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

818 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY
THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET.
A well was dug and walled up with stones. A box was made
with a spout fitted into one side, then this was set over the top of
the well on a plank platform. About ten feet from the well a
pole was set that had a crotch at the top. A long pole was fastened
into this crotch with a long wooden pin or bolt. A long slender
pole was attached to this sweep, and a bucket was fastened to the
end of the pole. The bucket was pushed down into the water
and drawn up full of clear sparkling water, and the older and more
moss grown the bucket the better the water tasted. No matter
if the bucket had been made the day before, it was still the "old
oaken bucket."
PHELPSTOWN, 1863.
A postoffice of Ingham county, 12 miles east of Lansing.