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

LOCKE TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY

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Frederick, gunsmith.
Gates, physician.
Hill, Alonzo-cooper.
Lower, - mason.
Lum, William H.-mason.
Murphy, William W., Rev.-Methodist.
Rowley, Levi-justice of the peace.
Spencer & Fisher (Truman Spencer and George Fisher, Jr.)saw mill.
Watkins, Joseph, Rev.-Methodist.
Wheeler, Elijah B.-cooper.
Wright, C.-mason.
LOCKE TOWNSHIP.
Locke Township is in the northeast corner of InghaIn county.
From its location, tucked away in a corner, away from the great
highways and railroads, those arteries of travel and traffic, with
no minerals or great commercial woodlands to be exploited, it will
always be an agricultural community; have nothing but a rural
delivery, small country stores, blacksmith shops, etc.
From its fertile soil fine farms will be made, and prosperous
farmers will exist, whose prosperity will be noticeable in good
farm houses, large barns and other convenient outbuildings.
Its intellectuality is shown by the numerous school houses, and
its morality by its country churches. The pioneers were mostly
from New York and Ohio, with a sprinkling of Scotch and Irish
from Canada. Its inhabitants were able to purchase land and
homesteads, had some means to make improvements and build
their houses, so did not endure the hardships and struggles of
pioneer life as did their less fortunate neighbors.
Among those I became acquainted with were the Wrights,
Rowleys, Spencers, Williams, McKees, Lings, Coles, Browns and
McCrearys. My first journey into Locke Township was in the
winter of 1875-6. I was teaching school in the Alchin district in
Leroy Township when I heard that a school friend had charge of
the Belle Oak school. I hiked over to see him, walking the distance between Webberville and Belle Oak. I noticed the bridge