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 INGHAM COUNTY COMPILED AND ARRANGED BY MRS. FRANC L. ADAMS SECRETARY OF THE INGHAM COUNTY PIONEER and HISTORICAL SOCIETY VOLUME I PUBLISHED AND PRINTED BY WYNKOOP HALLENBECK CRAWFORD COMPANY LANSING. MICHIGAN 1923

1920 OFFICERS. President: L. H. Ives. 1st Vice President: R. H. Bullen. 2nd Vice President: Mrs. J. H. Shafer. Secretary: Mrs. Franc L. Adams. Treasurer: Wm. M. Webb. Executive Committee: W. A. Melton, Frank Seely, Mrs. W. H. Taylor. Publishing Committee: W. A. Melton, Vernon J. Brown, Rev. W. H. Hartzog.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Preface, by Publishing Committee..................................... 4 Foreword, Mrs. Franc L. Adams...................................... 5 Poem, M rs. L. H. Ives............................................... 8 Chapter I. Reports of Ingham County Pioneer and Historical meetings from 1872 to 1897, inclusive.................... 11 Chapter II. Ingham County history and anecdotes pertaining thereto. 116 Chapter III. Ingham County Notes, consisting of stories of Pioneer Days..................................... 173 Chapter IV. Alaiedon Township and its History.................... 238 Chapter V. Aurelius Township and its History.................... 276 Chapter VI. Bunkerhill Township and its History.................. 325 Chapter VII. Delhi Township and its History....................... 364 Chapter VIII. Ingham Township and its History..................... 397 Chapter IX. Lansing Township and City, with History............. 423 Chapter X. Leroy Township and its History...................... 607 Chapter XI. Leslie Township and its History...................... 631 Chapter XII. Locke Township and its History...................... 664 Chapter XIII. Meridian Township and its History................... 671 Chapter XIV. Onondaga Township and its History.................. 681 Chapter XV. Stockbridge Township and its History................. 715 Chapter XVI. Vevay Township and its History...................... 722 Chapter XVII. Wheatfield Township and its History.................. 799 Chapter XVIII. White Oak Township and its History.................. 810 Chapter XIX. Williamston Township and its History................. 819

PREFACE. This volume on the history of the Pioneers of Ingham County contains much matter written by the pioneers themselves. They relate what they did and saw. Much of the material in this work is of inestimable value; it would be impossible to reproduce it. The work of compiling it has been done by Mrs. Franc L. Adams, of Mason, Michigan. For years she has been secretary of the Ingham County Pioneer Society. She has toiled long and diligently to gather from all sources the material included in this work. It has been a labor of love. It is as authentic as it is possible to make it. The committee in charge of its publication believe it will awaken new interest in pioneer life. This generation and all future generations will be benefited by it. The Supervisors of the County of Ingham have shown their interest in the publication of this book, by making three annual appropriations from the county funds, as provided by the laws of Michigan, to be used in aiding its publication. We commit this to print, believing that it will constitute a lasting and becoming monument to those whose labors in the past have made Ingham County what it is today. REV.. B. HARTZOG, Ph.D. V. J. BROWN. W. A. MELTON. COL. L. H. IVES. C. E. BEMENT. G. K. STIMSON. A. C. CARTON. E. A. CALKINS. April 21, 1923. Publishing Committee.

FOREWORD. It is the aim of the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical Society to place before the public a history containing facts and incidents relative to pioneer life as told by the pioneers themselves, although these heroic men and women have been dead for many years. Much research work has been found necessary in order to gather this data, and the files of the Ingham County News have proved a perfect treasure trove, for at the time the society was formed, and for a few years afterward, there were many articles published which were written by those who participated in the early struggle with the wilderness, and we know there could be no history more authentic than that. Then as the years rolled on and the next generation took up the work begun by the first settlers, they became the pioneers of their day with experiences no less interesting than those of their fathers and mothers, and as they gave them at the annual meeting of the society each year, they were caught and published. Taken as a whole they form a valuable collection, perfectly authentic, though not to be found in the official records of the county, and for this very reason they are of inestimable value historically. It is not the object of the society to have a history compiled from official records entirely, for all know where and how to find them when reference to them is desired, but it hopes to make of this first volume a readable book that will be of interest to the descendents of the pioneers, and as they read they will become so filled with enthusiasm that they will at once proceed to gather all data in their possession, and send it to the secretary of the society to be used in another volume, for the society hopes to continue this work as long as there is valuable history of the county to be found. Every year since the Ingham County Pioneer Society was formed, and more especially since the word "Hi torical" was added to the name, the reports show that suggestions and recommendations for the publication of a county history were made, and nearly every year action was taken authorizing certain com

6 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY mittees to proceed with the work, but no tangible progress was made until within the last two years, when the secretary became so intensely interested in the work that she labored day and night, and almost encompassed sea and land, to see the fruition of her desire for a county historical publication. Since 1872 the records show that it was several times voted that the society should raise money to have a county history published, but nothing came of all this, and not until the legislature passed a law providing that boards of supervisors throughout the State could appropriate funds for county historical societies to use for this very purpose, and a committee from the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical Society went before the Ingham county board of supervisors and were unanimously given the sum of $200.00, did the way open for the publication of the desired history. The secretary of the society has worked faithfully during the past year in trying to arouse the people of Ingham county to an interest in this work. Each month she has sent questions regarding the early history of the county to the various newspapers published within its boundaries, with the request that replies be sent to her, and with these questions she gave some items of history as an incentive to the readers to send this material to her. The results have been very gratifying, and much data gathered in that way, though the residents of some townships have entered into the work more readily than others, consequently have a fuller history. There may be some discrepancy in dates, and this could scarcely be avoided when the pioneers themselves were often obliged to give them approximately, but accuracy has been striven for throughout the compilation of data. This is a simple history, told as far as possible in the words of the pioneers themselves, and it should be doubly interesting because of that fact. If there are mistakes they can be corrected in the next volume, and it would be a strange thing if mistakes were not found, for as one pioneer said, "I never wrote these things down, so can only draw on my memory for them, and how can I be sure after all these years which is fact and which tradition." Dear Public, this volume is submitted to you with the hope

FORWARD 7 that you will enjoy reading it, and find information of value in it; that you will overlook its shortcomings as you realize the stupendous work it was for one person to undertake alone, and that every reader will make an effort to have the next volume better, in every way, than this. FRANC L. ADAMS, Mason, Mich. Secretary Ingham County Pioneer and Historical Society.

8 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY THE DREAM OF THE PIONEERS. In souls that are strong to dare and do A wonderful dream lies hid, And that is the reason the brave and true Accomplished all that they did. What was the dream of the Viking-crew Who ventured the frozen seas, Naught but the sway of the wanderlust Filled the warrior souls of these. The dream of the dauntless Genoese Visioned a shorter way, Which should lead the Spanish merchantmen To the wealth of the far Cathay. And he who came to the land of flowers, From the sunny hills of Spain Followed a dream of a fabled fount Which should give him youth again. DeSoto saw but a ghost of gold And he wandered where it led Till the waves of our mightiest river rolled Above his dreamless head. The visionaries of Jamestown fort On errands of rapine went, For only pleasure or gain or power, With their selfish purpose blent. The Puritan dreamed of a holy place Hedged round with sanctity Where he forever might set his face Against frivolity.

9 The pilgrim Mayflower brought a band Who knelt to bless the sod, For they dreamed there dwelt in this alien land Freedom to worship God. One uncrowned king kept a vision vast, With a courage that could not failThus Marcus Whitman's soul held fast To the great Northwestern trail. Boone, and Bowie and Crockett too Hewed each a dangerous way, While Clark and Lewis, and Fremont knew A dream as grand as they. These were the forerunners, dreamers free, With a faith and hope sublime, But the dreamers dearest to you and me Belong to a later time. To measure the dream of Our Pioneers, Measure the nation's dome, The monument of their toil and tearsTheir dream come true, of Home. They knew wherever they cut the blaze Some kindred soul should spell The talisman of their toilsome day And dream the dream as well. So, while the Pioneers we toast, This land of the noble free Built out of a million homes, we boast As their priceless legacy. That all may feel the debt we owe Join now in hearty cheers That future generations know Michigan's Pioneers.

10 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Then while that shout goes ringing by - One voice, one heart, one hand - All enemies of Home defy And drive them from our land! Else shall the fate of Tyre be ours, Or Nineveh, or Rome, Their broken altars, ruined towers, Heaped o'er the wreck of Home. MRS. EDNA M. IVES, Mason.

CHAPTER I Reports of annual meetings from 1872 to and including 1897; history of formation of the Society; paper by Mrs. M. C. Smith; remarks by Hon. J. M. Longyear; paper, Alvin Rolfe; paper, Capt. J. P. Cowles; letter by Frederick Cooley; address of 0. M. Barnes, with history of townships; stories by pioneers; address by Rev. Augusta Chapin; poem by Elijah Woodworth; poem, J. T. Bullen; paper, J. A. Barnes; paper, Mrs. Silas Bement; account of banquets with toasts given; paper, John H. Lee; innumerable pioneer reminiscences; many mortality lists. ANNUAL REPORTS OF INGHAM COUNTY HISTORICAL AND PIONEER SOCIETY FROM ITS ORGANIZATION IN 1872, UP TO AND INCLUDING 1897. The Pioneer settlers of Ingham county met at the court house in the village of Mason on Tuesday, the 28th day of May. 1872, to organize a county Pioneer society. The meeting was called to order by Dr. Minos McRobert. On motion the Hon. Amos E. Steele was elected chairman, with Peter Lowe as secretary. By request of the chairman Hon. O. M. Barnes stated the object of the meeting in a short and eloquent address in which he referred to the early history of the county, and its present population and resources. A constitution and by-laws was presented by the secretary and adopted by those present. The Mason Cornet Band was in attendance and their music was well appreciated by the old settlers present. The following persons were appointed a committee on the election of permanent officers for the ensuing year: 0. M. Barnes, Vevay; Wm. A. Dryer, Lansing; John M. French, Lansing City; Arnold Walker, Leslie; Marcus Beers, Ingham; Uriah Coulson, Stockbridge; James Birney, Bunkerhill; Wm. Austin, Onondaga; R. R. Bullen, Aurelius; Daniel Dutcher, White Oak; G. Fletcher, Wheatfield; S. Dobie, Aliedon; H. H. North, Delhi; D. V. Smith, Meridian; N. C. Branch, Williamston. Upon their report the following officers were declared elected:

12 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY President: Dr. Minos McRobert, of Mason. Vice President: Uriah Coulson, Stockbridge. Secretary: Peter Lowe, Mason. Treasurer: Samuel Skadan, Ingham. Executive Committee: Wm. A. Dryer, Lansing; Arnold Walker, Leslie; J. M. Williams, Williamston. On motion the following were named to prepare histories of the townships of the county, giving date of organization, first settlement, etc.: Jas. S. Pierson, Onondaga. H. H. North, Delhi. James Birney, Bunkerhill. O. B. Stillman, Aliedon. James Reeves, Stockbridge. G. Fletcher, Wheatfield. Abram Hayner, White Oak. Edmund Allchin, Leroy. Samuel Skadan, Ingham. David Phelps, Locke. J. P. Cowles, Lansing. J. M. Williams, Williamston. Peter Lowe, Vevay. J. H. Kilbourne, Meridian. R. Hayward, Aurelius. 0. M. Barnes was appointed to make a condensed history of the several townships of the county. At a meeting of the Executive Committee on May 15, 1873, it was voted that the secretary should extend an invitation to Hon. J. W. Longyear and Hon. D. L. Case to be present at the annual meeting and give short addresses. It was recommended that the annual dues be twenty-five cents per year instead of fifty, as was voted at the time the society was organized. They also recommended the appointment of a Historian, for the purpose of having collected and compiled facts and incidents of the early history of the county with a view to having the first volume published during the ensuing year. Each member of the society was requested to hand his individual statement to the secretary, and the committee appointed to write township history hand the results to the secretary as soon as possible. The first annual meeting of the Pioneer Society was held at the court house in Mason on May 27, 1873, President Minos McRobert

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 13 presiding. Prayer by Rev. Wm. Rice, of the M. E. church, then reports and routine work. Upon motion the secretary was instructed to urge the committees from the several townships to complete the township histories as rapidly as possible. Officers elected: President, Rev. E. K. Grout, of Leslie; Vice President, Uriah Coulson, Stockbridge; Secretary, Peter Lowe; Treasurer, Samuel Skadan, Ingham; Executive Committee: Wm. H. Horton, Vevay; Henry A. Hawley, Vevay; J. M. Williams, Williamston. An interesting address was given by Hon. J. W. Longyear, of Detroit. At a meeting of the executive committee on April 11, 1874, it was voted to invite Hon. O. M. Barnes to address the society at the annual meeting. That the secretary prepare a list of members arranged alphabetically, with the amount of dues owed, and have printed 200 postcards announcing the date of annual meeting. That the Mason Band be requested to attend and furnish music at the opening of each session, and that N. R. VanVrankin be asked to furnish vocal music consisting of old pioneer melodies. The report of the first annual meeting of the Ingham County Historical and Pioneer Society, then known as the County Pioneer Society, which was held in Mason, in May, 1873, contains a historical sketch written by Mrs. C. M. Smith, that cannot fail to be of interest to Lansing people. She says: "I have been requested to state any facts that may be of interest relating to the early history of Ingham county. My father, Joab Page, came with his family into Michigan in the winter of 1831-32. He came to Jacksonburg about the middle of February, where there was but one frame house that was lathed and plastered. A man named Ames built the house, and having just buried his wife, rented it to my father for a few months. Father built the first sawmill in Jackson county. It was situated a few rods east of where the Southern depot now stands in the city of Jackson. The second sawmill in the county father built on his own land, eight miles east of Jackson, and two miles south of the old trail road, running from Detroit to Marshall. He built the first hotel at Grass Lake, and kept the same in 1836, when the emigration to Michigan was so great. We counted in one day over sixty covered wagons. It was almost a continual

14 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHIAM COUNTY string of teams, each carrying a family and their entire possessions. They usually carried and cooked their own provisions. "In 1840 we came into Ingham county, near the Rolfe settlement. We were obliged to cut our road ahead of our teams one and one-half miles. They had not organized a school district, but thought best to have a school. My sister, Amelia Page (later Mrs. G. D. Pease), taught the school in a log shanty, scarcely higher than her head. The floor was made of logs split in two, laid with the flat side up. It had one window of glass, and a large stick and mud chimney which let in a good supply of light from the top. "During the first year the Rev. Mr. Jackson preached a few times in the neighborhood. Our people made an abundance of maple sugar, took an ox team and started for market, though it was very uncertain where they would find a family that had pork, flour or potatoes to exchange for sugar. They did not return as we expected them to. In about two weeks we learned from a neighbor who had returned from market that our people were at Leoni, and that my husband was seriously ill. I set out to find a way to go to him, walking one mile and a half to get a horse, to another place for a wagon, and a mile and a half in another direction to get some one to drive for me and bring the team back. To get to Leslie, four miles and a half, we traveled eight miles, and then could not shun all the mudholes, for our wagon dipped mud and water several times. It was almost impossible to stay in the wagon. "In September, 1843, we moved to what is now North Lansing, to put up a mill, and finish a dam across Grand River, that had been begun the year before by John Burchard, who lost his life by being carried over the dam and drowned. "There were five voters in our family at that time: Joab Page, Isaac C. Page, Whitney Smith, G. D. Pease and Alvin Rolfe, which made it an event of some importance, as it nearly doubled the number of voters in the town. "We occupied the one log house. It had some floor below, none above, no hearth, one door, one window, and a stick and mud chimney on the outside of the house. Our mother and some of the girls were obliged to stay back until our home could be made more comfortable. The lumber for our use was rafted down the river

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 15 from Eaton Rapids. Flour and other provisions were brought down in boats about forty miles, I think, by river. Almost every man in Lansing and Delhi worked on the job, and boarded with us between two and three months. Cooking stoves at that time were the exception and not the rule. Our baking was all done in a tin baker before the fire. Could bake three loaves of bread or two pies. We baked eighteen loaves of bread every day, except Sunday, and so we got enough on hand by Saturday night to last until Monday. I made and baked every loaf of it myself. "The fall election was held at our house. We got dinner for every man in town and most of the women. It was one of the bright spots never to be forgotten. "Our nearest neighbor south was Mr. Harrison North. Our neighbor east was two miles away, and had none west that we knew of. On the Fourth of July, 1844, they raised the first pole, the Indians helping, but without them the pole could not have been raised. On the same day Marshall Pease was born, he being the first white child born at what is now the Capital of Michigan. "My father was justice of the peace, and we had some famous lawsuits. One time they had a replevin suit, and were likely to break down the suit, throw great blame on the constable and make him pay for some cattle in question, for the want of a bond that the officers had given, which could not be produced in the court. Let me say here that the court room was our kitchen. When they got hungry they would adjourn while we cooked. While the court people were partaking of their dinner on the day in question, some of us girls were strolling about to pass away the time, and found some bits of paper in the mud which had been jammed down with a stick. We picked some of them up and found they were part of the missing bond. We soon found the whole of it, washed off the mud, pasted it together and gave it to John W. Longyear (now Judge Longyear of Detroit), he being one of the lawyers opposed to Esq. Baker of Dewitt, who might have told where to look for the bond. When court was called after dinner, the lost bond was brought forward, greatly to the chagrin of Mr. Baker. "We were still the only family at what is now the city of Lansing, when the Capital was located there. We had built onto our house until we were comfortable for room, yet when the people

16 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIHAM COUNTY came to view the city (that was to be) our room would be so full that many times we could not get the meals. Sleigh loads of people came, even from Jackson, and all points within reach. In some instances they were glad to give us the fire and room in which to cook them a dinner. As soon as possible our folks put up a frame and enclosed it, laying down rough boards for floors. The building was twenty feet wide, forty feet long, and two stories high. We made white wood tables and benches for the lower room, capable of seating sixty, and called it the dining room. "We made straw ticks of coarse sheeting and pillows of our feather beds, spread the beds on the chamber floor, added our bedding and the chambers were furnished. This was the first boarding house in Lansing and was in good demand during the summer. In the course of the summer there were many buildings put upboard shanties, slab shanties, and log shanties, each one a boarding house. Among them was the old Lansing House, a double log house, hewed on the outside, built by Mr. Jipson, and made ready for the members of the Legislature, also a school house. "The first school was taught by Miss E. A. Powell, now Mrs. J. N. Bush of Lansing. The first sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Coburn, of the town of DeWitt, a local Methodist preacher, in the old log house. After we built the dining room, as it was universally called, we had preaching every Sabbathtwo preachers from Lyons Circuit, two from Bennington Circuit, and a few times Rev. Mr. Root preached in the evening, when business called him that way. I do not remember whether he was Presbyterian or Congregationalist. "When the Commissioners came on to select the site for the Capitol building we had no bridge and they crossed the river in boats. The man who handled the boat lost control of it, and was carried over the dam and drowned. After a few minutes they went on with their work, giving no further thought to the poor man who had lost his life in their service. "During the summer several stores were started, one by II. H. Smith, of Mason, one by James Turner, of Mason, and one by Crossman & Walker, of Flint. "Also a large hotel called the Seymour House, all within speaking distance of our old home. Did we not enjoy it after living there so long as we had without neighbors? Soon came the Sab

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 17 bath schools, singing school and concerts. The first church edifice was built for a warehouse and afterwards used as a barn. All denominations joined in buying it and fitting it up for a church. The ladies furnished it and we were proud of it. It was neat and large enough for the congregations, but sometimes was irreverently called 'God's barn.' "By this time small matters ceased to be of much importance, and Lansing moved on with rapid strides beyond the log house that cradled it; beyond the big dining room with its white wood tables and benches where the pioneers had often been refreshed both spiritually and bodily; beyond the people who ministered to their wants in the early days, for many of them are buried in the cemetery, while but few of us remain to tell the story of the pioneers." Mrs. Smith's story, written in 1873, comes to us today like a voice from the far-away days of the late '30's and early '40's, and makes events seem so real that as we read it almost seems as though we were there and passing through those strenuous scenes. In addition to Mrs. Smith's story, Hon. J. W. Longyear, who was present at the 1873 meeting, made the following remarks: "I came to Ingham county thirty years ago. This county then, for a new county, was considerably advanced, so I could hardly be called a pioneer. One could even then get out to a railroad in four or five days. I suppose a real pioneer would be one who couldn't accomplish that feat in almost as many weeks. It was, however, pretty new when I came. Woodward Avenue, in Detroit, as I passed through on my way here, when I came into the county, was as bad a road as Ingham county ever saw, except where it was all woods and stumps. We had some trouble getting over the road from Jackson to Mason. "When we got here we found the circuit court in session, Hon. Judge Whipple presiding. The case on trial was the celebrated one between The People and, for maliciously killing some one's hog, which was described by one witness as a 'sandy complected hog.' "We found no acquaintances here, but found what was equally as good, friends among strangers-Judge Danforth, Peter Lowe, James Turner, Dr. McRobert, Mr. Griffin and scores of others. I

18 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY In those days money was not easily to be got, but maple sugar and black salts were always legal tender. "We found Dr. Phelps fighting diseases subject to the flesh, but I cannot call to mind who were fighting the diseases caused by the devil. James Turner and H. H. Smith were the merchant princes of Mason. John Child was the only printer, except in tax times, when the printing offices multiplied. Those were the days when printing offices walked off and drowned themselves, and type was knocked into 'pi' in some unaccountable manner. I am glad you have a county pioneer society, and hope the early history can be preserved for future generations." In telling of the early days of Vevay, Alvin Rolfe, in 1873, gave the following data: "If I could wield the pen of a ready writer I should like to use it in giving a short history of the township of Vevay. Being a pioneer and seeing now and then a piece written by a pioneer, I am induced to tell some of my recollections. "In 1834, my father, Benjamin Rolfe, and family, moved from Thetford, Orange county, Vermont, to Genesee county, N. Y. They stayed there until June, 1836, then moved to Michigan. They started from Bethany on Thursday and reached Detroit Sunday morning, coming on the boat Thomas Jefferson. "It was the time of the great June freshet, which many will remember. The country from Detroit to Ann Arbor was covered with water. It took us from Monday morning until Friday night to get to Saline, Washtenaw county, a distance of forty miles, and which can be covered now in two hours. "We came from Saline to Jackson, and stopped there until we looked up land, which was in Vevay township, Ingham county. "We went to the land office in Kalamazoo and took up the land, paying $100 for 80 acres. We started from Jackson on Monday morning, cut our way to Vevay, fording Grand River. We built a shanty on the place I now live on. This was the first blow struck in this part of the town, July, 1836. Michigan at that time was a territory. In the winter of 1837 it was admitted as a State. "The first time I went to Mason there was a small piece chopped on the section line, where the Donnelley House now stands, by E. B. Danforth. The next spring he sowed it to turnips, raising the largest I ever saw. Our nearest saw and grist mill was at

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 19 Jackson. Some would like to know how we got along without lumber to build with. For floors we cut nice basswood and split them into plank, 'spotted' them in the under side and laid them down as even as we could, then adzed them off, which made quite passable flooring. For roof we peeled bark. For gable ends we split shakes. "The first lumber we had we got in Jackson, to make a coffin for a sister of mine. She died April 7, 1837. I think she was the the first person who died in the town. The first marriage was Jasper Wolcott and Harriet Sergeant. She is now the wife of Edwin Hubbard. The first birth in the township was Nelson Wolcott, son of Jasper Wolcott. "The first saw mill built in the county was by E. B. Danforth. A man by the name of Lacy took the job in the summer of 1836. The first grist mill was started by Mr. Danforth, who got a pair of mill stones-about twenty inches in diameter-set them in the corner of his saw mill and propelled them by the bull-wheel of the mill. Many a bag of corn have I carried on my back from my place to Mason, without any road, to get it ground. The first road we had from my place to Mason was cut in 1837. "When Deacon Barnes moved to Aurelius, those were times that tried men's souls. It was just after Gen. Jackson vetoed the United States Bank, and removed the United States deposits, which caused a panic and made hard times. Good money was not to be found. All the money we had was 'wild-cat' and was not worth the paper it was printed on. There are some who remember those times. It was all the money we could get in 1836-37. "Our neighborhood extended 30 or 40 miles. We often went great distances to raisings. The hardest raising I ever went to was four miles north of Mason. It was a saw mill of Mr. Lewis, father of Nicholas Lewis, our townsman. The place was then called Jefferson. We got the mill up about dark, and got home at two o'clock in the morning. "Folks of this day know nothing of hard times. If they had to pay 10 bushels of wheat for one axe, $25 for a barrel of flour, $40 for a barrel of pork, $2 for oats, 22 cents a pound for fresh pork, and 50 cents for butter, and other things in proportion, with money

20 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY that would not hold its own over night, they might cry hard times." Sketch by Capt. J. P. Cowles, read at the second annual meeting of the Ingham County Pioneer Association, in May, 1873. "I came into Ingham county in 1842, from the eastern part of Ohio, with an ox team, and settled in Jefferson, October 23, 1843. I worked on the old court house in the fall of 1843, boarding at Blain's, afterward Steele's Hotel. I think I taught the first singing school in Ingham county, at least the first ever taught in Mason, Stockbridge, Bunkerhill, Meridian, Alaiedon, or Lansing. "In 1844 politics ran high and were mingled in all kinds of business. "To show the extent to which this was carried, I will mention one circumstance. The school district of the village of Mason elected Dr. J. W. Phelps, director; I think, G. W. Shafer, assessor, and Peter Linderman, collector. Phelps, the director, was the officer to hire the teacher, and he, being a Democrat, hired my brother, F. M. Cowles, to teach the school five months at $17 per month. Linderman being a staunch Whig, together with all the Whigs in the district, opposed Phelps; but the latter, knowing it to be on account of party feeling, held his ground, and, being director, had by law the control of the school house. He told F. M. to go in at the appointed time and commence his school, and board at Steele's and the district would pay his bill. The Whig members of the district got together and hired J. W. Longyear, so they had two schools-one in the school house and the other in the court house. The first day F. M. had three pupils and Longyear five; the second day F. MI. had one and Longyear three. The people were afraid to send, fearing that the whole school bill would fall on those who sent pupils. On the fourth day F. M. had none, and Longyear one. The second week F. M. kept the school house and Longyear the court house. Finally they saw that F. M. had the law on his side, and a meeting was called to effect a compromise. At this meeting there was great excitement. Some were for fight, while others left in disgust. Finally a compromise was made by paying F. M. for a full month and paying his board. Two men from White Oak stood ready to take F. M. with them to teach at $18 per month. The excitement soon died out and my brother was $15 richer by the operation.

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 21 "I was 21 days moving from Ohio to Ingham county. The last night we stayed at old Mr. Hopkins' in Vevay. He gave us nothing but buckwheat straw for our oxen and horse, but it was the best he had. "When I came to Jefferson I owned the saw mill at that place. The next summer I got so hard up that I had to get something to eat; so I hauled two loads of lumber out to old Mr. Gray's on the openings, then piled it all on one load and took it to Dexter, where I sold it for $10. In payment I took ten yards of cotton cloth, one broom, 25 pounds of codfish and one pound of tea. I went home well satisfied after spending five days and some money. "The first legislative session was held in Lansing in 1848, and there was no way of getting to the Capitol except by team. The roads were in such condition that it took four or five days to go to Jackson and return. I carried four of the members from Lansing to Jackson at the adjournment, and received $12. I paid out $6.50 for expenses, and spent four and one-half days' time. "The first justice of the peace in Lansing was Joab Page, and the second was Alanson Ward. The first constable was John Godley. "The first hotel was kept by old Mr. Hunt, in a shanty made of boards, near where the Mineral Springs House now stands. Gipson soon after got into a log house that he built opposite to the present Lansing Iouse, and that was called Lansing House. Mr. Hunt commenced to build the old Michigan Exchange on the 5th day of June, and on July Fourth he had an Independence ball in the new house. "The first school house built in Lansing occupied the ground where the first ward school house now stands. "The first meeting house in the city was made from an old barn, and stood where Dr. Nebro's house now stands, and was used by all denominations. The mechanics of Lower Town gave some work on the house, and I gave $5 toward it in work. The next meeting house was the Presbyterian church on Washington Avenue. The first Methodist preacher located in Lansing was Rev. Mr. Sapp, whose death occurred a short time ago. The first Presbyterian preacher located in the city was Rev. Mr. Atterbury. "The first wagon maker located in Lansing, I think, was my old friend Wm. Dryer. I think the first doctor to locate in the

22 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY county was Dr. Minos McRobert, and the next was Dr. J. W. Phelps. The first Methodist preacher in the county was Rev. Mr. Jackson. The first lawyer in the county was J. W. Burchard, the first sheriff Richard Lowe, and the second A. Winchell. "The Capital was removed from Detroit to Lansing in 1847. The bill for removal was presented by Mr. Throop of Wayne. The name of the place was left blank in the bill, and votes were taken to fill it with Lansing, Marshall, Jackson, Eaton Rapids, Red Bridge, Ionia, Lyons and Flint. The vote was taken in favor of Lansing, March 13, 1847, in the House. It had passed the Senate on the 9th, and was approved and signed by the Governor on the 16th. Alpheus Felch was Governor, and Wm. L. Greenly Acting Governor. "Felch had been elected by Congress on February 2, so that Gov. Greenly signed the bill. The vote stood in favor of locating in Lansing: House, 48 to 17; Senate, 12 to 9. "The first communication sent to the Legislature was by Jas. Seymour offering land on which to locate the Capitol, and this was presented to the legislative body by Mr. Parsons. Afterward John Mullett, Townsend & Bro., Justice Gilkey, H. B. Lathrop, George W. Peck, Mr. Mead and Hiram K. Andrews made similar propositions. "The committee appointed to locate were James A. Glenn, Daniel Smart and Alonzo Ferris. They came to Lansing about the 20th of April and examined the several locations offered. On or about the 22nd of May they decided to locate the Capitol at the center of section 16 in the township of Lansing. The announcement was made the same afternoon. George Matthews, Smith Tooker, George Pease, Whitney Smith and myself were the first to arrive at the stake. The brush and some small trees were cut down with jack knives in order to clear a place to play ball, and we played until six o'clock that night. "Smith Tooker built the first shanty in the city of Lansing. It was sixty feet long, and crowded with people who slept on the ground inside, and were very glad to get so good a shelter. I boarded with him and built Smith & Case's store at North Lansing. This was the first frame raised in the city after the Capitol was located. The Seymour House was raised the next day. "The first store in the city was kept by D. C. Leach, then a

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 23 young man, in a small board pen about ten feet square. He had a few dry goods, a small lot of boots and shoes, tea, coffee, and sugar, about as much in all as one horse could draw. That was the beginning of D. C. Leach in Lansing. Since then he has been a member of the Legislature, a member of Congress, is now wellto-do in the world, and is editor and publisher of the Grand Traverse Herald. "At the time of the location of the Capital, Lansing township had the fewest inhabitants of any township in the county, there being only six or seven families in it. The year before (1846) there were only thirteen votes cast in the township, twelve of them Democratic and one Whig. The Democrats were five Norths, three Gilkeys, Cooley, Earl, Delano, and J. W. Yauger. The Whig was Coe G. Jones. "The first justice of the peace in the township was JosephE. North, and he held the office until he died. "Frederick Cooley claims that his father was the first inhabitant of Lansing township. H. H. North claims that Joseph E. North, Jr., came in before Jacob F. Cooley. The following is the substance of F. Cooley's letter: "Jacob Cooley was born February 23, 1807: came to America and settled in New York. Married Lucy Barnes, who was born in Hartford, Conn., April 1, 1804. Her parents moved to Oneida county, N. Y., where she married J. F. Cooley. They moved to Leslie, Ingham county, Mich., arrived there May 16, 1836, and built a shanty. With no family within six miles of them, they got sick and homesick. They encountered wild beasts and snakes in abundance. One day they went to look over their land leaving their two children in the shanty. They got lost and travelled all day, expecting to stay in the woods all night, and perhaps be torn to pieces by wolves and bears, but just before dark their old dog came to them and they followed him home. This dog was afterward killed by the wolves. "They finally returned to New York early in 1837, but on November 2 of that year Mr. Cooley came again, leaving his family behind him. He then bought in Lansing on section 30. He purchased there because a man named Ford, with others, was going to found a city to be called 'Biddle City.' Ford came with Cooley and stayed but a short time, leaving Cooley alone in the

24 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY woods on the banks of Grand River. Cooley paid Mr. Scott of Dewitt $50 to make a plat of his land, but he lost the paper and paid another $50 to have the work done over. "In fixing for winter he got buckskins from the Indians and made himself a suit of clothes. He made a shanty by felling a large tree, leaving the butt on the stump, then piled brush and leaves on each side of the tree, covering the brush with dirt. He then followed the river to Jackson to get his supplies for winter. He bought lumber and built a skiff, put his provisions in and floated down the river in November, 1837. Night overtook him as he was going over the rapids at what is now Dimondale. His boat struck a stone in the darkness and broke in pieces, dropping his provisions in the water. He waded into the river among the ice and secured the most of his stores and placed them on the bank. His flour and salt was nearly spoiled by being wet. He had no way of building a fire, and had to run on the bank to keep himself warm. "At last he heard the bark of an Indian dog, which enabled him to find the camp of an old Indian and his squaw. He was nearly frozen to death, but the Indian rubbed him until he was warm, then gave him some hedgehog and muskrat to eat. The Indians probably saved his life. He then gave the Indians $2 to carry his things down to his place, and had Indian neighbors ever after that, for they immediately camped near him. Cooley now began to clear a spot and build a log shanty. "In the spring he wrote to his wife to come and bring the family. On receiving the letter Mrs. Cooley again left her early home for the western wilds. She commenced her journey alone with two small children, Jacob F., Jr., and Lansing J. Cooley. It was the time of the Patriot War in Canada. "She landed safely in Detroit and there she employed a teamster to take her to Jackson. After they had gone some distance from Detroit the sheriff came after the man, who saw him coming and ran into the woods, leaving her alone. She drove the team to Jackson, where it was taken away from her. She then started for Eaton Rapids on foot, taking her children each by the hand. After walking several miles she met a man who directed her to a trail by which he said she could save some miles. She undertook to follow this track through the woods, and after traveling for

REPORTS OF PIONEER HTISTORICAL IMEETINGS 25 some time found she was lost. She set the children on a log, bade them not to leave, and went to find a way out. While wandering around she heard a rooster crow, and soon found the clearing where it belonged. The man, whose name was Blakslee, went with her to find the children, which they did after a long search. Her youngest child was taken quite sick, and this detained her for several days. Blakslee took his team and carried them to Eaton Rapids. She stopped at Mr. Spicer's, where she hired an Indian to go and inform her husband of her arrival. The Indian performed his duty satisfactorily. Cooley went to Eaton Rapids, made a box boat and moved down the river. Night came on before they got home so they camped on the bank of the river, and the next morning reached their home. She arrived in Lansing June 15, 1838. "She and Cooley cleared off a piece of land and sowed it to wheat. They had no team, no dumb beast of any kind, and as they had no almanac they kept the time by marking each day on a board with a piece of coal. "The Cooley family celebrated their first Independence Day in Lansing, July 4, 1838, on a flat rock on the bank of Grand River. They sang patriotic songs to the Indians who were sporting in the river, while their two little boys played near. "About the middle of July the whole family were prostrated with sickness for several days. They got an Indian to go and let Mr. Skinner know they were sick, and he came and took them to his house. This took all the money they had. In the fall they returned and found their crops all safe, as their old Indian friend had watched and cared for them during their absence. They traded corn and potatoes with the Indians for fish and venison. During the winter they were all sick again, and lost the day of the month. In January a traveler came along and gave them the time. They were out of provisions of every kind, and the old Indian and his squaw supplied their wants and kept them from starving. Mr. Cooley was very sick and for some time was not expected to live. He told Mrs. Cooley to lay him in a bark trough, cover him with dirt and take the children and get out of the woods. He finally recovered. "He made a mortar by cutting off a log, burning a hole in the end until he got it deep enough to pound his corn, which he did

26 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAI COUNTY by a spring-pole attached to one end of the house, the other to a pestle eight inches through, with a pin put through for a handle. After the corn was pounded they boiled it. The Indians troubled them sometimes very much. "In 1839 Mr. Cooley went to Jackson and worked at his trade (that of tailor) and left his wife alone with the children. She did not see a white woman for fourteen months. They were very much bothered by wild beasts. One time Mr. Cooley was bringing some meat home, and the wolves gave him a close chase, but he reached home with it. At another time he was in a thicket picking blackberries, when a large bear came after him, but he escaped with the loss of his hat. "Sometimes he had to go ten miles for fire. The friendly Indians and squaws helped them very much, but a few of them were troublesome, and would demand salt and other things. When denied they became very angry, but Mr. Cooley was resolute and stood up for his rights. "On January 6, 1840, Mrs. Cooley gave birth to a son, the first white child born in Lansing township. They named him Nathan L. Cooley. The physician on that occasion was no other than the friendly squaw, and she was the only woman present. "They had to thresh their wheat on the ground. Mr. Cooley took a grist one day to Eaton Rapids in a log canoe, and was gone three days. The children could hardly wait to have their first wheaten cake baked, and gave some of it to their playmates, the little Indians. "In the fall of 1839 or '40 they heard that a family had moved into the woods, and that family heard at the same time that there was a family living on the bank of the river. This family proved to be that of Joseph E. North, Jr., and they soon came down to see the Cooley's. They found the Cooley's by following the section lines. The next Fourth of July was celebrated at the home of J. E. North, Jr. There were three families to celebrate together, as J. E. North, Sr., had recently moved into the woods. J. E. North named the town of Lansing. "Mr. Cooley now bought a team, a cow, a pig and some sheep, but a bear came in broad daylight and caught his pig, and the wolves killed all his sheep. Mr. Cooley built a log house, and it took all the men in five towns to raise it, and they were two days

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 27 in getting it up. In the winter of 1847 the whole neighborhood was much excited on account of the State Capital being located in this town. Mr. Cooley now had five children, three boys and two girls. He gave each of his children a farm and settled near them. He died June 9, 1865, and his wife died February 21, 1870. J. F. Cooley, Jr., went to school and learned his letters after he was 18 years old. Mr. Cooley was probably the first tailor who ever worked at his trade in Ingham county. (Another record says that Mr. Cooley knew nothing of farming, or how to use any kind of tools except a tailor's shears and goose, but notwithstanding he made a successful farmer. He and his wife were induced to come to Michigan because of his trade and the fact that she was an expert weaver. "I am of the opinion that Jacob F. Cooley, Jr., is today the oldest settler in the township of Lansing, and that he is the third now living in the county. His parents brought him into the county May 18, 1836." After a conversation with other members of the Pioneer Society, Mr. Cowles made these additional statements: "J. W. Longyear commenced the practice of law in Mason in 1845 or 1846. He went to Lansing very soon after the location of the Capital, and became one of the most successful lawyers we had, and has been promoted out of sight of us all. "The first child born in Lansing after the location of the Capital was Catherine Alton. The first marriage that of Hiram Nichols, who came from Eaton county and married a lady from Lyons. The first Sunday school celebration after the location was July 4th, 1848, on the ground where F. M. Cowles house now stands. "I am also informed that the first singing school was taught by Clark Preston at Leslie in 1841, while others say that he first taught there in 1845." Mr. Cowles also made the following statement to the State Republican about that time: "At the recent Pioneer meeting held in Mason, H. H. North and C. C. Darling both say I was mistaken in saying that the Cooley's were the first inhabitants of Lansing township. I have taken some pains to ascertain the following facts, which cannot be gainsaid, showing that Jacob F. Cooley and family were the first white inhabitants of the township. The tract books in the Auditor General's office show that Jacob F.

28 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIAMI COUNTY Cooley entered his land at the U. S. Land Office in Ionia, May 8th, 1837, and gave his residence as Ingham county, Michigan. Coe G. Jones entered his land October 3, 1837, and gave his residence as Monroe county, New York. No one will deny that Mr. Cooley settled here before he entered his land, which must certainly have been as early as the 10th of April, 1837. "The statement of H. H. North that F. R. Luther visited the family of Coe Jones in the winter of 1837 is a mistake, as the letter of Catherine Jones, widow of Coe Jones, will prove. This visit must have been at least twelve months later, for the Jones family did not come into the county until about eight months after the visit was said to have been made. The accompanying letter of Mrs. Jones must convince every candid person that I was correct in my statement. 'Coe G. Jones had a piece of land on section 4 in Lansing township in October, 1837. I married him in York Center, Genesee county, New York, on the 11th day of September, 1838. Mr. Cooley's family came in the spring before we did; we moved into Lansing, October 16, 1838. We did not know that any family lived in the township until the spring of 1839, when our cattle strayed off, and in looking for them Mr. Jones found the Cooley's. " 'I remember that F. R. Luther came to our house in the spring of 1839. My daughter Harriet was the first girl born in the township, and Nathan L. Cooley was the first boy born there. She was born on March 24, 1840, and he on January 6, 1840. Catherine Jones.' " Mr. Cowles saya: "People ask, where is Jefferson? I answer that Jefferson is not, but was once a village of thirteen houses, three and one-half miles north of Mason, and was a strong competitor for the county seat. George Howe, deceased, of Manchester, WVashtenaw county, and a Mr. Noble, of Monroe, were the contending parties, and the latter succeeded." J. P. COWLES. The late A. E. Cowles, who compiled a history of Ingham county, says in his reminiscences this regarding Jefferson City: "The 'City of Jefferson' was located on section 29, in Alaiedon, at the junction of Mud Creek and the old road that ran north to Delhi, and later to Lansing.

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 29 "My father had purchased from George Howe, my mother's brother, one hundred and sixty acres of land, mostly in the city plat, with a log house on it, and the water privileges on twentyfive acres more, together with a saw mill run by the water of Mud Creek. No one crossing the creek at this point would ever imagine that it could have furnished power to run an upright saw through whitewood logs four and five feet in diameter; but it did for many months at a time, for five years that I remember. I have seen large fish, pickerel, suckers and mullet speared in its waters. "It has been stated in histories of the county that there were thirteen log houses in the city, but there were not, besides the log school house there were only four. Those must have been counted that were from one to two miles away, in the Childs, Pierce, Strickland and Main neighborhoods." The second annual meeting of the Pioneers of Ingham County was held at the court house on Tuesday, May 26, 1874. The day was beautiful-as much so as could be desired. A clear sky, gentle, cool breezes, with just that kind of sunshine that tempts mankind out of doors. Such favorable circumstances, together with the fact that the excellent program of exercises was well advertised, could not fail to bring out a crowd of early settlers and their friends to enjoy the recalling of memories of earlier days, in the speeches, songs, remarks and essays served up on this occasion. The house was well filled at an early hour, and the meeting throughout was by far the largest and most interesting of any held by the society. Previous to the formal opening of the meeting in the forenoon about twenty-five persons handed in their names to the secretary as desiring to be members. The meeting was called to order by the president, Rev. E. K. Grout, of Leslie, a pioneer minister. A large choir of songsters. led by N. R. VanVranken, sang "Easter Anthem," after which prayer was offered by Rev. G. W. Barlow. The minutes of the last meeting of the pioneers was then read by the secretary, Peter Lowe, followed by singing of "Auld Lang Syne" by the choir. The names of pioneers who had died since the last annual meeting were read: James Hoffman, of Ingham; Mrs. Coe G. Jones, of

30 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAI COUNTY Lansing; Mrs. Olive Holden, of Vevay; Thomas Humphrey, of Meridian; J. L. Huntington, of Vevay; Mrs. J. M. Williams, of Williamston, and Mrs. Huldah Atwood, of Ingham. Short biographies were then read by the secretary of Mr. Huntington and Mrs. Holden, while Mr. North made a few remarks concerning Mrs. Jones. The choir sang "China." Captain Cowles offered an amendment to article 9 of the Constitution which provided that persons who have resided in the State thirty years or over could become members of the society as well as those who had lived twenty-five or more years in the county. The secretary reported that township histories written in accordance with the instructions given at the last meeting had only been received from Lansing, Delhi, Williamston, Alaiedon, Vevay, Aurelius, Stockbridge and Meridian. The election of officers resulted as follows: President, J. M. Williams, Williamston; Vice President, H. A. Hawley, Vevay; Secretary, Peter Lowe, Mason; Treasurer, Samuel Skadan, Ingham; Executive Committee: John M. French, Lansing; S. O. Russell, Leslie; Geo. M. Huntington, Mason. The forenoon exercises closed with singing "Exhortation" and a benediction by Rev. P. P. Farnham. A sumptuous dinner was enjoyed by all at the Moody Hotel. AFTERNOON. At the hour appointed the meeting was called to order by Dr. McRobert, and Hon. O. M. Barnes, speaker of the day, delivered a most excellent address. This proved to be the fullest, most exact and most interesting historical sketch of Ingham county probably in existence. After the address short, spicy remarks were made by Hon. H. H. Smith, of Jackson; Hon. D. L. Case, of Lansing, and Wm. H. Horton, of Vevay. W. A. Dryer, of Lansing, offered a resolution, which was adopted, instructing the executive committee to take measures to get full and complete histories of the towns and county, that they might be published. The meeting closed with singing the Doxology, and benediction by Rev. P. P. Farnham.

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 31 MR. BARNES' ADDRESS. Of the county of Ingham previous to its occupation by its present inhabitants, some thirty-eight years ago, little need be said. That it was one of the chosen seats of the Indian tribes is indeed well known. And there are in different parts of the county unmistakable evidences of its having been occupied by that earlier race known as the mound builders of America. A group of these mounds raised many hundreds of years ago existed until recently. Perhaps they still remain. On the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 25 in Aurelius, the tract originally settled by Josbua G. Bunk, now owned by Huram Bristol, I first saw them in 1839 or 1840, when the log cabin of the first settler was being erected. The largest was five or six feet high, and on it large forest trees were standing. Recently this mound was opened by Geo. M. Huntington and Mr. Bristol, and was found to contain, as is usual with mounds in Ohio, Indiana and other places, human bones, beads, etc. Mr. Huntington preserved the soil found there for some time, but it gradually crumbled to pieces. Two thousand years ago or more its possessor, a chief, or a leader of his people, resided with his race in this county. On the northeast quarter of section 17, in Leslie, there existed (perhaps it can be seen yet, my last examination of it was in company with Mr. Huntington) an earthwork, manifestly the work of man, similar in all respects to those found in other parts of the United States. It was oblong in shape, one hundred and thirty by one hundred and eighty feet. The moats or ditches were much filled up, and the embankments were much worn away in places, but three or four feet high in most places. Large forest trees were growing all over the enclosure, and some of them on the embankment. No doubt similar structures were found in other parts of the county, for they have been found in various places throughout the State. These things are generally believed by thoughtful inquirers to have been the work of an extinct race of men, who dwelt here long before the red man made it his home. In the mound opened by Messrs. Huntington and Bristol remains of the wood structure which originally shielded the human body were found. The best

32 IPIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY judges think this race became extinct at least two thousand years ago. When the white men first became acquainted with the county they found it for the most part a region of forest, dense forest. In some parts, chiefly along the south line, there were lands more thinly timbered, and quite destitute of undergrowth, and hence called "openings." In the southwest corner of Aurelius and the northwest corner of Onondaga, were the fertile and beautiful plains subsequently named after one of its earliest settlers, "Montgomery's Plains." The remainder of the county was almost wholly forest. Grand River traversed the western and the Cedar the northern part of the county forming a junction at Lansing. An Indian farm existed at Williamston and an Indian village on the site of Okemos. At the latter place resided the Chief Okemos and his band. He was a fine specimen of the native tribes, very venerable and dignified, both in appearance and action. He had been engaged on the side of the British during the war of 1812; was by the side of Tecumseh in the battle of the Thames, when he received a severe gunshot wound in the shoulder, which he used to claim came from a pistol of Richard M. Johnson. He lived to a great age, and died a few years ago. I have here his token given him by the agent of the British government. The great highway of the Indians from Okemos south consisted of a well beaten trail passing Mason on south through section 26 in Aurelius. INGHAM COUNTY. The first application of this name to this territory was, so far as I can learn, in 1829. On the 29th day of October of that year an act was passed by the Territorial Legislature designating the territory now composing the county as Ingham county. When I read the names of the cabinet of President Jackson you will see the origin of the names of several counties of this State. President-Andrew Jackson, Tennessee. Vice President-John C. Calhoun, South Carolina. Secretary of State-Martin VanBuren, New York. Secretary of Treasury-Samuel D. Ingham, Pennsylvania. Secretary of War-John H. Eaton, Tennessee.

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 33 Secretary of Navy-John Branch, North Carolina. Attorney General-John M. Berrian, Georgia. Postmaster General-Wm. T. Barry, Kentucky. So Ingham county was named after President Jackson's Secretary of the Treasury. 1832. The first entry or purchase of land in the county was made on the 9th of November, 1832. On that day Eri Price, who subsequently resided at Farmington, Oakland county, entered the west fractional of southeast quarter of section 21, in Meridian. It is within the village of Okemos, and was a part of the old Indian farm of Chief Okemos. You are on the land immediately after crossing the Cedar river on the road from Mason to Okemos. December 7th, 1832, DeGanno Janes, of Wayne county, Mich., entered the northeast fractional quarter of section 25, Meridian, now known as J. H. Mullett's farm. 1833. In the spring of 1833, May 13, Sanford Marsh entered the south fractional quarter of southeast quarter of section 21, Meridian. May 21, 1833, Henry Whitney, of Detroit, entered the west half of northwest quarter of section 5, in Leroy. June 24, 1833, Cyrus Jackson, of Wayne county, Mich., entered south half of section 1, and south half of section 13, in Stockbridge, now the McKenzie farm. May 15, Henry Whitney entered east one-half of northwest quarter of section 29 and north fractional quarter of section 33, and north fractional quarter of southwest quarter of section 36, Williamston. December 9, Joseph B. Putnam, of Washtenaw county, entered the north fractional quarter of southwest quarter of section 36, Williamston. At the same time Hiram Putnam entered north fractional of southeast quarter of section 35, both in the present village of Williamston.

34 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY 1834. This year Richard R. Lowe, then of Washtenaw county, entered his land in Stockbridge on sections 2 and 3, on the 5th of November. Stiles Perry, of Washtenaw county, entered the northeast quarter of southwest quarter section 32, Locke, March 15. Peter Cranston and Oliver Booth both entered lands in Onondaga, the latter in the village of Onondaga, on land now owned by Mr. Pierson. The first settlement made in the county was in March, 1834, by David Rogers. On the 20th of February, 1834, John Davis entered land on section 36 in Stockbridge. David Rogers was a son-in-law of Davis. They resided at this time in Lima, Washtenaw county. The frame of a small house was made in Lima, loaded onto sleighs soon after this land was entered, and brought and erected on it to become the home of Rogers; as stated, Rogers and his family settled on east half of southeast quarter, and southeast quarter of northeast quarter of section 36 in March, 1834. So the first settlement was in Stockbridge and the first settler was David Rogers. Soon after this Joseph B. and Hiram Putnam made an unsuccessful attempt at settlement in Williamston. They abandoned it after raising a crop of oats there in 1834, but before harvesting it. 1835. In January of this year Heman Lowe entered the southeast quarter of southeast quarter of section 33, White Oak. On June 19, Luther Branch, of Washtenaw, entered east half of southeast quarter section 33, Bunkerhill. August 3, 1835, Ira N. Blossom amd D. Essner, of Eric county, N. Y., entered west half of northwest quarter and west half of southeast quarter section 36, Wheatfield. September 17, Silas Holt, of Orleans county, N. Y., entered west half of southeast quarter, section 36, in Ingham. September 23, Wm. Townsend entered west half of southwest quarter section 4, east fractional half of southeast quarter section 5, north fractional half of northeast quarter section 8, north fractional of northwest quarter section 9, entire section 20 and north half of 21, Lansing.

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 35 November 3, 1835, Wm. W. Harwood entered southeast quarter section S2, Leslie. November 20, Charles Thayer, of Ann Arbor, entered west half of northeast quarter and cast half of northwest quarter, section 12, and other lands in Vevay. October 12, Nathaniel Silsbee entered west half of section 6, Aurelius. December 17, John Montgomery entered southwest quarter and southwest quarter of southeast quarter, section 31, Aurclius. 1836. This year and 1837 were especially remarkable for the great rush of land buyers. Stockbridge was organized this year by Act of Matrch 26, 1836. This was the first town organization in the county. The first town meeting seems to have been held April 3, 1837. January 28, 1836, Charles Noble entered the lands now occupied by the village of Mason. February 19, Daniel Goodwin entered the west half of northwest quarter and west half of southwest quarter section 18, Alaiedon. April 12, Spencer Markham entered the southwest quarter of section 32, and William Page the north fractinal half of southwest quarter of section 30, Delhi. I. H. Smith settled in Ingham early this year, and E. P. Danforth at Mason. LOCATION OF COUNTY SEAT. An event looked upon by the majority of the few settlers at that time as of great importance took place early in the year. I refer to the first location of the county seat. Many of those whose acquaintance with the county of Ingham is limited to modern times are perhaps ignorant of the fact that anciently the county seat-the shire town-was at the quarter post between 1 and 12 in Vevay, or rather town 2 north, range 1 west. For in that earlier time townships went by numbers and not by names. Such, however, was the fact. There are forgotten cities, city sites covered with forests or wheatfields plowed by the farmer, or hunted over

36 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY by the huntsman, in Ingham county as well as in old countries like Egypt and Asia. The city of Ingham is one of these. Once the capital of what is now, at least, a great and prosperous county. Now it constitutes the site of several farms. The Territorial law authorized the Governor to appoint a commission to locate county seat sites. In the winter of 1835 and 1836, three commissioners were appointed under this law to locate the county site of this county. They were Washington Wing, of Washtenaw, Mr. Brown, of Detroit, and Mr. Crawford, of Livingston. In company with Mr. Charles Thayer, long a worthy citizen of this county, the commissioners and two or three of their friends visited the county in March. The snow was quite deep. After visiting the place where Mason now is, and some other points, they established the site, as I have said, at the quarter post between sections 1 and 12 in Vevay. Of course there was no house there at that time, nor until years after. Yet the legal site remained at this point until 1840, though no legal business was done there. In 1840 the site was removed to Mason by act of the Legislature. 1837. By act of March 3, the town of Aurelius, comprising the west half of the county, was organized, the first meeting to be held at the house of Elijah Woodworth. By the same act, Ingham, containing towns 2 and 3 north, range 1 east, and 2 and 3 north, range 2 east, was organized. The first meeting was held at Caleb Carr's. The first town meeting ever held in the county took place this year in the town of Stockbridge, at David T. Comfort's, on April 3. Orrin Gregory was elected supervisor; Peter Lowe, clerk; David Rogers, Ira, Wood Royal Stevens, and Heman Iowe, justices of the peace; Eron B. Webster, treasurer. Leslie was organized by act of December 30. The first town meeting was held at Henry Tusk's. 1838. Onondaga was organized this year by act of March 6. The first meeting was held at the home of Barney Johnson.

