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

was a very sad day in our little settlement, and then came the
news, only a few days after he left home, that Harrison Dixon was
the first man to fall in his regiment. We could hardly believe the
news. Harrison's body was sent home by his comrades. Those
were truly sad days.' The voice faltered and then tremblingly
continued, 'You know they were my boys for had they not for
many years sat within my walls? Since then year on year hath
flown forever, but over their graves
"The sun still shines and the flowers bloom
And the gentle winds still whisper low,
And the stars have them in their keeping."'
"The voice ceased and all was still, but as I crept from the
moonlit room, I felt that I had truly communed with the distant
past."
DISTRICT NO. 4, WEBB SCHOOL.
By W. M. WEBB.
I know not when the school commissioners formed the district
and established its bounds, but it was some time in 1842. On the
19th day of November, 1842, the organization took place at my
father's home, it being a central part of the district. It was then
district officers were elected for the first.
Jonathan Snyder was made moderator, Winslow Turner director
and Reuben R. Bullen assessor. They also voted to build a
school house; this was to be of logs, with a room twenty feet square,
and also voted to raise the sum of $100 for said purpose. They
then adjourned to meet in January, 1843.
Meantime between times the residents were discussing the
house and the $100, and many of them thought to raise this sum
would be more of a burden than they could bear, but after much
discussion it was left as voted, only it was arranged that the
house should be built by individual labor as far as possible, each
to receive fifty cents a day for his labor. When the house was up
and enclosed 134 days of labor had been performed, amounting to
$67, leaving $33 with which to finish the inside. This was done
by Joseph Bullen, the only mechanic in the neighborhood at that
time.