Henry Rowe Schoolcraft (1793–1864) was an eminent American geographer, geologist, and ethnologist who served as the United States Indian Agent in Michigan, deeply influencing the geographical nomenclature of the state.

• Systematic Naming: In 1840, the Michigan State Legislature moved to divide the massive northern territory of the Lower Peninsula into 29 distinct, unorganized counties.
• Schoolcraft's Influence: The state turned to Schoolcraft to devise names for these new territories due to his extensive knowledge of native cultures and frontier geography.
• Indigenous Tributes: For many of these territories, Schoolcraft chose to honor regional Native American leaders, introducing names derived from chiefs who lived across the Great Lakes region.

• The Original Name: Under Schoolcraft's recommendation, the legislature officially established the boundaries of central Michigan's new territory as “Kaykakee County” on April 1, 1840.
• The Namesake: Schoolcraft named the county to honor Chief Kaykakee, a prominent leader of the Sauk (Sac) nation.
• Historical Context: The Sauk people had historically occupied portions of eastern lower Michigan before conflict and expansion pushed their populations westward into Wisconsin and Illinois.

• The Legislative Shift: Schoolcraft’s choice of indigenous and pseudo-Indian names proved short-lived; in 1843, a newly elected legislative session decided to overhaul the northern county names.
• The Irish Influence: Driven by a Towns and Counties committee heavily influenced by Irish-American politicians, the legislature systematically erased several of Schoolcraft's tribal names.
• From Sauk to Celtic: On March 8, 1843, Governor John Barry signed the renaming bill into law, officially changing Kaykakee County to Clare County, named after County Clare in Ireland.
• Enduring Legacy: While the name Kaykakee was permanently stripped from the books, Schoolcraft's original boundary lines remained completely intact, forming the foundation of modern Clare County.