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 INGHAM 'COUNTY

A lady told me she did not have a stove for a long time. They
heated the house with a built-in fireplace made of stone. A
crane hung at one side with iron hooks on which to hang the iron
teakettle and other kettles used in cooking vegetables and meat.
When they wished to bake they would place a tin oven before the
fire, and would often roast potatoes in the hot ashes. They were
obliged to buy all of their fruit until their orchards began to bear.
For winter use they prepared it nicely, and dried, pickled and preserved in thick syrup. In drying pumpkin, after other preparation, they would cut it around in rings then hang on small poles in
the house to dry. The system of canning was not known at that
time.
Candles furnished the light. It was quite a pleasure in those
(lays to prepare candle wicks on slender rods across small poles,
then dip them in melted tallow and see them grow. Tin candle
molds came next, after that kerosene oil.
The changes became pleasant to the pioneer, but nothing like
pressing the button now and flooding the room with electricity.
Indians camped in the surrounding woods, and would occasionally appear at the door and ask for something to eat. Chief
Okemos was sometimes a visitor. He was a very remarkable old
Indian. Bears would sometimes be seen, and wolves would howl
and often become troublesome, but the men were on guard, and
they never had a death from that source. Deer were quite
plentiful.
The first school house in the Hubbard district was a log one,
located north of Deacon Olds farm near the large willow trees.
In 1852 the frame one, which now stands, was built by Deacon
Olds, and many now living have spent happy and interesting
hours within its walls. The first post office within reach was in
Mason. Every letter received cost twenty-five cents. The one
who sent the letter did not pay for it, but the one who received it
did. Envelopes were not known then. The written letter was
covered with white paper, doubled and fastened with sealing wax.
One lady told me she gave her son, a lad of eight or nine years,
twenty-five cents to get a letter she heard was in the post office.
He had to walk nearly six miles, as the only team they had were
oxen; he arrived in Mason, spent the money for raisins which he