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PREFACE.

THIS work was originally intended as a sketch to be used for the purposes of the Centennial Committee. of Michigan, and was prepared in more haste than was otherwise desirable. The time allowed for it was not sufficient to permit any very extended researches among original materials. Although, for some twenty years past, the writer has made occasional collections of such material, yet his work must be regarded as largely compiled from his predecessors, who have been so frequently relied on that this general acknowledgment is more appropriate than would be any attempt to credit them in particular places. He has drawn freely from the Lanmans, and Mrs. Sheldon, from the "Historical Sketches of Michigan," and from the local sketches of Judge Witherell and Mr. R. E. Roberts, as well as from Parkman and the French authors especially Charlevoix, La Hontan, Hennepin, Tonty and Joutel,correcting them, so far as he could, by the French documents. In matters concerning the War of 1812, Mr. Lossing's "Field-Book" has been of much service Upon that war there is no lack of authentic documents and histories.

Much, also, which has not been recorded by the historians, has been found scattered through early and modern biographies, books of travel, and other less pretentious works, as well as in newspapers and private

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writings; and many interesting facts appear incidentally in public documents and land books and other local records. The early recording officers placed on record a great many private papers which were not muniments of title, but related to family matters.

A long residence in Detroit has given some opportunities for procuring information from living sources, and for observing things which were not without value for reference. It has also enabled the writer to understand and explain some things which could hardly be comprehended from writings alone. Many gentlemen have busied themselves with gathering and preserving historical material, and have accumulated much that, with sufficient time and labor, will be some day made a very valuable addition to the annals of Michigan and the Northwest. Besides the numerous documents preserved by the Historical Society, and the narratives and sketches gathered by the Pioneer Society, it is not improper to mention Hon. C. C. Trowbridge, Hon. Charles I. Walker, Robert E. Roberts, Esq., Bela Hubbard, Esq., and Hon. Levi Bishop, as active workers in this field. It is to be hoped that the results of Judge Walker's diligent researches will be given to the public in a durable form. To all these gentlemen, as well as to Hon. E. A. Brush, and many other personal friends, who have aided him by information and suggestions, the writer records his acknowledgments.

He trusts that his imperfect sketch will not be without some value, as a contribution upon a subject which, as yet, has been very far from receiving exhaustive treatment from any one.

DETROIT, May 1, 1876.

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