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 INGHAM COUNTY

to pieces, and he, unable to swim, was caught in the swift flowing
water. Had not a friendly Indian fortunately appeared at this
time his life would have been lost, but instead he was able to reach
the land office, make his entry and return home safely.
This eighty acres secured at that time he added to until he owned
340 acres of fine farming land, which some years later had
become one of the best known farms in the county. Indians frequently camped on or near his farm, but being amicably disposed
the relations with the Webb family were always friendly.
After the death of Mr. Webb's first wife he married Mrs. Lucy
Harty, of Bunkerhill Township, and one child, Lewis C. Webb,
now of Mason, was born to them.
Mr. Webb died in 1890, aged eighty-six years, his wife having
preceded him in 1882.
W. M. (Mac) Webb has written many things regarding early
life in Aurelius Township, on which he is an authority, but there
was never a more interesting account given than the following,
which with Mr. Webb's consent is taken from "The Past and
Present of Ingham County," compiled by the late Albert E.
Cowles, of Lansing.
I was born on section nine in the township of Aurelius on the
21st day of May, 1838, under better conditions and with more
favorable surroundings than many an Ingham county pioneer
boy who was born about the same period.
They were probably born in log shanties under a trough roof,
while I was born in a board shanty under a bark roof. The corners of the house were three small trees, standing in about the
right position, and at the fourth corner a post was set. The trees
were cut off at the proper height, boards were nailed round forming
an enclosure which was covered with great slabs of elm bark laid
on poles. There were beautiful and extensive groves of beech
and maple on four sides of the house, and all the lawns were covered in spring with a very luxuriant growth of verdure known to
the early settlers as leeks.
I was the fourth child born in the township, so that being born
in Aurelius had passed the experimental period and had become an
established industry; George W. Bullen, born August 18, 1837;
Freeman Wilcox, born August 20, 1837; Charles Ranney, born
April 20, 1838. We made a big team to help clear the forests in
an early day.