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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IPIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY

land, so was unfitted to follow his brother's occupation. Edwin
was the historian of the family. At social and pioneer meetings
he always spoke of or wrote a paper on the events of early days.
He always claimed to be the first white child born in Leroy Township, but John Rosencrans maintained that he was born two or
three days before Edwin.
He-Rosencrans-said that his mother marked the dates in
Ayers Almanac and he had presrved the book. I never knew how
they settled the matter.
A. F. Horton and his wife came from Ohio. Both worked hard
to clear a farm of 240 acres of heavy timber and make it fit for
the plow. He was a horticulturist and his orchards were the
best in that section. He also served several times as supervisor.
Hiram Rix, who lived west of the Dana homestead, had a son
named Hiram who was elected supervisor in 1890. His sister was
a literary woman and has written several articles and poems of
pioneer days.
Mr. Putman had three sons, Gilbert, and twins named Daniel
and David. I never knew Gilbert, but Dan and Dave were
prosperous farmers. David's son-Judge-has a forest nursery
in Lansing, and Ferris Park and other places show his taste and
good judgment.
East and south of A. F. Horton's, on a cross road, lived Warren
Haskill, a Civil War veteran. He and his son William worked in
the pineries near Tawas. His son never forgot the habits of life
in the lumber woods, for they clung to him all during life. In
habits, dress and quaintness of speech he was the Diogenese of
Leroy Township. Mrs. Haskill, his mother, was noted for her
fine bread and her energy in behalf of the Woman's Relief Corps.
Edmund Alchin and his wife were English. HIe was a successful farmer and always worked his land with all the thoughtful
details you will find on a farm in England. He taught his sons to
love the soil, and they all were farmers, while his daughters all
married farmers, and most of his grandsons have been successful
tillers of the soil. When the railroad was building a timber contractor came into the Alchin neighborhood to buy timber. He
got acquainted with the teacher in that district and married her,
bought a farm and became a permanent resident of the township.