CHAPTER XXX.

THE ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR PORTER-THE BLACK HAWK WAR -CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS-THE FIRST RAILROAD COMPANY ORGANIZED BANKS CHARTERED-COMMON SCHOOLS ORGANIZED-CHANGE IN THE METHOD OF DISPOSING OF PUBLIC LANDS-DEATH OF GovERNOR PORTER.

UPON the elevation of General Cass to a seat in the cabinet of President Jackson, and his consequent resignation of the office of Governor of the Territory of Michigan, General George B. Porter, of Pennsylvania, was appointed governor. This occurred in July, A. D. 1831, and Governor Porter entered upon the discharge of the duties of his office on the twenty-second of the following September. The population of the Territory at that time amounted to about thirty-five thousand.

The arts of

The administration of Governor Porter presents but few points that possess attractions for the pen of the historian. It was a time of almost profound peace. The terrible wars which had devastated the country in former years were over. The Territory was on the high road to prosperity and affluence. peace alone were cultivated. It is at such times that States grow to greatness, such as wealth and population can give; but it is the tale of hardships, struggles, bloodshed and rapine that fills the pages of a nation's history. Fortunately for Michigan, the long struggle for the mastery of her soil was now practically ended, and the attention of her people and her rulers was directed to the promotion of er material advancement and the development of her resources. The only war cloud that appeared above the horizon during the administration of Governor Porter was what is known as the Black Hawk war; but this was confined, in its effects on Michigan, more to that part of the Territory now constituting the State of Wisconsin, than to the peninsula. Gover

nor Porter, however, coöperated with the executives of the States of Missouri, Illinois and Indiana, and furnished militia from the western part of the Territory to aid in punishing the savages. The campaign was short and decisive, and ended in the unqualified submission of the hostile party, and in the adoption of measures for the permanent security of the frontier. Treaties of cession were formed with the Winnebagoes, and the Sacs and Foxes, by which the Indian title was extinguished to all the country south of the Ouisconsin and east of the Mississippi, and to an extensive region west of that river.

During Governor Porter's administration, Wisconsin, which had before been annexed to Michigan, was erected into a separate Territory. In the meantime the commerce on Lake Erie was rapidly increasing. Many new townships were organized, and roads were constructed into the interior. In looking over the records of that time, it is found that in the year 1832 alone there were roads constructed, or authorized by the Territorial council as follows: From Point du Chene to the Fort Gratiot turnpike, from Battle Creek to the mouth of the Kalamazoo river, from a point on the Chicago road to the county seat of Calhoun county, from Pontiac to Ann Arbor, from Southfield to Detroit, from Rochester to Lapeer, from Pontiac to Adrian, from Vistula to Indiana, from Branch county to the mouth of the St. Joseph's river, from Ten Eycks to the principal meridian, from Ecorse to the Chicago road, from Jacksonburgh to the mouth of the St. Joseph's river, and from Monguagon to St. Joseph's. In consequence of these improvements, the country became better known, a spirit of speculation became awakened, and, in addition to the actual settlers, there were hundreds of speculators traversing the woods in search of eligible lands, which they purchased and held for an increase in value. The same year the Legislative Council passed an act to provide for the establishment and regulation of common schools. An act was also passed incorporating "The Lake Michigan Steamboat Company," with a capital of forty thousand dollars. The names of the corporators were, James Abbott, Oliver Newberry, Benjamin F. Larned, B. Kercheval, John Palmer, and Reynold Gillett. The Legislative Council of

that year is also entitled to the credit of having passed the first act of incorporation under which a railroad company was organized in Michigan. This was the act incorporating the Detroit and St. Joseph Railroad Company. The names of the commissioners

JOHN P. ALLISON, a prominent business man of East Saginaw, was born in the town of Haverstraw, Rockland county, in the State of New York, April 15, 1817.

At an early age, he removed to New York city, and from there emigrated to Michigan, in June, 1854, taking up his residence in East Saginaw, then but a small village. In his journey from New York, Mr. Allison traveled by railroad and boat to Detroit, and found the accommodations for travelers in, those days far different from what they are at

were John Biddle, John R. Williams, Charles Larned, E. P. Hastings, Oliver Newberry, De Garmo James, James Abbott, John Gilbert, Abel Millington, Job Gorton, John Allen, Anson Brown, Samuel W. Dexter, W. E. Perrine, William A. Thompson, Isaac Crary, O. W. Colden, Caleb Eldred, Cyrus Lovell, Calvin Brittain, and Talman Wheeler. The State reserved the right to purchase the road at its original cost and fourteen per cent interest. The act also contained the following provision :

"Said corporation, hereby created, shall have power to construct a single or double railroad, from the city of Detroit to the mouth of the St. Joseph river, commencing at Detroit, and passing through, or as near as practicable to the village of Ypsilanti and the county seats of Washtenaw, Jackson, Calhoun, and Kalamazoo, with power to transport, take and carry property and persons upon the same, by the power and force of steam, of animals, or of any mechanical, or other power, or of any combination of them."

It also provided that the road should be completed within thirty years. As this road was the one now known as the Michigan Central Railroad, it is needless to add that the latter condition was complied with. The same council also passed an act incorporating the "Bank of the River Raisin," with a branch at Pon

present. From Detroit he went to Pontiac by rail, and from there he traversed the remainder of his journey to East Saginaw by the old fashioned stage-coach.

Arriving at East Saginaw, he soon afterwards became engaged in the manufacture of lumber (an occupation that pretty much everybody in that region was interested in at that time), and has since built up a vast and lucrative trade in that commodity.

Mr. Allison was also an early adventurer in the saline experiments of the Saginaws, and was the second person to produce a good article of merchant salt. He likewise enjoys the reputation of being one of the pioneer farmers of the Saginaw valley, having, at an early day, cleared up and placed under good cultivation a large farm near the city of East Saginaw, upon which he now resides.

Mr. Allison's character is such as to command the respect and esteem of his fellow-citizens, and his industry, enterprise and integrity are well worthy of emulation by the young men of the country, who by their own exertions expect to attain positions of honor and trust.

tiac. This was the third bank established in the Territory. Previous to this the Bank of Michigan (1817), with a branch at Bronson, had been incorporated, and also, in 1829, the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Michigan, with a branch at St. Joseph's.

COUNTRY RESIDENCE OF W. W. BACKUS.

The above engraving represents the country residence of Mr. W. Wood-. bridge Backus, grandson of the late William Woodbridge. It is situated at Grosse Point, about eight miles above Detroit, and commands an extensive view of the beautiful Lake St. Clair, the great highway of the nation's commerce. Grosse Point is rapidly becoming the favorite locality for the summer residences of the wealthy citizens of the metropolis. In salubrity of climate, beauty of scenery, proximity to the city of Detroit, and all that goes to make a desirable country-seat, it already stands without a rival.

The earliest settlers were French, many of whom were men of high social and political standing in la belle France, but who emigrated to this country to seek a home free from the terrible political strifes which con