|
|
MICHIGAN AS A PROVINCE 1 - 5
A fort was speedily erected and the old post was forever abandoned. Many of the French remained behind and carried on traffic with the Indians for a time, but this settlement in the course of events fell into decay and eventually disappeared altogether. The English traders made their headquarters on the island and hither came the Northwestern Fur Company and later the American Fur Company.
There is more or less confusion in speaking of Mich-limackinac to know definitely the point referred to. Schoolcraft says that the name was applied indiscriminately to the ancient fort on the apex of the Michigan peninsula and to the mission and Indian settlement on the north side of the strait, as well as to the island itself. There seems to be little doubt that the most important and longest continued settlement was on the south side, and that the mission here bore the name of St. Ignace, as the same mission did also when located on the north
side.
It may be remarked in passing that although Sault Ste Marie and Michilimackinac were the earliest permanent settlements within the territorial limits of Michigan, they developed, at least during the provincial period, into nothing beyond military posts and trading stations. There was no attempt at either place to colonize for the sake of building up a self-sustaining community.
MICHIGAN
Page 59
|
|
|
|
|
|