Michigan,
One of the north central States of the
United States, consists of two peninsulas; the upper peninsula lies wholly south of
Lake Superior and north of
Wisconsin, lakes
Michigan and
Huron, and is 318 miles long, east and west.
The lower peninsula extends north between
Lake Michigan on the west and
Lake Huron and the
Detroit River on the east to the
Strait of Mackinaw, a distance of 280 miles.
Canada lies to the east,
Lake Erie touches the southeastern corner, while
Ohio and
Indiana form the southern boundary.
In latitude the whole State is limited by 41° 42′ to 48° 22′ N., and in longitude by 82° 86′ to 90° 30′
W. Area, 58,915 square miles in eighty-three counties.
Population in 1890, 2,093,889; 1900, 2,420,982.
Capital,
Lansing.
Claude Dablon and
Jacques Marquette establish a permanent mission at
Sault Ste. Marie......1668
Two Sulpician priests, with three canoes and seven men, pass through the
Detroit River and
Lake St. Clair......1670
French under
M. de St. Lusson permitted to occupy
Sault Ste. Marie by the Indians, erect a cross at that place bearing the arms of
France......May, 1671
Marquette commences Fort Michilimackinac, starts a Huron settlement, and builds a chapel there......1671
Marquette is buried near present site of
Ludington......May 18, 1675
Robert la
Salle, accompanied by
Father Louis Hennepin and
Chevalier de Tonti, sails up lakes
Erie and
Huron in the
Griffon, reaching Michilimackinac......Aug. 28, 1679
Antoine de la Motte Cadillac, lord of Bouaget and Montdesert, under a commission from Louis XIV., leaving
Montreal in June with 100 men and a Jesuit missionary, commences the settlement of
Detroit......July 24, 1701
First grant of land (thirty-two acres) made at
Detroit by
Cadillac to
Francois Fafard Delorme......1707
Detroit attacked by the
Fox Indians; after a three-weeks' siege the
French garrison of twenty soldiers, under
M. du Buisson, drive the Indians back with severe loss......May, 1712
Pontiac, with
Ottawa Indians, assists in the defence of
Detroit against the combined Northern tribes under
Mackinac......1746
Further emigration from
France to
Detroit......1749
Maj. Robert Rogers is ordered by
General Amherst, at
Montreal, to take possession of the posts in
Michigan and administer the oath of allegiance to the
French subjects there......Sept. 12, 1760
Pontiac makes peace with
Major Rogers, and attends the
English to
Detroit......Nov. 7, 1760
Detroit capitulates, English flag raised on the fort......Nov. 29, 1760
British seize the forts at
Mackinaw and
Green Bay......Sept. 8, 1761
Indian tribes in the
Northwest, incited by
Pontiac against the
English, capture Fort St. Joseph......May 25, 1763
Pontiac plans an attack on the fort at
Detroit.
He asks for a council in the fort, so that the Indians allowed in the fort, at a given signal, might begin a general massacre; his plan is disclosed by an Indian woman to the commandant,
Major Gladwin, who permits the council, but disposes the garrison so as to intimidate
Pontiac......May 9, 1763
Twenty batteaux, with ninety-seven men under
Lieutenant Cuyler, sailing to reinforce the garrison at
Detroit, are attacked
[
410]
by the Indians, taken, compelled to navigate the boats up the
Detroit to
Hog Island, and there massacred......May 30, 1763
By the strategy of a game of “baggatiway,” or lacrosse, played with bat and ball, Indians obtain entrance to the fort at Michilimackinac and massacre the garrison......June 4, 1763
British garrison at
Detroit, reinforced by a fleet of gunboats and a detachment of 300 regular troops under
Captain Dalzell, send a force of about 274 men to make a night attack on
Pontiac, who was encamped near
Detroit.
The
Indians, hearing of the intended attack, form an ambush at Bloody Bridge, and compel the
British to retreat after losing twenty killed, among them
Dalzell, and forty-two wounded......July 31, 1763
Pontiac remains before
Detroit until forced to retire by the advance of
Colonel Bradstreet......May, 1764
Charter granted in
England to a company for working the copper-mines of
Lake Superior.
