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

LANSING TOWNSHII AND CITY, WITIH HISTORY

525

with three stores, is about ready. Evidently "Middle Town" is
getting the edge on North Lansing. But even over there, business
is good. D. L. Case has begun his new store and B. E. Hart is
making an addition to his flour mill.
The new daily edition of the Lansing State Republican apparently did not greatly appeal to the merchants at the very outset,
as a medium for getting business. The first few issues are without any advertising. But soon D. W. Buck, furniture dealer, and
L. M. Simon, grocer, led the procession into the columns of the
new paper.
CIRCUS IN TOWN.
Heigh, ho! Dan Rice's circus is in town. Dan is described as
the world's foremost comedian-it is likely Editor Bingham and
his local staff were already in possession of tickets calling for reserved seats. But Dan did not get off scott free. He offered $20
as a prize to whatever Lansing youth could ride his trick mule,
and after several had failed, James Harris, a youth of 18-gee!
he is 62 now-from North Lansing, did ride that mule. Then,
according to the testimony, which convicted Rice of assault, he
struck Harris with his whip.
Circuses were not the only fun they had in those days. Here
we find the daily trips of the "Sea Bird" and the "Minnie Cass,"
advertised by Capt. A. P. Loomis to make daily excursions trip
on the Grand river between North Lansing and the Miner
Springs Hotel, with stops at the Michigan Avenue bridge.
By the way, the Mineral Springs Hotel (situated near the confluence of the Cedar with the Grand river) was no inconsiderable
institution in those days.
The State Republican made a practice of printing the names of
the guests at all three hotels in the city. At the Mineral Springs
are listed a number of guests from New York and Chicago and
other places of importance. Among the guests is listed Mrs.
Bayard F. Taylor, the wife of the distinguished poet and leading
prose writer of those days.
Up at the Chapman House George M. Huntington and wife
are recorded as registered from Mason. Also at the Chapman
House are "J. L. Lair and lady, of Dewitt." Also at the Springs
Hotel, "Dr. L. C. Rose and lady" are registered.