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

or the dangers that surrounded them, yet by the strength that
overcame these hardships and faced these dangers were laid the
foundations of the splendid farms that we see around us today.
The first settler in District No. 2 was Egbert Patterson, who
bought his land in 1836. Later, in 1839, William P. Robbins
bought 80 acres from Amos Overacker, who had cleared five acres
and built a small log cabin. Mr. Robbins cleared the remaining
75 acres alone. The first school house was a small log shanty built
in 1839. Miss Harriet Childs was the teacher. At that time there
were six pupils in the district and school was held for three months.
In 1851 Charles Foler moved from New York. In 1862 Martin
Laycock bought the land where Harold Laycock now lives. About
that time Mrs. Kay came from England with her children, Mary,
Richard and Alfred Robinson. Samuel Lamb and his son Samuel
and grandson Lambert moved from Ohio in 1865.
It was about this time that Augustus Gillespie moved from Tecumseh and Everett Beardsley bought land that is now a part of
the Benham farm. In 1869 Perry Stevens bought his farm from
Mr. Davidson. In the spring of the year 1871 Nathan Severence
purchased the land where his son Frank now lives. In 1864 Davis
Fitzsimmons bought his farm from George Traver. It is now
owned by his daughter, Mrs. Walter Pratt.
Mrs. Severance, Richard and Alfred Robinson and Lambert
Lamb are the only early settlers now living in the district.
DISTRICT NO 3, ALAIEDON, THE DUBOIS DISTRICT.
By MRS. ROY DRESSER.
The Dubois's were the first to settle in this district. They were
natives of Ulster county, N. Y. In the spring of 1836 Martin
Dubois, with his family, his father and mother, John and Sarah
Dubois, settled on a part of section 35. Geo. Hale now owns this
farm.
Some time later, in the fall of 1836, Matthew DuBois settled on
section 24. He lived there a few years then sold to Polly Speer,
and her grandson, Marcellus Speer, now owns this farm.
In the fall of 1838 Jacob and family settled part of section 36,