The Rev. George N. Smith is the founder of Northport in Leelanau County, Michigan. His biography is best found in the book "Old Wing Mission:Cultural Interchange As Chronicled by George and Arvilla Smith in Their Work With Chief Wakazoo's Ottawa Band in Western Michigan" edited by Swerienga and Van Appeldorn, published 2008. The following letter from Rev. Smith written at Northport, to Rev. Samuel J. Bissell of Twinsburg, Ohio, explains what Smith saw as his mission in life:
"Old Wing Mission, Grand Traverse Nov. 17, 1851
Rev. S. J. Bissell
Dear Sir
Your letter came to hand in due season & I proceed to answer as you request. I fully appreciate and sympathise with you in all your discouragements & hopings against hope in relation to the Indians, but from your situation you can scarcely begin to estimate the causes that are in operation against them. Visit Mackinaw during one payment & you might as it were get a peep into the scenes -- it seems as though the irreligious Whites were mad to destroy them & as everything now moves with Locomotive & Electric speed it seems as though they were charged with the energies of both night & day to accomplish their object. Liquor & licentiousness are the chief instruments of destruction.
Then again it seems as though the Indians themselves were infatuated & in view of all the facts it is enough to make one's heart bleed if he have one vestige sympathy or even humanity left. Perhaps all is designed in the providence of God to try the faith & patience of christians. Perhaps it is indicative that they are to be cast off from the earth, this last I do not believe -- the first I do. The American people by their treatment of the Indians in past times have put themselves into a condition of fearful responsibility. These responsibilities must be cancelled or a blight awaits us. It was doubtless one of the designs of Providence in planting the Puritans on American Shores that they should be instruments for christianizing the natives of this Continent -- so some of them thought if I remember right but cupidity, worldly-mindedness & policy have nearly paralized every effort & it remains for us in [the] same measure to redeem ourselves. We must be tried but let us not faint. I still have hope but sometimes it looks as it were against hope. I believe God has a people among, even the Aborigines of America therefore, I am still encouraged to labour."