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

AURELIUS TOWNSIIP AND ITS HISTORY

305

Mrs. Covert's father, Jeremiah Loucks, had come here at a
still earlier day and taken up land on section 35. J. S. Covert
bought his land of Mr. Loucks and paid $1.25 per acre giving gold
in exchange. Mr. Covert told this story: His father having
business in another part of the township was on his way home
through the woods when he saw a little fawn. He took it home to
his little son and it grew to be a great pet. They put three bells
on it, to distinguish it from the cows that roamed at large with
bells on, and so had no trouble keeping track of it. On moonlight
nights it often wandered off into the woods and later return to the
clearing with other deer. One day it went over on the farm now
owned by Dave Strong and on its way home some one shot it,
thinking it a wild deer. Mr. Covert is now 78 years old.
J. C. Bond, Sr., is the oldest man who was born in this district
and has lived here all his life. His father, Samuel Bond, was one of
the very early settlers in District No. 7, and J. C. Bond still lives
on the farm where he was born 77 years ago.
The first school was held in a log house, with only one room, and
this was occupied by a family named Stewart. They had two
little boys who slept in the trundlebed, which during the day was
kept under the big bed and pulled out at night for their use. In
the morning to make room for the boys and girls that came this
was pushed back in place, and then Mrs. Stewart would proceed
to teach the pupils in her home.
Some time later a log school house was built just north of the
Aurelius Cemetery. Jane Rolfe was one of the first teachers in the
log school house, teaching six days a week and receiving 75 cents
for each week's work. The seats were made of logs with pegs
driven in for legs; the desks ran round the room, the pupils facing
the wall with their backs to the teacher.
Later another school house was built just south of the old one,
and Sarah Pratt Cook was the first teacher.
In 1867 the present building was erected, with Mattie Cochran
Strong (Dr. Strong, who practiced medicine for many years in
Jackson) as teacher.