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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PIONEEXlR HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY

count of heavy rains. The causeway some thirty rods long between the bridge and the north bank was afloat. I left my goods
on the bank on the south side and my wife and I crossed on the
floating logs by jumping from one log to another and came to
Leslie that night on foot, five miles along a dim trail. The next
morning I started with an ox team for my goods, and found the
river still impassable for a team. By the help of three hired men
we loaded into the wagon what we could draw, and drew it across
on planks laid on the floating causeway. By taking two sets of
planks we could shift them every length of the wagon. We
worked faithfully all day, a part of the time up to our waists in
the water, got them over and arrived at Leslie some time after
dark. Usually when it was known that a family was at the river
waiting to come over settlers would go to their assistance.
"Sometimes whole days would be taken in getting them and
their household goods across. After a time rough canoes were
hewn out of basswood logs, and the use of these lessened the labor
somewhat. During 1836 the river was crossed on a log raft. As
soon as there were men enough to warrant the undertaking, a log
bridge was built. Jacob Armstrong was one of the first settlers
in North Leslie in 1837.
AMOS WORTMAAN
Came to Michigan in 1835 from Genesee county, N. Y. He remained in Jackson the first winter, and on March 11, 1836, filed on
section 21. He assisted Elijah Woodworth to build the first
house in Leslie and boarded with him for two years. On October
28, 1838, he married Charlotte Woodworth, and the next year
settled on his farm. IIe helped cut the first road in the township
of Leslie, and helped in cutting roads in other townships while on
hunting trips, though these roads were merely trails or cow-paths.
By his first wife he had five children, some time after her death he
married Mrs. Sybil Barnes, in 1855, and by her had three children.
SIDNEY 0. RUSSELL
Came from Seneca Falls, N. Y., and filed on land in sections 20
and 29, Leslie, in 1836. The following year he brought his family
and settled on his farm. The same year he sowed the first wheat