MICHIGA.N (a,nte) derives its name from two Chippewa words, mitchi and sairgyegan, -meaning " lake country." The discoverers and first settlers of the territory were the French missionaries anti fur-traders, some of whom visited the slte of Detroit as early as 1610, while in 1641 some French Jesuits found their way to the falls of the St. Mary. The first actual settlement by Europeans within the limits of the state was the mission at Sault Ste. Marie, founded by father Marquette and others in 1668. Three years later fort 3Iichilimackinac (now Mackinaw) was established. Detroit was founded in 1701 by an expedition under Antoine de la Mothe Candillac. The territory fell into the hands of the English with other French possessions in 1763. After this event the Indian chief Pontiac organized a conspiracy to exterm)nate the whites, when a bloody conflict ensued. The g,arrison at Mackinaw was butchered, and Detroit was subjected to a long siege. It -was not until 1796, 13 years after the peace of 1783, that the United States took actual pos session of this region, though it was included within the boundaries of the northwest terri tory, so-called, and amenable to the ordinance of 1787. Afterwards it formed for a time a part of the territory, of Indiana. In 1805 it was erected into a separate territory, with hubstantially its present boundaries, gen. William Hull being appointed governor. Dur ing the war of 1812-15 the inhabitants were sorely harassed by the Indians and the Brit ish. Gen. Hull snrrendered Detroit to the British under eiretunstances which led to his trial and condemnation to death by court-martial. Tho sentence was not executed, how ever, and facts afterwards came to light which partially, or it may be wholly, relieved him from blame. Mackinaw was also captured, and at Frenclitown, early in 1813, a number of American prisoners were inassaered by- the Indians. Shortly afterwards gen. Harrison succeeded in driving the I3ritisli out of the territory, and in 1814 a truce was concluded with the Indians. In 1816-17 a considerable portion of the territory was sur
veyed, and in 1818 a large body of land was offered for sale. In 1819 the territory WaS .authorized by act of congress to st nd a delegate to that body. At different times from 1819 to )836 the Indians ceded large tracts of land to the territory, and at the last-named date all the lower and a part of the upper peninsula had been freed from Indian titles. Partly in 1818 and partly in 1834 the territory- now forming the state of Wisconsin was annexed to 3iichigan; but in 1836 it was erected into a teiTitory by itself, and Michigan was reduced substantially to its original boundaries. Previous to 1823 the 'legislative power was vested in the governor and judges, but in that year it was transferred to a council consisting of 9 persons selected from 18 chosen by the people of the territory. In 1825 the council was increased to 13 members chosen upon the same plan, but in 1827 the law was changed so as to provide for the election or the councilors by the popular vote. In 1831 gen. Cass was succeeded by George B. Porter as governor, and the latter, dying in 1834, was succeeded by Stevens T. Mason. In 1835 a state constitution was adopted by a convention called for the purpose. It claimed jurisdiction over a strip of land also claimed by Ohio. There was danger that the dispute would lead to bloodshed, but in 1836 congress agreed to adtnit Michigan to the union upon condition that she should surrender her claim to the disputed territory and accept in lieu thereof a larger rea u the upper peninsula. The first convention called to consider this proposal rejected it, but it was accepted by a second in Dec., 1836, and in January following Michigan was admitted to the union as a state. In 1847 the seat of government was removed front Detroit to Lansing, the latter at that time being in a dense wilderness. It is now a flour ishing town, and tlie state capitol is one of the largest and finest structures of the kind in the United States.