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

down below the street level in a hole. The boys used the land
around the house for a skating pond in the winter. This spot
was finally selected as a site for a hotel and Mr. Whiteley headed
the list and was very active in soliciting other business associates
to raise funds to buy the site. A Mr. Baker was willing to build
the hotel but he wanted the citizens to buy the site. The new hotel
meant a great deal to the citizens of Lansing and there was very
much rejoicing when it was completed. In early days it was as
it is now, everyone wanted the new hotel on their particular corner, but it was finally settled to be build on the corner of Washington Avenue and Washtenaw street, where the Hotel Downey now stands.
In 1860 Mr. Whiteley erected a store just south of the Hotel
Downey where he conducted a very successful grocery business
for over thirty years.
Mr. Whiteley was a staunch Democrat of the old Jeffersonian
type. His friendship when secured never failed. He was charitable and benevolent and ever ready to help the deserving. His
fund of information was large and he understood and conversed
eloquently on all important questions rendering himself a delightful and entertaining companion. He was a man of energetic
character with a great determination and a business man to
whom much of Lansing's prosperity is due. He was a kind and
indulgent husband and father.
In later years he traveled extensively, generally spending his
winters in the South accompanied by his wife and daughter. Mr.
Whiteley died of heart paralysis May 1, 1891.
In the door yard at the Whiteley home, 414 S. Washington
Avenue, Lansing, is a highly treasured relic preserved by the
daughter of the Whiteley's, Mrs. Nellie Zimmerman, who owns
and occupies this old homestead.
This consists of a wagon tire from one of the wheels of the huge
wagon mentioned in the story of Mr. Whiteley, which is used as
the rim of a flower bed. One can judge something of the unusual
size of the wagon when looking on this massive iron tire, about
four feet in diameter, and which forms a lasting link between the
early days of Lansing and the present time.