The whole number of pioneers of Lenawee county who have died since June 8, 1882, up to June 8, 1883, above the age of 45, and who have resided in the county over 35 years, was 138. There were three over 90 years of age, twentynine over 80 years, sixty-seven over 70 years, and twenty-five over 60 years of age. The average years of life was a few days over 73. April.. 78 May. 84 May. 70 May. 65 May. 83 May. 73 June.. 74 June. 76 1883, aged 59. Algen S. Denson, died Feb. 13, 1883, aged 84. DR. IRA P. BINGHAM died at Brighton, aged 69 years. Was born in Camillus, Onondaga county, New York, April 12, 1812. He came to Brighton, Livingston county, in 1841, making him a resident of Livingston county, 42 years. ALGEN S. DENSON was born in Blixton, London, England. Came to Michigan in 1849, settled in the township of Handy, Livingston county, Michigan. Died February 13, 1883, aged 84, being a resident of Michigan 34 years. ELISHA E. HAZARD was born in New York, July 3, 1823. In 1836 he came with his father, Hon. Chester Hazard, to Genoa, Livingston county, Michigan, where his father has lived ever since, making him a resident of Michigan 47 years. ISRAEL B. COLBORN came to Livingston county, Michigan, June, 1859, and settled in the township of Conway, remaining there until June 13, 1882, when death called him away, aged 68 years, making him a resident of Michigan 24 years. LORENZO E. SMITH, one of the early pioneers of this county, was born in New York, Oct. 9, 1809, and died July 15, 1881, aged 72 years. He came to Michigan in 1837, making him a resident of Livingston county 47 years. RODMAN CASE was born in Rhode Island, Sept. 5, 1804. In 1813 he came to Michigan and settled on the farm in Hamburg, Livingston county, where he lived up to the time of his death, October, 1882, aged 78 years, being a resident of Livingston county 39 years. SAMUEL BATCHELLER died at his home in Oceola, Livingston county, Michigan, April 25, 1881, aged 86 years. He was born in Providence, Rhode Island, April 25, 1795, making him a resident of Michigan 48 years. ALONZO WILCOX was born in Allegheny county, Almer township, New York. He came to Michigan in 1842, died January 7, 1882, aged 74 years, making him a resident of Michigan 40 years. MACKINAC COUNTY COUNTY OF MACKINAC FROM THE ANNALS OF FORT MACKINAC BY DWIGHT H. KELTON, LIEUT. U. S. ARMY THE AMERICAN FUR COMPANY To notice slightly the origin of the American Fur Company, we will say that John Jacob Astor, a German by birth, who arrived in New York in the year 1784, commenced work for a bakery owned by a German acquaintance. He was afterwards assisted to open a toy shop, and this was followed by trafficking for small parcels of furs in the country towns, which led to his future operations in that line. Mr. Astor's great and continued success in that branch of trade induced him, in 1809, to obtain from the New York legislature a charter incorporating "The American Fur Company," with a capital of a million dollars. It is understood that Mr. Astor comprised the company, though other names were used in its organization. In 1811, Mr. Astor, in connection with certain parties of the old Northwest Fur Company (whose beginning was in 1783, and permanently organized in 1787), bought out the association of British merchants known as the Mackinac Company, then a strong competitor in the fur trade. This Mackinac Company, with the American Fur Company, was merged into a new association called the Southwest Fur Company. But in 1815, Mr. Astor bought out the Southwest Company, and the American Fur Company came again to the front. In the winter of 1815-16, congress, through the influence of Mr. Astor, it is understood, passed an act excluding foreigners from participating in the Indian trade. In 1817-18, the American Fur Company brought a large number of clerks from Montreal and the United States to Mackinac, some of whom made good Indian traders, while many others failed upon trial and were discharged. Among those who proved their capability was Gurdon S. Hubbard, Esq., then a youth of sixteen, the earliest resident of Chicago now living there. He was born in Windsor, Vt., in 1802, and his parents were Elizur and Abigail (Sage) Hubbard. His paternal emigrant ancestor was George Hubbard, who was at Wethersfield, Ct., in 1636. Mr. Hubbard is also a lineal descendant of the clergyman-governor Gurdon Saltonstall (named for Brampton Gurdon, the patriot M. P., whose daughter was the grandmother of the governor), who was the greatgrandson of Sir Richard Saltonstall, the firm and efficient friend of early New England. We need, therefore, merely add here that Mr. Hubbard left Montreal, where his parents then lived, May 13, 1818, reaching Mackinac July 4th, and first arrived at Chicago on the last day of October or first day of November of that year. In 1828, he purchased of the Fur Company their entire interest in the trade of Illinois. Having entire charge of the management of the company in the west, were Ramsey Crooks and Robert Stuart. To William Matthews was instructed the engaging of voyageurs and clerks in Canada, with his headquarters in Montreal. The voyageurs he took from the habitants (farmers); young, active, athletic men were sought for; indeed, none but such were engaged, and they passed under the inspection of a surgeon. Mr. Matthews also purchased at Montreal such goods as were suited for the trade, to load his boats. These boats were the Canadian batteaux, principally used in those days in transferring goods to upper St. Lawrence River and its tributaries, manned by four oarsmen and a steersman, capacity about six tons. indentures for a term of five years. $120 to $500 per annum. The voyageurs and clerks were under Wages of voyageurs, $100; clerks, from These were all novices in the business; the plan of the company was to arrange and secure the services of old traders and their voyageurs, who, at the new organization of the company were in the Indian country, depending on their influence and knowledge of the trade with the Indians, and as fast as possible secure the vast trade in the west and northwest, within the district of the United States, interspersing the novices brought from Canada so as to consolidate, extend, and monopolize, as far as possible, over the country, the Indian trade. The first two years they had succeeded in bringing into their employ seveneighths of the old Indian traders on the upper Mississippi, Wabash, and Illi |