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

INGHAM COUNTY HISTORY

163

Magistrates-P. Linderman, II. Converse, H. Parker, Benj.
Rolfe.
Collector-Henry A. Hawley.
Road Commissioners-Hiram Austin, B. F. Smith, A. Jackson.
Constables-John Daggett, Henry A. Hawley.
Directors of the Poor-Geo. Searles, B. Rolfe,
School Inspectors-Nathan Rolfe, M. McRobert, Wm. H.
Horton.
Fence Viewers-Hinman Hurd, E. R. Searl.
The meeting took into consideration the many depredations
committed upon the settlers flocks, and wisely voted to pay a
bounty of $2 for every wolf killed within the township limits. It
is said that the Indians brought in "much scalp" so that the
treasury was soon emptied. It was afterwards ascertained that
the "scalps" were like the Democratic voters of Vevay the first
spring that Dr. Root was elected supervisor of the township"residents of other townships;" so the bounty act resulted in no
great profit to hunters after the first few weeks.
"Fence viewers" were then part of a legal township organization, and at this election it was decided that a "lawful fence"
should be at least four and one-half feet high. Hogs were declared a nuisance, and stricken off the list of "free commoners."
The question in our mind is, if they are any less a "nuisance"
now than they were then that they are privileged to pasture in
the streets and gardens of the township,
In the year 1839 a strictly party ticket was run by the Whigs
and Democrats. At this town meeting Hiram Converse was
nominated for supervisor by the Whigs, and Charles Gray was
the Democratic nominee. The latter was elected by a very small
majority. In 1840 party candidates were again nominated. The
whole number of votes cast was 56, of which Charles Gray received
a majority of two. At this election the sum of $75 was appropriated for school purposes.
Mason was then called "The Center," and afterward "Mason
Center," after Stevens T. Mason, the youthful Governor of the
State. The salary voted to the collector for gathering taxes was
$15.
Wright Horton, Whig, was elected supervisor in 1841, and
Peter Linderman, Whig, in 1842. At a meeting of the town board