410 GENERAL HISTORY. 



The name is derived from the Indian word, Nunda-Norgan, signifying hunt- 

 ing river. 



The county seat is at the village of Ontonagon. 



The Legislature of 1886-7 has still further reduced the extent of the county 

 by laying off the new county of Gogebic. 



Although explorations for mining purposes had been extenssvely made in 

 all the region bordering the lake, attention had not been specially attracted 

 to Ontonagon county till, upon the discovery of the famous Minnesota mine, 

 it at once became prominent as a producer of mass copper. 



Mr. John H. Forster (Pio. Col. vol. 8, page 137) says: ''This mine was 

 discovered by the late Samuel 0. Knapp (a well known and esteemed horti- 

 culturist) of Jackson, who opened it at a point where the so-called ancient 

 miners liad worked in pre-historic ages. When he had penetrated to the 

 depth of eighteen feet, he came to a mass of native copper, ten feet long, 

 three feet wide, and nearly two feet thick, weighing over six tons. On dig- 

 ging round the mass, it wS,s found to rest on billets of oak, supported by 

 sleepers of the same material. The wood, from its long exposure to moisture, 

 was dark colored and had lost its consistency. It opposed no more resistance 

 to a knife blade than so much peat. The earth was so firmly packed as to 

 support the mass of copper. The ancient miners had evidently raised it about 

 five feet, and then abandoned the work, as too laborious. The number of 

 ancient (stone) hammers which he took from this and other excavations, 

 exceeded ten cart loads. They Avere of green stone and porphyry boulders. 

 Selecting a stone of the desired size and form, the ancient miner cut a groove, 

 arched it so that it might be secured by a withe, and thus wielded as a sledge 

 hammer." 



After this discovery the Ontonagon district speedily assumed such import- 

 ance as to overshadow the older Keweenaw district. It was settled by a hardy, 

 intelligent population, who subdued the dense forests, and planted flourish- 

 ing towns and villages. They built a harbor at the mouth of the river with- 

 out governmental aid. Mr. Cash and other far-sighted individuals cleared 

 fields for agricultural purposes. The soil of some parts of the county, owing 

 to a proper admixture of clay, invited the farmer to enter upon a profitable 

 industry. Lands in mining regions are generally thin, poor and un23roduct- 

 ive, but, where farm crops can be raised to advantage, the farmer always 

 finds, in mining regions, quick sales with large profits. 



The agricultural interests of the county gradually grew to such importance 

 as to warrant the forming of an agricultural society, which was accordingly 

 organized in 1867. 



An address by Alexander Campbell, of Marquette, (Pio. Col., vol. 3, pages 

 249-' 50) says:— 



AVhan is known as the copper or trap range, running from Keweenaw 

 Point to the Montreal river, in places rises from five hundred to twelve 

 hundred feet above the level of the lake. Along these ranges, even, there 

 is much good soil, where farming is, or maybe, carried on successfully. Dur- 

 ing the past year Messrs. Anthony & White raised on the Minnesota farm, 

 belonging to the great Minnesota mine, 10,848 bushels of potatoes, 2,100 

 bushels of turnips, 150 toiisof hay and 100 tons of oats. Other persons also 

 raised 3,000 bushels of potatoes and turnips. The liake Superior Miner of 

 December 29th, 1860, says: "The hay and oat crop of Ontonagon county 

 was not less than seven hundred tons, and the product of potatoes and turnips 

 was certainly from 25,000 to 30,000 bushels." 



