 Jonathan Carver , a shoemaker from Massachusetts , visited the area in 1767 as part of another expedition . He and the rest of the exploration party were only able to stay for a relatively short period , due to supply shortages . They headed back east to Fort Michilimackinac , where Carver wrote journals about the trip , though others would later claim the stories were largely plagiarized from others . The stories were published in 1778 , but Carver died before the book earned him much money . Carver County and Carver 's Cave are named for him . 