The miners blast 30 feet into the rock, and then abandon the mine......1773
Parliament includes
Michigan with
Canada......Jan. 22, 1774
Expedition from
Detroit under
Governor Hamilton against
Gen. Roger Clark at
Vincennes results in
Hamilton's being captured and sent to
Virginia; his troops allowed to return to
Detroit......March, 1779
Formation of the Northwestern Company for fur trade......1783
Foundation of
Frenchtown laid by a few Canadians who settle on the river
Raisin......1784
Indians cede to the
United States by treaty at
Fort McIntosh a belt of land beginning at the river
Raisin and extending to
Lake St. Clair, 6 miles wide, also a tract of land 12 miles square at Michilimackinac......1785
Congress includes
Michigan in the
Northwestern Territory, formed by act......July 13, 1787
First American settlement established on the river
Raisin at
Frenchtown, which becomes a depot for trade for the
Northwestern Fur Company......1793
Jay's treaty with
Great Britain fixing the eastern boundary of the
United States, and calling for the surrender of
Detroit and other Western posts held by the
British before June 1, 1796, concluded......Nov. 19, 1794
Robert Randall, of
Pennsylvania, and
Charles Whitney, of
Vermont, enter into an agreement with seven merchants of
Detroit to endeavor to obtain from the United States government, by bribing members of Congress, a pre-emption right to nearly 20,000,000 acres of land in
Michigan, but are exposed and receive a public reprimand......1795
Forts Mackinac (Mackinaw) and
Detroit evacuated by the
British;
Detroit garrisoned by a detachment of
General Wayne's army, and
Captain Porter first raises the
United States flag upon the soil of
Michigan......June 11, 1796
Thomas Powers, agent for the
Spanish Governor Carondelet, arrives at
Detroit to endeavor to interest
General Wilkinson in the
Spanish intrigues in the
West......Aug. 24, 1797
Northwestern Territory assumes the second grade of territorial government;
Michigan forms the single county of
Wayne, and sends one representative to the General Assembly at
Chillicothe.
His election was the first held in
Michigan under
United States rule......1798
Act of Congress approved establishing
Indiana Territory, in which
Michigan is partially included......May 7, 1800
Article VI: of the constitution of
Ohio, confirmed by the United States government, specifies that the northern boundary should be “a direct line from the southern extremity of
Lake Michigan to the most northerly cape of Miami Bay” ......1862
First United States land office opened in
Detroit under act of Congress......March 26, 1804
Indiana Territory divided; all north of a line east from the southerly extremity of
Lake Michigan to
Lake Erie, and north through the lake to the northern boundary of the
United States to be the
Territory of Michigan by act......Jan. 11, 1805
William Hull appointed first governor of the
Territory......March 1, 1805
Town of
Detroit destroyed by fire......June 11, 1805
First code of laws for the
Territory adopted; called the “
Woodward code” ......May, 1806
Congress authorizes the governor and
[
411]
judges of
Michigan to lay out a town, including old
Detroit and 10,000 acres adjoining; grants to be made of lots to sufferers by the fire......1806
Act of Congress passed granting a confirmation of claims of those who had been possessors of land in
Michigan since 1796......1807
Michigan essay or impartial observer, the first paper printed in
Detroit, issued......Aug. 31, 1809
Memorial presented to Congress setting forth the defenseless condition of
Michigan, and praying for aid against the Indians......Dec. 27, 1811
Governor Hull issues a proclamation from
Sandwich, on the
Detroit River, inviting people to come in under the
American flag, and promising protection; but extermination to those who joined the
British and savages against the
United States......July 12, 1812
Lieutenant Hanks, commandant at
Fort Mackinac, surrenders to the
British......July 17, 1812
Battles of Brownstone, Aug. 4, and Maguaga......Aug. 9, 1812
General Hull surrenders
Detroit to British under
General Brock......Aug. 16, 1812
[The forces for its defence were estimated at about 2,000 men. These, with 2,500 stands of arms, twenty-five iron and eight brass pieces of ordnance, forty barrels of gunpowder, and a large quantity of other military stores, were delivered up to the
British without even an attempt to defend them.]