REPORTS OF PIONEER -HISTORICAL MEETINGS 37 Vevay was organized by the same act, the first meeting was held at the public house in Mason. It seems there was a public house then in Mason. Alaiedon, containing the four northwest towns (Lansing, Meridian, Delhi and Alaiedon), was organized this year by act of March 13. The first meeting was held at the school house in the village of Jefferson. So slow was the progress of intelligence then that the news of this act did not reach here until the night of town meeting day. The election for Aurelius as previously constituted was held at Jefferson. At night gratification on the election was disturbed by finding that the act had passed changing the town organization; at that consequently the election of the day was void. Aurelius had been left by the act as it now is. Both towns held new town meetings that same week, electing officers, and in March, 1839, an act was passed making the meeting valid. COUNTY ORGANIZED. The county was organized this year (1838) by act of April 5, 1838. The act provided that the courts, until permanent buildings should be erected at the county site, should be held at such place as the Board of Supervisors or Commissioners should determine. It also provided that an election for county officers should be held on the first Tuesday in June, 1838, the votes to be canvassed at the dwelling house nearest the county site. ' <::^. The canvass was held at the house of Hiram Parker il Vevay, June 7, 1838. Number of votes cast in the county, 159.The officers elected were: Sheriff-Richard R. Low. Clerk-Valorus Meeker. Register-Minos McRobert. Associate Judges-Amos E. Steele and Ephraim B. Danforth. Judge of Probate-Peter Linderman. County Surveyor-Anson Jackson. Coroners-Horatio N. Forbes and James Phelps. Mr. Meeker returned to Vermont and died. Mr. Danforth, Mr. Linderman, Mr. Jackson and Mr. Phelps died in this county. The others are still living. (1874.)

38 PIONEEIR IISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY The first board of supervisors met in the county October 2, 1838. The members were: Vevay-Peter Linderman. Stockbridge-Orrin Gregory. Leslie-Benjamin Davis. Onondaga-Amos E. Steele. Aurelius-John Barnes. Alaiedon-Wm. Lewis. Ingham-Henry Lee. County Commissioners-Jacob Loomis, Henry Lee and Peter Linderman. At the general election in 1838, 260 votes were cast, and the following officers elected: Representative-Kingsley S. Bingham. Sheriff-Amaziah Winchell. Clerk-Peter Low. Treasurer — iram H. Smith. Register-Minos McRobert. Associate Judge-Amos E. Steele. Judge of Probate-Valorus Meeker. Surveyor-Anson Jackson. County Commissioners-Linderman, Loomis and Lee. Board of Supervisors met October 22, of this year, in Mason, and at this session it was moved and carried "that every inhabitant of the county of Ingham that shall kill a wolf shall receive for killing the same $2.50." Another proceeding of the Board, October 22, was that "moved and carried that the circuit court for said county be established at the village of Mason." 1839. Bunkerhill was organized this year, by act of March 21. Phelpstown, embracing Locke and Williamston, was organized March 22. By the same act Brutus, containing Wheatfield and Leroy, was organized. Charles P. Bush and Amos E. Steele were elected Representatives, and Wm. Dryer, County Commissioner. Ephraim B. Danforth and Amos E. Steele were Associate Judges. The assessment rolls of this year show the valuation of taxable property in the various towns, and the town expenses to be as follows:

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 39 Town. Leslie............................. Aurelius............................ Bunkerhill......................... Vevay............................. Brutus............................. Alaiedon............................ Stockbridge........................ W hite Oak......................... Ingham............................ IPhlpstown......................... Onondaga.......................... Valuation. $51,565.00 49,946.00 45,372.00 52,956.00 113,929.00 180,611.00 78,497.00 56,751.00 61,034.00 115,729.00 61,292.00 Expenses. $320.10 179.75 69.28 212.73 121.79 245.12 172.73 135.00 77.99 550.00 156.88 Total............ County tax, $2,600. $867,700.00 1840. Leroy was organized March 19. The old county site on sections 1 and 12, Vevay, was vacated and Mason made the county seat by act of March 6, 1840. Associate judges-John R. Bowdish and Amos E. Steele. County officers-Charles P. Bush and Kingsley S. Bingham, Representatives for Ingham, and Livingston counties; Amaziah Winchell, Sheriff; Geo. W. Shafer, Clerk; John W. Burchard, Treasurer; Zaccheus Barnes, Register; John R. Bowdish, Associate Judge; Caleb Carr, Commissioner; Anson Jackson, Surveyor. Population of the county, 2,498. 1841. Brutus was changed to Whlatfield by act of March 20. County officers-John MI. French and II. II. Smith, Representatives; Amaziah WXinchell, Sheriff; Anson Jackson, County Clerk. 1842. Delhi, Lansing and Meridian were organized by act of February 16, 1842. Associate judges-E. B. Danforth and John R. Bowdish. County officers-Hiram H. Smith, Representative; Nathaniel

40 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Hammond, Sheriff; Peter Low, Clerk; Thomas North, Register; Jason B. Packard, Treasurer; IIiramn Fiske, Probate Judge; Anson Jackson, County Surveyor. 1843. This year the first court house in the county was built on lots 3 and 4 of Block 17, Mason, where the stores of Barnes and Sackrider now are. From the proceedings of the Board of Supervisors is taken the following December 28, 184-: "Moved and seconded that there be an appropriation of $800 to build a court house, $200 of real estate and $600 of State bonds. Carried." Building Committee: MINOS MCROBERT. PETER LINDERMAN. GEO. MATHEWS. BENJ. DAVIS. SAMUEL SKADAN. "Resolved, That the committee appointed to receive proposals and make a contract for building a court house be instructed that if they cannot let the job for $800 or less, of twenty-eight feet by thirty-four, with eighteen foot posts, that they make a proposal and contract for a house as large as can be built for eight hundred dollars." The supervisors were: Joseph E. North, Lansing; Roswell Everett, Delhi; Jonathan Snyder, Aurelius; Joseph Gale, Onondaga; Benj. Davis, Leslie; Peter Linderman, Vevay; Edwin D. Tryon, Alaiedon, Melzer Turner, Meridian; Jas. M. Williams, Phe!pstown; William Tompkins, Wheatfield; Samuel Skadan, Ingham; Lewis Case, ]Binkerhill; Joseph Hunt, Stockbridgc; John Clements, White Oak; Orrin Dana, Leroy; David Phelps, Locke. 1844. At the general election this year the candidates for Representatives received votes from the two counties comprising the Representative District as follows:

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 41 Ingham. Eaton. Whitney Jones, Whig..............449 434 Minos McRobert, Democrat....... 450 371 Johnson Montgomery, Abolition.... 50 48 County officers-Representative, Whitney Jones; Sheriff, Joseph Hunt; Clerk, John Coatsworth; Register, Win... Horton; Treasurer, Geo. Mathews; Surveyor, Anson Jackson. The salary of the treasurer, including expenses to Detroit, was $400; clerk salary, $175. Location of the State Capital at Lansing. One of the most important events in the public history of the county was the locating within its limits of the Capital of the State. This event occurred in the year 1847. Previous to this time the seat of government of the Territory and State of Michigan had been in Detroit. The constitution of 1836 contained a provision making it the duty of the Legislature to permanently locate the Capital in the year 1847. The people expected such location to be made and from all parts prO)OsitiOns were made to induce the law-making department to make location desired by petitioners. James Seymour, acting for himself, his brother Horatio Seymour, and others interested at Lansing, submitted a proposition in favor of the present location. Early in the session, IIon. George B. Throop, a representative from Wayne county, introduced a bill into the House, entitled, "A bill to locate the Capital pursuant to section nine of article twelve, of the Constitution of this State." Of course the introducer of the bill hoped, and doubtless expected, that it would pass in a form fixing permanently the location at Detroit. It was not destined to so pass. Before its final passage it underwent many changes, and had a verying and exciting career. At first it was referred to a committee of the whole, but subsequently committed to a select committee, consisting of Mr. Throop, the introducer, Messrs, Chubb of Washtenaw, Arzeno of Monroe, Marantette of St. Joseph, J. D. Pierce of Calhoun, Goodrich of Genesee, and Bell of Ionia. On February 4 the bill was reported back without amendment. On the 10th of February the Representative from Ingham county,

42 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHIAM COUNTY Hon. Joseph H. Kilbourne, submitted the communication from James Seymour, offering inducements to locate in Lansing. Bear in mind that at this time Lansing was a wilderness. The town contained only a few inhabitants and nothing existed within the limits of the city except the mill at the lower town and one house, that of Joab Page, who, with his son Isaac C. Page, his sons-in-law, Geo. D. Pease, Whitney Smith and Alvin Rolfe and their wives, were the only residents of Lansing at that time. On my way from home (in Aurelius) to the school at Delta in 1841 I passed over the ground where the city of Lansing now stands. The native forest was undisturbed. No pioneer's cabin was as yet there. John Woolsey Burchard, originally a resident of Mason, and the first lawyer who made this county his home, went to Lansing in 1842. He erected the dam across the river there and began the erection of mills. He was accidentally drowned just below the dam in the spring of 1843. In 1843 Mr. Page and his family came. The work of improvement continued slowly, so at the time of which I am speaking, February, 1847, there were the house and the families I have mentioned. Beyond this there was nothing but the fine water power, the central location, a fertile soil and handsome county to commend the location. The State still held the school section on which the present city is largely built. As yet it had not found a purchaser at $4 an acre, though a splendid tract of land. No doubt the advantage to the State to arise from a location on so large a tract of its own land had some influence in inducing the adoption of this site. An influence that has been justified by results, for the State has realized a large sum for the sale of lots on this section. But the fact that the section remained unsold shows how little this part of the State had as yet been developed. The discussion regarding the location of the Capital was continued in the Legislature for many days. A blank existed in the bill for the name of the place. There was no lack of names proposed, among them appearing Grand Blanc in Genesee county, Saginaw City, Byron in Shiawassee county, Lyons in lonia county, and also Eaton Rapids. At length on February 11, on motion of our member, Mr. Kilbourne, "the township of Lansing, in the county of Ingham," was

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 43 inserted in the bill by the committee of the whole. When the report came before the House efforts were made to strike out Lansing and insert, first, Detroit, then Marshall, Jackson, Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Albion, Utica, Corunna, Eaton Rapids, Dexter and Copper Harbor, one after the other. A vote was finally reached and the amendment of the committee of the whole inserting Lansing was concurred in by a vote of 35 to 27. The bill was on the 12th of February ordered engrossed and read a third time by a vote of 40 to 24. On the next day it came up for final passage in the House, and after many unsuccessful motions to recomilit, it was passed by a vote of 48 to 17. On the 14th it went to the Senate, where it experienced a career similar to that in the H-ouse. A Senate bill for the same purpose was pending at the same time, and location was the troublesome thing all the way through. After trying to have some other place named as the Capital, and much inserting and cutting out done, the Senator from this district, Hon. E. B. Danforth, moved to reinstate the "township of Lansing, in the county of InghaIn," and the same was done by a vote of 11 to 10. So it was carried in the Senate by a majority of one only. How many fates have at different times hung on a single vote! This was on the 8th of March. An earnest contest followed to strike out Lansing and insert other places, without success, however, and on the following day the bill passed by a vote of 12 to 8. The act received the approval of the executive on the 16th of March, 1847. Like many other laws of great importance, this act is not lengthy. It is as follows: "An act to locate the Capital, pursuant to section nine of article twelve of the Constitution of the State. Section 1-Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the State of Michigan that the seat of government of this State shall be in the township of Lansing, county of Ingham. Approved March 16th, 1847." By a subsequent act, also approved on March 16, provision was made for selecting the site in Lansing for the erection of temporary buildings, for the platting of a town, the name of which was to be "Michigan," and for the removing of archives and offices to it by

44 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY December 25, 1847, and for the meeting of the Legislature there in January, 1848. To carry out the provisions of the act three Commissioners were appointed by the Governor-James Glenn, of Cass county; Daniel Smart, of Detroit, and Alonzo Ferris. They met at Lansing on May 20th, 1847, and on the 2nd decided on the present site, which is at the center of the school section (16) in town 4, north of range 2 west. A village or town of "Michigan" was soon platted, including all of section 16 and some adjoining territory. Joseph L. Huntington, John M. French and Richard Ferris, all of this county, were appointed to appraise or price the lots belonging to the State. At the time the seat of government was so located at Lansing, Ephraim B. Danforth was Senator and Joseph II. Kilbourne Representative from this county. Mr. Danforth then resided at Mason. He was one of the original proprietors of Mason, and made the first settlement here in 1836. After the location of the Capital at Lansing he removed to that place, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1856. IIe was a man of great energy and a very useful citizen. HIe occupied a very conspicuous position in our county, and is connected with our earliest history and most important events. Ite has held many important offices, having been associate judge from 18'38 to 1840, and from 1842 to 1846. I have been told that when the name of Lansing was first proposed in the Legislature for the scat of government he gave it very little favor, not thinking it possible to effect such location. This view receives some support from the fact that Senator Febton, of Flint, introduced Mr. Seymour's communication in favor of Lansing in the Senate. When, however, the action of the IHouse gave unexpected hope that the effort might be successful, Mr. Danforth exerted himself efficiently in favor of this location. Mr. Kilbourne was in favor of the present location from the first, and to him belongs the honor of first suggesting this location. He still lives in this county on his farm in Meridian, lives to see the fruits of his exertion and to receive the gratitude of his constituents for the part he took in this important transaction. It is not possible in this address to do justice to the many

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 45 friends of the measure who then resided outside the county. Hon. Charles P. Bush, then Senator from Livingston county, and Hon. Geo. W. Peck, the Speaker of the House. Both were earnest and enthusiastic friends of the measure, and soon took up their home in Lansing. To enable you to appreciate the progress this county has made, there was in this county, according to the census of 1870, 25,268 inhabitants, of which 5,244 were in Lansing. That gave the county 35.5 persons to each square mile outside of Lansing, while Jackson county, outside the city of Jackson, had but 34 people to each square mile. In other words, the country outside of the two cities, Jackson in the one county and Lansing in the other, is more populous in the woods of Ingham than in the open lands of Jackson. I find an argulent here in favor of timbered lands. At the time the county was organized in 1838 settlers were in every township in the county. Let us stop for a moment to contemplate those hardy adventurous pioneers. Pioneers are to be associated with discoverers and inventors. High in our esteem stands the great discoverers like Columbus and the great inventors like Guttenburg, Newton, Franklin and Morse. And fortunate are those who are able to connect their names honorably with the discovery of countries, the origin of States, the invention of useful arts or implements, the discovery of new modes in science, or new laws in nature. The founders of States are justly held in grateful remembrance. These Ingham county pioneers were founders of new communities, communities which are now prosperous municipalities. The first of every nation occupies a very conspicuous, and in some respects a very fortunate place in history. The mind delights to trace things to their beginnings, and to dwell on the causes and actors that are connected with beginnings. The people of Italy have looked upon Aeneas as the introducer of civilization into their country. Heroic poetry has celebrated his deeds and his virtues in matchless verse, and the inhabitants have regarded him as "pios Aeneas." Romulus is regarded as the founder of Rome. Go where you will in the seven-hilled city and you find monuments commemorating his name and adding to his fame.

46 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAMI COUNTY We, as a nation, are not unmindful of our own founders. For example, John Smith and his associate settlers in Virginia. Wm. Bradford and his associate founders of Plymouth Colony are enshrined in our memories. The pioneer belongs to the same class. His theatre in general is not so conspicuous. IHe is only the founder of a county, a town or a city, perhaps, but he is a founder, and if a true founder of prosperous municipalities he is forever blessed. I have no praises to bestow upon those who live in the woods and the wilds because they prefer rudeness to civility, and the haunts of savage life to the abodes of civilization. I commend those heroic spirits who brave the privations and dangers of the howling wilderness, in order to make it the home of civilization and refinement. These are effectual proclaimers in the wilderness of the glad tidings of civilization. These are missionaries indeed, in deeds more than words. They are planters of institutions which grow to become States, or counties or towns, according to the reach of their operations. The founders of Ingham county gave another, and as we now see, an important municipality to the State. The planting of new communities in the wilderness is not accomplished without heroism and toil. There are heroes and martyrs, too, in the army of pioneers. It is common for heroism to be admired by mankind in proportion as the events with which it is connected are striking or conspicuous. The chief who leads the army to victory is much more generally admired and applauded than the common soldier who exhibits the same virtue in equal degree. Noble deeds are not limited to persons of high rank or position. Noble qualities and thrilling incidents are found in the lives of the Inconspicuous as well as in the exalted, though unnoticed and unrecorded. This is true of the unwritten life of the pioneer. I have always admired the virtues while I contemplated the lives and history of these early founders. I knew them well and was a witness of their courage and endurance, and in some degree was a sharer of their labor and their pleasurcs. Take a common case. I have many similar ones in mind. A young man of twenty-two has just married a wife of twenty, in one of the eastern States. They decide to seek their fortunes in the unsettled west. They leave that parental roof, bid adieu to

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 47 the mothers who reared them, and turn from weeping faces to find a home, not among strangers, but where no white man's abode has ever been built. Accumulations from their own industry, or the parental endowment, has enabled them to purchase of the government a 40, 80 or 160 acre tract of land. Upon this they enter and commence the work of life in earnest-this stouthearted young man and his happy but now thoughtful bride-he all the stronger for loving her, she all the braver to endure for loving him. The land is covered with an untouched wilderness in all directions. Hastily a few trees are chopped away, a log cabin erected, and the first housekeeping begins. It seems the work of a lifetime to clear away the forest. Years may pass, it may be, before another settler will be near. There are women in this county now, or were until recently, who lived in the wilderness here for years without seeing another white woman. Now behold this young married pair as I have seen them, and tell me if they were not brave. See them as they stand alone beneath the canopy of spreading oaks, he in his shirt sleeves, ax in hand, and she in her neat but fitting dress, and listen to their discussions and note their plans. You hear him say, "In time these woods will disappear, for work will do it. On that rise of ground we will build our house, here shall be our barn and there our orchard. Just here will be the place for our well. My wheat fields and my meadows I have planned for, and your flower beds can be close to the garden. Here, my dear, shall be a home as rich and beautiful in time as your father's home. Time and labor will affect it." The work before him is, indeed, great. The present is full of privations, but a charming picture of the future rises before him, and they both look forward to the time when they can see the realization of their hopes. The pioneers before me who can remember the pictures they painted as they began their new life, have, I rejoice to say, lived to realize the fulfillment of their hopes, and have the comfortable home that fancy pictured to them thirty-five years ago. Look over the county and see it now. Note what has happened. So far as needful the forest has been cleared away and prosperous farms are everywhere met. The woodland county has become

48 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY one of the wealthiest and best. Yes, it is also the capital county of the State. Tell me, then, were not the pioneers brave, and have they not signalized their bravery by a glorious conquest, a new proof that "Peace hath her victories no less renowned than war?" Long may they live to enjoy the conquest." The third annual meeting of the Pioneer Society of Ingham County was held at the court house in Mason on May 25, 1875. The officers elected for the ensuing year were: President, Wm. A. Dryer; Vice President, Henry A. Hawley; Secretary, Peter Lowe; Treasurer, Samuel Skadan. Executive Committee: J. M. French, Lansing; Geo. M. Huntington, Mason; M. McRobert, Mason. The secretary read the names of pioneers who had died during the year: Oliver Griffin, Mason, aged 89. Ephraim Rolfe, Vevay, aged 52. James Reeves, Stockbridge, aged 62. David Rogers, Stockbridge, aged 77. Sally Gunn, Delhi. Hon. J. W. Longyear, Detroit. Wm. Huntoon, Leslie, aged 56. Hon. O. M. Barnes was called upon to explain the duties of the town historical committees. IHe suggested that they first learn what land was earliest located in the town; next the first settlement in the town; then its organization into a municipality, which can be found in the laws and records of the town. Then they should follow its history, giving the names of officers elected from year to year; the history of the leading citizens, giving the number of votes cast at township meetings and also the number of inhabitants. The more of detail the better, as a full and complete history of each township will be very valuable, and grow more so from year to year. Upon motion of the speaker the secretary was instructed to prepare and have printed, to send to each member of the com

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 49 mittee, a set of questions and suggestions calculated to aid them in procuring the desired information respecting the various towns. It was suggested that the stories and speeches be restricted to ten minutes, and one remarked that those who knew enough interesting things to take him over ten minutes to tell should be allowed the time, which led Amaziah Winchell, of Ingham, to say "the men that know the least usually talk the longest." Thales Huntoon, of Leslie, led off, stating that he came into the county in 1840, and had lived in the town of Leslie most of the time since. He had many pleasant, as well as unpleasant, recollections of the early days of his life here. He was only a boy when he came, and claimed to be not much more than a boy yet. IIe related one incident of his early life. Being detained quite late one evening while visiting a lady of his acquaintance, he found it necessary to go home in the dark, part of the way through the woods with no house nearer than a mile and a half. As he entered the woods he heard a loud noise that caused his hair to raise on end. Ile picked up a club, accelerated his speed somewhat, losing a boot heel in his haste, glad to reach his home with no worse mishap. The next day a huge bear was killed near where he heard the noise. The greatest trouble of all was, he said, that he did not get the girl he risked his life for. Elijah Woodworth, of Leslie, said he was forcibly struck with the idea of contrast on this occasion. Ile contrasted the present with the time when he located land in this county in 1835, and settled on it the next year. lIe supposed he was the first man to build a house in the county. As he traveled the length and breadth of the county in choosing a location he did not see a single white man. He spoke of the many advantages of the present as compared with those of earlier days; the schools, churches, cars, beautiful farms and good houses, where then was only the wild forest. He thought the present generation was happy, "physcally, but not more so mentally, than we were. We dreamed that some such time was to come, but the realization has greatly surpassed our expectations. Our farms for which we paid $1.25 per acre are now worth as many hundred dollars per acre." Wm. A. Dryer said he would tell a "sort of scare story," in contrast to Mr. Woodworth's remarks. In 1838 he used to go to Caleb Carr's, some distance from home, to get the mail. On the

50 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHIAM COUNTY way he had to pass through a dense thicket in the woods, near Hiel Phelp's house. One night after leaving Phelp's house he felt an unusual timidty-a feeling he had never had before. He felt that something was going to happen to him. As he neared the thicket he heard the noise of some animal walking in the leaves. He made up his mind he had got to meet a bear. He thought it would not do to be a coward and run, so he mustered up his courage and moved on. Pretty soon he could distinguish something passing between him and a large white stone that was quite plainly seen in the darkness. He felt sure Mr. Bear was there and there would have to be a fight or else some tall running, when he heard "ugh, ugh," and an old sow ran off into the thicket. His hair settled back on his head and he went on home. Amaziah Winchell, of Ingham, said so many pleasant recollections of the past came crowding his memory that he hardly knew where to begin. He thought the hardships of pioneer life were often more in the imagination than in reality. He came, a poor man's son, to Michigan in 1833, from a land of rocks, clay and hard work. IIe first settled in Washtenaw county, and in 1836 located the farm in Ingham township on which he still lives. He related an interesting incident of his being lost in the woods one night from having taken the wrong trail. H. A. Hawley, Vevay, said he would promise the pioneers to prepare some remarks for the next annual meeting. He had promised his wife and children that when he reached the age of 60 he would not work so hard as in the past, but take his ease. That time was drawing near, and he had so much to do before it arrived that he had not had time to prepare anything for the present occasion. At the first town meeting, when Ingham and Leslie were one, he had the honor of being elected constable. Mr. Critchett, of Leslie, was town clerk. He related the story of his adventures in coming home in the night from Mr. Critchett's where he had gone to qualify for his office. On his way home he tried to follow the shore of Sycamore Creek, but after stepping off into deep water once he dared not risk it any longer, so made his way to the Hogsback and followed that, knowing it would lead him to Mason. A wild animal about fifteen feet from him at one time caused his hair to stand on end, but a flash of lightning revealed that it was only a deer. He reached Mason at

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 51 two o'clock in the morning and went to Judge Danforth's and crawled into bed with him. R. F. Griffin, of Mason, gave an interesting account of his father's early experience in a little one-story shoe shop, where now stands the finest three-story building in town. He also related an incident connected with his mother, in which she thought she had discovered a bear in the woods at night as she was passing along, but when she called for help her would-be rescuer found it was only a black stump. John J. Tuttle, of Leslie, said he hardly felt at home trying to make a speech, but if it was an auction he would feel different about it. Ile said, "If you had to wait three or four weeks before you could raise 25 cents to get a letter out of the post office from your father, as I had to in my early pioneer days, you would notice a contrast between the value of money now and then." Ite gave a vivid description of life in the woods when a team would not pass his home oftener than once in two or three months." IIe alluded in an amusing manner to Hon. O. M. Barnes mnaking black salts with which to pay for his education; how he and his brother John went to Jackson to sell them and became so smitten at the sight of a young girl on the way (not seeing them very often at home) that they let the ox team run away and dump the salts in the mill dam. He said women did not have to get down on their knees and scrub floors then as they do now, for oftentimes they did not have enough floor on which to make a grease spot. Smith Tooker, who built the first shanty in Lansing, was called upon for a speech but declined on the ground that he was not a natural orator. A resolution was presented and adopted, which designated pioneers as those having lived in Michigan thirty years and in Ingham county twenty-five years. The fourth annual meeting was held May 23, 1876, at the M. E. church in Mason, at which time a committee was appointed to consider changing the time of meeting, and it was voted that in the future it should be held on the second Tuesday in June. The president, W. A. Dryer, gave a very interesting address in which he noted the many changes that had taken place in the northern part of the county where he settled in the fall of 1836. He said, in addition:

52 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHIAM COUNTY "When I think of the old pioneers all over the county, one by one, as I very often do. my heart swells with emotion and true brotherly love. Most especially should we be careful of the fair fame of those who have gone to their reward. Many of them had warm friends, some of whom may be with us today, and we should respect their feelings. They, tie dead, are but just a step or two before us, just over the line, and we too will soon have told our last pioneer story to the friends here. "Not only for the above named object do we meet, but to obtain and hand down to posterity an authentic history of the first settlement of each township in the county, with incidents and anecdotes, joys and sorrows, deprivations and hardships of individuals, that all in turn experienced more or less, which could not fail to make an interesting volume which we could sell for enough to pay all expenses and leave a handsome balance in the treasury. "The initiatory steps have been taken, committees have been appointed with this end in view, and some considerable progress has been made of which we shall be informed by the secretary, and I hope before the close of the meeting today the consummation of this much desired object may be assured." At this meeting a man from each township was appointed to report the death of pioneers to the secretary, so that they might be tabulated. As in every preceding meeting the historical committee was urged to bring in all the interesting material it had been able to collect. The officers of last year were re-elected, with the following Executive Committee: Wm. -I. Horton, Vevay; O. M. Barnes, Lansing; J. M. Williams, Williamston. Fifth annual meeting of the Ingham County Pioneer Society was held at the M. E. church in Mason on May 29, 1877, and opened in due form. The secretary reported the following deaths during the year: Israel Ames, Lansing, aged 80. Hiram B. Fuller, Leslie, aged 70. John Strickland, Alaiedon, aged 90. Israel Chapman, Alaiedon, aged 62. Ephraim Meech, Leroy. Nichols Lewis, Vevay.

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 53 James Harkness, Leslie. Mary Austin, Leslie. John D. Bohonnon, Aurelius. John Willoughby, Aurelius. The officers elected were: President, Almon M. Chapin, Vevay; Vice President, II. II. North, Delhi; Secretary, Peter Lowe, Mason; Treasurer, M. McRobert, Mason; Executive Committee: J. M. Williams. Williamston; J. P. Cowles, Lansing, Andrew Hunt, Ingham. In spite of the fact that many of those gathered had passed the allotted span of "three-score years and ten," they were a jolly, sturdy lot, and it was a Ileasure to hear them recount their adventures and tell of their trials and triumphs as they "made the wilderness to blossom like the rose," and turned a wilderness into smiling meadows and cornfields. After toil comes rest, and now these old men are reaping the harvest for which they sowed amid so many hardships in early days. The chairman stated that efforts had been made to secure the early history of each township, but without success. A committee was appointed for this purpose by the State society, but it has accomplished its mission only in part. The following incidents were related by pioneers present, which throws some light on activities at an early day. R. Tryon told of the difficulties the pioneers were obliged to overcome as they cleared the land and raised their log dwellings. Wim. Cook, who now owns a fine farm in Delhi, went to mill in a wagon the wheels of which were made from sections sawed from a large log. S. O. Russell settled in Leslie in 1836 and helped organize the west half of Ingham county into the township of Aurelius. H. H. North came into the county in 1837. He said they got along very well except when the family were sick, and then they realized what pioneer life meant. Dr. McRobert, of Mason, who was the only doctor anywhere accessible, was his family physician. Mrs. David Rogers, the first white woman in Ingham county, was present. She settled in Stockbridge in 1833. The next year Peter Lowe's father settled in the same town and supposed

54 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY for some time that he was the first settler, when he discovered the family of Mr. Rogers, six miles distant. Mrs. Presley, Peter Lowe's oldest sister, planted the first gooseberry and currant bushes in this county. Mr. Woodworth, eighty-five years of age, said the first voting was done in Leslie in 1838. A committee selected the candidates and they were voted into office in about five minutes. Thirtyfour votes were cast. Wm. 1-. Horton said the town officers were chosen the same way in Vevay for the first two years. In 1848 there were three partiesDemocratic, Free Soil and Whig. Garrett Dubois, of Bunkerhill, built the first frame barn. J. J. Tuttle, of Leslie, settled there in the woods in 1838, and lived there four years before a team passed his shanty. He made a living by burning trees into ashes and manufacturing blacksalts in the winter and making maple sugar in the spring. George Webb, of Aurelius, came to Michigan when Jackson contained only three houses. When he got to Mason he found only one habitation, and that was a log shanty occupied by a man named James Blaine. It stood near the spot where the residence of Judge Steele now stands. He helped chop ten acres in what is now the city of Mason. He and Dr. MeRobert cut the first crop of oats with a sickle. I-e bought his first yoke of oxen with the bounty paid by the State for wolf scalps. Ira Rolfe moved to the fine farm he owns in the southern part of Vevay in 1836, and has lived there ever since. There were others present who could have told equally interesting incidents, but time would not allow it. All enjoyed these reminiscences of by-gone days and looked eagerly forward to the next annual meeting for a continuation of these stories. June 11, 1878, the sixth annual meeting of the Ingham County Pioneer Society was held at the county fair grounds, where five long tables were spread and laden with all the delicacies of the season, to which those present did full justice. The secretary reported the following deaths since the last meeting: Leslie-Hiram W. Hull, Rev. Ezra Rummery, Rev. E. K. Grout. Mason-Amos E. Steele.

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 55 Ingham-Jabez W. Brown. Delhi-Almon D. Aldrich. Bunkerhill-Lucius Lord. The following officers were elected: President, Wm. H. Clark, Mason; Vice President, Wm. A. Dryer, Lansing; Secretary, Peter Lowe, Mason; Treasurer, J. A. Barnes, Mason; Executive Committee: S. O. Russell, Leslie; H. A. Hawley, Vevay; Capt. J. Price, Lansing. Henry A. Shaw. of Eaton Rapids, delivered a pleasing address and painted in gorgeous colors the future of Michigan. Dr. Ion B. Chapin, of Battle Creek, one of the earliest pioneers of Ingham county, told some of his experiences in pioneer life. Capt. Price, of Lansing, and S. 0. Russell, of Leslie, told stories which brought out the humorous side of pioneer life. June 10, 1879, the seventh annual meeting was held at the county fair grounds, with a picnic dinner in charge of a committee appointed by the president. Upon motion it was voted to have a committee appointed to ascertain how many residents of the county were here in 1840, and also how many have lived in the county more than twentyfive years. There were 41 present at the meeting who settled in Ingham county previous to 1840. Pioneers who have died during the past year: Vevay-Almon M. Chapin. Ingham-Mrs. Lucinda Beers. Leslie-Mrs. Soloman Woodworth. Leslie-Wheaton Sanders. Leslie-Loomis Miller. Leslie-Oliver Elliott. Mason-John Rayner. Officers elected June 10, 1879: President, Win. A. Dryer, Lansing; Vice President, J. J. Tuttle, Leslie; Secretary and Treasurer, Peter Lowe, Mason. Executive Committee: Win. H. Clark, Mason; Samuel Skadan, Ingham; S. 0. Russell, Leslie. Samuel L. Kilbourne, of Lansing, gave a very pleasing and interesting address. June 8, 1880, occurred the eighth annual meeting of the Ingham County Pioneers at the court house in Mason.

56 PIONEER HISTORY OF ING1IAM COUNTY The following officers were elected: President, Samuel Skadan, Ingham; Vice President, S. 0. Russell, Leslie; Secretary and Treasurer, Peter Lowe, Mason. Executive Committee: J. R. Price, Lansing; A. R. L. Covert, Leslie; T. Densmore, Mason. Those who died during the past year: Leslie-Solomon Woodworth, T. B. Blake, James Rundell, Mrs. Henry Austin, Manley Walker. Vevay-Mrs. Susan Clough. Eulogy by Rev. O. D. Watkins. Lansing-Mrs. Anna Barnes, Mrs. Ann Cowles, C. C. Darling. Ingham-John C. Haines. Remarks by Andrew Hunt. Onondaga-Jos. E. Pierson, Catherine Peek. Eulogy of Mr. Pierson by J. J. Tuttle. Alaiedon-John H. Childs. Bunkerhill-John C. Freeland. Delhi-Caroline Wait, Diantha Parks. June 14, 1881, Rayner's Opera House was the lplace chosen for the ninth annual meeting of the Inglhalm County lioneer Society, and a pleasant day and roads in good condition conspired to make the day a banner one in the history of the society. It was more than pleasant to see the old pioneers who felled forests, turned over the virgin soil, struggled with want and privations, wisely and heroically suffering everything to make the new world blossom, drive in, in their comfortable carriages over the smooth roads, past the well-kept, fertile farms and pleasant farm houses, noting the general prosperity the foundation for which was laid by their labors. Every one rejoices that in their declining years these pioneers are, with very few exceptions, surrounded with the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. It is but the just reward for the hardships and privations which they have bravely and patiently endured. And it is not surprising that in the full splendor of Michigan's prosperity they should turn with tender hearts to the days when, a hardy little band, they began to hew down its unbroken forests. The following officers were elected: President, Hon. Ferris S. Fitch, Bunkerhill; Vice President, Samuel Skadan, Ingham; Sec

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 57 retary, Geo. W. Bristol, Mason; Treasurer, Peter Lowe, Mason. Executive Committee: Samuel Skadan, Inghamn; Robert IHayward, Aurelius; James M. Shearer, Lansing. Those who have died during the year past: Vevay-Joseph Butler. Bunkerhill-Daniel C. Potter. Mason-Martin A. Sweet. Vevay-Henry A. Iawley. Mr. Fitch eulogized the life and character of Mr. Potter, and Maj. L. H. Ives spolke feelingly of the struggles experienced by Mr. Hawley as a pioneer, and his sterling qualities of mind and heart. Hon. D. L. Case, of Lansing, spoke for three-quarters of an hour, contrasting his pioneer days with the present time, and told much early Michigan history. Thales Huntoon, of Leslie, wished to know how many people in the room had resided in the county 35 years. Fully 75 arose, and at least 25 more who could have truthfully responded had previously left the room. D. L. Cady desired all who had lived in the State 50 years to rise, and about a dozen stood. Two things were suggested which would undoubtedly add to the interest of the reunions. One was to have the speaker selected several months before the meeting, so that he could have ample time to prepare an accurate, interesting and valuable paper. The other was to have papers and historical sketches of the society filed away in some safe place, where they can be preserved for future generations. Soon the last of the old pioneers will be laid away, and unless some record is preserved, the history of their struggles will perish with them. June 15, 1882, the tenth annual meeting of the Ingham County Pioneer Society was held in IlRayner Opera I-ouse, and the following officers elected: President, Thaddeus I)ensmore, Mason; Vice President, IIon. D. L. Case, Lansing; Secretary, Geo. W. Bristol, Mason; Treasurer, P. Lowe, Mason. Executive Committee: Richard Bullen, Aurelius; Win. H. Horton, Vevay; Thales W. Huntoon, Leslie. It was unanimously voted that hereafter all members arriving at the age of 75 years be exempt from payment of dues.

58 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY The pioneers were invited to the American H-ouse and the Clark House, where dinner was served by the citizens of Mason. Over their cups and plates the men and women who battled with the forests of Ingham county and transformed them into fertile fields recalled the memories of the past and grew young again. To the seventy-five guests thus entertained, it was one of the pleasantest features of the day. Speeches were made by lion. S. L. Kilbourne, Hon. D. L. Case, and lion. E. Longyear, all of Lansing, besides others from various townslhips. The deaths reported were as follows: Aurelius-John Wright, Hiram Smith. Lansing-Chauncey Murphy. Stockbridge-Samuel C. Proctor. Mason-Geo. Shafer. Leslie-Mrs. Nancy Backus. Ingham-Marshall H-icks. Meridian-Thomas Giffords. Bunkerhill-James Birney. Short memorial talks were given by friends of each deceased member. Thus ended another of those pleasant annual gatherings of the veterans of Ingham county who, by their toil, industry and selfdenial, their intelligence and bravery builded up one of the grandest and wealthiest-yes-the very Capital county of our Peninsular State. On June 12, 1883, the indications of the weather augured ill for the gathering of the nmenlbers of the Ingham County Pioneer Society for its eleventh annual neeting, but the old settlers inured to hbarshllips from their youth, flocked in, and possib;ly out of respect for their courage the threatening clouds withheld their rain, except for a little dash in the nmorning. The report of the nominating conmmittee resulted in the election of the following officers: President, Col. Whitney Jones, of Mason; Vice Presidents-Capt. John Price, Lansing; S. 0. Russell, Leslie; Samuel Skadan, Inglhan; Rudolphus Tyron, Alaiedon; Secretary, Geo. W. Bristol, Mason; Treasurer, Peter Lowe, Mason. Executive Committee: R. J. Bullen, Aurelius; S. O. Russell, Leslie; L. B. Huntoon, Lansing.

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL IMEETINGS 59 Elijah Woodworth, of Leslie, 92 years old, gave a short talk on "Human Progression," and reviewed his life since he came to this county 46 years ago. Ex-Judge of Probate Griffin Paddock gave a ) rief history of this country since it was discovered by Columbus. Judge Chatterton gave a very pleasing sketch of his early residence in Ingham county, dating back to 1857. In his boyhood there was not a carriage nor a team of horses in Meridian, which was his home. The young beaux took their girls riding with ox teams and lumber wagons. I-e related incidents connected with the life of the great Indian chief, Okemos, closing with a tribute to the spirit of progress which has characterized the county. J. M. Williams, of WilliLamston, spoke feelingly of the rapidity with which the charter Imemblers are passing away. IIe said that in most townships those who were there in 1840 would not exceed four or five. Capt. John Price, of Lansing, was called for and came forward amid hearty cheers. IIe spoke of the princely feeling of the pioneer who had got together his hundred dollars to pay for his land as compared with the men of today who lived in mortgaged palaces. -Ie said the old cabins had room for a bed, a table, a fireplace and a cradle. When the women went to bed the men went outdoors to give them a chance to undress. Parlor, sitting room, bedroom, dining room-all were in the one room of the old cabin. There was no talk in those days of the cost of houses, and high yearly expenses. There was more simplicity and more happiness then than now. The following deaths were reported: Alaiedon-Jeduthan B. Blake. Aurelius-Reuben R. Bllllen, Mrs. Geo. Webb, Huram Bristol, Alice Webb. Bunkerhill-Ferris S. Fitch, Thomas Lawrence. Delhi-Chas. Holbrook. Lansing-Mrs. Kelly, Cyrus Hewett. Leslie-Cornelius Calkins, Mrs. Elizabeth DeLamater, Ogden Edwards, Ezra Wood, Mrs. H. B. Hawley. Mason-Alex R. Miller, Mrs. Cornelia Smith. Meridian-Mrs. M. W. Barnes. Vevay-Mrs. Enos Northrop, Allen Hathaway, David

60 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY Palmer, Moses Jacobs, Wm. H. Iorton, Wm. Claflin, Margaret Hayes. Wheatfield-Mrs. M. J. Pollock. Ingham-Mr. Avery. Friends of the deceased testified to their good qualities in fitting eulogies. Wm. H. Horton, a charter member, died on the day of the meeting, June 12. In order to vary the program, the twelfth annual meeting of the Ingham County Pioneer Society was held in the village of Leslie on June 10, 1884. Music was furnished by the Leslie Ladies Band. Col. Geo. P. Sanford delivered the annual address. He used the word pioneer in a wider sense than is usually given it, saying it stood for human progress. IHe argued that all advancement is the work of pioneers, whether in felling the forests or extending the geographical boundaries of civilization, or in leading the world to new ideas in science, philosophy or morals. Luther was as much a pioneer as the first settler of Ingham county. The following persons in the pioneer list have died during the year: Leslie-Rascom Harkness, Mrs. Elizabeth Barlow, Joseph Brewer, Maggie Woodland, Mrs. Phelena Iull, Mrs. Davis Hampton, Mrs. Harrison Wyman. Vevay-James Fuller, E. B. Smith, Mrs. Octavia Hubbard, J. P. Reed. Aurelius-Hiram Austin. Delhi-Darius Abbott. Lansing-Zaccheus Barnes. Rev. C. W. Allen spoke of Mrs. Elizabeth Barlow and her exemplary life. She came to Onondaga in 1841 and resided there until her tragic death in the cyclone during the summer of 1883. Jay Calkins paid tribute to Maggie Woodland, and described her rare qualifications which made her one of the most successful teachers in the county. Rev. Brockway spoke of Mrs. Octavia Hubbard, whose son, I. N. Wolcott, was the first white child born in Vevay township. The officers elected were: President, Perry Henderson; Sec

REPI'ORTS OF PIONEER IISTORICAL MEETINGS 61 retary, Geo. W. Bristol; Treasurer, Peter Lowe, with a vice president for each township in the county. Executive Committee: J. J. Tuttle, T. Densmore, Win. Cook. The following poem was written by Elijah Woodworth, of Leslie, then 92 years of age, and read by Mr. Russell. THE OLD PIONEERS. Well, yes, my friends, I guess I'll give a sketch Of how we used to live in the days of the pioneer, When we had for neighbors bears, wolves and deer; The mosquito took an active part, And the firefly lit up the dismal dark. Our turnpike then was a cow path made In a zigzag course where'er they strayed. Our rapid transit to the nearest mart Was through the forest with ox and cart; We wended our way through the lofty trees, Cut out our road wherever we pleased. Our dwellings I must tell you about,How they were constructed, inside and out: Our chimneys were not made of bricks, But mud spread o'er a pile of sticks, And he was accounted a lucky man Who had a flat stone for hearth or jamb. Leathern hinges on windows and doors, All to match with the siding and floors. With a box for a table we often did dine, And this did a bedstead and table combine. The pantry we had was made from long poles; Our bedstead four sticks drove into some holes, And with the slabs on the top the thing was complete, And our sleep thereon most peaceful and sweet. Our lamps, with which we subdued the dark, Were flaming torches of hickory bark, And he who aspired to more than that Had a rag for a wick in a dish of fat. Then no fashions had we to worry our mind, No horrid pull-backs or long trails behind.

62 PIONEER IISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY With big fur caps and stout brogans A picture you have of the frontier man. On the huge backlog of the old fireplace, Where the crickets crept out and ran a race; Against the log there could sometimes be found Our cooking utensils for a background. No organ then made the edifice tremble In the old school house where we used to assemble; But so quiet and meek in garb unpretending, To worship on Sabbath our way we went wending. The Sabbath day holy was never revealed By the church going bell as it solemnly pealed. And no difference in days did we ever detect By the cowbell that hung on old Brindle's neck. The tall oaks were felled by the pioneer's axe, While in the rough cabins the matrons spun flax, And jogged the rude cradle and sang lullaby, While dreaming of plenty to come by and by. 'Mid toils and privations tie band struggled through More than any can guess the land to subdue. But the harvest at last in plenty doth yield For both city and town in the grain laden field. Now this beautiful land to our sons we transmit; Will they in their turn improve and till it? And the next generation, from father to son, Show us a pure record for what we have done? Before adjournment it was voted to hold the next annual meeting in Mason. June 9, 1885, members of Ingham County Pioneer Society met at Rayner Opera House for its thirteenth annual meeting. The very elements combined to woo the fellers of Ingham's forests from their comfortable homes to attend their annual reunion. The gathering was by far the largest in the history of the society. All the forenoon the streets were filled with groups of gray-haired men greeting each other with the exuberance of boyhood. When the meeting was called to order the house was nearly filled, and the dinner tickets showed that 160 pioneers from outside the city had assembled.

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 63 As at all other meetings there was an invocation by some minister of the Gospel and the program was interspersed by appropriate music. Prof. Marshall Pease, a musician well known throughout the State, was present and sang a solo pleasing to the pioneers. The following is a list of the deceased members for the year: Leslie-Hlon. Arnold Walker, Dr. Jesse 0. Searl, Nelson O. Norton, David Jones, Mrs. David Blood, Mrs. Anson Stratton, Mrs. Warren Wheaton, James Royston, Mrs. Michael Cady, Mrs. Amos Wortman. Bunkerhill-Jacob Dubois, Garrett Dubois. White Oak-Lemuel Woodhouse, Stephen Havens, Mrs. Penelope Smith. Williamston-Mrs. Adelia Farnham. Lansing-Col. A. R. Burr. Ingham-Nancy C. IHaines. Leroy-Mrs. James Wygant. Mason-Dr. Minos McRobert, Chauncey A. Osborne, Dr. Chas. H. Darrow, Geo. Dixon, Mrs. Levant Main. Vevay-Mrs. Crowl, Chas. Teel, Frederick Gorham, Mrs. Andrew Markham, Mrs. Elizabeth Page. Hon. 0. M. Barnes spoke of his long and intimate acquaintance with Dr. McRobert. He described the inconveniences of travel when he first met Dr. McRobert, exactly 48 years ago. Mason was then a clearing of a few acres, the court house square decorated on its southeast corner by a cat-hole, one house opposite Judge Steele's late residence on North B street, another occupied by a family named Lacey. Mr. Linderman had a farm north of the clearing, and Judge )Danforth was building a mill (1837). Dr. McRobert was elected register of deeds on the organization of the county. Of the county officers elected that year, only Hiram Smith and Richard R. Lowe are now living. In 1840 the doctor married Miss Nancy Abbott, and immediately moved to his farm in Aurelius, but after three years returned to Mason. His history may be summed up by saying that he practiced medicine for a few years, went into mercantile pursuits, was connected with banks, railroads-with whatever would benefit the community. IIe was exact, prompt and cautious in business,

64 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY just to all, a kind, true man, cordial, a good man in all the relations of life. He is gone, but we shall remember him with affection as long as we shall remember anything. Judge Chatterton read a sketch of the life of Dr. Darrow. Born in 1830, his father a farmer, he managed a farm for a time, but at an early age graduated from a medical college. With $500 borrowed from his brother Daniel he went west. First to Norwalk, Ohio, then to St. Johns, Mich., then to Okemos in 1855. He lived with Elder Bloomer, chopping the firewood and milking the cows for his board. He built up an enviable reputation as a physician and surgeon. Lying for a deer he shot one of Elder Bloomer's cows, but restored her to health by his surgical skill. This was his first experience in treating gunshot wounds. IIe soon had a practice which kept him riding day and night. He was never vascillating in his opinion and always expressed his honest convictions. Dr. S. W. Hammond was his partner for a time. Elected register of deeds in 1866, he built a three-story block in Mason, and purchased and improved 640 acres of land south of the city. He married Caroline Rose of Bath in 1858. Rev. W. C. Allen spoke of Hon. Arnold Walker. He came from New York to Ingham county in 1844, where he remained until his death. He settled on a farm in Vevay, and left it in charge of his family while he went to California in search of gold. He then moved to Mason and was elected justice of the peace. He organized the Curtenius Guards and was made their captain. In 1859 he went to California for his health. He represented this district in the Legislature of 1873-4, superintended the construction of the northern extension of the Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw Railroad, was president of the First National Bank of Leslie. lie had only $1.25 when he came to Ingham county, but died a wealthy man. I-e was industrious and honest. IIe married Matilda Chandler, with whom he lived more than forty years. Of eleven children only three survive. IHe met death as courageously as he met the duties of life. Chauncey A. Osborne, aged 72, who came to Mason at an early day, wa. eulogized by Hon. G. M. Huntington. Was sheriff from 1850-54, and often the Board of Supervisors increased instead of diminished his fees. Rev. Jacokes spoke of Garrett Dubois, born in 1806, died 1884.

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 65 Born in the State of New York, where he worked as a lumberman when a boy. Married Lucy Chapman in 1832, came in wagons to Michigan and settled in Alaiedon, later moving to Bunkerhill. Set out an orchard, getting the trees at Ypsilanti. Ielped build the M. E. church at Bunkerhill, and was a member of that denomination for over 60 years. Lcmuel Woodhouse was a partner of S. 0. Russell in building a saw mill at Leslie, was a cabinet maker amd pattern maker. Was postmaster at Leslie, and had been treasurer of Ingham county. Four people present had been in the county 50 years, and 45 had been here 45 years. Hon. D. L. Case and Capt. J. R. Price, of Lansing, gave short talks. Rev. Augusta Chapin, who was born and grew up at Eden, gave the address of the day, and a part of her address follows: I have for several years anticipated the pleasure of addressing you upon the occasion of this annual reunion, but each time some unforseen and uncontrollable circumstance has prevented my presence. The )lcasure I have anticipated has been in the thought of meeting you, taking you by the hand (many of whose names and faces have been familiar to me from childhood) and hearing what you had to say, rather than in anything I thought I could say to interest you. We have met here today to think and speak of the early times, and to do honor to those who made the Ingham County of today possible. I think scarcely any subject has a greater charm for us than that of the beginning of things. The story of how things came to be as they are is certainly next in interest to the question of what the outcome shall be. The future is an untrodden road. All is misty, visionary, uncertain in that direction; we can only know of it by forecasting from our knowledge of existing laws and our experiences. But we may with comparative ease retrace the course of the past, and whatever pertains to it has the fascination of a fairy tale. Every bit of information about the origin and history of the world and man upon it is siezed with avidity; nay, we are all ready to stop and listen with breathless attention even to conjecture on the subject if it comes from an intelligent source.

