HISTORY. Remains of ancient mines and mining implements have been found within the present limits of the State. The white discoverers and first settlers were French missionaries and fur traders, sonic of whom visited the site of Detroit as early as 1610. in 1641 French Jesuits found their way to the falls of the Saint Mary. The first actual settlement by Europeans within the limits of the State was the mission at Sault Sainte Marie, founded by Father Marquette and others in 1665. Three years later Miehilimacki mui (now Mackinac) was established. In 1679 and 1656 forts were built at the mouth of the Saint Joseph, and at the outlet of Lake Huron, and in 170] Antoine de la Mothe-Cadillac found ed Detroit. Through the entire period of French occupation the town dragged out a painful exist ence, though the centre of a considerable fur trade and a place of meeting for friendly Indian tribes. The territory, with other French pos sessions, fell into the hands of the English at the end of the French and Indian War. Detroit was occupied in 1763. but early in May of that year the Indians, loyal to the French, rose under Pontiac (q.v.). massacred the garrison at Macki nac, and besieged Detroit for about five months. The English showed no capacity for go•ernmxent and the country made no progress under their rule. By the Quebec Act of 1774 the territory became a part of Canada, and during the Revolu tion Detroit was the starting point for many Indian expeditions which laid waste the Amer ican frontier. By the Treaty of Paris in 1783 the region passed to the United States, although Eng land did not at once relinquish possession. After 1784 the Indians of the Northwest, deeming them selves unjustly treated by the Americans. waged a bloody warfare against the Western settlements till they were brought to terms by General Wayne in 1795. By the treaty of peace concluded in that year. they ceded large tracts of land on the east ern shore of the southern peninsula of Michigan and in the north to the United States. It was not until June II, 1796, that the United States took actual possession of Detroit, though the region was included within the boundaries of the North west Territory, so called, and amenable to the ordi nance of 1757. In 1800 Ohio was set of from
the Northwest Territory, including the eastern portion of :Michigan. but in 1502 the whole of the Lower Peninsula was annexed to the Territory of Indiana. Its southern boundary was a line drawn east from the southerly extreme of Lake Michigan to Lake Erie. At that time the white population of Michigan was about. 4000, consist ing for the most part of Canadian trailers and coareurs de bois. On June 30, 1503. Michigan was set off as a separate Territory, with sub stantially its present limits, and Gen. William Hull was appointed Governor. During the War of 1512 the inhabitants were harassed by the British and Indians: Mackinac was captured by the British: Detroit was surrendered by Gov ernor Hull (q.v.) : and at Frenchtown. in 1513, a number of American prisoners of war were mas sacred by the Indians. ( For Military operations during the War of 1S12. UNITED STATES.) At different times after 1514 the Indians ceded large tracts of land, and by 1536 all the Lower Peninsula and part of the Upper Peninsula had been freed from Indian title. Surveys were made as early as 1816, and in 1SH a large tract of land was put on the market. In 15111 the Terri tory was :111(11.1170(1 to send a delegate to Con gress. and in 1523 the system of rule by a Gov cnior and three judges was replaced by that of a Governor and a conned] of nine, selected from eighteen chosen by the people; in 1825 the coun cil was increased to thirteen, and after 1827 the members were elected by popular vote. In 1835 a State Constitution was adopted by a conven tion called for that purpose, but the admission of Michigan into the Union was delayed by a dis pute with Ohio concerning a strip of land on the southern boundary. There was danger that the dispute would lead to bloodshed. but in 1536 Congress agreed to admit Michigan upon condi tion that. she sliould surrender her claim to the disputed territory and accept in lieu thereof a larger area in the Upper Peninsula. The first convention called to consider this proposal, Jan uary U. 1536, rejected it, but it was accepted by a second in December, 1536, and on January 26, 1837, Michigan was admitted into the Union.