300 GENERAL HISTORY. 



In the society's report for the year 1881 the following statement appears: , 

 ''The wildest prophecies about the extent of the fruit business of this region 

 bid fair to be more than realized. From reliable data I have ascertained that 

 in the three towns of Laketown, Saugatuck, and Ganges more than two hun- 

 dred thousand peach trees will be planted the coming spring, and there seems 

 to be as much eagerness to extend the area of orchards as ever." 



The Glenn Farmers and Fruit Growers' Association was organized during 

 the year 1878. Its report at the close of the year says : " The subjects for 

 discussion during the year have been almost entirely confiued to insects 

 injurious to the orchard, and to the peach tree yellows. No new facts have 

 been elicited, but the society proposes to keep at work, and promises to be of 

 real worth to the community in which it is organized. 



The association has made no report since that above quoted. 



Allegan county, according to the census of 1884, had of 



Apple orchards, 10,701 acres, 324,414 bearing trees, yielding in 1873, 112,- 

 706 bushels of fruit. 



Peach orchards, 8,367 acres, 484,091 bearing trees, yielding in 1883, 172,- 

 849 bushels of fruit. 



The value of orchard products of all kinds, sold or consumed in 1883, was 

 $346,677.00. 



Vineyards, 216 acres: grapes sold in 1883, 51,157 pounds. 



wine made in 1883, 180 gallons. 



Nurseries, 55 acres; products sold in 1883, $11,977.00. 



Market garden products sold in 1883, $7,483.00. 



ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 



This county was set off by a proclamation of Governor Lewis Oass, dated 

 March 28th, 1820, and the county seat was, by such proclamation, established 

 at St. Clair. Its organization was provided for, also, by proclamation, dated 

 May 8th, 1821. A third proclamation respecting the county was dated Sep- 

 tember 10th, 1822. 



The county seat is at present located at the city of Port Huron. 



The name of this county, with that of the river and lake bordering it upon 

 the east and south is, by many, believed to have been bestowed in honor of 

 Saint Claire, upon whose fete day the GriflQn (the first vessel upon the upper 

 lakes) first entered the waters of Lake St. Clair. 



Others suppose the name to be derived from Patrick Sinclair, who for sev- 

 eral years owned from three to four thousand acres of land bordering upon 

 the river. 



Judge Cooley states, (Vol. 7, Pioneer Collections, page 522) in effect, that 

 the French built a fort on the present site of Port Huron in 1686. 



As early as 1796 Captain Cottrell, Captain Alexander Harrow, Captain 

 William Thorn and a Mr. Paschal were known to be engaged in lumbering at 

 Cottrellville. 



In 1841 three pear trees in good bearing condition, supposed to have been 

 planted by the French, were standing within what is now St. Clair city. 



Previous to the above date Jacob Peer planted a family orchard in Algonac. 