66 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY There are more historians than prophets, for it is easier within certain limits to tell what has been than to foretell what shall be. The antiquarian but returns over the path human feet have already trod, while the prophet, or seer, must with clear vision be able to judge from principles established, laws in operation, from the whole trend of nature and the spirit of the times, what the future shall be. At first I thought, as I said, it would seem vastly easier to find out the past, but however this may be, no one who undertakes the study of the past will pursue his researches far without finding that his utmost powers are not sufficient for unravelling the mysteries that lie behind us. Authentic history takes us back but a little way toward the beginning of the path down which mankind have been traveling for unknown and unnumbered ages. They have left barely enough trace behind them to show that they have been here. Even what is called authentic history must be accepted with many grains of allowance. The greatest name will perish from human history, the finest monument crumble into dust, and the time will come when our names will be lost and our places know us no more. Yet we shall survive in the memories of our friends as long as the remembrance will serve any good purpose, and then our work and thought and influence will mingle with the great ocean of human achievement, and the sum total of that will be something more, and something different from what it would have been without us. All this is as it should be, for if longer preserved there could be no possible use for it. It has served its purpose. But no wish is dearer to our hearts than the perfectly legitimate one of wishing to keep, after we have gone hence, a place in the memories and lives of those we leave behind. It is also a sacred task to help preserve from oblivion the names of those who have gone before us, and to perpetuate the influence of the good they did. This is one of the chief reasons for the existence of this pioneer society, to rescue from oblivion the names and heroic deeds of the early settlers of our county. This society, with others of similar purpose, is helping to make authentic history. The pioneers are fast passing away. Those who can remember

]11EPORTS OF PIONEEII HISTORICAL MEETINGS 67 the early days when this fair county was a wilderness are already few. Many interesting and important particulars of those times will be lost if not gathered soon. Now is the time to correct the records and make them complete so that they may be of use hereafter. This county will not see the like again of this generation that is now passing away. There is no place now within the limits of the United States so wild and inaccessible as Ingham county was fifty years ago. The pioneers have penetrated every forest, their white covered wagons have been seen on every prairie; they have encamped at the foot of every mountain, on the banks of every river and the shores of every lake. There are those here today, probably, who can remember when the first white settlement was made in this county, and who heard the wolves howl by night (as I myself did wlen a child). Many here who can remember when there were no roads except such as wound about anmong the trees avoiding swamps and impassable places. The times when letter postage was 25 cents, and it cost something to write a letter, or rather to receive one, for the sender seldom paid the postage, and the poor settler often gave his last quarter to get a letter from the office, while sometimes it lay there for days or weeks before he could raise the money. Those were stern times, and strenuous privations were endured with a heroism and cheerful patience almost incomprehensible to the present generation-the plainest food, homespun clothing, no horses, no carriages, no luxurious carpets and furniture, no fine houses, few books and fewer papers, poor schools, no churches, only occasional services by an itinerant preacher. But the pioneers enjoyed their life in the wilderness; and I doubt if they have been happier in the recent years than in those they spent struggling for a livelihood among the privations and hardships of that early day. There was the charm of novelty about it all. They were young and full of strength and courage. Everything was fresh and new, and the sense of triumph, when a difficulty was overcome, was a keen pleasure, such as will not come at all under easier circumstances. And yet it makes one's heart ache to think what sacrifices they made, how they faced sickness, and hardships, and pri

68 IPIONEER HISTORY OF INGTIAM COUNTY vations of every kind, giving up uncomplainingly comforts that are necessaries of existence to us, to seek a home in the wilderness, there to hew out a road by which civilization could enter, and make the present possible. We are here today to remember those old times and talk them over, to keep them fresh in mind, and to keep green the memory of those who are no longer with us. If any one could or would tell the exact story of what he can remember, and all of it, concerning those old times, we should have a more interesting speech than has ever been made here, or ever will be. The old farmer could tell us the story of his long, steady warfare with the stumps and swamps; how he kept the wolf from the door, and kept a stout heart through it all, until at last there were smooth fields, good crops, horses and carriages and plenty of everything, and he moved out of the old log house into the spacious one nearby, and sat down to rest after his years of labor. The merchant could tell us of the days of small things, when money was scarce and he bartered his goods for things the farmer had for sale. The doctor could tell of his long horseback rides through the almost unbroken forest, carrying a small drug store in his saddle bags; of his numerous patients prostrated with malarial feversometimes everyone sick in the house and scarcely a well person in the settlement. He who was an ambitious young man could tell us how, in the face of appalling difficulties, he worked his way through college; how he supported himself by anything that was honest labor, and persevered with such courage and diligence that the story is told to his honor, and an example to others, in the college town to this day. The mother and housekeeper could tell how she cooked before the broad fireplace, before there was such a thing as a cook stove in the country; how she spun and wove and made, in large part, the clothing for the family; how her busy knitting needles kept all the feet, both big and little, in warm serviceable stockings; how she made butter, and cheese, too, washed, and scrubbed and brewed, brought water from the spring some distance from the house, and did a thousand things-all in one or two rooms and no

.EPORTS OF PIONEER IISTORICAL MEETINGS 69 modern conveniences. She never complained about her lot and never was troubled about the latest fashions. I looked upon those times with the eyes of a very little child, and in trying to recall them I find that the details of everyday life are mostly lost to me, but certain pictures remain as vividly before my mind's eye as though the actual scene was now before me. Among these is that of one of the pioneers-Cyrus Austin (some of you must remember him). He was a stalwart backwoodsman, and if he was not a mighty hunter it is as such that my imagination has always portrayed him. It was late in the afternoon of the last day but one in December, 1842. My parents had left the old home in New York and had been travelling for weeks toward a new home that we were to make in the wilderness. We had been directed to the then famous "Rolfe Settlemlent," where the long pilgrimage was to end. We were tired and hungry. We had surely come far enough to reach the settlement, and there was as yet no sign of human habitation near, only unbroken forest before, behind and on every side of us. The snow was deep, and only a half trodden road wound in and out among the great trees of the primeval wilderness. We had not seen a human being, except those of our own party, for hours. Those who were driving the teams began to think we had lost our way when suddenly, just where the road made a sharp turn to avoid a huge sycamore which stood in our way, there appeared a man who had already stepped out upon the snow to wait for us to pass. HIe looked as though he himself were a part of the wild scene. An ample cap of raccoon skin almost hid his face, and he wore a great tunic shaped coat of the same material. IHe carried a gun over one shoulder, and over the other, trailed in the snow behind him, the carcass of a deer he had just shot. He was asked to direct us to the "Rolfe Settlement." His keen eyes at once took in the whole situation. He scanned the worn teams, the battered covers of the heavily loaded sleighs, the anxious faces of the elders of the party and the scared looks of the children. He saw that we were newcomers, with no idea of what life in the backwoods must be, and before he could speak he broke into a loud ringing laugh that echoed and re-echoed through the woods as though twenty men were laughing, and then he caught his breath and said, with a

70 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY sweeping gesture toward the woods all around, "the 'Rolfe Settlement?' Why, this is it. It's right here." Sure enough, within a few rods we found shelter in the hospitable home of Ira Rolfe. Another portrait in the gallery of my memory is that of Uncle Ben Rolfe, grand, good old man that he was, as he stood when he led the singing in the school house services. I always looked upon him at those times with mixed admiration and awe, and listened with delight to his singing of Mear, China, Rockingham Dundee and Old Hundred-tunes that have no equals among the compositions of recent times. I remember the old Indian Chief Okemos, also, as he sat by the kitchen fire recounting his exploits. We are here, in addition to all other reasons, gratefully to remember how much we are indebted to the pioneers in every way. They prepared the way for all the improvements that have come to make life prosperous and pleasant for us. They carried forward these improvements regardless of cost in time and strength, labor and money; our villages and cities they helped to build; our railroads also they encouraged with gifts of land and money. They never ceased to foster to the extent of their ability our schools, churches, and all measures for social culture and every public benefit. They planted the orchards the fruit of which we eat, and the shade trees under which we enjoy the leisure they in a large measure earned for us. It is impossible that we should overestimate the importance of their work, or do too much to honor them. Ingham county has a noble record among the counties of the State. Nowhere within her borders has more rapid progress been made in subdueing the wilderness and carrying forward the various progressive movements demanded by our needs, and the spirit of the age. In peace and in war she has done her duty. A host of intelligent, noble and excellent men and women adorn the walks of public and private life among us. Our schools are second to none, and the homes of Ingham county are as prosperous and happy as any in the land. Let the pioneers be thanked for it all. Let these annual reunions continue as long as a pioneer lives, and then let their children and their children's children meet to

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 71 perpetuate the spirit that actuated their fathers and the good institutions they bequeathed. Fourteenth annual meeting of the Ingham County Pioneer Society was held in Mason June 8, 1886, at Rayner's Opera House. President Perry Henderson called the meeting to order, and after the year's reports were given, 150 pioneers went to the M. E. church to a dinner furnished by the citizens of Mason. The death of 45 pioneers was reported, and short addresses were made in their memory. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, D. L. Case; Secretary, L. H. Ives; Treasurer, W. M. Webb. Executive Committee: Hon. Geo. M. Huntington, T. W. Huntoon, Gardner Fletcher. It was decided to hold a pioneer social during the winter at Mason. Hon. S. L. Kilbourne, of Lansing, was the orator of the day, and reviewed the history of the county for the past fifty years in all its various phases. Fifteenth annual meeting at the court house in Mason, June 18, 1887. At the business session the old officers were re-elected. A canvas of those present showed 31 who had been in Inghlam county for 50 years or over. President Case urged upon the members of the society the importance of preparing the history of their localities for preservation, and then called on the secretary for a report of the deaths of the year. There were found to be 45, among them some who had been very active in the work of the society, particularly Smith Tooker, of Lansing, who helped clear the land where the Capitol now stands. J. M. Williams, of Williamston, who settled in Ingham county in 1838, and for whom Williamston was named. Mrs. Peter Lowe, well known in the county, and Mrs. Lavina Coatsworth, of Vevay, and Mason. Mrs. John Bullen, a pioneer worker of Aurelius. Elijah Woodworth, aged 96 years, who was the first man to cross Grand river into Ingham county. Manning K. North-he is one of a large family of brothers who helped clear the forest from Mason to Lansing. His father gave Lansing its name, in place of "Michigamme," as it was formerly called. He told of one time when his father's cows wandered from Lansing to Mason and then west to Geo. Webb's where they were found on the marsh by him and his brother. He thought

72 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY the pasture pretty large. He had seen eight members of his father's family shaking with ague at the same time. L. B. Huntoon sang a song popular in Ingham county 45 years ago, called Michigania, which called out much applause and laughter. President Case alluded to his early residence in Mason, and said no other place on earth seemed so much like home. Peter Lowe is the only person now living who was a voter in Mason when Mr. Case came here. Mrs. Forster and North urged each member of the society to write a sketch of his life to be preserved by the society, and the idea was received favorably, but no action taken. The attendance was large and much interest manifested. A good dinner and pleasing music were furnished by Mason citizens, addling greatly to the enjoyment of the day. The following poem by J. T. Bullen was read and enthusiastically received. HEROISM. Each nation has its heroes, The noble and the brave, Whom they hold in high esteem Because they fought to save. And every cause its martyrs, Who scorn and death perchance Most cruelly have suffered At the hand of ignorance. 'The warrior who in battle I)rives back a nation's foe, Writes his name in history While ages come and go. And in the fight with evil, The same is justly true, The names of moral heroes Are handed down to you.

IRELORTS OF PIIONIIEEl IISTORICAL MIEET'IN(GS 73 But heroism proper May not alone be found Upon the field of battle Where blood has stained tlhe ground. And, in the moral conflict, Where truth and error meet, Though there are many heroes, The list is incolmplete. But there are other heroes That stir our tenderest thought, Of whom we fear the valor Too soon may be forgot. Their service for their country On every hand appears, Grand heroes of the forestWe call them pioneers. Here on this spot for ages, In native grandeur stood A tall unbroken forest, A brush entangled wood. Entrenched like some vast army, Behind these hills to stay. While in the swamps in ambush The dread miasmas lay. The howling wolf at nightfall Engaged his vocal powers, To make the night more hideous All through the evening hours. The ever waving treetops Seemed beckoning to say, This is the home of red men, Away! away! away! To thus invade and conquer A land so fortified Caused great and grievous hardships, And many heroes died.

74 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Here where they met and conquered, We meet again and say The leaders in that struggle Are the heroes of today. To leave in early manhood The scenes of youth behind, To break those cords asunder That friends to kindred bind, To penetrate the forest And battle with the trees, Compelling them to open To the sunshine and the breeze. Breathing in the poison Of undrained swamps and swales, Then shaking with the ague And next day splitting rails, Then ditching off the water From out those filthy pools; Starting on the hillsides The pleasant country schools. Building up the country In all that makes it great, Pioneers of Michigan Are heroes of the State. A poem, like a story, Would seem quite obsolete, And this, our chosen subject, Left very incomplete Without those noble heroines, The girls of former years, Who left their homes and kindred As wives of pioneers. A sweet goodbye to father, A kiss on mother's cheek, A long farewell to other friends, Perhaps no more to meet.

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 75 A muffled sob of sorrow, Perhaps a falling tear, And then a noble heroine Commences her career. A long and tedious journey To a cabin in the woods, A fire place to cook by, A dearth of household goods. And on each noble housewife The triple burden laid, Was that of being mother, And nurse and kitchen maid. And when these urgent duties In proper time were done, And to the arms of Morpheus The family had all gone, Such ambition born of love As only mothers feel, Prompted them before they slept, To ply the spinning wheel. Making clothes and blankets To keep their loved ones warm, Moulding thoughts and actions By love's sweet gentle charm; Thus rearing sons and daughters To guide the ship of state, Those pioneer mothers Have made this nation great. Were I to write in history A page for coming years, I'd write among the heroes The names of pioneers. And on the page beside them, Inscribed with filial pride, Those heroines, our mothers, The pioneer's bride.

76 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHIAM COUNTY At this 1887 meeting John A. Barnes gave the following paper: Fifty years ago I was sporting in a boyish way over the grounds whereon the greater part of the business portion of this city stands. My playmates at that time were William, Chester, George and Bartley Blaine, and my brother Charles, next younger than myself. I came into the State with my parents, leaving Cayuga county, N. Y., on the 7th day of May, 1837, father having been here in '36 and purchased his land, so we had a fixed point in view. We embarked on board a line boat on the Erie canal at Weedsport, thence to Buffalo, and by steamer to Detroit, and by teams from Detroit to this place, which we reached on May 26 just at sunset, having made the journey in sixteen days. We had no difficulty in deciding what hotel to go to, for there was but one, and the whole town consisted of one private log house, two frame houses unfurnished, one saw mill, and the hotel I spoke of, which was a small log house situated on the east side of Main street, two blocks north from here, and occupied by James Blaine and family, who at once welcomed us to all the comforts the house could afford. The inhabitants of the town were Mr. Blaine and family, Lacy and family, E. B. Danforth and some mill hands, and on the following day I)r. McRoberts came. Quarters having been secured for our family at the hotel for a few weeks, father and my brothers Zaccheus and O. M. at once set at work to cut a road over the "IIog's Back" and through the woods to the Fifield place, now known as the Child's farm. From there a road had been opened through the Rolfe settlement to within one and one-half miles of our land, thus making three miles of road that had to be cut before we could reach our land. A log house was raised by the aid of the neighbors, and the family took possession about the 27th of June. All the inhabitants on the route, a distance of seven miles, were Henry Fifield, Jasper Wolcott, Nathan and Benjamin Rolfe and Joseph Robinson. I think at the present day a house in such an unfurnished condition would hardly be considered tenantable. The ground floor was partly down, the roof about half on, and I well recollect on aw:tlicning the first morning and looking out through the unfinished roof and seeing the treetops almost meet over the house. But pioneers were necessarily mechanics and in due time the house was made comfortable.

REPORTS OF PIONEER IISTORICAL MEETINGS 77 We were surrounded on all sides by a dense forest, and knew of no neighl)ors to the nortll or west of us, but a mile and a half east was Joscph Robinson, and the same distance to the south was Ransom Ilazelton. We were often treated with the singing of birds, the hooting of owls, the buzzing of mosquitos and gnats, and on one occasion p)articulariy, just at evening, we were treated with very exciting music by a l)and(, which roke out with such hilarious strains that the very hairs on our heads seemed to stand up, and the general exclamation from us younger members of the family was, "Wlhat is tha]t?" and l)erlhaps you will ask me, "What band could you have to serenade you in that wild country?" Ah! it was a band of wolves that had scented a calf we had purchased and had come to hold high carnival over his body; but, to their great disappointment, we had put the calf in a safe place, an(l they, being thus foiled of their prey, set up a hideous howl, which was soon silenced by a shrill blast from a tin dinner horn, which was a tune new to them. Our nearest neighbors were one and one-half miles away, and that through a dense wood, and it was only at intervals far between that we met each other, yet tile )peol]e thus situated were not disposed to be deprived of the privilege of coming together on the Sabbath day to worship, and a prayer meeting was appointed at the residence of Benj. Rolfe, each to notify all they met. Well do I remember being present at that meeting, which occurred in the summer of 1837, where a dozen or more of the sturdy pioneers had come together from their rude homes to recognize the command of God, to "Remlember the Sabbath day and keep it holy." And, by doing this, they implanted a principle in the community that has kept pace with the improvement of the country, and today the nanmes of those old pioneers carry witl them a redeeming influence that time cannot wipe out. Our principal food was bread and potatoes and occasionally some wild meats. Our nearest mill was at Jackson, at times we would get short of bread material and have to resort to something to supply its place. We then pounded corn for hominy, and to accomplish this a place was hollowed out in a large log, with a spring pole and pestle with which to pound the corn. Thus you see that instead of going to the grocer and purchasing

78 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY hominy, as at present, we had the genuine article "home-spun," and it was our principle in those days to patronize home industries. Time passed on and brought new neighbors and improvements, and a school was organized in a log shanty on the grounds where the Rolfe school house in Vevay now stands, and was taught by Miss Eliza Butler in the summer of 1838. The first school house built in the present town of Aurelius was situated on the south line of section 25, where school was taught by Miss Lois Ann Murdoff in 1839. Our friends at a distance, who kept up a correspondence with us, were necessarily very dear to us, for two reasons, first, we were glad to hear from them, and second, every letter we received cost us a quarter of a dollar, and a trip of from five to eight miles to get it. Our houses were plain, yet quite comfortable as far as warmth was concerned, being usually warmed by a fireplace that occupied about one-third of the space in one end of the room, with lug poles and trammels on which to hang the kettles for cooking purposes; potatoes were roasted in the ashes, and Johnny cake baked before the fire. We had no carpets on our floors, and our partitions were generally curtains or sheets hung up. But amid all this we enjoyed the days as they passed. Our neighbors, though few and scattering, were friendly and it was not an infrequent occurrence to take the ox team and drive from two to eight miles to visit a neighbor, and at that visit style was not discussed or thought of, but they conversed upon the topics of the day, like this, "Mrs. B., how are you getting along with your flax spinning?" or, "Mrs. M., how much wool are you working up this year, and how soon will your girls have their new woolen dresses done?" The topics discussed by the men would be such as, "How do cattle get along on browse?" and, "Have you got mink skins and ashes enough saved to get your tax money? " I have worn out garments of flax that were raised, dressed, spun, woven, made up, and I well nigh said, worn out, without going off the farm, but I think perhaps they did sometimes leave the farm while I was wearing them. The business of making and saving ashes was in those days quite a source of profit to the pioneer, as it served to clear the land of

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 79 timber, and the ashes would bring cash, or, if we saw fit, as was frequently the case, we could make them into black salts, and by so doing would realize more money for our labor. Perhaps an incident that occurred in connection with the making of black salts would be in harmony with my subject. My brother, O. M. Barnes, had made arrangements to go back to the State of New York to attend school, and to raise the money for that purpose a quantity of black salts had been made up, and they, together with his grip sack, boots, etc., were loaded up and we started for Jackson. One of the young ladies of our neighborhood was also on board with us. On our way as I was driving over what was known as Marrell's mill dam the road running along on the top of the dam, the oxen made a dive for the water, and it was only by the greatest effort we were able to get out of the wagon before it went over, black salts and all, to the bottom of the mill pond. The wagon uncoupled, and the oxen swam out with the forward wheels. The mill pond was drawn down and the balance of the wagon secured, but the salts had gone down the river. This was a sad blow to O. M., and he had to turn around and come back home with me. He charged me with having been paying attention to the young lady and not to the oxen. Although I did not plead guilty, yet I wouldn't wonder if that was the case. I have not set up any defense, and I know this much was true, that it took the earnest efforts of us both to save her and us from going into the water. As time passed on we young people began to want some sort of amusement, so we used to take the ox team, take on a full load and drive from three to five miles to an evening party. And today I behold faces in the audience of both teacher and scholars whom I have taken on board the ox sled and driven to Leslie to attend a spelling school, or to Mason to attend a singing school. But pioneer days, together with the greater part of the pioneers, have passed away, but occasionally we meet a genuine pioneer, and here and there we find relics that take us back with the speed of thought to the days of long ago. Recently while at the old home I stood near where the old house was built, and found, yet standing, a huge oak stump, whose massive trunk after centuries of growth, was laid low by the ax of my father over fifty years ago.

80 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY Today I had the pleasure of showing you the rifle purchased by my father in Auburn, N. Y., in April, 1837, which figured largely in furnishing the meat for our family. The scenes have changed. The forest that then covered this entire land has gradually receded and disappeared at the everpersistent and irresistible hand of the pioneer. Today in place thereof we behold the fertile fields waving with a rich harvest, or bedotted with herds of high bred stock; the orchards laden with luscious fruits are to be seen upon every hill top and valley; the spacious farm houses with a fine array of outbuildings, school houses and country churches meet our gaze at every glance, and, in fact, we find the whole country dotted over with thriving cities and villages, with their various improvements, such as street cars, water works, electric lights, and a network of railroads throughout the entire State. Everything seems to take on an air of disgust at the slow-coach way in which business was done half a century ago; this is not confined alone to business and travel, but the farmer of today instead of taking the sickle to reap down his harvest, as did the pioneer, gets upon his self binder, and goes forth doing the work in one day that would have required fifteen or twenty days of the pioneer. In making up your laurels for the ones who are responsible for the many advantages and inprovements that have come to us during the years, let care be taken that the pioneer is not forgotten, for the great strength of muscle and unspeakable courage coupled with the deprivations necessary to reap down a mighty forest and make thereof a fertile field, with a score or more of inconveniences incident to pioneer life, are fully equal in merit to the strength of brain necessarily sacrificed by the inventor, and again it is the pioneer who led the advance and paved the way that the others could follow." On June 21, 1888, the Ingham County Pioneer Society met at Rayner's Opera House for its annual meeting. The names of 60 genuine pioneers, who had died during the year, were read, among them that of Gilbert Drew, who was over 90 years of age. Mason citizens served the dinner at the Baptist church, with plates for 171. Officers elected: President, Thaddeus Densmore; Secretary, J. A. Barnes; Treasurer, Perry Henderson. About a score of

REPO'RTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 81 those present either eulogized the dead or told some pioneer incident, after which Hon. D. S. Crossman gave a review of the great pioneers of the world, from the time of Columbus to the present time, together with some of the laws governing each epoch, closing with the words: "Let us then thank God daily that the pioneers of Michigan knew how to build on the substantial basis of education and Christianity, and pray often, that we the desecendents may build a superstructure worthy of the foundations they laid. Let us venerate and honor the few who remain with us and hold in grateful memory the names of those who have departed, ever hoping and striving to live lives worthy the approval of that Supreme Being who was the God of the Pioneers." June 4, 1889, the Ingham County Pioneers met in Mason for their annual meeting. After the opening exercises the secretary read the names of 87 who had "passed on" during the last year. The quartette sang "Somewhere," in memory of the departed ones. Twenty-four new members were added to the society. The old officers were again elected. Gov. Luce was the speaker of the day, and took for his subject "Then and Now," and compared Michigan of early days to the Michigan of today. Job T. Campbell spoke on "What Extremity Did," and told how as one in a family of fourteen children lie lived in what he termed a white oak box, twenty-eight by thirty feet, where the stars shone through the roof at night, and often the snows sifted through. He told that extremity browsed the cattle, gathered herbs for medicine, put leather hinges on the doors, furnished only Johnny cake for breakfast, dinner and supper, and drove you to bed at night behind curtains or up a rickety ladder. Extremity trained the hand of every man to honest labor; taught him value and resources; made him economical and careful, generous and sympathetic. All learned in the matchless school of experience, the only capital being brain and muscle." "Lessons Learned From the Pioneers" was the subject given Hon. M. D. Chatterton, of Lansing, and after he had discussed this he told several amusing stories of his early life. He remembered when there was but one horse in the vicinity of Okemos, and the owner was so stingy and so afraid someone would want to ride with him that he never had a seat on his buckboard, but rode on a saddle which he placed on it. He believed in honest

82 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGEIAM COUNTY labor with hands or brain. It is what makes men. He paid a pleasing tribute to the pioneer, not neglecting to eulogize the pioneer women. H. H. Smith, of Jackson, was the first treasurer of Ingham county and received $14 for his services. He came into the county in 1836. There were 35 present who had been in the county over 50 years, and one of those came here in 1834. Again it was voted that the president and secretary should secure such assistance as was needed in obtaining the historical events of each township, compiling them and securing their publication. At the annual meeting of the Ingham County Pioneer Society for 1890 the list of deceased members was the largest ever reported, the number being 106. The matter of collecting material for a county history and having it published was again brought up, but as no funds had been provided for that work the committee in charge had done nothing toward it. It was then voted that a fund be created for that purpose, and that each member of the society write a history of his family to add to the records. Officers elected: President, John A. Barnes; Secretary, O. F. Miller; Treasurer, Perry Henderson. Hon. S. L. Kilbourne gave a pleasing address, in which he said, "It was the men who rowed, not those who drifted, who made Ingham county." Mrs. Silas Bement, of Leroy township, read the following paper: Another year has rolled around and again some of the pioneers of Ingham county have met to commemorate their days of anxiety, toil, care and privation. Of those pioneers, only for the benefit of the present generation, it would be needless to rehearse the things said and done, for in the minds of those who participated they are written as with indelible ink, never to be effaced while life lasts. How well I remember those log houses, those new rail fences and the well trodden path through the woods from house to house; for we used to look after each other in those times, and if there was a neighbor two or three miles away that had not been heard from for several days someone was sent to see if any of the family were sick or if some accident had befallen them. If this proved to be the case we would all take turns in giving assistance and relief. Those were days of hallowed contentment. We were all striving to make homes. There was no envy, each

BEPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 83 one was pleased with his neighbor's prosperity, and if one met with reverses each added his mite to help repair the loss. Well I remember when we would hear through the forest the rumbling sound of a wagon, soon we would hear the men calling to their teams, and then we would hear the sound of the axe as they chopped down the trees to make a road, and we would begin preparations for entertaining the strangers. If it was in the spring there were leeks to be gathered, and the brush piles to be searched for eggs. If it was later in the season we sampled the growing corn and potatoes, and if any of the neighbors had the good luck to kill a deer some one would go after a piece of venison so that we could make as good an impression as possible, and induce all to come that would. Then by the time the men and wagons emerged from the woods into our little opening all things would be in readiness. Mother would have our faces washed and hair combed, and some of the rents in our clothes sewed up, and the table spread in as good shape as the times would permit. If the meal consisted only of roasted potatoes and salt, with what relish it was received. Often this was the case. I well remember one instance in particular: A man quite well dressed came along looking land. It was nearly noon and as he started to go on father asked him to stay for dinner. Well, I can see just how mother looked; but she prepared the dinner. It was in harvest time and we could get no flour until some one went to Pinckney or somewhere else to mill. We had new potatoes, butter, salt and crust coffee. It was the same with all the neighbors, no chance to borrow. Now there are but few of those who experienced the events of those days left. They made the beginnings on some of the beautiful homes we see scattered over Inglham county, and a few of their children are left to tell, in a broken way, what we remember of their hardships and with what courage they met every emergency. As we meet year after year it is good for us to remember and tell what brave, energetic people they were. Could we find young men now who would take their family, a team of oxen, a wagon and an ax and go into such a wilderness as this county was and try to make a home? Let us raise our sons to be independent through labor, to pursue

84 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY some business for themselves and upon their own account, to be self-reliant, to act upon their own responsibility and take the consequences like men; teach them above all things to be good, true, faithful husbands, winners of love and builders of homes. A letter from Peter Lowe, the first secretary of the society, was read at this time. in which he said: "I should be very glad to meet with you all once more at your yearly meeting, but must forego the pleasure. I have lived in your county over 50 years of my life. Early in 1835, taking pattern from our neighbors, the Indians, my father and I built a wicgwam and lived in it while we erected a log house. I enjoyed my pioneer life about as well as any part of it. We soon had white neighbors settle near us, but those associates have nearly all passed away." (Mr. Lowe died during the following year.) At the annual meeting for 1891 there were 88 pioneers reported to have crossed to the other side. As usual, the Mason people furnished excellent music and also a free dinner to the crowd of "old-timers" gathered at this reunion. Marshall Pease, the first white child born within the present limits of Lansing city, was present and sang "Ivy Green," with Mrs. W. II. Clark at the organ. Hon. Rowland Connor, of Saginaw, was introduced by President Barnes, and he gave a cultured address that was well received. Ile predicted great changes through cultivation in both the vegetable and animal worlds, particularly those which would be seen in the human race in the next few generations. Col. L. IH. Ives acted as toastmaster, when the following toasts were given and responded to: THE OLD FOLKS, Mrs. E. M. G. Hawlcy (later Mrs. L. II. Ives) responded to in verse: "Write us a song of the old folks, Weave it with memories old, Thrill it with ripples of laughter From lips long since grown cold; Scar it with flames of trial, Bedew it with tears of grief, Gild it with hope and courage, And a love beyond belief;

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 85 Make it a song of labor, Make it a hymn of praise,And through it must run the story Of the early frontier days. "Gladly would I for the old folks Fashion a stirring strain That should sound a resurrection To their precious past again. But can I write for the old folks, I, who still am young, Whose rhyme of life runs smoothly As dropped from a poet's tongue? I know not the strength of effort, The struggle of hopes and fears That brought but a scanty harvest To the early pioneers. "What do I know of trial, Since those we greet today Hewed paths for this generation And rolled the stones from the way? They builded my happy hearth-fire, With plenty hedged it about, And I hold as my rightful dower IWhat they bravely did without. On a broad and firm foundation The common wealth they laid; Our stately domes of freedom Are their memorials made. "So I cannot sing for the old folks Toil-song nor hymn of praise, For my ear knows not the music Of the anthems of yesterdays; But I bring you the grateful homage Due to the kings of toil Whose axes created our peerage And made us lords of the soil.

86 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Then loudly shall swell the pean Wrought with a loving art From the true appreciation Of many a loyal heart. "And sweeter to such tribute Than a statelier epic read, For love shall strengthen the living As honor hallows the dead." The next sentiment: "Our first trip from civilization to the wilds of Michigan"T. W. Huntoon: Made the trip 52 years ago. Started one Saturday afternoon from Clarendon, N. Y., joined my brothers and drove a team as far as Buffalo. Took the steamboat Rochester and reached Detroit in three days. Took the cars for Ann Arbor, and walked from there to Jackson and Leslie. We didn't know when we had reached Leslie, but a man on a log told us we were then in the village. Many a time I laid down by the side of a log and had it out with the ague. Bears were thick. At a funeral one day we conveyed the corpse to the burying ground on a sled drawn by an ox team, in the summer. "Which were the happier days, now or then? "-Hiram Rix, Jr.: I did not enjoy the solitudes, snakes or mosquitos. Did not enjoy waiting for the fruit to grow on the apple trees we brought with us. The causeways were not sources of happiness. But then we did not worry about dress. We enjoyed a geniality and common feeling that were good. "Recollections of the days of pot hooks and bake ovens."Reuben Tryon: This is my first toast in my long life, but I lived in the days of pot hooks, and back logs and Dutch fireplaces. I always enjoyed the dinner pot when it was boiling the dinner. I peddled ovens, but to secure a purchaser always had to wait for bread to rise and then bake it for customers, who were very incredulous. "U. S. Mail regulations in the forties."-J. A. Barnes: In 1837 mail came from Dexter, winding through the woods to Mason, carried by a man on foot or horseback. There were few offices

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 87 and mail was dear. Frequently before we could get a letter out of the post office we had to pay 25 cents postage, and it bothered us to raise the money as it represented half a day's work. We followed trails through woods for miles to get our mail, and then paid dear for it. But take me back to pioneer days, for they were full of enjoyment. "Recollections of early town meetings."-H. J. Dana: Never made a speech, but am a good chopper and can make good hand spikes and rails. Have dug out a good home. Our first town meeting was held in Ingham for Leroy. Four townships then held a meeting. My father was elected supervisor by one majority. They made torches and brought the vote to Mason, through the woods at night, and canvassed it next morning. "Some of the saddest and some of the pleasantest memories of days agone."-Rowland Connor: Recently made a trip through parts of Kentucky where scenes were like 100 years ago. They do not progress, but are ignorant of the blessings of civilization. Did not see a book in my travels among them. "Our early justice courts and their incidents." —I. L. IHcnderson: Had my first acquaintance with justice courts 20 years after the State was in operation, and for 10 years was closely associated with them. Those who then held justice court were often unremunerated but they were able and true to their convictions, and superior to many who now hold the office for the money they can get out of it. Had a case before Justice J. A. Barnes, who called in two other justices to sit with him. It was a little supreme court. 0. M. Barnes, H. A. Shaw and J. M. French were the attorneys on the other side of the case. We all boarded at a country hotel until the sheriff discovered a frisky pig in the act of mixing the biscuits, when some of us moved and boarded with a farmer during the rest of the trial. It was a long and important case. Justices now should not be compelled to make money out of their courts. The justices are the important ones. "Home-made clothing; hats and caps. How we got them."Oramal Rolfe: Came here in 1836. Told of gathering and preparing flax, straw, wool, and the way they were used in making clothing. "Remembrances of pioneer births, deaths and marriages."J. J. Tuttle and Hiram Rix, Sr.: Mr. Rix said deaths were few

88 P.IONIEEIR HI-ISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY in early days, because all were young and robust. Mr. Tuttle said he had lived in the woods for 53 years and was not cultured to make speeches, but would like 50 years inore of pioneer life. When you leave your little wife to the mercy of the wolves and go after your cows you will appreciate her if you find her all right when you get back. I-ave lived through this and gained my expectations, and wish all could be put through such a crucible. 'Twould make them vigorous. Bringing in my cow one night I had to hang to her tail to avoid losing her in the darkness, and she snatched me over the "saugers" to my home all right. "The debt we owe the pioneers."-J. T. Campbell: They stood by us in our infancy; we should stand by them in their age, and always stand together. We can only pay them with grateful recollection, and remember that here a pioneer father struck the first blow for civilization, or here a mother reared a young brood. The younger pioneers associate the old log house with their first experience as the mothers sang "Hush, my babe, lie still and slumber." We must give to the pioneers devotion for their devotion, industry for their industry and faith for their faith. "How we spent our winter evenings in days away back."Thaddeus Densmore: Which evening, Sunday or weekday? In those days a man was measured by how much wood he could cut, or how many rails he could split. A pair of boots bothered me evenings. I earned them by hard work and they carried me bodily into White Oak to a school house, and held me evenings until I captured the schoolma'am. Will not tell how mother reproved those boots when I returned. "A few recollections of our first home in the wilderness."R. W. Whipple: Had an ox team poorly matched, one slow, the other fast. Found a neighbor in the same fix. Traded. My new ox ran away and thrust horns both sides of a tree and was fast. Made us sweat to loose him. Came to Michigan in 1837 and located land, then went back to New York and worked for her father for Rachel. Her father wanted to boss me and I didn't enjoy it. We packed up and came to Michigan where I have cleared up 320 acres and have a good home. It is pleasant surroundings that makes good homes. "Religious privileges of the pioneer days and how we enjoyed them."-J. R. Price: We didn't have to worship in finery, and

RtEPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETING.S 89 89 we worshipped together. Choirs were not hired, but were led by voices trained in other countries. Wre all made noise and enjoyed it. Our first church was 16xQ0, anT-d all our noise couldn't buLrst it. Young gentlemen with horses took ladics on horseback to church. Let us continue the religious element lplanted here 60 or 70 years ago. The officers of last year were re-elected, and Mason set as the Iplace for the next meeting-). The memorial list contained the following names: Aurelius-Barney C. Davis, Mrs. Betsey XWelbl, Mrs. Nancy Carrier, Mrs. E'lizaibeth rTj:lnncr, AI\rs. W~inslow Turner, Mrs. Amanda Young, Mrs. Starah Cook, Mrs. Mlary Bullen, Joseph Howe. Alaiedon-J. C. Ingraham, M\'rs. Mlary Beardsley, Jacob Dubois, Mrs. William Manning, Mrs. Sairahi Felton. Bunkerhill-Mrs. Phebe Clark, Isaac Magoon, Mrs. Lovina Fuller. Delhi-Willi'am ha1(kncocl-k, Mrs. Casper LOtt, Mr. and Mrs. W~illiam Mayer. Inugham-Ja mes Thomipson, Jesse Sherwood, Charles Robison, I. Simons. Leslie-IlMrs. E. K. Grout, Anmos 'Wilson, Jothain- i1\0oase, Mrs. Benjaniin A. D~avis, Mr~s. Henry Tailniage, Mrs. Horace Wing, Mrs. Henry Stitt, M\rs. Jane Thee. Locke-1\lrs. Nancy Tuttle. Leroy Mlrs. EvaIf Grover, Mrs. Ca~rolinie Fellows, Mrs. MT. A. Havens,:Mrs. Eunice,Johnson, Seth Benljamn111. L'ansing-IL. M. Turner, Julian Case, Mrs. Dr. WV. Miller, Thloniuas Ilibbardl, Judlge,J. E. Teneyhm(, Mrs. Luitie Loiusbury, Isaac North, Jamies Northirup, Mrs. A mm Powell,,Jolmn Whitecloy, C"has. GF. Na~sh, Henry Morehouse, R~obert Foster. Merihitan-Noahl Phelps, R~obert Bu rd ick. Onionda ga-M~rs. Harriet Silaght, Jeduthian. Fry, George Taylor. Stock bridge-Robert M.cKenzie, Mrs. James Reeves, William Barrett, Mrs. Eliza Graham, Joseph Hawley, William M. Stevens.

90 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Vevay-Allen Rowe, L. B. Royston, Chauncey Shattuck, Mrs. T. F. Bentley, Robert Darrow, J. C. Obear. Mason-Lucien Reed, John C. Cannon, Mrs. Mary Butler, Peter Lowe, Mrs. D. W. Halstead, Asheal Baldwin, Mrs. Thomas Bush, Mrs. Caroline Linderman, R. B. Patterson, Mrs. Oliver Brailey. Williamston-William Spaulding, Mrs. Viola Meade. Wheatfield-Stephen Curtis, Mrs. Gardner Fletcher, Chas. Cummings. White Oak-Mary Cady, Asahell Munson, Mrs. Osborne, Daniel Dutcher. Frank H. Frazell and Miss Maud Mehan, with claronet and organ, furnished the music. When J. A. Barnes, the president, called to order he spoke of some being present whom he met on the same spot 54 years earlier in the county's history. A pathetic feature of the meeting was the reading of a letter from the first secretary of the society, Peter Lowe, who since writing it had passed into the Great Beyond. The following verses, written by Mrs. E. M. G. Hawley, to be sung to the tune of "Auld Lang Sync," were adopted as the banquet song of the Pioneer Society: "A SONG FOR OLD TIMES." "0 may the spell of memory Be o'er our spirits cast As we today together hold Communion with the past! Let mutual joys and mutual cares Which filled that busy time Be sweet to us as we recall The days of Auld Lang Ayne. "Life's sunset gilds life's afternoon, The evening shades appear, Yet histories of the morning's toil Engage the pioneer.

IREPORTS OF PIONEER HIIISTORICAIL AIEETINGS 91 And while again those thrilling scenes In vivid language slline,. Let loyal children's children own Their debt to Auld Lang Syne. "So shall we round a happy day With friendly clasp and strong, While quavering voices join once more The well remembered song; And thankfully our hearts we lift In praise to Love Divine Who grants another social feast To friends of Auld Lang Syne." June 12, 1892, proved to be too cool for an outdoor meeting, so instead of holding the meeting on the court house lawn it was held at the Baptist church. President John A. Barines called the meeting to order, and after a song by the choir Rev. Joseph A. Barnes led the devotional exercises. The secretary reported 88 deatlls along the pioneers during the year, as follows: Aurelius-Willianl Potter, Mrs. R. Nelson, Burt Rogers, Mrs. Jane Scutt, Mrs. Polly Bailey, David Potter, Alfred Parker, Ransom Hazelton, Mrs. Erastus Ranney. Alaiedon-Geo. W. Strickland. Bunkerhill-Mrs. Tinker. Delhi-Caleb Thompson, Mrs. Italigan, John Lott, John Thompson, Matthew King. Ingham-Geo. Lathrop, M. Lowell, Thomas Cullen, Dorastus Miller, Charles Royce, Mrs. John Densmore, Frank Cook, G. L. Wolverton, Mrs. Bowen Hicks. Leslie-Thomas Ainger, Charles DeCamp, Mrs. Joseph Sitts, Henry Freeman, John B. Eckler, George Huntoon, A. V. Pugsley, Mrs. W. W. Annin, Mrs. S. Sitts. Locke-C. G. Dunckel, Alonson Hill. Lansing-J. P. Cowles, Robert Foster, Garret Lansing, Mrs. Phebe Post, Mrs. Eliza Larned, Almond Iarrington, Isaac Howe, Whitney Jones, Mrs. Julia VanEtten, B. J. William.

92 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY Leroy-G. L. Gorton, G. H. Galusha, Richard Lowe. Meridian-H. G. Bigelow, Mrs. Joseph Kilbourne, Mrs. Narmorc, Mrs. M. A. Edgelar, Mrs. Rosetta Ireland. Onondaga-Mrs. Joshua Bump, William Hill, Mrs. Wolcott, Rev. William Jones, Mrs. N. M. Childs, Mrs. Hiram Godfrey, Miss A. Saunders. Stockbridge-Charles A. Nims, I. N. Forbes, Benj. Peet, Mrs. David Rodgers, Chas. Cool. Vcvay and Mason-Jacob Willett, Louisa Miller, Walter Colton, Mrs. John Dunsback, W. D. Landfair, L. F. Olds, Mrs. Belle Ilarrington, G. G. Mead, Mrs. Andrew Tubbs, Mrs. Edward Swift, Mrs. I. J. Teall, Mrs. Batchclor, Mrs. A. B. Rose, Mrs. Nancy Sweet, Alfred Sliultz. Williamlston-John B. Dakin, Mrs. N. Cook, Thomas Lawler. Wheatfield-Silas Butler, aMrs. James Frost. White Oak-Isaac Davis, Mrs. Munson, Allen Wolverton, Abram IHayner. President Barnes welcomed the pioneers, then introduced IIon. D. L. Case, of Lansing, as speaker of the day. He is 80 years old, and because of his failing voice the audience gathered closely around him to hear his words. Ie came to Mason 49 years ago. He said that people were more inclined to worship the rising than the setting sun, and generally preferred to hear young rather than old men, and are also inclined to greet the young more pleasantly than the old. He could not ride a bicycle, but started out on foot to visit some old associates and prepare for this speech. Ile gave a list of those who lived in Mason 49 years ago, and only a few of them are left. He made a careful distinction between the pioneer and the boy of today, who rides a bicycle and wears patent leather boots. In pioneer days we had not the deteriorating influence of the saloon, which produces tramps, and we never failed to recognize the brotherhood of man if not the fatherhood of God. After this address the pioneers partook of a picnic dinner and then reassembled in the church for the afternoon program. It was found that among those present were Gardner Fletcher, T. Densmore, H. I. Northrop, Sidney Parker, Mrs. James Turner, Alvin Rolfe, Oliver Edwards, Edwin Potter, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Skadan, Mrs. Betsey Webber, Mrs. U. C. Post, Orman Rolfe,

REIPORTS OF PIONEER IIISTORICAL MEETINGS 93 Lorenzo Bartlett and J. A. Barnes, who came to Ingham county prior to 1840; while those who came between 1840-45 were J. H. Shepard, C. A. Holden, Mrs. G. W. Mallory, Mrs. D. Abbott, Baldwin Sitts, Mr. Young, D. L. Case, Hiram Rix, Sr., James Sitts, Ielen Case Adams, O. B. Laycock, Mrs. E. Post, Harlow B. Tallman, Mrs. Alvin Rolfe, Perry Henderson, and Micajah Vaughn. The banquet song of last year was then sung. Rev. W. J. Maybee offered prayer. The officers for the coming year were elected as follows: Perry Henderson, President; Geo. \W. Bristol, Secretary; J. T. Campbell, Treasurer, with a vice president for each township and city; Alaiedon, Rudolphus Tryon; Aurelius, J. W. Freeman; Bunker lill, Elliott H. Angell; Dclli, Geo. W. Mallory; Ingham, Samuel Skadan; Leroy, Hiram Rix, Sr.; Locke, James Sullivan; Lansing, H. Everett; Lansing City, Chas. F. Hammond; Leslie, Oliver Edwards; Meridian, John Ferguson; Onondaga, Chas. Brown; Stockbridge, N. Rogers; Vevay, E. J. Fuller; White Oak, Geo. 1H. Proctor; Wheatfield, Alonzo Doane; Williamston, C. N. Branch; Mason, T. Densmore. It is the business of these vice presidents to keep alive the interest in Ingham county pioneers and pioneer history, and especially to make lists of pioneers who pass away within their respective districts and report the same to the secretary. With Col. L. H. Ives as toastmaster, the following toasts and responses were given: The Early Settlers' Guests; how he entertained them-always room for more-Helen Case Adams. The Pioneer Baby, Cradle, Trundle-bed and Cab.-R. J. Bullen. The Old Log School House and the Teacher "boardin' round."Mrs. James Turner. Some of the Early Annoyances and How We Overcame Them.J. A. Barnes. The Pioneer Preacher and the "Meetin' House."-Nathan C. Branch. Singing by the choir. How and Where We Got the Mail."Take care, my post boy, not so fast, For if your steed should fail, Upon the road you'd find at last You needs must leave the mail." J. J. Tuttle.

94 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGLHAM COUNTY The Dignity of Justice Courts in the Forties.-HIon. D. L. Case. Our First Pasture Lot, uncircunscribed by fence or section line, when we listened for the music of the "Cow Bell's tinkling sound."-Hiram Rix, Sr. Old Time Door Yard "Posies."-M rs. E. M. G. Hawley. The Doctor and His Saddlebags.Physic and blister, powders and pills, And nothing sure but the doctor bills. Andrew Iunt. Our Indian Neighbors, their social qualities, and how we used to trade with them.H-iram Rix, Jr. The Village Grocery; what was to be found there and how we paid for what we got.-M. Vaughn. The Village Blacksmith, and some of the jobs he had to do.D. B. Jennings. Our Glorious Commonwealth; all we are and all we hope to be we owe to its founders. They laid the foundations broad, wide and deep; they builded better than they knew.-Alva M. Cummins. The Energetic, Loyal, Christian Pioneer; what do his children say of him? Response by one of the children.-J. T. Campbell. Mrs. Hawley's reponse was the only one in manuscript, and was as follows: PIONEER POSIES. Because with his oaks God has planted his roses, His ferns 'mid the ranks of his towering pines, And draped the bare boulders with blossoming vines, I bring you this handful of Pioneer Posies. When the settlers slowly journeyed through The trackless wilds of a homestead new, Among the goods for the household needs Were treasured packets of flower seeds. So, when the cabin was firmly reared, And a garden patch from the forest cleared, By the rough log walls the seeds were sown, And when to blossoming beauty grown, The settler's wife stirred the forest loam About their roots, and sang of home.

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 95 Thus did they bring to the wilderness The old home's culture and tenderness. What were the flowers whose brilliant dyes Gladdened the vision of homesick eyes? There were hollyhocks and purple phlox And the kitchen flowers of the four-o'clocks, And johnny-junlp-up hid his face By the door-stone set in a shady place; The larkspur lifted a gallant lance Guarding the poppies from all mischance, While bachelor-buttons pink and blue By the gorgeous tiger-lilies grew. There were live-forever and southernwood, And lady-slippers beside them stood; And the wooing breeze of the woodland kissed Gay sweet-williams and love-in-a-mist. The sentinal sunflower stood his ground Though coquet marigolds ringed him round. Lavender, thyme and rosemary, And Bergamot, and honesty Wove together their fragrant spells To the chime of the Canterbury bells. Bright scarlet runners and dipper gourds Wreathed the low stoop's rough hewn boards, While daily matins for mercies new The morning glory's trumpet blew. Of all the new fangled plants of ours What so sweet as Grandma's flowers? And who knew better than Grandma knew How toil, through beauty, lighter grew? While Grandma carefully pulled the weeds, Of a steadfast hope she sowed the seeds, And love and patience and cheerfulness Bloomed her lowly home to bless; And human buds of childhood there Blossomed sweet in that kindly air. O soul-blooms, child-blooms and garden flowers, Of a different season and soil than ours, Truly yours was the better part,

96 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY Blossoming close to nature's heart; Undefiled by pride or passion, Left to grow in nature's fashion! 'Tis meet that we in the mid-June glory Search the records of old time story; In memory's garden seek the spot Where blooms love's loyal forget-me-not. Then, friends, with life's oaks let us plant life's sweet roses, Forget not life's ferns mid life's towering pines, The boulders of labor make fair with love's vines, And grow for new eras new Pioneer Posies. All of the responses were very entertaining, some of them reaching the highest notch of humorous anecdote, and it is to be regretted that they couldn't have been given in form for preservation. Mirth and interest ran high. The choir, with L. W. Mills as leader and Mrs. C. W. Browne as organist, furnished pleasing music for the day. The meeting closed with the benediction by Rev. T. N. Smith. June 6, 1893, saw many of the hoary-headed settlers of the county in attendance at the annual meeting of the County Pioneer Society, held in Rayner Opera Iouse. Meeting called to order by President Henderson, with invocation by Rev. Jay Clizbe. Mayor Harper Reed being absent the president welcomed the pioneers, and among other things that he said was this: "Am sorry there is not a better history of the county, but we are no better off in that respect than we were twenty years ago when this society was organized." Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Longyear, Rev. Napoleon Smith and Miss lMarian Rogers furnished the music for the day, with Miss Minlnie Huxley as pianist. Dinner was served at the American House, 160 partaking. Exercises opened in the afternoon by prayer by Rev. W. IH. Powell. Mrs. Mary McLeod Maybee recited "The Foreclosure of the Mortgage" in North Ireland dialect, bringing down the house. There were 17 present who had lived in the county 50 years, 21 who had been here more than 45 years, and 25 who came over 40 years ago.

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 97 Officers elected: J. R. Price, Lansing, President; Geo. W. Bristol, Mason, Secretary; J. T. Campbell, Mason, Treasurer. Meeting to be held in Mason. Only one change in the list of vice presidents elected, and that was M. J. Pollok for Wheatfield in place of Alonzo Doane. In the hour for reminiscences John R. Price led with his usual enthusiasm and valuable deductions. Judge A. E. Cowles was called to the platform and said he was a pioneer without a speech, but proceeded to make a good one. Half a century ago he was brought by his parents to this county, coming from Ohio. He and his mother and several others made one load in a single buggy, jolting over the "macadamized road" of the Black Swamp and fording the Maumeee river. The household goods were in a wagon hauled by oxen. They located at Jefferson, three and one-half miles north of Mason. It was intended and thought at that time that Jefferson would be the county seat. Cowles, Sr., erected a saw mill, and the speaker early learned to drive oxen in the highest style of the art. He described the first Fourth of July celebration he ever attended, and amused the audience by describing the procession which was as much as eight or ten rods long, and told the prominent part he had in it. He first attended school in a log school house on the bank of Mud Creek at Jefferson. There were lots of Indians, who sold berries, maple sugar and baskets, and he was well acquainted with Chief Okemos and his sons Johnny and Jimmy. Deer and wolves were plenty. The family moved to Lansing in 1848, where the father helped cut off the timber from the old Capitol grounds. Judge Cowles revived old memories by naming many of the old settlers of Mason and vicinity who have passed on to their reward. John J. Tuttle, the prince of pioneers, with a humor peculiarly his own, kept the audience in a convulsion of laughter relating his experiences. I-Ie said he was not a speaker, everything was too mixed up, but he was bound to try and do as well as the old lady who spoke in church and apologized for herself by saying that her mind wandered and all the Scripture she could think of at the moment was that familiar passage, "Goosey, goosey. gander, where shall I wander?" He said lie had been in the woods of this county for 55 years. He early got him a wife in New York, and she was an excellent

98 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY one, yet he had always had to do something towards his own support. They arrived in Michigan with $3, some pork, vinegar and peach brandy. One spring he made 1,100 pounds of maple sugar, yoked up a pair of steers and drove to Albion and sold it, peddling it along the way. Once started for the Black Hawk war, got as far as Chicago, and there began butchering beef and pork for the Indians. Fed 1,500 of them, but didn't like the business and drifted back to Michigan and this old county of Ingham. He told of trading maple sugar for nine jack-knives, and had never been out of knives since. A letter from his father laid in the post office three weeks because he didn't have the two shillings necessary to pay the postage. Wanted to live to be 100 years old and keep pace with the pioneers. Alvin Rolfe, now of Lansing, had written a sketch of his early experiences which was read by J. T. Campbell in Mr. Rolfe's absence. He said: In the spring of 1833 I came with my parents from Thetford, Orange county, Vt., to Genesec county, N. Y. The winter before was noted for the falling of stars, which alarmed many. They thought the day of judgment had come. Some got down on their knees and prayed, others got out their Bibles to read thinking that might save them. We stayed in Genesee county until 1836, then came to Michigan. We started from Buffalo on the steamer "Thomas Jefferson," and got to Detroit the next Sunday. It was a very rough passage which made most all of the passengers seasick. Detroit was then a complete mud hole. We came from there to Jacksonburg, as Jackson was then called, and stopped there until we could find government land to settle on. We found some in the dense forest of Ingham county. The next Monday we started with our axes and provision on our backs to hew us out a new home in Ingham county. We had to cut our road for four and one-half miles through woods from S. 0. Russell's and James Royston's, they having moved in the week before. We had to ford the Grand river. It took us until night to cut the road, so we had to camp out that night. The next morning we went and cut logs to build a shanty with. We split basswood logs to make the floor and bark to make the roof. Got it done Saturday night. By that time our provisions were pretty low.

RIEPORTS OF PIIONEER HISTORICAL MIEETINGS 99 Sunday morning we had one roasted potato apiece, then started for Jackson. We thought when we got to Elijah Woodworth's we would get something to cat, but lie had not a mouthful of anything for us. You may judge that we were pretty hungry when we got to Jackson. The next morning we packed our goods and started for our new home in Ingham county. When we got there the women went to work and got dinner. They had to cook over a Dutch fireplace with a stick chimney, for we had no stove. When they got dinner ready there came up a thunder shower. The rain came down through the shrunken bark roof as it would through a sieve, so you can see we were in a pickle. We went to work chopping and clearing, but it was so late we could not raise anything the first year, so we had to buy all our provisions. We had to pay $20 a barrel for flour, $24 a hundred for pork, 50 cents a pound for butter, and everything else in proportion. Wildcat money was what we had to buy with. Good money was hard to get hold of. We had to let our letters lay in the postoffice for weeks at a time for lack of 25 cents to pay the postage. That was the price in those days. The family of Benjamin Rolfe settled in Vevay township. There were nine of us, now all dead but Orinel and myself. The first to go was my sister Fannie. She was taken sick on the road while moving. As there was no lumber in this section, we had to go back to Jackson and get black walnut lumber to make a coffin for her. She died the 7th day of April, 1837, and was the first white person who died in Ingham county. She was 19 years of age. In 1830 my wife's father, Joab Page, moved from Fairfield, Franklin county, Vt., to Medina, N. Y. In 1832 they came to Jackson, Mich. They came with an ox team and were 22 days on the road, a distance that can be traveled now in as many hours. They traveled one day on Lake Erie on the ice because of an ice storm which made it dangerous to travel on the land. Mr. Page put up the first sawmill in Jackson county. In 1844 he, with his son Chauncey, his three sons-in-law, Whitney Smith, Alvin Rolfe and George Pease, moved to Lansing where he took the job of repairing the dam and putting up a sawmill for Mr. Seymour after John W. Burchard was drowned. It took us two

100 PIONEER I-IISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY days to go from Vevay to Lansing. We tipped over one load of goods and broke an ox yoke, and had to stop and make a new one. Got to George Phillip's at dark, and stayed there that night. The next day got to Lansing just before sundown. Found the log house that Mr. Burchard had built. It had been used for a stable, and we had to clean it before we could move in. We forgot to take any bread with us, so had to milk the cow, sour the milk with vinegar and make biscuits before we could have anything to eat. We repaired the dam, put up the mill and run it until the Capital was located, in 1847. We would take a load of white wood and black walnut, clear stuff, take it to Jackson with the ox team, it took about a week for the trip, and get $7 per thousand for the white wood and $6 for the walnut. We would have about money enough to get home with. Our nearest neighbor lived one and one-half miles down the river; his name was Justus Gilkcy; the nearest neighbor on the east was two and one-half miles, and one on the south four and one-half miles, and none on the west. But when the Capital was located they came by the scores, and continued to come. We were the first actual settlers in the city of Lansing. I helped build the first frame building in the city. It was a boarding house for Father Page. My sister, Mrs. Emily F. McKibbin, was born in Vermont. Came to Michigan in 1836; was married to Joseph E. North in 1838 by Peter Linderman, justice of the peace. Came to Lansing the same year on horseback. She was the first white woman to settle in Lansing. She died March, 1893. I hope the old pioneers may live long to enjoy the fruits of their labor. I bid them Godspeed and hope their last days may be their best days, and may we all meet in heaven." Mr. Campbell also read a paper written by John H. Lee, of Leroy, as follows: My Michigan pioneer life began in 1837, in the month of October, when this State was but a Territory. Starting from Plymouth, Wayne county, we came to what is now Leroy, then known as a part of Jackson county. The first night we stayed at Hamburg, a little country store on the Huron river. Here was the first Indian I ever saw. It was Chief Okemos, with his wife and four quite grown men and women. I remember well his showing

IIEPORTS OF IPIONEER HISTORICAL MIEETINGS 101 the scars on his forehead, which he said the white man had made. I must say I did not like the looks of any of the crowd. Our next night was at Mr. Daniel Dutcher's in what is now White Oak township. He had just moved there. From there in a distance of 13 miles there were but two houses, one Mr. Howard's and the other James Rosecrance's. The last was near father's farm. There we stayed the third night, and went to our place the next morning. In going my uncle David Meech got hurt. He was thrown off the wagon and one wheel passed over his shoulder. He was badly hurt and fainted. My father got out his jack knife and bled him, and got him to the house. This consisted of a log body with a long shape roof, no door, no window, no floor, no chimney. The nearest doctor was at Pinckney, a distance of 35 miles, as we traveled at that time. There were but two families in the township, Mr. Rosecrance's and my father's. Mr. Orrin Dana and Mr. Edmond Allchin came in December, 1837, both on the same day. Our settlement was long and not wide. No school for some time; meetings once a month or more in summer, but rare in winter. Mr. Ephraim Meech was called the father of our settlement. Not that he was the first, for others were there as soon as he, but he was ever looking after the wants of the settlement. Now came on the settlers, and among them the Williams brothers, who began throwing obstructions in the river in the way of a dam. The settlement needed a saw mill and a grist mill, and soon we had both-not a circular saw mill, nor a roller process grist mill, but a pioneer mill, up today and down tomorrow. Soon after this Perry Henderson, from Syracuse, N. Y., moved onto section 21, Leroy, and began teaching singing school. Then Elder Kinne and his son were preaching every Sunday in the log school houses of that section. Now, as life is not made up of all roses, neither is it all thorns. But of the many hardships I shall not attempt to write. You will readily see it was no boy's play. It needed men made of the very best steel, and with a will like the men and women that landed on Plymouth Rock. Men that were not to be scared out by the wolves. I have seen wolves a great many times in broad daylight near our house and at night near our sheep yard. Grand river

102 PIONEER IIISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY road was built. It gave us an outlet, and we had a great many comforts. Now, in conclusion, I am sorry, in a way, to have to say I was a pioneer; I would rather have lived where I could have gone to school and where there were good roads, as we now have in Leroy. Fifty-six years has made a great change in the looks of the woods and families that were here when I came. Of the families of the first ten years only a few are living. There are just two who were present at the chopping and clearing of the Meech cemetery. Capt. Alonzo Cheney showed a Gazetteer of Michigan published in 1838, which had been handed down to him from his father. The county was not assessed a dollar in 1836. C. N. Branch, of Williamston, told of a schoolboy fight in which one of them prayed for strength to lick the other. June 5, 1894. The day proved too cold for the pioneers to sit in the opera house without any fire, so the crowd moved over to the Baptist church to hold the twenty-second annual meeting of the county society. President J. R. Price called the meeting to order. Col. L. H. Ives had the music in charge, and Rev. H. W. Powell, of Mason, and Rev. Edmonds, of Leslie, were asked to lead the devotionals. The treasurer's books showed $19.63 on hand, the largest fund ever carried over by the society. Pot-luck dinner was served in the basement of the church. The afternoon session began with the election of officers as follows: President, J. J. Tuttle, of Leslie; Secretary, Geo. W. Bristol; Treasurer, J. T. Campbell, both of Mason. The memorial list contains the names of many familiar to those who have followed the history of Ingham county from the time it was organized. They are as follows: Alaiedon-Bradley Baker, Mrs. O. Rathbone, Mrs. Phebe Wilkins, Mrs. Martin Laycock, Mrs. Fritz, Mrs. Kay, Mrs. Jonathan Stratton, Mrs. Tobias Holden, Truman Rolfe. Aurelius-Theodore Stratton, Robert Bell (Civil War veteran), Mrs. O. H. Ranney, Mrs. Irons, Mrs. Timothy Strong, Alonzo Meacham, Mrs. Eliza Claflin, Wilson Davis, Mrs. Evarts, Mrs. Marie Hazelton, Erastus Ranney.

