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

LESLIE TOW'NSIII1 ANDI) ITS HISTORY

635

1839, with the following members: Mahlon Covert, Sally Covert,
Lewis Reynolds, Laura Reynolds, Martha J. Ives, Mariah Hazleton, Harriet Barden and Elijah K. Grout.
Elijah Grout was the first pastor of the church, lie having been
ordained in 1841. The early meetings were held in the school
house. In 1856 the society decided to try and build a church of
their own, and a frame building was begun and finished two years
later. This was later veneered with brick, and is still in use by
the society. At the time the church was built a Ladies' Sewing
Society was organized with thirteen members, -who worked to
raise funds to be used in furnishing the building. They did all
kinds of needle work, made quilts and garments, which they sold,
and after a time were able to buy sash and glass for -the windows
and also to paint the church.
The Congregational church was organized in February, 1843,
by Rev. Marcus Harrison, pastor of the church in Jackson.
There were nine members, Henry Fiske and wife, William Huntoon and wife, Benjamin Bingham and wife. Iendrick Leach and
wife, and Elizabeth Bugbee. Meetings were held once a month
for eight months, and then the organization dissolved. In 1861
another organization was formed with Rev. Edwin W. Shaw as
pastor.
EARLY DAY MILLS.
Two saw mills were built in early days that utilized the water
power afforded by Huntoon Creek. One was built by Woodworth, Dwight and Company in 1836, and was known as the
Upper Mill. The other, known as tle Lower Mill, was built by
Henry Meeker, on what is now Mill street. It was a few years
later dismantled. S. 0. Russell built a steam mill about 1850,
at the corner of Bellevue and Spring street. This continued in
operation about eight years. In 1867 another saw mill was built
by E. Oldman and L. G. Becker on the east side of the creek, east
of the M. E. church. After running for ten years it was burned,
but soon after rebuilt.
The first grist mill was near the Meeker saw mill, and was built
in 1838 by David Dwight. William Spears and Dell Haines
owned it at different times, and it was burned while Henry Hawley was the owner.