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

Black Hawk War occurred and he and his companions were
driven out by the Indians, after which he was employed by Gen.
Scott to go East and bring wagons for the transportation of troops.
He moved to Meridian Township, Ingham county, in 1853, and
died there in 1862. Is buried in a little rural cemetery near
Okemos.
His father, James Mullett, was born in England, and while living in London was seized by a press-gang and brought to America
with Burgoyne's army to serve King George III. He had just
learned the tailors trade and was about to return to his home when
he was forced into the war with the colonies, and from that time
he was lost to his home and friends.
At the battle of Bennington he was taken prisoner, but escaped,
and later joined the Continental army, his sympathies being with
the American people, who were striving to cut loose from the rule
of King George III. After the war he settled in Vermont and
married Sylvana Perry, a descendent of the Pilgrims and a realtive of Commodore Perry.
THE CURTENIUS GUARDS.
By F. L. A.
That one of the inheritances of the early settlers of Ingham
county was the military spirit of their forefathers was shown by
their enthusiasm on "General Training Day," and the organization of a military company as early as 1857. "Uncle" George
W. Shafer, a man prominent in affairs in Mason at that time, took
an active interest in the formation of the "Curtenius Guards," as
the first military company was called, and was commissioned a
colonel of the State Militia by Governor Barry. Col. Frederick
W. Curtenius, a Mexican War veteran, whose home was in Kalamazoo, came here to act as mustering officer, and for him the company was named. In that way the name "Curtenius" becomes
linked with the history of Ingham county, and the family was one
of such note in the United States that it does not seem out of
place to give a brief sketch of it here.
His father, Peter Curtenius, was a general in the War of 1812,