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 103 Bunkerhill-Charles Earl, Arrabella Brown, Geo. E. Wood. Delhi-Mrs. Caroline Hancock, Mrs. William Frier, Mrs. Mary Ferguson, Mrs. Henry Weigman, Henry Dorris, Jeanette Olmstead, Henry Kurtz, Gotlieb Widman, Mary Driscoll, John Crane, Mrs. Fettie North. Ingham-Patrick Sweeney, Samuel Halliday, Mrs. Mary A. Hicks, John Bullen, Mrs. James S. Heald, James Colwell, Mary Hunt, Mrs. Warner. Lansing-Mrs. Elizabeth Whitelly, Mrs. Sarah A. West, Steven Downer, Miss Vina Straub, William Sullivan, Mrs. Lida Rolfe, Jacob Seager, Alfred Wise, Philip G. Spang, Thomas Saier, William Burlingame, Charles E. Spencer, Mrs. Flora Wright, Geo. P. Sanford (early printer), Mrs. J. M. Shearer, James M. Shearer, Mrs. John P. Miller, William Barnett, Mrs. Geo. S. Williams, Artemus Knight, Mrs. Valentine, Mrs. Thos. Shipp, O. S. Pritchard. Leroy-John S. Hustin. Leslie-Henry Grove, Abram Housel, Jay VanHorn, Joseph Sitts, Ephraim Haynes, Benj. Ingalls, Mrs. H. Smith, David May. Locke-George Gage, Rev. Harvey Hodskiss. Meridian-Oscar Terrill, J. Hewett, Mrs. Sturgis, Mrs. Almira Bigelow, Mrs. Mary Joy. Onondaga-Lester Francis, James Carpenter, Miss Mary Jane Peek, Hiram Gibbs. Stockbridge-Gustavus Adolphus Smith, who took active part in the Black Hawk war in 1833, John Coatsworth, Uriah Coulson, Francis Greenman. Vevay-Mrs. C. C. Royston, Mrs. Mary Bignal, Herschel Sanders, J. B. Decker, William Kirby (Canadian soldier), Mrs. Emeline Bishop, Mrs. Phebe Holcomb, Mrs. Jane Quarry. Mason-Mrs. Mary Kittridge, William VanVrankin, Mrs. Orcelia Pease, Mrs. Phebe Dunham, Mrs. D. L. Cady, Elisha Bennett, John B. Dwinell, Neil Somerville, Patrick Kerns, Henry J. Donnelly, Mrs. Deborah Shafer, Mrs. Mary Odell, Mrs. Mary Strope, Mrs. G. D. Lee. Wheatfield-Mrs. Geo. Rehle, Mrs. Dorcas Blanchard, Truman Carr. White Oak-Francis McMahon, Warren Harvey. Williamston-Joseph Decter.

104 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Hon. John N. Bush, of Lansing, was introduced as speaker of the day. The trend of his thought was the fact that the period covered by the lives of the pioneers before him had been the most eventful in growth and development of any in the world's history. Its advancement and inventions had been proverbial and most incredible. In twenty years from 1850 to 1870 the world had produced as much as in all the years fron the time of Christ to the close of the eighteenth century. He had been in Ingham county nearly 47 years. Ite stopped at Mason and Lansing when the people were living in huts and slab houses, and traveling roads almost impassable. He was present at the assembling of the first Legislature that ever met in Lansing and has been present at every such assembly since. He urged that pioneers are still wanted; the perplexing questions are still before us and their solution will require efforts as loyal and as persistent as any that ever felled forests and endured privations. He asked for the uplifted hands of all who were residents of Michigan in 1826, but no hands went up; he then explained that he was such a resident and was old enough when he came to the State to remember the appearance of the boat on which he came with his parents from Buffalo, N. Y., to Detroit. Many interesting incidents of his early life in Detroit were related in which he proved himself more of a pioneer than any who had visited the society in many years. He had accompanied a French boy who dipped water from Detroit river into a cask and then peddled it about the streets as people wanted to use it. A unanimous vote of thanks was tendered the speaker. Hon. S. G. Ives, who was in the audience, was then called upon, and he, too, proved to be a pioneer of best title from whom we had not heard in years. Ile said he had been in Michigan "all the time," that is since it became a State. IHe was on the site of Mason when there was but one house there, and the Indians had a camp where the city now stands. The Indians made sugar and he was after some of it. In 1835 he came from Tompkins county, N. Y. He had traded a running horse for 80 acres of land three miles east of Stockbridge and he came to find it, as he had never seen it. He started on foot, but got a ride on a schooner from Cleveland to Detroit for $3.00. On two schooners that made the trip side by side there was a company of twenty or thirty young men whom the captain said made the hardest crowd he

REPORTS OF PIONEER1 II STORICAL MEETINGS lC5 ever had on board. They were jolly and the slow progress of the boat which had to wait for the wind gave them lots of opportunity for fun. After they reached the Detroit river the wind failed and they footed it for four miles along the Canada side to the city. From there he began to search for his land, and his narration of his experiences in finding it were very amusing. He spent many days in the woods and tramped many miles before it was located. He lost faith in the compass but finally found the "80" as good as any there was in the State of Michigan. It became his home, and not long since when he left Unadilla he had 600 acres there. Judge E. A. Cowles spoke for a few minutes of the so-called improvements in farming, but which in his opinion had destroyed the poetry of the work. It was graceful and poetic when a row of cradlers cut their way through a field of grain. The swing of the cradle was poetry; but now any man can hump himself upon a self-binder, and they are all prosy. No particular skill is needed. The machine does it. J. J. Tuttle, in his usual humorous way, told of early days, and told how he came with his goods drawn on an ox cart about the same distance as Mr. Ives had traveled to find his land. He suggested a change in the program for the pioneer meetings, and thought it would be better to let the pioneers talk first before the speakers present their cultured addresses. Wm. C. Nichols, of Stockbridge, said he had lived in this county 58 years, so considered himself a pioneer. Came when a babe with his parents, and had lived on the same place ever since, had been scared by Indians, seen deer plenty, and other wild animals right at the door. Edy Baker, an early day sheriff of this county, said he had been here since 1845. Was in Lansing when he had to twist his team about among the stumps and logs on Washington Avenue. He asked how many present had plowed with wooden moldboards? How many had raised flax and woven it? How many had carded wool by hand? How many had mowed with a scythe? etc.? To all of which questions there were those who responded that they had done all those things. Such laid the foundations of the county, and their times were good times. These old acquaintances are dropping away rapidly, and strangers are taking their places.

106 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Geo. W. Parks, of Lansing, had been in the county but 40 years, and looked upon himself as a "tenderfoot." He had given his special attention to horticulture, and in that had witnessed great improvements. Orchards have been grown rapidly. When he came they were mostly natural fruit. The first shipments from this country were in 1873, but now large quantities are sent out every year. Fruit interests are growing. Perry Henderson spoke urgently for a deeper interest by the young people in these meetings, and wanted some records made so that pioneers can see what has been done. The meeting was voted a success in every way. June 4, 1895. The builders of our county were with us again in force on the above date. Again Dame Nature gave a cold reception to the pioneers, but as in olden times they passed undaunted over all obstacles, so they did now, for the attendance was good and the pioneer spirit prevailed. The meeting was held at the M. E. church, and the music was furnished by members of that church, Mr. and Mrs. D. E. Watts, Mr. Zada Ives and L. H. Ives, Rev. Jay Clizbe acting as chaplain. Homer Warren, of Detroit, was found to be present and as his fame as a soloist had preceded him he was invited to come forward and favor the pioneers with a song, which he did. The list of deaths was larger than ever before, and contains some of the county's most rugged and honorable founders, as follows: Alaiedon-Rudolphus Tryon, Mrs. Harriet Potter, Mrs. M. C. Loomis, Mrs. Gavin Fellows, John Lindsey, Mary Powelson. Aurelius-Oramel Rolfe, David Thompson, Mrs. Charlotte Rolfe, Mrs. Maranda Isham, J. E. Hunt, David Wilson, Jacob Parish, D. E. Haines, Mrs. James Smith, Horace May, Peter Rorabeck, Mrs. R. Brott, Mrs. Julia Ann Rogers. Bunkerhill-Arabella Brown, Lydia Dubois, Adelia Ewers, Lucy Dubois, Mrs. Rose Farrell, Margaret McCann, P. F. Laberteaux. Delhi-Spencer Markham, Mrs. Lucy Hines, Agnes Tomey, Samuel Dunn, Mrs. Harriet Dillon.

REPORTS OF PIONE'ER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 107 Ingham-L. K. Strong, Horace Rogers, D. D. Fox, Michael Dakin, Mrs. Deborah Camp, Elias Clark, Cornelius Garrison, Jacob Wolcott. Lansing-Henry J. Lewis, Henry Farle, R. E. Chittenden, John W. Edmund, I. W. Hopkins, Mrs. M. A. Emmett, Mrs. M. C. Fuller, Edward Adams, S. M. Edgerly, Mrs. Sarah Townsend, Mrs. Alfred Beamer, Mrs. Joseph Hedges, Mrs. Polly Lovejoy, Abraham Springer, Rev. I. E. Weed, I. F. Brown, A.. Rouse, F. G. Drumm, Benjamin Williams, Mrs. Henry Gibbs, John Glott, Martin Price, D. D. Jennings, Mrs. Laura Stoughton, Mary E. Hubbard, Mrs. Mary Kilpatrick, Thomas Kannaly, Mrs. Walter Raleigh, Mrs. Jane M. Franklin, Mrs. Nancy Poxson, Cyrus Aldorf. Leroy-Edward Allchin, Hiram J. Dana, Mrs. Daniel Herrick, Mrs. Nathaniel Pament, Calvin Goodspeed, Warren Haskell, Silas Bement. Leslie-Frank Ingalls, S. 0. Russell, Dudley Robinson, Samuel Lawrence, Benj. Ingalls, James Carpenter, Mrs. N. Reeves, Mrs. M. Belcher, Mrs. E. G. Eaton, N. M. Vaughn, John Armstrong, Wm. Hart. Locke-Rev. John C. Martin, James Moyer, Joseph Speers, James Sullivan, Mrs. M. Goit, Mrs. Lafe Johnson, Michael Goit, Geo. Tuttle, Mrs. H. Hodskiss, Mrs. Albert Avery, Mrs. Alonzo Hill, Mrs. Spencer, Orlando Mixter. Meridian-Mrs. John Ferguson, Wm. Moore, Freeman Bray, Mrs. Esther Phelps, Mrs. Piper, Peter Bennett, Amos T. Gunn, Mrs. Caroline Hulett, Mrs. S. C. Iulett, Samuel Moshier, Mrs. Thos. Bateman. Onondaga-James Baker, Rue Perine, S. R. Sanders, Thos. P. Baldwin, Jacob Mandaville, Richard Kitchen, Mrs. Geo. Wooley, Mrs. Abram VanBuskirk, Mrs. Mary J. Peek, Marshall Campbell, Mrs. Luther Stone, Mrs. A. Standish, Mrs. Jane Dunn. Stockbridge-H. N. Forbes, Melvin J. Titus, Henry S. Lewis, Mrs. Rhoda A. Bevier, Joseph Worden, Perry Barrett, Dayton E. Reeves, James Green, Joseph E. Worden, Philander Hopkins, Mrs. Polly Forbes, Fred Bolt. Vevay-Mrs. Ira Hublard, Mrs. Mary A. Corey, Aaron Gar

108 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY rison, Edward Cochran, Mrs. Jennie Whiteley, Mrs. Susan Wright. Mason-T. Densmore, Mrs. Gordon Sayre, Mrs. Samuel Shaw, Alvin Wheeler, Byron Wheeler, Mrs. A. Baldwin. Wheatfield-Myron J. Pollok, Mrs. Simeon Kent, Chas. A. Kent, Wm. Bleekman, Mrs. Linderer. White Oak-Mrs. Jane Kyes, Wm. West, Jacob Fortman. Williamston-J. H. Forester, Mrs. J. H. Forester, Nathan Winslow, Geo. Walker, Miss M. Hanlon. Hon. J. M. Turner was speaker of the day, and his adlress was full of patriotic ardor as he eulogized the pioneers and dwelt on the great work they have done for mankind. In his talk he referred to Judge Danforth, and this led J. J. Tuttle to give a reminiscence of Judge Danforth's life in Mason, where he had a mill in which he ground corn. He said "it had a stone as about as big as a grindstone and 'cracked three kernels into one' from which we made hominy." HIe also spoke of the early prominence of D. L. Case as prosecuting attorney when he had to prosecute a boy for stealing socks, but the court held him not guilty for the reason that the poor boy needed the socks. D. L. Case was called on for a talk, but said that was imposing a task that few could realize. IHe daily felt that his end was near at hand. Ie loved to return to this spot, but feared he might never come again. Not one is here today who was his associate in the early experiences in the county. Richard Davis asked how many were present who lived in the county in 1835. Only six arose. IHe related many events and stated that it was his belief that Rev. E. H. Pilcher was the founder of the M. E. church in Mason. Lawrence Meech asked how many were present who lived in Lansing in 1842. None responded. lie said that in 1843 there were 18 votes cast in what is now Dellli and Lansing townships An election was called to be held "at a white wood stump, 40 feet north of a certain stump." On the first day 18 votes were cast, and on the second day one vote was registered. IHe and some companions once employed some Indians to make them a canoe, which they dug from a log; it was 44 feet long and 3 feet and 2 inches inside. They paid the Indians 20 gallons of whiskey, and

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 109 cheated them some by watering it, just as men would do today. With the canoe they went to Eaton Rapids and brought back 100 brick, two barrels of flour and other things too numerous to mention. He was at the Toledo War, and was acquainted with the boy governor, Stevens T. Mason. Was also in the "Patriot War," and told good stories of the bravery of the men, whom he said a company of squaws would have frightened out of their wits. Hiram Rix, Sr., is more than 80 years old, yet he gets out and hoes in the garden before breakfast, partially to prepare for the time when some Legislature like the last one shall require that by statute. His home was first in the White Mountains and he is the last of four brothers. He was in this county in 1842 and believes there was less complaint then about the roads than there is now. Perry Henderson said he had been here but 50 years and when he came it was an old country-some woods of course. He is the only one left who helped organize this society, and he wished some accurate history could be written. Randolph Whipple said he came here in 1837 and soon after was elected pathmaster. His road district was one-third of the town of Ingham and there was but one man on his warrant. His name was Amasa Clough, and it took an entire day to warn him out. Gardner Fletcher came to Ingham county in the fall of 1839, and has been here ever since. He came to Michigan in 1835. R. J. Bullen said lie came to this county in 1840, but could claim no credit for that. He remembered a solid wilderness for six miles west of Mason, and also remembered having his shoes made by old Father Griffin, the pioneer shoemaker. L. Meech and J. J. Tuttle were called out again, and Mr. Meech said he could assess non-resident land so high that he was elected supervisor of Lansing by 18 out of 20 votes cast. Tuttle told how maple sugar sold so well that it took all the money and nine jack knives out of one village, and later those jack knives paid nine men for a day's logging. The officers elected were: D. L. Case, President; L. H. Ives, Secretary; W. M. Webb, Treasurer. The pioneers were invited to hold the next meeting in Leslie, but it was voted that the county seat was the most logical place, and that it should be held there.

110 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY The vice presidents elected were as follows: Alaiedon, Lawrence Meech; Bunkerhill, E. H. Angell; Delhi, L. W. Baker; Aurelius, R. J. Bullen; Ingham, R. P. Whipple; Leroy, H. Rix, Sr.; Locke, William Robinson; Lansing, W. A. Dryer; Leslie, J. J. Tuttle; Meridian, John Ferguson; Onondaga, P. VanRiper; Stockbridge, W. V. Nichols; White Oak, Geo. II. Proctor; Wheatfield, Gardner Fletcher; Williamston, D. C. Branch; Vevay, E. J. Fuller; second vice president for Lansing, Alvin Rolfe. As usual the concensus of opinion was that this was the best meeting ever held. June 2, 1896, the meeting was again held at the M. E. church in Mason, and the day being fine there was a goodly attendance of the pioneer fathers and mothers. The meeting was called to order by the president, Hon. D. L. Case, of Lansing. Music by the M. E. choir. Rev. H. W. Powell leading the devotional exercises. Hon. O. M. Barnes, a Mason pioneer, now of Lansing, gave the annual address. He spoke of the comradeship of early settlers and reviewed the 56 years he had been in the county, mentioned the names of some of the firstcomers who held office, and caused his hearers to live over again in memory the events of early days. Both sad and pleasant memories were revived. A call was made for those who had lived longest in the county to arise, and it was found that Lawrence Meech, of Meridian, had lived here 66 years, D. L. Case 67 years, W. M. Webb and R. M. Davis both 59 years. The officers elected were: President, R. H. Davis; Secretary, L. H. Ives; Treasurer, W. M. Webb, and they were duly installed. The memorial list contained 130 names, but these were not preserved in the records, neither were the pioneer stories and reminiscences given that day put on record. June 8, 1897. A large number of the forest fellers gathered at the Baptist church, and the meeting was called to order by the president, R. H. Davis, of Leslie. Mr. and Mrs. D. E. Watts had charge of the music, and Rev. E. H. Brockway acted as chaplain. Address of welcome was made by Hon. J. T. Campbell.

I EPORTS OF PIONEER IISTORICAL MEETINGS 111 Secretary Ives read the names of 136 who had died during the year, after which Will Carleton's poem entitled "Sleep, Old Pioneer," was read. Col. L. H. Ives took the floor and urged the building of a home for the pioneers of the county. His idea was the construction of an old-fashioned log house where the pioneers might meet, and where they could take old-time relics and furnish a good and cheerful home with the equipments and furnishings of "Auld Lang Syne." He moved the appointment of a committee to consider the project, and the following were appointed: Col. L. H. Ives, W. I. Rayner, Lawrence Meech, J. J. Tuttle, and Mortimer Cowles. Questioning brought out the interesting fact that there were present 50 people who had lived in Michigan over 50 years, 25 who had lived here 60 years, and 20 who came when Michigan was still a territory. Mr. Meech had been in Michigan 67 years, but Rev. Brockway went him one better as he had been here 68 years. Mr. Tuttle had been in the State ever since the Black Hawk war. "Nooning" was an hour of joy, and the basement of the church rang with laughter and merry jests, as these pioneers exchanged stories. Dr. W. H. Haze, of Lansing, a pioneer physician and Methodist preacher, was introduced as speaker of the day. He was nearly blind and very hard of hearing, but his voice was strong for a man well along in the eighties. He said he was pleased to meet so many who had long been travelers with him. He came to Mason 59 years ago and took the city as the Irishman did the army "by surrounding it." He left Oakland county June 1, 1838, afoot and alone, with a knapsack made by his mother. The day he struck Ingham county he walked 27 miles without seeing a human being. Traveled along Indian trails that were plow-share deep. It cost him the "girl he left behind him" to come to Michigan, for her parents thought she might better go to her grave than to Michigan. The girl was willing to come, but he declined to bring her against the will of her parents. His experiences in hunting a home through the northwestern part of the county were serious as well as amusing. He made the best of them. Forty years ago he settled in Lan

112 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY sing. The county has changed wonderfully, but something has changed still more-the physical features of its people. We should be proud of Ingham county. He had visited the Acadia as immortalized by Longfellow, but old Ingham appeared well beside it or any other land on the earth. Stand by Ingham. When in the Legislature 40 years ago he fought hard to keep the Agricultural College from being removed to Ann Arbor, and was victorious by 35 majority. For that fight Ingham county may be thankful. It preserved to her advantages which she has enjoyed. Education is necessary to successful farming. "Those who claim that it isn't couldn't successfully pile a brush heap." He had tried Kansas experience but from there returned to Ingham county loving it more than ever. "Even the old maids looked good to me," he said. He early practiced medicine in Livingston county and used to meet Dr. McRoberts and Dr. Phelps, of Mason. His talk was highly enjoyed with its mingling of pleasantry and pathos. The following officers were elected: President, Lawrence Meech; Secretary, J. A. Barnes; Treasurer, W. M. Webb, and upon motion of L. H. Ives these officers were made members ex-officio of the log cabin committee. Then came reminiscences. It was stated that John Mullett, of Meridian, had been in the State and Territory 72 years. His father was surveyor here in 1837. S. R. King exhibited a small horseshoe that had been in the King family for 66 years, and as an heirloom was to be passed on to the coming generations. Miss Hattie Rix, of Leroy, read a paper on "Rattlesnakes," and being a pioneer she knew whereof she spoke. There were surely snakes in those days. Enoch Howe, of Aurelius, told of his experiences. The president added that about 59 years ago a neighbor discovered Mr. Howe's cows were in his corn and stopped and told him. Mr. Howe said, "They are my cows, it is my corn and my business." J. J. Tuttle said it was a good while since he erected his cabin in the county, 60 years in fact. He helped to locate the county seat, and he believed it was for Lansing's interest to leave it where it is. He didn't believe the Agricultural College made farmers.

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 113 He said if the farmers with improved farms who now complain of hard times could step into the woods and get a living they would have better sense. Let them leave out the cigars, liquor and extravagant equipment. Mrs. Hannah May, of Mason, a pioneer school teacher, said she and her brother carried the mail to and from LaGrange in a bag about the size of a work pocket. One was 11 years old and the other less. Rev. Brockway spoke of early days and mud in Detroit. His father moved to Ann Arbor and it took him three days to make 40 miles. Mrs. E. Stanton read an original poem of merit on early life as she remembered it. T. W. Huntoon, W. W. Raymond and H. V. Tallman told interesting experiences that were not placed on record. Frank Ives and Miss Rose Cranston sang a duet, very pleasing to all. The president had been doing research work during the year and added some valuable information for future use. When the west half of the county was all included in and called Aurelius, a town meeting was held April 24, 1837, at the house of Elijah Woodworth, with the following results: E. T. Critchet presided, and Amos E. Steele was secretary pro tem; Peter Cranson, Benj. Davis and S. 0. Russell were inspectors of election; supervisor, Benj. Davis; clerk, E. T. Critchet; Peter Cranson, Henry Meeker, Peter Linderman and James Royston, justices of the peace; A. E. Steele, Benjamin Rolfe, James Royston and Stephen Tuttle, assessors; S. O. Russell, Otis Cranson, and Hiram Austin, highway commissioners; A. E. Steele, Nathan Rolfe and James Royston, inspectors of common schools; Benjamin Meeker, Peter Cranson and Peter Linderman, inspectors of the poor; Jeduthan Fry, collector, amd Jeduthan Frye, Jacob Armstrong and Fin Rolfe, constables. One resolution provided that the justices of the peace should appoint a roadmaster, and he should also be fence viewer; another provided for the payment of $7.50 per head for wolves killed by actual settlers. He also learned that the first birth in Aurelius was that of Jane A. Gardner, February 1, 1837. The Gardner family settled there in October, 1836.

114 114 ~PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY The record book which had been missing for several years was at this meeting discovered in the basement of the church and rescued by the secretary. Past officers of the society since its organization in 187~2: PRESIDENTS. Minos McRobert, Mason-18792. Rev. E. K. Grout, Leslie-1873. J. M. Williams, Williamston-1874. Win. A. Dryer, Lansing-1875-1876. Almon M. Chapin, Vevay-1877. Win. H. Clark, Mason-1878. Win. A. Dryer, Lansing-1879. Samuci Skadan, Jugham-1SSO. Hon. Ferris S. Fitch, Bunkerhill-1881. Thaddeus Densmore, Mason-1889Z. Col. Whitney Jones, Mason-1883. Perry Henderson, Mason-1884-1885. Hon. D. L. Case, Lansing-1886-1887. Thaddeus Densmore, Mason-1888. John A. Barnes, Mason-1889-1890 —1891. Perry Henderson, Mason-1892. Capt. J. R. Price, Lansing-1893. John J. Tuttle, Leslie-1894. Hon. D. L. Case, Lansing-1895. R. H. Davis-1896. Lawrence Meech, Mason-1897-1898. Perry Henderson, Mason-1899. L. H. Ives, Mason-1900-1901-19O02-1903. Rev. E. H. Brockway, Mason-1904. Robert Hayward-1905. John N. Bush, Lansing-1906. Hon. L. T. Hemans, Mason-1907. Richard J. Bullen, Aurelius-1908-1909-1910-1911. 1920.

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS 15 115 SECxRETARIES. Peter Lowe, Mason-1872-1873-1874-1875-1876-187i7-1 878. Peter Lowe, Mason, secretary and treasurer-1879-1880. George W. Bristol, Mason, secrctary-1881-1882-18 82- 188S4 -1885. L. H-. Ives, Mason-1886-1887. J. A. Barnes, Mason-1888-1889. 0. F. Miller, Mason-1890-1891. G. W. Bristol, Mason-1892-1893-1894. L. H. Ives, Mason-1895-1896. J. A. Barnes, Mason-1897. J. T. Campbell, Mason-1898. Mrs. Mary Stillman, Mason-1899-1900-1901-1909 —1903'-1 904 -1905-1906. L. H1. Ives, Mason-1907-1908-1909-1910. Mrs. Edna M. Gunnison Ives, Mason-1911. Mrs. Carrie Chapin, Vevay-1912-1913-1914. Mrs. FrancL. Adams, Mason-1915-1916-1917-1918-1919-1920. TREASURERS. Samuel Skadan, Ingham-187~2-1873-1874-1875-1876. Dr. Minos McRobert, Mason-1877. J. A. Barnes, Mason-1878. Peter Lowe, Mason-1879-1880-1881-1882-1888'-1884-1885. Win. M. Webb, Aurelius 1886-1887. Perry Henderson, Mason-1888-1889-1890-1891. J. T. Campbell, Mason-1899.-1893-1894. Win. M. Webb, Aurelius-1895-1896-1897-1898-1899-1900-1901 -190~2-1903-1904-1905-1906-1907-1908-1909-1910-191 1-191W%-1913 -Hon. Lawton T. Hemans was Historian in 1906. The first vice president was Uriah Coulson, of Stockbridge, who served two years; he was succeeded by H. A. Hawley, of Vevay, who served three years; then caine H. H. North, of Delhi, for one year; W. A. Dryer, of Lansing, one year; J. J. Tuttle, of Leslie, one year; Sidney 0. Russell, of Leslie, one year; Samuel Skadan, of Ingham, one year; D. L. Case, of Lansing, one year.

116 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY This brought the society to its twelfth year, when the plan of a vice president for each township was adopted, and followed until 1911, when the old plan of one vice president was again taken up, and Dr. W. W. Root was elected to that office. In 1912 C. W. Root, of Lansing, was made vice president, and since that time R. J. Bullen, of Aurelius, has filled that position. This society was organized in 1872, two years before the State Historical Society, and today (1920) not one of those who were present and helped organize are living; nor are there any names of those now living to be found on the lists until 1884, when R. J. Bullen, of Aurelius, and L. H. Ives, of Mason, are mentioned, which would go to show that they are older, in point of membership, than any others of the members.

CHAPTER II INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. F. L. A., MASON, MIcII. General history of Ingham county; Ingham county in 1838; history of the Hog's Back; Ingham county's one lynching; early newspapers; papers by Peter Lowe and Peter Linderman; pioneer officers of the county. "The history of a country is best told in a record of the lives of its people," and no more fitting introduction to a history of Ingham county could be given than in these words of Macaulay. A writer of more obscure fame has said that to give the history of a nation is to tell of its wars, the causes and the results. The territory now known as Ingham county cannot boast of any wars, in the sense of which we speak of war, but the people of early days certainly engaged in many conflicts against the intrusion of foes found in the wilderness and morass of this territory, as they struggled to build their homes. The elements, the fastnesses of the forests and swamps, the devastation wrought by the wild beasts which infested the country, and the tact and courage they were compelled to use in their dealings with the savages, placed them in the list with the patriot pioneers of this land. The wars and their causes are thus accounted for, and the results need not be enumerated, for we, today, are enjoying the peaceful homes. well cultivated, prolific farms, schools and churches, factories, and all improvements, conveniences and luxuries which modern methods can give, and which this early bloodless warfare made possible for us. That this section was once the chosen seat of the Indian tribes of the northwest is a fact well known. All know the story of the noted Chief Okemos, head of a tribe of the Ottawas, and the trails that he and his braves made as they crossed and recrossed this part of Michigan are still remembered by the older inhabitants, who have no trouble in naming the exact locality of some of them. Scientists tell us that the contents of the mounds found in dif

118 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY fercnt localities in this section, which we now call Ingham county, prove that it was inhabited long before the days of the redman. The mammoth trees found growing in these mounds showed that ages had elapsed since the hand of man had constructed and filled them. In speaking of the early settlers, meaning those who have come into this country within the last one hundred years, the only object in referring to these people of pre-historic days is to show that Ingham county pioneers had a part in unearthing the history of these ancient people, when they discovered and opened these mounds in the years of 1860 to 1870. It was the Indians who blazed the way for us, and made the conquest of the country a much easier matter than it would have otherwise been. The trails of the redman were always over the most direct routes from one place to another, whether for fishing or hunting excursions, and these trails the white man utilized for roads as he made his way through the unbroken forests, across swift flowing streams, as well as swamps and marshes it was impossible to avoid. History gives no authentic account of the first white man who came onto Ingham county soil, but old records show that the history of the county dates from the time when the "Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace" was established by the Territorial Legislature in 1817, though as a county Ingham was not organized until 1829, by the Legislative Council of the Territory of Michigan, and the enactment was as follows: "Sec. 2.-That so much of the county as is included within the following limits, viz.: north of the base line, and south of the line between townships four and five north of the base line, and east of the line between ranges two and three west of the principal meridian, and west of the line between ranges two and three east of the meridian, be and the same is hereby set off into a separate county, and the name thereof shall be Ingham. "Approved October 29, 1829. "Sec. 1.-Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, " That the county of Ingham and the same is hereby organized, and the inhabitants thereof entitled to all the rights and privileges to which by law the other counties of the State are entitled. "Sec. 2.-All suits, prosecutions, and other matters now pend

INGHAM COUNTY HISTORY 119 ing before any court, or before any justice of the peace of Jackson county, to which the said county of Ingham is now attached for judicial purposes, shall be prosecuted to final judgment and execution; and all taxes heretofore levied shall be collected in the same manner as though this act had not passed. "Sec. 3.-The circuit court for the county of Ingham shall be held on the first Tuesdays of June and November in each year; and until convenient buildings be erected at the county seat, at such place in said county as the supervisors of commissioner thereof shall direct. "Sec. 4.-There shall be elected in the said county of Ingham, on the first Monday of June next, all the several county officers to which by law the said county of Ingham is entitled, and whose terms of office shall expire on the 31st day of December next ensuing, and said election shall in all respects be conducted and held in the manner prescribed by law for holding elections for county and State officers. "Sec. 5.-The board of county canvassers under this act shall consist of one of the presiding inspectors of said election from each township; and said board shall meet at the dwelling house nearest the county seat of said county on the Thursday next after said election, at or before three o'clock P. M. of said day and organize by the appointment of one of their number chairman and another secretary of said board; and thereupon proceed to calculate and ascertain the whole number of votes given at such election for any individual for either of said offices, and shall set down the names of the several persons so voted for, and the number of votes given to each for either of said offices in said county, in words at full length, and certify the same to be a true canvass of the votes given such election in said county, and that the person receiving the highest number of votes for either of said offices is duly elected to said office; which certificate shall be signed by the chairman and secretary, and delivered to the clerk of said county, to be filed in his office. "Sec. 6.-This act shall be in force and take effect on and after the first Monday of June next. "Approved, April 5, 1838." Ingham county was named from Samuel D. Ingham, Secretary of the Treasury in President Jackson's cabinet from 1829 to 1831.

120 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY The seat of justice for the county is at Mason, settled in 1838, and became an incorporated village in 1865. County commissioners adjudicated the affairs in this part of Michigan between the years of 1818 and 1827, and from that time until 1838 the commissioners and supervisors alternated in control. Ingham county began to take charge of her own affairs in 1838, and while the county seat was located in the "City of Ingham," in Vevay township, a few miles east of Mason, no county buildings were ever erected there. Egypt and Asia are not the only countries where are found records of forgotten cities, for a city was once platted around the quarter posts between sections 1 and 12 in Vevay township. This was planned to be the county seat and was named the "City of Ingham." It is said that two or three lots were sold, but no house or other building graced the spot until some years later, and comparatively few of the present generation know of this city which existed only on paper. This place was chosen by a committee of three appointed by the Territorial Governor, and their reason for deciding on this particular spot was because it was the geographical center of the county. The different townships had elected supervisors and the time was at hand for a meeting of the board, but as there was no building at the laid out county seat, and anyway the city could not be reached for want of roads and dry land, the meeting was held in the nearest residence as provided by law, and this happened to be that of Hiram Parker, a well known pioneer of the county. It is easily seen that the wheels of justic revolved slowly in Ingham county at first. For, while the county was set apart and named in 1829, it was not formally organized by Legislature until one year after Michigan became a State, and nine years after it received its name. Another forgotten city is that of Jefferson, which was situated three and one-half miles north of Mason, and is said at one time to have consisted of thirteen houses, a saw mill and school house. "Jefferson City" aspired for county seat honors, and for a time a bitter fight was waged concerning the matter, the promoter in favor of Jefferson being George Howe, of Manchester, Washtenaw county, while Charles Noble, of Monroe, worked for Mason, and

INGIIAM COUNTY HISTORY 121 his efforts were rewarded by having the county seat moved to Mason in 1840. At the first meeting of the board of supervisors in Ingham county in October, 1838, there were but seven townships in the county, Aurelius including the entire west half of the county. Until that time the county belonged to Jackson county for all judicial purposes, all officers qualifying there, and all criminals were tried there. Many amusing stories are told of those early day criminals, some being sent alone to Jackson for trial, while others, according to one chronicler, were taken there by force, one being "hog-tiel" and dragged there on a sled in the summer time. Where the county business was carried on in the interval between 1840, when Mason became the county seat, and when the first court house was completed in 1843, no one seems able to tell. When the time came to erect a new court house at the county seat, it was voted by the board of supervisors on December 28, 1842, "that there be an appropriation of $800 to build a court house, $200 of real estate and $600 of State bonds." It was also resolved, "That the committee appointed to receive proposals and make a contract for the building of a court house be instructed that if they cannot let the job for $800 or less, for a building twenty-eight feet by thirty-four, with eighteen foot posts, that they make a proposal and contract for a house as large as can be built for $800," and they were successful in getting a building of the desired size, for the money they were authorized to pay. This building is now a dwelling house on South B street, and is in a good state of preservation. The first bill allowed in the county was to Dr. Minos McRobert, the clerk, for transcribing the records from Jackson county, for which he received $19.05. Wolf bounties formed a large part of the expense at that time, the State paying $8.00 for each scalp, and the supervisors adding a county bounty of $2.50 per head. Thllis meeting of 1838 was the last meeting of the supervisors until 1842, the county commissioners doing the work in the meantime. In 1839 the total valuation of the county property was given as $867,702, with a State tax of $2,074 and a county tax of $2,600.02, which presents a strong contrast to the figures of the present day.

122 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIAMI COUNTY Until 1848 the county was obliged to transport all prisoners to Jackson for safe keeping, but that year the county offices and a jail were built at a cost of $2,000. The first recorded action of the board in regard to the poor of the county was in June, 1843, when $50 was appropriated for their support. In 1844 the importance of having a home for this class of people was seen, and 80 acres of land on section 21 in Alaiedon was bought for $400. This was added to until the county owned about 200 acres of land, which cost $3,858.72. In 1873 a change in the location of the county farm was talked of, and the question was agitated for several years, before the three superintendents of the poor were instructed to try and find a more desirable location, for which the farm then in use could be exchanged. The main reason given for the change was to secure some site on a line of railroad, where it would be good policy to erect suitable permanent buildings. In 1879 the front part of the present county home was constructed, and it was said that it could easily accommodate 100 people, though the total number cared for at that time was 48. In the winter of 1879 the building caught fire and was badly damaged. There were 33 inmates, and all were taken from the building to the home of John Hammond, where they stayed that night. While repairs were being made places were found for 17. Since the county was organized the amount appropriated has increased from $50 in 1839 to $8,650 in 1879. The rapid increase in the amount of funds needed was accounted for by the aftermath of the Civil War, so many helpless and needy veterans who had little or no pension from the Government, and the widows and children of those who died in the service who were left without any means for their maintenance. At the first general election in 1838 there were 260 votes polled in the county. In 1839 salaries were fixed for the county treasurer and the prosecuting attorney, the former at $200 per year and the latter at $150. By 1874 these salaries had increased until each received $1,000, the probate judge $1,025, and the county clerk $800. The school commissioner was paid by the day and received $4.50 for each day's work.

INGIIAM COUNTY HISTORY 123 In the Michigan State Gazeteer for 1863 is found the following description of Ingham county: "Ingham is situated in the south central part of the State, and is bounded on the north by Clinton and Shiawassee, east by Livingston, south by Jackson, west by Eaton, and contains 564 square miles. The surface is gently undulating in the southern part of the county, but in the north part it is level, and there are extensive marshes. No county in the State contains a greater variety of soil, and it is to this circumstance, added to its central position, that it was selected as a favorable locality for the Agricultural College at Lansing. The soil is exceedingly productive. The county is intersected by the Grand and Red Cedar rivers and their tributaries. The following is a list of the towns: Alaiedon, Aurelius, Bunkerhill, Delhi, Ingham, Kinneyville, Lansing, Lansing City, Leroy, Locke, Mason village, Meridian, Okemos village, Onondaga, Stockbridge, Vevay, Wheatfield, White Oak, Williamston. The population in 1860 was 17,456. The value of real estate owned is $6,106,798; the whole number of occupied farms, 1,576; acres improved, 81,295; acres unimproved, 93,151; total wheat in 1860, 140,043 bushels; rye, 7,683; Indian corn, 233,426; oats, 103,757; potatoes, 85,607; wool, 89,803 pounds; butter, 400,055 pounds; maple sugar, 190,514 pounds. "There are four water and four steam flouring mills; capital invested in them, $50,500; manufacturing 31,324 barrels of flour; annual product estimated at $182,625. There are four water and twenty-one steam saw mills, with a capital invested of $67,600, producing annually 11,418,000 feet of lumber, estimated to be worth $87,717. Aggregate of capital invested in all kinds of manufactures, mills included, $215,165, yielding an annual product of $521,325. "The whole number of children, between the ages of 5 and20, is 6,388, of whom 5,569 regularly attend school. Amount raised by rate bill, $1,299.51; raised by two mill tax, $5,933.39; qualified male teachers, 65; female teachers, 183. Mason is the county seat. The Amboy, Lansing and Traverse Bay Railroad is completed from Lansing to Owosso, in Shiawassee county."

124 PIONEEIr HISTORY OF ING IIAM COUNTY INGHAM COUNTY IN 1838 AS SHOWN IN THE GAZETTEER FOR THE STATE OF MICHIGAN. The volume which came into the hands of the secretary of the Ingham County Iistorical and Pioneer Society was owned by Alonzo Cheney, of Eaton Rapids, Eaton county, who was one of the pioneers of Inghain county, and figured largely in its early history. The Gazetteer was compiled by John T. Blois, and published in Detroit and New York. It is divided into three parts: a general view of the State; general view of each county; topography and statistics. The first is a very comprelhesive history of the Territory and State up to the year 1838, and contains much valuable and authentic information. In part second we find the following description of Ingham county: Ingham county is bounded on the north by Clinton and Shia. wassee, east by Livingston, south by Jackson and west by EatonIt was organized in 1838, and has an area of 560 square miles. Water courses.-The Red Cedar, Willow Creek, Mud Creek Sycamore Creek. Lakes.-Pine, Portage, Swampy. (Location not given.-) Organized townships.-Alaiedon, Aurelius, Ingham, Onondaga, Stockbridge, Vevay. Villages.-Mason Centre is the only village in the county. The face of the county is generally level, but somewhat uneven on the openings. The greater part is heavily timbered land. Plains and openings constitute the remaining portion, the former of which are found in the southeastern, and the latter in the southwestern part of it. It is represented generally as a rich section, with soils like those found in the other parts of the State, designated by the appellation of plains, openings and timbered lands. The timber is principally sugar maple and beech, in considerable quantities, sycamore, basswood, black walnut, etc. It is generally well supplied with water power. There were but few

INGHAMI COUNTY HISTORY 125 settlements made in the county previous to the summer of 1837. Commencing with that period, there has been considerable emigration to it. There are many tracts of excellent land in this county still unsold. One-half of the county, including the eight townships east of the meridian, belongs to the Detroit, the balance to the Grand River Land District. Ingham, in conjunction with Livingston, elects two representatives, and belongs to the fifth senatorial district, which returns three senators to the Legislature. Population, 822. In the third section we find that "Mason Centre, a village of recent origin, is situated on Sycamore Creek, near the centre of the county of Ingham. It has a store, tavern, saw mill, and several dwellings. Distant 25 miles north of Jackson." "The Red Cedar river. This is a considerable stream, originating in the interior of Livingston county, through which it passes in a northwesterly course into Ingham; thence across the north part of Ingham, where it discharges into the Grand river in township four north, of range two west, about midway between Grindstone Creek and Looking-glass river. It is 35 yards wide, and can be ascended by small boats for 25 or 30 miles." "Willow Creek.-A trifling tributary to Sycamore Creek, in Ingham county." "Mud Creek.-A trifling stream, rising near the central part of Ingham county, and discharging into Sycamore Creek." "Sycamore Creek.-A stream watering the western part of Ingham county, rising by several branches, in its southern part, and flowing northwesterly into the Red Cedar river, at its confluence with the Grand river. Its length is upwards of 15 miles, and its bottoms are covered with a rich growth of the various forest trees of the Peninsula." "Pine Lake is a collection of water lying in the northern part of the county of Ingham, near the Red Cedar river, into which its waters are drained by a small creek." "Portage Lake, a triflng body of water in the southeast part of Ingham county. Its waters are conducted into the Portage Lake of Huron river by Portage river." The description of Grand river is rather amusing to us of today, and its association with Ingham county so slight that no one would dream that it would one day play an important part in the

126 PIONEER H-IISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY industrial life of the county, and that on its banks would stand the Capital city of the State. It says: "Grand river. (Indian name Washtenong.) This is the largest stream lying wholly within the State of Michigan. Its coursE from its head branches to its mouth is very serpentine. At its source are two tributaries-the east and south branches. The former takes its rise on western confines of Sharon township, in Washtenaw county, and the south branch on the northern border of Wheatland township, Hillsdale county. They both unite in Jackson county, a little above the village of Jackson. The river then pursues a northerly course to the northern boundary of the county, then westerly for the distance of about eight miles, when it returns to a northerly course, following the boundary line dividing Ingham and Eaton counties; then taking a northwesterly course, crossing the northeast corner of Eaton and southwest corner of Clinton, passing over the eastern part of Ionia; it then strikes a westerly course, passing through Ionia, Kent and Ottawa counties, and enters Lake Michigan fifteen miles south of the Muskegon river, 9245 miles southwesterly of the Strait of Michillimacinac, and 75 miles north of St. Joseph river. It is 270 miles long, including its windings, and at its mouth between 50 and 65 rods wide, and of sufficient depth to admit vessels drawing 12 feet of water. It is navigable 240 miles for bateaux, and receives in its course as its principal tributaries the Rouge, Flat, Maple, Looking-glass and Red Cedar rivers on the north, and the Thornapple on the south. It is navigable for steamboats 40 miles, to the Grand Rapids, below which it has not less than four feet of water. At the rapids a canal is constructing; and after it is completed steamboats may go up to the village of Lyons, at the mouth of the Maple, a distance of 50 miles from the rapids, without difficulty. The river is subject to freshets, and the intervals, in some places to inundations, though the high banks generally afford them sufficient protection. At the mouth it is never known to rise more than a foot, but at the rapids it sometimes rises to a height of 15 feet. The country along the river for 20 miles from its mouth is generally level, in some instances swampy with lofty forests of various kinds of timber, and bearing an almost impenetrable thicket of undergrowth. Proceeding upward, whether deviating to the sources of its numerous tributaries, or following

INGITAM COUNTY HISTORY 127 the main channel, almost every variety of soil and timber is to be met with; sometimes the fertile prairie or plain, and again the alluvial bottom, and grove of timber. The region of county irrigated by the Grand river and its tributaries is not less than 7,000 square miles, and includes some of the richest and most valuable lands in the State. These lands are now in demand by emigrants from the east, who are fast increasing in population and improvements, and raising flourishing villages, in testimony of their inherent fertility." It calls Grand Rapids a village, situated on the south side of Grand river, and gives a full description of the rapids themselves thus: "Grand Rapids.-These consist of an obstruction in the Grand river, 40 miles from its mouth, 'caused by a stratum of lime rock, which shows itself in the bed of the river and in both banks, for a distance of a mile and a half. Its inclination is remarkably uniform, causing the water of the river to descend with a velocity due to 15 feet fall, without noise or commotion.' Their length is about one mile. A canal is constructing by the Kent Company, around the rapids on the south side. Its dimensions are 81 feet wide, and 5 feet deep. There are to be two locks constructed, each 40 feet wide and 150 feet in length, so that the largest steamboats that navigate the river can pass." The estimated cost of this canal was $43,751. At that time the Indian population of the State was said to be 7,914, there being 4,259 in the Lower Peninsula. The total white population then was 174,169, while in 1810 it was 4,384. In speaking of the minerals found in the State, the writer says: "The Upper Peninsula presents many external evidences of the existence of metallic ores. Large masses of native copper have been found in some of the larger rivers." A long description of the ancient mounds found in the State is very interesting, but it is quite evident that those in Ingham county had not been discovered at that time. The supplement gives the names of the townships organized at the Legislative session of 1837-38, and among them are Alaiedon, Onondaga, Vevay and Leslie, though Leslie is in the list as belonging to Jackson county. There were 15 chartered banks in the State in 1838, and 40 banking associations not chartered.

128 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Henry R. Schoolcraft was superintendent of the Indian Department, and he listed 22 Indian trading posts and villages. The State officers and the salaries they received were as follows: Governor-His Excellency, Stevens T. Mason.......... Lieutenant Governor-Honorable Edward Mundy...... Chief Justice Supreme Court-Hon. Wm. A. Fletcher... Associate Judges: Hon. George Morell............................. Hon. E. Ransom................................ Chancellor-HIon. E. Farnsworth...................... Supt. Public Instruction-John D. Pierce, Esq......... Secretary of State-Randolph Manning, Esq........... Treasurer-Henry Howard, Esq...................... Attorney General-Peter Morey...................... Auditor General-Robert Abbott, Esq................. Bank Commissioners: Thomas Fitzgerald, Esq.......................... Alpheus Felch, Esq.............................. Kintzing Pritchette, Esq......................... Private Secretary to Governor-Calvin C. Jackson, Esq. Adjutant General-Col. John E. Swartz............... Quartermaster General-Col. Sheldon McKnight....... Acting Commissioner State Penitentiary-Benjamin Porter, Jr., compensation $2.50 per day. $92,000 1,600 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,000 800 500 1,000 1,250 1,250 1,250 500 125 125 Commissioners Internal Improvement: Lansing B. Mizner, of Wayne. Levi S. Humphrey, of Monroe. James B. Hunt, of Oakland. William A. Burt, of Macomb. Edwin H. Lothrop, of Kalamazoo. Hiram Alden, of Branch. Rix Robinson, of Kent. Douglas Houghton, M. D., Geologist, in charge of Geological and Mineralogical Departments and General Superintendent of Survey.

INGHAM COUNTY HISTORY 129 The last department in the book is a Travellers' and Emigrants' Directory, giving the names of all places on the various routes from various ocean ports to Michigan, and distances between. Taken all together the book is a remarkable volume, filled from cover to cover with useful information which was much needed at that time. September 9, 1847. At a county convention of delegates from the several townships held at the court house in the village of Mason, Roswell Everett, Esq., was called to the chair, and Peter Lowe appointed secretary. Peter Linderman, of Vevay, and John Long, of Lansing, were appointed delegates to the State convention. John W. Longyear, Esq., of Vevay, and 0. B. Williams, of Phelpstown, were appointed delegates to the senatorial convention. The following persons were appointed as standing corresponding committee in the several townships: Lansing-James Turner, T. S. Holmes. Delhi-Alonzo Douglas, Roswell Everett. Aurelius-Jas. S. Covert, J. E. Hunt. Onondaga-Joseph Gale, Perry Howland. Leslie-0. S. Russell, Alba Blake. Vevay-Petcr Lowe, Hiram Converse. Alaiedon-William H. Child, Eli Smith. Meridian-Sanford Marsh, Thomas Humphrey. Phelpstown-Horace Williams, Mr. Leizure. Wheatfield-E. E. Cochran, Joseph Whitcomb. Ingham-C. M. Howard, Samuel Crossman. Bunkerhill-Henry Wood, C. P. Eaton. Stockbridge-G. Morgan, P. P. Fox. White Oak-L. Wilson, Jas. Reeves. Leroy-Ephraim Meech, Henry Lee. Locke-Daniel Phelps, Mr. Avery.

130 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY The following were appointed a county corresponding committee: P. Linderman, J. W. Longyear, P. Lowe, H. Converse, Geo. Matthews. A true copy. P. LOWE, Secretary. The above is the account of a convention held in Mason at the time the Whig party was organized in Ingham county, as found in the "Ingham County News." A census report of 1850, furnished by Stella Bennett, of Lansing, provides a connecting link between the Michigan Gazetteer of 1838 and the one of 1863, the former furnished by Alonzo Cheney, of Eaton Rapids, and the latter by J. C. Squiers, of Mason. The townships all bore the same name in 1850 that they do today, except Williamston, which was still called "Phelpstown." The number of dwelling houses in the county was 1,597 The number of families........................ 1,603 The number of inhabitants..................... 8,643 Lansing, showing 1,229, and Onondaga, next in size, had 819. The township having the least families was Leroy, with 41, while Lansing, with the greatest number, only had 241. The total value of real estate owned in the county. $1,258,780 The number of occupied farms.................. 1,084 Maple sugar ran higher than any other manufactured product, there being reported 166,004 pounds, and over 30,000 pounds of this came from Vevay, where were the largest sugar bushes in the State of Michigan. At that time there were but eight flouring mills in the county, and 24 saw mills. From the first there were 5,260 barrels of flour produced annually, and from the latter 3,610,000 feet of lumber. There were 95,270 bushels of corn raised in the year ending June 1, 1850, the largest amount of any grain. That butter making was quite a paying industry was shown by the fact that 144,080 pounds were made that year; there was also 13,243 pounds of cheese made.

