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

to study reading and writing the sum of $3 was asked. For the
course in these same subjects, but with grammar added, the
price as $3.50. Arithmetic and geography were taught for $5,
and language for $4.50. The highest price charged was $5, for
which one learned rhetoric, philosophy and mathematics. In
case the student wished to pay in advance a discount of 10 per
cent was allowed.
The papers are filled with Revolutionary anecdotes, some of
which are semi-humorous.
Among the Gower collection of papers is a copy of the "New
York Baptist Register" for April 13, 1823. This paper was
published in Utica, N. Y.
"The Fentonville Observer" is another interesting five-column
paper printed in Fentonville, Genesee county, Mich., in 1855.
At that time "rare old whisky" was selling for 25 cents per gallon.
"The People's Press" was published in New York by B. Blodgett. The copy of this paper which is most interesting is dated
July 1, 1826. The "latest foreign news from Europe" is three
months old at the time the paper is dated. An account of the
arrival of a packet ship early in the previous May is contained in
this issue. The ship brought newspaper files from London, Harve
and Paris as well as Liverpool.
Among the news items is the announcement of the death of the
Princess of Partauna, widow of King Ferdinand of Naples, who
died April 24, 1826. The news was only four months old when it
appeared in the "People's Press."
"The Temperance Recorder," published in 1835, is another
smile provoker. The arid desert of prohibition is forecast in
nearly every column and temperance pledge cards are distributed
liberally throughout the paper. They read as follows:
"Fellow Citizens Beware!"
"Or our city will soon be eclipsed, for the RESPECTABLE and
VIRTUOUS will take refuge in our sister city, Brooklyn, and
leave us to the blighting influence and curse of
"Three Thousand Grog Shops!!"
"New York, December 24."
A pledge of total abstinence follows the above warning.