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

he lived the life of a pioneer minister, and his death was sincerely
mourned by everyone.
Mrs. Grout held a prominent place among the pioneers, as she
was a sister of Henry and Dr. Valorous Meeker, her father being
Benjamin Meeker, one of the earliest settlers.
Rev. Grout was the grandson of Elijah Grout, a Revolutionary
soldier, for whom Elijah Grout Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution of Leslie was named.
JOSEPH NIMS
Came from Ohio to Leslie in 1838, with his wife and eight children. He had to go to Eaton Rapids to mill, it often taking a
week for the trip, and as the mother had died the children were
alone during his absence.
WASHINGTON SCOVEL
Came to Leslie in 1838. His eldest son Jerome, in 1912, was said
to be the oldest man living in Leslie who was born there. When
he was nine years old he helped drive the seven yoke of oxen while
Eli Barden held the plow when the sod was broken on what is
now Main street. Some years before this while he was riding
behind an ox team with his father their dog began barking, and
the father thought he had treed a squirrel, but it was found to be
a large black bear. Like all early settlers, Mr. Scovel had his
gun with him and soon dispatched Sir Bruin, and received ten
dollars for his pelt.
NELSON NORTON
Came from New York in 1838, with his wife and one child. He
brought some stock with him. When he reached Leslie he had
only ten dollars in his pocket, and it took nine of that to buy a
barrel of flour. He bought an eighty acre farm one-half mile
south of Leslie, where not a tree had been cut, but soon had a log
house built. For fresh meat he would hunt deer, which were
then quite plentiful.
CALVIN EDWARDS

Came from Cayuga county, N. Y. They came in a covered wagon