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EARLY SETTLEMENT OF SOUTHWESTERN
MICHIGAN BY A. B. COPLEY.
June 7, 1882.
Leaving Detroit, our party proceeded up slowly, touching at Port Duchain, Bunce's dock, and thence to the mouth of Black river. The settlement at Port Huron then consisted of two houses, one of them occupied by An-selm Petit. They found the wild pigeon here in great numbers, and had good use of their guns. In exploring the river banks they found, some three miles from its mouth, a number of Indian fields, which Messrs. Harrington and Murray proceeded to plant. These fields were since known as the Sauls-bury place, and latterly as the Seoville place, and the summer was passed here very pleasantly, hunting, fishing, cultivating their crops, and visiting, the Bunce family.
Before continuing their journey in the fall they constructed a large skiff at Bunce's dock to accompany the "Saginaw Hunter, " which latter boat had been loaded too heavy to encounter rough weather. They left Black river about October 1, 1819, for Saginaw Bay. When the winds were unfavorable, they were compelled to go in shore, beach their boats, and wait for fair or calm weather. This and also frequent sickness among the members of their crew, were the main causes of detention, and after a weary month's voyage, they finally reached the mouth of the Saginaw river, near where Bay City is now located, October 30. Passing up to Crow Island they were met by a fleet of Indian canoes, in the foremost of which was the chief, Kish-a-Kon-ko, and Antoine Campau, who was employed by his brother as trader in the fur business. The first salutation from the chief was: "Puckagu! puckagu!" But after a parley, they were allowed to come up to headquarters and talk over the matter.
MICHIGAN
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