*    ITEMS OF HISTORICAL INTEREST

    Adoptioin of "Ordinance of 1781" marked the beginning of the history of Michigan Territory.  The Revolutionary war concluded.  England had yielded what was to be Michigan to the United States and in 1787 it formally became a part of the Northwest Territory.

In the early days of the Northwest Territory the Chippewa and Sauk Indians inhabited most of these lands.  Under the Treaty of Detroit in 1807, the United States roughly surveyed what is now Michigan.  In this survey the lands of Gladwin were included with "Midland Territory"  marked as "Region of the Saginaws".

     The treaty set aside the area for the joint use of the Chippewa, Pottawattomie, Wyandotte and Ottawa nations of Indians.

     Under the "Treaty of Saginaw", dated 1819, all lands in this region known as  "The Region of the Saginaws" were ceded to the United States Government by the Indian Nations.  Two reservations were excepted, and so remained for many years.

     January 14, 1837, a treaty was made between the United States and the Chippewa nations, under terms of which the Chippewas ceded in 1819 the reservations back to the government.  A provision was made that proceeds from the sales of these lands go to the Indians.

     When this treaty had been signed, all present day Midland County along with parts of Roscommon, all of Clare, part of Gladwin, Isabella, Bay, Saginaw, Gratiot and Arenac Counties were territory of Midland.

     The County of Gladwin was organized in the year of 1875.  The name of Gladwin commemorates Major Henry Gladwin, British commandant at Detroit, who saved it against repeated Indian assaults during Pontiac's uprising in years 1763 - 64.

     This area was at one time  an important lumbering center.  Now the popular state forest wilderness, numerous lakes and streams attract sportsmen and vacationers alike.

     Presently industries include general farming, dairing, livestock raising, plastic thermo-forming equipment, plastic manufacturing and related industries, camper units and related accessories, precision cutting tools, automotive sales and parts, crude oil production, lumbering, retail stores, tourist and resort businesses.

     The recreation area has golf, bowling, hunting, fishing, boating and the scenic Tittabawassee River - - 450 miles of waterways.  This area also includes a large 35,000 acre game preserve, the Gladwin Game Refuge, is located in the northern part of the county.

* Information; Gladwin County Directory

                      2001 - 2002