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History Of Sanilac County
Historical records indicate that Territorial Governor Lewis Cass was familiar with the name of Sanilac. His executive proclamation, dated March 8, 1820, proclaims to be the boundaries of a new county in Michigan "to be called the County Of Sanilac". This proclamation can be found in Volume 1 of the territorial laws of Michigan and it is the first legal appearance of the use of the name Sanilac.
The manuscripts records of information obtained by Governor Cass from Wyandotte Indians show that he was familiar with the history of the Indian chief of the Wyandottes, Chief Sanilac, as told and retold by the Wyandotte Indians.
The story was even made part of some poetry by Major Henry Whiting after an examination of the manuscripts and the theme is quite romantic. Governor Cass was so impressed with the good qualities of Chief Sanilac that he considered him worthy of honor by naming a county after him. When the County of Sanilac was first proclaimed by Governor Cass in 1820, it was attached to Oakland County for judicial purposes and in 1827 it was attached to St. Clair County.
A study of the history of the Wyandotte Indians and their relation to several of the actions of Governor Cass shows that they were an honorable group as far as the Michigan Indians could be considered. The fact that Governor Cass used the name of one of their chiefs when he created a new Michigan County by due proclamation shows that he had given the subject some consideration because, when one studies the history of Michigan around the years near 1820, it is easy to understand that there would be plenty of pressure for other names for new counties in Michigan.
The fact that the name Sanilac won first choice shows that the name must have had sufficient merit. |
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Largest county in the lower peninsula of Michigan
Size: 961 Square Miles
Elevation: 600-900 Feet
Physiography: Rolling plains, lake border plains
Growing Season: 140-160 days
Annual Precipitation: 29-32 inches
Average Snowfall: 40-60 inches
Forest Type: Aspen-Birch, Maple-Beech
Fall Colors: Early October
The county seat of Sanilac County, Michigan, is Sandusky.
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