MUSKEGON COUNTY. 345 



respecting the influence of bees in the fertilization of apple blossoms, draw- 

 ing the inference that the partial loss of a crop of fruit is sometimes due to 

 the failure of their visits. 



The census of 1884 shows that this county had, of 



Apple orchards 3,357 acres, 79,377 bearing trees, yielding in 1883, 37,147 

 bushels of fruit. 



Peach orchards 35 acres, 1,352 bearing trees, yielding in 1883, 305 bushels 

 of fruit. 



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

 $20,823.00. 



Vineyards 8 acres: grapes sold in 1883, 6,130 pounds. 



wine made in 1883, 



Nurseries, none. 



Market garden products sold in 1883, $6,028.00. 



MUSKEGON COUNTY. 



Muskegon county was set off, organized, and the county seat established at 

 the then village of Muskegon by an act of the State Legislature, approved 

 February 4th, 1859, and which took full effect on June 1st of that year. 



The county has since been enlarged by the addition, at the east, of the 

 townships of Moorland, Ravenna and Casinovia. 



The name is of Indian origin, signifying "marshy river," or ''wet 

 prairie." 



In 1812 John Baptiste Recollet established a trading post on the north 

 side of Muskegon lake. 



Pierre Constant built the next trading post on the south side, at the outlet 

 of the lake. 



The next trading post seems also to have been built on the south side of 

 the lake, in 1830, by Joseph Daily ; and in 1833 yet another was established 

 here by George Campeau. 



The land in this region was not offered for sale till 1839, but Lewis B. 

 Baddeau pre-empted a tract of land in 1834, which he purchased when it 

 came into market, thus becoming the first permanent settler at Muskegon. 



In 1837 a law was enacted by the first State Legislature organizing ten 

 townships and what is now the city of Muskegon into one township, under 

 the name of Maskego. This law was modified by the next Legislature and 

 the same territory re-organized as the township of Muskegon. The orthog- 

 raphy of the name, however, was not definitely settled until the establish- 

 ment of Muskegon postoSice in 1848. 



The construction of the first saw-mill at Muskegon was commenced in 1837, 

 and as late as 1841 there was but a single mill in operation there. 



In 1541 the only settler north of Muskegon was Charles Mears, who had a 

 little mill on a small creek, near the head of White lake, with a small sloop 

 to ship his lumber to Chicago. 



The first railroad reached Muskegon in 1869, it being that between Grand 

 Haven and Muskegon, now a portion of the Chicago and West Michigan 

 Railroad. "* 



44 



