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

AURELItUS TOWNSHII AND ITS HISTORY

303

About 1839 Erastus Ranney settled east of the Hayward farm.
In the early forties Zeno Terry obtained from the government
360 acres in the part of the district lying in Eaton Rapids Township. He built the large barns on what is now the Pierce place.
In 1849 he sold to his son-in-law, Wheeler Miller, who built the
brick house. One son, Morris Miller, is now living in Jackson at
the advanced age of 97 years. His daughter (Wheeler Miller),
Millie Miller French, was a successful teacher, and she and her
husband were teaching in Mason at the time of her death, and
Nancy Miller Jopp, still living, aged 87 years. Nancy Miller
Jopp and Harriet Hayward Crane were married at a double
wedding at seven o'clock in the morning. Another son, Chas.
Miller, held the office of sheriff in Eaton county for many years.
The homestead passed out of the Miller family in 1892.
The Plains' church was built in 1845, and cost $300. Later it
was remodeled. It was maintained by people of various religious
beliefs, and pastors of different denominations held services there.
Present indications are that it will in time be used as a community
house.
The first burial in the cemetery was the infant child of Mr. and
Mrs. Erastus Ranney, and the second Mrs. Caroline French
Hamlin.
The Parker farm, obtained from the government by a Mr.
Scofield, the date unknown. He built the large barn on the west
side of the road, and Alfred Parker bought the farm in 1849 and
built the grout house, and is still owned by Alfred Parker, Jr.
In the early days of the district, each pupil was called upon to
furnish his quota of four foot wood for heating purposes. The
building was accepted in 1866, but it was some years later when
a bell was purchased for $8.35 and its clarion tones called the youth
of the district to this place of learning.
In 1869 there was $60 raised by tax for fences and to grade
and pay for ornamental trees, and in 1879 $30 was raised for more
trees and their care for one year. In 1880 the plan of using forest
trees to replace those that died was adopted, and the trees cared
for by the residents.
A singing school held at the school house was one of the events of
1869. In 1876 the building was closed to the public except for
educational purposes.