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

474

PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY

WIGWAM OF OKEMOS IS REMEMBERED AS IT STOOD
ON LANSING STREET.
When Washington Avenue was only a trail, many inches deep
with mud, when Indians of all kinds roamed about the country
and lived in their tepees, and when Chief Okemos' wigwam
stood where the Buck furniture store now stands, when wolves,
bears and other animals appeared on the streets during the day
and hayed and quarreled among themselves in the streets at night,
are a few of the instances that are related by Eben W. Dart, 315
Bartlett street, of the early days of Lansing. Mr. Dart celebrated his ninety-third birthday Monday. As reported in The
State Journal, the occasion was signally marked by the Masons
of Lodge No. 33, of which Mr. Dart is a member.
Mr. Dart came to Lansing in 1854 from Potsdam, N. Y. The
trip from Potsdam to Detroit was made by water. From Detroit
to Lansing Mr. Dart, who was then 28 years of age, came by stage
over the plank road. The stage left Detroit at 7 o'clock in the
morning and arrived in Lansing at 9 o'clock at night. The horses
were changed every 16 miles, and they were kept at top speed
during the 16-mile period.
Lansing had 1,500 inhabitants at that time and had been the
Capitol of Michigan for only seven years. Robert McClelland
was governor at that time. The next year, 1855, Kingsley S.
Bingham was elected governor, The Capitol, an old frame building, was located between what is now Washtenaw and Allegan
streets.
At that time there was a row of log buildings near where Washington and Michigan Avenues intersect.
Mr. Dart engaged in the hardware business for many years and
did a great deal of business both with the whites and with the Indians. He states that the Indians were excellent people to deal
with and that he found them honest, but that in their trading they
invariably called for whiskey.
Lansing was a trading point at that time, says Mr. Dart.
Wood was brought here from many miles around. It was drawn
by ox teams, the bells around the necks of which could be heard