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

AURELIUS TOWNSIIIP AND ITS HISTORY

297

cents for a seventy pound bushel and on returning home found
themselves a number of dollars in debt as the trip proved so
expensive.
"This small settlement lacked now but one of the three most
important institutions of the State-the church. Soon a Sunday
school was started with Linus Fowler as superintendent. My
seats were more than filled, because you know in those days everyone went to Sunday school. A number who were especially
helpful in the services at this time and later were Linus and Josiah
Fowler, Chas. Jennings and Elder Ranney. The township meetings were sometimes held here too, so that it gave me a chance to
learn something of the political news of that time.
"About 1840 I left my abode in the old log school house and
came to live in the present one which was then completed. Other
families were now fast coming in. In 1849 Charles Simpson and
wife settled on the farm now owned by their son Ed. Geo.
Simpson and wife Margaret settled on the farm now owned by
Miles Norris. Then there was Andrew Fowler and his wife Sally,
where they lived for many years. Joseph Dixon on the farm later
owned by Floyd Rorabeck. In 1855 Almond Parks settled where
Ira Eckhart lives. In 1861 Cornelius Handy came to the farm
later owned by his son Marion. How familiar these names all
sound! 'It seems but yesterday,' said the voice, 'when they
were here, but this only goes to remind one of the swift flight of
years.' Yes, and there was Lewis Eckhart, came in 1864, settling
where his grandson Ira now lives, the Sabins family, where Ray
DeCamp lives, Elder Ranney, on what is now the Weeks farm,
Joseph Howe, where his son Grant later lived, John Slaughter in
1861, and Humphry and Mary Sherman on the place now owned
by John Hodgiboom. Those whose names I have given you are
all gone. They have finished their journey here, but like the
brook their influence goes on and on forever.
"'I could tell you much more,' said the voice, 'but I must
not now. I just wanted you to know something of those stirring
times of '61. War was declared and that was the only topic of
conversation. Out from our little community went Henry and
Morris Olmstead, Jas. Jennings and Harrison Dixon. Those
were very anxious days, and well I remember when the news
reached us that Morris Olmstead had fallen on the battlefield. It