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

ONONDAGA TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY

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and rivers were generally miry and fordable in but few places;
the corduroys across the swamps and the temporary pole bridges
were yet to be constructed; clearings and log houses were few
and far apart. Trails meandered around the hills and swamps
along the easiest routes for Indians and wild animals or for teams
and travelers. Primitive oaks covered the hills and plains. Wild
deer were common and turkeys numerous. Ox power was used
for breaking up and preparing the land for crops. No whistle of
locomotive was heard at night and no rumbling of cars on steel
rails by day, though the silence of the night was often broken by
the howling wolf and the hooting owl. Only those who experienced
the pioneer life of four-score or more years ago can realize its limitations and privations. It was under such conditions that the
settlement of Onondaga commenced in 1834. It was fortunate in
the character and enterprise of its pioneers, who were of New
York and New England origin. With heart and hope they worked
for and obtained even better conditions than they left behind
them when they turned their steps westward.
The first entry of land in what is now Onondaga Township was
made by Oliver Booth, from Gaines, Orleans county, N. Y., May
26, 1834, and included the whole section 29, T. 1 N, 2 W. Mr.
Booth settled on it with his family in the following month, and was
therefore the first settler in the township. He died about one
year later, and his was the first death in the township. The first
marriage was that of his daughter Harriet to Jeduthan Fry in
February, 1838, and their daughter, Hannah Fry, was the first
white female child born in the township. Jeduthan Fry was
originally from Massachusetts, but for a time was a resident of
Bucks county, Pa. When nineteen years of age he came to
Ingham county and located in the township of Onondaga in October, 1834. He lived for a short time after his arrival on one of
the Booth places, northwest of where the village now stands.
He came to the township with Mr. Booth, who had returned to
New York to settle up his business affairs. There are living near
Onondaga at the present time two descendents of this Oliver
Booth, Walter and Gurdin Gould, both prosperous farmers, living
just across the line in Jackson county.
Peter Cranston, from Cayuga county, N. Y., was the second
person who purchased land in this township, his entry on section