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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house to house until the sled was filled with a jolly lot of young people who were delighted to go. They drove out to a farm which
was all of three miles to attend a self-invited sugar party, where
they arrived in due time all unexpected to the host and hostess.
They tipped over once or twice on the way, because they said the
driver purposely found all the small stumps in his way. He,
however, laid the blame on the team, saying that it was a strange
team. They were welcomed at the little log house with its one
room. Supper was served, also plenty of warm maple sugar, and
after a pleasant evening they started on the return trip.
When near the upper mill-pond Mr. Austin stopped and unhitched the oxen and drove them down to the mill pond to drink,
leaving his passengers sitting and shivering in the cold, frosty
night. He said the team was thirsty and must have a drink.
Leslie was growing quite rapidly. People were prospering.
Steps were taken for the building of another school house. A new
brick school house and the Congregational chapel were built.
Preparations were made to build a church which in due time was
in shape so that services were held in it, but it was some time
before it was finished.
LESLIE, Aug. 10.-In the early day when one had to go from
Leslie to Dexter for flour and walk to Jackson for supplies of sugar
and other necessities and often had to carry a basket of butter
and eggs to trade, it seemed that one was entitled to a feast.
Luke Prime had 11 children and when one of the neighbors died
and left an orphan he was adopted and the 12 were as one family.
Mr. Prime was born in New York in 1806, and his wife, Rebecca,
was born in 1813. At an early age they were married and a long
journey "to the wilderness of Ingham county" was taken for a
wedding trip. They bought government land. Rich or poor,
every newcomer was a neighbor. A well, a mile away, was used
until the family could dig one of their own. A yoke fitting the
shoulders was hewn out so two pails of water could be carried at
once. In the spring the yoke was used to carry the sap to the
boiling kettle for making maple sugar.
The following is taken from the family Bible: "The Indians
were friendly or the reverse. Thanksgiving was approaching and
the goodies were made. Eleven children and the little orphan