Monguagon Township, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Mongaugon Township, is a former township
of Wayne County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. Quarries here were worked by the French before 1749. American forces defeated British and Indian
forces at the Battle of Monguagon during the War of 1812
. It was first settled in 1812.
On January 15, 1818, a proclamation by Lewis Cass
, Governor of Michigan Territory
, established Mongaugon, along with townships of Hamtramck, Huron
, St. Clair
, and Springwells
as townships of Wayne County. These townships were formed under authority initially granted by the Court of General Sessions for the Northwest Territory
on November 6, 1790. Under this system, townships were governed by a commissioner.
On April 12, 1827, Cass signed an act that abolished the office of township commissioner, and also established in Wayne County the townships of Brownstown
, Bucklin, Detroit, Ecorse
, Hamtramck, Huron, Mongaugon, Plymouth
and Springwells.
Township government in Mongaugon was organized on May 25, 1827, with the election of Colonel Abram Caleb Truax, supervisor along persons to several other offices. Truax is credited as the founder of Trenton
for laying out the village of Truaxton, which became Trenton.
The township created by the act of 1827 consisted of survey township
4 south of range 11 east of the Michigan Meridian
and included all of Grosse Ile
. By a legislative act of February 16, 1842, the portion of Brownstown Township
east of a north-south line through the center of sections 2, 11, 14, 23, and 26 were added to Monguagon Township. Grosse Ile Township
was part of Monguagon until 1914 when it organized as a separate township. The cities of Trenton
and Riverview
incorporated from the township.
Mongaugon was located at approximately 42°9′N 83°11′W and was bounded on the north by Ecorse Township (what is now the southern boundary of the cities of Southgate
and Wyandotte
. On the west and south, it was bounded by Brownstown Township.
The name Mongaugon is that of a Pottawatomi chief who lived along the Detroit River circa 1755.
Civil township
A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to, and geographic divisions of, a county. Specific responsibilities and the degree of autonomy vary based on each state. Civil townships are distinct from survey townships, but in states that have both,...
of Wayne County
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Quarries here were worked by the French before 1749. American forces defeated British and Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
forces at the Battle of Monguagon during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. It was first settled in 1812.
On January 15, 1818, a proclamation by Lewis Cass
Lewis Cass
Lewis Cass was an American military officer and politician. During his long political career, Cass served as a governor of the Michigan Territory, an American ambassador, a U.S. Senator representing Michigan, and co-founder as well as first Masonic Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Michigan...
, Governor of Michigan Territory
Michigan Territory
The Territory of Michigan was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from June 30, 1805, until January 26, 1837, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Michigan...
, established Mongaugon, along with townships of Hamtramck, Huron
Huron Charter Township, Michigan
Huron Charter Township is a charter township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 15,879 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
, St. Clair
St. Clair Township, Michigan
St. Clair Township is a civil township of St. Clair County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 6,423 at the 2000 census with a projection of 6,842 in 2006. The city of St. Clair is located near the southeast corner of the township.-Naming:...
, and Springwells
Springwells Township, Michigan
Springwells Township is a defunct civil township in Wayne County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. All of the land is now incorporated as part of the cities of Detroit and Dearborn.-History:...
as townships of Wayne County. These townships were formed under authority initially granted by the Court of General Sessions for the Northwest Territory
Northwest Territory
The Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, more commonly known as the Northwest Territory, was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 13, 1787, until March 1, 1803, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Ohio...
on November 6, 1790. Under this system, townships were governed by a commissioner.
On April 12, 1827, Cass signed an act that abolished the office of township commissioner, and also established in Wayne County the townships of Brownstown
Brownstown Township, Michigan
Brownstown Charter Township is a charter township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 30,627 at the 2010 census. It is part of the collection of communities known as Downriver. Brownstown's three separate segments are due to the incorporation of the cities of Flat...
, Bucklin, Detroit, Ecorse
Ecorse Township, Michigan
Ecorse Township is a defunct civil township in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan.-Description:The township consisted of 54 mi² , which included two small islands in the Detroit River. It was bordered to the north by Springwells Township with the boundary being the River Rouge...
, Hamtramck, Huron, Mongaugon, Plymouth
Plymouth Township, Michigan
The Charter Township of Plymouth is a charter township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 27,524 at the 2010 census...
and Springwells.
Township government in Mongaugon was organized on May 25, 1827, with the election of Colonel Abram Caleb Truax, supervisor along persons to several other offices. Truax is credited as the founder of Trenton
Trenton, Michigan
Trenton is a small city in Wayne County in the southeast portion of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 18,853...
for laying out the village of Truaxton, which became Trenton.
The township created by the act of 1827 consisted of survey township
Survey township
Survey township, sometimes called Congressional township, as used by the United States Public Land Survey System, refers to a square unit of land, that is nominally six miles on a side...
4 south of range 11 east of the Michigan Meridian
Michigan Meridian
The Michigan Meridian is the meridian used as a reference in the Michigan Survey, the survey of the U.S. state of Michigan in the early 19th century. It is located at 84 degrees, 22 minutes and 24 seconds west longitude at its northern terminus at Sault Ste...
and included all of Grosse Ile
Grosse Ile (Michigan)
Grosse Ile is the largest island in the Detroit River and is the most populated island in the state of Michigan. It is on the American side of the river and is part of Wayne County. The island is approximately 9.6 mi² and has a population of 10,894...
. By a legislative act of February 16, 1842, the portion of Brownstown Township
Brownstown Township, Michigan
Brownstown Charter Township is a charter township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 30,627 at the 2010 census. It is part of the collection of communities known as Downriver. Brownstown's three separate segments are due to the incorporation of the cities of Flat...
east of a north-south line through the center of sections 2, 11, 14, 23, and 26 were added to Monguagon Township. Grosse Ile Township
Grosse Ile Township, Michigan
Grosse Ile Township is a general law township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The township is situated on several islands in the Detroit River, but the largest island is also referred to as simply Grosse Ile. The name comes from French Grosse Île, meaning "Big Island"...
was part of Monguagon until 1914 when it organized as a separate township. The cities of Trenton
Trenton, Michigan
Trenton is a small city in Wayne County in the southeast portion of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 18,853...
and Riverview
Riverview, Michigan
Riverview is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 12,486 at the time of the 2010 census.The city is a suburb in the Metro Detroit area, located along the shore of the Detroit River. Riverview incorporated as a village in 1922 and as a city in 1959...
incorporated from the township.
Mongaugon was located at approximately 42°9′N 83°11′W and was bounded on the north by Ecorse Township (what is now the southern boundary of the cities of Southgate
Southgate, Michigan
Southgate is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 30,047 at the 2010 census.Southgate was the last city to incorporate from the former Ecorse Township, gaining city status in October 1958...
and Wyandotte
Wyandotte, Michigan
Wyandotte is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 25,883 at the 2010 census, a decrease of 7.6% from 2000. Wyandotte is located in southeastern Michigan, approximately south of Detroit on the Detroit River, and is part of the collection of communities known as...
. On the west and south, it was bounded by Brownstown Township.
The name Mongaugon is that of a Pottawatomi chief who lived along the Detroit River circa 1755.