REPORT OF THE PIONEER SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN. TOGETHER WITH REPORTS OF COUNTY, TOWN, AND DISTRICT PIONEER SOCIETIES. W. S. GEORGE & CO., STATE PRINTERS & BINDERS, 1884. PREFACE. The Pioneer Society of the State of Michigan, in giving to the public the sixth volume of "Collections," cannot but congratulate the pioneers of Michigan upon the success that has attended their efforts to secure from all parts of the State authentic narratives of those who were most prominent in its settlement, and in the gradual extinguishment of the Indian Claims and the removal of most of the tribes from the State. The wise but guarded liberality of the Legislature in granting aid to the society which is reimbursed from the proceeds of the sales of the "Collections," has enabled the committee of historians to publish the proceedings of the society and a part of the valuable material which it has collected much more rapidly than could otherwise have been done. This and the interesting annual meetings of the society have been of great service in the influence they have borne of the work that is being done in collecting and preserving material for the future historian. Our work of necessity is of a miscellaneous character, but all having a tendency to bring out most distinctly by whom and in what manner our pioneers laid the foundation of the government, and of the various departments and institutions of the State in which we all so justly take great pride. The material collected and carefully filed, indexed, and preserved, so as to be easily obtainable when required for use, is much greater than that printed in the six volumes; and if the society shall in the future receive from the State and from individuals the same helping hand as heretofore, it will in a few years form a collection of historic matter bearing on its settlement, as complete if not more so, than any State in the Union. We confidently expect and thankfully receive contributions of historical matter from all those who can aid us in preserving our early history. Every communication of this nature is carefully preserved and published as rapidly as the means of the society will justify. The interest taken in the work being done is manifested by the largely increased attendance at our annual meetings, and more particularly by the largely increased sale of the "Collections" as the volumes are issued. We submit volume six to the society and to the public, confident that it will be found of equal interest and value with the volumes which have preceded it. MICHAEL SHOEMAKER, Chairman, TALCOTT E. WING, O. C. COMSTOCK, HEZEKIAH G. WELLS, N. H. GOODRICH, HARRIET A. TENNEY, Secretary, Committee of Historians. |