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

AURELIUS TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY

291

Amos Mattison, eldest son of Michael, had followed his parents
from the East, and obtained title to 80 acres east of his father's
property.
To the north a family by the name of Weldon obtained first
claim to 80 acres, but soon sold to Mr. Willoughby, who with his
family had just crossed over from Canada. In the barter for this
land a gun and a clock, the latter a treasured possession of the
Willoughby family, changed hands as first payment.
To the south the home of John Osborn was found. Mr. Osborn
engaged in making shingles, and gave employment to several
helpers that lived in cabins near by. The product of this industry found a market in Jackson, transported there by oxen.
David Potter saw a future for a saw mill, so obtained title to
400 acres of land and erected a saw mill near its center. All the
early frame buildings of that region were made from lumber sawed
in that mill. David Potter was a Knight Templar, one of nine of
that order then residing in the State. Mr. Potter took a keen
interest in the affairs of the township, as the records of those days
tell. The early townshlp meetings were held at his home, though
sometimes this honor fell to Jacob Parrish, and later to John
VanWert, whose home was in the center of the township.
The burning of a huge pile of logs was a rite always celebrated
on these occasions.
Other names that can be mentioned in connection with the settlenient and development of the pioneer community are Bohannon, Miles, Haskell, Near and Spaulding.
Something like seventy-five years ago the first school was established. Mr. John Barnes gave permission, and a small clearing was made on the northwest corner of his land, some ten or
twelve feet back from the road, and a small log structure erected.
It is said to have been a very primitive affair. Basswood, because
of being easy to work, was the timber chosen.
The first teacher to guide the destinies of the children gathered
there was Ann Barnes. This, her first school, commenced on her
sixteenth birthday, with a salary of $1.00 per week.
The log cabin school house served its purpose in a few years,
and in 1851 a frame building took its place. The names of Ellen
Austin, Mary Barnes, Abbie Stokes, Ruth Bateman appear as
early teachers.