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

WHITE OAK TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY

817

for while it meant hard work it also meant lots of fun and
enjoyment.
Blackberries were plentiful, and gathering them was one of the
pleasures of early days, as was the work of gathering the walnuts,
butter, beech and hazel nuts that grew in abundance, while the
squirrels would chatter and scold us for interfering with their
harvest.
Leeks were plentiful, but we were not pleased when the cows
found them, for "leek-y" butter was anything but an enjoyable
addition to the larder.
One day in October, 1855, we found three large walnut trees,
but a bear and two cubs disputed our right to the fruit. We did
not dispute their right to the fruit.
A party soon started out, and Bruin and family were killed the
next day by a party of boys near a lake about six miles from
White Oak. In the fall of 1862 the black squirrels all, or nearly
all, left this part of the country. Land was being fast cleared up,
and mowers could be found on many of the farms. Henry Hawley, near Mason, was agent for the Buckeye machine, which was
a good one.
Then came the dark and gloomy days of '61 to '65 when wives,
mothers, daughters, sisters and sweethearts saw their loved ones
go forth to face the rebel bullets. White Oak helped to bear this
burden in a noble manner, as they did during the Spanish-American War and the great World War. Her boys have always been
faithful to the Stars and Stripes.
White Oak now has fine buildings, some of the houses lit by
electricity instead of the old time fireplace. The headlights of
our automobiles on our good roads have taken the place of the
torches carried over the trails made by the Indians, and we can
truly say all honor to the men and women who have transformed
the forests and swamps into the beautiful land we now see. Let
us cherish their memory as we do that of the brave men who went
forth to save our country and keep our flag from ignoble stain.
And, when we decorate the graves of our soldier dead, let us not
forget the living soldier, for
"The smile that is given,
The kind word that is said,
Gives more joy to the living
Than flowers when we're dead."