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 INGHIAM COUNTY

pended for clothing while in the War of 1812. He wrote to the
officials to get his money and was told that, while the bill was
good, the treasury was empty. In the late fifties Mr. Beech was
able to secure forty acres of land in Barry county, Michigan,
granted by the government for services rendered.
Asel Mead at the age of twenty-five went from Westchester
county, New York, to serve his country in the War of 1812. He,
with others of his townsmen, embarked on a privateersman and
captured many valuable ships belonging to the enemy. They
were finally shipwrecked on the coast of Norway, where, after
enduring great suffering from cold, they again embarked and
were driven in their disabled boats onto the Orkney Islands.
Here they were made prisoners by the British and confined for a
year in Her Majesty's prison ship. The treatment they received
was that given in those days to any one who opposed the crown.
From the ship they were transferred to Dartmouth prison, a
place made notorious by the atrocious treatment given to all
Americans who entered there. Once when on the verge of starvation the prisoners became desperate and a revolt took place,
with a demand for food. Fearing the Americans would make
good their word and force the prison walls, they were promised
better treatment if they would remain quiet for a few hours. In
the meantime the prison guard had called for reinforcements, and
to show how little fear they had of the prisoners they were all
called out and a volley fired among them, killing and wounding
many. Mr. Mead was one of those who escaped death, and when
released at the close of the war he returned home and engaged in
business, coming to Mason some years before his death to spend
his last days with his son. He died in 1874.
Others buried in the Mason cemetery are:
Bela Watkins, Benjamin Stid, Nathan Rolfe.
Lane Cemetery, Onondaga.
Besides Nathaniel Champe and his wife are found the graves of
these 1812 soldiers: Henry Gibbs, Samuel Fry, John Hunt, Elisha
Smith, Leonard Gilman, William Houser.
Onondaga Cemetery, Onondaga.
Loring Sherman, born in Danby, Rutland county, Vermont,
1795. Came to Onondaga with his three sons in 1844, died in
1860; Thos. K. Baldwin, of Vermont.