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

LESLIE TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY

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way of Canada. Early in 1836 he cut a road through the forest to
Grand river, which he crossed on a raft, then pursued his way
northward to the place where Leslie now stands, and built his log
house on the banks of Huntoon Creek. Amos Wortman, another
pioneer, assisted him in this work.
The nearest settlement north was at DeWitt, Clinton county.
That summer saw others coming to the Ingham county settlement
in search of homes, the choice of homes following the line of registration. As guides were needed in the wilderness, Amos Wortman, Jasper Wollcott and Elijah Woodworth took that duty on
themselves. All newcomers went to Kalamazoo to register the
land they desired to take up. Elijah Woodworth was past ninety
when he died, and his life was one of active work. IIe was interested in all matters pertaining to the pioneers, was a member of
the Ingham County Pioneer Society, and also of the State Society.
A poem written by him when nearing the end of his days appears
in the reports of the annual meetings of the county society, and
also in the Michigan Pioneer Collection.
JOSIAH RICE
And family arrived in Meekerville, or Leslie, in 1839. He was a
brother of Grandmother Meeker. "Uncle Josiah," as everyone
called him, had a pottery near where Mr. Kent's house stands.
His work was a delight to the children as they watched him take
a piece of clay, mould it into the proper consistency, throw it
upon his revolving table, where with his hands and a piece of wood
he would shape various dishes and utensils. In the Historical
Museum at the Capitol is a vase made by Josiah Rice, of Leslie,
in 1849. Mr. Rice married Laura Stone in Sheldon, Vermont,
Feb. 26, 1812, and eleven children were born to them.
JACOB ARMSTRONG
Came from Charleston, Montgomery county, N. Y., in the fall-of
1837. He related his experiences after reaching Michigan as follows: "I hired a man and a team to transport my goods (the
inference being that he came by boat to Detroit, like the majority
of the pioneers) and arrived at Freeman's bridge over the Grand
river on September 9, 1837. I found the river impassable on ac