INGIIAM COUNTY HISTORY 131 TIHE HOGSBACK. F. L. A., MASON. Extending across the State of Michigan is an "Esker," commonly known as "the hogsback," that has always been of great interest to the scientific world. Geologists differ widely in their theories concerning its formation, but all agree on one point, at least, and that is that this "Esker" has been in existence since the time of the glacial period and the ice receded from the section of the northern continent, now known as Michigan. It crosses the State diagonally, from the southeast to the northwest, and though it disappears at intervals, it is easily traced for the entire distance. It varies in height from 60 to 150 feet, sometimes rising abruptly and again having long sloping sides, making the width at the base anywhere from 200 to 400 feet, and perhaps more in places. Its apex in some places is only a few inches wide, while in others there is a flat surface of some extent. When the first white men came to Ingham county they found a trail extending along the top of the "hogsback" which showed evidence of long usage. The path was worn deep in the soil, and where the "esker" has been undisturbed one can find traces of it still. The top, and in places the sides, of the "hogsback" were originally covered with trees, some of them of prodigious size, and the whole formed one of the most striking landmarks in southern Michigan. When the "redmen" trod the summit of this ridge roads were unknown, and had they given any though to the material concealed in this glacial deposit, it would have meant nothing to them; it would not have entered their minds that it meant wealth for future owners, besides good railroads and high ways for the public, but could they today return to this "happy hunting ground" and see the destruction wrought in this landmark of theirs, they would realize the force of the white man's brain and brawn. The early settlers were ignorant of the valuable material hidden in this glacial ridge, and for over thirty years after the first

132 P1IONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY settlements were made in the county these pioneers expended much time, energy, and considerable money in building corduroy causeways and plank roads, while all the time there was worlds of firstclass road making material lying right at their very doors. Not until 1866 and a railroad had been built through this section did the people realize how liberally Dame Nature had provided for their needs, and even then they were slow about utilizing her gift. In 1878 when L. F. Robb bought his farm about two miles south of Mason he found that the Michigan Central Railroad had leased three acres of land where it procured gravel with which to ballast the roadbed, and had put in a side track for the accommodation of the company. In 1882 Mr. Robb opened a gravel bed on his farm and operated it for about three years. In 1886 Peter Malcolm, a sturdy Scotchman from Bay City, who was interested in railroad construction, bought thirteen acres of gravel land of Mr. Robb, and continued to add to this until "Kilwining," as he named his possession, contained seventy acres of as good gravel land as could be found in Michigan. These grounds were on the east side of Sycamore Sreek, and about one mile in length. After taking off the soil for some distance on the west side, the workmen made their excavation for gravel, lengthwise, through the center of the ridge. The magnitude of the work is best realized when one stands in the highway at the south city limits and gazes many feet down into the great hole which extends to the highway, with railway tracks, cars and a huge steam shovel at the bottom of it. This gravel pit is now a thing of the past, but for over thirty years the output was enormous. There are many miles of railroad in the northern part of the State that are ballasted entirely with Kilwining gravel, besides miles of highway in the same section built of material from that gravel pit. When Mr. Malcom first bought his land on section 16, Vevay township, he ran a stone crusher, and farmers in this vicinity found there a good market for the stones on their land, which after being crushed were shipped out the same as the gravel was later. A portion of the "hogsback" just north of the Kilwining bed had been procured by the company, and as soon as work ceased in the old pit the working paraphernalia was moved there and operations begun. This wonderul formation, which at this

INGHIAM COUNTY EHISTORY 133 place formed the one beauty spot in Vevay township, is a scene of desolation with its beauty all obliterated. For years "Old Baldy" was a favorite resort for school children, and many "beefsteak feeds" and "weiner roasts" were noted by them as historic events. Several years ago Hugh Campbell, of Bay City, purchased a tract of land north of the city containing a half mile strip of the "hogsback" and opened up a gravel bed there with Mr. Harbeck, of Armada, as superintendent. This bed was excavated by hand, with a crane for hoisting the gravel to the cars. The digging was all done lengthwise through the center of the ridge, and the output has been about the same accordingly as that from the Kilwining bed. When the supply in this bed was exhausted, Mr. Campbell extended operation by purchasing several hundred acres adjoining it, and is still operating there, now using a steam shovel instead of picks and barrows. In 1914 the output for the two beds for the summer was 1,291 car loads, averaging 70,000 pounds to the car. Men who make a business of well digging claim that the material of which the "hogsback" is composed is not the same on the east and west sides of Sycamore Creek. When digging wells they say they seldom have any difficulty on the west side of the creek, where they find more sand than gravel, but on the east side they are nearly always obliged to "shore up" their wells to avoid cave-ins. Mr. Ilarbeck, the north gravel pit superintendent, explains this in a different way, and says: "In my judgment the creek has nothing whatever to do with this, but it is all owing to the glacial action. I have found that where the 'hogsback' runs east and west it is always the south side where the best gravel is found, and where it runs north and south, the digging is always more successful on the west side." In 1913 Mr. Harbeck made the statement that the gravel along the M. C. R. R. in Ingham county was good for an eighteen or twenty year supply at the rate of export at that time. There is only one point in the county where a stream breaks through the "hogsback," and that is in Mason where Sycamore Creek made a natural gap in the ridge, and early settlers can remember when sharp bluffs on each side came down to the banks of the stream.

134 PIONEER IIISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY When the matter of good roads first came up in Ingham county the State highway commissioner was present at the meeting of the board of supervisors and urged the need of good roads being built before the county's supply of material was exhausted. He told of his surprise when after examining a piece of model road in the far north he was told that the gravel from which it was built came from the gravel beds of Ingham county. Conservation of Michigan resources is one of the important topics of the day, and it behooves Ingham county to look a "leedle out," and conserve her gravel supply to meet the demands "good roads" are making. Even a casual obersver can see that at the present rate of export it will not be many years before the county will find itself in the same predicament as "Old Mother Hubbard" with her "cupboard bare." An ounce of conservation now will be worth many pounds of hustling when the need of gravel becomes imperative. Gravel mining has been one of the industries of this section since 1866, and in the path of the miners are found fossils of interest to the scientific world. Often they find fossilized stumps and roots of trees, sometimes many feet below the surface. From one side they will look as though the entire stump or root was there but in reality it will be a thin scale of stone, the rest having become mixed with gravel, and what is left soon disintegrates when exposed to the air. In times past this "hogsback" was a perfect treasure house of Indian relics, and an occasional arrow head or stone ornament is still found there. One of the most interesting stories of this "hogsback" is the fact that every year, before the advent of the white man, the Indians of the state came to the part of the ridge lying in Ingham county to hold their council meetings. Okemos, a famous chief of the Ottawas, and the hero of many wars, was prominent in these councils, and was noted for his wisdom and sagacity. He was said to be over 100 years old when he died, and some of the older inhabitants of the county remember him in his last days. Some years ago a human skull was unearthed in the "hogsback," and there was much speculation over the object, until study and research proved that without doubt it belonged to some Indian who had been buried there. It is now preserved in the high school museum at Mason.

INGHAM COUNTY HISTORY 135 Among the treasures that were concealed in this huge gravel deposit and discovered by different people are handsome agates, a few garnets encrusted in rotten stone, and an occasional geode. One of the most picturesque bits of scenery found in Ingham county is where the road traverses the "hogsback" between Mason and Holt. From the time the road was first built until quite recently the track of the highway followed the trail made by the Indians for about a mile on the highest point of the ridge. On one side one could look off several miles and see well cultivated farms, and the landscape dotted with well built and well kept farm buildings, where at an early day was the unbroken forest. At the other side of the road one looked almost straight down for many feet through heavy timber to the low land at the bottom. The road was one difficult for teams to draw heavy loads over, but to lovers of nature this seemed of little account, and as the road commissioners were thinking of speed and not beauty they decided this grade must be lowered, and now one sees but little of the old beauty as he follows the road on a lower grade along the side of the "hogsback" instead of over the top. There are gravel beds near Lansing in the "hogsback" of which, doubtless, an interesting story could be told. INGITAM COUNTY'S ONE LYNCHING. D. B. HARRINGTON. Each year as the ~3rd of August draws near one hears the story of Mason's lynching episode revived, and no two people seem to remember it alike. This hanging of a negro boy named John Taylor, on August 23rd, 1866, has ever been a dark spot on Mason's escutcheon, but those who claim to know the actual details say that but two or three wild, reckless boys, who claimed Mason as their home, had a part in the transaction. D. B. tHarrington, now living in Delevan, Wisconsin, was at that time publishing a paper in Mason, and in 1911 he sent the following letter to his former paper:

136 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY "The affair will be remembered by the older citizens, and the account shows to the younger generation how unjust a lynching must be in the heat of excitement. "On the 23rd of August, 1866, occurred the death of a negro boy at the hands of a mob, on account of which the good name of Mason has suffered unjustly all these years, for although the tragedy occurred in the county seat village, it was organized and conducted entirely by persons from adjoining counties and towns, but two or three of Mason's citizens participating in that midnight murder, and I would not reopen the memory of that tragedy but for the vindication of the city and its good citizens who have borne the odium of that bloody deed so long. "As editor of the Ingham County News at that time, I took unusual pains to obtain and publish the facts, which were substantially as follows: "A negro boy, named John Taylor, a slave in Kentucky, became a camp follower of a Michigan regiment, and was brought to Lansing when the company returned from the war. Being homeless and needy, he sought work, and finally hired out to Daniel Buck, a Delhi farmer, where he remained several weeks. He was exceedingly anxious to attend school during the coming winter, and had arranged with a colored family near Owosso to board with them when the district school commenced. lie was destitute of clothing save the tattered garment he wore from the South, and he asked his employer for some money to purchase a suit. Mr. Buck refused to pay him so the boy left. He quartered for a few days with some colored families in Lansing until forced by them to hunt for another job. I-e visited Buck two or three times in the hope of receiving his wages, but without success. Finally, half starved, penniless and nearly naked, he resolved on an earnest effort to get his dues. About ten o'clock at night he went to the Buck place. Fearing that Mr. Buck might attempt to put some of his former threats into execution, as he passed the woodpile he picked up the axe with which to defend himself in case of attack. IIe entered the house, which was dark, and proceeded to the bed of Mr. Buck. To his surprise the bed was empty, although it was warm. Then it occurred to him that this was some trap laid to get him into trouble and he at once started for the front door, being well acquainted with the arrangement of

INGIIAM COUNTY HIISTORY 137 the house. He groped in darkness for the door, and because of Buck's absence which bewildered him he missed his way and as he wandered he aroused Buck's eleven year old daughter, who was sleeping on a lounge near the door. The girl began to scream, and as she jumped from the lounge her head came in contact with the axe, making a slight wound. Her screams brought her mother to the scene, and she pounced upon the negro, who then began using the axe to defend himself, hitting Mrs. Buck a slight blow with the side of the weapon. At this point Mrs. Fisher, Mrs. Buck's mother, came into the room bringing a light. She joined in the fray, and also recived a side blow from the axe. By this time the negro was able to get out of the house and fled. "The reason given for Mr. Buck's absence was that a slight rain had come up and he had left his bed to go to the fields to cover a partially erected oat stack. He was called in by the frightened women and the news soon communicated to the neighbors. Soon a posse was organized to pursue the fleeing boy. He was captured in two or three hours near Bath and brought back and lodged in the Mason jail, in charge of Sheriff Moody. "The community in the vicinity of the Buck home was greatly excited, people congregating at various places threatening vengeance. The most hair-raising and exaggerated reports were told and retold, until the belief became general that the entire family had been murdered. That was the exact report that reached Mason the next morning. Supposing the reports to be true we felt warranted in going to the scene to obtain the facts, which, in company with Dr. Wing, we did. "On arriving at the place, and after questioning the inmates, we found the above to be the facts. Not a drop of blood was shed from those reported butchered except from the little girl, and so far as we could see no one was seriously injured. Mrs. Buck and her mother were both suffering from nervous excitement, which lasted a day or two. "During the day intimations of trouble cropped out. Threats of vengeance and the stealthy appearance of strangers in town aroused apprehensions. After consulting with leading citizens, a commitee was sent to the sheriff asking him to take the culprit to Jackson, or some other jail, so as to prevent any lynching in Mason, as was feared. To this the sheriff agreed, but at the same

138 PIONI'EER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY time assured the committee that there was no danger, as he had an efficient force of deputies, well armed, sufficient to protect the jail. On this assurance the citizens went to their beds satisfied. "At about eleven o'clock that night several wagon loads of men drove into town. The men alighted and marched in a procession to the jail. There were nearly 100 men, and some of them carried guns. A man named Norton, from Lansing, was their captain and leader. The mob was met at the jail steps by the sheriff and two deputies, who inquired their business. The mob then demanded the negro, Taylor. The sheriff replied that they could not have him, that he was safely locked in the second cell, and he had the keys in his pocket. With drawn revolvers the officers ordered the men to leave. As if by a previous understanding that the men were harmless, the mob boldly approached the sheriff, throwing him down and taking the cell keys from his pocket. "With a sledge they then broke down the outer door, unlocked the cell, rushed in and seized the negro and dragged him out. A rope was placed around his neck and he was dragged to a beech tree near the railroad freight house, and the rope thrown over a limb. A man named Cook, from Eaton Rapids, then told the victim to pray, for he had but a few minutes to live. The frightened negro did pray, and prayed so fervently that Capt. Norton became so affected that he refused to have anything further to do with the proceedings. Cook then assumed command and made a blasphemous prayer, calling upon God to "damn the nigger's damned soul and send it down to the hottest corner of hell, etc.' He then gave the command and the terrified creature was drawn up, when the inhuman Cook and two or three others fired shots into the struggling body. After carousing around for a half hour under the tree the lifeless body was taken down and dragged down the Lansing road for three and one-half miles, until near the James Harper farm, where they dug a shallow pit and after cutting off the head and otherwise mutilating the body they threw the remains in and partly covered it with earth. The mob then separated, a young doctor from Lansing taking the head as a trophy of the night's work. "And thus ended the scene for which Mason got the blame, notwithstanding but two or three Mason men were connected with

INGIIAM COUNTY H-ISTORY 139 the outrage, and they have long since gone to their reward. It was unfortunate for the city, for its prosperity seemed to have received a check from that day. Our ears have tingled with shame more than once while riding on the train to have the tree pointed out to those on the cars with the remark, 'That is the tree on which Mason folks hang niggers.' "It is hoped that Mason has lived down the odium she so unjustly suffered on account of that tragedy which occurred at her door. "D. B. HARRINGTON." James Thorburn, Sr., now night watchman in this city (1920), tells how he and another boy about his age were standing near where the IHarper school house is between ten and eleven o'clock on the night of August 23, and saw wagon load after wagon load of men go by from the north, and although they suspected their destination and errand, they were not positive until the following morning. Mr. Thorburn tells how Mr. Harper found the partially buried body of the colored boy in the hole by the roadside near his home, when he went out the morning following the execution of the boy by the mob, and called some of his neighbors together for a conference. It was decided not to leave the grave so near the highway, and Mr. Harper gave permission for the second burial to be made in some wild land which he owned, onefourth of a mile southwest of Harper Crossing. "William and James Somerville, James amd Asher Harper, James Thorburn, who furnished this story, and his father, all helped in this, and when they took up the body found only a headless torso, as a doctor from either Holt or Lansing had secured the head. A few weeks later William Maxwell came from the East and bought a portion of the land owned by James Harper, and erected a house, on which Henry M. Brown, now a deputy sheriff living in Lansing, did the carpenter work. "Mrs. Maxwell did not learn of the grave only about sixty feet from the new house until the building was nearly completed, and she refused to move there until the body had been exhumed and taken away. James Thorburn and Henry Brown one night took the remains away and buried them in the woods one-half mile from there. It is told that the doctor who had the head was the

140 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY ghoul who obtained possession of the rest of the bones and set up a perfect skeleton. "If the boy was guilty of murderous intent he paid the full penalty for his assault in a manner that was no credit to Ingham county, and that made Mason a term of reproach for years, though but few of her citizens were connected in any way with the outrage. "A man who moved into Mason the day after the event occurred says he found the entire population in a state of frenzy, not only on account of the lynching, but from the fact that every one still believed that the entire Buck family had been murdered in cold blood. All of the family lived to a good old age, and only the girl, who became Mrs. Nichols, could show any mark of the assault made by the negro that night, and she carried a small scar on her temple for the rest of her life. Only three of those who assisted in the later obsequies of the boy are now living: James Thorburn, who assisted at two interments, James Somerville and Henry M. Brown. "The tree where the hanging occurred was a repulsive landmark for years, and everybody was glad when this memento of the foulest deed ever perpetrated in Ingham county was destroyed. "There are those who believe this young colored boy received a just punishment and think the assault he made was premeditated with murderous intent, and they tell the story in a far different way from these who have been cited. "The story is now being told to the third generation, and has been handled in many different forms, but the following which a Mason high school boy wrote for an exercise in American literature is the most unique of all: "One night last spring three of us fellows drove to Lansing to see an opera. We supposed the show would last until after the last car left for Mason but were determined to see the whole performance, so we drove. "We saw the opera and were starting for home when we saw a car that had been delayed just heading out for Mason, and my two companions deserted me and boarded the car, as the ride would be a warmer one in that way, so I drove on alone. "Ordinarily it would have been a mere pleasure drive, but the night was dark and the sky starless. I felt a strange nameless fear creeping over me. Try as I might I could not shake it off.

INGHAIM COUNTY HISTORY 141 I came to where the road branches, one branch going over the hogsback and the other around it. On our way over with three in the buggy we had taken the lower road, even though it took considerable longer to go that way, but now I chose the upper and shorter way. "The horse crept at a snail's pace up the first rise and down into a little hollow, past the one house on this lonely section of the road, then up again into a track barely wide enough for the buggy, the hubs scraping the bushes on either side. This, and the soft swish of the wheels in deep sand, were the only sounds to be heard. I might have been in the upper wilds of the Yukon for all of any hints of civilization that presented itself. All this time that feeling of impending danger kept growing. "I sat straight in the buggy, clinching the lines in one hand and the whip in the other, then to cap all previous nervousness my thoughts ran onto the story of the negro who was lynched in town fifty years before. "I had heard it in detail recently from one who had a hand in the transaction, and every scene was stamped indelibly on my mind. I saw him swinging on a large tree at my right, then came men who cut his body down and dragged it away. I could distinctly hear their footsteps among the bushes, and my blood froze within me. Now I was exactly where they first buried him. They were forced to exhume the body and take it farther in the woods, as the children were afraid to go by that grave by the roadside as they went to school. "When they exhumed the body the head and one hand were missing, and I remembered with a shudder that all the old inhabitants believed that on the anniversary of the deed, one hour after midnight, the headless body, accompanied by the head and hand, appeared and traversed three times the course which the men took when they carried his body from its first to its las resting place. "Just as this was running through my mind my horse stopped, snorted, then jumped sidewise with a celerity I had never credited him with. "I looked in the direction of the disturbance and my tongue clove to the roof of my mouth from sheer fright. I lost all power of speech, and even the control of my muscles; the lines dropped

142 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY loosely on the horse's back, for there on the ground by the elders was a hideous black face staring up at me, and on a level with my eyes was a black hand waving slowly up and down. "I gave one unearthly shriek, the horse jumped ahead-and then oblivion. I came to my senses just as the horse stopped in front of the barn at home. He was breathing hard and covered with foam. "The next morning I was up betimes and determined to find out what had unnerved me so, and took the first car north. Getting off at the crossing nearest the place where I had my fright, I ran up the hill where were my tracks of the night before, no one having passed there since I did, and I could plainly see where the tragic scene occurred. There on the side of the road where the negro had leered up at me, the farmers had dumped their rubbish, and what had seemed to be a face the night before was only an old tin steamer, I believe it is called, rusted to a reddish black, lying upside down in a patch of snow. Only three of the six holes in it were visible, owing to a length of gas pipe lying across the others, and this formed the mouth to the face. Two holes made the eyes and one the nose, and the snow background made it very vivid in the dark. "Beside this grew an elder, and some farmer had thrown an old canvas glove, blackened with coal dust and age, and it had caught in the elder, and this swaying in the breeze was the black hand I had seen the night before." EARLY NEWSPAPERS. Angus Barnes, of Alaiedon township, has in his possession two of the first papers published in Ingham county, of which the following is a detailed description: The Ingham Herald was of the date of January 9, 1845. The Herald was the official Whig organ of that day and was published by Child & Stillman. Later Stillman left the firm and edited the Ingham Democrat. The Herald, according to some of the old residents of Mason, met its fate at the hands of irate citizens, who were angry because it was published only when remunerative legal

INGIAM COUNTY HISTORY 143 printing was to be had., During one of its temporary suspensions the plant was wrecked by citizens, and the type and machinery dumped in an old "sink hole" near the southeast corner of the present court yard. The copy of the Ingham Democrat, also owned by Mr. Barnes, was dated August 10, 1846. It was established a few months after the Herald. Both papers were yellow with age but in a fair state of preservation. Poetry and fiction held a prominent place on the first page of both. There were no display advs. and very little local news. Neither paper had any illustrations. Following is a synopsis of the two newspapers: INGHAM DEMOCRAT. Among the prominent business men in Mason in 1846, according to the August 10, 1846, issue of the Ingham Democrat, were Joseph Woodhouse, Notary Public; Edward Crafts, Indian Botanic, Physician and Surgeon; Silas Beebe, a dealer in Dry Goods, Groceries, Hardware, Boots and Shoes, and John W. Phelps and Minos McRoberts, who were physicians and surgeons. Huram Bristol was Justice of Peace for Vevay township at that time. The following item appeared in this issue: "The steamship Hibernia which left Liverpool on the 19th of July, arrived at Boston Wednesday. She brings the ratification of the Oregon treaty by the Brtish government. The new ministry seems stronger than the old. American provisions remain firm." On another page appears a three column article, the opening paragraph of which follows: "Below we give the messages of the President, and the Oregon treaty, as it was finally signed by the representatives of the two governments. It will be seen that Mr. Polk did not compromise his own views but placed the responsibility on the Senate, his constitutional advisors." The Democrat run the following advertisement: "Wanted, wheat on subscriptions, at this office. A high price will be allowed. A good price will also be paid for corn, oats and all other kinds of farm produce." There seemed to be considerable ill-feeling between the Ingham Democrat and the Inglham Herald, Whig organ, according to the editorial columns of the papers. The Herald strongly accuses

144 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY the Herald of falsehoods, claiming that the Democratic Associations which were formed in this county were not secret as was claimed by the rival paper. Two of the editorials taken from the Democrat are: "By what right or authority did the board of supervisors give the Ingham Democrat ten dollars for publishing the annual report of the supervisors?" —Ingham Herald. "By the right vested in all representatives of the people, to reduce the public expense. In 1845 a Whig board gave a Whig press 25 dollars for publishing the annual report. In 1846 a democratic board gave the democratic press 20 dollars for the same work, thus saving five dollars of the people's money. If the Herald wishes a still lower price paid, we only ask it to put its professions into practice and instruct the present Whig board to get their printing done at the lowest possible rates." "The Herald had some commendable remarks upon "party spirit." We only wonder that the Whig organ, whose whole business is the utterance of the promptings of a bitter spirit of partisanship-who is continually pampering, fostering and exciting party prejudices and passions-should declaim in such a manner. It is clearly sheer hypocrisy. When we consider the lengths to which the partisanship of the editor of the Herald has carried him, we cannot otherwise explain it." Upon the back page of the paper is printed the Ingham County tax sale, also some probate notices. Amos E. Steele was Judge of Probate. INGHAM HERALD. Child & Stillman were the publishers of the Ingham Herald, charging $1.50 a year for the paper in advance; otherwise two dollars. In the January 9, 1845, issue the names of the county officers were given as follows: Ephraim B. Dansworth, Mason, John R. Bowdish, Stockbridge, Associate Judges; Daniel L. Case, Mason, Prosecuting Attorney; Henry Fiske, Leslie, Probate Judge; Joseph Hunt, Stockbridge, Sheriff; Chauncey A. Osborn, Vevay. Under Sheriff; George Matthews, Meridian, Treasurer; John Coatsworth, Mason, County Clerk; William H. Horton, Mason, Register of Deeds; Anson Jackson, Mason, County Surveyor; Coroners, James Reeves, White Oak, and Henry H.

INGIIAM COUNTY HISTORY 145 North, Delhi. The superintendents of the poor were Peter Linderman, Vevay, George Matthews, Meridian, and Marcus Beers, Ingham. The Board of Supervisors consisted of David Rogers, Stockbridge; Henry Wood, Bunkerhill, Lester Miner, Jos. Gale, Onondaga, John Clements, White Oak, Sam Skaden, Ingham, Hiram Parker, Vevay, Z. Barnes, Aurelius, Ephraim Meech, Leroy, Wm. Thompkins, Wheatfield, D. W. Morse, Alaiedon, R. P. Everets, Delhi, David Phelps, Locke, J. W. Williams, Phelpstown, George Matthews, Meridian, Joseph E. North, Jr., Lansing. In this issue the following adv. appeared: SPORTSMENATTEND. On Saturday the 25th Inst., will be put to be shot for at Mason, Michigan, forty acres of good wild land of the following description: the n w 1 of the n e M of sec. 14, T 3 N, of R 1 W. Terms and rules made known on day of match. A good title will be given." This is the land now owned by Frank E. Thomas of Alaiedon township. Jems Roberts made the announcement of the opening of a tailoring shop over the James Turner store on Main street. J. W. Longyear, being aware of the disadvantages of the times, opened a Select School in this city. His terms for common English branches for a course of eleven weeks were $3.00; for higher English, including mathematics, $4.00; French and Latin languages, $4.50. A part of the advertisement follows: "No pains will be spared in rendering this school worthy the patronage of the enlightened community. It is highly important that students should begin at the commencement as the classes are then formed for the quarter. Board can be obtained in the vicinity at from $1.25 to $1.50." In another part of the paper is an article on "Errors in the treatment of horses" and another on the method of curing obstinate horses. The following was a notice taken from the local column: "We have been informed by those who have the facilities for knowing and are requested to state, that from circumstances which have developed since William L. Hubbard left the village, he is proved entirely innocent of the charges preferred against him here about the first of November last. We are highly gratified at being able to lay this information before the public."

146 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAMI COUNTY Another local, "Mr. McDuffie and Col. Benton have each a bill before Congress for the annexation of Texas. It reviews the relations of the United States, and the history of the late proceedings of the different governments in regard to annexation, breathing through the whole a warlike spirit."-Ingham County News. PIONEER NEWSPAPERS OF INGHAM COUNTY. Written for the Ingham County News by D. B. Harrington, in 1874. On the first day of June, 1859, the writer arrived in the village of Mason, with his entire worldly possessions loaded in a farmer's wagon, for the purpose of establishing a newspaper in that, then, decidedly rural village. The aforesaid "effects" consisted of the debris of what was once known as "The Public Sentiment" printing office, a small newspaper that was published by B. F. Burnett, at Grass Lake, and especially devoted to redressing alleged grievances occasioned by the "Great Conspiracy" between the Michigan Central Railroad and certain citizens of Jackson and Washtenaw counties. The "Sentiment" was particularly severe on the railroad company, each issue being filled with personal attacks aimed at the general managers of the road, written in a bold and fearless manner by the unscrupulous editor. I saw an article recently in the Detroit Post, written by J. C. Holmes, Esq., giving a brief history of the pioneer newspapers of Michigan. In that article the writer claims that the first paper printed in Michigan was "The Michigan Essay," established at Detroit in 1809. I believe his statement is correct. The type upon which the "Essay" was printed after passing from one owner to another, was finally purchased by the aforesaid B. F. Burnett, and used to print his "Public Sentiment," and it was with what remained of that battered, much worn and much abused old French type, that the first number of the Ingham County News was printed; so if a history of this paper has no other merit, it may justly claim the advantages of antiquity in its "dress," being printed from the first types that were ever brought into Michigan.

INGIIAM COUNTY IISTORY 147 There are some persons so addicted to "moving" that the only signs of ambition they ever show is when there is the prospect of a migration in view. The story of the man who moved so often that whenever a covered wagon drove into his barnyard his hens would throw themselves on their backs and hold their legs up to be tied is a fair illustration of that peculiar character. But for us to choose between a "move" and a burn-out there is but little difference, especially if well insured. In 1859 there were no railroads reaching into Ingham county, and consequently the process of transportation had to be in the old-fashioned pioneer method by wagon, overland. The journey from Grass Lake to Mason, a distance of 35 miles, was an almost continuous dense woods, the roads for a long distance being new and very rough. The reader can judge of the demoralized condition of our "effects" as well as of our miind, at beholding upon arriving at Mason the entire outfit of type loose in the bottom of the wagon box. This was actually shoveled up into pails to convey from thence into the office in that elegant condition known among printers as "pi." Not being a professional swearist, we had to omit that ever-ready resort for persons whose souls are not possessed with patience; but had some professional profaner been present we are not certain but like the Quaker we should have accepted his price to swear for us, provided he could have done the subject justice. Alone among strangers, without money, about to commence an important enterprise with unskilled hands, and our main reliance for the success of the work in an almost worthless condition before our eyes, was a more severe test of our nerves than we had ever before experienced. The English language does not furnish adjectives of sufficient superlativeness to express our lugubriousness. The only consolation was the fact that the whole concern was covered by a chattel mortgage of $500, five times what it was all worth. Then we would have thanked the holder to foreclose at sight, and saved us the labor, mortification and sin of putting it in shape again. But there was no alternative, and at work we went with as much courage as we could command, and for ten mortal long, hot summer days, with the help of a lad, we sat at the editorial table sorting "pi." On the 23rd day of June the first number of the News was

148 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGItAM COUNTY issued, and we doubt if in all Christendom its like was ever seen before or since. We have a copy of that first number before us now, and one single glance over its columns produces a sensation similar to having your hair combed with a three-legged stool by a spunky wife. With only type enough to "set up" one page at a time (the balance having been sifted into the highway), and that of three or four different sizes, all of which had to be used on the same page, to which might be added a total ignorance of the art of newspaper making, no wonder that it was unanimously voted a monstrosity the moment it made its appearance. The editorial matter was in worse condition even than the mechanical work. When we came to write we learned where the real labor of making a newspaper was. After two or three hard days labor and the spoiling of many sheets of good paper, the following "editorial" was produced, which is copied as near like the original as can be done with modern type: "Having located in this village, for the purpose of establishing a newspaper, it is but just and proper that a few words of explanation be said. The first thoughts we had of settling here were suggested by two or three business men of the town. Flattered by the representations made by them, we concluded to visit Mason. The Citizens seemed all awake, and the prospect of a Newspaper being printed at their county-seat, seemed to coincide with their views. We concluded, at once, that if the business men would unite in the support of a paper we would try the experiment," etc., etc. The above is the first that we ever made to write for the press, but its production was the best lesson of our whole life. In that we beheld unmistakably our total ignorance of composition, and lack of literary ability. We learned, too, that if we should ever become even a passable scribbler, study and practice were necessary. The resolution to succeed was then and there formed, to which may be attributed the influence and prosperity of the News afterward. We have given the above specimen of editorial skill contained in the first number. This may look tolerably well to an eye unpracticed in the "art preservative" but come to dress it up in the mechanism of the original and it presents a very different appearance. The following is a sample of the mechanical skill displayed

INGHIAM COUNTY HISTORY 149 in setting up the type. Possibly one or two typographical errors may be discovered, the result of that remarkable overturning the types received in riding fron Grass Lake, and in the hurry and anxiety to get "to press," not being discovered until too late for correction: "Our List." "We have quite a good list for a newspaper consipering the circumstances under which we started but we need more and have no time to Canvass for them: will not our friends aid us in this enterprize. Let evry one circulate a coppy in his vicinity and give the "New " wide circulation." If any modern publisher could read No. 1, Vol. 1, of the Ingham County News without his teeth chattering, he deserves a drillmaster's commission in a regiment of spooks. The office was located in the second story of Kent and Eddy's building now owned by Mr. Flora, for which we contracted to pay fifty cents per week, but afterward varied the bargain by which Messrs. Kent and Eddy took our old exchanges in payment for rent. They run a fourth-class whiskey shop, and if we did not get "steamed up" occasionally it was not because there was any lack of steam below. Mason was then but an insignificant little burg, barely entitled to the name of village. The only important places of business were the stores of John Coatsworth, J. W. Phelps and Co., and John Dunsback. Where now stands the beautiful brick row opposite the Court House was then only a few old rotten wooden shanties, built in the cheapest manner possible. A little old "corner grocery" building occupied the corner where Pratt & Millspaugh's block now stands. There were but five other buildings north on Main street. Maple street was unknown. The residence and shop of J. L. & C. D. Huntington and the residence of Peter Linderman, were all the houses between Main street and the woods east. Main street running south extended only to the "Hog's Back" where it branched off into the woods in various directions. The forest came up to the very doorstep of the village on every side, and those fine farms now adjoining were then known as "the commons." There was at that time but one church building in the village,

150 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY though there were two church societies, viz: the Methodist and Baptist. The church was used alternate Sundays by these societies, but was burned a few years ago. We think the Presbyterians were not then organized. The pastors were Rev. N. Mount, of the Methodists, and Rev. 11. B. Fuller, a most excellent man, who preached for the Baptists for the remarkable salary of $90 per year, receiving that stipend in whatever eatables, drinkables or wearables his parishioners saw fit to bestow, and at whatever prices their magnanimous hearts chose to set upon the payments. But those were days when ministers were not frightened at sight of a plow handle, or any field labor, which was Rev. Fuller's method of getting a support for himself and family. During the many years of his pastorate in Mason no man ever saw a frown upon his face, or heard him utter a word of complaint because his salary was not large and promptly paid. Ile received cheerfully what friends saw fit to give, and preached the Word boldly and earnestly, without fear or favor of any one. If those who sat under his faithful ministrations were not better men and women, it is because they let the solemn warnings and earnest admonitions of Rev. Fuller go by unheeded. Rev. H. Kittridge soon afterward commenced his labors with the Presbyterian society, and his plain teaching and faithful labors, together with a stainless life, did much to improve the morals of the place. Speaking of the morality of the town reminds us of an incident which we witnessed that is a fair illustration of the reverence of one class of the citizens of Mason in 1859. One celebrated hunter and trapper, whose name the old settlers would remember should I give it, was not strictly orthodox, strictly speaking, in his religious views, regarding Sunday as good as any other day, if it gave him good weather for hunting, but manifesting no other reverence for it. During one Sunday afternoon while the minister was discoursing to his audience in a key audible to all within a dozen rods of the church, this hunter emerged from the woods with his gun at a "right shoulder shift," and a merry twinkle in his eye. A lounger in front of the tavern suggested that he should not go gunning on the Sabbath, but should attend the "meeting". Just then a small bird alighted on the spire of the church, and the hunter stepped in front of the building, took deliberate aim, shot

INGHIAIA COUNTY HIlSTORY 151 the bird, and as deliberately shouldered his gun and trudged off homeward. The school was kept in an old dilapidated rookery, standing down near the marsh, surrounded by stables and pigpens, where numerous hired pedagogues whaled the rising generations of Mason six months of the year, at a salary of from $16 to $25 per month, and "board 'round." Notwithstanding the unprecedented littleness of Mason, the News was not the first paper printed there. Long before the Republican party was organized a Whig paper, called the Ingham County Herald, was published there by D. W. C. Smith, late county clerk of Jackson county. Afterward the Ingham Democrat was published in Mason by a Mr. Danforth. We believe Dr. McRobert was also connected with the latter publication. These pioneer papers were supported principally by the income from publishing the "tax sales," which at that time yielded a handsome revenue. It was in Mason where the celebrated Wilber F. Storey, present proprietor of the Chicago Times, started in his editorial career, once publishing a Democratic paper there. Other celebrities have also plied the quill for the Mason press. Hon. Morton S. Wilkinson, one of the United States Senators from Minnesota, was at one time a resident of Aurelius or Onondaga, and wrote stirring political articles for the Mason papers. Wm. H. Clark, Esq., your marble man, was once a devil in a Mason printing office. from which he went out to print a paper of his own. So you see Mason had furnished its full share of newspaper celebrities. Nor has the village been without its newspaper sensations, for we can distinctly remember hearing "old settlers" relate the circumstance of one of Mason's printing offices being mobbed by a band of indignant citizens, who entered the office in the night and destroyed the type and presses. During the war a like attempt was made at three different times to destroy the News office, and lately we learn that some miscreant attempted to destroy the office by setting it on fire, while to crown all else, we learn that the present editor has got a $10,000 libel suit on his hands. (This was Kendall Kittridge, but the case was quashed.) The year of 1859 was emphatically a year of hard times. Money was never so scarce before. The principal articles of export, upon which the

152 PIONEER IHISTORY OF ING1lAM COUNTY settlers depended for supplies, were maple sugar and black salts. That spring the maple sugar crop was an entire failure, so the settlers had to devote more time than usual to raising a crop of grain for the coming year, but killing frosts in June and July entirely destroyed the wheat, corn and potatoes. Under those distressing circumstances, the only resort for those owning land was to mortgage their farms, frequently paying as high as 25 per cent interest, for means to live until the next regular maple sugar season should afford them relief, while those who could sold out and left the country. Think of starting a newspaper in a village with only seventy voters, under such circumstances. We distinctly remember the first money that was paid into the office. It was about three weeks after the first paper had been issued, when Dr. McRobert came into the office and paid for three months subscription, leaving us a Spanish silver quarter. Small and insignificant as the sum was, we never had money come more timely, for important letters had lain on our desk for a long time because we had not the money for postage. The News was started as a neutral paper, and the price $1 per year. This was advised by the men who first encouraged the enterprise, and was published as such until 1860, when on account of the withdrawal by the Democrats of all patronage, we felt it our duty to enter the political field and labor for the success of the party of our choice. This step at once separated us from the Democrats, and speedily brought down their united strength against us. They fought us just as hard as they fought the Union during the rebellion, and with about the same success. Their object was to drive us out of town, while we stubbornly refused to go. They sought to destroy the office, but finding that we were prepared to defend our property, they next resorted to personal attacks that resulted in frequent-well,we will leave it to our Democratic friends to tell how it used to turn out. It never cost much for liniment to cure our bruised body after one of these "shindies." If we are not mistaken, they don't believe it at all profitable to "lick" a Republican editor. Several amusing incidents occurred as the result of the political change of the paper, one of which we will relate: One individual called upon an attorney for advice as he proposed to sue the editor of the News for damages, claiming that he subscribed for a

INGIIAM 'COUNTY HISTORY 153 neutral paper, and as it had turned out to be a black Republican sheet, we had broken the contract. He said the paper had never been worth a copper, but he would not stand for being swindled that way. His subscription would not expire for three weeks yet, and he proposed to sue for the three remaining neutral papers. After stating his case with great unction as the attorney quietly listened, that dignitary leaned back in his chair and asked the irate gentleman, "If the paper during the last six months has not been worth a copper, how are you going to figure the worth of the three papers you say are still your due?" Something outside just then called the complainant's attention, and he vanished and no more was heard about the matter. The cream of the joke, however, was the fact that he had never paid a penny for the paper and was in debt to us for nearly six months subscription, which he later paid in good Democratic coin, and was for years thereafter a good paying subscriber. Another individual, who had requested that his name be put on our subscription book, after a year had expired, was presented with a bill for one dollar, and asked to pay. IIe was greatly shocked that we should presume to ask him to pay, declaring soberly that he never expected to pay, and when asked why he put his name on the list, replied in all the candor of his soul, that he subscribed "to help the paper along!" His idea of supporting a paper was not altogether new, nor does he stand alone. A good natured Dutchman of the village had, for some cause, conceived a great antipathy toward Mr. John Dunsback. His hatred was so intense that even the advertisement of Mr. Dunsback's store in the paper was offensive to him, and he finally called into the office and requested that his paper be stopped unless the objectionable advertisement was cut out. We did not like to lose so good a subscriber as this man was, so we finally agreed to cut the advertisement out, which we did for nearly two years. We never charged Mr. Dunsback for the extra advertising this gave him, but believe he reaped a larger profit from this little circumstance than from all his other advertising. After hoisting the Republican flag subscriptions and patronage began to increase, and the edition rapidly ran up to 500 copies. Leading members of the party contributed to its columns, and we

154 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY venture the assertion that the News never did a better campaign work than it did for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. During the progress of the rebellion the News was an earnest advocate of the Union cause. We believed in the government and warmly supported every effort to whip the rebels. At that time we had but two mails a week, and not infrequently the news was a week old before we could obtain it from the papers. The whole community was in a state of anxiety and thronged our office to get any bit of information that might be in our possession. This state of affairs suggested a little enterprise on our part. Accordingly we established a private "pony express" on our own hook between Mason and Jackson. A lad was in readiness every other day on the arrival of the mail train in Jackson, and obtaining a single daily paper as soon as possible mounted a horse and came with it to Mason. As soon as he arrived the important war news was cut out, and all hands would work on it till nearly morning. At daylight the melodious voice of our devil was heard in the streets, crying the "Daily News" containing the very leatest intelligence from the seat of war. In this manner for nearly a year we appeased the craving appetitie of our citizens for news, besides reaping a good profit. As we have menioned before, there were no railroads in Ingham county in 1859, not even the old "Ramshorn" being in operation. This was a serious drawback to the prosperity of the county, to 'say nothing of the inconvenience. All products of the county (maple sugar and black salts) had to be carted to Jackson, a distance of twenty-five miles. The road was through a dense swamp for a long distance, and this was bridged with logs, forming what pioneers knew as a corduroy road. The reader can imagine the pleasure in exporting goods over such a thoroughfare. It took two days with a good team to make the trip, and often the third day saw them still on the road. No other remedy was thought of but a railroad, but to build one seemed almost entirely out of the question, as there were but few men in the county able to invest in such an enterprise. We published editorials and communications without number in endeavoring to arouse the public to the importance of the project. We had no trouble in awakening the people, but to devise a method whereby the necessary funds could be raised was beyond our ability. At last a scheme was devised

INGIIAIM COUNTY TISTORY 155 by O. M. Barnes, Esq., which if successful would secure tile building of the road. Mr. Barnes was well known throughout the county as a good lawyer, and had been nominated as a candidate for the Legislature on the Democratic ticket. He was earnestly in favor of a railroad, and his friends promised that if he should be elected he would procure legislation that would secure to us the road. On this account many rabid Republicans for once laid aside their political prejudices and voted for Mr. Barnes. We doubt if Mr. Barnes ever knew why it was that he was so immensely popular just then, and received such large majorities from the surrounding townships. On entering the Legislature he set himself to work at once to obtain some railroad legislation. We believe he originated the plan of towns and counties voting aid to those corporations, and finally succeeded in getting a bill passed authorizing Ingham county to subscribe for $40,000 worth of stock, and afterward another authorizing townships along the projected line to take a limited amount of the stock, for building a railroad from Jackson to Lansing. An election was soon held, and the $40,000 stock proposition was carried by a small majority. This was a starting point. A call was immediately issued for a meeting to be held at the Court House in Mason on the 22nd day of December, 1863, to organize the Jackson & Lansing Railroad Company. The meeting was well attended, and was presided over by Judge Boreland, of Ohio. A subscription was started, and in a short time $28,000 was subscribed. The meeting then proceeded to an election of directors, resulting in the choice of Hon. H. A. Hayden, Hon. P. B. Loomis, D. B. Hibbard, David Dwight and J. H1. Thompson, of Jackson, John Dunsback, Minos McRoberts, John Coatsworth, Hon. J. D. Woodsworth, Hon. Wm. H. Chapman, Hon. James Turner and Hon. H. H. Smith, of Ingham county. Mr. Hayden was chosen president, Mr. Turner, treasurer, and Mr. Barnes, secretary and attorney. The company proceeded at once to build the road, which was accomplished in an incredible short time, and Mason was set free from the wilderness. The dense woods around Mason used to be a common home for wild beasts, and it was not until a late day that they were finally exterminated. In the summer of 1859 Deacon Drew, then living

156 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGI-AM COUNTY where C. E. Eaton now resides, heard a strange noise in his barn. Taking his lantern, and in company with a neighbor, he proceeded to the barn, where in the middle of the floor sat a huge bear holding in fond embrace after the bruin style Mr. Drew's dog. The men beat a hasty retreat after reinforcements, but before firearms could be obtained the bear had escaped. The same year while walking in the woods near where-Huntington's sawmill now stands, just across the creek, we were faced by two bears. We turned to run, and either the prodigious strides that we made or the timely arrival of a man with an ox team frightened the animals, and they scampered off into the woods. In the winter of 1860 a very large wild cat was killed by a farmer, who had suffered the loss of several lambs and hens before he discovered what the marauder was. In March, 1862, three large wolves that had taken up their abode in a swamp in Alaicdon, four miles from Mason, committed great depredations and were hunted by a band of Ingham county men. Farther north and east in the county it was no unusual thing to meet these animals in the woods. Indians were frequently seen in Mason. The old settlers will remember Johnny Okemos, arrayed in his war paint, seeking a dram at the saloons and bars, but it rarely happened that he could succeed in getting a "nil)." On one occasion, however, he succeeded in purloining a bottle of fire-water, and the next morning was found between two buildings covered with ice, and frozen to the ground dead-drunk. PETER LOWE, The first secretary of the Ingham County Pioneer Society, in June, 1874, tells some facts concerning the early history of the county in which he rather contemptuously corrects some of the statements made by D. B. Harrington and Peter Linderman in a previous issue of the Ingham County News. (This only proves how difficult it is in 1920 to get the early history perfectly accurate, when even the pioneers living in the very time of those events failed to make the facts exactly coincide. Ed.)

INGHIAM COUNTY HISTORY 157 In a somewhat belligerent mood Mr. Lowe addresses Kendell Kittridge, editor of the Ingham County News, as follows: "The writer of this article the more readily complies with your request to furnish a brief history of the first newspapers published in the county, for the reason that a correspondent of the News has recently published in that paper a number of articles on that subject, and other matters connected with the history of the county, which are full of gross misrepresentations and blunders. A few of these only will be noticed. "In regard to the name of the county, the News correspondent says, 'The county was named after one Judge Ingham, a prominent official at Washington, who was appointed by Gen. Jackson a commissioner to visit Michigan to investigate some difficulties that had arisen in regard either to the survey or boundary, and in his report he made mention of this part of the State in such glowing terms that it was called Inghan.' "Twaddle! The absurdity of the nonsensical reason assigned for the name of the county will be obvious when it is recollected that the Territorial Legislature of Michigan, during President Jackson's first term of office, named a county in this State after each member of his cabinet, to-wit: Van Buren, Branch, Berrien, Barry, Eaton and Ingham; the last named after Samuel D. Ingham, of Pennsylvania, Secretary of the Treasury; Calloun county after John C. Calhoun, then Vice President of the United States, and Jackson county after the old hero himself. "Relative to the early publication of newspapers in Mason, the same correspondent says, 'Notwithstanding the littleness of Mason the News was not the first paper printed there. Long before the Republican party was organized a Whig paper, called the Ingham County Herald, was published there by D. W. C. Smith, late county clerk of Jackson county. Afterward the Ingham Democrat was published by a Mr. Danforth. We believe Dr. McRobert was also connected with the latter paper. These pioneer papers were supported principally by the income from publishing the "tax sales," which at that time yielded a handsome revenue.' "Mr. Smith, above alluded to, was never in any way whatsoever connected with the Ingham Herald. 'A Mr. Danforth,' alluded to in the above extract as though he was a wayfarer, here today and there tomorrow, was the Hon. Ephraim B. Danforth,

158 IIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY one of the very earliest settlers in the village of Mason. In 1837, in company with Charles Noble, of Monroe, he erected the first saw mill in the county, and in 1838 the first grist mill. Together they owned seven-eighths of the land in the old village plat of Mason. "On the organization of the county in 1838, Mr. Danforth was elected one of the Associate Judges of the county. He was elected to the same office again in 1842. On two occasions the voters of this county gave him a large majority for the office of Senator. He was a member of the State Senate in 1847, and Hon. Joseph H. Kilbourne, of Meridian, was in the House of Representatives. They worked with untiring zeal and energy to secure the location of the seat of the State government at Lansing. Fortunately for the prosperity of this section of the State and the more northern portions of the Lower Peninsula, their labors were crowned with success. In 1848 Judge Danforth was appointed by the Governor and Senate commissioner to lay out and construct a road from the village of Mason to the city of Lansing. "In 1840 he was elected a delegate to and was a very useful member of the convention which framed the present Constitution of this State. "In all public positions held by Judge Danforth he discharged his duties with honor to himself and the full satisfaction of his constituents. In public, as in private life, his character was above reproach. "The true history of the early settlement of Ingham county can never be written by any one without mentioning in laudable terms the name of Hon. E. P. Danforth, and his labors for its advancement and prosperity. It is a matter of deep regret that any man or any newspaper should allude in such an insignificant manner to one of the most useful and most prominent men among the early pioneers of the county. In 1850 Mr. Danforth sold his interests in the village of Mason and moved to Lansing, where he again engaged in the milling business. He died very suddenly in that city August 17, 1853. "The first paper published in Mason, or in the county, was the Ingham Telegraph (neutral), by M. A. Childs. The first number appeared in April, 1842. At that day it was useless to attempt to

INGHAM COUNTY HISTORY 159 keep up the publication of newspapers in the new counties of the State unless they had the advantage of publishing the tax lists. At the election in this county in 1842, Jason P. Packard, then late of Jackson, was elected county treasurer. There was a delinquent tax list, not a tax sale list, to be published in the January following, which Mr. Packard absolutely refused to publish in the Telegraph, but made arrangements with G. W. Raney and R. S. Cheney, of Jackson, to establish a Democratic newspaper in Mason and publish the tax list, consequently Mr. Childs moved his establishment to Dewitt, Clinton county. "In due time the Jackson firm sent materials to Mason and commenced the publication of a paper. The tax list was put in form at Jackson and brought to Mason, and a boy did all the work of the establishment. After about ten months this boy committed an act which rendered him odious to the community and he returned to Jackson. Then appeared one James R. Wells to do the work on the paper. About the same time the name of Mr. Cheney was withdrawn as one of the proprietors, and probably the name of Mr. Wells appeared as editor or publisher. The last number of this sheet appeared just before the election in 1844. "At the session of the Legislature in 1844 the control of publishing the tax lists was given to county treasurers, each in his respective county. "At the election in 1844, that able man and staunch Whig, the late Geo. Matthews, of Meridian, universally esteemed for his noble traits of character and many good deeds, was elected county treasurer. The election of Mr. Matthews, it was believed, offered a good opportunity for the establishment of a Whig paper in the county. J. H. Child and H. P. Stillman purchased of Mr. Raney the printing materials in Mason, and in December, 1844, commenced the publication of the Herald. In January following they entered into a contract with the county treasurer to do the tax advertising of the county. At that time the influence of the Democratic press of the State was all powerful. In several counties Whig treasurers had been elected, and some of the 'spoils' were liable to go to the enemy. So the Democratic Legislature, on or about the 21st of March, 1845, passed an act restoring to the Auditor General the entire control of the tax advertising. "Storey and Cheney, of the Jackson Patriot. immediately

160 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY packed printing materials for publishing a paper, and started the same for Eaton county in charge of a competent printer. They found the field already occupied by a party from Marshall. Then 'twas right about face. They made up from the columns of the Patriot forms for a newspaper, christened it the 'Ingham Democrat,' then took these forms to Leslie to the office of Hon. Henry Fiske, then Probate Judge of this county and former president of the wild-cat bank at Kensington, and there with a brush printed off a few copies of the Democrat. Judge Fiske made affidavit that the paper was printed in Ingham county, and with that affidavit and a copy of the paper they posted off to Detroit and placed them in the hands of the Auditor General, and that officer on the first day of April designated the Ingham Democrat to do the tax advertising for that year. "Almost the first intimation that the people of Mason had that another paper was to be published in the county was a rumor that a jaded span of horses, with a wagon freighted with printing materials, was coming through the mud and mire on the old Columbia road. After being dragged through the swamps and sloughs of Eaton county and part of those of Ingham in search of a tax list, the materials found a resting place in the village of Mason. "For several weeks no one appeared to take charge of the Ingham Democrat. Some time in May Mr. Child, of the Herald, entered into articles of agreement with Storey and Cheney to publish the Democrat in their name until the conclusion of the advertising and then to purchase the establishment. About onethird of the purchase price was paid down. Whatever amount was realized from publishing the list was to be placed to the credit of Mr. Child. After the list was placed in form ready for publication, Storey and Cheney replevied and removed the materials. Again appeared the obnoxious youth before referred to as employed by another Jackson firm to print their paper in Mason, and who had suddenly disappeared from the village. These proceedings caused a great deal of ill feeling and excitement. But a few days passed, when one night most of the materials were removed from the Democrat office, no one knew whither. After a series of years some of them were found secreted in several places

INGIIAM COUNTY HISTORY 161 about the town. The proprietors of the Democrat sent on other material and concluded the advertising. "Soon after this Mr. Stillman withdrew from the Herald and with the assistance of Judge Danforth and Dr. McRobert purchased the Democrat office and continued the publication of the paper until October, 1847. The names of E. B. Danforth and Minos McRobert appeared as proprietors. Mr. Child continued the publication of the Herald for a year or more after Mr. Stillman withdrew." The secretary of the County Pioneer Society states that "of my own knowledge I know the truthfulness of almost every statement in the above article." INGHAM COUNTY. Written by Peter Linderman, in 1860, and published in the Ingham County News in May, 1874. The first meeting of the townships of the county was in the spring of 1838. The county was a dense wilderness, and had less than 100 inhabitants. The first meeting of the board of supervisors was in October, 1838, at the home of Hiram Parker, Esq., about four miles east of Mason. The act organizing the county required that the board should meet at the house nearest the county seat site, which had been located by commissioners appointed by the Governor, at the quarter posts of sections 12 and 1, town 2 north, range 1 west. There was no building, improvements or inhabitants nearer this than Mr. Parker's home. At this meeting seven townships were represented by supervisors as follows: Vevay-Peter Linderman. Leslie-Benjamin Davis. Aurelius-John Barnes. Phelpstown-Henry Lee. Stockbridge-Orrin Gregory. Onondaga-Amos E. Steele. Alaiedon-Wm. Lewis.

162 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY The office of supervisor was not as profitable in those days, we conclude, as at present, Mr. Linderman's salary amounting to the modest sum of $4.75. The auditing committee allowed C. A. Osborn $6 for making ballot boxes, more than the highest salary paid to any supervisor. We believe one of those identical ballot boxes is now used in the Vevay elections. The county was named after one Judge Ingham, a prominent official at Washington, who was appointed by President Andrew Jackson a commissioner to visit Michigan to investigate some difficulty that had arisen in regard to either the survey or boundary, and in his report he made mention of this part of the State in such glowing terms that it was called Ingham. The first election of county officers was held in 1838, during the existence of the Whig and Democratic parties. There was quite a strife between the two parties. Peter Lowe was nominated for sheriff by the Whigs and his brother Richard R. Lowe was nominated by the Democrats, so as to keep the office "in the family." The whole number of votes polled was 146, resulting in two or three majority for the Democratic Lowe. At that time the only settlement of any importance was "Jefferson," in the township of Alaiedon, about three miles north of Mason. It was a central place for all the meetings of the town. A post office was located there, and we think a store besides some shops and dwellings. For several years it was the rival of Mason, which was only decided in favor of the latter when the county seat was located. The township of Vevay was organized in 1838, and an election of officers was held on the 2nd day of April of that year. The meeting was held in an old log tavern that stood where A. E. Steele now lives. A preliminary meeting was held first to appoint the necessary officers to conduct the election. Dr. McRobert was chosen moderator and Anson Jackson clerk. Hiram Converse, Hiram Parker and B. F. Smith were appointed inspectors of election. There were but 24 voters in the township, and the result of the election was as follows: Supervisor-Peter Linderman. Town Clerk-Anson Jackson. Assessors-Ira Rolfe, M. McRobert, Abner Bartlett.

INGHAM COUNTY HISTORY 163 Magistrates-P. Linderman, II. Converse, H. Parker, Benj. Rolfe. Collector-Henry A. Hawley. Road Commissioners-Hiram Austin, B. F. Smith, A. Jackson. Constables-John Daggett, Henry A. Hawley. Directors of the Poor-Geo. Searles, B. Rolfe, School Inspectors-Nathan Rolfe, M. McRobert, Wm. H. Horton. Fence Viewers-Hinman Hurd, E. R. Searl. The meeting took into consideration the many depredations committed upon the settlers flocks, and wisely voted to pay a bounty of $2 for every wolf killed within the township limits. It is said that the Indians brought in "much scalp" so that the treasury was soon emptied. It was afterwards ascertained that the "scalps" were like the Democratic voters of Vevay the first spring that Dr. Root was elected supervisor of the township"residents of other townships;" so the bounty act resulted in no great profit to hunters after the first few weeks. "Fence viewers" were then part of a legal township organization, and at this election it was decided that a "lawful fence" should be at least four and one-half feet high. Hogs were declared a nuisance, and stricken off the list of "free commoners." The question in our mind is, if they are any less a "nuisance" now than they were then that they are privileged to pasture in the streets and gardens of the township, In the year 1839 a strictly party ticket was run by the Whigs and Democrats. At this town meeting Hiram Converse was nominated for supervisor by the Whigs, and Charles Gray was the Democratic nominee. The latter was elected by a very small majority. In 1840 party candidates were again nominated. The whole number of votes cast was 56, of which Charles Gray received a majority of two. At this election the sum of $75 was appropriated for school purposes. Mason was then called "The Center," and afterward "Mason Center," after Stevens T. Mason, the youthful Governor of the State. The salary voted to the collector for gathering taxes was $15. Wright Horton, Whig, was elected supervisor in 1841, and Peter Linderman, Whig, in 1842. At a meeting of the town board

164 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY in 1842 a complaint was made against Abner Bartlett, a tavern keeper, who had failed to be supplied at all times with provisions and lodgings for travelers, and stable room and provender for horses. For this offense his license was revoked, the severest penalty that could be inflicted by pioneers. In 1843 Mr. Linderman was again re-elected over John B. Chapin, the Democratic nominee. The Democrats were successful in 1844, electing Hiram Parker over Issachar Hammond by eight majority. In 1845 there was a tie between Mr. Parker and Mr. Linderman, which was decided by lot, Mr. Linderman being successful. In 1846, Geo. Shafer, Whig, was elected over Hiram Parker. The township at this election voted against the granting of license to sell liquors. Mr. Linderman was elected supervisor in 1847, and Hon. John W. Longyear, now U. S. District Judge, was chosen town clerk. Since then the following have been the supervisors elected: 1848-Peter Linderman, Whig. 1849-George Shafer-Whig. 1850-Henry A. Hawley, Whig. 1851-Anson Jackson, Democrat. 1852-A. M. Chapin, Democrat. 1853-Amos E. Steele, Democrat. 1854-J. L. Huntington, Democrat. 1855-George W. Shafer, Whig. 1856-Wm. H. Horton, Democrat. 1757-Geo. W. Shafer, Republican. 1858-James Fuller, Republican. 1859-James Fuller, Republican. 1860-Wm. H. Horton, Democrat. 1861-R. F. Griffin, Republican. 1862-R. F. Griffin, Republican. 1863-Peter Lowe, Republican. 8164-John Coatsworth, Democrat. 1865-John Coatsworth, Democrat. 1866-Perry Henderson, Democrat. 1867-Perry Henderson, Democrat. 1868-W. W. Root, Republican. 1869-W. W. Root, Republican. 1870-W. W. Root, Republican.

