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

VEVAY ToWNSHII' AND ITS HISTORY

779

ters and one son. We came the entire distance of 200 miles in
nine days, with a yoke of oxen and a covered wagon, and drove
two cows, which furnished us with milk on the way.
My father secured 80 acres of land in Vevay on section 20,
which lay two miles south and one mile west of Mason. The
road was only a wagon track with the underbrush cut down, and
we made many detours in order to avoid crossing swamps and
marshes. When we passed the home of John Coatsworth, near
Eden, he called out to my father, Whig or Democrat? But my
father replied, "Freesoil. Hurrah for James G. Birney." I
suppose Mr. Coatsworth thought "one more party to fight!"
One vote was counted important in those days.
At that time there were but two stores in Mason, Turner's and
Smith's, and these would now be called department stores, as they
carried all sorts of commodities. But few families lived in the
village. A small school house stood where now Mrs. Harrison
lives on Main street, and this was also used as a church by all
denominations. Elder Hendee of Jackson preached for the Baptists. Elder Cary of Stockbridge for the Presbyterians, and the
Methodists had circuit preachers. George Shafer and Amos
Steele kept hotel where the Lawrence block now stands. Mr.
Danforth had a saw mill, Mr. Converse a blacksmith shop, while
Dr. Phelps and Dr. McRoberts were the physicians. Our family
of ten would come to church in the lumber wagon drawn by the
ox team, but when we reached the hogback we would have to get
out and walk, for it was not yet graded and the oxen could not
climb up it and draw such a big load. Our school district was not
yet organized, so we went to school in the Rolfe district, two and
one-half miles away, making a five mile walk for us every day.
Our orthography, reader and speller were combined in the Elementary spelling book, used by all pupils. One day I forgot my
book and my teacher, who was my sister, sent me all the way
home after it, making for me a ten mile walk that day.
I came down with the ague the next day, and I was inclined to
think my long walk caused my sickness, but I am convinced now
that it was the climate, combined with the malaria in the swamps.
Nearly everyone had it, and although it is now a thing of the past,
those who had it will never forget it. It was not to be misunderstood-first yawn, then chill, freeze, chatter, headache, backache,