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

through the swampy places. But then, and for several years
after, these were in many places almost impassable in times of
prevailing high waters. I recall as late as the sixties of some roads
being scarcely passable for pedestrians, and when hardly a team
or vehicle would be seen for perhaps weeks in succession.
At the time of our return Williamston, still called "The Cedar,"
by some old settlers, was a small village containing, as I remember,
a grist mill, tavern, blacksmith shop, and I think only one store,
that of J. B. Taylor, and doubtless the post office. Probably there
were some other business places which I, being so young, did not
know of. The roads leading to the place were, much of the way,
lined with trees and thick bushes. Later, uncertain of the date,
but I think probably in '52 or '53, a saw mill was erected about
two and one-half miles east of Williamston, a few buildings clustered at the place, and it was called "The Burg," afterward
christened Podunk. Presently a plank road was laid from Lansing to Howell, by what company or where organized this historian
knoweth not. This could hardly have been later than '53 or '54.
I well remember the laying of our local section. Small movable
buildings on wheels were constructed, equipped with a primitive
housekeeping outfit, and managed perhaps by a man and his wife,
for the accommodation, boarding, etc., of the workmen, and were
moved from point to point as the work progressed. Some of the
men were fed at various houses along the road. Toll gates were
established some seven or eight miles apart. The toll was something more than two and one-half cents a mile for one horse, and
double for a team. Later the road was renewed by graveling.
My father has recorded that he paid in all $300 in toll.
The Podunk saw mill was for years a busy place, as the woods
yielded an almost unlimited supply of sawing timbers. The mill
yard and adjoining grounds were crowded with hundreds and
hundreds of fine large saw logs. There were considerable tracts
of non-resident land in the vicinity, and some unscrupulous persons reaped a harvest of gain from the fine timber. This was
afterward peremptorily stopped by the owners.
My first recollection of a post office is when Mr. Rowley was
postmaster. Some member of our family used to go for the mail
usually once a week. I think the name of the office was Phelpstown. Earlier, when my father and mother lived on that farm,