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 INGIIAM COUNTY

A ripening field of wheat is a beautiful sight. It is a source of
satisfaction to the grower, for he sees in it dollars for yearly expenses and bread for his family the ensuing year. The student of
political economy recognizes in it surplus food for the millions of
non-producers, the wage earners.
The artist dreams of material for his pencil or brush. In my
boyhood I have watched the nodding heads and bending stalks
when stirred by the passing breeze, the ever changing color from
passing clouds, seen the lark on fluttering wings poised above it,
breaking into sweet songs of praise for its well spread table, giving
in fact melody for the stored up bread of mankind. The rabbit
pauses at the edge of the field and with pointed ear listens for enemies that would harm its sheltered home and little ones. A
quail, from the top rail of the fence, calls to its mate, "more
wheat, some more wheat."
Examine the kernel of the wheat and you will find the outer
wrappings folded in the crease, like a military guard or sentinel
wrapped in his cloak, guarding the delicate germ and starch cells
from moisture and insect enemies. The picture is beautiful; no
artist can make it complete in all its coloring; no scientist can describe its utilities, or poet can, in words or phrases, tell us of the
pleasant dreams it excites in the minds of men.
From memory I will have to divide the early pioneers of Wheatfield into sections, not of land, but settlements or neighborhoods.
The northern part of this township was settled by Germans, or
people of German descent. Among them were the Zimmers,
Linns, Emmers, Rehles, Karns, Lotts, Stoffers and Rohrbachers.
Mr. Caswell, the oldest ettler in that section, came when the
township was a wilderness. Many times I have heard him relate
how he went to Dexter, the nearest grist mill, and packed the flour
for their bread home on his back. He depended upon the work of
his hands and his faithful gun to furnish food for his growing
family. He had no horses or oxen for the first two or three years.
His son told me they had no neighbors, the nearest settler being
miles away.
For amusement he (the son) trained his dog to call the wolves,
so whenever the father was away, they did not dare do this when
the father was at home, the dog would go outside the cabin and
howl during the evening until he heard the varmints coming, then