OTSEGO COUNTY. 385 



MONTMORENCY COUNTY. 



This was laid off as Cheonoquet county by act of the Legislature, approved 

 April 1st, 1840. The name was changed to Montmorency by an act approved 

 March 8th, 1843. 



The county seat is at Hillman. 



The eastern and southeastern portions of the county lie upon the head- 

 waters of Thunder Bay river, while the northwestern portion gives rise to 

 several of the affluents of the Cheboygan. Professor Winchell's contour 

 lines show elevations varying from three hundred to seven or eight hundred 

 feet above the great lakes. 



W. C. Cain, of Hillman, treasurer of the county, communicates the fol- 

 lowing : — 



The first permanent settler is believed to be Francis Holmes, who, in 1874 

 or '75, settled in what is now the township of Hillman, and who still resides 

 in the county. There had previously been lumber camps in the county, where 

 a few potatoes had been grown, but none of these were permanent settlements. 



As nearly as can be learned, the first fruit trees set in orchard were planted 

 by Thomas B. Johnson. Such plantings have in many cases failed ; gener- 

 ally, it is believed, from lack of proper care, from the browsing of cattle, 

 and other causes incident to a newly-settled region. Trees that have been 

 well cared for are now bearing well, though not as yet enough for home con- 

 sumption. 



The variety of soils is sufficient to please a great variety of tastes, varying 

 from huckleberry plains to heavy, rich clay, the latter particularly in the 

 eastern part of the county. The western part is high, and in many parts 

 rolling, and timbered with pine, hemlock, and, in some quite large tracts, 

 almost wholly with hard wood, with a loamy clay soil. The extreme western 

 part of the county is said to contain some of the highest land in the lower 

 peninsula. 



There are quite extensive plains in the county, timbered with small pine 

 and oak, which are being tested for agricultural purposes. 



There are many small lakes in the county, some of them very pretty. In 

 most cases they are surrounded by high land, generally plains. 



The census of 1884 shows this county to have had, of apple orchards, 10 

 acres, 16 bearing trees, yielding in 1883 two bushels of fruit. 



Peach orchards, none. 



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

 $4.00. 



Vineyards, none. 



Nurseries, none. 



Market garden products, none. 



OTSEGO COUNTY. 



Otsego county was laid off as Okkudo, by an act of the Legislature, ap- 

 proved April 1st, 1840. The name was changed to Otsego, by an act 



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