Frederick C. Whipple, Ely Barnard, Robert D. Power, Geo. W. Peck, Thomas J. Rice, N. G. Isbell and others who from twenty-five to thirtyfive years ago made this county a leading political power in the State. From them was chosen a Governor, U. S. Senator, members of Congress, and two Secretaries of State. Without regard to political opinions, their public record is one we may proudly point to as honorable alike to themselves and Livingston county.

Among the early pioneers yet living and perhaps best known, is old Uncle Robert Bigham. Nature made him for his business. Men of every class and condition of life from the earliest times would stretch out their day's drive to reach Uncle Robert's hospitable roof. He settled in Brighton in 1833, and then, as now, was called "old Uncle Bigham." Long may he live a landlord before he is called to travel that wild road that leads to that dark inn, the grave.

To pioneers, grist and saw mills are a necessity. In 1837 there were only two or three saw-mills and one grist-mill,-Evert Woodruff's, that I now remember, in the eastern and northern part of the county. Men then often went forty or fifty miles to mill. I remember, while working in the Brighton Mills, in 1842, farmers came there to mill from Shiawassee county. That mill was built by Orson Quackenbush in 1840, who sold it to my father in December of that year. Campbell's mill was built before, I think. Mr. Campbell was a strong man in every sense, and showed it in all his doings.

To Evert Woodruff the county is largely indebted for its early development through the aid of his mill. He, too, is gone. May he rest in peace. His old miller, Scollard, was living at Saginaw a few years since. In those pioneer days the highest in the land stood in wholesome awe of old Scollard in that mill, which he ruled like a despot. These original characters crop out in a new country, because there free scope is given to the native vent of every man's mind. One of these was Elijah Marsh, or "Mash,' as the old settlers called him. He settled in Pleasant Valley, Brighton, in 1832, when, he has told me, that the wolves at night would fight around his shanty for the bones and offal thrown out through the day. Mr. Marsh, by industry and native shrewdness and tact, from comparative poverty became a wealthy man before his death. A man of strong mind and will, the boldest quaked and trembled when old Elijah got after them. An instance known to me illustrates his far-sighted shrewdness. In 1853 or '54, while at my office here for counsel, after mutual inquiries as to our affairs, as we had always been quite intimate, he began urging me to move to Saginaw; told me he had bought a small tavern and block of village lots in East Saginaw for $1,000, which he predicted in less than twenty years would be worth $50,000. The year before I had been to East Saginaw, and it looked like an irreclaimable swamp. I laughingly told him so, at which he became very indignant. Said he, "Mr. Clark, mark my words, East Saginaw in a few years will be a large city, and my property will be in its heart and business center." His prediction then is reality now. Where that little tavern, the Exchange stood, is one of the four principal corners in the business center of the city. Ten years after Marsh bought it the tavern burnt down, and the bare ground in a week sold for $30,000 in cash. To-day it is covered by three or four story brick buildings. The bare ground under them is worth $100,000.

Another pioneer was Egbert Albright's father. He built the grist mill at Hartland Center. He is now a government miller for the Indians in

Isabella county. Van Rensselaer T. Angel is another of our number gone. One of our oldest pioneers, his life was one of energy, evidenced by the result of his life-long labor. But I must close here on this branch of my address by a brief tribute of respect to a few other fellow pioneers, who, since we last met, have joined that countless throng who people the silent city of the dead. My residence, so far from here, may cause me to omit many of whose death I am ignorant.

William E. Huntley is one who no more shall meet us with his frank and smiling face. Peter Y. Browning is another. That sturdy, stalwart, and most open-hearted of our pioneer host we never more shall see. And bluff and blithsome Calvin Handy, always first and most active in every public doing, we nevermore on earth shall meet; and yet my mournful task is not yet done. Two of our foremost pioneers, De Witt C. Denton and Hon. John Kenyon, have also died within the past year. Of Mr. Dention I knew but little, except as a man of probity and worth. Judge Kenyon, from my earliest recollections, has been an active, useful citizen, whose reputation was county wide. In the various offices with which his county honored him, magistrate, supervisor, legislator, and county judge, he was ever the faithful and untiring public servant and upright citizen. Lastly, one whose death all will mourn is the late Ezra N. Fairchild. He died last spring at Battle Creek. His noble wife, who, like himself, never tired in deeds of charity and loving kindness, died some time before. His death came from chronic disease contracted in surveying much of the land in the county. Few there are here who did not know him when to "know him was to love him, to name him was to praise." He truly was an honest man, the noblest work of God; and when death came, like a true soldier of Christ, he wrapped around him the mantle of faith, and calmly closed his eyes in that sleep which has no awakening till the resurrection morn.

