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

LEROY TowNshIP AND ITS HISTORY

609

vation have proven mines of wealth since we have expanded our
highway system. They find a market at home for their sand and
gravel. John Risch, Sr., for many years was the business and
financial director of this colony, but when the younger generation got old enough to be educated into the mysteries of business,
he was told that his services were no longer required, and they
could save the fees he had charged them. The descendents of
these sturdy farmers are all prosperous. Some have taken unto
themselves Yankee wives and are located on farms near the
paternal farms.
Across the swamp from the Risch farm is another German,
Jacob Strobel, who has carved out a farm and made a fortune for
his children.
In the northern section along the line of the old Plank Road
we find the Kinney homestead, the York and Charles Turrell
farms and the large 640 acre farm of Silas Alger and his son-inlaw, Hugh Webber. Farther east the old Smith farm, now occupied by Lucian B. Smith, son of the original owner. North of the
Smith farm was a large tract of land owned in an early day by the
Gamby family. In my time it used to be called the "Gamby
Tract," when speaking of the extreme northeastern corner.
These different sections or neighborhoods were handicapped by
having no market or grist mill in the vicinity until 1872 when the
railroad was built, and they had direct communication with Detroit
and other cities. From this date the growth and development of
the township was linked with the growth and development of
Webberville.
In describing the farmers, their sterling qualities, and their
influence upon the development of this interesting section of Ingham county, I will have to begin with the settlers in the western
section.
Orren Dana was a farmer and justice of the peace. He served
several times in this office and was the legal authority for the
pioneers. He had three sons, Hiram, Edwin and James. Hiram
was a prosperous farmer, inherited his father's farm, and added
to the paternal acres until he had 550 acres of rich land. Since
his death his sons have sought other fields of labor and their father's farms have passed into the hands of strangers. James was a
soldier in the Civil War, and left his good right arm in the south