406 GENERAL HISTORY. 



seen Early Kichmond cherry trees loaded with fruit more heavily than is usu- 

 ally the case elsewhere. The limbs were propped up to support the fruit. 

 These trees were at Marquette, where many people in the city have them. 

 Currants, gooseberries, raspberries^ and strawberries are abundant and pro- 

 lific." 



The census of 1884: shows this county to possess, of 



Apple orchards, 22 acres, 267 bearing trees, yielding in 1883, 105 bushels 

 of fruit. 



Peach orchards, none. 



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

 $85.00. 



Vineyards, none. 



Nurseries, none. 



-Market garden products sold in 1883, $3,844.00. 



This county has, for several years, maintained an agricultural society 

 which holds very creditable annual fairs. 



MENOMINEE COUNTY. 



This county was set off under the name of Blecker, by an act of the Leg- 

 islature, approved in , 1861. This act named three persons, who were 



to designate three locations, to be submitted to a vote of the people, and the 

 one receiving the greatest number of votes was to be the county seat. 



The name was changed to Menominee by an amendatory act, approved 

 March 10th, 1863. 



The county seat is Menominee, which is the name of the tribe of Indians 

 who originally inhabited the county. 



" Pioneer Collections " (volume 1, page 263 to 272) contains extracts from 

 a history of this county, written by Hon. E. S. lugalls, which state that the 

 first permanent white settler in the county was Chappee, an Indian trader of 

 French extraction, who came here as agent for the American Fur Company, 

 and established a post in 1796. 



The next permanent white settlers were William Farnsworth and Charles 

 Brush, who came here in 1822, and who commenced the packing of white- 

 fish for market. They also built the first saw-mill on the Menominee river, 

 in 1832. 



Marinette, the half-breed grand-daughter of an Indian chief, is said to 

 have planted the first apple orchard, which is still bearing. 



The Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company completed its road to 

 Menominee in 1871. In 1872 it was extended to Escanaba, completing its 

 connection with the upper peninsula mining region. Arrangements were also 

 at the same time in progress for the construction of a railroad to the Menom- 

 inee iron range and marble quarries. 



The first improved farms were at Wausaukee Bend, at Chappee's Rapids. 

 The beech and maple lands, as Avell as the cedar swamps, when cleared, make 

 good farms ; the cedar swamps, when properly drained, being best. Farm- 

 ing here has been found not only practicable but profitable. 



In 1884 Menominee county had of ai)ple orchards, 21 acres, 306 bearing 

 trees, yielding in 1883, 30 bushels of fruit. 



