Muskegon (1859)-An Indian name, signifying "marshy river, or wet prairie.”

Newaygo (1859)—From Indian words, signifying "great water or "much water."

Oakland (1820)-Named from the face of the country when it was first settled by white men; "oak openings" prevailing.

Oceana (1851)—Named from its watery location on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.

Osceola (1843)-Named from the famous chief of the Seminole Indians, who kept the Florida war going several years, baffling our whole regular army and costing the public treasury about a hundred million dollars. Born 1803, died 1838. Ontonagon (1845)—An Indian name derived from Nundanorgan, hunting river.

Ottawa (1837)-An Indian name signifying traders, and applied to a powerful tribe which once occupied Northwestern Michigan.

Saginaw (1835)-An Indian name, derived from Sac-enong, or Sac town.

Sanilac (1857)-This name is either of Indian or Canadian French origin; its meaning not ascertained. It is among the names invented by Mr. Schoolcraft.

Shiawassee (1837)-An Indian name signifying "straight running," in reference, doubtless, to the course of the river from Owosso to St. Charles.

St. Clair (1821)-Named from Lake St. Clair. Hon. Augustus B. Woodward, first Chief Justice of the Territory, believes that the lake derived its name from the French officer St. Clair, and the river from the British officer Sir John Sinclair. In the early records the name of the county is sometimes given as Sinclair. In reality both names are the same and designate a proud and ancient Scotch family of Norman origin.

St. Joseph (1829)-Named from the husband of the Virgin Mary, canonized by the Romish church, and regarded by the Jesuits as the patron saint of New France. Our Northwestern States as well as the Canadas were formerly called "New France."

Tuscola (1840)-Another of Schoolcraft's illegitimate Indian names. He gave its meaning as "Warrior Prairie,” from the Muscogee Tusca, warrior.

Van Buren (1837) Named from Martin Van Buren, who held the offices of Governor of New York, U. S. Senator, Secretary of State in Jackson's cabinet, Minister to England, Vice-President, and President of the United States from 1837 to 1841. Born 1782, died 1862.

Washtenaw (1836) — The Indian name of Grand river, which rises in the southwestern part of the county. The name was originally Wash-ten-ong, meaning at or on the

river.

Wayne (1796)-Named from General Anthony Wayne, the brilliant hero of the Revolutionary army, and the victorious Indian fighter near our southeastern border. He was nicknamed "Mad Anthony," on account of his hair-brained courage and dash. The Indians gave him a name which signified Tornado. In the early Territorial government of Michigan, Wayne county included the whole State. Gen. Wayne was born 1745; died 1796, while on his way to take command at Detroit.

Wexford (1843)- Named from a maritime county in the southeastern part of Ireland.

[It is not deemed necessary to arrange questions for this chapter, as they would necessarily be nearly the same for each county. The proper questions will be readily suggested to the teacher.]

CHAPTER XI.

OF THE SURVEY OF THE PUBLIC LANDS SUBDIVISIONS OF TOWNSHIPS AND SECTIONS.

The lands embraced within the territorial limits of Michigan, had been surveyed by or under the direction of the Surveyor-General of the United States, before the State was admitted into the Union. The plan adopted in making this survey, was to draw two imaginary lines across the territory; one east and west, and the other north and south. The line running north and south was called the principal meridian, and the one running east and west was called the base line. The principal meridian commences on the south line of the State, between the counties of Hillsdale and Lenawee, and extends to the northern extremity of the State. The base line commences at a point in the western boundary line of the State, between the counties of Allegan and Van Buren, and extends east to the eastern boundary of the State. In making the survey of Michigan, the territory was divided into townships six miles square, and these were subdivided into thirty-six sections, of a square mile each, the townships being numbered in regular order east and west of the meridian line, and north and south of the base line. Thus, where themeridian and base lines intersect and cross each other, the township next north of the base line, and next east of the meridian line would be called "township number one north, in range number one east," while the township next east of it

would be, "township number two east, in range number one north." The following diagram will aid in explaining this:

DIAGRAM SHOWING HOW TOWNSHIPS ARE NUMBERED WITH REFERENCE TO THE MERIDIAN AND BASE LINES.

The sections contain six hundred and forty acres each, unless they are, as is sometimes the case, fractional. Sometimes a stream or a lake occupies a large portion of a quartersection, and the part not so occupied we call "fractional." Sometimes in measuring the townships, the surveyors would, owing to the great difficulties they had to encounter in measuring the distances through the wilderness, swamps, and lakes, and over the hills, include a little too much territory, or perhaps not quite enough. In such case, when the townships were subdivided into sections, and the measurements were made with more care, the subdivisions on the north and west sides of the townships were made to contain whatever was

left, more or less, so that all the other sections in the township should contain just six hundred and forty acres, each. The sections are numbered, commencing at the northeast corner of the townships, and for convenience, are subdivided into quarters; and we frequently see lands described as a quarter of a quarter.

The following is a plan of a township, the subdivisions representing sections:

The United States government gave to Michigan, section

sixteen, in every township, of the public lands, for the use of schools, and in addition thereto, seventy-two sections for the support of the State University.