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

FOREWORD.

It is the aim of the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical
Society to place before the public a history containing facts and
incidents relative to pioneer life as told by the pioneers themselves,
although these heroic men and women have been dead for many
years.
Much research work has been found necessary in order to gather
this data, and the files of the Ingham County News have proved
a perfect treasure trove, for at the time the society was formed,
and for a few years afterward, there were many articles published
which were written by those who participated in the early struggle
with the wilderness, and we know there could be no history more
authentic than that.
Then as the years rolled on and the next generation took up
the work begun by the first settlers, they became the pioneers of
their day with experiences no less interesting than those of their
fathers and mothers, and as they gave them at the annual meeting
of the society each year, they were caught and published. Taken
as a whole they form a valuable collection, perfectly authentic,
though not to be found in the official records of the county, and
for this very reason they are of inestimable value historically.
It is not the object of the society to have a history compiled
from official records entirely, for all know where and how to find
them when reference to them is desired, but it hopes to make of
this first volume a readable book that will be of interest to the descendents of the pioneers, and as they read they will become so
filled with enthusiasm that they will at once proceed to gather all
data in their possession, and send it to the secretary of the society
to be used in another volume, for the society hopes to continue
this work as long as there is valuable history of the county to be
found.
Every year since the Ingham County Pioneer Society was
formed, and more especially since the word "Hi torical" was
added to the name, the reports show that suggestions and recommendations for the publication of a county history were made,
and nearly every year action was taken authorizing certain com