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

240

PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY

The first ministers to preach in the township were Elder Breckenridge and Elder Jackson, in 1837.
At the first town meeting held in the township there were but
15 votes polled. This comprised all or nearly all of the voters in
the four townships of Alaiedon, Delhi, Lansing and Meridian.
I have gathered such facts as I could under the circumstances.
Most of the pioneers have gone to their long home, and it is difficult to get exact dates.
The first records of the township have been lost up to 1842,
when Alaiedon became a township by itself.
O. B. STILLMAN.
SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 3, ALAIEDON.
Books with genuine board covers are among the things of the
past, and are treasured among the relics of by-gone days. The
first book of records for District No. 3, in Alaiedon township, is
one about 6 x 7 inches in size, with real wooden covers. These
were originally concealed by a mottled brown paper covering,
with leather back, but the paper has worn away leaving the wood
exposed. Not only the book itself, but its contents as well, are
of interest to those engaged in collecting Ingham county history.
During the last few years much has been said concerning the
ubois family and the part its members had in making history
for this county, and in the records of this district, which is known
as the "Dubois school," it is found that members of that family
had a prominent part.
The residents of District No. 3 gathered for their first school
meeting on Nov. 11, 1841, when Jacob Dubois was chosen as
moderator, Garrett Dubois as director, and Steven B. Dubois as
assessor for the ensuing year.
At that time it was voted to build a school house on the S. W.
cor. of S. W. 1 of Sec. 25, T. 3 N. R. 1 W., "said building to be
made of logs, 22 ft. square, with a shingle roof and a good box
stove." It was also voted that $100 be raised by tax for building
and furnishing said house.
The tax run from $3 to $16 per capita, some paying in labor at
five shillings per day, some in hand riven shingles at 40 cts. per
hundred, some in lumber, while one paid in nails at 10 cts. per