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

TAXES.
In the fall of 1843 as tax time was approaching the question with
many of the early settlers was how they were going to meet them.
The Seymour dam in Lansing was being built at that time and
laborers were wanted. Some Aurelius-ites went to Lansing and
were employed. It required one-half day to go the fourteen
miles, and likewise to return, so they got credit for five days
during the week at 50 cents per day, $2.50,which would pay the
postage on ten letters coming from New York. Now the laboring
man demands $4.00 per day, $24.00 per week, paying the postage
on 1,200 letters. So thus by comparing we see the difference in
the effort required to pay postage in 1843 and 1920.
AURELIUS.
The first permanent settler in the township of Aurelius when it
was the "big town," comprising the west half of Ingham county,
was Elijah Woodworth, who came here in 1835 or 1836 and settled
in what was later Leslie Township. He came from the township
of Aurelius, Cayuga county, N. Y., and pleased to bring something
of his old home to the new gave the west half of the county the
name of Aurelius. He sent his request to the Legislature at Detriot, giving name and bounds, and its was duly honored, and thus
Aurelius got its name.
I learn of six places in the United States called Aurelius, mainly
townships. Perhaps the name first was given to honor a noted
Roman historian, soldier and emperor in the early centuries.
The first Aurelius became a township on the 11th day of March,
1837. The present one, a Congressional township, the 16th day of
March, 1838.
The first township election was held on April 20, 1838, at the
residence of Robert Hayward on section 32, where thirteen electors
cast their ballots. The names of the first voters were as follows:
John Barnes, Zacchius Barnes, R. R. Bullen, Joseph Bullen, W.
Isham, Elijah Wilcox, George Wilcox, Erastus Ranney, Robert
Hayward, Franklin Hayward, D. D. Olmstead, O. C. Robinson
and G. B. Webb.
Zacchius Barnes being a fine penman it fell to him to write out
the ballots, which was done in fine style. Supervisor, Clerk,