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

273

board round. Those were the times when it was nice to be a
director's wife. If there happened to be any undesirable boarding places in the district the teacher passed them by and went to
the director's instead; also if the teacher's home was some distance
away the week ends were spent in the director's family.
Nearly every profession has been followed by various pupils from
this school; perhaps more have taken up agriculture than any other
profession, and the farms in the district speak for themselves.
Land that was purchased for a few dollars per acre, swampy and
uncleared, today would sell for $200 per acre.
Although we cannot boast an Abraham Lincoln, we are right
proud of the boys and girls who have gone out from District No. 8,
and we can all find a lesson from the pioneer life. "Despise not
the day of small things."
Mrs. Eva Felton, of East Lansing, told of her experiences in
District No. 9, known as the Sandhill School. She well remembered her pride in the spelling contests held there, and of her
efforts to become one of the best spellers, and she could boast that
she was often victorious. She had her trials in later days when it
fell to her to make out the rate bill for the school, and then wait
for her pay until the money could be collected. As to the organization of the district she was unable to give dates or figures.
District No. 11 and 13, known as the Douglas School, was described by Mrs. John Keippe.
Almost a century ago the land now covering District 11 and 13
was a vast and dense wilderness, but foreign emigration soon made
a populous East and a westward movement became necessary.
Some were luckily led into Michigan by river or lake, and by Indian paths which they used for their guides. They lived in log
huts, made by hewing the logs to fit upon each other and roofing
them with clapboards.
One well known family among these early home seekers was the
Manning's, who settled in this district. J. W. Manning is still
living on the old settlement place and is the oldest pioneer in
the district at the present time.
After the toil and strife of the reconstruction period of the
Civil War the land was cleared for farming and placed on a progressive basis.
About 1880 the population increased, education advanced and