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

take over the trail, and secured a charter to build a Plank Road
from Jackson to Eaton Rapids and collect toll at the rate of one
cent per mile for double rigs and one-half cent per mile for single
rigs. This toll was collected at gates stationed about every five
miles along the route.
The road was constructed of two-inch planks eight feet long,
laid on two 2x4 inch stringers, making a single roadway. That
teams might pass a dirt road was made at intervals along the side.
Over this road the trip from Jackson to Lansing was made daily,
except Sundays, by means of Dan Hibbard's stage coaches, consisting of two four-horse coaches and one two-horse coach.
This road was very satisfactory for a time, but as the planks
became warped and badly decayed, the company appealed to the
Legislature to have their charter amended allowing them to use
gravel. Mother has described to me her first "joy ride" over the
bumps from Jackson to Eaton Rapids when a girl of fourteen she
journeyed from New York state alone to her new Michigan home.
The charter was amended and the road graveled to Berryville,
but the gravel being of poor quality public dissatisfaction increased, and the people of Blackman and Rives of Jackson county
and Leslie and Onondaga of Ingham county called township
meetings and appointed committees to present their arguments
for the repeal of the charter. Attorneys were secured, a hot debate ensued, which resulted in an agreement by the company to
cease toll collections a year from date.
Peace reigned therefore for a year, but the company refusing to
discontinue as agreed the wrath of the people was again aroused.
Travelers broke down and burned the gates, fought the gatekeepers, and at last forced the abolishment of the entire system.
There is a current story that when the question of a site for the
Capitol of our state was under consideration that point on the
Plank Road now known as Champ's Creek lacked only two votes
of being the chosen spot. The name of the city was to have been
Michigan City instead of Lansing. There was then at this point
a store, and an upright saw mill operated by Mr. Newman, who
owned what was later known as the Champ farm extending from
the village east to the five corners.
The mill pond basin is now plainly visible, over which extended
a long bridge. A very little later a general store was built and