second and third; while Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island contributed the least number. In the Middle Atlantic states there were represented the same contributors, in addition to New York; namely, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Virginia—the latter being subordinate in each group. Neither group included southern states; and it was the same with western states, excepting a few patents to Ohioans. The most marked differences between the two groups appear in the foreign element. The differences in native population appear especially in the percentages, differences which in their larger aspects would not be materially affected if the birth figures for the foreign elements were omitted. The nativities show a very much higher percent of New Englanders than do the nativities. The former statement is true also for the other Middle Atlantic states. This is probably indicative for the masses of what is so frequently found true in particular families of old settlers in the county, that the immigration to the county from New York was largely by persons born in other states who in the earlier days had settled in New York." An interesting confirmation of the large New York and New England elements in Michigan's population is obtained by noting some of the county's prominent. public men of the period-although quite the reverse of the proportions is found. In these the percentage of New York nativities is greater than that for New England. Forty-eight percent of those members of the legislatures whose nativities are given were born in New York, thirty-seven percent in New England, thirteen percent in the Middle Atlantic states outside of New York, and two percent in New England. The New England contributions were made mainly from Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut, and in nearly equal numbers. The same Middle Atlantic states outside of New York were represented; namely, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia, the former leading. Maine and Rhode Island did not contribute. The only foreign element was one Englishman. Examining the counties in which were born the members of the Michigan Legislature from 1835 to 1850: one-half of the members who were born in New York came from the western part of that State, Ontario and Cayuga counties alone furnishing seven of these, the former four, the latter three; Wayne and Niagara counties furnished each one. Excepting Niagara, not any of the extreme western and southwestern areas contributed. Of the southern and southeastern counties only Chenango, Broome and Orange counties were represented-each sent one. The remaining New 8. The volume of Michigan Biographies (1888), compiled under the auspices of the State of Michigan, gives sketches of forty-six members from Washtenaw County in the Territorial and State legislatures between 1835 and 1850. On checking these up from the legislative manuals, the volumes of the Mich. Hist. Colls., Representative Men, the histories of the county and other sources, scarcely an error was found. The figures are based upon the material in Michigan Biographies. York members came from central and eastern counties; one each from Lewis, Madison, Otsego and Schoharie counties, and three from east of the Hudson River; two of these were born in Columbia County, and the third in Rensselaer County." 9. Members of Territorial and State legislatures from Washtenaw County from 1835-59. References are to Michigan Biographies, with page and the initials of members. Counties in western New York contributing: nativitiesCayuga.....(3)-N.S.583-B.W.W.662-E.L.F.279. Livingston... (1)—W.F.268. Niagara... Ontario. Wayne. (1)-J.M.E.246. (4)-W.B.139-J.R.550-D.P.524-H.T.W.666. (1)-O.W.687. Counties in eastern New York contributing Broome. (1)-H.C.186. Chenango... (1)—T.W.712. Columbia... (2)-A.P.533-W.S.C.155. Lewis.. (1)-S.L.H.316. Madison. (1)-J.G.L.413. Two members, not known what counties N.R.R.541-J.W.H. Members of the State legislature 1850-84 who settled in Counties in western New York contributing: nativities- Cayuga. Erie... Genesee.. (4)-C.J.383-J.D.W.698-W.B.65-C.S.G. 309. (1)-D.P.522. (2)-O.C.176-G.P.S.572. Livingston... (2)-C.W.684-B.C.157. Onondaga... (3)-E.L.B.121-J.D.C.199-A.H.C.201. Ontario.....(8)-J.H.B.84-T.D.L. 406-A.F. K.399-D.A. W.716-P.C.194-A.R.560-J.J.R.560 J.W.M.464. From New England, the Connecticut members were natives of Sharon and Litchfield10 in Litchfield County, Norwich11 in New London, Danbury12 in Fairfield, Canterbury13 in Windham, and Sterling14 in Tolland County. Massachusetts members came from the comparatively limited area of two counties, Berkshire and Norfolk. Sandisfield, 15 West Stockbridge, 16 Cheshire17 and Great Barrington,18 were nativities in the former; Weymouth,19 in Norfolk. Members of Vermont birth came from St. Johnsbury 20 in Caledonia County, from Rupert in Bennington, from Rutland 22 in Rutland, 9. Con. Schuyler....(1)-J.S.T.641. 21 Counties in eastern New York contributing Cortland.... (1)—J.G.293. Fulton.. (1)-D.M.450. and from Newfane23 in Windham; the birthplace of one other member the writer has been unable to ascertain with certainty.24 New Hampshire contributed from Petersboro 25 in Hillsborough County. The first items in the Detroit Gazette that mention the sources of immigration to Michigan emphasize the "Genesee country" of western New York, especially the counties of Monroe and Ontario, and the most frequent comparison made of Michigan lands is with those along the Genesee River.26 Says the Gazette of September 13, 1825, "The emigration is still principally from western (the richest) counties of New York. It appears that a knowledge of this country has not yet reached further east than the county of Onondaga. The same for January 16, 1827, estimates that nearly three-fourths of the immigration to Michigan is from New York and on March 6 expresses the belief that four-fifths of the new population desire to adopt the New York system of township government in preference to that of New England. 27 26. Detroit Gazette, October 12, 1821; June 7 and August 2, 1822. In an important contribution by W. V. Smith, entitled "The Puritan Blood of Michigan," Mich. Hist. Colls., XXXVIII, 355-61, it is pointed out that the practice of the courts in Michigan, from Justice Court to Supreme Court, is taken almost entirely from New York; that the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Michigan was a New Yorker; that the "Big Four" (Justices of the Supreme Court), James V. Campbell, T. M. Cooley, I. P. Christiancy and B. E. Graves were all New Yorkers; that the Michigan real estate law was also adopted from New York. |