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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. Woodbridge 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

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The same council authorized a vote of the inhabitants to be taken on the question of organizing a State government, and asking admission into the Union. A vote was accordingly taken on the first Tuesday of October of that year, which resulted in a small majority in favor of the measure. But the vote was exceedingly light, and a question arose as to whether it really represented the sentiments of the majority of the people, or not. Governor Porter, in his message, recommended that, in view of the facts, another vote should be taken; but he was overruled by the council, and a memorial was sent to Congress, setting forth the facts, and praying for action by that body. It does not appear, however, that the petition was considered, as it was not till two years afterwards that serious measures were taken to secure a State organization.

vulsed their native land. They readily appreciated and seized upon this lovely spot, and made it their home. The descendants of one or two families retain to this day the original letters patent granted by the unfortunate Louis XV. Grosse Point is rich in historical incident. It was the place most resorted to by the numerous tribes of Indians as their place of meeting to make their treaties with each other and smoke the pipe of peace. It was there that the fierce and warlike tribes, the Sacs and the Foxes, fought their last and most sanguinary battle, a battle which resulted in the extermination of the first mentioned tribe. The little creek on whose banks this battle was fought took its name from the victors, a name which it still retains. Near this place is Presque Isle, where the lighthouse now stands. That locality was held by the Indians in sacred veneration, from the fact of its being the burial place for the numerous tribes inhabiting this portion of the lower peninsula. It was also the rallying point for Pontiac and his confederated tribes during the terrible war which he waged against Detroit.

Around Mr. Backus' residence are many of the oldest landmarks, making the place truly historical. In the front garden, as will be seen by the engraving, are numerous apple and pear trees, ranging from one hundred and fifty to two hundred years old. With the hammock stretched beneath the branches of these venerable old trees, and the breeze from Lake St. Clair gently fanning the whole neighborhood, there is no more healthy or delightful spot in Michigan. Mr. Backus resides in this beautiful home during the summer months, and when the chilly winds of autumn render the place too cold for comfort he retreats to his city residence, on Fort street west.

About this time a change was made in the manner of disposing of the public lands, which was of great benefit to the settlers in the West. Previous to the year 1820, the price of government land was two dollars an acre. One-fourth of this was to be paid down at the time of purchase, and the remainder in three annual installments. The land was subject to forfeiture if these payments were not promptly met. A discount was allowed, however, of eight per cent, if the whole amount was paid in advance. This system was found to be productive of serious evils. The hope of gain induced many to make large purchases. Some, it is true, realized large fortunes, while others, whose judgment was not so good, were left without the means of paying when their payments became due, and their lands were consequently subject to forfeiture. This led to a total change of the system. The price was reduced to one dollar and a quarter an acre, and the whole was required to be paid at the time of purchase. This was attended with the desired effects. It prevented much loss to the government, saved a great deal of trouble, discouraged reckless speculation, and enabled the honest and industrious settler, with moderate means, to acquire a clear and unincumbered title to his lands.

On the sixth day of July, 1834, the office of Governor became vacant, by the death of Governor Porter. By the provision of law for the government of the Territory in case of the death, removal, resignation, or necessary absence of the Governor, the Secretary of the Territory was required to execute the powers and perform all the duties of Governor during the vacancy. The functions of the office, consequently, devolved upon the Secretary, Stevens T. Mason.

CHAPTER XXXI.

THE ORGANIZATION OF A STATE GOVERNMENT-THE BOUNDARY QUESTION-THE TOLEDO WAR-INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS-SETTLEMENT OF THE QUESTION-ADMISSION OF MICHIGAN INTO THE UNION.

THE ordinance of 1787 provided that the Northwest Territory should be divided into not less than three States, nor more than five, as Congress should determine. Three States had already been formed from that Territory, viz: Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. By that ordinance, and subsequent acts of Congress, conferring upon Michigan the benefits contained in its provisions, Michigan was entitled to admission into the Union as a State so soon as her free white population numbered sixty thousand. In 1834, Michigan took the preliminary steps to secure for herself the rights to which she claimed to be entitled. On the sixth of September of that year, the Legislative Council passed an act directing a census to be taken. The result showed that there were 87,273 free white inhabitants in the Territory. At the next session of the Council, in January, 1835, an act was passed authorizing a convention to be held at Detroit, on the second Monday of May following. This convention was composed of eighty-nine delegates. It met upon the day specified, and continued in session till the twentyfourth of June. A Constitution was formed and submitted to the people in the October following, and by them adopted. At the same election, a full set of State officers and a legislature were elected to act under the Constitution. In November following, the legislature met, and the whole machinery of a State government was set in motion. Stevens T. Mason, the Secretary of the Territory, and acting governor after the decease of Governor Porter, was the Governor of the new State.

In the meantime, the difficulty in reference to the southern boundary of the Territory was rapidly approaching a crisis. To