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 INGIIAM COUNTY

The pioneers were invited to the American H-ouse and the Clark
House, where dinner was served by the citizens of Mason. Over
their cups and plates the men and women who battled with the
forests of Ingham county and transformed them into fertile
fields recalled the memories of the past and grew young again.
To the seventy-five guests thus entertained, it was one of the
pleasantest features of the day.
Speeches were made by lion. S. L. Kilbourne, Hon. D. L. Case,
and lion. E. Longyear, all of Lansing, besides others from various
townslhips.
The deaths reported were as follows:
Aurelius-John Wright, Hiram Smith.
Lansing-Chauncey Murphy.
Stockbridge-Samuel C. Proctor.
Mason-Geo. Shafer.
Leslie-Mrs. Nancy Backus.
Ingham-Marshall H-icks.
Meridian-Thomas Giffords.
Bunkerhill-James Birney.
Short memorial talks were given by friends of each deceased
member.
Thus ended another of those pleasant annual gatherings of the
veterans of Ingham county who, by their toil, industry and selfdenial, their intelligence and bravery builded up one of the grandest and wealthiest-yes-the very Capital county of our Peninsular
State.
On June 12, 1883, the indications of the weather augured ill for
the gathering of the nmenlbers of the Ingham County Pioneer Society for its eleventh annual neeting, but the old settlers inured to
hbarshllips from their youth, flocked in, and possib;ly out of respect
for their courage the threatening clouds withheld their rain,
except for a little dash in the nmorning.
The report of the nominating conmmittee resulted in the election of the following officers: President, Col. Whitney Jones, of
Mason; Vice Presidents-Capt. John Price, Lansing; S. 0. Russell,
Leslie; Samuel Skadan, Inglhan; Rudolphus Tyron, Alaiedon;
Secretary, Geo. W. Bristol, Mason; Treasurer, Peter Lowe,
Mason. Executive Committee: R. J. Bullen, Aurelius; S. O.
Russell, Leslie; L. B. Huntoon, Lansing.