Pioneer history of Ingham County, compiled and arranged by Mrs. Franc L. Adams, secretary of the Ingham County pioneer and historical society.

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PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY

Blossoming close to nature's heart;
Undefiled by pride or passion,
Left to grow in nature's fashion!
'Tis meet that we in the mid-June glory
Search the records of old time story;
In memory's garden seek the spot
Where blooms love's loyal forget-me-not.
Then, friends, with life's oaks let us plant life's sweet roses,
Forget not life's ferns mid life's towering pines,
The boulders of labor make fair with love's vines,
And grow for new eras new Pioneer Posies.
All of the responses were very entertaining, some of them
reaching the highest notch of humorous anecdote, and it is to be
regretted that they couldn't have been given in form for preservation. Mirth and interest ran high.
The choir, with L. W. Mills as leader and Mrs. C. W. Browne as
organist, furnished pleasing music for the day. The meeting
closed with the benediction by Rev. T. N. Smith.
June 6, 1893, saw many of the hoary-headed settlers of the
county in attendance at the annual meeting of the County Pioneer
Society, held in Rayner Opera Iouse. Meeting called to order
by President Henderson, with invocation by Rev. Jay Clizbe.
Mayor Harper Reed being absent the president welcomed the
pioneers, and among other things that he said was this: "Am
sorry there is not a better history of the county, but we are no
better off in that respect than we were twenty years ago when this
society was organized."
Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Longyear, Rev. Napoleon Smith and Miss
lMarian Rogers furnished the music for the day, with Miss Minlnie
Huxley as pianist.
Dinner was served at the American House, 160 partaking.
Exercises opened in the afternoon by prayer by Rev. W. IH.
Powell. Mrs. Mary McLeod Maybee recited "The Foreclosure of
the Mortgage" in North Ireland dialect, bringing down the house.
There were 17 present who had lived in the county 50 years, 21
who had been here more than 45 years, and 25 who came over 40
years ago.