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

306

PIONEER IISTORY OF INGIIIA COUNTY

DISTRICT NO. 10, TOLES SCHOOL.
By MRS. O. M. ROBERTSON.
District No. 10, known as the Toles School, was organized in the
spring of 1856, and the first school was taught by Mary Jane Kiper,
now widow of the late Dr. Hyde, of Eaton Rapids. The building
was a shanty in the Toles mill yard. It stood about where the
Chas. Klink granary now stands. The children who attended
school were from the families of Jehial Toles, Joseph Moreau, Linus
H. Fowler and Elisha Cruson. Ten children in all. The first
school house was built on the northwest corner of section 29, the
same year the district was organized. The winter term was
taught by Amanda Montgomery.
In the early seventies this school house burned. The district disorganized, and the territory was set off into the adjoining
districts for a short time. This not proving satisfactory, the
district was reorganized, and a school house built in the fall of
1875. "Gully College" as it was called from the time the first
house was built produced seventeen teachers, one minister, one
lawyer, two physicians and one dentist. and we know not how many
successful tradesmen and farmers. Ten stalwart sons took their
places in the army during the Civil War. Some served three
years and got home just in time to help pay the tax to clear Aurelius
Township from the draft. L. A. Fowler recalls the fact that he
got out timber for scythe snaths which he delivered to the State
Prison at Jackson to pay his share, which amounted to $36.
Some bonus!
There are left of those early residents who have lived all their
lives in District No. 10 Mrs. Tillie Clark Markley, Olin Fowler
and son Glen, Roy Buckingham and Frank Robertson. Of those
who were here 50 years ago only four are left, Olin Fowler, Rena
Fowler Klink, Tillie Clark Markley, and Lucy Webb Robertson.
Luman A. Fowler, of Aromas, Calif., lived in District No. 10
since before it was organized until 1894, when he and his family
moved to their present home.
Mr. Fowler was present at the Aurelius meeting, and gave an
interesting talk on the early days and their events.