Colonists," by E. W. Barber, page 197, is a most carefully prepared history and genesis of that colony, so different in its inception from any other settlement of Michigan. Mr. C. M. Burton writes of "Detroit in 1832," page 163, and a clipping from the "First Directory of Detroit, 1837," page 585, will be found most interesting, as will also, "The Days of Fife and Drum," by Charles Moore, page 437, which contains valuable information regarding Michigan's soldiers that took part in the struggle of 1861-5. These with many more make volume 28 a valuable addition to the collections of the Society. As the field of historical research is explored new discoveries of valuable material are made. Placing in permanent records, the names of the pioneer settlers of Michigan, as they pass away, or in historical sketches of the towns, villages and cities they founded, is a duty the present owes to the past. Let us preserve for the future the names and labors of our ancestors. The cost to the State is very small, and the labor on the part of those who perform it is a labor of love. But, more than this, early Michigan had a number of men, while yet a Territory and after it became a State, who were prominent in national as well as in local affairs, who left private and official correspondence of great value, the publication of which is essential to a complete understanding of the events wherein they took part and of the periods whereof they wrote. Already, it is known, a large number of the letters of General Lewis Cass, the most conspicuous of our pioneers, and of Governor William Woodbridge, and of others scarcely less interesting, are available for publication by this Society. The Committee of Historians, therefore, are able to give the assurance that, with money to carry on the work, even more important contributions to the history of Michigan will be made in the future than have been made in the past. L. D. WATKINS, Manchester, C. M. BURTON, Detroit, A. H. OWEN, Venice, JOHN W. CHAMPION, Grand Rapids, E. W. BARBER, Jackson, H. B. SMITH, Marengo. Lansing, June 1, 1900. Committee of Historians. Report of Recording Secretary. Report of Corresponding Secretary. Calhoun county-John F. Hinman.. Genesee county-Goodenough Townsend.. Ingham county-C. B. Stebbins.. Ionia county- Albert F. Morehouse. Jackson county-Josiah B. Frost. Kalamazoo county-Henry Bishop.. Lenawee county-Benjamin L. Baxter. Life and Character of Alpheus Felch-Hon. Claudius B. Grant...... A brief Sketch of the life of Capt. Joseph Marsac-0. A. Marsac. Fort St. Joseph-the Mission, Trading-post and Fort-L. H. Beeson.. The Old Mission Church of Mackinac Island-Rev. Meade C. Williams. The Vermontville Colony-Genesis and History-Edward W. Barber............. PAGE. President's Address-Ex-Gov. C. G. Luce. Report of Corresponding Secretary. Branch county-Harvey Haynes... Calhoun county-John F. Hinman.. Clinton county-Ralph Watkins.. Genesee county-H. C. Fairbanks. Huron county-E. M. Stevens...... Ingham county-C. B. Stebbins.. Ionia county-Albert F. Morehouse. Kalamazoo county-Henry Bishop. Lenawee county-Benjamin L. Baxter. Montcalm county-Joseph B. Shoemaker.. Oakland county-Jno. M. Norton. Shiawassee county-A. H. Owens. Life and Character of Hon. Daniel Striker-Judge Clement Smith.... A Pioneer Centenarian of St. Joseph county-Isaac D. Toll...... Daniel B. Harrington, Port Huron's Greatest Pioneer-O'Brien Atkinson. Early Days in old Washtenaw County-C. B. Seymour.......... Reminiscences of Pioneer Life in Oakland County-Mrs. Sarah E. Soper. Ludington and Pere Marquette's Grave-R. H. Elsworth.. The Great Financial Convulsion of 1893-4-L. D. Watkins.... A Sketch of Grand Portage Indian Reservation-George H. Cannon History of the Grand River Baptist Association of Greenville- Albert F. Morehouse.. History of Crystal Lake Township, Benzie County-N. A. Parker Olden Times in Detroit-Ephraim Williams........ Address before the Washtenaw County Pioneer Society-Mrs. Julia Dexter Stannard. The Pioneer Farmers' Club of Michigan-L. D. Watkins............. |