INGIIAM COUNTY HISTORY 165 1871-W. W. Root, Republican. 1872-R. F. Griffin, Republican. 1873-W. W. Root, Republican. 1874-Alex Bush, Republican. By the above it will be seen the Democracy have elected their supervisor in Vevay thirteen years, the Whigs ten years, and the Republicans thirteen years. INGHAM COUNTY POST OFFICES IN 1863. Michigan State Gazetteer. Alverson. Aurelius. Bunkerhill. Dansville. Eden. Felt's. Fitchburg. Holt. Lansing. LeRoy. Leslie. Locke. Mason (county seat). North Aurelius. North Leslie. Norton. Okemos. Onondaga. Phelpstown. Red Bridge. Stockbridge. West Delhi. White Oak. Williamston. Winfield.

166 PI'ONEEIR H ISTORY OF1 INGIIAM COUNTY The following is a list of Representatives in the Legislature, Associate Judges, and other county officers chosen at general or special elections, from the time the county was organized until the year 1874, as carefully prepared by Hon. O. M. Barnes for the Ingham County News: REPRESENTATIVES. Ingham and Livingston. 1839-Kingsley S. Bingham. 1840-Chas. P. Bush, Amos E. Steele. 1841-Chas. P. Bush, Kingsley S. Bingham. Ingham and Eaton. 1842-John M. French, Sr. 1843-Hiram H. Smith. 1844-Benjamin Knight. 1845-Whitney Jones. 1846-Whitney Jones. Ingham County. 1847-Joseph H. Kilbourne. 1848-George Matthews. 1849-Joseph H. Kilbourne. 1850-Amaziah Winchell. 1851-52-John L. Crossman. 1853-56-Ferris S. Fitch. 1857-58-Peter Linderman, Levi Rowley. 1859-60-John W. Phelps, Dorman Felt. 1861-62-H. B. Shank, M. M. Atwood. 1863-64-0. M. Barnes, J. D. Woodworth. 1865-66-Lucian Reed, J. D. Woodworth. 1867-68-R. C. Kedzie, D. L. Crossman. 1869-70-George P. Sanford, D. L. Crossman. 1871-72-Alvin N. Hart, M. M. Atwood. 1873-74-I. H. Bartholomew, Arnold Walker.

INGHAM COUNTY HISTORY 167 ASSOCIATE JUDGES. 1838-Ephraim B. Danforth, Amos E. Steele. 1839-Amos E. Steele, Wm. Childs. 1840-Amos E. Steele. 1841-42-Amos E. Steele, John R. Bowdish. 1843-47-Ephraim B. Danforth, John R. Bowdish. 1847-Joseph E. North, Joseph Hunt. COUNTY JUDGES. 1847-48-Benjamin Davis. 1849-50-WV. I. Chapman. 1851-Mason Branch. COUNTY OFFICERS. 1838. Sheriff-Richard R. Lowe. Clerk-Valorous Meeker. Treasurer-Hiram H. Smith. Register of Deeds-Minos McRobert. Judge of Probate-Peter Linderman. Surveyor-Anson Jackson. Coroners-Horatio N. Forbes, James Phillips. 1839-40. Sheriff-Amaziah Winchell. Clerk-Peter Lowe. Treasurer-Hiram H. Smith. Register of Deeds-Minos McRobert. Judge of Probate-Valorous Meeker. Surveyor-Anson Jackson. Commissioners-1839-Peter Linderman, Jacob Loomis, and Henry Lee. 1840 —Ienry Lee, William A. Dryer, Jacob Loomis. Coroners-Henry Wood, Palmer Rossman. 1841-42. Sheriff-Amaziah Winchell. Clerk-George W. Shafer, Anson Jackson. Treasurer-John W. Burchard.

168 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAMI COUNTY Register of Deeds-Zaccheus Barnes. Judge of Probate-Valorous Meeker. Surveyor-Anson Jackson. Commissioners-1841-WXm. A. Dryer, Jacob Loomis, Caleb Carr. 1842-Wm. A. Dryer, Caleb Carr, George Matthews. Coroners-Palmer Rossman, Joseph Hunt, 1843-44. Sheriff-Nathaniel R. Hammond. Clerk-Peter Lowe. Treasurer-Jason B. Packard. Register of Deeds-Thomas North. Judge of Probate-Hiram Fiske. Surveyor-Anson Jackson. Coroners-Joseph Hunt, Joseph L. Huntington. 1845-46. Sheriff-Joseph Hunt. Clerk-John Coatsworth. Treasurer-George Matthews. Register of Deeds-Wm- H. Horton. Judge of Probate-Amos E. Steele (vacancy). Surveyor-Anson Jackson. Coroners-James Reeves, Henry H. North. 1847-48. Sheriff-Joseph L. Huntington. Clerk-John Coatsworth. Treasurer-George Matthews. Register of Deeds-Wm. H. Horton. Judge of Probate-Richard Ferris. Surveyor-Anson Jackson. Coroners-Henry M. North, Stephen V. Kinney. 1849-50. Sheriff-Joseph L. Huntington. Clerk-Henry P. Atwood. Treasurer-Samuel Skadan. Register of Deeds-Wm. I. Horton. Judge of Probate-Griffin Paddock.

INGIIAM COUNTY HISTORY 169 Surveyor-Lewis D. Preston. Coroners-Daniel Gorsline, John McKernan. 1851-52. Sheriff-Chauncey A. Osborne. Clerk-Peter Lowe. Treasurer-Samuel Skadan. Register of Deeds-Wm. Woodhouse. Judge of Probate-Griffin Paddock. Surveyor-Anson Jackson. Prosecuting Attorneys-Wm. W. Upton, Orlando M. Barnes. Coroners-Henry H. North, Wm. Post. 1853-54. Sheriff-Chauncey A. Osborne. Clerk-Philip McKernan. Treasurer-Franklin LaRue. Register of Deeds-Wm. Woodhouse. Judge of Probate-Wm. H. Chapman. Surveyor-Anson Jackson. Prosecuting Attorney-Orlando M. Barnes. Circuit Court Commissioner-Griffin Paddock. Coroners-Mosely A. Baldwin, John C. Granger. 1855-56. Sheriff-Perry Henderson. Clerk-Philip McKernan. Treasurer-Franklin LaRue. Register of Deeds-Wm. Woodhouse. Judge of Probate-Wm. H. Chapman. Surveyor-Anson Jackson. Prosecuting Attorney-Orlando M. Barnes. Circuit Court Commissioner-Griffin Paddock. Coroners-Mason Branch, Elisha Elwood. 1857-58. Sheriff-Richard R. Lowe. Clerk-A. R. L. Covert. Treasurer-John H. Mullett. Register of Deeds-Zaccheus Barnes.

170 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY Judge of Probate-WVm. H. Pinckney. Surveyor-Thomas Brown. Prosecuting Attorney-George I. Parsons. Circuit Court Commissioner-Horace B. Williams. Coroners-Marvin Geer, IHuram Bristol. 1859-60. Sheriff-Edy Baker. Clerk-A. R. L. Covert. Treasurer-Lemuel Woodhouse. Register of Deeds-Zaccheus Barnes. Judge of Probate —Wm. H. Pinckney. Surveyor-Thomas Brown. Prosecuting Attorney-George I. Parsons. Circuit Court Commissioner-Griffin Paddock. Coroners-David F. Rath, John R. Bowdish. 1861-62. Sheriff-Truman Spencer. Clerk-Lucian Reed. Treasurer-Lemuel Woodhouse. Register of Deeds-Joseph S. Pierson. Judge of Probate-Wm. H. Pinckney. Surveyor-James G. Stafford. Prosecuting Attorney-Stephen D. Bingham. Circuit Court Commissioner-Horatio Pratt. Coroners-Edwin Hubbard, S. O. Russell. 1863-64. Sheriff-Frederick P. Moody. Clerk-S. P. Mead. Treasurer-Abram Hayner. Register of Deeds-Wm. Woodhouse. Judge of Probate —Wm. H. Pinckney. Surveyor-Wm. Rayner. Prosecuting Attorney-G. M. Huntington. Circuit Court Commissioner-Horatio Pratt. Coroners-Philip J. Price, Samuel Skadan. 1865-66. Sheriff-Frederick P. Moody.

INGHAM COUNTY HISTORY 171 Clerk-H. P. Henderson. Treasurer-Abram Hayner. Register of Deeds —Wm. Woodhouse. Judge of Probate-Horatio Pratt. Surveyor-Wm. Rayner. Prosecuting Attorney-R. C. Dart. Circuit Court Commissioner-Mason D. Chatterton. Coroners-Orton Williams, Stephen T. Gidney. 1867-68. Sheriff-Truman Spencer. Clerk-Stanley W. Turner. Treasurer-John A. Barnes. Register of Deeds-Charles H. Darrow. Judge of Probate-Horatio Pratt. Surveyor-Wm. Rayner. Prosecuting Attorney-R. C. Dart. Circuit Court Commissioner-Mason D. Chatterton. Coroners-James I. Mead, Elliott H. Angell. 1869-70. Sheriff-Horace Angell. Clerk-Stanley W. Turner. Treasurer-John A. Barnes. Register of Deeds-Charles 11. Darrow. Judge of Probate-Horatio Pratt. Surveyor-Wm. Rayner. Prosecuting Attorney-H. B. Carpenter. Circuit Court Commissioner-John R. VanVelsor. Coroners-James I. Mead, Gardner Fletcher. 1871-72. Sheriff-Wm. Spears. Clerk-Daniel D. Bolton. Treasurer-Thaddeus Densmore. Register of Deeds-Henry J. Haight. Judge of Probate-Horatio Pratt. Surveyor-John N. Mullett. Prosecuting Attorney-IH. B. Carpenter. Circuit Court Commissioners-Dougal McKenzie, Moses A. Hewett. Coroners-Wm. W. Root, Benj. S. Peets.

172 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY 1873-74. Sheriff-Allen D. Burr. Clerk-Daniel D. Bolton. Treasurer-Thaddeus Densmore. Register of Deeds-Henry J. IIaight. Judge of Probate-M. D. Chatterton. Surveyor-T. J. Brown. Prosecuting Attorney-E. Dayton Lewis. Circuit Court Commissioners-Dougal McKenzie, Wm. H. Francis, Edward C. Chapin (vacancy). Coroners-Alex Dockstader, Philip Taylor.

CHAPTER III INGHAM COUNTY PIONEER NOTES. Pioneer notes and stories; plank roads of the county; burying grounds of early days; early churches; Chief Okemos; military prowess of early days; Curtenius Guards; historic flags; story by Summit R. King about underground railroads; Ingham's coal mines; Indian dance; mint distillery; horse stealing of early days. Wolf story given in Ingham County News for April 23, 1891, which was unearthed about that time. STATE OF MICHIGAN County of Ingham and s White Oak Township J I, John Gillam, of the State, County and town aforesaid, being duly sworn deposeth and saith that on the 11th day of April, 1839, I, John Gillam, took and killed a wolf in the township of White Oak, the head and skin, with the ears entire thereon of which he presented to us, Cyrus Post, Justice of the Peace, and John McKernon, Assessor. Signed, John Gillam. In said township of White Oak, subscribed and sworn to before us this 2nd day of May, 1839 We, Cyrus Post, Justice of the Peace, and John McKernan, Assessor of the town of White Oak, County and State above written, hereby certify that John Gillam, did on the 2nd day of May, 1839, present to us the head and skin, with the ears thereof entire, of a full grown wolf, which he meant in foregoing affidavit, which scalp and ears we destroyed by burning the same; and we do hereby certify that the said John Gillam is entitled to receive from the State and County the sum of Eight dollars for killing such wolf, agreeable to an act of the State Legislature bearing date of February the 9th, 1839, and also two dollars and fifty

174 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAMI COUNTY cents from said county agreeable to a vote of the supervisors making provision for the destruction of wolves. It being certificate No. 4. Given under our hands in White Oak this 2nd day of May, 1839. Cyrus Post, J. P. John McKernan, Assessor. The first mail from Jackson to Lansing was carried by S. H. Worden. Hank Donnelly, owner and proprietor of the Donnelly House in Mason, was the first man in the city to take a daily paper. He came in 1861 and his Detroit daily followed him and made him an oracle in the village. 1874. The county papers of November, 1874, state that a large wild cat was killed two miles north of Williamston during that month. It was started out by some dogs and shot by John Kiel. It weighed 21 pounds. In the Ingham County News for November 26 is found the following: "The Capitol Index is to be the name of a new daily paper that S. B. McCracken, of Detroit, proposes to publish at Lansing during the next session of Legislature. It is claimed that an independent and free criticism of legislative doings will be the leading feature of the publication." It might be of interest to Ingham county residents to know that as late as June 11, 1874, cows were allowed to roam the streets of the county seat village, and the following petition was presented at that date to the Common Council: "The undersigned request that an ordinance be passed prohibiting the owners of cows from suffering them to wear cow bells in the village," signed by twenty-three men and women of Mason. The editor added that it would be a good idea for them to add a clause requesting the council to prevent owners of cattle from using our streets and sidewalks for a barnyard. In June, 1874, we find it recorded that Ingham county sent four convicts to Jackson prison in May of that year, the largest number sent from any county in the State. The Soldiers and Sailors of Ingham county held their first reunion in Mason on Oct. 8, 1874.

INGIIAM COUNTY NOTES 175 In 1873 we find that the railroads of the State are installing windmills at stations along their routes with which to fill their water tanks. There was one installed at Williamston, "much to the relief of the little pony that has pumped water for the engines during the past winter." One was installed in Mason about the same time, and the editor of the Ingham County News gives the following account of it: "By the kindness of Wm. Lambert, the builder, we had the pleasure of going down into the well under the windmill, up to the top of the frame of the windmill, and down to the bottom of the water tank. The mill is arranged so that it is a self-regulator, stopping when the tank is pumped full of water and starting again if there is a wind, when the tank begins to get empty. The fans of the mill are thrown in and out of position for the wind to act on them, by a lever down in the well by the pump. On one end of the lever is a box full of stones, which is down when the mill is in motion. On the other end is an empty box. When the tank is nearly full of water it reaches a small pipe that carries the water from the tank to this empty box, and fills it, and thus lowers the end of the lever, throwing the fans out of position for the wind to move them. There is a small hole in the bottom of this box, which in time empties it, and the end of the lever to which the stones are attached is pulled down, and the wind sets the fans in motion again. "The tank holds 125,000 gallons of water, and will ordinarily feed 100 engines. It is 94 feet in circumference and 16 feet deep, and when full of water weighs nearly 400 tons. The pipe through which the water is forced into the tank is four inches in diameter. The water is raised about forty feet. With a fair breeze the mill will pump the tank full in forty-eight hours." Some years later this was superseded by an engine in a little house close by the water tank, and there was an engineer to attend to the work. This had its day and passed on, and now (1920) there has been for some years a bargain with the Water Works of Mason, and the tank is filled by the city, with the tank between Ash and Maple streets as before, but the engines take on water at the station one-fourth mile away.

176 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY MILLS IN MASON AND INGHAM COUNTY. The first grist mill in Mason was located in one corner of the old water mill in 1840, the water mill having been erected some two years before by Danforth and Coatsworth. At the raising a great dinner was given and a fracas ensued in which Jas. Turner, a Republican from Lansing, was prominent. The trouble arose at the dinner table, and pumpkin pies were used as missiles. The Phoenix Mills were built in 1858 by Henderson and McRobert. G. G. Mead came to Mason from Westchester, N. Y., in 1851, and after farming for some years took over the Phoenix Mills and continued as owner and proprietor until his death. The first saw mill in Mason was the old water mill mentioned above. Edwin Stanton came to this State in 1838. He started the first steam saw mill in Lansing and helped clean the stumps from the State Capitol grounds. In 1860 he began running the old Stanton mill in Mason. This was burned twice, before he gave up the business. On September 11, 1873, a new steam grist mill had just commenced running in Leroy township, owned by B. Mason. FROM THE INGHAM COUNTY NEWS, DECEMBER 30, 1875. The abstract office of William Woodhouse was made by him in 1856. At that time it cost the labor of two men for one year and one man for an additional six months. It is now under the charge of I. B. and F. B. Woodhouse. It is a complete abstract of all the lands in Ingham county. It was first kept by Wm. Woodhouse when he was Register of Deeds, and afterward by his successors to that office until 1865, when it was placed in the hands of I. B. Woodhouse and has since been kept by him. I. B. Woodhouse has been a resident of Ingham county since 1841, and came to this city to work in the Register's office in 1862. With the exception of seven years, five of them spent in the army, Mr. Woodhouse has been a resident of Mason since that time, He

INGHAM COUNTY NOTES 177 made the abstracts of Lenawee and Allegan counties. He is now in correspondence with nearly all the owners of unoccupied lands in this county. The strenuous life of the pioneers had a natural tendency to make them serious minded, but even then it did not always deprive them of their sense of humor, as the following story goes to show. Anson Jackson, the first surveyor in this section, was pretty well posted in regard to the forest lands in this vicinity, and was very helpful to the pioneers who entered on these lands. John Rayner, one of the early settlers, took up a large tract of land near Mason, and depended on Jackson to lay out the boundaries for him. Only the choicest timber was of much value in those days, and this the settlers would take wherever they could find it on the government land, if they saw a chance to make a little money on it. One day, the story goes, Mr.Jackson went to Mr. Rayner and said, "I know where there are some fine black walnut trees that we can sell, and if you will furnish the team and help on the work, I think we can make a good thing out of it." Mr. Rayner consented, and after traveling a long distance they came to the trees in question, which they harvested and sold, dividing the profits. Some months later Mr. Rayner thought he would look over his belongings, and as he traveled about he came to a place that looked very familiar to him, where was the stumpage of a fine lot of black walnut trees. He immediately interviewed Mr. Jackson and learned the practical joke which had been played on him, when the surveyor led Mr. Rayner round and round through the forest to this place on his own land, where he had not only furnished the trees for the logging enterprise, but did a part of the work and all of the hauling. Tradition fails to tell how Mr. Rayner took the joke, or whether he ever got even with Mr. Jackson.

178 PIIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY THE OLD DETROIT, HOWELL AND LANSING PLANK ROAD. My earliest recollections of this road dates back to the year 1862 or 1863, when I was a small boy and traveled it in visiting an uncle with my parents. This uncle was a farmer and lived on a fine farm one mile east and two miles south of Okemos. It had been built eight or ten years previous to this time and was until 1871 the only direct route to Detroit from Lansing. The railroad route at that time was from Lansing to Owosso, then from Owosso over the Milwaukee R. R. to Detroit, the Metropolis of Michigan. The traveling public in going to Detroit over this route had to travel by stage. The stage went to Howell during the day and from Howell to Detroit it was a night trip. In reality a twentyfour hour trip, if the roads were good, by stage to Detroit instead of a three or four hour trip by automobile now. Let us go back fifty-two years and make this trip, or part of it, to Howell at least, and try to describe some of the things and places we see on our journey. On a bright sunny day in September, 1864, after a good oldfashioned five o'clock breakfast, we report for the journey at the old Butterfield Hotel at North Lansing. This hotel was on the north side of Franklin street on the ground now occupied by the Rikerd Lumber Company. It was a two-story wooden building painted yellow with a porch along its entire front. The barn where the stage and horses were kept was just east of it. The peculiar thing that struck my boyish fancy was that of the arrangement of these two buildings-the hotel stood broadsides to the street while the barn stood end to street. Just west of the hotel was a grocery kept by a German, Walters, and west of this was another grocery kept by another German named Englehart. Walters' grocery always had a fascination for the kids who attended the First Ward School, for besides the candies and marbles, he made in a small way fireworks. The stage coach is before the hotel ready to start. It is a type of what we see now in the Wild West shows, i. e., heavy wheels, body hung on leather braces, deep boot and drivers seat in front and trunk rack behind. Inside

INGIIAI COUNTY NOTES 179 there are three seats, front, middle and back. The middle seat is extra wide so that four passengers can set back to back. How many passengers can be accommodated? Eight, and by some crowding twelve, three on each seat but one-half must of necessity ride backwards. Any outside passengers? One or two can ride with the driver, but this in bad weather is not a very desirable perch and you must have a certain understanding or social pull with the driver as he is very particular in his choice of seatmates. The mail bags are securely stowed in the boot under the driver's feet and the trunks lashed on behind. Jack Stapleton, the driver, after an inspection to see that all is secure-a coach is like a gun, it must be loaded right to go off right-mounts the box and with reins in hand cracks his long whip and we are off. Down the hill toward what is now the M. C. R. R. tracks we go at a good pace to climb the hill beyond and make the turn by the old Camp farm, and then going southeast for some distance we turn east at the foot of the hill where Sheridan street meets Franklin and we are on the Plank Road proper and pass Toll Gate No. 1. This is a toll road and the rates are a cent a mile for one horse and two cents per mile for two horses, etc. If we are with private conveyance and going some distance, we pay for the whole distance and the gate keeper gives us tickets to pass us through the other gates, as we will have to pass one of these gates every four or five miles. At some distance east of Gate No. 1, we pass on the left a low one-story brick house, set some distance back of the road, and in an orchard of apple and other fruit trees the old Merrill farm, and on top of the hill east the new white house of Charles Taylor, past Charles Taylor's we come to the bottom of the second hill and notice a house that is on our left in a cleared field with a large sheep barn west of it with sheep around it, and we have the Hon. John Longyear's farm. If John is home from Congress we will no doubt see him out looking after his sheep or building fences, for he is deeply interested in agriculture and his vacations are spent here working and looking after his crops. Modern Congressmen when on vacations are patching or building political fences, but John builds worm fences. Now we leave John and climb the hill into the woods. For a mile we have timber on both sides of the road and after descending a stiff clay hill we come to the Agricultural College. College Hall is set

180 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGTIAM COUNTY down in a grove and the dormitory looks lonely among the oak trees. A field of stumps between them and the road will try the muscle of the students when they plow the same. Down in a dip in the road east is a saw mill operated by a prosperous farmer named Marble. This same man was ruined and his family scattered by a domestic tragedy a few years later. With a rattle and bang we cross a bridge and just beyond the four corners we come to a large two-story-and-half farm house. This house was and is today a type of what a prosperous farmer can build. Its size and many windows foretell hospitality and the porch and doors invite you to enter and partake of same. This building reminded me of the colonial country homes we see in pictures. The architecture is of that type. This is the old Judge Chatterton home and for years the home of the Sturgis family. One-half mile east we pass Gate No. 2 and the road crosses over the bridge of Pine Lake outlet, climbs the hill by Okemos Cemetery and turns to the southeast, along the bank of the Cedar river, and we see the spires of the Presbyterian church in Okemos. The small one-story house on our right as we enter the village is the home of Farmer Bray, an uncle of Hon. Sam Kilbourne. Mr. Bray is an up-to-date farmer and his farm shows the methods and principles he learned on a Canadian farm. Past the hotel we go, not stopping, as there are no passengers for this place and the driver don't stop for the men to wet their whistles. The driver pulls up to Walker's store on the north side and throws off the mail for Okemos. P. M. Walker has been postmaster for years and shows by his erect bearing, politeness, gray hair and careful old-fashioned dress, Eastern culture and training. One mile east we pass the corner-Young's Corners-it is called, and then for a mile or two we have hills galore, clay knolls and catholes, until we come to the log house on the south side of the road, in a flourishing orchard, the home of Hon. Sam Kilbourne's father, Joseph Kilbourne. Joseph Kilbourne was in the Legislature in Detroit when the bill to change the location of the Capitol to some inland town was up for passage. After the members had come to a deadlock he arose and moved to locate it at Lansing on the Grand river, and it was done. From the Kilbourne farm we go east and in the edge of an oak

INGEIAM COUNTY NOTES 181 forest we pass a white school house, through the woods we go down a hill, and at our right Toll Gate No. 3, kept by Mr. Doyle. A long white house shows through the foliage and for a background a fringe of maples and willows denote a stream of water. This is the Mullett's home and farm. The red bridge beyond is Red Bridge and Jack throws off a mail bag for the Red Bridge post office. John Mullett, Sr., was a civil engineer and was intrusted with the work of surveying most all of the township and east of it, establishing the meridian line of this lower peninsula of Michigan. His son, John, Jr., was county surveyor of Ingham county for several years, and surveyed and laid out the village of L'Anse, the county seat of Baraga county, Upper Peninsula. Four miles east of Red Bridge we go and the driver is urging his team, for it is nearing the noon hour and the passengers are to dine in Williamston. A mile from Williamston we pass a log school house on the hill and the scholars are swarming out of the low doorway and shouting greetings to Jack, the driver. On the hill beyond, on the north side of the road, is a fine young orchard and a substantial farm house, the home of Squire Leighton. We rumble across a long bridge and pass the Old Western Hotel, or Shuart House, and pull up at Lombard Hotel for dinner and to change horses. My recollection of this hotel is of a long wooden structure with a two-storied veranda running its entire length. At the bar we find Loringer, who has dispensed liquid refreshment at this place for years. My earliest recollections of Williamston dates back to the spring of 1866, when I visited there with my father. I can remember Waldrow's store, Bill Steel's shingle mill and the old brown school house on Putnam street where Captain John Elder taught the young idea how to shoot. This old school house was the meeting house and only church Williamston had, and a Universalist minister named Olds, a brother-in-law to M. Quad, twice a month drove from Lansing to deal out spiritual comfort to his small congregation. With fresh horses we travel eastward a mile and pull up at Phelpstown post office to throw off a mail bag and pass Toll Gate No. 4. North of the hotel on a side hill is the saw mill that

182 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY sawed the planks we have been riding upon and for months it worked night and day for the contracts of H. H. Smith and James Turner, Sr., to supply them with material. Three miles east of here, at a bend in the road, we pass a log house on our left which was the birthplace of Mr. York, the merchant at North Lansing. One mile east we pass a saw mill and hotel that was operated by a man by the name of Alger. Mr. Alger was considered rich by his neighbors, for he had a section of land besides the saw mill and hotel. One-half mile east we pass through a strip of timber where the thriving village of Webberville is now located. In a small clearing on the north side and near another hotel was a small house where lived a woman who was a familiar figure in this and surrounding country. She was an educated woman, a poet, and you can find today in some of the old collections of books her pamphlet of poems and songs. A domestic trouble or sorrow in early life clouded her mind and made her a wanderer. I can see her now with her queer home-made clothing, her pack of wool or yarn, her knit socks, traveling the highway. She used to frighten the small children with her abrupt ways and crazy talk, but the older people who were acquainted with her always were kind and hospitable. She used to lecture in school houses and in the fields on moral and religious subjects, and people out of curiosity would most always give her an audience. Who was she? Clarrisa Lighthall, the traveling angel. On half a mile east, we pass the county line and are in Livingston county; a short distance we descend a hill and cross the west branch of the Red Cedar river. Near this bridge is a log building... that was used for a grocery and dwelling. A German named Richeter sold groceries and supplies to the road and surrounding country. William Richeter, the taxidermist, was his son. Many are the stories told of the Dutch Grocery by the old settlers. Mr. Richeter's quaint German ways and his good nature was sorely tried by the young men, who, under the influence of hard cider or something stronger, tried to make a disturbance, but after the thing was over they always paid for the damages done to his property. Half a mile east in a bend of the road was the Old Compton Hotel. Let us put up here and the hostler will give the stage horses a drink. The horses freshened by their drink quicken

INGIIAM COUNTY NOTES 183 their pace and with a burst of speed we pass Gate No. 5 west of Fowlerville. We stop at Fowlerville to let off passengers and discharge mail at the road house and then speed away to Howell, nine miles distant, for we must catch the night stage into Detroit. We pass through Six Corners and the Four Mile House and pass teams loaded with wheat going toward Detroit. At Four Mile House we saw lots of loaded teams that have put up for the night. We have met teams going west that have been to Detroit and now are returning home loaded with goods and supplies for the merchants in the towns we have passed. Down a long hill we go across a red covered bridge that spans a branch of the Shiawassee river; up a hill we climb and in the distance we can see the spire of a church that reflects the rays of the setting sun. Jack cracks his whip and the team breaks into a gallop and with a flourish we pull up at the Rupert Hotel in Howell for supper and to take the night stage into Detroit, with John Blessed as driver. Safely seated in the night coach we in the darkness dream of how in the future we can travel in a horseless carriage over a smooth road and make in comfort the same distance in four hours that it takes us now twenty-four. Good night. DR. F. N. TURNER. HOW PIONEERS OF INGHAM PUT GOOD ROADS IDEA IN CRUDE EFFECT. Plank road history out of Lansing, found in old archives by Mrs. Franc L. Adams, Mason, secretary of the Ingham County Historical Association, is contributed by her as a fitting supplement to the account of the old road from the pen of Dr. Turner, printed in these columns. Mrs. Adams says the advent of the white man into this peninsular territory was the signal for the disappearance of Indian trails and the opening of roads, such as they were, for the accommodation of the teams and wagons which the settlers brought in, although when Lewis Cass was appointed territorial governor in 1813 Michigan was still a dense wilderness. Marked improvement, however, was seen from that time on, but not until 1826 were any

184 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY roads authorized by Congress, and that through the intercession of Father Richard, who went before Congress and pleaded for roads in Michigan. The result of this pleading was national turnpikes leading from Detroit to Chicago, Toledo, Fort Gratiot and Saginaw. These were crude beyond description, there being many miles of corduroy, of a type unknown to the generations of today. There were no bridges at first, and the primitive roadways had along their course sloughs almost impassable, deep sand, and widened Indian trails, later to be succeeded by plank roads in various parts of the State. In 1832, after the government had awakened to the need of better roads, Congress directed the President of the United States to appoint three commissioners to lay out a road from Detroit through Shiawassee county to the mouth of Grand river, and during the next two years there were 10 miles of this built at a cost of $2,500. Two years later $2,500 more was expended in building bridges over the Rouge, Huron, Shiawassee and Cedar rivers. This road was 100 feet wide, and before Michigan was admitted as a State the road had been built to the present site of North Lansing. Road building continued, and improvements were suggested as time passed on, until in 1845 an act was passed authorizing the use of certain taxes from non-residents for improving the Grand river road between Howell and Justice Gilkey's home in Ingham county. The session laws of that day show a road was ordered through the county seat of Ingham county in 1837, and one month later two others were laid out, through the same village. In 1839 a road running east and west was ordered through Leslie, and one from the Clinton county line through Lansing south to Mason. In 1848 roads from four different directions were ordered built in Ingham county, and it was that year that 3,000 acres of State land were set aside to contribute to the improvement of a State road running from Dexter to Mason by way of Stockbridge. The good roads movement received a wonderful impetus about that time, and the number of roads increased by leaps and bounds until in 1861 we find Lansing connected with Bay City, while 1,920 acres of State land were set aside for road improvement in Ingham and Clinton counties. By 1848 saw mills as well as grist

INGIIAM COUNTY NOTES 185 mills were becoming plentiful, and, in a well timbered country, the supply of lumber was unlimited. It was at this date that a company organized to build a plank road from Michigan, as Lansing was then called, to Mason, but this particular road failed to materialize, and not until eight companies had been organized and incorporated, and failed in their intent, was a road of this kind built, and then it was east from Lansing instead of south. Many old residents of the county still remember the Detroit, Howell and Lansing plank road, and could tell wonderful stories of the stage drivers and their experiences did they feel so inclined. This road had seven toll gates, where travelers paid for the upkeep of the road, but it did not prove to be all that had been hoped for it and in 1870, when the residents began to find the excellent road building material that lay right at hand, the plank system was abandoned and the road made into a graveled turnpike. Then the officials found a new problem facing them, and it was necessary to have an act of Legislature authorizing them to abandon the toll system, for the charters permitting them to take toll continued in force until 1908 for the Detroit and Howell road, and until 1910 for the Lansing and Howell road. One pioneer who traveled over this road quite extensively tells of some of the dangers that beset the path of travelers before the road was abandoned and rebuilt. At first the road was closely watched and all repairs made as soon as needed, but later the dirt foundation would frequently be washed out leaving space beneath the planks, and horses and wagons would often break through making travel dangerous. Instead of repairing the damage, boards and sticks would be thrust into these holes, and to avoid these, one had to go slow and wind from side to side of the track, so that all felt relieved when the road was finally torn out. Among the rubbish in the vault under the county clerk's office at the Ingham county court house was found an old book containing church and burying ground records, beginning in the year 1842 and continuing until 1853.

186 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY BURYING GROUNDS. The minutes of but two burying ground associations were recorded. Ingham Center, May 15, 1850, Two O'clock, P. M. On motion of D. T. Weston the meeting was called to order by appointing Samuel Crossman chairman pro tem, and upon motion of J. C. Granger, D. T. Weston was appointed clerk pro tem. Whereas the meeting proceeded to elect a president, clerk and three trustees, treasurer and sexton. Voted that S. Crossman be president; D. T. Weston, clerk; H. D. Granger, Wm. R. Whipple and M. Geer, trustees; H. L. Strong, treasurer; J. S. Crossman, sexton. On motion of J. S. Crossman the constitution was adopted as now drafted. Voted that the officers should meet on the twentyfifth day of May at five o'clock P. M. for the purpose of letting the job of building the fence around the Ingham Center Burying Ground. Voted that the clerk should have twenty-five cents for giving notice of each meeting. Voted that the clerk should have twenty-five cents for selling each lot and recording the purchasers name, the same to come out of the purchase money. Voted that the officers have one dollar per day for acting in an official capacity, except the treasurer and sexton. The treasurer is to have ten cents for receiving and receipting the purchase money for each lot, the ten cents to come out of the purchase money. The meeting then adjourned sine die. The following described land to wit: Situated in the town of Ingham, County of Ingham, State of Michigan. Described as follows: Beginning at a stake and stone standing on the north line of section twenty-three, Four two North, range one east. Ten chains and thirty-five links east of the northwest corner of said section, thence running south three chains and twenty-five links, thence west one chain and twenty-five links, thence south three chains and twenty-five links, thence east three chains and

INGIIAM C.OIUNT.Y NOrI TES 187 twenty-five links, thence north three chains and twenty-five links, thence west one chain and twenty-five links, thence north three chains and twenty-five links, thence west seventy-five links to place of beginning. One acre and fifty-four rods of land. S. Crossman, Pres. D. T. Weston, Clerk. We, the undersigned officers certify the above to be a true copy of the proceedings of the first meeting and description of the burying ground. S. Crossman, Pres. D. T. Weston, Clerk. I hereby certify the foregoing record of the first meeting of the Ingham Center Burying Ground society to be a true copy of the original record. The fourth day of March, 1853. A. E. Stecle, Dep. Co. Clerk. At a meeting of the Wright Burying Ground Corporation held at the School House in School District No. 4, in the township of Aurelius on this 17th day of April, A. D. 1854, in pursuance to notice. It was resolved that Charles Young serve as chairman, and Winslow Turner secretary of said meeting. Whereby certify that William Stringham was elected president; Charles Young, clerk; Harlow Curtis, collector and R. R. Bullen treasurer of said corporation. John Wright, sexton. Dated this 17th day of April, 1854. Charles Young, Chairman. Winslow Turner, Clerk. A true copy of the original records. Recorded April 20, 1854. Philip McKernan, County Clerk. One page is headed, "Amount of fees received by Philip McKernan, clerk for the year 1853," and contains record of the following marriage certificates: Jan. 4-Frederick Renn to Jane Hunt........... 25 cents " 6-Digby V. Bell to Eugenie Thomas.......25 cents "t " -Henry Hinckley to Susan Skinner.......25 " 11-Edward Cochran to Mary Jane Curtis... 25 " 17-Jas. M. Tucket to Lovinia Sturns........25 " 29-Martin S. Atwood to Catherine E. Hill..25 (not paid)

188 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY Feb. 4-William Basset to Sarah Morehouse.... 25 " 5-Stephen B. Sherbock to Rebecca Pinckney 25 " 7-Isaac Fletcher to Harriet E. Patrick.....25 (not paid) 9-Ira O. Darling to Cordelia Case.......... 25 " 16-Ebin Climer to Ann Salter.............. 25 " 25-A. W. Williams to Polly C. Baker...... 25 " 26-Geo. M. Lyon to Harriet E. Wood....... 5 " 26-Peter L. Rose to Adelyan Harford.......25 The history of the churches is very interesting and is as follows: RECORDS SHOW ORGANIZATION OF MASON AND LANSING CHURCHES. MASON, Jan. 6.-In searching through old records recently, County Clerk V. J. Brown came upon an interesting book of early Ingham county church records. It is a record of the organization of various churches in the county nearly 80 years ago. The first entry is in regard to the Mason Methodist Episcopal church, and is signed by Peter Low, then county clerk, and later a Mason banker, member of the law Low, Smead and Co. This particular entry follows exactly as transcribed in the record, for it shows in substance what all the other records are: "To all whom it may concern. This is to certify that Isaac S. Finch, Valorus Meeker, Garret DuBois, Peter Low, and Jason B. Packard, have this day been appointed trustees for the Methodist Episcopal church in the village of Mason in the bounds of Ingham Circuit Marshall district, Michigan Conference. The above trustees have been appointed according to the usages of the Methodist Episcopal church for the purpose of holding a preachers' house and the appurtenances thereunto belonging. "Given under my hand and seal this 28th day of January, A. D. 1842. "George Smith, L. S. "P. E. of Marshall District."

INGIIAM COUNTY NOTES 189 "Witness, "David Thomas, "Jas Turner." Names that have come down in local history are found signed to these various documents, and mentioned therein. It is interesting to note, that following Peter Low, as county clerk, was John Coatsworth, a prominent business man of pioneer days. H. P. Atwood is the next county clerk, whose name is affixed to the records, and then, Peter Low appears to have served a second term as clerk. Perhaps the name of Phil McKernan, who went into office in 1853 and served until 1856 or longer, is the best known. It was he who later lost his life in the Civil War, and for him the local Grand Army post was named. His records fill the greater part of the book, and besides the accounts of church organizing, during his term of office, there are several pages devoted to "Accounts with the County of Ingham," which in themselves are of interest. The First Presbyterian society of Mason is the second recorded in this book, as having been organized on December 2, 1844. Local names of prominence in those days, mentioned in this record, are William H. Horton, James Turner, and Ira Hubbard, also Peter Linderman and J. B. Chapin. The Mason Baptist church is not mentioned it having been organized in 1839, and the earliest record is dated January, 1842. LANSING CHURCHES. Several Lansing churches have the official account of their organizing recorded in this unobtrusive brown book. For instance in 1848, the Baptists in Lansing seemed to get busy, and during the year three distinct Baptist churches were organized. The First Baptist, on April 11, 1848; the Freewill Baptists, on August 10, 1848; and the Second Baptist, on October 3, 1848. The First Baptists, according to the record met for organizing according to law, at the home of Robert Derry, and the trustees mentioned as elected at this meeting are E. Canfield, S. S. Carter, T. L. Taylor, E. S. Tooker, T. W. Menil, and D. P. Quackenbush. The Second Baptists organized at the home of Richard Walton,

190 IPIONEER HIISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY and Lorenzo Quackenbush, David Groome, Warren Briggs, O. F. Olas, Nathaniel Glassbrook, and Richard Walton are named as trustees. The Methodist Episcopal church of Lansing also organized in 1848, with "F. A. Blades, preacher in charge of the Mapleton Circuit," appointing the following trustees: John Berry, John Jennings, Ephraim F. Thompson, David A. Miller, Joseph Kilbourne, William Wheadone. St. Paul's Episcopal church organized on Feb. 7, 1849, met at the Senate chamber for the services, and, after the appointment of their several trustees, the record goes on to say, "It was then and there duly determined that the said trustees and their successors in office forever should thereafter be called and known as the Rectors, Wardens and Vestrymen of St. Paul's Parish, Lansing." On Dec. 9, 1848, the Lansing Presbyterian church was organized at the school (lower town), and five trustees elected "to take charge of the temporalities of said church." The Universalist Congregation also worshipped in the Senate chamber at Lansing, and organized on May 9, 1848, and after electing Ephraim H. Utley, Levi Hunt and Henry H. Ross as trustees, said church was then and there duly organized by the name and style of the "First Universalist society in the town of Lansing," and that at said meeting it was determined that said trustees and their successors in office forever thereafter shall be called and known as "The First Universalist church in the town of Lansing." These are only a part of the churches the organization of which is included in the book. Among others mentioned are the Methodist and Presbyterian churches of Stockbridge, the first organized in 1852, and the latter in 1853. The Leslie Baptist church was also organized in 1853. "The First New Church" of Lansing, The Second Society of the M. P. church in the Ingham Circuit, The First Wesleyan Methodist, are among numerous other Lansing churches, the early records of which are in this book.

INGHAM COUNTY NOTES 191 CHURCHES LOCATED IN LANSING IN EARLY DAYS ON THE FOLLOWING LOTS & BLOCKS. Chas. Fox et al. Lots 7 & 8 Blk. 63 Trustee's M. E. Church, Cor. Seymour and Saginaw Sts. Lot 1 Blk. 83 First New Church Society, Cor. Washington Ave. and Shiawassee St. Lot 1 Blk. 95 Baptist Church, Cor. Capitol Ave. and Ionia St. Lot 1 Blk. 96 St. Paul's Parish, Cor. Washington Ave. and Ionia St. Lot 6 Blk. 96 Selected for and accepted by First M. E. Church of the "Town of Michigan," Cor. of Washington and Ottawa. Lot 7 Blk. 96 C e n t r a l Presbyterian Church, Capitol Ave. and Ottawa St. *Lot 1 Blk. 113 Universalist C h u r ch, Foot of Allegan St. E. Lot 1 Blk. 127 F i r s t Presbyterian Church. Patent Surrendered and Cancelled under joint resolution. Capitol Ave. and Washtenaw St. Lot 10 Blk. 128 Trustee's "Plymouth Church and Society," So. Capitol Ave. Lot 2 Blk. 245 First Westminster Methodist Church, N. Cedar St. Lot 12 Blk. 136 Freewill Baptist Church, Cor. Capitol Ave. and Kalamazoo Street. Date of Proof to Government. Laws of 1855, Act 127. March 10, 1866. Dec. 21, 1850. 1855. Final proof of property Aug. 4, 1856. See SR 13. Dec. 21, 1850. Under Act 231, Laws of of 1848. Dec. 23, 1850. No Date. Dec. 23, 1850, 1850. Sept. 27, 1867. May 4, 1855. No Date. Now occupied by: Church. Riley's Photo Gallery. Church. Gladmer Theater. Tussing Block. Church (Univcrsalist Church.) Central Fire Station. Porter's Garage. State Armory. Street Car Barns. Odd Fellow's Temple. *Lot 1 Blk. 113 "Universalist Church" later located on Lot 7 Blk. 96. Furnished by Stella Bennett, Lansing. ANCEDOTE OF PIONEER NOTES. Joab Page, told in 1874. "All who knew him held him in high respect. He was noted for his uprightness and candor in all matters of business, and as much so perhaps for an occasional dry joke. He had charge of building Mr. Seymour's large double saw mill at Lansing in 1850. Charlie, a man who was constitutionally tired, consequently of considerable leisure, was in the habit of making daily visits with the workmen. One day

192 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Father Page, as he was familiarly called, came along where Charlie was sitting on a stick of timber in social conversation with one of the men. 'Charlie,' said the old pioneer, 'have you got a quarter by you?' 'I guess so,' said the unsuspecting Charlie. 'Let me have it,' said the grave old man, with a countenance as serene as the clear blue skies above. The desired silver was passed into his hand, and immediately slid down into his pocket, and as he walked away he said, 'Now, Charlie, you may hinder that man half an hour longer,' leaving Charlie to accept it as a joke or otherwise as he saw fit." Wheatfield, May, 1874. Mr. A. Doan, of section 26, Wheatfield, has been attending court as a witness this week. He has the honor to be one of the original pioneers of this county, having come here in 1836. His mother was the first white woman ever in the township of Ingham. She came into town on an old "pung," shaking with the ague. Mr. Doan bought the farm where he now lives in 1852. His brother Harrison Doan helped clear up the land where Mason now stands. Another brother, J. D. Doan, was a land hunter in early days, and can tell many thrilling adventures he had in Ingham county. Mason History. Ingham County News, Sept., 1874. Dr. R. H. Davis and wife, of Jackson, have been visiting in town for a few days, the guest of G. M. Huntington Esq. The doctor has the honor of being one of the thirty-six voters who cast their votes at the first election in this village in the year 1865. He was also the first clerk of the village. Notes, April 9, 1874. In the "pioneer days" of Bunkerhill, an old lady residing there made frequent utterances which would have put Mrs. Partington to blush. She was conservative in her ideas and had opinions on all political topics of the day, and was free to express them. Prominent among these was the emancipation of the negroes then held in bondage. In talking with a knot of neighbors who had congregated one day, she said, "If they are goin' to emaciate the niggers, why don't they economize 'em so they won't mitigate with the whites?" In those days of long ago there was a murder committed near where the village of Jefferson then stood, in the town of Alaiedon, upon what, I believe, is now the farm of Isaac Drew. The mur

INGHIAM COUNTY NOTES 193 derer, if I remember aright, was a man by the name of Hyde. He was tried in Mason, convicted, and sent to the penitentiary. The same old lady in speaking of this event, said, "I don't see how in the world they could bring him in guilty of murder in the second degree, without he killed tew men." Contributed by a Pioneer. A LITTLE SIDELIGHT. MRS. THEODORE WESTON, Williamston. Mrs. Weston says her father came to Michigan in 1836, but settled in Jackson county, where he lived on one farm 55 years. She has often heard her father tell of Chief Bateese at Bateese Lake, whom he knew well. This chief had an Indian pony well known throughout the country. It was pure white, and the Chief often rode it from Bateese Lake to Detroit, in a day, said to be 90 miles. When her father first came to Michigan there was an Indian village where Onondaga now stands, and he used to meet the braves often and talk with them. They used often to come to Mrs. Weston's grandmother's and ask for food. Mr. and Mrs. Weston came into Ingham county in 1879 and bought some new land of J. H. Rayner, of Mason, and although there were cleared and cultivated farms all around them, they lived the true pioneer life on their 80 acres as they redeemed it from the wilderness. CHIEF OKEMOS. A history of Ingham county would be incomplete without the story of Chief Okemos, the most noted Indian who ever dwelt within its borders, and his prowess as a warrior in the frays of early days has caused his name to frequently appear in the annals of Ingham county and other counties adjoining. In a history put out by the Historical Society of Washtenaw county in 1881 is found the following condensed history of "Old" Okenlos, as he was best known during the latter part of his life:

194 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY "Okemos, a nephew of Pontiac, and once the chief of the Chippewas, was born at or near Knagg's Station, on the Shiawassee river where the Chicago and Grand Trunk Railway crosses that stream. The date is shrouded in mystery. At the time of his death he was said to be a centenarian. The earliest accounts we have of him is that he took the warpath in 1796. Judge Littlejohn, in his 'Legends of the Northwest,' introduces him to the reader in 1803. The battle of Sandusky, in which Okemos took an active part, was the great event of his life, and this it was that gave him his chieftainship and caused him to be revered by his tribe. The following is his own story as condensed by the author of the Washtenaw history: "Myself and cousin, Man-a-to-corb-way, with sixteen other braves, enlisted under the British flag, formed a scouting or war party, left the Upper Raisin, and made our rendezvous at Sandusky. One morning, while lying in ambush near a road lately cut for the passage of the American army and supply wagons, we saw twenty cavalrymen approaching us. Our ambush was located on a slight ridge, with brush directly in front of us. We immediately decided to attack the Americans, although they outnumbered us. Our plan was first to fire and cripple them, and then make a dash with the tomahawk. We waited until they approached so near that we could count the buttons on their coats, when firing commenced. The cavalrymen with drawn sabers at once charged upon the Indians. The plumes upon the hats of the cavalrymen looked like a flock of a thousand pigeons just hovering for a lighting. "Okemos and his cousin fought side by side loading and firing while dodging from one cover to another. In less than ten minutes after the firing began the sound of a bugle was heard, and casting their eyes in the direction of the sound, they saw the roads and woods filled with cavalry. The small party of Indians were soon surrounded and cut down. All were left on the field for dead. Okemos and his cousin both had their skulls cloven and their bodies gashed in a fearful manner. The cavalrymen, before leaving the field, in order to be sure that life was extinct, would lean forward from their horses and pierce the chests of the Indians, even into their lungs. The last that Okemos remembered was that after emptying one saddle and springing toward another

INGIIAM COUNTY NOTES 195 soldier with clubbed rifle raised to strike, his head felt as though it was pierced with a red-hot iron, and he went down with a heavy saber cut. "All knowledge ceased from this time until many moons afterward, when he found himself being nursed by the squaws of his friends, who had found him on the battlefield two or three days after the battle. The squaws thought all were dead, but upon moving the bodies of Okemos and his cousin signs of life appeared and they were taken to a place of safety and finally partially restored to health. The cousin always remained a cripple, but the iron constitution of Okemos, with which he was endowed by nature, enabled him to regain comparative health; but he never took part in another battle, this last one having satisfied him that 'white man was a heap powerful."' In the "Past and Present of Ingham County," compiled under the direction of Albert E. Cowles, of Lansing, about 1900, is found a continuation of this story as chronicled by O. E. Jenison, also of Lansing. "Shortly after the recovery of Okemos from his wounds he solicited Col. Godfroy to intercede with Gen. Cass, and he and other chiefs made a treaty with the Americans, which was faithfully kept. "Okemos did not obtain his chieftainship by hereditary descent, but this honor was conferred upon him after having passed through the battle described. For his bravery and endurance his tribe considered him a favorite with the Great Spirit, who had preserved his life through such a terrible and trying ordeal. "The next we hear of Okemos he had settled with his tribe on the banks of the Shiawassee, near the place of his birth, where, for many years, up to 1837-38, he was engaged in the peaceful avocations of hunting, fishing, and trading with the white man. About this time the smallpox broke out among his tribe, which, together with the influx of white settlers, who destroyed their hunting grounds, scattered their bands. "The plaintive, soft notes of the hunter's flute, made of the red alder, and the sound of the tom-tom at council fires, were heard no more along the banks of the inland streams. For many years before the tomahawk had been effectually buried, and upon the final breaking up of the bands Okemos became a mendicant,

196 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY and many a hearty meal has the old Indian received from the early settlers of Lansing. "In his palmy days I should think his greatest height never exceeded five feet four inches. He was lithe, wiry, active, intelligent, and possessed undoubted bravery. He was not, however, an eloquent speaker, either in council or private conversation, always mumbling his words and speaking with some hesitation. "Previous to the breaking up of his band, in 1837-38, his usual dress consisted of a blanket-coat, with belt, steel pipe-hatchet, a tomahawk, and a heavy, long English hunting knife stuck in his belt in front, with a large bone handle prominent outside the sheath. He had his face painted with vermillion on his cheeks and forehead and over his eyes. A shawl wound round his head, turban fashion, together with the leggins usually worn by Indians, which during his life he never discarded. "None of his biographers have ever attempted to fix the date of his birth, contenting themselves with the general conviction that he was one hundred years old. I differ with them for these reasons, namely: being physically endowed with a strong constitution, naturally brave and impetuous, and inured to Indian life, we are led to believe that he entered the warpath early in life and his first introduction to our notice is in 1796. I reason from this that he was born about 1775, in which case he lived about 83 years. "He died at his wigwam, a few miles from Lansing, and was buried December 5, 1858, at Shim-ni-con, an Indian settlement in Ionia county. His coffin was rude in the extreme, and in it were placed a pipe, tobacco, a hunting knife, bird's wings, provision, etc. "He surrendered his chieftainship a few years previous to his death to his son John, but never forgot that he was Okemos, once the chief of a powerful tribe of the Chippewas, and the nephew of Pontiac." Okemos was respected and well treated by everyone, and old residents who knew this old Indian personally are proud to tell of the times they saw him, and the things they heard him say. Those who claim to know say that his real name was "O-ge-mah," but he always called himself Okemos, and the little village of

INGHAM COUNTY NOTES 197 Okemos in Ingham county commemorates and perpetuates his name. It seems fitting and proper that this should be so, for on the site of the village was Okemos' favorite camping place, and it was there he had a productive farm. O. A. Jenison, an early settler in Lansing, secured a picture of Okemos, which can be seen in the Historical Museum at the Capitol. He claimed it was the only picture Okemos ever had taken, but in later years this has been disputed, and there is said to be at least one other, taken with two white men. Mr. Jenison says, "Okemos sat for this picture, to my certain knowledge, in 1857, and it has never been out of my possession from that day to this." (Feb. 11, 1879.) B. O. Williams, of Owosso, who was for many years an Indian trader and spoke the Indian language fluently, has told many stories of Okemos which he had directly from the lips of the old warrior, among them the description of the battle of Sandusky as given above. Freeman Bray, of Okemos, is also an authority on matters connected with Okemos, for when he settled where the village of Okemos now stands the chief had his principal village there, and was at the head of a mixed band of Tawas (the common rendering of Ottawa) Pottawattomies and Chippewas. All the Indians who took part with the British in the War of 1812, Mr. Bray called "Canada Indians." The band had a burial ground on the low land near Okemos, and used to cache their corn on the knoll where the school house was built. Mr. Bray said the Indians planted corn for two or three years after he settled in Okemos on land which he plowed for them and allowed them to use. The band remained in the vicinity until in aboutl845-46, when they became scattered. Many of those belonging to the Ottawas and Pottawattomies were picked up by the United States authorities and transported beyond the Missouri river. On one occasion a band of some 500 were encamped near Mr. Bray's place, and had among them a number of sick, including several squaws. Mrs. Bray helped to take care of one of these, a young woman apparently in the last stages of consumption, and afterward her

