BENZIE COUNTY. 381 



As early as 1847 there was a white man with an Indian wife residing at the 

 mouth of Aux Bees Scies river, probably engaged in fishing, hunting and 

 trapping. 



The advanced colony of Congregationalists did not settle at B^zouia till 

 October. 1858. 



The following statements are in substance contributed by W. S. Hubbell 

 and J. "W. Van Deman, of Benzonia: — 



The first settler in the township of Almira was John H. Heather, who en- 

 tered a homestead January 1st, 1863. The township was named after the 

 wife of A. J. Burrell. 



Addison P. Wheelock and A. J. Burrell both entered homesteads in this 

 township prior to May 16th of the same year. 



Calvin Sinkletter planted the first orchard on his homestead entry, made 

 June 4th, 1863. The orchards in this township are mostly small, and con- 

 sist mainly of apples. Twenty-four homesteads were entered in the town- 

 ship during the year 1863. 



The earliest settlers in Piatt township were V. F. Thurson, L. R. Morgan 

 and Jonas E. Hilmer, who each entered a homestead April 5th, 1864. 



The best three orchards are owned by Mr. Peck, John Ash and N. Martin. 

 Small fruits do well, but not much fruit besides apples is grown. 



Andrew Grief, in the southwest part of the township, has a successful vine- 

 yard, and also some peaches ; J. E. Hilmer also has a few plum trees. 



In the township of Lake the first settler was Joseph Oliver, who purchased 

 land on the bank of Lake Michigan, September 17th, 1859. The township 

 is not much settled. The first plums in Benzie county are believed to have 

 been raised on the farm of Hugh Lockhart (the old Oliver orchard). Robert 

 Bancroft also has a fine orchard, also plum and peach trees. 



Inland township was first settled by Daniel Sherman and J. Mclntyre, 

 who entered homesteads November 17th, 1863. The best orchard is that of 

 Richard Reynolds, of about five acres ; he has also pear and plum trees. A 

 few other small apple orchards are doing well. 



Homestead was first settled by E. E. Kirtland, who entered a homestead 

 January 15th, 1863, and cut the first tree and built the first log house in the 

 township. It contains about eighty acres of orcharding. The best four 

 orchards are those of Morris Case, F. M. Walkley, James Case and Wm. 

 Buchau. There are several other fine, but smaller orchards, mostly apples, 

 with a few pears and plums, which are doing well. 



Charles and John Bailey were the first settlers in Benzonia, in the autumn 

 of 1858, their purpose being the establishment of a colony and a college, in 

 the interest and under the control of the Congregational church. There are 

 about two hundred and fifty acres of orcharding in the township, the first 

 having been planted by Charles and John Bailey and J. B. Walker. The 

 best seven orchards are now owned by Captain S. Small, consisting of 

 eighteen acres of apples, pears and plums, and twelve acres of one and two 

 years planted peaches ; Wm. Pettet, eight acres; J. R. Barr, six acres; 

 George Jones, four acres (the old Walker orchard) ; J. J. Hubbell, five acres, 

 A. B. Adams, ten acres; and Charles Bourghaus, ten acres. 



The best fruit lands in the county are on the ridge of land between Crystal 

 and Piatt lakes, nicknamed Eden, A. B. Adams has raised peaches on his 

 place here for eighteen successive years. There are, in the vicinity of Mr. 

 Adams, twenty-five acres of mostly young peach orchard, as well as many 

 other small ones, generally in good condition. 



