After Jacob Sammons was the first settler in Cheboygan County area, a torrent of immigrants followed him. Soon it became necessary to form a county. The new Cheboygan County borders were set in 1840. The first county government was organized in 1853.

The first courthouse was located in Duncan City which adjoined Cheboygan village. Seven years later, in 1860, the Board of supervisors, which consisted of 8 members, moved the county seat to Inverness Township. Our county became one of the most desirable places in Michigan for immigrants to settle in.

With all of its waters, Lake Huron, rivers, and many lakes, it had more water than any other county in Michigan. Early on, the Cheboygan population was small, with about 400 whites and several bands of Indians. Early settlers began to cut the trees and the Cheboygan and Black Rivers made it possible to float logs, in vast numbers, into Duncan Bay, where saw mills sawed them into desired lumber. They could now be shipped all over the country, mainly to Chicago, where the wealthy Mr. Duncan had come from. Mr. Duncan built both water and steam mills, which sawed enormous quantities of lumber. Mr. Duncan had recognized the value of Duncan Bay, and he had built a large pier there that could accommodate first-class vessels and steam ships to carry the vast loads of lumber. These steamers also brought goods to the people of Cheboygan.

In 1898, the mills at Duncan City burned, and that ended Duncan City.

The lumbering industry brought railroads to Cheboygan County. Railroads were built to connect many logging camps and to assist in transporting the logs to the docks on Lake Huron. Now more logging camps and villages appeared.

Another civilization developed in the wilderness of Cheboygan County. Camps were built near Indian River, Alverno, LaGrange, Tower, Wolverine, and other places. Logging roads were built to access these camps.

What was life like to live in a logging camp? Rugged! Alcohol was not allowed because the men lived in close quarters and violence upset the peace of the bunk house. The men worked 12 hours a day. Most men worked only in the winter because it was easier to haul the logs across the snow and ice then. Each man had to care for his own horse. Horses were essential to haul the logs. Food was very important, for the men worked in the extreme cold and they consumed huge amounts of food. The noon meal was usually hauled to the men where they were working, and they were usually allowed about 20 minutes to eat. A bonfire warmed food, but the plates were usually metal and freezing cold. Cooks were hired, and sometimes the cooks were women. Working in the logging camps was dangerous because of falling trees and ax and saw accidents. The most dangerous task was riding logs in the rivers to break up log jams. Preachers, salesmen and nearby friends occasionally visited the workers. Life was largely eat, sleep and work. Many of the loggers saved their money, planning to purchase logged-over land for future farms. The logging camps were often the beginning of a good life for impoverished immigrants who saved to buy their future farms.

One of Cheboygan County’s greatest tragedies happened at La Grand logging camp. This camp was located near the present location of the junction of highways 33 and 68. This camp was located west of Tower and northeast of Wolverine. A short branch of the Detroit and Mackinac Railroad served La Grand from Tower. Later this camp was served by the Michigan Central Railroad. On June 20th, 1908, La Grand disappeared in an uncontrollable fire. At that time, 300 people lived in the camp village. Women and children were evacuated and the men stayed to fight the fire. They lost the battle. Great quantities of lumber and timber that was stacked in the camp, burned. La Grand was no more. For La Grand, the lumbering era had ended!