Mr. President, the broad expanse I have traversed, between forty years ago and the present, of necessity has been but brief and cursory. I could only scamper over the surface, catching up, alluding to, describing, or adverting to my subjects, incidents, and events at random in my rapid transit over that broad field. There is still ample room and subject matter on that wide space for future speakers as in the years to come you hold these annual reunions. To the best of my ability I have endeavored to portray to you the distant past. The present is with you, and the future is yours to make or mar. That future to this county, if the posterity of its pioneers pursue the paths their fathers trod, must be continually increasing agricultural wealth and unabated material prosperity. We are soon to part, and it seems so like old times to talk of the bygone years to you, my old neighbors, that probably if this was an extempore speech, Judge Turner might put his watch before me, as he did once in 1856 when I was speaking at a political meeting we were holding, and it might be with a like result. What that was he can tell you when I close. And now the pleasant task assigned me of writing the past and present by the many linked chain of fond recollection, of reviewing the old time ties of neighborly love and attachment, will soon be finished. To me this evening has been one of unalloyed delight. You may forget it, but while life lasts I can never forget the cordial welcome with which you have met and greeted me. Though Saginaw is my future home, yet my heart still yearns with unabated love for Livingston county. Is it strange it should be so? With all else to bind me to it here, in this

county rest the mortal bodies of father, mother, kindred, and children. The reaper, Death, the past year has been thinning out our ranks. The time must come sooner or later when I, too, must be gathered to my fathers, and when that dread hour does come, when this voice is hushed, this body powerless in death, my heart's desire and prayer is, that here I may be buried amidst the people and in the land that living I loved so well.

MACOMB COUNTY.

PROCLAMATION BY LEWIS CASS.

WHEREAS, A petition has been presented to me, signed by a number of the inhabitants of this Territory, requesting that a new county may be laid out therein;

Now therefore, Believing that the establishment of such county will be conducive to the public interest, and to individual convenience, I do, by virtue of the authority in me vested by the ordinance of Congress, passed the 13th day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, entitled "An ordinance for the government of the Territory of the United States northwest of the river Ohio," lay out that part of the said Territory included within the following boundaries, namely: beginning at the southwest corner of township number one, north of the base line (so called), thence along the Indian boundary line north, to the angle formed by the intersection of the line running to the White Rock upon Lake Huron; thence with the last mentioned line to the boundary line between the United States and the British Province of Upper Canada; thence with the said line southwardly to a point in Lake St. Clair due east from the place of beginning; thence due west to the eastern extremity of the said base line; and with the same to the place of beginning, into a separate county, to be called the county of Macomb. And I do hereby appoint William Brown, Henry T. Hunt, and Conrad Ten Eyck, Esquires, commissioners for the purpose of examining the said county of Macomb, and of reporting to me where it is the most eligible site for establishing the seat of justice thereof.

And I do constitute the said county a district for the purposes required by the act entitled "An act to adjust the estates and affairs of deceased persons, testate and intestate, and for other purposes," passed the 19th day of January, one thousand eight hundred and eleven.

In testimony whereof I have caused the Great Seal of the said Territory to be hereunto affixed, and have signed the same with my hand. Given at Detroit this 15th day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and of the Independance of the United States of America the forty-second.

By the Governor:

LEWIS CASS.

WILLIAM WOODBRIDGE, Secretary of Michigan Territory.

A PROCLAMATION.

