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 INGHAM COUNTY

DISTRICT NO. 2, AURELIUS.
MRS. A. B. GRETTON, Isham or Gretton School.
The first man to cast his lot in the wilds of what was destined
to be District No. 2, Aurelius, was a young man from Ohio, one
Wm. Isham. While looking about for a location he chanced to
meet in the woods Mr. John Barnes. Perhaps this had something
to do with his choosing, for he made his choice 160 acres to the
west of a portion of the Barnes's holdings. Later relations of the
two families were more closely connected, as this enterprising
young pioneer married Amanda Barnes, a daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. John Barnes. In a log cabin, with doors and windows yet
to be, this young couple set up housekeeping. Here Nelson Isham
was born, the first child in the future District No. 2. As Mr.
Isham felled and burned the trees the ashes by crude means were
converted into potash, then drawn to Jackson by oxen. In this
way he provided for his family until crops could be procured from
the land.
In 184- Michael Mattison with his wife and family came from
the East, purchased the rights of J. Hammond, an early land
speculator, in 160 acres of timbered land. To Michael Mattison
belongs the credit for the first orchard, and also of killing the
biggest bear ever seen in that locality.
Jacob Parish, with wife and babe, was the next to find in the
forest the prospect of a home.
At about the same date, 1844 or 1845, one mile east from the
site of the present school house, John Cook with his family came
to a halt. Theirs had been a journey o'er land and sea, and
England their former home. Of their children one son, Wm., was
killed by a falling tree, and one daughter passed away at an early
age.
The Cooks were soon followed by Wm. Sear and family, also
Rev. Robert Hamp. They were all of English birth.
Peter Parish came from New York and found a home with his
brother Jacob until a home could be erected on the newly acquired
homestead.