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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IIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY

one of the very earliest settlers in the village of Mason. In 1837, in
company with Charles Noble, of Monroe, he erected the first saw
mill in the county, and in 1838 the first grist mill. Together
they owned seven-eighths of the land in the old village plat of
Mason.
"On the organization of the county in 1838, Mr. Danforth was
elected one of the Associate Judges of the county. He was elected
to the same office again in 1842. On two occasions the voters of
this county gave him a large majority for the office of Senator.
He was a member of the State Senate in 1847, and Hon. Joseph
H. Kilbourne, of Meridian, was in the House of Representatives.
They worked with untiring zeal and energy to secure the location
of the seat of the State government at Lansing. Fortunately for
the prosperity of this section of the State and the more northern
portions of the Lower Peninsula, their labors were crowned with
success.
In 1848 Judge Danforth was appointed by the Governor and
Senate commissioner to lay out and construct a road from the
village of Mason to the city of Lansing.
"In 1840 he was elected a delegate to and was a very useful
member of the convention which framed the present Constitution
of this State.
"In all public positions held by Judge Danforth he discharged
his duties with honor to himself and the full satisfaction of his
constituents. In public, as in private life, his character was
above reproach.
"The true history of the early settlement of Ingham county can
never be written by any one without mentioning in laudable terms
the name of Hon. E. P. Danforth, and his labors for its advancement and prosperity. It is a matter of deep regret that any man
or any newspaper should allude in such an insignificant manner
to one of the most useful and most prominent men among the early
pioneers of the county. In 1850 Mr. Danforth sold his interests
in the village of Mason and moved to Lansing, where he again
engaged in the milling business. He died very suddenly in that
city August 17, 1853.
"The first paper published in Mason, or in the county, was the
Ingham Telegraph (neutral), by M. A. Childs. The first number
appeared in April, 1842. At that day it was useless to attempt to