The Daring Trader: Jacob Smith in the Michigan Territory, 1802-1825

DISCLAIMER: Kim Crawford is a former newspaper colleague of mine and one of the finest reporters I ever worked with.In penning his book "The Daring Trader: Jacob Smith in the Michigan Territory, 1802-1825," Crawford has built an important bridge across a chasm of myth and misinformation about an important character in Michigan history. Jacob Smith was a fur trader in the Michigan Territory, a well-known, well-connected Canadian transplant who's generally given credit as the founder of the city of Flint. Crawford's meticulously researched work, gleaned largely from primary sources, strips away much of the myth and places Smith in his proper context as a key player in the territory's transition to statehood. In the process he tells an entertaining tale about life in Michigan when the white man's wilderness began on the outskirts of Detroit. If you have any interest in Michigan history, "Daring Trader" should be on your shelf.See More