Sudden attack upon the United States troops, under
General Winchester, at the river
Raisin by the
British, and massacre of the panic-stricken United States troops by the Indians......Jan. 22, 1813
Naval victory over British fleet of six vessels, under
Commodore Barclay, by United States squadron of nine vessels, under
Com. Oliver Hazard Perry, off Sister Islands,
Lake Erie, near
Detroit......Sept. 10, 1813
General Harrison takes possession of
Detroit......Sept. 29, 1813
Col. Lewis Cass appointed governor of the
Territory......Oct. 29, 1813
Unsuccessful attempt of United States troops, under
Colonel Croghan and
Commodore Sinclair, to reduce
Fort Mackinac......Aug. 4, 1814
Special commissioner arrives with the treaty of peace lately concluded at
Ghent......Feb. 17, 1815
Detroit incorporated as a village......1815
President James Monroe visits
Detroit......Aug. 13, 1817
By act of Congress Michigan Territory is extended westward to the
Mississippi, thus including the present
State of Wisconsin......1818
Remains of soldiers massacred at the
Raisin River removed to
Detroit, and buried with honors of war......Aug. 8, 1818
Steamboat
Walk-in-the-water arrives at
Detroit, from
Buffalo, N. Y., on her first trip......Aug. 27, 1818
Congress provides for the election of a delegate to Congress by citizens of
Michigan......Feb. 16, 1819
William Woodbridge elected territorial delegate......Sept. 2, 1819
Treaty with Indians at
Saginaw; they cede lands, 60 miles wide, west of
Detroit, north to
Thunder Bay......1819
Expedition under
Governor Cass starts out in bark canoes to explore the northwestern lake coast of
Michigan......May 24, 1820
Treaty with the Indians perfected through
Governor Cass; all country within the boundaries of
Michigan south of
Grand River not before ceded is granted to the
United States......1821
Congress establishes a legislative council of nine members, appointed by the
President out of eighteen elected by the people......March 3, 1823
Detroit incorporated as a city......1824
First legislative council at the council house in
Detroit......June 7, 1824
Congress grants the governor and council power to divide the
Territory into townships and incorporate the same, and increases the legislative council to thirteen......1825
Right of electing members of the legislative council granted to the electors of the
Territory......Jan. 29, 1827
Pontiac and Detroit Railroad chartered......July 31, 1830
Governor Cass resigns; appointed
United States Secretary of War......Aug. 1, 1831
George B. Porter appointed governor......Sept. 17, 1831
Troops raised in
Michigan at the call
[
412]
of the United States government to engage in the
Black Hawk War......May 22, 1832
Congress adds to
Michigan the territory between the
Mississippi River and the
Missouri and
White Earth rivers, thus including the whole of the present
Minnesota,
Iowa, and parts of North and
South Dakota......June 28, 1834
Governor Porter dies;
Stevens T.
Mason acting governor......July 6, 1834
Question of southern boundary being agitated,
Ohio commissioners, running a line about 12 miles southwest of
Adrian, are captured by
Michigan troops after several shots......April 26, 1835
Michigan having attained a population of over 60,000, a constitutional convention convenes at
Detroit....... May 11, 1835
New constitution ratified by the people......Nov. 2, 1835
Enabling act for
Michigan approved......June 15, 1836
Wisconsin Territory formed, comprising all of
Michigan Territory west of
Lake Michigan......1836
Convention at
Ann Arbor rejects the enabling act, as giving
Ohio 470 square miles belonging to
Michigan since 1787......Sept. 26, 1836
New convention of delegates at
Ann Arbor accepts the enabling act......Dec. 14, 1836
After protracted discussion Congress admits
Michigan, adding to the
State in the upper peninsula 2,500 square miles; act approved......Jan. 26, 1837
Legislature passes an act to provide for the organization and support of primary schools......March 20, 1837
Board of seven commissioners of internal improvement appointed by act of legislature......March, 1837
Meeting of citizens of
Detroit friendly to the
Canadian patriot cause is held, Jan. 1, 1838. Jan. 5 the schooner
Ann is seized, loaded with 450 stands of arms stolen from the
Detroit jail, and sails away with 132 men and provisions for the patriots.