The county of Macomb, established by an executive act of January 15, 1818, shall be bounded as follows:

Beginning on the boundary line between the United States and the Province of Upper Canada, where the northern boundary of the county of Wayne intersects the same; thence with the said northern boundary, west, to the line between the eleventh and twelfth ranges, east of the principal meridian; thence north to the line between the townships numbered five and six, north of the base line; thence east to the line between the third and fourth sections of the fifth township north of the base line, in the thirteenth range, east of the principal meridian; thence south to the southern boundary of the said township; thence east, to the line between the fourteenth and fifteenth ranges, east of the principal meridian; thence south to lake St. Clair; thence in a direct line to the place of beginning.

Given under my hand, at Detroit, this tenth day of September, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-two, and of the Independence of the United States the forty-seventh.

LEW. CASS.

MACOMB-Thus named in honor of Gen. Alexander Macomb, of whom mention is made in the Wayne county papers in this volume. Born, 1782; died, 1841.

County-seat established at Mt. Clemens, March 11, 1818.

MANISTEE COUNTY.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan:

SECTION 9. That portion of the State lying in towns 21, 22, 23, and 24 north and west of the line between ranges 12 and 13 west, shall be laid off as a separate county, to be known and designated as the county of Manistee.

Approved April 1, 1840.

SECTION 1. The People of the State of Michigan enact, That the county of Manistee shall be organized, and shall comprise townships 21, 22, 23 and 24 north of each of the ranges numbered 13, 14, 15, and 16 west, and fractional townships 21 and 22 north, of range 17 west; and the unorganized county of Wexford is hereby attached to said county of Manistee for judicial purposes.

Approved February 13, 1855.

County seat, Manistee. It was first settled about 1846, and became an incorporated city March 15, 1869. The Indians interpret the name, a "River at whose mouth there are islands."

MANITOU COUNTY.

SECTION 1. The People of the State of Michigan enact, That the several islands in Lake Michigan, known as the Beaver group, the north and south Fox Islands, the north and south Manitou Islands, be organized into a separate county by the name of Manitou, and the inhabitants thereof entitled to all the rights, privileges and immunities to which, by law, the inhabitants of other organized counties of this State are entitled.

SEC. 2. There shall be elected in the said county of Manitou, on the third Tuesday in April next, all the several county officers to which by law the said county is entitled; and the said election and the canvass shall in all respects be conducted and held in the manner prescribed by law for holding elections and canvasses for county and State officers: Provided, That the canvass shall be held at the village of St. James, in said county, on the Monday next following said election; and said county officers shall be immediately [qualified] and enter upon the duties of their respective offices, and their several terms of office shall expire at the same time that they would have expired had they been elected at the last general election: And provided further, That until such county officers are elected and qualified, the duties of such county officers shall be discharged by the several persons elected to fill the same for the county of Emmet, at the last general election.

SEC. 7. The county seat of said county of Manitou shall be fixed by the board of supervisors of said county.

SEC. 8. The said county of Manitou shall have concurrent jurisdiction on Lake Michigan with the other counties contiguous thereto. Approved February 12, 1855.

MANITOU-An Indian name for the "Great Spirit."

The seat of justice is at St. James, a village at the northern extremity of Beaver Island.

MARQUETTE COUNTY.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan:

SECTION 4. All that portion of the State embraced between the line between ranges 23 and 24 west, the north boundary of township 41, the line between ranges 37 and 38 west, and Lake Superior, shall be laid off as a separate county to be known and designated as the county of Marquette.

Approved March 9, 1843.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan:

SECTION 4. All that portion of the State embraced between ranges twenty-three and twenty-four (23 and 24) west, the north boundary of township forty-one (41), the line between ranges thirty-seven and thirty. eight (37 and 38) west, and the north boundary of township forty-nine (49), shall be laid off as a separate county and known and designated as the county of Marquette.

Approved March 19, 1845.

SECTION 1. The People of the State of Michigan enact, That to perfect a separate organization of the county of Marquette, there shall be elected in the said county, on the second Monday in June, in the year eighteen hundred and fifty-one, all the several county officers to which by law the said county is entitled; and said election shall in all respects be conducted and held in the manner prescribed by law for holding elections for county and State officers; such officers, when duly qualified, to hold their offices until the first day of January, 1853.