Pioneer history of Ingham County, compiled and arranged by Mrs. Franc L. Adams, secretary of the Ingham County pioneer and historical society.

VEVAY TOWNSHIIP AND ITS HISTORY

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and gives the object of the club: "The object of the organization
is to save men from the evil habits of intemperance, and further,
that the club is not to be trammeled by any political, sectarian or
legal restraints, or hindrances in its work of reform and the saving
of men."
Of the eleven officers elected at this meeting, S. H. Beecher, of
Toledo, who was the second vice-president, is the only one living.
According to the reports of the various secretaries, the club was
well repaid for its work, but after about five years its enthusiasm
died down, the last report being recorded April 30, 1882. Job T.
Campbell, a well known Mason man and former editor of the
News, was secretary at the time.
SELECT SCHOOL IN MASON.
About 1863 a select school was held in what was known as the
"old town house," near where the store of A. L. Vandercook is
now located. (1919.) In giving his recollections of that school
George Miller, of Mason, says:
"My first teacher in that school was Mrs. N. G. Saxton, whose
husband was at that time a soldier in the Civil War. Two of
her pupils were Mrs. Lucy Saxton Shafer and Mrs. Cassie Saxton
Hinckley, her own daughters, who are still living in Mason. I
have in my possession the old bell with which Mrs. Saxton used
to call the children to school. My next teacher was Mrs. Hannah
Miller Tefft, who in later years was best known here as Mrs.
Hannah May. She was one of the first and most widely known
teachers in the county, and her picture graces the walls in the
Representative chamber in the Capitol at Lansing in honor of
her work.
"The building where the school was held was later moved onto
Mill street, back of where the Presbyterian church now stands,
and used for a high school building. After the brick school building was erected the old building was purchased by the colored
people of this city and used as a church. A part of the building is
still in existence and used as a dwelling house.
"Among those now living who attended this school are George
W. Miller, J. H. Shafer, Chas. Shafer, Mrs. J. H. Shafer, Mrs.
Henry Hinckley and Elmer Hulse."