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

BUNKERHILL TOWNSHIP AND ITS H1ISTOIRY

337

mail from Henrietta in his hat, pocket or handkerchief. Mr. Tuttle got tired of carrying mail for so small pay, so a scheme was devised to get "Uncle Sam" to carry the mail. In 1850 a petition
was circulated to have a mail route established from Mason to
Jackson and back once a week, and supply Henrietta, Bunkerhill
and Felt's with mail. This arrangement led to establishing a new
post office at Felt's with Dorman Felt first postmaster.
Abijah L. Clark was the first to conceive the propriety of the
new mail route and was also first to carry mail over it. A few
years later, I think about 1855, a new post office was established
at Fitchburg, with Hubbard Fitch as postmaster. Felt's post
office was discontinued after a few years. The office at Bunkerhill
is yet maintained and Judson S. Sweezey is postmaster.
The post office at Fitchburg is still running, with Mrs. Frank
Havens as postmistress.
These post offices are now supplied with mail three times a week
by a spur or side route from Leslie.
The first blacksmith who did custom work was H. C. VanHorn,
who settled here in 1840. He built a shop and commenced work
on section 21, then known as the Tuttle farm. now occupied by
R. II. Davis and son. Mr. VanHorn worked here two years, and
believing that more work could be found in other locations moved
with his family to Williamston. Soon after he went to California
and after a year or two was never heard from again.
The first wedding in this town is believed to have been Henry
Fuller and Lovina Whitmore, in 1841. Mr. Fuller lived only a
few years and died, leaving his wife with two little girls. The
widow never again married and now lives with her youngest
daughter, the wife of C. B. Smith, at Bloomingdale, Van Buren
county.
The married couple who have lived the longest married life together is Timothy Poxon and wife. Timothy Poxon married
Nancy Gatchel in 1840, and came very soon after to the farm they
now own on section 21.
The first death that occurred in the township was a child in a
family by the name of Davis who lived in the Bunker house (the
one first built) a little while and being homesick went back to the
place they came from.
The first saw mill was a steam mill, with an upright muley saw,