198 I)IONEER HISTORY OF INGI1AM COUNTY mother visited the old camping ground and made Mrs. Bray a present in appreciation of what she did for the sick one. While this large band was encamped there, Mr. Bray told how a couple of braves without arms of any kind made their appearance suddenly from the south. On the same day some of the Indians borrowed a few pounds of nails from Mr. Bray, and the next day the entire band had disappeared. It was later learned that the nails were wanted to use in making litters on which to carry the sick and aged. The two unarmed men were fugitives from a detachment of United States troops, and had come to warn the band that the soldiers were after them. They were exceedingly reluctant to leave the country. Okemos, or his people, had another village at Shim-ne-con, in Ionia county, but the principal one was where the village of Okemos now stands. After about the year 1845 the band became so reduced by death and the scattering of its members that the Chief had a very small following. He became eventually a wandering mendicant, travelling round the country and living on the charity of the whites. He had a large family, as did many of the Indians, but they seemed to die of disease very rapidly. He left two sons, John, who succeeded him as chief, and Jim. John always drank considerable and never was anything but an Indian. Jim became a farmer and lived near Stanton, Montcalm county. Mr Bray told of one occasion when John stayed at his home over night. In the morning they had griddle-cakes and Mrs. Bray had made a quantity of nice syrup from white sugar. This so pleased "Chief Johnny," as he was sometimes called, that he kept the women busy for a long time making cakes for him. Johnny was a frequent caller in the homes of people around Mason, and one time he stopped at the house of a man he had known for many years, but found his friend had died since he last visited the place. Noticing his picture on the wall, he stood before it and said, "He was a good man. Johnny Okemos has lost his good friend." Turning from the picture his eyes rested on the cradle in which were sleeping twin babies. He gazed at them with a pleased look on his face, then turned to the mother and said, "Johnny Okemos' squaw do that." The last time he visited his old haunts

INGHAM COUNTY NOTES 199 in the vicinity of Mason his friends heard the sound of his pipe or flute about daylight one morning and remarked that "Johnny Okemos was somewhere around," but from that time they never heard those soft, musical tones of his instrument nor saw his face again, and that was about 1880. He had a son who was a successful farmer, but was pronounced "no Indian" by his father, for he would not hunt. Chief Okemos in his wanderings around the country was generally accompanied by a troop of papooses whom he called his children. Mr. Bray said he would never speak of his former life unless he had been drinking. He was scarecly ever drunk, but would sometimes take enough to loosen his tongue, and he was then very communicative. The story of the fight at Sandusky, as Mrs. Bray says Okemos told it to him many times without any alterations, differs somewhat from the way Mr. Williams says it was told to him, and the difference is so great that if one story is told the other should be, as both claim to be authentic. According to Mr. Bray's version, there was about 300 Indians together at the time of that fray. The redmen had heard that a strong force of cavalry was coming toward them, and they met and held a council of war to determine whether they should attack it. Okemos was opposed to this attack, but told the chiefs and warriors that if they said fight he would fight. The decision was to fight. Okemos, Korbish (his cousin) and other chiefs led their men into a marsh where they concealed themselves in the high grass and awaited the approach of the Americans. Okemos said there was a "heap of them," meaning the white men, and he distinctly remembered how the leader looked with his big epaulets. When the Indians fired they seemed to have aimed too high, and Okemos thought they did not kill a man. He said the commander instantly drew his sabre, and giving the command to charge they were among the Indians so suddenly that they had no time to reload their guns, and the sabres very quickly did their bloody work. The chief received a tremendous cut across his back which remained an open sore the remainder of his life. He was for a time unconscious, and when he came to himself and looked around not a living soul was to be seen. Ile made a noise like an owl and no one asnwered. Then he gave the cry of a loon, and someone

200 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGEIAM COUNTY replied. Soon after he found Korbish and one other chief alive in the crowd of dead. In his story to Mr. Bray, Okemos said he thought these three were the only ones left alive among the 300. They got into a boat and floated down the Sandusky river, and finally escaped, though they had to pass within sight of an American fort, thought to have been the one at Lower Sandusky. This was the only open fight Okemos ever took part in, but "when in his cups" he would often boast of how many Americans he had killed and scalped. His custom was to waylay the express-riders and bearers of dispatches between Detroit and Toledo. He would lie in wait and listen and when he heard one coming he would step behind a convenient tree and spring upon him as he passed and tomahawk him. Mr. Bray disagrees with other historians, and thinks Okemos was over one hundred years old at the time of his death, but agrees with them in regard to the time he died, which was in 1858, near Dewitt, Clinton county. In 1852 Mr. Bray made the overland trip to California, and tells an interesting experience he had while on his way. When about seventy miles below St. Joseph on the Missouri river he stopped at a landing and there found a number of Indians he had known in Michigan before they were transported to the West. They recognized him at once, and urged him to leave the boat he was traveling on and stop at their reservation for a time. This he would have gladly done, but his wagons, goods and teams were on the boat where he could not unload them easily, so was forced to continue his journey. Mr. Bray in his article confirms the universal statement that the squaws were the burden bearers and performed all menial work. Each year large numbers of Indians were accustomed to visit their old camping ground near Okemos to bring food for the dead in their burial ground there, and the last thing before they were taken to the West they gathered there to say farewell to their dead. One bleak day in December, 1858, a small train of Indians entered Dewitt drawing a handsled on which were the remains of Chief Okemos. Those who drew the sled were his only kindred and were taking the body of the deceased from his favorite hunting ground on the Looking Glass river, five miles from Dewitt,

IN(c'IlAMI C(N()TY NOTES 201 where the old chief had died the day previous. The friends bought tobacco and filled his pouch, powder to fill his horn and bullets for his bag. Contrary to the usual custom of the redman they bought a coffin in which they placed the remains, which they had brought that far wrapped in a blanket. When all these things were done they again took up their silent march toward the village of Shim-ni-con, on the Grand river, twenty-four miles from Lansing, which during the later years of his life had been the residence of this noted man. The story of any other chief would cause but little comment, but the character of this man and the part he bore in pioneer history in Ingham county, and the surrounding country, makes him a conspicuous figure. Okemos divided his life, quite impartially, between two periods, the former of which was spent in fighting and the latter in telling of the part he took in these activities. It would be hard to say which he enjoyed most. He boasted-Indians were given to boasting-first of his prowess and next of his descent. He was as proud of his ancestry as are we who came of Revolutionary stock, and though Pontiac was only an Indian, he was one of prominence among the Indian tribes of North America. The biographer of Okemos in the "Past and Present of Ingham County" takes several lengthy paragraphs in support of the authenticity and accuracy of the old Chief's recitals of events and says, "The facts stated by the Chief, and especially the harmony and unanimity of his story, many times repeated as to its prominent incidents, leads to belief." This writer gives such a vivid and realistic word picture of Okemos and his times that it would be a mistake not to make place for it in this history. He says: "The last interview of the writer with this old chief was in the fall of 1858, a short time before his death, on a train on the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad. He had been visiting a chief living on the Flint river in northern Michigan, and was returning to his home at Shim-ni-con. "He was in the baggage car smoking and talking when the conductor came for his ticket. The old man produced a trip pass which some officer of the road had given him, upon which the conductor inquired pleasantly if he was an editor. Okemos did not understand the question and from the smiles of the by-standers thought something offensive was meant, and started to his feet

202 PIONEER H-ISTORY OF INGIHAM COUNTY and said, 'Big Chief, me-plenty fight once!' This answer, brief as it was, told the story of his life. The explanation which followed put Okemos in good humor and he laughed as heartily as the others at the joke. "Aside from the scenes in which Okemos took an active part, how eventful was the age in which he lived! The old French war, the American Revolution, the career of Napoleon, complete, the War of 1812, the Mexican war, the Crimean war and the bloody contests of East India, all occurred during this Indian's life. Empires rose and fell, government were changed, potentates, princes and warriors grew to manhood, achieved fame, and slept with their fathers, leaving the events of their lives to become history, while this Indian ranged the forest, trod the hunting grounds and paddled his canoe over the waters of the Northwest Territory and adjacent country. He struck the warpath which led to the Erie frontier as early as 1791, where his exploits, both physical and mental, soon made him a leader of braves and a chief of the Ottawas. "Upon the eastern shores of Lake Erie Okemos fought against St. Clair, whom he despised and derided, and against Wayne, whom he respected and hated. Okemos spent many hours when in a communicative mood in relating scenes and events in which he had a part. Unlike most Indian narratives, his were not always upon one side. At times he would tell of his own defeat. A rich, quiet, inward drollery was that-with an unctuous chuckle, with which he would recount the effect upon his command of braves of Mad Anthony's mounted swivels, or 'cannon on horseback,' as the old chief called them, which were made to be handled among thick woods and underbrush where more weighty ordnance could not be employed. In an unexpected attack on Okemos and his braves the first shot sent the Indians on a double-quick run for the marshes, where they knew the horses could not follow them. Okemos never admitted that he ran, but compromised, like all great political and military leaders, by saying, 'Me hide up, plenty quick.' "Okemos was a little man, not over five feet tall even in his prime, but upon occasion he could assume such an attitude of dignity that no one would think of approaching him except in a respectful manner.

INGIIAMA COUNTY NOTES 203 "Okemos was a chief, not only by artificial rank in his own tribe, but in his instincts, talents and courage. He began his career with an implacable hatred toward Americans. This famous chief of the Ottawas was the greatest Indian warrior who ever held sway in Michigan. "It was Okemos to whom credit is given for driving out of Michigan Elkhart, the famous chief of the Shawnees (in the same connection they are called Pawnees) who attempted to seize the rich hunting grounds of southern Michigan; some of the most savage Indian wars of this territory were fought at that time, and with Okemos leading the Michigan tribes the intruders were driven out." The question of marking the grave of Okemos at Shim-ni-con has been discussed by Stevens T. Mason Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, of Ionia, and in this the Lansing Chapter has been asked to have a part, for so much of Okemos' life was spent in Ingham county that it seems fitting this county should help perpetuate his memory. In Volume 17 of the Michigan Historical Collection in the history of St. Clair county, as given by Mrs. B. C. Farrand, of Port Huron, is found a short sketch of Okemos, in which she makes mention of the wife of this warrior in an appealing and pathetic anecdote, and is the only place where the compiler of this book has found any account of this woman. As it is short, the sketch is given in full: "Ogemos or Okemos was a nephew of the great chieftain Pontiac, and like him was a bold and daring warrior. He was in person fleshy and short, full of life and ambition. He was buried in Ionia county, December 5, 1858, and was not less than 100 years old. On one occasion when on his way to Sarnia for the purpose of obtaining his annuity granted by the Canadian government, he with his wife and children stayed over night near Port Huron. His wife at that time was very ill with consumption, and he manifested toward her much sympathy and kindness, himself dressing her feet and waiting upon her much like an attentive white husband. He carried her in his arms to the canoe in which they were to cross the St. Clair river. When near the middle of the stream he hoisted the British flag, but he did not receive the payments for which he made the trip. He said he

204 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY had much trouble; his wife died on the way, and he returned to bury her, taking her body to the Riley settlement and afterward went down to Maiden to straighten out the annuity business. How he succeeded is not known, as he had given his allegiance to the United States after the battle of Sandusky. After his recovery from the frightful wounds he received at that time he took the oath of fealty to the United States, and always faithfully observed it. There seems to have been some question regarding his right to claim the protection of the British flag in 1844 (when his wife died) but perhaps his poverty knew no law. At the time he and his family stayed over night with Mr. Brakeman in December, 1844, the two men conversed in the Indian language the entire evening. Okemos stated that he was well known throughout southern Michigan, and showed the scars of the fearful wounds made by the tomahawks and guns in the battle of Sandusky. The totem of Okemos was the bear." MILITARY PROWESS OF EARLY SETTLERS OF INGHAM COUNTY. 1919. MRS. FRANC L. ADAMS. To all appearances not much stress was laid on the military record of the early settlers, perhaps because their thoughts were more on the work they had before them, in trying to carve for themselves homes from the wilderness into which they had come, and they had no time to dwell on their war records when they were exerting all their energies in trying to invent tools with which to work on the land, as well as to make furniture for their rude homes. Or it may be, that like the veterans of the World's War of today they shrank from telling of their military exploits lest people should think them braggarts. Whatever the reason, it is very hard in this stage of the world's history to get their names, records and places of burial. Since the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Daughters of 1812 first established Chapters in Michigan, they have taken great interest in locating the graves of these early-day soldiers and marking them in a suitable manner.

INGIHAM COUNTY NOTES 205 It is to the credit of the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical Society that quite a number of those who served in the early wars of our country have had their graves located. It has taken over four years of quite strenuous research work to get the names of these, also their history as far as possible, while there is every reason to think that the list is till far from complete. An effort was made to get the school children of the county to assist in this work by searching the cemeteries and township records, and a few schools responded, but the requests for help sent to the schools throughout the county did not arouse the enthusiasm for the work that it was hoped it would, for in addition to the help it would have been to the county society, the pupils would have absorbed considerable local history which would have been of value to them. In a little rural cemetery in the township of Onondaga, called the Lane Cemetery, one finds in the southeast corner a family lot of considerable size, where are buried several members of the "Champe" family. In the center of the well kept enclosure stands a slender marble shaft, and on one side is found this inscription, beneath two crossed swords, carved in the marble: "John Champe, An Officer in the Revolutionary War, Died 1798." For some time it was thought the body of this patriot laid in this lot, but through a correspondence with Miss Elizabeth Champe, of Detroit, a great granddaughter of John Champe, the following bit of interesting history was revealed. John Champe was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, in 1757 (one record says 1752, which corresponds better with his age at time of death), just twenty-five years after the first settlers located there. The early records fail to tell of his early life, only that he lived with his parents in their pioneer home near Waterford, on the road to Clark's Gap near Catocin church, and in 1910 the old house was said to be still standing. The records in the War Department at Washington show that John Champe enlisted in 1776, when nineteen years old, as a private in company of First Light Dragoons Continental Troop, commanded by Capt. Harry Lee, better known as Light Horse Harry. He was promoted to the rank of corporal soon after, and was later orderly sergeant, then sergeant major. His name appears on a roll bearing date of August 25, 1783, at Council Chamber Continental Congress as doorkeeper and sergeant-atarms.

206 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY Sergeant John Champe had been a scout in Washington's army and had made a brilliant record, but his greatest daring exploit was his effort to capture Benedict Arnold, the arch traitor. After Arnold's traitorous dealings with Washington's army, he deserted and joined the British forces, where he was made brigadier general and placed in command of New York. Washington heard of the derogatory remarks Arnold was making regarding the Continental Army and thought the best way to counteract their effect would be to capture him. After a talk with Col. Lee (Light Horse Harry), it was decided that Sergeant John Champe was the man best fitted to go on this mission. Sergeant Champe quite unwillingly entered into this scheme, for he would be obliged to feign desertion from the American army, make his way into the British camp at New York, and endeavor to join Arnold's command. He was able to carry out Washington's plans to the letter, and after joining Arnold and convincing him that he had really come into the British army from choice, it looked as though the hardest part of the work was accomplished. Soon everything was in line for the capture, when all of Champe's work was frustrated by Arnold's Legion being sent to the south by Sir Edward Clinton, and Arnold himself being assigned to another command. As he could not under those circumstances carry out Washington's orders, Sergeant Champe deserted while on the way to Carolina and made his way back to the Continental troops. This extra hazardous service for the American cause was thought by Gen. Washington to be worthy of some special recognition, and as an edict of death has been published against Champe by the British, in case they could lay hands on him, and in order to save him from this fate Washington gave him an honorable discharge, though the term of his enlistment had not expired. This kindly act of Washington made trouble for Champe's widow and children in after years when they tried to get a pension and land grants from the government. Sergeant Champe accepted the position of Sergeant-at-Arms in the Continental Congress at Trenton, N. J. Indoor life was not congenial to one of his strenuous nature, and when Congress adjourned he resigned and returned to Loudoun county, where he married Phebe Barnard, and began farming near Dover, about three miles north of Middleburg, Va. Later he moved to Ken

INGTIAM COTUNTY NOTTES2 207 tucky, where he died in 1798, and lies in an unknown grave in the vicinity of Louisville. During John Adams' administration when American commerce was assailed upon the high seas, Gen. Washington was again placed in command of the army, with Col. Harry Lee in charge of the cavalry. Knowing Champe's ability and courage they sought for him to work with them, only to learn of his death. An American poet wrote a poem of twenty-eight stanzas concerning the Revolution and three of them were in commemoration of John Champe's services, as follows: "Come sheath your swords my gallant boys And listen to my story, How Sergeant Champe one gloomy night Set off to catch a Tory. "Lee found a sergeant in his camp, Made up of bone and muscle, Who never knew a fear and many a year With Tories had a tussle. "To Southern climes the shipping blew And anchored in Virginia, Where Champe escaped and joined his friends, Among the Picaninni." While John Champe is not buried in Ingham county, the county is honored by having a monument erected in his name, and this makes his story a part of the history of the county. After 1800 the family moved to Ohio, and there Nathaniel, the son of John Champe, like his father, fought for American supremacy, and was with the forces that went against the British in 1812, and also like his father held the position of sergeant in his company. He fought in the battle of Monguagon, on August 8th, 1812, in a company of Ohio volunteers. They were under Colonel Antoine Dequindre's command, "and gallantly entered the enemy's work at the point of the bayonet." Nathaniel Champe was born in Virginia in 1793, and when

208 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY twenty years old he enlisted in Col. Duncan McArthur's regiment at Dayton, Ohio. That regiment with the regiments of Cass and Findlay formed the army of Gen. Hull that marched for the relief of Detroit. After the surrender Champe enlisted in the Regular Army, and was at Fort Meigs on the Maumee. He was mustered out of service in 1815, after having been recommended for lieutenant by Col. McArthur. In 1814 Nathaniel Champe married Almenia Thomas, and because of the following story for which her granddaughter vouches, she is deserving of a place on the list of 1812 patriots. As a child she was intensely interested in American affairs, and while still a young girl she proved her patriotism by entering the British lines in an endeavor to get information for the American army. This she scratched on a piece of birch bark with a pin, then hid it in the hem of her petticoat. She was arrested and brought before the British officials but owing to her extreme youth and innocent air she was allowed to return to her home without punishment, while the information she brought proved of valuable assistance to the American side. Many deeds of like daring her descendents tell of her performing. The names of Nathaniel Champe and his wife are both carved on the same stone with that of John Champe, with this verse beneath Mrs. Champe's name: "Free from all care and pain Asleep our Mother lies Until the final trump shall call The dead in Christ to rise." Some time after 1850 Nathaniel Champe moved with his family to Onondaga, Ingham county, where he bought a saw mill which he conducted. He died in Onondaga Feb. 13, 1870, aged 78 years. Not until 1918 was it discovered that Ingham county really had a Revolutionary soldier buried in its soil, and that is Martin Dubois, who lies in the Fitchburg Cemetery, and whose history is given with that of the Dubois family. This grave has been properly marked by Elijah Grout Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution of Leslie. In 1920 it was found through the U. S. Pension Department that Ephraim Whedon, or Wheaton (as the name was later spelled),

INGIIAM COUNTY NOTIS2 209 enlisted Feb. 14, 1781, from Northampton, Hampshire county, Mass., and was discharged on Dec. 18, 1783. He held the rank of fifer, under Capt. Dean and Colonel Benjamin Tupper, of Massachusetts. He was engaged in the battles of Kingsbridge, Fort Washington and at the surrender of Cornwallis. Applied for pension Jan. 8, 1823, and the claim was allowed. Residence at that time Lewiston, Niagara county, N. Y., and his age 57 years. Died Apr. 26, 1853, in Stockbridge, Ingham county, Mich. Married Eunice (last name and date not given). She was allowed a pension which was executed Oct. 4, 1853, at Stockbridge, when she was 91 years old. In 1823 the children were Alice, 24, Jerome, 17, Locenia, 14, Calvin, 12, and Barton, 11. There were five others who were married, and their names are not given. Ephraim Wheaton is buried in the North Stockbridge Cemetery, and the Lansing Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will place markers at his grave, and also the grave of Ferris Reynolds, who is buried in a cemetery in Washtenaw county. Ferris Reynolds, as found in "New York in the Revolution," on page 268, was in the Westchester Militia (land bounty rights) 4th regiment, Adjutant Thomas Hunt-in enlisted men. One woman of Ingham county is deserving of mention as a connecting link between Ingham county and Revolutionary times. Mrs. Lovey Aldrich, who is buried in the cemetery in Leslie, was the widow of Jacob Aldrich, a Vermont soldier in the Continental army. She was the last Revolutionary pensioner in the West. Mrs. Aldrich was a direct descendent of Hannah Dustin, of colonial fame, who when captured by a band of Indians in 1697 single-handed and alone killed and scalped twelve redskins and made her way back to her home, and was the first woman in the colonies to receive a pension from the government. SOLDIERS OF THE WAR OF 1812. Maple Grove Cemetery, Mason. Ira Beech came from New York at an early day. His granddaughter, Miss Effie Beech, of Mason, has in her possession a bill against the government, which was issued to Ira Beech in 1857 calling for $42 and some cents, as remuneration for money he ex

210 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHIAM COUNTY pended for clothing while in the War of 1812. He wrote to the officials to get his money and was told that, while the bill was good, the treasury was empty. In the late fifties Mr. Beech was able to secure forty acres of land in Barry county, Michigan, granted by the government for services rendered. Asel Mead at the age of twenty-five went from Westchester county, New York, to serve his country in the War of 1812. He, with others of his townsmen, embarked on a privateersman and captured many valuable ships belonging to the enemy. They were finally shipwrecked on the coast of Norway, where, after enduring great suffering from cold, they again embarked and were driven in their disabled boats onto the Orkney Islands. Here they were made prisoners by the British and confined for a year in Her Majesty's prison ship. The treatment they received was that given in those days to any one who opposed the crown. From the ship they were transferred to Dartmouth prison, a place made notorious by the atrocious treatment given to all Americans who entered there. Once when on the verge of starvation the prisoners became desperate and a revolt took place, with a demand for food. Fearing the Americans would make good their word and force the prison walls, they were promised better treatment if they would remain quiet for a few hours. In the meantime the prison guard had called for reinforcements, and to show how little fear they had of the prisoners they were all called out and a volley fired among them, killing and wounding many. Mr. Mead was one of those who escaped death, and when released at the close of the war he returned home and engaged in business, coming to Mason some years before his death to spend his last days with his son. He died in 1874. Others buried in the Mason cemetery are: Bela Watkins, Benjamin Stid, Nathan Rolfe. Lane Cemetery, Onondaga. Besides Nathaniel Champe and his wife are found the graves of these 1812 soldiers: Henry Gibbs, Samuel Fry, John Hunt, Elisha Smith, Leonard Gilman, William Houser. Onondaga Cemetery, Onondaga. Loring Sherman, born in Danby, Rutland county, Vermont, 1795. Came to Onondaga with his three sons in 1844, died in 1860; Thos. K. Baldwin, of Vermont.

INGHIAM COUNTY NOTES 211 Fitchburg (or Dean) Cemetery, Bunkerhill Township. John Macumber, Wm. B. Dean, Joseph McCreery, John Gee, D. Parmerlee, Hubbard Fitch, the latter has a government 1812 marker at his grave, and all of these names are inscribed on a unique monument, made from cut field stone which Bunkerhill township in Ingham county, and Henrietta township in Jackson county united in erecting in memory of its soldiers that are buried in this cemetery. Meridian. Joseph Henry Kilbourne, father of S. L. Kilbourne, of Lansing, was a captain in the Patriot War of 1838, and is buried at Okemos. Leslie. Elijah Woodworth, War of 1812 and Mexican War. Lansing. Melzor Turner was a musician in the War of 1812, from Monroe county, New York. He came to Okemos in 1841. Was a cabinet maker and carpenter, and built the first frame house in Okemos, which is still standing. Soon after the Capitol was located at Lansing he moved there and died at the age of 78, and is buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery, on Lot 49, Sec. D. His youngest child of the four born to him, Mrs. Mary Young, aged 87, now (1920) lives in Worcester, Mass., and furnished this information. North Cemetery, Delhi Township. Jacob S. North. Stockbridge. Orrin Ives, who participated in the battle of Lundy's Lane. Bunkerhill. Daniel S. Beers. John McIntee died in Bunkerhill in January, 1879, aged 113 years. He was born in Ireland in 1766, came to America in 1801. Served under Gen. Jackson in 1812 and was in the battle of New Orleans. North Stockbridge Cemetery. John Bullock. Whitney Cemetery, Stockbridge. John Whitney. Dansville Cemetery. Jacob Rowe, born in New Hampshire, died in Dansville, 1863; Zenas Atwood, Gaylord Hatch.

212 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Dubois Cemetery, Alaiedon. Abel Irish. Aurelius Center, Aurelius. Erastus Bateman. North Aurelius, Aureliis. Henry Ferry, John C. Youngs. Howard Cemetery, Ingham Township. Aaron J. Hunt. Grovenburg Cemetery, Delhi Township. Ezekiel Williams. Rolfe Cemetery. Vevay Township. Wm. Marshall, Benjamin Rolfe. MEXICAN WAR VETERANS. Jacob Boam, Lansing; William Field, Dansville; Capt. Asa Shattuck, Lansing; Capt. Townsend, Mason; John Aseltine, Alaiedon. Canadian soldier, Eden, Vevay Township. William Kirby, Lieutenant Colonel, Co. I, Missiscoe Rangers. CRIMEAN WAR. George S. Wilson was a familiar character in Ingham county for many years, and not until a short time before his death did the public become aware that he served in the Crimean War and that the slight limp he had was not caused by rheumatism but the result of a Russian bullet which he received on the field of historic Inkerman. Mr. Wilson was born at Bawtry, Yorkshire, England, and was only sixteen years old when he entered Her Majesty's service in Company 2 of the Thirteenth Light Infantry, of which regiment Prince Albert was then colonel. After three years service his regiment was one of those ordered to the seat of war in Russia, Their sailing vessel proved unseaworthy, and they were beached on the coast of Spain and forced to stay there two months. In October, 1854, Mr. Wilson was on the skirmish line during the battle of Balaklava and saw the "Six Hundred" make their immortal charge. Eleven days later, with a 50 pound knapsack and 100 rounds of ammunition, he took the ten mile march to Inkerman, where he was severely

INGHIAM COUNTY NOTES 213 wounded. All that winter he endured the horrors of a Crimean military hospital, the only bright spot being the fact that Florence Nightingale, the "Angel of the Crimea," was one who helped minister to his needs. One of the soldiers composed a poem in her honor, and the boys surprised her one day when she entered the hospital by singing this song, which they had found music to fit. After the fall of Sebastopol the 400 survivors of his regiment set sail for England, landing at Gibraltar in 1856. Asiatic cholera attacked the troops and many of them died. Upon his return to England Mr. Wilson did recruiting service at Hull, England, then went to Port of Good Hope, Africa, on garrison duty. He was invalided home from there and put on garrison duty at Femoy, Ireland. In 1859 he obtained a furlough and as soon as he reached England he took ship for America, without a chance to bring with him the various medals he had received while in service. He landed in New York on New Years Day, 1860, without a penny in his pocket, but by hard work and thrift he acquired a modest fortune before his death, which occurred in Mason in 1912. He came of a military family, his grandfather having fought with Wellington at Waterloo, and received fourteen medals in recognition of his services. Mr. Wilson had an older and a younger brother in the English army for twenty-one years and who helped crush the great Sepoy rebellion. BLACK HAWK WAR, 1831. Jonathan Freeland, participated in the Black Hawk War, and is buried at the Felt Plains Cemetry, Bunkerhill. He was born at Kingsclear, Maine, 1806. Died in Bunkerhill, 1880. His two sons, Henry C. and John, served in the Civil War, and his grandson, Dr. O. H. Freeland, of Mason, was assistant surgeon in the 31st Michigan Infantry in the Spanish-American War. J. J. Tuttle, of Leslie. Gustavus Adolphus Smith, of Stockbridge. John Mullett, of Meridian, best known as a surveyor in Michigan and Wisconsin, during the War of 1812 was an officer in the "Buffalo Home Guards," and was present at the battle of Black Rock. His work as surveyor in 1822 involved him in the little fracas between the Indians and whites which gave Battle Creek, Michigan, its name. He was in Wisconsin surveying when the

214 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY Black Hawk War occurred and he and his companions were driven out by the Indians, after which he was employed by Gen. Scott to go East and bring wagons for the transportation of troops. He moved to Meridian Township, Ingham county, in 1853, and died there in 1862. Is buried in a little rural cemetery near Okemos. His father, James Mullett, was born in England, and while living in London was seized by a press-gang and brought to America with Burgoyne's army to serve King George III. He had just learned the tailors trade and was about to return to his home when he was forced into the war with the colonies, and from that time he was lost to his home and friends. At the battle of Bennington he was taken prisoner, but escaped, and later joined the Continental army, his sympathies being with the American people, who were striving to cut loose from the rule of King George III. After the war he settled in Vermont and married Sylvana Perry, a descendent of the Pilgrims and a realtive of Commodore Perry. THE CURTENIUS GUARDS. By F. L. A. That one of the inheritances of the early settlers of Ingham county was the military spirit of their forefathers was shown by their enthusiasm on "General Training Day," and the organization of a military company as early as 1857. "Uncle" George W. Shafer, a man prominent in affairs in Mason at that time, took an active interest in the formation of the "Curtenius Guards," as the first military company was called, and was commissioned a colonel of the State Militia by Governor Barry. Col. Frederick W. Curtenius, a Mexican War veteran, whose home was in Kalamazoo, came here to act as mustering officer, and for him the company was named. In that way the name "Curtenius" becomes linked with the history of Ingham county, and the family was one of such note in the United States that it does not seem out of place to give a brief sketch of it here. His father, Peter Curtenius, was a general in the War of 1812,

INGIIAM COUNTY NOTES 215 and commanded troops quartered in New York City. He was afterward made New York State Marshal and while holding that position arrested Aaron Burr for treason. He was a member of the State Legislature several terms. Both his father and his father-in-law, grandfathers of Col. Frederick W. Curtenius, gave distinguished service in the Revolutionary army. The father of Peter Curtenius sold his business in New York City for $16,000 and expended the whole amount for the benefit of the army. On July 11, 1776, he read the Declaration of Independence in New York, the first time it was ever given in public. With Alexander Hamilton, Mayor of New York, and other city officials, he placed himself at the head of the "Sons of Freedom," a local organization, and with him as their leader the party marched to where the equestrian statue of King George III stood, demolished it and sent the pieces to Litchfield, Conn., where the loyal women of that place made the lead into musket balls for the use of the American army. Frederick W. Curtenius was born in New York City in 1806 and graduated from Hamilton College, Oneida, N. Y., in 1823 and began to study law. His inherited military taste proved stronger than his love of books, and after a short time he gave up his studies and went to South America to join the patriots who were making an effort to free themselves from Spanish dominion. He was made a lieutenant and gave good service until the close of the war, when he returned to New York, where he later commanded a regiment of State Militia. In 1835 he came to Michigan and settled in what is now Kalamazoo. In 1847 he raised a company for the First Regiment of Michigan Infantry, commanded by Col. T. B. W. Stockton, was made captain of his company and went with it to Mexico, where he stayed until the end of the war. In 1855 he was made Adjutant-General of Michigan, and held that position until 1861. He was then commissioned as colonel of the Sixth Michigan Infantry. He did garrison duty in Baltimore for six months, then the regiment was made a part of the Gulf Division under Gen. B. F. Butler and moved to New Orleans. This regiment, after the capture of the city, was the first to take charge of the United States Mint. Some time later Col. Curtenius was placed in charge of United States property at Vicksburg, and owing to

216 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHIAM COUNTY an incident which occurred there he left the service. Some slaves had sought refuge with his regiment, and the general commanding the brigade ordered the colonel to hand them over to their owners. This he would not do, saying the State of Michigan had not commissioned him to deliver slaves to their masters, and for this reply he was placed under arrest. The proceedings so displeased him that he resigned his commission and returned to his home, and the State of Michigan upheld him in the course he had taken. He served as State Senator two terms, besides in other high official positions. His death occurred in Kalamazoo in July, 1883. (The above facts were gleaned from Volume 7 of the Michigan Pioneer Collection.) It was while he was serving the State as Adjutant-General that he came to Mason and organized the Curtenius Guards that proved a dominant note in the military symphony of the county. Its muster roll contained the names of many of the most prominent men in the county. Amos E. Steele was the first captain (one writer says Arnold Walker, of Leslie, was the first), and he was succeeded by Philip McKernan, who was still in command when Lincoln's call for men came in 1861. The Curtenius Guards promptly tendered their services to the Governor. They were accepted and assigned to the position of Co. B, 7th Michigan Infantry, then in camp at Monroe, I. R. Grosvenor, colonel. The "Guards" left Mason August 15, 1861, with 100 able-bodied men and served gallantly through the war, participating in nearly all the battles in Virginia, acquiring distinction on account of their bravery. Only about seven or eight of the members returned, and they "with crippled bodies and health impaired." The following is a list of the officers and men who were members of the original organization that went into service: Captain-Philip McKernan, died at Poolesville, Md., Sept. 26, 1861. 1st Lieut.-Amos E. Steele, Jr., promoted to Lieut. Col., and killed at the terrible battle of Gettysburg. 2nd Lieut.-John B. Howell, resigned after a short service. 1st Sergt.-F. B. Siegfried, wounded. 2nd Sergt.-R. Reynolds, wounded. 3rd Sergt.-E. G. Eaton. 4th Sergt.-H. D. Bath, wounded.

INGEIAM COUNTY NOTES 217 Corporals-R. B. Godfrey, J. E. Sabin, W. W. Bowdish, L. A. Holden, N. H. Wilkins, V. L. Northrup, H. S. Felt. Privates-James Butler, S. B. Bement, W. H. Child, Jr., M. A. Converse, C. D. Clough, W. W. Everts, H. N. Gunn, A. Gibbs, A. J. Hill, A. N. Lombard, A. B. Laycock, F. Overholt, Geo. Palmer, W. H. Palmer, C. B. Pelton, G. W. Perkins, D. B. Reynolds, A. Tennant, D. E. Walker, M. Walker, A. Wilson, L. Bowdish, M. J. Chalker, O. C. Chapman, J. Gibbs, R. B. Huntington, I. D. Harlow, N. Irish, A. D. Palmer, Jehial Rayner, M. S. Rice, F. Searle, C. Smith, R. P. Tryon, C. B.. Wheeler. Several others who were members of the "Curtenius Guards" enlisted and served in other regiments. Among the names found are those of Chas. Rhodes, J. C. Freeland, B. F. Darling, Henry V. Steele, Robert Hall, J. H. Sayers, with probably others. Three members of the Curtenius Guards were given a lasting memorial in Mason when two posts of the Grand Army of the Republic were named for thein. The first post organized in the city was given the name of Phil McKernan Post No. 53. This was organized in the early eighties, and nearly a score of years later a second post was formed and given the name of Steele Brothers', in honor of Amos E. and Henry V. Steele. After the war the "Curtenius Guards" was never resurrected, but the military zeal and patriotic spirit of the veterans, who had returned to their homes, was so vigorous that a new militia company was formed, known as the "Mason Light Guard." This was an independent organization which existed during the years from 1869 to 1877, with only Civil War veterans in its ranks. During the winter of 1877 the company lost all its arms and equipment in a fire which destroyed the armory. Through the efforts of Hon. Stanley M. Turner, Representative from this district, an act was passed allowing the Light Guards to reorganize and enlist in the State service, and on May 15, 1877, it became Co. K. of the First Michigan Regiment, Col. W. H. Withington, of Jackson, in command. The company was mustered into service in June by Inspector General L. W. Heath, of Grand Rapids, Lieut. John C. Squiers,of Mason, acting as mustering officer, in the company's headquarters on the third floor in the rear of the Odd Fellows Hall. The names on the muster-in roll have a familiar sound to many today (1920), so will give them:

218 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Captain-Alonzo Cheney. First Lieutenant-John C. Squiers. Second Lieutenant-Lewis A. H-olden. First Sergt.-Charles A. Perry. Second Sergt.-Elmer G. Curtis. Third Sergt.-Marcus J. Christian. Fourth Sergt.-Solon D. Neely. Fifth Sergt.-Henry McNeill. Corporals-Robert T. Mason, Charles M. Shafer, Frank S. Stroud, Frank L. Gardner, Thomas E. Royston, Joseph P. Smith, James P. Horton, Charles F. Hammond. Privates-Alexander Bush, Benj. C. Baker, Charles H. Beardsley, Lorenzo A. Call, William H. Craig, Isaac Crich, Harvey Canfield, George F. Day, Alonzo Ellsworth, Thomas M. Fay, Elwin R. Guy, Alfred J. Gilbert, Oliver F. Griffin, David D. Lindsay, Reuben D. Maxwell, James H. Morey, Wilton S. Mead, Andrew W. Mehan, Albert F. Norris, Edson Rolfe, Charles H. Stroud, Geo. W. Storey, N. A. Seaman, Henry Whitelly, J.Vernon Johnson, Aaron E. Ball, Clay E. Call, Royal D. Corey, Julius F. Crittenden, George J. Cotton, Willis F. Cornell, Herman Darling, Charles E. Fowler, Benj. J. Fritz, Daniel B. Green, Wm. H. Goucher, Frank B. Hyatt, Charles F. Lyon, Frank P. Millbury, Jay D. Morrow, James McMichael, James H. Newberry, Elihu P. Rowe, Geo. W. Swiggett, Smith Simons, Fred Stanton, Cassius M. Smith, Seymour H. Worden. Some time during the years 1885-86 the name of this company was changed from "K" to "F," and the residents of Ingham county all know the part Co. F had in the 31st Michigan Regiment during the Spanish-American War. When, later, this company merged into a battery, the armory was sold to the city, and the pictures and flags turned over to Phil McKernan Post, G. A. R., the pioneer post of the city, and are now in the hands of the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical Society. These flags form valuable county souvenirs. At first the flag used by the Curtenius Guards was with the others, but this disappeared some years ago. In 1878 Mrs. George Mead and Mrs. Jesse Beech, two patriotic women who have passed to their reward, raised $50 by popular subscription and purchased a silk flag for Company K, which was presented at the celebration

INGIIAM COUNTY NOTES 219 held in this city on July 4 of that year. This is now "simply a flag, tattered and torn and hanging in rags," but the associations connected with it make it invaluable as an historic relic. The "field" on one side bears Michigan's coat of arms, and on the other 37 stars represent the States of the Union. The red stripes have faded until the striped portion of the banner is now white, and the end is simply a mass of fine tatters. There are two Company F flags, in quite a good state of preservation, but the style of construction show they were made at dates considerably apart. One has gilt stars pasted on the blue field, while the other has embroidered stars. Having played a part in the history of the county it seems only right that they should be in charge of some county society of a patriotic nature, and they are highly prized by the County Historical Society which counts itself as patriotic to the core. Since the time of the Curtenius Guard three generations have taken their part in the military activities of the county, and our boys today are as ready to stand for the defense of right as were their ancestors. The part Ingham county took in the Civil War and the World's War would make a story too long for this first volume of Ingham county history, in which it is aimed to give the earliest events concerning the county that can be found, though to complete their history it has been necessary to bring some of them down to the present time. Although this volume does not include the story of Ingham county in the War of the Rebellion and the wars which have followed, it will not be out of place to follow the story of our early patriots with a list of the patriotic societies to be found in the county. Not until the '80's were there any posts of the Grand Army of the Republic found within its borders. Chas. T. Foster Post of Lansing, No. 42, was the first to organize on Feb. 2, 1882, with 38 charter members, and Rush J. Shank as commander; the next in line was Phil McKernon, of Mason, No. 53, organized on April 8, 1882, with Comrade Henson as commander; Dewey, No. 60, of Leslie, started with 19 charter members on May 25, 1882, W. W. Cook, commander; Frank Hicks, No. 78, of Dansville, organized on September 18, 1882, with 23 charter members, with A. Beers as commander. This post disbanded in June, 1917. Fred Turrell

220 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY Post, at Webberville, No. 93, organized on November 21, 1882, with 22 charter members, Alpha Carr, commander. This disbanded in 1906. Eli P. Alexander, No. 103, of Williamston, organized on January 16, 1883, with 24 charter members, W. L. Robson, commander. G. H. Ewing, No. 203, of Stockbridge, organized on December 14, 1883, with 12 charter members, Andrew D. Grimes, commander. This disbanded in 1911. The last to organize was Steele Brothers', No. 441, December 31, 1897, under a charter issued by A. T. Bliss, then Department Commander. All the others received their charters from Gen. Byron D. Pierce, Department Commander. Chas. T. Foster, Phil McKernan, Dewey and Eli P Alexander Posts have strong societies of the Woman's Relief Corps auxiliary to them, while those of Fred Turrell and G. H.Ewing surrendered their charters at the time the posts did theirs. There is one camp of Spanish-American veterans, located at Lansing. There are American Legion Posts, composed of World War veterans, at Lansing, East Lansing, Mason, Leslie, and Stockbridge, with American Legion Auxiliaries at Lansing, Mason and Leslie. A strong society of Veterans of Foreign Wars at Lansing. There are two Chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution in the county, the Lansing Chapter, at Lansing, and the Elijah Groat Chapter, at Leslie. The Sons of Veterans and the Daughters of Veterans each have a camp in Lansing, besides several societies bearing different names, which are subordinate to the various orders engaged in patriotic work. All are busily engaged in carrying on the work for which they were organized.

INGIIAM COUNTY NOTES 221 HISTORIC FLAGS OF INGHAM COUNTY. BY FRANC L. ADAMS, Mason. It is impossible for the children of today, with flags in evidence everywhere, to realize that seventy-five years ago one could not buy a flag in Ingham county for love nor money. In fact, many of those living here at that time had never seen a flag, and the truth of this is being made more and more evident, through the relics being displayed at the Ingham County Township Historical meetings. At the meeting held in 1921 in Aurelius Township, the first church flag used in Ingham county was given a prominent place on the platform, and its unique appearance made it an object of interest. A Sunday School rally was to be held in that township some seventy-five years ago, and the people being of a patriotic nature greatly desired a flag for the occasion. Jackson was at that time the only trading point within reasonable distance, and every effort was made to procure a flag from that place, but to no purpose. Mrs. Fowler, whose two sons were present at the meeting in 1921, decided there should be a flag for the great day, but had very vague ideas upon which to work, but necessity proved to be the mother of invention in this case as in many other pioneer events, and she proceeded to create a flag, and the result showed that she didn't fully understand the original plan of George Washington and Betsy Ross. This flag consisted of a piece of unbleached muslin about two feet by three in size. The field was in the right position, but was made of inch strips of white alternating with pieces of figured red and blue calico, the same width. Thirteen big red calico stars were sewed at intervals on the muslin foundation, and this was mounted on a suitable staff. So the Sunday School had a flag to which all showed reverence for what it represented, and their patriotic spirit is not to be doubted. At the Leslie Township meeting held in 1921 another flag of about the same date as the one described was exhibited and used as the flag salute was given by all present. This flag is the property of Mrs. Palmyra Hahn, and was made for a Fourth of July celebration held in Leslie in 1846. This was made by Mrs. Clark

222 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Graves, Miss Laura Rice and Josiah Rice, Jr. As in the case of the Aurelius flag, no flag could be procured in Jackson or any other nearby trading post, but these people were determined not to be foiled in their plan for having a flag in their patriotic parade and proceeded to make one. This was made of a piece of muslin about two by three feet in size, but contained no field. Instead, the Rice boy had drawn with ink, on a large sheet of paper, an eagle with outstretched wings and pasted this in the center of the cloth, while around it were sewed thirteen red stars. As in the other case, it served its purpose, as it was proudly borne at the head of the gala-day procession. Another historic flag is one owned by Mrs. Harriet W. Casterlin, of Mason, which was made by her brother, Kendall Kittridge, just before the Civil War, when he was a boy thirteen years old. Not being able to purchase a flag, but with a correct conception of its appearance, he sewed together his stripes of red figured calico and white muslin, made a field of blue denim and sewed the white stars to this. It is still mounted on the staff on which it was carried in all the patriotic demonstrations so common "befo' de wah." About 1847 the first military company was organized in Mason by Col. Frederick Curtenius, of Kalamazoo, and was known as the Curtenius Guards. When Lincoln's call for troops came, they to a man responded, and of this 100 men only a few returned, and the name was known only in history and through the company flag, which a few years ago came up missing. After the Civil War another branch of militia came into being and developed into Co. "K" of the State troops. On July Fourth, 1878, a flag was presented to them by the citizens of Mason, and though "tattered and torn and hanging in rags" is being preserved by the Ingham County Historical and Pioneer Society. The red stripes are faded white, but the blue field still bears the gilt paper stars pasted on one side with Michigan's coat of arms on the other. Among Ingham county's keepsakes are also two flags carried by Co. "F" previous to the time it entered the Spanish-American War. These old flags tell in part the story of Ingham county's mili

INGHAM COUNTY NOTES 223 tary activities, but are there not other equally as interesting histories of flags that can be added to these? There is some prospects of having the Ingham County Pioneer History published soon, and everything pertaining to the historic flags of the county should be found in that book. Look among your relics, recall the stories told by your grandmothers and grandfathers, and then write them out and send them to the secretary of the Ingham County Historical and Pioneer Society, Mrs. Franc L. Adams, Mason, Mich. Mason, 1919. At the last meeting of the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical Society, Clarence E. Holmes, of Lansing, in his address dwelt largely on these words taken from the Mayflower compact, "Due submission to the laws as made." Summit R. King thought there were times when the "submission" should be modified, and to prove his point told the following story: "Obey the law? Yes, when the law is right. But there are exceptions to all good rules. This takes me back to the time when the South succeeded in getting the Dred Scott decision, the Missouri compromise, and then loaded on the fugitive slave law. Would we stand for all that? No. Making every Northerner a criminal who did not help return runaway slaves. We built the 'underground railway,' and I am proud that my father's house was one of the stations and I a fireman. "I want to tell you of one of the passengers that got through to Canada some time during the '50's. A Kentucky slave had got into Lenawee county and his master had trace of him and he was about to be captured. To avoid this the escaping slave was given a horse and told to flee, then a warrant was sworn out for him charging him with horse stealing and he was convicted and sent to Jackson prison for one year. "When the year was nearly up seventeen Kentuckians, with revolvers and dirks, came to Jackson and declared they would have their 'nigger' or wipe Jackson off the map. My father being a leader, there was a gathering at our house to see what should be done, some bringing rifles and some shot guns. While they were still there, there came a man on horseback who said, 'Keep away from Jackson, and especially bring no guns, for the affair is

224 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY all fixed up.' When the darkey finished his last day's work his master appeared at the prison and demanded that he be turned over to his owner, but the authorities said, 'No, his year is not up until morning.' "The next morning the man who delivered this message was not to be found, neither was the negro, for at midnight, when his time actually expired, he was taken over the back wall of the prison, where the father of O. F. Miller (the latter a resident of Mason for many years) met him with a horse and buggy and Kentucky saw that slave no more, his master returning to his Southern home with rage in his heart." Mr. King says he is the last man alive in Ingham county who was "Under the Oaks" in Jackson when the Republican party was born, and he has always taken an active part in the political history of both Jackson and Ingham counties. He relates proudly the little part he had in conducting one of the underground railroads in this section, when one night a darkey came to his father's house and stayed over night and the next morning "my father sent me with a horse and buggy to carry the escaping slave to the next station, and I left him with Aaron Ingalls." Until crippled by a fall from a tree a few years ago, Mr. King had annually made the trip north with the deer hunters from this section, and his observations led him to believe that many colored people who escaped from slavery stopped short of Canada, where they were popularly supposed to have gone, and lost themselves in the wilds of the northern part of the Southern Peninsula. An old darkey that Mr. King met while on a hunting trip told him the following story, which he said was the experience of a fellow slave, though Mr. King had the feeling that the man was telling of an event in his own life. He said, "During the first of the Civil War a colored man escaped from his master's plantation and made his way to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and joined a negro settlement there, but his master got trace of him and came into the settlement to look for him. He was successful in his search and one day as he had his hands on the slave ready to take him into custody the black man in his efforts to get away from him killed his master and made his way into northern Michigan, where he built up a home and lived quietly and comfortably." As the narrator had a home of about 100 acres with good buildings, and

INGHAM COUNTY NOTES 225 seemed so familiar with the conditions attending the story, the most logical inference was that he was the man about whom it was told. In the Ingham County News for January 8, 1874, is found the following: MASON'S MINE OF WEALTH. Extensive Coal Beds Discovered. Stock in the Coal Company Over 500 Per Cent Above Par. Many rumors have been afloat in this village and vicinity lately concerning the finding of coal in the village, and many have doubtless wondered that this paper, that should be eager after all such items of news, and be the first to spread them, has said nothing about the subject. Well, the reason we have not mentioned the fact of the prospecting for and the finding of coal before, is, because we have been earnestly requested to "keep quiet" by those most interested, and because we thought an excitement might be raised in regard to the subject, that would have as little foundation as that raised a couple of years ago at finding coal about three miles north of this village. Now, the indications are so good and the prospects so favorable, that the stockholders in the "Mason Coal Company" say "you may blow off." The history of the present coal discovery is substantially as follows: About the first of last October (1873) several gentlemen in discussing the matter among themselves thought that something might be done to develop the mineral resources of this place, providing there were any to be developed. The supposition that there might be was caused principally because pieces of coal, outcroppings along the bed of the Sycamore were often picked up, and from a statement made as long ago as 1838 by Douglas Houghton, the State geologist at that time, to Dr. McRobert, of this village, that coal could be found by digging along the creek south of Mason. Acting upon these facts and suggestions, an informal meeting was called and thirteen persons, capitalists and business men of

226 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY the place, organized into a sort of stock company to carry on the work. The names of the stockholders are as follows: John Dunsback, Dr. M. McRobert, Dr. C. H. Sackrider, Peter Lowe, Perry Henderson, Frank White, Stanley W. Turner, F. T. Albright, Elza Flora, O. W. Halstead, H. H. Parker, L. C. Webb, and M. A. Sweet. The assessment made on each member up to the present time is about $35. About the 20th day of October the company obtained the services of James Jenkins, an experienced miner from the Porter mines in Jackson, and commenced prospecting for coal. They first bored on Old's addition, directly west of the Union School building, and eight or ten rods west of the bank of the creek. They went down thirty-three feet, going through sand rock and slate, and finding eight inches of coal. Each time they went down they found a rich vein of fire clay averaging four feet in thickness, which would supply an extensive pottery. The next hole they sunk was one on the Noble property some distance south of the first. This they abandoned before going very deep on account of a lack of tubing. From there they went onto Mr. Wightman's farm, but had no particular success except in striking a splendid vein of fire clay. Last week they sunk another hole on Old's land, about twelve rods west of the first hole, and found a vein of coal two feet and eight inches thick. Northwest of this hole, twelve or fifteen rods, last Tuesday they found the vein to be forty inches thick. They are now boring about twentyfive rods southwest of the last hole, and if they find as good indications as in the other localities, they will believe they have as good a vein of coal, from thirty to forty feet underground, as can be found in this part of the State. The coal is hard, of excellent quality, containing but little sulphur. An experienced miner who visited the place this week claims it is a better quality of coal than that found at Jackson or Williamston. The stockholders of the company feel highly elated over the present prospects, and if they find the vein reaches greater depth will feel justified in floating shares in the company, feeling assured

INGHAM COUNTY NOTES 227 that the venture will be a success and add materially to the wealth and prosperity of the village. In 1916 the attention of a correspondent for the Ingham County News was called to the above article, and L. C. Webb, the only stockholder among the thirteen mentioned, then living, was interviewed and completed the story of the enterprise that began so hopefully in a search for "dusky diamonds." As nearly as can be located, the "diggings" were made on land lying just west of Sycamore Creek between Ash and Elm streets. After each stockholder had sunk about $135, with only some holes in the ground to show for the outlay of. money, work was abandoned and all hope of this becoming a coal mining region was given up, and the little excitement it had created died a natural death. The stockholders were said to feel quite chagrined over the failure of their venture, for they had made such thorough investigations before making their plans known that they felt reasonably sure of success. In 1872 it was announced that coal had been found three miles north of Mason in Alaiedon Township, and for a time considerable excitement prevailed, but the mining idea soon died out, and was not revived until in November, 1874, when the following item appeared in the Ingham County News: "The prospects for a successful venture in coal mining on the Brown farm in Alaiedon seem now to be good. About two years ago there was considerable stir raised about this mine, and Brown succeeded in leasing his farm to an eastern miner who predicted that there was valuable deposits of coal there. "Later the party, for some reason, seemed to become discouraged about the matter, and forfeited the amount he had advanced to Mr. Brown to secure the lease. "It was thought then, and has so been considered since, that the mine was a failure, but Mr. James Jenkins, of Jackson, has recently prospected in different places on this farm, and becoming convinced that there is a good show for coal has leased the farm of Brown. "Mr. Jenkins is a miner of experience, having been mining captain of the Woodville Mine at Jackson for seven years. IIe claims that he has got as 'good a thing' as there is in the State,

228 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY and refuses to sell any interest in the mine, although we are told he has had good offers to induce him to part with some of it. About seven tons have already been taken out, and the coal pronounced the best Michigan coal yet found, and equally as good as that produced in Pennsylvania. "The vein that is now being worked is about four feet thick, lies about twenty feet below the surface, and can be taken out with little expense." The following is a clipping from the Jackson Patriot which appeared about the same time as the above: "Coal-Mr. James Jenkins called yesterday and left us a sample of the coal being taken out near Mason. It is of a firm, close character, and can hardly be surpassed by any in the State. He took north last night a force of miners to begin work on the mine, which is situated three miles north of Mason." COAL IN AURELIUS. Some time during the '70's there was good prospects for a coal mine on the farm of Rosell Sanders, one-half mile east of the Barnes school house in Aurelius. A vein of coal three feet four inches thick was discovered underlying many acres of land. This was examined by experts and pronounced a good quality of cannel coal, but did not prove to be a paying proposition any more than the others. Again in 1888 coal was found on the farm of D. P. Whitmore; the vein was twenty-two inches thick and thirty feet below the surface of the ground. In 1911 while workmen were digging a well on the premises of Mrs. Albert Butler in the southeastern past of Mason, just east of Sycamore Creek, there were found indications of coal deposits, and again there was a ripple of excitement, and it was said some prospecting would be done, but the matter fell through without anything being done. A talk with the State Geologist in 1916 about these schemes of early days in regard to Ingham county's mines, brought forth the remark that there was no doubt about this part of Michigan being

INGHAM COUNTY NOTES 229 underlaid with a coal strata, but the quantity or quality would not tempt experts to make any effort to go into the mining business, in fact, said in substance that "the game would not be worth the candle" under present conditions. In 1893 the coal question in Ingham county received an added impetus when in digging a well on the A. D. Hawley farm in Vevay township there was found a vein of coal six feet in thickness. This part of the county, which lies exactly between the well known mines of Corunna and Jackson, gives strong indications of the existence of coal, and causes the land owners to feel sure that their efforts to uncover coal in paying quantities will be successful. Messrs. L. S. Bates and L. J. Lincoln are so firmly convinced that coal is to be found that they have leased 800 acres of land in the southeastern part of Vevay, three miles from Mason, and will at once begin prospecting. Their leases give them the privilege of boring for and mining coal, and if they find veins two feet thick they will continue to work. The farms are owned by A. D. Hawley, Jesse Gray, Ira Teall, Selwin Bush, Dennis Stevens, W. S. Chalker, F. Searle and others, all of whom are long since dead, but not until their hopes of fruitful coal mines had died before their eyes. WILLIAMSTON COAL DEPOSITS. Williamston Enterprise, March 13, 1918. At the regular meeting of Williamston Lodge No. 205, 1. O. O. F., last Thursday evening Thomas M. Jenkins gave a very interesting talk on the coal deposits of Williamston and anecdotes in connection with the mining thereof. Among other things, he described how, during his recent operations here, the miners working for him broke through into the old workings of thirty-six to forty years ago. The shaft put down by Mr. Jenkins was not far from the old shaft which had been filled with water for nearly forty years. His miners, however, worked in a different direction for many months and did not come near the old workings, but finally in attempting to reach another pocket of coal their tunnel broke into the old mine. There was

230 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY a head of about nine feet of water, and the men were pretty scared for a time, but they managed to get out without injury. The workings were then pumped out and the miners made explorations into the tunnels which had been the scene of much activity forty years ago. Mr. Jenkins stated that among other things they found some partially squared timbers that had been taken into the mine, probably two score years ago. These were floating about in the water and were as sound as when they were put into the mine. Some had the bark still on them, and this was as stringy and tough as though it had just been cut. The other timbers used in the shaft and for props were found to be in almost perfect condition. In operating the mines here Mr. Jenkins states that he has never found any black damp except in the tunnels of the old workings. An interesting story was related by him in reference to the stripping operations which were carried on when he first started in work here. The earth was being removed to a depth of six or eight feet to uncover a vein of coal which lay near the surface. While removing this earth a chunk of coal was discovered which was entirely surrounded by earth similar to that being removed, though it was several feet nearer the surface than the vein they were uncovering. The chunk was about a foot square and two and one-half feet long. The earth about it had never been disturbed by man, and the question was, how the coal came to be in that position? It seems to have been a very striking illustration of glacial float deposit, the coal not being in a natural position with its "feet" down, but turned up instead. Mr. Jenkins states that when coal lies in its natural state underneath it are impressions something like feet or roots running out almost flat and directly beneath the coal. These can very frequently be observed, though not always, and the float above referred to was not in a natural position.

