Library of Congress Memorials of a half-century 2194 War Department RECEIVED July 25, 1887, LIBRARY. MEMORIALS OF A HALF-CENTURY BY BELA HUBBARD “I have been a great feast, and stolen the sraps.” Love's Labor Lost.— SHAKES. “...various, that the mind Of desultory man, studious of change, And pleased with novelty, might be indulg'd.” The Task.— COWPER. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS NEW YORK & LONDON G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS The Knickerbocker Press 1887 copy 2 F566 .-87 copy 2 COPYRIGHT BY G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS 1887 By transfer OCT 9 1915 Press of G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS New York “The notes of a single observer, even in a limited district, describing accurately its features, civil, natural and social, are of more interests, and often of more value, than the grander view and boarder generalizations of history. “In a country whose character and circumstances are constantly changing, the little facts and incidents, which are the life history, soon pass from the minds of the present generation.”— Anon v PREFACE. War Department LIBRARY. Memorials of a half-century http://www.loc.gov/resource/lhbum.21049 Library of Congress The writer came to Michigan, a youth, in the spring of 1835, and settled in the town of Springwells, two miles from the western limits of Detroit, then a city of less than 500 inhabitants. On or near the spot of his first abode, upon the banks of our noble river, he has dwelt for half a century, and until the spreading city has absorbed the intervening farms. Even a few years ago his present residence was so completely in the country, that the familiar rural sights and sounds were but little banished. The influences thus surrounding him are visible in many of the essays which make up this book, and which are in part compiled from his Diary. Such are the chapters upon the seasons and upon the inhabitants, human and brute, of the neighborhood. Of the other papers, some will be recognized as having been read before the Detroit Scientific Association, and State and County Pioneer societies, and some have already received publication in newspapers and pioneer collections. In the essays upon climate, the author ventures to believe, will be found something of merit, in the way of original observation and reseach. The character of our reasons he has endeavor to portray, less by attempt at vivid description, than by the plain statement of facts. Anything really new, on subjects of such universal interest, may prove of more than local value. vi The reflection that many of these memorial may possess a value, at least in the eyes of partial friends—alas! how few now—and may serve a purpose in the preservation of facts and phenomena which are fast being lost with the rapidly passing years, has been the inducement to their compilation into a volume. B. H. Memorials of a half-century http://www.loc.gov/resource/lhbum.21049 Library of Congress Vinewood, December, 1886. L'ENVOL Go forth, little book, bark of destiny, freighted with the records and recollections of many desultory hours. Take thy chance upon the stream which sweeps all things along. Pleasing to the writer has been his task, and little will he take account with fate, whether favoring winds waft thee into a friendly port, or the wayward current drift thee aside, to be stranded on the shallows of oblivion. ix CONTENTS. War Department LIBRARY. SCENERY AND DESCRIPTION. Scenery of the Lakes 1-18 Charlevoix, Description of Voyage, 2.—The Lake Plateaus, 3— The two Peninsulas, topography, 5.—Romance of Early Travel, 7.—The Ocean Lake, 9.— This Straits, before and after Colonization, 12.—River Scenery, 15. Lake Superior in 1840 19-62 The Exploring Party,21.—The Route—Mackinac, 23.—Straits of Ste. Marie, 24.—At the Sault, 28.—Coasting, 31.—The Grand Sable, 32.—Pictured Rocks, 36.—Azoic and Mineral Region, 49.—Adventure at the Ontonagon, 53.—La Pointe —Pére Marquette, 59. A Michigan Geological Expedition in 1837 63-90 The Party Introduced, 65.—The Wagon Journey, 67.—River Voyaging, 69.—Descending the Shiawassee—Indian Clearings, 70.— A Primeval Forest, 72.—Saginaw, 75.— Personnel —Dr. Houghton—Our Fourth Member, 76.—The Tittabawassee—Midland Solitudes, So.—The Solitude Broken, 83.—Descending the Saginaw, 84.—Coasting the Bay, 85.—Canoe Voyaging on Lake Huron, 87. Memorials of a half-century http://www.loc.gov/resource/lhbum.21049 Library of Congress HISTORICAL AND ANTIQUARIAN. A Time of Universal Prosperity, and what came of it 91-105 A new Eldorado, 93.— Landlooking, 95.—Eligible Sites—Paper Cities, 96.—Flush Times, 97.—Wild-cat Banking, 98.—Hard Times, 100.—Ruins, 101.—Reverses, 103.—Restoration, 105. x French Habitants of the Detroit 107-154 Part I.—Introductory, 109.—The old Régime, 110. —Colonization, 113.—The Detroit, 115.—Land-titles and Farms, 116.—First Settlers, 117. —Agriculture, 119.—Farm Implements, 121.—Vehicles, 122.—Canadian Ponies, 124.— Orchards, 125.—Pear Trees, 127. Part II.—French Homesteads, 131.—Windmills, 135.— Costumes, 136.