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, WITH HISTORY

567

MRS. ELIZABETH WHITELEY.
Mrs. Elizabeth Whiteley came to Lansing with her parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Stanley Briggs, from their country home in DeWitt in
1849. Mr. Briggs in his early life was a millwright and he helped
to frame the old State Capitol building which was erected on
Washington Avenue. At that time Lansing was almost a dense
wilderness, with trees, stumps and woods as thick as they could be.
Her father built one of the first frame houses in Lansing, on Washington Avenue south near Lenawee street.
Mrs. Whiteley often lost her way in the woods going to the
Townsend street school from her home. Sometimes deers and
fawns would dart out in front of her on her way there. She remembered very well a member of the Legislature stepping off the
narrow board walk which extended from the Benton House to the
Capitol, killing a wild turkey and taking it to his broading house.
Partridge and quails were very plentiful, and in the outskirts of
the new Capitol City the wolves often used to howl at night.
There were a great many Indians who used to camp in the woods
near the city, coming to town in great numbers. Among these
was Chief Okemos. IIe used to come to town very often and usually had two of his braves come with him. They always walked
back of him in single file. They sometimes would walk right into
her father's house without knocking, sit down to the table and tell
her mother "Indians was very hungry. Give Indians something
to eat. Put it into a great big pan," and it was "some eat;"
the amount they could store away was remarkable.
Mrs. Whiteley often described Chief Okemos as a short, thick-set
man, very straight and erect, a man of great strength, and very
quick and cat-like in his movements. He had a deep saber cut at
one time which left a great scar in his head. If he happened to
be good natured he would let you put your hand into the hole.
At times the old warrior was very talkative and interesting and at
other times was very morose and sullen. His face was deeply
furrowed with many scars. His usual dress consisted of a blanket
coat with belt in which he carried a long peace pipe, tomahawk,
and a heavy scalping knife. He always wore buckskin leggings
and moccasions and looked very fierce.