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

many important offices. He was justice of the peace for several
terms and was usually spoken of as Squire Campbell.
Solon C. Lanes was the son of Jonathan Lane, one of the earliest
settlers who came to the township in 1834, and took up 640 acres
of land.
The village of Onondaga at this date comprises several business
places, all conducted by efficient business men. It has a cheese
factory, conducted by G. E. Moore, where loads of milk are
brought from the country every morning. There is a large
amount of farm produce shipped from the station; the fine farming country around produces large crops of different varieties.
It has an intelligent and enterprising lot of settlers, who are justly
proud of its natural beauties, advantages and resources. Local
affairs from the first have been well managed; no better evidence
of this can be found than in its improved highways; automobile
owners have been quick to learn this fact, that good roads are an
increasing economic and social factor.
Three-fourths of a century has passed since the woodsman's
ax was first raised against the sturdy oak. At that time this
country was a dense wilderness, and little did the settler think lie
was helping open a country whose resources would far surpass the
productions of any country, inhabited by man, though at that
time he was not thinking of that, his only amibition was to build
a home where he could produce enough for the daily needs of
himself and family. Slow but sure was the progress, until today
we are numbered among the most prosperous townships in the
state.
(Written by Mrs. Ira Eldred, Onondaga, Mich., June, 1917, and
read at the meeting of Ingham County Historical and Pioneer
Society, Mason, Mich.)
At the first historical meeting for Onondaga Township Mrs.
M. C. Baldwin acted as chairman. In the absence of the president of the county association, the secretary explained the object
of the township meetings. Mrs. M. B. Ferrey, of the Michigan
Historical Commission, gave a talk on the importance of systematic
work if the history of the county is to be preserved, and urged that
the children be made a part of the organization, and as far as
possible the study of local history be carried into the schools.