Meeting of the public to preserve neutrality is held......Jan. 8, 1838
William Woodbridge elected governor......November, 1839
Governor Woodbridge, elected
United States Senator, is succeeded by
James W. Gordon as acting governor......May 31, 1841
Gen. Lewis Cass nominated for
President of the
United States by the
National Democratic Convention at
Baltimore......May 22, 1842
University of
Michigan, planned by the governor and people in 1817, established by law, March 18, 1837, and located at
Ann Arbor, is opened for reception of students......Sept. 20, 1842
State land office established at
Marshall by law, to take charge of and dispose of 500,000 acres granted by Congress......April, 1843
James G. Birney, of
Michigan, nominated as Liberty candidate for
President of the
United States......1844
Copper-mining in the upper peninsula of
Michigan begun......1845
Seat of government permanently located at
Lansing by act approved......March 16, 1847
Michigan and
Wisconsin troops enlisted for the
Mexican War leave
Detroit by boat for
Vera Cruz......April 24, 1847
Capital punishment, except for treason, abolished in the
State......1847
Epaphroditus Ransom elected governor......November, 1847
Constitution framed by a convention which met at
Lansing June 3; adopted by vote of the people......Nov. 5, 1850
Governor McClelland made
United States Secretary of the Interior,
Lieut.-Gov. Andrew Parsons acting governor......March 6, 1853
Maine liquor law passed......1853
State asylum for deaf, dumb, and blind, established by act of legislature in 1848, opens in rented rooms at
Flint......February, 1854
Ship-canal around
St. Mary's Falls opened......1855
Lands granted by Congress to aid in building a railroad from
Ontonagon to the
Wisconsin State line......1856
State reform school at
Lansing opened......Sept. 2, 1856
State agricultural college at
Lansing, established by act of legislature, Feb. 12, 1853, opened for students......May, 1857
State confers the grant of Congress made in 1856 on the
Ontonagon and State Line Railroad Company......1857
State asylum for the insane at
Kalamazoo opened for reception of patients......1859
First Michigan Regiment, ready and
[
413]
equipped four days after the
President's call, leaves
Detroit under orders of the War Department......May 13, 1861
State receives from the federal government a grant of 5,891,598 acres of swamp land in
Michigan......1868
All departments of Michigan University open to women......1870
Constitution amended; all distinction of civil and political rights based upon color abolished; ratified by the people......Nov. 8, 1870
Two State relief committees, with headquarters at
Detroit and
Grand Rapids, for the relief of sufferers by forest fires in
northern Michigan, disburse $462,106.30 in cash, and about $250,000 in clothing and supplies from almost every State in the
Union, Canada, and abroad......October, 1871
Soldiers' monument at
Detroit, erected by voluntary contributions from citizens of the
State, the corner-stone of which was laid July 4, 1867, is unveiled......April 9, 1872
Board of fish commissioners appointed to organize a State fish-breeding establishment......1872
Corner-stone of the new capitol at
Lansing laid......Oct. 2, 1872
State board of health appointed......1873
Commission under legislative authority selects
Ionia as the location for a State house of correction......1873
Constitutional commission of eighteen members convenes at
Lansing and draws up a constitution......Aug. 27, 1873
State public school for dependent children at
Coldwater, organized 1871, is opened for reception of children......May 21, 1874
Revised State constitution ratified by people; a separate vote on woman suffrage stands 40,077 for and 135,957 against......Nov. 3, 1874
Prohibitory liquor law repealed, and an annual tax imposed on dealers in and manufacturers of liquors......1875
Constitution amended, striking out article IV., section 47, which prohibits any act authorizing the license for selling intoxicating liquors......1876
State insane asylum at
Pontiac opened......July. 1878
New capitol at
Lansing dedicated......Jan. 1, 1879
State school for the blind opened in a leased building at
Lansing......Sept. 29, 1880
Legislature, after heated discussion and opposition, confirms grant of 1857 to the
Ontonagon and State Line Railroad Company, although the road had not been constructed, and limitation of time had long expired......1881
Michigan reform school for girls at
Adrian, opened......August, 1881
Forest fires break out in
Huron and
Sanilac counties, and burn over some 1,800 square miles of territory, rendering 2,900 families homeless, and destroying 138 lives......September, 1881
Site purchased for State insane asylum near
Traverse City......1882
Josiah W. Begole, union or fusion candidate of the
Democratic and Greenback parties, elected governor......November, 1882
National Prison Association meets at
Detroit......Oct. 17, 1885
State soldiers' home near
Grand Rapids dedicated......Dec. 30, 1886
Local option law passed by legislature......1887
Acts passed to incorporate the Women's Christian Temperance Unions throughout the
State......1887
Ten counties hold local-option elections, and in each case they resulted in prohibition......December, 1887
Secret ballot law, on the Australian ballot system, passed......1889
Edwin B. Wimans, Democrat, elected governor by 183,725 votes; the Prohibition candidate received 28,651 votes......1890
Ex-Senator Thomas W. Palmer, of
Detroit, appointed chairman of the national commission of the
World's Columbian Exposition......June 27, 1890
Henry B. Brown, commissioned associate justice of the United States Supreme Court, Dec. 30, 1890, is sworn in......Jan. 5, 1891
Prof. Alexander Winchell, geologist, born 1824, dies at
Ann Arbor......Feb. 19, 1891
Legislature places all penal and reformatory institutions under a single board, extends the Australian ballot system, and requires Presidential electors to be elected by congressional districts, instead of by general State ticket......1891
[
414]
Twenty-fifth annual reunion of the Grand Army of the Republic opens at
Detroit......Aug. 4, 1891
Railroad accident at
Battle Creek; twenty-six persons killed and many injured......Oct. 20, 1893
Ex-
United States Senator Thomas W. Ferry dies at
Grand Haven......Oct. 14, 1896
State tax commissioner established......1899
The National Educational Association meets at
Detroit......July 9, 1901
Minnesota