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

ALAIEDON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY

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and reached Uncle Parker's about noon, where I remained until
nearly spring, my brother returning home with the horses the
next day after we reached our destination."
Lansing, June 1, 1891.
Later notes concerning Jefferson City:
"Consulting Mrs. Webber, the writer of this article, an old lady
upwards of eighty years, in 1911, she said Jefferson City consisted
at this time of two log houses and a saw mill. It was located on
the road from Mason to Okemos, she thinks about four or five
miles from Mason. Mr. Lewis had gone to a school meeting.
There is no such place in Ingham county today, and very few
left who could locate the city. The settlement was platted on
section 29. The entire section was purchased by George Howe,
of Manchester, Washtenaw county. A company was formed of
four persons and the city laid out in 1838, but the plat was never
recorded.
"Among the first settlers we find two families of Childs's and
Lewis's, and one called Phillips. Thirteen log houses and a
school house were erected previous to 1840. Mr. Howe built a
saw mill on the creek and carried the water to it in a ditch ninety
rods long.
"In 1842 Capt. J. P. Cowles purchased land including some in
the proposed village situated on both sides of the road and including about forty acres.
"Great hopes were had of the new city, which now included ten
or fifteen acres of cleared land, six log houses, school and school
house. The roads leading to it were Indian trails, designated by
marked trees. Apparently it was the end of the trail, as you
entered and returned by the same road. It was the center of the
county and nearly of the State.
"Great inducements were offered settlers and a few lots were
sold to eastern parties. Three miles and a half away was the
rival city of Mason, consisting of a saw mill, frozen up, a few
houses and forests. Jefferson City is now known as the Isaac
Drew farm, and no sign can be found of its expected grandeur."