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, A1ITII HISTORY

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pioneer work again. They reorganized the creed of it and they
used the same methods that the pioneers did and were equally
successful-Free Methodists.
"All Christian churches employ the same methods in their
pioneer or reform work. All social, civil and moral reforms use
the same methods to further or advocate their cause, bring it
before the people, to attract their attention and set people thinking
about themselves and their fellow men. Those who do not want
to enter the reform ranks or act as reformers give financial support
when they see success crowning their reformers' efforts.
"The first church performed its mission and is gone but in my
opinion the ground on which it stood was consecrated and a suitable marker should be placed to mark the spot where it stood so
that future generations will know where this little band of four
met and worhsipped God."-State Journal, Lansing, 1921.
MR. AND MRS. THOMAS WESLEY WESTCOTT.
By Their Daughter, MRS. CLARA WESTCOTT STEELE.
Thomas Welsey Westcott was born in Philadelphia, Pa., July
27, 1834. When he was five years old his parents moved west to
Beaver, Pa., where his father engaged in cotton spinning.
In 1844 Thomas Welsey was sent to Warren, Ohio, where a
half brother of his father lived, with whom he lived while learning
the trade of a merchant tailor. After living in Warren a few years
he became discontented with his surroundings and concluded to
visit another uncle who was living in Lansing, Micih. The way
was long and the journey a hard one in those days, but he finally
reached Jackson, where he took the stage for Lansing, arriving
there on October 1, 1849. He often said that the first man to
speak to him in his new home was the late "Gus" Weller, who
stood in front of the old Lansing House when the stage coach
arrived. Mr. Weller's greeting was so kind and cheerful that
it put new life into the homesick boy, and when 38 years after,
on October 1, 1887, he helped carry Mr. Weller to his last resting place, he felt as if a good friend had gone.
In May, 1854, "Wes," as he was called, married Miss Ellen L.