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

twenty years old he enlisted in Col. Duncan McArthur's regiment
at Dayton, Ohio. That regiment with the regiments of Cass
and Findlay formed the army of Gen. Hull that marched for the
relief of Detroit. After the surrender Champe enlisted in the
Regular Army, and was at Fort Meigs on the Maumee. He was
mustered out of service in 1815, after having been recommended
for lieutenant by Col. McArthur.
In 1814 Nathaniel Champe married Almenia Thomas, and because of the following story for which her granddaughter vouches,
she is deserving of a place on the list of 1812 patriots. As a child
she was intensely interested in American affairs, and while still a
young girl she proved her patriotism by entering the British lines
in an endeavor to get information for the American army.
This she scratched on a piece of birch bark with a pin, then hid
it in the hem of her petticoat. She was arrested and brought
before the British officials but owing to her extreme youth and
innocent air she was allowed to return to her home without punishment, while the information she brought proved of valuable
assistance to the American side. Many deeds of like daring her
descendents tell of her performing. The names of Nathaniel
Champe and his wife are both carved on the same stone with that
of John Champe, with this verse beneath Mrs. Champe's name:
"Free from all care and pain
Asleep our Mother lies
Until the final trump shall call
The dead in Christ to rise."
Some time after 1850 Nathaniel Champe moved with his family to Onondaga, Ingham county, where he bought a saw mill
which he conducted. He died in Onondaga Feb. 13, 1870, aged
78 years.
Not until 1918 was it discovered that Ingham county really
had a Revolutionary soldier buried in its soil, and that is Martin
Dubois, who lies in the Fitchburg Cemetery, and whose history
is given with that of the Dubois family. This grave has been
properly marked by Elijah Grout Chapter Daughters of the
American Revolution of Leslie.
In 1920 it was found through the U. S. Pension Department
that Ephraim Whedon, or Wheaton (as the name was later spelled),