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

348

PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHIAM COUNTY

mile stretch of woods with mosquitoes to the right of us, mosquitoes to the left of us and mosquitoes in front of us-they came
in battalions-and I knew that such an experience was the common fate of all in those days, so what could I say that would be
new or of interest. But he urged that I tell something of the
Dubois family, as I had been a member of that family for quite a
number of years, over seventy in fact. I thought I might tell
how many came, where they lived and worked and died. He
also mentioned schools and churches.
The first member of the family to come to Michigan from the
old home in Ulster county, N. Y., was John Dubois, who came in
1834. I have been told that he came in search of health. That
when he left home it seemed a doubtful question whether he would
ever see Michigan or not. Lake Erie gave a rough passage, but
he finally reached Lodi, Washtenaw county, where he had relatives, and after a time began to improve in health. After about
four years of single blessedness he doubled his joys and divided
his sorrows by taking to himself a wife, Miss Abigail Bullock, and
they began their married life in pioneer style on a piece of land on
the White Oak side of the line between White Oak and Stockbridge. The first church was on his land and in the building of it
he took a leading part. Only one of the family of three daughters
survives, Mrs. Daniel McKenzie, and the family lives on the old
homestead.
The next to come was grandfather, Jacob Dubois and his wife,
Sarah Buck Dubois, with their two sons, Martin and Jacob Jr.
Martin's family consisted of his wife and two boys and two girls.
Jacob was single, but later married Miss Mary Longyear, whose
family came from Ulster county, N. Y., and which gave to Michigan some notable men.
I have been told that Uncle Martin was very homesick and had
it not been for the brave little wife would have taken the back
trail for the Delaware river country. Grandfather and grandmother and Martin's little wife lie in the cemetery in the old
neighborhood (the Dubois neighborhood in Alaiedon) on a sandy
knoll on Uncle Martin's farm. From the top of it one can see all
the principal buildings in Mason.
Their trip was made in 1837, the year Michigan became a State,