The Beginnings June 11, 1849 … 8 o’clock entered Grand Traverse Bay winds lulled to a calm near night entered our harbour, went ashore and examined it little.
This excerpt from the George N. Smith Diary is the actual record of the first settlers’ arrival in what is now Leelanau Township. The Smith Diaries have preserved the events and circumstances that evolved in the setting of this area. The Rev. Smith daily recorded visitors, supplies purchased, the arrival of settlers, and the names and captains of boats that came into the harbor. As he also took on the duties of teacher, doctor and judge, and helped in the recording of land sale during the early years, these Diaries, along with others which have been preserved, are the only written history until old settlers like Wm. J. Thomas, Norman C. Morgan and Mrs. Arvilla Smith wrote their recollections in the early years.
In the early 1800s, Michigan territory had been largely bypassed by the eastern pioneers heading west. These migrating pioneers were leaving the sandy, rocky lands of New England looking for fertile soils. Early surveys in Michigan territory had reported sandy soil, swamps, forests and Indians. Travel by land was difficult — northern Michigan was accessible only by water, and its climate and rugged forests were not appealing to the migrating farmer. But southern Michigan began to draw settlers as fertile lands were discovered west of the port of Detroit and in the Saginaw valley. Villages grew as settlers gathered with a need for schools, stores and churches. The southern Michigan Indians were slowly moved out treaty by treaty until only small bands remained.
