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

699

their wheat there to be ground, and Kinnieville became quite a
well known market. The last owner, Samuel Stetler, with his
brother-in-law, Samuel Matthews, came here in about 1871 or
1872. After a few years Mr. Matthews sold out and went west
and Mr. Stettler became the sole owner of the mill. He gave it a
thorough overhauling, replacing the old stones with the new roller
process. He had a private switch at Welkinson's crossing, and
kept a man and team busy hauling and loading flour on the trains
there. Every housekeeper in the country considered the Kinnieville flour the best on the market. He also had a cooper shop and
employed William Bellamy to make his flourbarrels. At least
three young men that I remember learned the miller's trade there.
Homer Canfield, who was connected with a mill in Albion for some
years; J. K. Trefry, who owns and runs the mill at Rives Junction,
and Frank Bassett, who was head miller in Eaton Rapids for a
while.
Somewhere about 1886 a man named Smith raised the dam at
Smithville, greatly improving the water power at Kinnieville,
and on April 4, 1890, the mill burned.
At the time my grandfather, James Trefry, came to Kinnieville, about 1855, there were three general stores and a hotel, but
no one seemed to know exactly when they were built, though
Joseph Pierson was said to have been the head carpenter. The
lower store, as it was always called, was run by a man named
Griffith. It was burned in 1885. The upper store was owned by
John Jordan, and was traded by him to Walter Wilkinson for the
farm now owned by Pearl Towns. This building stood until
1918, when it was torn down by the Rev. Hamlin.
The store on the north side of the road was run by Mr. Sprague,
and this old building is still standing.
Old Mr. Fister had a blacksmith shop, and nearly all the older
residents can remember him. Nichols and Lester Frances owned
the grist mill. Just who run the tavern is not known, but the
old building is still standing and occupied by Mrs. Luke, though
it has been moved from its original site.
There is no record of any log school house, and if there never
was one, then the first school building is still standing. About
1879 the county line district west was united with Kinnieville
and a new school house was built one-half mile west of the vil