GAZETTEER OF MICHIGAN of 1839

RAIL-ROAD AND CANAL COMPANIES.
page 95
The River Raisin and Lake Erie Rail-road Company was incorporated in 1836, with a 
capital stock of $300,000. This road commences at La Plaisance Bay, in Monroe county, 
passes through the city of Monroe, and up the south bank of the river Raisin, through 
Dundee to Blissfield, where it is to intersect the Erie and Kalamazoo rail-road. 
A branch of this road is to commence at Dundee, and intersect the River Raisin and 
Grand River Rail-road, at the village of Clinton, in Lenawee county. It is limited 
to commence in two years, and to be completed in 10 years. It is surveyed, located, 
and the stock taken, and the work is in progress, and four miles, from its commencement 
to Monroe, completed. Its length, including the branch, is not less than 50 miles.[p.95]

GAZETTEER OF MICHIGAN.
page 265
Clinton, a village and post office in the township of Tecumseh, on the east bank of the 
North Branch of the River Raisin, near the northern line of the county of Lenawee. Here 
is a bank, a church for episcopalians, flouring mill with 2 run of stone, a saw mill, 
an iron foundry, 6 dry goods stores, an extensive grocery establishment, a druggist, 
a lawyer, and 3 physicians. The methodist and presbyterian denominations are respectable
in numbers. It is situated on the Chicago road, and on the route of the Jacksonburg and 
Palmyra rail road. It is a pleasant, flourishing village, and a place of considerable 
business. There is a good supply of hydraulic power here on the River Raisin. 
The population is supposed to be about 600. Distant 15 miles from Adrian, and 50 
south-west Detroit. 

GAZETTEER OF MICHIGAN.
page 372
Tecumseh township, Lenawee county, consists of township five south, range four east, 
containing the village of Clinton, in the north, Tecumseh in the south, and watered by 
the River Raisin. Statistics as per census:--Population, 2,462.--3 grist mills, 7 saw 
mills, 2 carding machines, a cloth dressing shop, a distillery, 24 merchants; 12,981 
bushels wheat, 1,625 bushels rye, 12,725 bushels corn, 28,731 bushels oats, 1,256 
bushels buckwheat; 1,397 pounds flax; 1,132 head neat stock, 386 horses, 507 sheep, 
2,481 hogs.

The Ypsilanti and Tecumseh Railroad Company was incorporated in 1838, with a capital 
of $200,000, and authorized to construct a road from Ypsilanti, in Washtenaw, to 
Tecumseh, in Lenawee. Its construction must commence within two years, and be completed 
within four years. One hundred thousand dollars have been loaned by the State to this 
company, in aid of its construction. Estimated length, 25 miles.



GAZETTEER OF MICHIGAN
page 316
Lyons. This is a village in Ionia county, regularly laid out on both sides of the Grand 
River, at the site of an ancient Indian village, (Chi-gau-mish-kene,) I mile above the 
junction of the Maple river, with which it is to be connected by a canal, and at the 
head of steamboat navigation. It was commenced in the fall of ‘36. It has now 2 stores, 
several mechanics, 2 lawyers, and a physician. There is a fine hotel erected, and several
elegant private dwellings, and between 20 and 30 more contracted to be built during the 
present season. The hydraulic advantages are important. It has been estimated by 
competent authority, that the head and fall in the Grand river here, is between 7 and 8 
feet in the distance of half a mile, and that on the west side of the [p.316] river, 
there are springs, issuing from a bluff, whose collected waters fall a distance of 46 
feet, with sufficient power to propel 4 run of stone. The river is boatable above the 
village, for batteaux and flat bottomed boats, as far as Jackson. There is a State road 
from Pontiac, and one from Dexter, laid out, and terminating here. The location of the 
village is eligible, with about 700 acres of prairie land on the one hand, and on the 
other, a rolling country, with the richest soil. The elevated site of the village presents
a varied and delightful scenery. It is 60 miles distant from the rapids of Grand river, 
and 100 from its mouth, 7 from Ionia, and 135 north-west Detroit.

GAZETTEER OF MICHIGAN.
page 349
Raisin river, heads in Wheatland township, Hillsdale county, and empties into Lake Erie, 
two and a half miles below Monroe, after passing, in an extremely winding course, through
Jackson, Washtenaw, Lenawee, and Monroe counties. It is the most serpentine stream of 
the Peninsula. Its course is first north-easterly, then south, then north-easterly, and 
south-easterly. In a direct line from its head to its mouth, it is 60 miles; but by its 
meanderings, it is not less than 130 miles. It is one of the most important streams in 
Michigan; affording as much hydraulic power as any other; having high and beautiful banks
and an extremely rapid current; the bottom being a limestone rock, which produces a good 
quality of building material, is extensively quarried for that purpose. The water power 
is improved to a considerable extent, and has been the means of building up respectable 
villages at Manchester, Clinton, Tecumseh, Adrian, Palmyra, Blissfield, Petersburgh, 
Dundee, and Monroe. Its name is derived from the dense clusters of grape vines which 
formerly lined both banks.