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

BUNKERIIILL TOWNSTIP AND ITS HISTORY

351

in the near future. Part of the trees for this were brought in from
Canada by a tree peddler, and part of them came from Ypsilanti,
and at that time the trip must have taken a week.
Very soon after the arrival of these Dubois families a young,
energetic man named Hawley came in and built a saw mill within
a few miles of them. This was great help for then lumber could
be obtained to put up better buildings than the log ones first used.
Father built a barn in 1842, probably the first frame barn in that
township, and the new house was built three years later. I have
some recollections of that, especially how the carpenter worked
on my juvenile sympathy by telling me how poor he was, so poor
that he had to go to bed barefoot, and get up without his breakfast.
Saying that the house was built in '45 does not mean that it
was finished, as only part of the lower story was plastered. Later
on the lower story was completed and after that a part of the
chamber, a wing containing a kitchen and wood house finally
finished it.
Among those who came soon after our folks was mother's brother,
Isreal Chapman, who decided to make his home there, and married Miss Martha Kent, daughter of a pioneer, and they settled
down about a quarter of a mile west of the school house. The
school house now stands just across the road west from the old
one. Other pioneers were Mr. Tryon, two families by the name
of Finch, Peter Longyear, whose oldest son became a leading
lawyer and represented his district in Congress, and afterward
was judge of the eastern district of Michigan, and whose oldest
son, in turn, became multi-millionaire copper mine owner. That
region, too, had the distinction of sending a soldier to the Mexican
War. John Aseltine was his name.
The first death I remember was that of David Finch, a near
neighbor west of us, and a local preacher. Very likely I remember
that because the coffin was made in our door yard. Father always
kept some choice lumber on hand and Mr. Tryon came to our
house and made the coffin.
The first funeral I remember attending was that of my Uncle
Jacob Dubois' wife. As I stood at the grave I noticed a headstone
near by and thought I could always find aunt's grave for it was
near that. It was the first headstone I ever saw, so of course was
the first one ever put in that cemetery.