches, official records were solely relied upon, for the reason that in the accompanying biographies, the most interesting facts are brought to light, founded on the authority of the persons concerned. WESTERN HISTORICAL COMPANY.

CHICAGO, JUNE, 1883.

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