The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-01-31
HIST0RTCAL SKETCH or way
RURE.N. COUNTY.


That portion OF the State OF Michigan en-
braeed within the County Of Van Buren,, lies
south OF the Base line and west of the prin-
cipal meridian. and the twelfth range OF town
ships 1t includes sixteen full, aud two frac-
tienal townships, being al those numbered, one,
two, three and four, south OF the line and west
OF the twelfth range, excepting towns three
and four of the seventeenth and eighteenth
ranges, which constitute portion OF Berren
county.
Tue drainage Of Van Buren, County is vest
ward to Lake Michigan, and the general slope
of ITS surface is In that direction. There are .
few marked elevations OF land, one in Covert,
on the shore OF Lake Michigan, called I" Thunder
Mountain on account OF subterranean noises
heard in its vicinity, and another called Prospect
Hill, near Paw Paw village, and now enclosed
in its cemetery. Upon this latter hill has been
recently erected, wooden tower hundred
and twenty-five feet in heighth, through the
lberality of Mr.. Isaac Willard, one OF the
original propretors OF the soil, for the pur-
Dose OF an outlook. Both OF these hills afford
pleasing prospects to the observer, and around
each, lnger various traditions OF Indian lovers
aud camp fires.
Generally the surface Of the county is rolling,
~ell watered by lakes and rivulets, and was
originally covered, with little exception, by a
dense growth of valuable timber among which
was found IN profusion, black walnut, white
wood, hickory aud ash. Pine also was found
more abundant on some sections than on
others, scattered among forests OF maple,
instances forming small groves nearly exclusive
OF other varieties. But 50 highly, in the earlier
days OF the settlement OF the county, was this
wealth OF choice timber esteemed that rail
fences, log shanhss, old corduroy roads are
found, OF which black walnut constitutes the
major part, and scaffolding OF old barns exist
laid With choice whitewood,
That cuts like Cheese
Our pioneer was prone to take the best
the land afforded.
There are many lakes, some of marked
beauty, and two considerable rivers, the South
Black and the Paw Paw, within Its limits. The
former drains the townships nearer the base
line, and makes its way westward, through the
shore bluffs OF mixed clay and gravel, into
Lake Michigan, forming the excellent Harbor
OF South Haven. The Hon. A. B. Copley, in an
interesting address delivered before the citizens
Of Decatur, on OCCASION OF the centennial ami
yersary, July 4th, 1876, pictured Father Mar
quette resting at the mouth OF South Black
River, OH his return journey down the eastern
shore Of Lake Michigan to the Mission at
Mackinaw, and kindling the first fire lighted
by white men on the territory of Van Buren,
county.
This incident 80 probable, must have occur
red, according to Mr.. Copley, la May, 1875 :;
and the original pioneer OF Michigan, Pere
Marquette, may have chosen the grove of ma
tive oak, yet wisely preserved on the northern
bluff OF the Harbor, for his camp and from
beneath its green canopy after a long days
journey, skrtlng the lake in his birch bark
canoe, from the mouth OF the st. Joe and pass
Thunder Mountain, whose reverberations he
may have heard, looked out upon the blue
horizon and the western PUN glinting behind 1t.
II 10 said he was then in frail health, and
while ne saw al the western shore Of Michigan
bursting its winters toni and springing into
fri md St,I L.
was wrestling wtb its earthly entertainments,
to break away into the uss and broader life,
Eternity He died few days after, " - Sep
posed, near I.1ddin2ton, but the location Of
bus grave is disputed.
- Let the hfeless body rest.
He is gone who was its guest:
Gone as travellers hast to leave
An l,,.n, nor tarry until eve"
Tie South Black, non -navlgable river, is
the outlet of Bear Lake, near the northern
center of the county, aud affords some water
power in slow descent to its mouth. but it
has served very effectively as a water highwa7.
to float the great wealth OF timber stripped
from the section IL Grams, TO South Haven,
where 1t was cut up and shipped to distant
markets. This depletion has gone on very
rapidly since 1858, and has bsen materially
aided by tho improvement of the harbor. In
1864, the legislature authorized the townships
adjoining the river, to vote aid in the form OF
bonds, to be used IN constructing piers and
break water, and in dredging at Its mouth
This work was undertaken by the enterprisng
people in that vicinity, and much was done !;
but subsequently the general government in
Guided the mouth OF South Black River among
it's provisions for internal improvement and
permanent piers, break waAer, light house, col
iectors and other federal works and oficss,
give national Importance and attendant pros
perity To that busv porf Pare MsYoueffe