—Society—Amusements, 139.—White-fishing, 142.—Patriotism, 143.— Education, 146.—Language, 149.—Voyageurs, 150.—Boat Songs, 152. The Naming of Lake Ste. Claire 155-175 Second Centennial Anniversary, 156.—Historical Address, 157.—Le Sieur de la Salle—His earlier Expeditions, 158.—First Knowledge of the Straits—Incidents, 159.—First Sail—vessel on the Lakes, 162.— “Griffin” arrives at Lake Ste. Claire, 163.—Origin of the name of the Lake, 164.—The Lady Claire, 165.— The Christening—Surrounding, 166.—Fate of the Griffin, 169.—New Schemes of La Salle, 170.—Discovery of Louisiana, 171.—Death and character of La Salle, 173.—Honors to his Memory—A Suggestion, 174. Indians in Michigan 177-187 Aboriginal population, 179.—Chippewas of Saginaw, 181.— Pottawatomies and Ottawas, 183.—Trading—Fire-water, 184.—Civilized Ottawa, 185. Policy of the Government towards the Indians 187-198 Indian Titles—Treaties, 188.— Indian Character, 189.—Demands of Civilization, 190.—Reservations—Agencies, 192. —Errors in Policy, 193.—Indian Capacity for Civilization, 194.—True Policy, 194.—The Consummation, 197. Memorials of a half-century http://www.loc.gov/resource/lhbum.21049 Library of Congress The Mound-Builders in Michigan 199-261 Part I.—General Character and Distribution of the Works, 201.—Defensive Works, 203.—Circular Works, 205.—Tumuli, 206.—Modes of Burial—Entombing, 208.—Monument Mounds 210.—Contents of the Mounds, 211.— Pottery, 213. Part II.—Indian Antiquities at Springwells, 219.—Tumuli at the Sand-hills, 220.—Exploration—Contents, 222.—Intrusive Burials, 224.—Carsten's Mound, 226.— Circular Earthwork, xi 227.—The Great Mound at River Rouge, 228.—Festival of the Dead, 231.—Cremation, 233.—Modern Occupation, 234.—Exploration of the Mound, 234.—A Vast Necropolis, 237.—Past and Present, 238. Part III—Ancient Garden-beds of Michigan, 241.—Earliest Notice, 243.—Classification, 245.—Beds at Three Rivers, 247. —Kalamazoo, 248.—Prairie Ronde, 249.—Gardenesque Plats, 250.—Botanical Gardens, 251.—Association with other Earthworks, 252.—Origin and Age—Conjectures, 253.— Later Investigations, 254. FAUNA AND FLORA. Fish and Fishing 263-277 Pole and Line, 265.—Prosaic Modes, 266.—Seine Fishing, 268. —On the Upper Lakes, 269.—Whitefish—Life History, 272.—Lake and River Trade, 275. —The Fishing Season, 276. Birds of my Neighborhood 279-320 Part I.—Aquatic Birds, 281.—Gregarious Birds, 285. —Blackbirds, 286.—Wild Turkeys, 288.—Birds of Prey, 289.—Winter Birds—Harbingers of Spring, 290.—Wild Birds Domesticated, 293.—A Good Talker, 294. Part II.—Our Birds Further Considered, 297.—The Crow, 299.—A Black Parliament, 303.—Crow Character, 305.—The Turkey, as our National Emblem, 306.—A Pigeon Roost, 307.—Our Northern Mocking-birds, 310.—Song-birds.—Game Laws, 312.—Birds as Insect Destroyers, 313.— The European Sparrow, 316.—Bird ways, 317.—Bird Gratitude, 319. Four-footed Inhabitants 321-343 Predatory Animals, 323.—The Wolverine, 325.—Nut Collectors, 327.—Deers, Wild and Tame, 330.—Traits of Domesticated Animals, 333.— Memorials of a half-century http://www.loc.gov/resource/lhbum.21049 Library of Congress Free Commoners,—Veto, 335.—Medoc—Dash—A capacious mouth, 337.—Dog Chat, 338.—Concerning Cats—Nora, 339.—Tom and Jerry,—A Music-lover, 341. Wild Animals of Michigan 345-367 Our existing Mammalia, 347.—Plantigrades, 348.— Carnivores, xii 350.—Rodents, 353.—Ruminants, 356.—Animals Formerly Abounding, 359.—Trapping—The trade in Furs, 360. The Beaver, 363-367 Beaver-made Country, 362.—As an Engineer, 365.—His Social Qualities, 366. Trees,—Their Relations to us, Economic and Scientific 369-388 Our Forests a Century ago, 371.—Results of Settlement, 373.—Forest Destruction, 374.—Fencing—Fuel— Clearings—Lumbering—Forest Fires, 375.—Relations to Climate, 377.—Results of Forest Removal, 379.—Old World Experiences,380.—New World Experiences, 382.—Forest Economy—Home Efforts, 385.—Legislation—Fencing in of Stock, 386.—Planting, 388. Trees, in their Social Relations 389-415 Natural Forms,—Individual Expression, 391.— Whitewood, 393.—Maple, 394.—Ash, 395.—Linden, 396.—Sycamore, 397.—Beech, 398. —Birch, 399.—Oak, 400.—Walnut, 401.—Chestnut—Poplar, 403.—Pepperidge—Willows, 404.—Elm, 406.—Evergreens, 408.—Rapid Tree Growth, 409.—Planting Roadways, 410. —Trees as Scavengers, 411.—Hostility to Trees, 412.—Sylvan Spirits,—Classic Fancies, 413.—Trees as Friends, 415. CLIMATOLOGY. Climate of Detroit and the Lake Region. Part I 417-450 The Controlling Element— Isotherms, 421.—The Lake Region a Plateau, 425.—Temperature as Modified by the Lakes, 426.—Our Seasons—Comparisons, 429.—Prevailing Winds—The Michigan Fruit Region, 430.—Rainfall—Sources, 432.—As Controlled by the Seasons, 435.— Maximum and Minimum Tendencies, 437.—Monthly Precipitation, United States, 438.— Maximum and Minimum Years of Rainfall, 440.—General Survey of our Seasons, 442.— Memorials of a half-century http://www.loc.gov/resource/lhbum.21049 Library of Congress Comparisons—Contrasts, 444.—Weather Predicates, 445.—Natural Classification of our Seasons, 447.—Peculiarities of our Climate—Advantages, 448.