Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-08-29
THE MODERN ST. IGNACE
ANCIENT mlchlLlmACklNAc.
Sketches OF the Olo and ke~ Towns.
Business Interests. Shipping. Etc.
MsnQUette's Grave.


the hne lines OF steamers that pAss throagh
that great waterway, II the peninsula On
which the town of 81. l.ynsoe is situated, and
which forms the extreme southern point Of
that portion of the Upper Peninsula Of
Michigan. From the highlands IN the yicin-
ity of ST. Ignaoe magnificent views can be
had of Lakes Michigan and Huron, the
Straits of MaekinAc and the Moran bays.
The islands of Msekinac and Bois Blame are
plainly visible, a. we'll as the northern pOf-
tions of the Lower Peninsula, while only a
few miles distant, 10 the east, only far
enough for delightful water excursion,
lies the beautiful Les CheneauK group of
islands, and only a little farther 10 the west
are the ST James, Garden and Beaver IA
lands, the latter of which are possessed of
considerable historical interest from being
the headquarters OF King Strang's Mormon
colony and the scene of his tragic death: also
as being the place of rendezvous ia 1911 of
the Sioux, Sacs and Huron Indians IN their
campaigns under ChamplaIn against the
Iroqaois. The great chain of inland lakes
afford few more picturesque views than
those which may be had from
the St. lgnace headiands. and
yet the place l. comparatively little fire.
quented by visitors TO Northern Michigan ia
search of health or natures beauties. Ev-
erybody goes 10 Mackinac and every body
writes or talks about it, wonders and grows
eloquent, If possible, over the stories and
legends connected with the various points of
interest on the island. and the place Is well
worthy the compliment of these visits and
their praise, but nature has been as lavish IN
her works of beauty on the 81. Ignace head
lands a. on Macklnac island, and ere long
they Will come 10 be rs well appreciated, and
then the summer visitor To the delights OF
Northern Michigan will not think that Mecca
has been visited and there Is no more 10 do,
but he will not rest satisfied till he has set
foot upon the mainland of the Upper PENN
sula, has taken IN the picture que views OF
the ST. Ignace headlands, and has tried the
superb fishing and hunting to be found
there.
MACKSAw COUNTY.
People who live 100 or 800 miles south,
and have not inspected this region, gener-
ally have the impression that the Upper Pc
nlnsula of Michigan II a kind of barren
waste, or an immense swamp, and good for
nothing except for It's minerals. They ap-
pear to think that successful farming H. a
thing not to be thought of, but that such II
not the case Is well demonstrated in
Mackinaw county and the country about st.
Ignace. The country only began TO settle
up rapidly about four or five years ago, and
a large proportion of the settlers have come
IN during the last two years, and yet II has
been fully demonstrated that farming can
be successfully carried on. There Is now
but very little Government land IN the
county, most of 1T having been taken up by
homesteaders, etc. The settlers who have
gone into the central and western portions of
the county are thrifty class and many of
| the IN have good farms commenced and often
| from sixty 10 seventy acres improved. The
county Is rapidly filling up, comfortable
homes are being erected, roads are being
| opened and improved and the people are
getting ready for comfortable living. The
soil Is varied, but generally a sandy loan.
| what Is known a. lime stone soil. or i a
clay loan strongly impregnated with lime.
| The subsoll Is generally red clay and water
is everywhere abundant and generally good.
Winter and Spring wheat. oats, barley. peas
and potatoes are successfully raised. but
| corn does not do well owing TO the shortness
of the season. Pears, plums, cherries.
strawberries, raspberries and some varieties
of apples are easily raised The timber
along the shore IL generally cedar, balssm
etc, but farther from the coast there IL a
valuable growth of yell ow and black birch,
curl maple, beech etc. Near st. lgnace there
are incxhaustible gypsum beds which are
| yet only slightly developed. Farming lands
| can be bought for from 3 per acre upward.
according to location and timber.
OLD IT. IGsAcE.
One of the oldest and newest towns in
| Michigan rs ST. Ignace, and yet II i one of
| the oldest inhabited spots by the white man
| on the continent. As King Strang. in his
work on Ancient and Modern MichilImacki-
nae, a work which is now being revised by
| Judge G. X. Brown. of St Ignace, says: BE
80. - 81 Ii
| ,cere Michilimackinac trds. While Boston.
| Philadelphia and Baltimore we're an unknown
| wilderness. and the Indian in his light canoe
| had scarce been frighteDd from his fishing
| in the Bay of New York 10y the broad sail
and the high Dutch poop, Miohilimackinac
| walked to maths, and knecled at vespers at
| the call of the church bell and her rner-
chants were the princes of the forests.
| Michilimackinac was the seat of government
| and trade Of the province of Michilimacki-
| nae. the settled portion Of which inclDded an
| extensive tract Of land on the Lower PENN
sula from Little Traverse Bay north and eas;
| "a far a. Cheboygan, and including the
| Beaver and Fox islands. and was occupied
| aud cultivated by converted Indians and
| French Jesutts until they were driven ont hy
| the Ojibwa and Ottawa Indians, who did
| not take kindly Ia the restraints of civilizs-
| tiOn. and the settlements were broken up.
/ and the towns and farms were allowed
| to grow NJ into forests again.
| and are now distinguished from the primsval
forests only by the smaller growth of the
forest trees and the numerous sppls trees.
| the remain. Of their old orchards. which
| nov grou Wild in the woods The ancient
| town Of Nichilimsckinsc, which was desig
mated on old msye Of Michigan as Ancient
| Fort Msckinsc, was situated within the
present township Of ST. IgBsce. and bere
nearly tvo hundred and fifty yesrs ago
| foursbed Jesuit college. said 70 have con
| tained eleven professors and I've hundred
students. though the account u pr0bably
| overdravn. The town and fortress hOv
! ever. aftervsrd ces-ed 20 erisf and even then
| location vas forgotten until fbey vere dis
| covered b. the remains IF the fallen cfIius
| nsys and the ruins q the ancient fortress
| King Strang IN be work on Nichiiimsck mar
describes the new town that afterwards grew
! - a. - smsIi village of Ub sducafed French
/ men. psrtskinR largely Of the Indian blood
Possessed q no enterprise. snd gaining
slender Subsistence by Spring and Fall fish
ing and a rude and iudolenf system ~ sgri
culture. Frequently the town hss sTor5e'
but one nan who c0uid reed and v-its."
wv e. TsxaCE.
/ The deTlOrsble sts;s a affairs describes
BY the Mormon apostle hss al rtsnged. bov
ever and in tbe past I've OF sIH years =