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

711

September 5, 1870, they raised $90 for teachers wages. Robert
Harris was let the job of painting the school house two coats in a
"good, workmanlike manner," for $33.50, and the school house
was to be shingled with Number I pine shingles for $59.00.
These shingles were not removed until 45 years later.
Aside from the cooper shop operated by Potter and Smith, the
industry in the district of most interest was a large saw mill
erected about 1860 on the S. W. 14 of Sec. 11, and operated for a
time by Raxford Clark and later by Bowles and Bushan. A
great deal of lumber was sawed at this mill, which burned about
1867.
The first township meeting of Onondaga Township was held in
District No. 6, at the home of Barney Johnston, on section 14,
on the first Monday in April, 1838. Previous to this time Onondaga had been a part of Aurelius Township, but by act of the
Legislature approved March 6, 1836, town 1 north, range 2
west, was set off and organized into a separate township by the
name of Onondaga. At this first meeting Amos E. Steele was
elected supervisor by a mjority of 17 votes, Josephus Tuttle, township clerk by a majority of 16, and for assessor Peter Cranson
received 15 votes, Gabriel V. N. Hatfield and Josephus Tuttle each
14 votes. Other officers elected were Jeduthan Frye, John Darling, Silas Booth, Gilbert Rossman, Adna Hunt, Frederick Abbey,
Chauncey Day, Merritt Johnston, Henry Allen, Orris Cranson.
On motion it was voted that any resident of the township taking
or killing a wolf in the township should receive a bounty of eight
dollars therefor. It was also voted to hold the next township
meeting at the home of Peter Cranson.
The supervisors of Onondaga Township from its organization
in 1838 to 1880 were as follows: 1838, Amos E. Steele; 1839,
Josephus Tuttle; 1840, Martin R. Sibley; 1841 to 1848, Joseph
Gale; 1853, Warren E. Buckland; 1853-1855, Joseph Gale; 1856,
Joseph S. Pierson; 1860, John French; 1861-1862, Garrett Van
Riper; 1869, John Brown; 1870, Nelson Everett; 1871, Mosely A.
Baldwin; 1872, Nelson Everett; 1873, A. S. Noble; 1874, Milton
Ryan; 1875-1877, Henry Crain; 1878-1879, Mark Conklin; 1880,
Pomeroy VanRiper.
The township clerks of Onondaga for the same period were as
follows: 1838, Josephus Tuttle; 1839, John Phelps; 1840, Warren