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

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITIH IISTORY

465

and high school was too strong to make it a success. Among the
many boys who were my school mates were Ed Tooker, John
Blasius, John Sindlinger, Charles Claflin, Frank Robson, Charles
Allen, Dell Dane, Charles Calkins, Charles Borden and Herman
and Jake Kiefer from the fourth ward, Fred Mead, Fred Shier,
Fred Brossinger, Lewis Straugh, the Englehart boys, Adams boys,
who lived near the school on Wall street, Frank Ray, who lived
on North Cedar street. The large boys from the "upper room"
who attended school at that time were Russell Ostrander and his
brother Arthur, Myron Cline, Will Sapry, Hubert Webster, J. A.
Carr, Frank Lewis, brother to M. Quad of the Free Press, Dr.
Richardson's boys, Frank Mead and Charles, his brother, James
Turner, Jr., J. M. Longyear, and others.
The instruction we got in that old school house was thorough
with all frills sidetracked. The physical training was given us by
our schoolmates on the school grounds or in the streets. It consisted of wrestling matches, ball games or races, fights or boxing
matches.
I remember two boys from the upper room were not satisfied
with a sparring match, so got behind a barn near the rear fence of
the school grounds and tried to settle their difficulties with an
old horse pistol loaded with fine shot. This was during the war,
and they had imbibed the war spirit. Their parents finally
settled their difficulty in the woodshed at home.
From what I can remember of the old first ward school, and my
memory goes back to 1860, I think it was the first ward school
established in the city. We all know that it was the leading
school in the past, and its influence, even today, is recognized.
Many have gone out from this school, took up and made a success
of the great battle of life. Some of the boys are dead, some still
live in this city. Those living have reached their three-score
years, and will, no doubt, recall some incidents or names that the
present writer has mentioned.