Archaeological atlas of Michigan [by] Wilbert B. Hinsdale...

ARCHAEOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE COUNTIES

often disturbed Lake Superior, and their waters, when not
frozen, afforded abundance of food.
Missions would not have been located upon Keweenaw Bay
at an early day if there had not been Indians for them to serve.
Almost directly across the bay from the Catholic mission, north
of Baraga, a Methodist mission was established north of L'Anse.
Each of these posts is at this time surrounded by numerous Indian families.
The Marquette trail came to the head of Keweenaw Bay by
way of Lake Michigamme. An important trail route toward the
Wisconsin country went to and beyond Lac Vieux Desert upon
the state line in the southeast corner of Gogebic County. The
Marquette trail branched at the west end of Lake Michigamme;
the branch turning north terminated at Skanee, where an Indian village must have stood at one time. The trail that led from
the head of Keweenaw Bay to the mouth of Misery River, Ontonagon County, was really a continuation of the Marquette trail.
As the map indicates, several short trails led back from the bay.
SITES IDENTIFIED
Villages ---------- 5
Burying groundI 1

BAY COUNTY
(Map 9)
Within the limits of Bay City and Essexville, which immediately join it, eight mound sites, two village sites, and three buryings have been located. A glance at the map will instantly show
numerous village sites upon or near the Kawkawlin River.
It is worth noting that Mr. Bela Hubbard, writing in 1886,
observed that at the mouth of the Kawkawlin River, upon a swelling knoll overlooking the bay, in the midst of a tract of country
from which all timber had been burned, was a spot which seemed
to have been dedicated to the "evil Manitou." "Here an altar was
erected of two large stones several feet high, with a flat top and
broad base. About were smaller stones which were covered with
propitiatory offerings: bits of tobacco, pieces of tin and flints."
Sites are numerous along the trail which followed the Saginaw Bay Shore. Mr. W. L. Schmidt of Pinconning has surveyed
the county quite thoroughly for the Museum. Dr. F. M. Vreeland, of De Pauw University, has also been over the counties contiguous to the bay, as a Museum field representative.
SITES IDENTIFIED
Villages -----------21
Burying grounds - - 8
Mounds ----------11

1.
2.
3.

TOWNSHIPS
Baraga 4. Covington
Arvon 5. Spur
L'Anse

BARRY COUNTY
(Map 5)
The topography of Barry County leads one to infer that it was
much more thickly inhabited than the map indicates. The many
-----------------lakes and the Thornapple River Valley are
parts of an environment which was inSlviting. The old village in Section 28,
I*<'A - ) / Thornapple Townl^ - ( S h ship, was the crossing, point of a number of
S. O trails. See Figure 5.
Mr. Charles A.
Weissert of Kalama/. o, ~ ' zoo states that oldlIn'..... /' Kt.f.. - dian cornfields were
.:zstill visible along the
SLThornapple when the
land was first "taken
" -oi Couty.!up. He also refers
ht-,ito a trail that led from
lag the villages in Hasox, tings Township upon
or near Thornapple. T4;- ' Kk! 'y ~~/)4/$( Lake, onehof which
S",was called Indian
nLanding, to MeshimM dmeneconing's village
FIG. 5. Old Indian trail parts of which may on the Grand River,
still be traced upon the west side of D a n b y Township,
Thornapple Lake Ionia County.
SITES IDENTIFIED
Villages-----------9
Burying grounds-__ 9
Mounds-----------4

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Gibson
Mt. For
Pincomn
Garfieli
Fraser
Beaver
Kawkai

TOWNSHIPS
8.
'est 9.
ning 10.
d 11.
12.
13.
wlin 14.

Williams
Monitor
Bangor
Hampton
Frankenlust
Portsmouth
Merritt

BENZIE COUNTY
(Map 11)
There are legends and mythical lore connected with Crystal
Lake and Betsey River, but not many facts for the archaeological
cartographer. The topography of the county suggests that a
survey would have been rewarded by more of a tangible nature
than has been discovered or reported.
An Indian burying ground and mound were located near
Honor. A mound stood near the center of Inland Township and
a village upon the north side of the west end of Crystal Lake.
SITES IDENTIFIED
Village ------------ 1
Burying ground --- 1
Mounds -----------2
TOWNSHIPS

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Lake
Platte
Almira
Crystal Lake
Benzonia
Homestead

7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

Inland
Gilmore
Blaine
Joyfield
Weldon
Colf ax

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

TOWNSHIPS
Thornapple 9.
Irving 10.
Carlton 11.
Woodland 12.
Yankee Springs 13.
Rutland 14.
Hastings 15.
Castleton 16.

Orangeville
Hope
Baltimore
Maple Grove
Prairieville
Barry
Johnstown
Assyria

BERRIEN COUNTY
(Map 4)
Living conditions upon the St. Joseph River were excellent in
Indian times, as well as now. The centers of greatest activity in
Berrien County appear to have been along the river in Buchanan
and Niles townships. According to the evidence so far obtained,
no counties in the state, except Saginaw and Newaygo, had so
many villages. Village sites have been found in such close proximity that the letter N, denoting "indefinite number," is used in connection with a group upon Galien River, just north of New Troy,
Weesaw Township. There was another village group three miles
north of the New Troy settlements, in Lake Township. Villages
in close proximity indicate that people of different tribes, or sub
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