INGEIAM COUNTY NOTES 231 COAL VEIN DISCOVERED BY WEBBERVILLE DITCHER. Burned With Intense Heat in Cook Stove. 1919. Last week while Archie Hawley, of Webberville, was digging a drain near the village he run into a vein of coal; taking some of the newly discovered article home and putting it into the cook stove he found it burned with an intense heat and very little smoke. It undoubtedly is a part of the vein which underlies the whole section of that part of the country. A short time ago Guy Haskins was digging a drain on the George Millis farm near Webberville and found a large deposit of shale, resembling that used for glazing tile and brick. Mr. Millis submitted a sample of it to a company in Jackson, who pronounced it first class, and predicted that if it was there in quantity a brick and tile factory would be built in Webberville in the near future. An Indian dance as described in the Ingham County News for August 5, 1875, and signed "Pioneer." Not even the location was given. "The representation of an Indian dance in Barnum's show in Lansing on July 5, was quite a tame affair compared with one I witnessed in this county (Ingham) in the fall of 1837. There were about 200 of the redskins present. Our Indians, that is those encamped in our vicinity for the winter, numbering about 50, commenced preparations for a two day feast several days previous to the appointed festive time by clearing a piece of ground, about 40 by 200 feet, of overy obstruction, cutting the few small trees that grew on the otherwise smooth and level plat of ground close to the surface of the earth. "Then crotched sticks were driven into the ground lengthwise of the cleared plat, leaving them about fifteen inches above the earth, and on these poles were placed. White ash wood cut about two feet long and split fine was then placed with one end on the ground and the other leaning against the poles. The meats for the feast had already been prepared. On the day preceding

232 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIAM COUNTY the dance the Indians came in squads from every direction and pitched their tents in a very different way from that of Barnum's showmen. In the forenoon of the first day of the feast two squaws received all the guns, tomahawks, axes, knives-in fact every implement of any such character, and carried them into a tamarack swamp close by where they stacked them up in a hidden place. These squaws kept themselves aloof from the festivities of the day. About two o'clock the feast commenced and lasted until dark. Then the long line of wood was set on fire and the dance, or hop, jump and whoop began, the Indians chasing one another round and round the fire, making as great a variety of sounds expressive of glee as the human tongue can utter. And such antics! I will not attempt a description, for words fail me. Some that became weak-kneed from the use of too much fire-water fell down and were run over by the others before they were able to get up and crawl away. This continued until the fire burned down and out, when those that were able went to their wigwams. The next morning the two squaws that had taken care of the weapons the previous day delivered them on the dance grounds. Two other squaws removed them to the swamp again, hiding them in a different place, and like their predecessors took no part in the play of that day, which was simply a repetition of the previous one. In a few days the visiting parties returned to their own hunting grounds, and the pow wow came to an end." From the Ingham County News for October 22, 1874. Mason, Michigan. "We suppose the greater part of the community, as we were until a few weeks ago, are ignorant of the fact that a mint manufactory is being carried on quite successfully about two miles north of this village, on what is known as the Lansing road. There is such a distillery being carried on by Charles Mead, who moved into this State from New York about two years ago. Before coming here he followed the same business of distilling to some extent. He carries on this business in connection with his farming and makes it quite profitable. He is willing to talk about his mode of operation and gave us a couple of bottles containing samples of his peppermint and spearmint, which look as clear and

INGIHAM COUNTY NOTES 233 strong as any we have ever seen. We don't care to divide with our readers the contents of the bottle, but will try to be liberal with the information we received. "For distilling there is a large, tight wooden box or vat, into which the herbs to be distilled are put. This sets over a large sheet iron pan for holding water, and this rests on an arch in which the fire is built. The bottom of the vat is filled with holes through which the steam enters and permeates the herbs. The only way the steam can escape is through the worm that rests in a tub of cold water near the vat, one end fastened to the box containing the herbs. In passing through the worm, which is a coiled pipe forty feet long, the steam condenses and the oil and water flow into a receiver placed ready for them. The oil rises to the top and is dipped off, bottled, and is then ready for market. Mr. Mead says it is very little trouble to raise the herbs for these oils, and the expense of distilling them is not heavy. The average yield is from twenty to thirty pounds of oil to the acre, and at $5.00 per pound he felt well paid. From two acres set out this year he realized 5212 pounds of oil, which was a small yield owing to the dryness of the season. He has four acres set out, peppermint, spearmint, fire-weed and golden-rod." Then follows an appeal from Mr. Mead to the farmers of this section to enter into this work, as he thinks they could find no easier way to make money than by raising herbs and having them distilled. About 1900 Earl Lee came into Aurelius Township from Athens, Mich., and purchased what was known as the McRobert farm. Finding some of his land well adapted to raising mint, he put several acres under cultivation and installed a distillery, where he manufactured peppermint oil for a few years, making a very satisfactory product. A few years later he sold the farm, and the business was abandoned. HORSE STEALING IN INGHAM COUNTY. Although it is the object of the compiler of this volume to only bring the history of the county down to Civil War times, there are some stories of early days which have their ending in the present

234 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY time, and the history would be incomplete without taking it in its natural sequence. In O. W. Howe's " Chronicles of Break o' Day" he uses many historical facts as a basis for his story, tells of the "Jerusalem Wagon" (mentioned elsewhere in this volume), the Bohemian Oats scandal which was the main topic of conversation for some years, and the depredations of organized bands of horse thieves that had their strongholds in the swamps in the southern part of this county. An article which appeared in the Leslie LocalRepublican in 1895 forms a sort of sequel to the story told by Mr. Howe, and is as follows: "The historical Johnson swamp, four miles west of Leslie, is the famous Johnson swamp to which people came from all directions and from miles around in big wagons to pick the berries found there in great profusion. "Since the 'Chronicles of Break o'Day' appeared there has been some discussion as to the part Onondaga contributed to the romance. Many interesting details have, unfortunately, been forgotten, but the Local-Republican, as correctly as possible, and as fully as it has been able to gather it presents the fragmentary traditional history on which certain chapters of Mr. Howe's novel are based. "In the spring of 1850 Rev. William Jones moved from Waterloo Township, Jackson county, to what is now known as the Jones farm, three and one-half miles west of Leslie. He owned a large, powerful dog, which had bull blood, and was very ferocious. In the night, just after he had retired, when the boxes, barrels and miscellaneous traps that had been brought by wagon were still on the porch and scattered around the yard, he heard the dog growl from his newly-found den under the porch. "Mr. Jones called to him to 'be still.' The animal continued his growling, and at last barking angrily advanced into the yard. He was quieted by Mr. Jones, who had gone to the door, fearing that the dangerous brute might attack an innocent passer-by. It was about midnight when the occupants of the house heard a horse running furiously along the road to the eastward. The next morning Onondaga Township was wild over the announcement that a horse had been stolen from Elmer D. Hunt, who lived on the farm now owned by Thomas Symonds. Although Hunt

INGHAM COUNTY NOTES 235 spent the price of the horse, and that was no mean figure, he never recovered his stolen property. "The Johnson swamp was then as wild and lonely a spot as could be found in central Michigan. At all times of the year, except the very hottest months of summer, it was surrounded by a zone of water which was waist deep. Its bushes in many places were so thick that a person in the midst of them could see but a few feet ahead. Berry pickers often searched for hours before reaching dry land. "During the term of the Ingham County Circuit Court, which was held early in 1851, a large portion of the cases were criminal and had come from the township of Onondaga. Those legal giants, Austin Blair and Henry H. Shaw, were arrayed against each other in contests, the earnestness and bitterness of which must make them long memorable. Then it transpired that this accumulation of criminals from one township was not accidental. According to the confession of Peter Waggoner, he belonged to a gang organized for purposes of robbery and theft. But the trials ended without a single conviction. They were not, however, without their result. They broke up the organization that had so terrorized the community. They furnished local history that has been narrated with zest for more than fifty years." As the years rolled on horse thieving continued, and occasionally an animal was taken that was never again heard from, the general belief being that some gang was operating and the horses were securely hidden in the impenetrable swamps of southern Michigan and northern Indiana, until the time came when it was considered safe to dispose of them. One of the most interesting incidents connected with the series of horse thieving in southern Michigan occurred in Mason in October, 1885. The first the public knew of this event was when John C. Squiers, of this city, then deputy sheriff of Ingham county, issued the following notice: "Stolen. $60.00 Reward! Span large bay work horses and lumber wagon. "From pasture of Ira Adams, 212 miles southwast of Mason, Mich., on the evening of October 1, 1885, one pair work horses, viz: One four-year old bay horse with no white hairs, weight 1,400 pounds. About 17 hands high, black mane and tail.

236 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY "Other, bay mare, weighs about 1,300, white snip, right hind foot white, a peculiar white spot on one hip, small star in forehead, about 12 years old. Both horses shod in front, barefoot behind. "The same night the same thief stole from John S. Sweet, in the southwest corner of Delhi Township, this county, one Coquillard lumber wagon, sold and warranted by Knapp and Carr of Eaton Rapids. Six unmarked grain bags in wagon. The thief is evidently making north to the pinery. Last heard of him he was in Eaton county going north. "I will pay $25 for the thief locked in any jail in the State, also $25 for the horses and $10 for wagon and bags. "J. C. Squiers, Deputy Sheriff, Mason, Ingham Co., Mich." On the morning of October 2 Mr. Adams went to the pasture to get his team in order to take some friends to the early train going north through Mason, and not finding them thought at first they might have wandered from his place during the night, but when he was looking for them he found that a neighbor on an adjoining farm had discovered that a part of his harness was gone, and a few hours later he learned of the theft of the wagon and grain bags, and decided that his horses formed a part of that oufit that was seen traveling West. The trail was followed as far as the Eaton county line and there the travel of the morning had destroyed it. It was reported that the thieves had headed for the north woods, and the hunt was directed that way. Descriptions of the horses were sent in every direction, the peculiar markings of one of the animals leading to the belief that it could be easily identified. Although it was undertsood that there was a lair for horse thieves in northern Indiana, in what has since been known as "The Limberlost country," not much attention was paid to that fact as the course taken by the thieves was in the opposite direction. When five days had passed without anything being heard of the missing horses, Mr. Adams gave up all hope of ever seeing them again, but on the morning of the sixth day a peculiar incident occurred. A farmer living near Kalamazoo happened to wake about one o'clock at night, and as he turned his eyes toward the window, to his surprise, he saw someone light a match at the door of his barn across the road. With the thought of incendiaries in mind, he called his hired man and they started out to investigate.

INGIIAM COUNTY NOTES 237 Tied to the corner of the barn they found a team hitched to a lumber wagon, that was loaded with boxes, and they could hear someone stumbling around inside of the barn. They stationed themselves where they could capture the intruder when he came out. They got their man, and when they asked him what he was doing there at that time of night he said he was driving across country and was delayed, so thought he would stop and get a feed for his team. The farmer did not believe the story, and refused to accept the pay the man offered him, saying that an officer lived next door and they would call on him and talk the matter over. They started down the road with their prisoner between them, when he asked the privilege of taking off his overcoat so he could walk more easily. They consented, and as the stranger slipped from his coat he slipped from their grasp at the same time, and disappeared in the darkness. Having heard of the loss of the Ingham county farmer, the man at once notified Mr. Squiers, who when he reached there thought it was not the team he wanted, for there was no white spots on either horse, but a close investigation showed that all whiteplaces had been carefully colored, and by removing the dye the team was easily identified. The boxes in the wagon were found to contain goods which had been stolen from a store in Potterville a few weeks before, and the trip the thieves made after these was what led them to drive north and put their pursuers off the track. After all it is the small things which sometimes count, and the glimmer of a match, in this case, led to the Kalamazoo farmer getting $60 reward, and the owners of the stolen property getting their belongings back. Had the driver of the team continued his journey until morning he would have reached the fastnesses of the "thieves Paradise" in the Limberlost swamp, and could have disposed of his loot at his leisure. Now, with all that land cleared and drained, the thieving gangs seem to have gone out of business, though for years there has been an occasional theft of the kind, in some instances the animals dropping from sight forever, and again the owner being fortunate enough to recover his property before some thieves haven had been reached.

CHAPTER IV ALAIEDON TOWNSHIP. History by 0. B. Stillman; Dubois school; sketch of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Speer, Lewis H. Stanton and Mr. and Mrs. Jas Stienhoff; Jefferson City; pioneer stories by Harlow Tallman and Betsey Webber; Alaiedon Township meeting reported by school districts; first county farm. 1874 In collecting material for the early history and settlement of the township of Alaiedon, I am indebted for assistance to Nicols Lewis, Joel B. Strickland, E. W. Pattison and R. Tryon. The township of Alaiedon was in an early day, together with all the towns east of the meridian line, called Aurelius. In 1836 or '37 the territory now comprising Alaiedon, Delhi, Lansing and Meridian were set off and called Alaiedon. In 1841 Delhi, Lansing and Meridian were organized, leaving the township of Alaiedon with the old name. In giving a history of the early settlement of the township, I have confined myself to the township as it is now organized. In December, 1836, James Phillips settled on the west half of the southeast quarter of section 30. He was the first white man who settled in what is now Alaiedon, Delhi, Lansing and Meridian. Joel B. Strickland settled on the north east quarter of section 17, in March, 1837. Eli Chandler came in the spring of 1837, while Wm. Lewis and his two sons, Nicols and Jacob, with their families, settled on section 29 in September of the same year. They were preceded by Egbert W. Patterson, who settled on section 28 in May, 1837. He built the first log house erected in the town, about a year before his family came. He is still living, though perfectly blind. Adam Overacker settled on section 8' in the fall of 1837, on the farm now occupied by Wm. P. Robbins. Samuel Carl settled in the summer of 1837. Wm. C. Leek settled on section 3 in the

ALAIEDON TOWNSIIIP AND ITS HISTORY 239 spring of 1837, and died there in 1852. Wm. Childs settled on section 30 May, 1837. John Strickland settled on section 20 in the winter of 1838. He is still living on the same farm at the advanced age of 93 years, and can tell some good stories of pioneer life yet. John Hudson settled on section 7 in the summer of 1838. Jacob Dubois settled on section 36 in the spring of 1838, and his son, Garret Dubois, settled on section 35 the same year. He now lives in Bunkerhill. Stephen Dubois settled on section 25, 1838, and Matthew Dubois settled on the same section in the same year. Nathaniel Blaine settled on section 17 in the spring of 1838, while Horace Haven in the following winter took up land on section 21. P. Phillips and Major Bentley came the same year. In 1839 Nathan Davison came to section 15, Alexander Dobie to section 10, and Isaac Finch to section 14. Conrad Dubois and John Douglas came in 1840, Wm. Manning in 1841, Lewis Kent took land on section 25 the same year, and Daniel Stillman settled on section 3 in February, 1841, and died there 1862. John Aseltine settled in 1842, David Finch in 1843, and R. Tryon in 1844. In 1836, Stevens T. Mason (then Governor of Michigan), with J. Payne and George Howe, platted the village of Jefferson, on section 22, with a view to getting the county seat located there. A saw mill was built by Wm. and Nicols Lewis, in 1837 in the village of Jefferson. The first township meeting was held at the school house in Jefferson, on section 29, in 1838. The first officers were: Supervisor, Wm. Lewis; Town Clerk, Jacol Lewis; Treasurer, James Phillips; Commissioner of Highways, Nicols Lewis, Joel B. Strickland and Adam Overacker; Justices of the Peace, Wm. C. Leek and Jacol Lewis. The first postmaster was Wm. Lewis, appointed in 1839. The first school house was built in 1837 on section 27, in Jefferson, and was taught by Mary Ann Rolfe in the summer of 1837. The first white child born in the township was Mary Strickland, born July 19, 1837. She became the wife of Rev. A. Clough. The first white person to die in the township was the wife of James Phillips, who died in June, 1837.

240 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY The first ministers to preach in the township were Elder Breckenridge and Elder Jackson, in 1837. At the first town meeting held in the township there were but 15 votes polled. This comprised all or nearly all of the voters in the four townships of Alaiedon, Delhi, Lansing and Meridian. I have gathered such facts as I could under the circumstances. Most of the pioneers have gone to their long home, and it is difficult to get exact dates. The first records of the township have been lost up to 1842, when Alaiedon became a township by itself. O. B. STILLMAN. SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 3, ALAIEDON. Books with genuine board covers are among the things of the past, and are treasured among the relics of by-gone days. The first book of records for District No. 3, in Alaiedon township, is one about 6 x 7 inches in size, with real wooden covers. These were originally concealed by a mottled brown paper covering, with leather back, but the paper has worn away leaving the wood exposed. Not only the book itself, but its contents as well, are of interest to those engaged in collecting Ingham county history. During the last few years much has been said concerning the ubois family and the part its members had in making history for this county, and in the records of this district, which is known as the "Dubois school," it is found that members of that family had a prominent part. The residents of District No. 3 gathered for their first school meeting on Nov. 11, 1841, when Jacob Dubois was chosen as moderator, Garrett Dubois as director, and Steven B. Dubois as assessor for the ensuing year. At that time it was voted to build a school house on the S. W. cor. of S. W. 1 of Sec. 25, T. 3 N. R. 1 W., "said building to be made of logs, 22 ft. square, with a shingle roof and a good box stove." It was also voted that $100 be raised by tax for building and furnishing said house. The tax run from $3 to $16 per capita, some paying in labor at five shillings per day, some in hand riven shingles at 40 cts. per hundred, some in lumber, while one paid in nails at 10 cts. per

ALAIEDON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 241 pound, lumber at $8 per thousand, and glass for windows. There were twenty-four pupils in the school the first year; the books used were Cobb's and the elementary spelling books, History of the United States, New English Reader, Grammar and Geography, the inference being that the "Cobb's" mentioned were books on mathematics. Three months school each year was the rule until 1850 when it was voted to have both a summer and a winter school, and about that date it was voted to raise 50 cts. to pay one tax payer for inspecting the teacher. Money for teachers wages was raised by levying a tax on each child of school age. In 1855 at a special meeting it was voted to replace the log school house by one made of brick, to cost $200, but this building was not completed until 1857 and then by vote of the tax payers it was made of wood instead of brick. In 1859 it was voted to purchase a Webster's Dictionary at $4.00, and also voted to assess the parents 12 cord of wood for each scholar attending school. In 1891 a third school building was erected, and this time a brick one, at a cost of not to exceed $1,000. At some time during the years of its existence this district had become a fractional one, lying in both Alaiedon and Vevay townships. Up to 1881 the highest wages paid were $35 per month for a male teacher and $28 per month for a female, while during the '60's a teacher from the gentler sex received the munificent sum of $8.50 per month while her brother, for doing the same work, received $25. The contracts made during the '60's all bore United States revenue stamps. Not until well along in the '80's was the old system of having the teacher "board round," sampling all the viands in the district, as well as all the beds, done away with. VENERABLE OLD COUPLE. Mr. and Mrs. John W. Speer, of Alaiedon Township, I-ave Travelled Together Nearly Sixty-two Years. Written in 1912. Comparatively few married couples are spared to live fifty years of wedded life together, and the instances of husband and wife who share each other's joys and sorrows for sixty years are rare indeed; but Mr. and Mrs. John W. Speer, of Alaiedon Townare well along in the sixty-second year of their joint pilgrimage,

242 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY having lived all that time on the farm which Mr. Speer helped clear and improve; thus being among the very earliest of the remaining pioneers of Ingham county, as well as having, possibly exceeded all others in the duration of their married life. Mr. Speer was born October 3, 1827, in Seneca county, N. Y., and at the age of ten came with his parents to the far West, as Michigan was then known. Instead of driving through Canada, the family came by the luxurious route via Erie canal to Buffalo, thence to Detroit by steamboat, where they obtained teams and wagons and proceeded to their first stopping place in the new land in Washtenaw county. Here they lived ten years, and in 1847 the family again left their home and came over the "short hills," over the portages and through the "oak openings" to the heavy timber land where Mr. Speer now lives. On January 20, 1850, Mr. Speer married Miss Sylvia Aseltine, who was born in Canada, at the foot of Lake Champlain, Sept. 11, 1831, and came with her parents to Michigan in 1837, driving the entire distance, and settling in Washtenaw county the same year in which her husband came. Her family came to Ingham county in 1842, all the inhabitants in common suffering the usual privations and hardships of pioneer life. After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Speer in 1850 a home was built. This was a log house of one room which served as kitchen, parlor, dining room and sleeping apartment. A stone fireplace, with a hearth of flat stone, and a chimney constructed of sticks laid up cob-house fashion and plastered with mud inside and out, served as a range and heater. The roof of the house was made of "shakes," riven out of bolts of straight-grained timber by means of mallet and froe, driven by pioneer muscle power, and placed in such a manner as to answer every purpose of protection from storm. In this home they lived while subduing and making of the wild land, a fertile farm, and here they raised their family and literally grew up with the country. The oldest son relates an incident of his early boyhood that was not only of much importance to him at the time, but indicates one of the social customs as well. His parents had bought their first cook stove, which was an event of interest to the community, and the boy had acquired a pair of new red-topped, copper-toed boots-an affair of far greater magnitude to him. The rats had

ALAIEDON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 243 even then begun to colonize Michigan in great numbers, and to prevent them from lunching off his boots he used the stove as a safety vault. One evening, as was customary in pioneer days, a houseful of company came, and as was also customary the hostess cooked for the visitors a supper. In the morning a broken-hearted boy was viewing the remains of a pair of red-topped boots, baked too hard to be of any value, except, possibly, as dessert for an Arctic explorer. Mr. and Mrs. Speer have five children living-Mrs. Olivia Minkler, who lives with her parents at their home in Alaiedon; Marcellus, a well known farmer, and Mrs. Mary Upton, both of Vevay; John Speer, of Alaiedon, and Mrs. Ada Van Horn, of Lansing. Mr. Speer has for several years been in poor health, and is now partially helpless. Mrs. Speer at the last meeting of county pioneers was called to the platform and introduced to the audience as having been a resident of the county for 69 years, and is a strong, vigorous woman for one of her years. As this couple look back over the way they have travelled together, and note that the dense forests and swamps, the impassable trails and all the hardships and privations of early days have been succeeded by fertile, well-tilled farms, comfortable farm buildings with modern equipments, improved highways, and indeed all the improvements that go to make the sum of modern country life, they can say as very few people in any place can truthfully assert, that all this transformation from the old days down to the present occurred during the years they have walked together as husband and wife. LEWIS H. STANTON, A PIONEER OF INGHAM COUNTY. Written by Mrs. Harriet Stanton Bristol, Mason, Mich., 1916. Lewis H. Stanton was born in the city of Newark, N. J., in the year 1835. He was the eldest son of Daniel H. and Harriet White Stanton. When he was four years of age his parents, with their two small children, took the long trip overland by emigrant wagon to Michigan. This was then a much more perilous expedition than a trip to the wilds of Africa is today. They encoun

244 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY tered many thrilling experiences in the journey of four weeks bad weather, with roads almost impassable, where now the luxurious trains make the trip in less than twenty-four hours. They sometimes stopped by the roadside to cook their noonday meals and were glad after the weary day of traveling to reach a settlement at nightfall. Everywhere they met with the kindest hospitality. The family finally settled in 1841 in Ingham county, taking up 200 acres of land from the government in the township of Delhi, one mile east of where the village of Holt now stands. They were accompanied from New Jersey by Mrs. Stanton's sister, who later became the wife of John Ferguson, another early pioneer of the county. The father, Daniel Stanton, was a builder by trade and when the State Capital was located in the woods eight miles north of his clearing he helped to build many of the first houses in Lansing. Of the family of eight children who were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stanton, only one, Mrs. George W. Bristol, of Mason, survives. Lewis being the oldest of this group of children he, at an early age, became a helper in the home as all boys of those pioneer days were expected to do, and passed through a boyhood filled with interesting incidents. When he was six years old, and the nearest neighbor lived a mile away, one day at night fall the boy was missing. How the news traveled so rapidly through the surrounding country seems a mystery to us of today, but they soon gathered from many miles around, bearing torches, bells and guns, for there were bears and wolves in the forest, and all realized the danger the child was in. Special anxiety was felt because only a few nights before bears had come to a neighboring homestead and carried off a couple of pigs from the pen. The searching party organized and started in every direction to look for the lost child. The women had gathered as well as the men, and they waited with the grief-stricken mother in the log cabin, eagerly listening for the report of a gun, which was to be the signal when the boy was found, but not until about one o'clock in the morning did they hear this welcome sound. Little Lewis had wandered four miles from home and was so badly frightened by the darkness and the strange sounds of the forest that he had crawled into a hollow log, and though he heard

ALAIEDON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 245 the calls of the men he did not dare answer until he recognized his Uncle John Ferguson's voice. No record of the intervening years were kept, and we next find him at the age of sixteen employed in driving the stage coach and carrying the United States mail from Lansing to Marshall, which was then the only railroad station in that part of the State. Travel was slow, and it took one entire day to go and another to come, with Charlotte as a half-way station. Stops were also made at Eaton Rapids and Olivet. When there were no passengers the lad often made the trip on horseback. The trail lay through dense forest and over corduroy roads across swamps, and deer, bear and wolves were a common sight, and must have sometimes struck terror to the boy's heart. HIe soon found, however, that they would not attack a person unless molested. Indians were numerous and always inclined to be friendly. Mr. Stanton often spoke with pride of his friendship with Okenos, the old war chief of the SaginawChippewa tribe. He was a frequent visitor at the Stanton home and he and other redmen that he sometimes brought with him would enjoy the good meal served by Mr. Stanton's mother. They would beam with good nature, lift the babies and say "nice papoose" in their deep gutteral voices. In 1856 Lewis Stanton married Miss Angeline Stillman, daughter of Daniel Stillman, who was the first white settler in Alaiedon Township. For nearly forty years they lived on a farm in Alaiedon and five children came to bless their union. Arthur, the oldest son, a young man full of promise, died at the age of twenty. Mrs. Eunice Bogar died in 1908 at Chapin, Mich., and John M. Stanton, a prosperous farmer of Alaiedon, died in 1914. The mother passed to her reward in 1890. The surviving children in 1916 were Mrs. May Stanton Williams, of Washington, D. C., who was for many years a missionary in South Africa, and Mrs. Elizabeth Gregg, of Charlotte. In 1893 Mr. Stanton married Mrs. Mary Crane, who is still living at Charlotte. She was a cousin of Millard Filmore, President of the United States. She is proud of the fact that she rode on the first steam railroad car that ran from Buffalo to New York. Mr. Stanton reached the age of 80 years, but he was still young in spite of it. His powers of intellect, his keen sense of humor

246 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY and his kindly interest in everything about him remained strong until within a few days of his death. The end came Oct. 31, 1915, at his home in Charlotte where he had lived for the last six years. IIe often spoke of the marvelous changes which he had seen take place in this part of Michigan since he arrived here a small boy with his parents in a wilderness full of Indians and wild beasts. He was a member of the Ingham County Historical and Pioneer Society, a faithful attendant at the meetings and one much interested in the work it was doing. Lewis Stanton was a man of sterling integrity, a devout Christian, hospitable and generous to a fault, always eager to do others a service, and wherever he lived he was respected and honored by a wide circle of friends. Throughout life he fulfilled the spirit of this sentiment: "I live for those that love me, for those that know me true For the Heaven that smiles above me, and waits my coming, too. For the cause that lacks assistance, for the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, and the good that I can do." INGHAM COUNTY PIONEERS MARRIED FIFTY-EIGHT YEARS RECALL EARLY DAYS. The State Journal-1919. MASON, April 9.-Mr. and Mrs. James Steinhoff, of Alaiedon Township, have just celebrated their fifty-eighth wedding anniversary at the home of their daughter, Mrs. Bert Baldwin, of Mason, where they are staying for a few weeks, having recently sold the farm where they located 55 years ago. There, on the 80 acres, taken up from the government, they settled in a little log shack, coming from Jackson county, where Mrs. Steinhoff had lived as a girl, and taught school, getting ten shillings a week, and boarding round. Big oak trees were chopped down and piled and burned to make way for the little cabin, and the surrounding clearing. Mr. Steinhoff states that his first field of corn was put in by using an old ax to break open a bit of soil, while his wife following

ALAIEDON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 247 dropped the kernels of corn into each hill thus made. "And it was the biggest corn I ever raised in my life," he adds. There was no such thing as a plow, and although they were only half a mile from neighbors, who lived across the swamp, they were on no broken road, and only a path through the woods guided them to friends. "Were you lonesome," was asked of the bride of 58 years. "Well, sometimes I got pretty blue." she answered, "but you know there is something fascinating about developing a farm from the wild, every little thing you do, a tree chopped down or a flower bed planted, everything adds just so much to the home you are making, so I did not often mind." And as the years rolled on they added room after room to the little one-room log shack of their first housekeeping days on the old farm until they had quite a spacious dwelling. This in turn, however, they also outgrew and the time came when they moved out of the old log house and into the new commodious building which now stands on the place. HELPED TO BUILD M. C. Mr. Steinhoff vividly remembers the building of the Michigan Central Railroad through this section of the country. Indeed, he helped to score the timbers for the building of that first road, and both remember the day when the first train passed over the road. All wheat had to be brought to Mason, then little more than a four corners, to be ground into flour. "I remember working all one week hewing timber for two bushels of wheat at $3 a bushel," he said with a smile, as they mentioned the high cost of products nowadays, which with perhaps two exceptions, tea and calico, are at the present time higher than they have ever known. "Of course in Civil War times, things were high, but not like they are now, although I did pay 45 cents a yard for one calico dress, and from a dollar to a dollar and a half a pound for tea," Mrs. Steinhoff said. Ten shillings in money, a couple of pigs, and a few hens composed the young couple's wealth beside their farm and little home when they set out to conquer the wilderness. "Folks were friendly in those days, one neighbor was not different than an

248 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY other," said Mrs. Steinhoff. And as the crop land grew in size, and crops were bountiful, good times came on, but even before real plenty came the neighbors frequently gathered together and went from one home to another for a general good time. At those evening gatherings there were no meager "light refreshments," either, but a real feed, a hearty supper cooked by the capable housewives in the late evening, a whole baked spare-rib or its equivalent, being a common feature of such gatherings. While for picnics or any planned gathering folks used to bake a young pig whole. Mr. Steinhoff comes of a long-lived family, his great grandmother having lived to the ripe old age of 116 years. He remembers her well, as he does his great grandfather. He himself is a Canadian, and after coming to Mason was one of the men who helped to build the Mason Baptist church. A horse and carriage in those early days was almost a curiosity. Indeed there were but two spans of horses in that part of the country. Practically all team work was done by oxen, and in contrast to the roads of these days he remembers the time when it took two team of oxen to haul ten bushels of wheat to mill from the farm in Alaiedon Township to Mason. JEFFERSON CITY. Levi Ketchum, a pioneer of Alaiedon Township, died in 1915, and a short time before his death told the following incidents regarding the early history of the township and its city of that day. Mr. Ketchum was born in 1835 in a log house on the banks of a little river where the city of Cleveland now stands. When he was eight years old his parents moved to Alaiedon Township, and his early days were spent in the old log school house with its big stone fireplace, on the site of the present school house in the Canaan district. When nine years old he witnessed a tragedy that always lived in his memory. It was in what was then known as Jefferson City, a little burg which Alaiedon people looked forward to seeing become the metropolis of the county, though now it lives only in tradition. They, some of them, had great hopes of seeing the State Capital located there, or at least the county seat

ALAIEDON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 249 of Ingham. Here, near the little village, a murder had been committed, and Mr. Ketchum, a nine year old lad, was present when the murderer rushed in with his bloody ax, and when he went with a band of men to look for the body of the man he had killed. The boy attended the ensuing trial, heard him convicted and sentenced to life-long imprisonment at "The Tamaracks," as Jackson prison was then known, owing to its high stockade of tamarack poles. When ten years old young Levi went to work for his uncle, William Ketchum, who took up land in Alaiedon Township in 1837. This uncle had a contract with Jackson prison to supply logs, which the prisoners could make into scythe snaths, the idea of keeping the inmates of the institution usefully employed being in force even at that early day. It was to drive a team of oxen to and from Jackson, with its load of logs, that the youth was hired. It was about this time, while he was still a boy and with a boy's love of excitement in him, that news came to "Jefferson City" that Barnum's Great Circus was coming to Jackson. It was probably the first time the circus had visited Michigan, but its fame had traveled far ahead of it, and with all of youth's enthusiasm young Ketchum and a boy friend decided to go to the circus. The fact that they would have to walk there and back, about twenty-eight miles each way, was no damper to their anticipated pleasure. To save shoe leather, they hung their boots over their shoulders until they reached the city. They could only scare up twenty-five cents between them in the way of currency, but they saw the circus and returned home safe and sound. Another unusual event which lived with especial clearness in his mind was the great tornado which passed through that section in 1858. This windstorm lowered trees, tore down buildings, killed much stock and one man. To those present at the Canaan school school reunion in 1914 Mr. Ketchum traced the path of the storm fifty-six years before. He well remembered Chief Okemos, the Indian of great renown in Ingham county. Many of his childhood playmates were Indian lads. Mr. Ketchum married Katherine Harris in 1858, and to the

250 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY day of his death, on all occasions of state, he wore the silk plug hat he had for his wedding. ALAIEDON NOTES, JULY 3, 1873. As much attention is being given to anything pertaining to pioneer days, I will give you a sketch of a circumstance that occurred in this county in 1844 or '45. John Douglas, who then and now resides in the township of Alaiedon, became involved in law, and with their crude ideas of criminal jurisprudence it became necessary, in order to vindicate the majesty thereof, that he be sent to jail, at least that was the sentence of the honorable court. Here was a dilemma. There was not a pair of horses on that side the swamp, and catch old John walking to Jackson (Ingham county had no jail then) for the purpose of going to jail when he got there. Never. The constable, Mr. Cooper, was equal to the emergency. He got two yoke of oxen hitched to a sled (in the month of July) and drove to Douglas' cabin. He saw them coming and scorning to run backed off to a pair of board bars and clasping his arms around one of the boards coolly awaited the result. Cooper and his assistant executed a flank movement, took the bar out of the posts and with John still hanging to it put it on the sled and started for Jackson. They came in that manner to Hiram Parker's between Mason and Dansville, where they got him and his ox cart and sent the sled back home. In the town of Bunkerhill the constable pressed the father of the writer of this article, with his horses and wagon, into service, and carried their prisoner through. Think of that! Taking six oxen, two horses and four men two whole days to get a prisoner to Jackson. Now the same job can be done by one man in two hours. I do not believe there was ever a merrier party went to jail. All were full of fun except the constable, who was apprehensive of an escape or a release, but John told him he would not leave him half as soon as he would want him to. They left the prisoner safely in the hands of the sheriff at Jackson, and started back, but the first man the constable saw when he got into the "settlement" was John Douglas. One of the Mason lawyers had got there and

ALAIEDON TOWNSlIP1 AND ITS IISTORY 251 had the papers all ready for the prisoner's release, and he was out of jail and home ahead of them. Signed, PIONEER BOY. Mrs. Betsey Webber, one of the Munroe sisters, well known to all older residents of Ingham county, tells the following pioneer story which cannot fail to be of interest to Alaiedon residents. At the time of this incident she lived with her parents in Clinton county, near what is now Wacousta. She says: "One cold day in November, 1838, our people had an urgent appeal for them to send one of their girls to an uncle's in Ingham county, about four miles beyond Mason, which made the distance thirty-five miles through the forest. The matter was talked over, and it was decided that Betsey should go-must necessarily go on horseback, as there was no other way. My brother being fourteen years old and myself sixteen, he would have to go to bring back the horse which I should ride. "We started and went as far as Grand River City, now Delta, fed our horses and were ready to start again. Now it was nineteen miles before coming to another house, and the road so bad we had to walk our horses nearly all the way, and intensely cold weather. Passed through where Lansing now stands-it was a howling wilderness. When we came to Okemos we were in hopes to find some Indians so that we could go into their wigwams and get warm, but not so; they had all gone farther north into the woods. The river was to be forded, the sun was nearly down, and then we had seven miles of Indian trail before coming to another house. We were thinly clad and very cold. The river was frozen from each bank, three or four feet. My brother got a large stick and broke the ice, so we got down into the water very well, but when we came to the ice on the other side the horses had to rear and plunge and break the ice themselves, and if I had not been an expert horseback rider should have been thrown into the river (Red Cedar river), but we came through all right. Now we struck the trail to go to the next stopping place. "It being dark and the ground heavily covered with leaves we lost the trail, and how to find it we didn't know, but we stopped and considered what was best to do. I said to brother, "I will stand still and hold the horses, and you take a circle round and see

252 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY if you can find the trail." The first circle was made to no effect, and another larger to no effect, and still the third and he could not find it. By this time another idea had come into my mind-that we get down low to the ground and follow our track back until we struck the trail, and this we did. After walking some distance we found it and felt to rejoice. Then we mounted our horses and went on our way, hoping soon to come to a clearing where someone lived where we could stop and get warm at least, for we were nearly frozen. "Please bear in mind we were a couple of children lost in the dense forest and death almost staring us in the face, but yet we were brave. None but pioneers could have held out. After a while we could see that we were coming to an opening, and a small shanty stood near the road; we did not know who or what was there, but we summoned all the courage we could and went in, and found an old couple there by the name of Strickland. I think they must have been perfectly dazed at our unexpected appearance. We asked them if we could stay with them all night, and have some supper and get warm. They asked us many questions-where we were from, and where we were going? We told them we were from Clinton county and going to Hiram Parker's, an uncle of ours. He said, 'Oh, yes; we know Squire Parker; he is our justice of the peace; fine man he is, too, but we can't keep you, but one mile from here is a good place for you to stay, and it is a good road.' So we went out and got our horses and started again. I had not gone but a few rods from the house when my horse got his feet hung in the logs or poles thrown in a bad place in the road and frozen in. He made a desperate spring to extricate himself and broke the girt of the saddle and threw me to the ground. Fortunately I came to my feet unhurt, and then had to repair the break and get ready to start again. This we did and hastened on our way; found the rest of the road very good. Now we came to a place called Jefferson City, with one or two houses and a sawmill, but best of all we found a hospitable lady by the name of Lewis, and she took us in and cared for us. "She made me some composition tea and warmed my feet, got us some supper and was a real samaritan. Gave us nice beds, and in the morning we were ready to make the rest of the journey,

ALAIEDON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 253 and reached Uncle Parker's about noon, where I remained until nearly spring, my brother returning home with the horses the next day after we reached our destination." Lansing, June 1, 1891. Later notes concerning Jefferson City: "Consulting Mrs. Webber, the writer of this article, an old lady upwards of eighty years, in 1911, she said Jefferson City consisted at this time of two log houses and a saw mill. It was located on the road from Mason to Okemos, she thinks about four or five miles from Mason. Mr. Lewis had gone to a school meeting. There is no such place in Ingham county today, and very few left who could locate the city. The settlement was platted on section 29. The entire section was purchased by George Howe, of Manchester, Washtenaw county. A company was formed of four persons and the city laid out in 1838, but the plat was never recorded. "Among the first settlers we find two families of Childs's and Lewis's, and one called Phillips. Thirteen log houses and a school house were erected previous to 1840. Mr. Howe built a saw mill on the creek and carried the water to it in a ditch ninety rods long. "In 1842 Capt. J. P. Cowles purchased land including some in the proposed village situated on both sides of the road and including about forty acres. "Great hopes were had of the new city, which now included ten or fifteen acres of cleared land, six log houses, school and school house. The roads leading to it were Indian trails, designated by marked trees. Apparently it was the end of the trail, as you entered and returned by the same road. It was the center of the county and nearly of the State. "Great inducements were offered settlers and a few lots were sold to eastern parties. Three miles and a half away was the rival city of Mason, consisting of a saw mill, frozen up, a few houses and forests. Jefferson City is now known as the Isaac Drew farm, and no sign can be found of its expected grandeur."

254 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY A STORY OF PIONEER LIFE. Told by HARLOW V. TALLMAN. In 1844 my father, Timothy Tallman, and my mother, Marie Tallman, left the township of Byron, Genesee county, N. Y., and started for the wilds of Michigan. My father being a cooper. he made some large barrels to pack their household goods in; no chairs, no bedsteads, no tables, no stands of any kind. We reached Jackson the last of October, where a man by the name of Daggett met us to bring us to Eden, Ingham county. He had an ox team and lumber wagon. We left Jackson just daylight and moved north, coming through Leslie and on to Eden. We got within one mile of what was two years later known as Hopkin's tavern. Mr. Daggett thought he could save a little distance by cutting across lots, as it was then dark. My father and two brothers commenced cutting down the underbrush, while Mr. Daggett held the old one-candle lantern. My mother and my sisters were on the load, while my youngest brother and myself were in mother's lap. Our seat was a board on top of the barrels. We kept on going until we found ourselves in a tamarack swamp, and lost at that. Then the men folks set up a howl and what was the result? A man by the name of William Kirby came in sight; he had a lantern, one-candle power, a dog, ax and his gun, thinking someone had treed a bear. Mr. Kirby then took us to his house for the rest of the night, and in the morning we had to make backward over 100 rods to a log house owned by Zeb Eggleston. A one-room house, with no floor to speak of below. My father and the older boys went to work and made some bedsteads out of poles. We stayed there until 1845, then moved up on section 28, and there my father died leaving my mother with eleven children, three little ones and four big ones to look after her in Michigan, four having been left back in the East to care for themselves. Ten years later my mother married a man by the name of John Pierce; he had a big family, so we Tallman children had to shirk for ourselves. In 1854, just so sure as I am alive, a naughty wind came along one day and it liked to have swept us all away. It was sure a

ALAIEDON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 255 cyclone. It came through Delhi, Alaiedon and Wheatfield. It blew my stepfather's barn down, part of his log house and took all we had upstairs, so it left us destitute of bedding. I lived in Alaiedon at the time with my mother. A few years ago when Mr. Tallman was some younger than now (1920) he gave a fuller description of that same cyclone, which he said occurred on Monday, June 22, 1854: The storm came from the southwest and traveled to the northeast. Its approach could be heard before it could be seen. The white clouds appeared to be rolling and tumbling like the waves of the sea. The black cloud looked like a balloon, having a long tail resembling an elephant's trunk. This cloud would lower almost to the earth and then shoot upward. darting here and there, tearing up trees two or three feet in diameter, and scattering them over the cleared fields. The path of the hurricane was a quarterof a mile wide. When it reached the home of John Pierce a barn 40 x 60 feet was blown away. It left the ground like a bird and passed out of sight. The storm next struck the house occupied by the Pierce and Tallman family. Mr. Pierce was working in the field with his son James. They started for the house but were blown to the ground. Mrs. Pierce, her daughters Susan and Jane and son Harlow Tallman were in the house at the time. The upper portion was blown away down to the chamber floor, and with the contents of the chamber carried away. The west door was torn loose, blown through the house and out of the east door, the east door and window disappearing at the same time. Hail stones of immense size fell and the rainfall was like a cloud burst. Two big balls of fire rolled across the floor and out through the east door. The family went into a bedroom about fifteen feet away and the darkness was like that of midnight. The storm traveled at the rate of 40 or 50 miles an hour with the bladk cloud taking the lead. After the storm passed Susan Tallman was missing. The floor of the living room was torn away. The wind had entered the cellar by an open hatchway and the floor went out through the window and doorway made into kindling wood. The young woman was found in the dooryard, covered with mud and dirt,

256 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY her face and head being badly bruised and bleeding. She was somewhat dazed and could not tell how she reached the yard, but must have been caught in the current of wind passing through the rooms. A hog weighing 200 pounds was taken out of a pen and carried 100 rods, being found with a broken jaw. The next house struck was that of Wm. Childs, who with his three sons was in the house at the time. They saw the storm approaching and went into the cellar by a trap door. Mrs. Childs and one son were in Mason that day. The house was destroyed and the contents blown away. Two other houses in the neighborhood were unroofed. A man named Henry Cline was killed by a falling tree on Section 22, Alaiedon. Hogs and sheep were seen in clouds as the storm passed over Jefferson City. MIDSUMMER MEETING OF THE INGHAM COUNTY PIONEER AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY, HELD IN ALAIEDON, AUGUST 4, 1920. After adopting the plan of holding a meeting in every township in the county in order to get all the data possible for the county history, the first out-of-doors meeting was held on the lawn at Lloyd Laylin's in Alaiedon, August 4, 1920, and it can be chronicled as an entire success. The residents of the townhip, and those who had moved away, showed their interest in the scheme by gathering on that day about 200 strong. The day was perfect, and the huge forest trees on the lawn made a delightful grove for such a meeting. On the porch were spinning wheel, reel, ox yoke, a tall silk hat in the box made to hold it, a mirror, picture, shawl, homespun sheets, bed coverlets, most of them over 100 years old, a wedding vest, small chair, spoons and other relics and keepsakes which dated back to the fifties, old books, one bearing date of 1788. These historical curios attracted much attention, but as the noon hour drew near all eyes turned toward the long tables set on one side of the lawn which fairly groaned beneath the load of good things for the inner man. Soon all drew round the festive board

ALAIEDON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 257 and after Rev. W. B. Hartzog had returned thanks all fell to and the toothsome viands soon disappeared. In the shade of the monarchs of the forest all found seats, and the meeting was called to order by the president of the society, Col. L. H. Ives. After making a few happy remarks he invited all who desired to become members of the county society and 33 availed themselves of the privilege. The president then turned the meeting over to Mrs. Fred Brenner, chairman of the day, who had prepared an Alaiedon program under the auspices of the Alaiedon Woman's Club. All sang America, Rev. Ainsworth, of Holt, offered prayer, Mrs. Willis Butler welcomed the guests, and Mrs. Franc L. Adams, secretary of the county society, responded. Mrs. Leslie Palen then sang "Darling, I Am Growing Old," and responded to an encore. Dr. F. N. Turner, of Lansing, being present, by request told some of his recollections of Alaiedon, after which the history of the township was given by school districts, Mrs. W. A. Melton leading off with District No. 1, known as the Phillips district, including in her paper some township history new to many: DISTRICT NO. 1. The township of Alaiedon is bounded on the north by Meridian, east by Wheatfield, south by Vevay and west by Delhi. The eastern boundary was surveyed in 1824 by Joseph Wample, the north and west boundaries in 1825 by Lucius Lyon and the south boundary in 1825 by John Mullett. The principal streams are Mud and Sycamore creeks. In the northeast corner of section 19 is what is called the Phillips school house, District No. 1. The first school house that I have any knowledge of was a little red building, afterwards sold to John Strickland for a home, and moved about 80 rods onto the north part of what is now the George Marquedant farm. This was replaced by a larger building which after a few years was sold to the Grangers for a hall. In 1885 the brick building which we now have was built. The year 1865 is as far back as I can find any account of. The school teachers were paid $2.25 and $2.50 per week. Wood was bought for 80 and 90

258 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY cents a cord. Teachers had to teach every other Saturday and always boarded round the district. I once heard a school teacher say that the children always wanted to sleep with the teacher, so she had the pleasure of sleeping with a good share of the pupils in the school, food, bad and indifferent. One thing I used to enjoy in school was spelling down. We would choose sides and stand in rows each side of the school house, and then proceed to find out who was the best speller. In the old Sanders' spelling book were several pages where words were pronounced the same but with different meanings. How we used to try to catch each other on those words! Often I see words spelled wrong, making their meaning altogether different from that intended, and I think it is a pity Sanders spellers with their abbreviations and definitions are not used now. Just west of our school house is the Strickland cemetery. I am sorry to say it is a disgrace, grown up to brush, and it ought to shame any man in town enough to see that it is put in good shape. Once in our Sunday school we appointed a cemetery committee to put it in order. We thought we had the good work started, but the men would not act, so there we are. Some would like to move it, while others say the law is such it cannot be moved. It is full of graves, and a good share of their relatives are gone, so there is no one to take any interest in the matter. I find that Joel B. Strickland took up his land from the government Dec. 10, 1836, on section 19, and John Strickland took up land on the same date on section 20. Nathaniel Blaine owned the land on the north side of the road going east. I remember when I was a very little girl of Mr. Blaine's and Mr. Wells' people stopping at my folks on their way from Lansing and being there for supper. At that time Mr. and Mrs. Wells (Mrs. C. J. Rayner's parents) kept the county house. In the township of Alaiedon was laid out a city, appearing finely on paper, and having a glorious, hoped for future before it. This was the village of Jefferson wich was platted on section 29. The entire section was purchased by Josiah Sabin July 14, 1836, and about 1837-'38 the northwest quarter was purchased by George Howe, from Manchester, Washtenaw county, Mich. A company was formed of about four persons from the same neighborhood, and the village was laid out in 1838. The plat was

ALAIEDON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 259 never recorded in Ingham county, and probably nowhere else. Among the settlers were two Childs' families, two Lewis's and one Phillips. Thirteen log houses were erected previous to 1840 (according to the pioneers of those days), also a log school house. Mr. Howe built a saw mill on the creek, and carried the water to it through a ditch 90 rods long. In 1842 Capt. J. P. Cowles purchased land on section 29 including part of the village plat, which covered about forty acres. When Capt. Cowles bought his land all the buildings mentioned above were standing on his property, and he operated the mill for some time before he moved to Lansing in 1847. He sold the property in 1849. A double log house and a frame barn were built on the village plat in 1844 by George Howe. Capt. Cowles was assessed with the west half of the northeast quarter, the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter, and the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 29, together with 23 acres on the north half of the same section, above the saw mill, between the opposite banks of Mud Creek. The 23 acres being water privilege only. It was at first expected that a respectably sized village would grow up, but business refused to seek that locality, and the people who had bought lots to which they had no title lost confidence in the future prospects of the place, became dissatisfied and most of them moved away. William and John Childs and perhaps some others settled in the neighborhood. The saw mill at the village was built by Nicholas Lewis and George Howe after the village was platted, and they owned undivided interest in the property. The village plat was laid out on both sides of the road extending north and south. Some time later a division was made, Lewis taking the portion on the east side of the road and Howe that on the west side. The latter also took the saw mill which was on the east side. Capt. Cowles purschaed Howe's interest including the saw mill. Mr. Lewis sold his property at the village to A. M. Hobert, of the State of New York. Jacob Lewis and his sons came from Oneida county, N. Y., in 1835, and for two years lived near Manchester in the township of Sharon, Washtenaw county, Mich. In September, 1837, they moved to Jefferson village, and in 1862 the family of Nicholas Lewis moved from Alaiedon Township to Vevay. Daniel A.

260 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Hewes was an early arrival in the locality possibly coming before Capt. Cowles. Silas Beebe, who settled in Stockbridge in June, 1838, made a trip through Ingham county in February of that year, and in his diary of the journey thus speaks of Jefferson: "We stayed over night in Stockbridge Township, left after breakfast for Ingham Center; we soon struck into timbered lands and saw less of swamps and marshes. Roads were less traveled but, guided by marked trees, we found our way to the Center, called Jefferson City. The first blow toward this place was struck last September. It has now some ten or fifteen acres cut down ready to clear, five or six log houses peopled, a school house and school. We went on foot about a mile and found two huts, a little clearing and a family going in, but here was the end of a beaten road, and the end of all road except an Indian trail. "We had designed to continue our journey to DeWitt in Clinton county, only fourteen miles from this place, but were obliged to forego the journey for want of a road. At Jefferson, which will undoubtedly be a place of some importance some day, being the center of the county and nearly of the State, we had great offers made us if we would locate there, but things looked too new and prospects of gain too far to suit our views. So we gave it the go-by for the present. On the 25th of February we left for home, taking, from necessity, the route by which we came in, there being no other way out of the city. Three and one-half miles south of this is a place of about equal claims, called Mason. A saw mill (frozen up), a few houses and surrounding forest are all it can boast of." At the time of Mr. Beebe's visit, therefore, it seems that Jefferson City was a place of greater pretensions than Mason. It has been hinted by some that had the former place been in the hands of more energetic persons its future would have been vastly different from that which is known. Mason, the rival place, was at once pushed to the front and maintained its supremacy over all other villages in the county except Lansing, which was backed by the State. By an act approved March 13, 1838, the four townships comprising the northeast quarter of the county of Ingham were set off and organized into a separate townships by the name of Alaiedon,

ALAIEDON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 261 and the first township meeting was directed to be held at the school house at the City of Jefferson. From the territory thus have since been organized the townships of Delhi, Lansing and Meridian, leaving Alaiedon to include township 3 north in range 1 west. At the first town meeting there were fifteen votes cast. The first school at Jefferson village was taught by Mary Ann Rolfe in a log school house which was built in the summer of 1837. On Oct. 3, 1839, District No. 1 reported 26 pupils. My sister, Mrs. Adelaide Jones, of Jonesville, Mich., being several years older than I, of course could remember farther back than I could, so I wrote to her for information about Jefferson City. She wrote me all she could remember, and that she had heard our mother tell. They told this story: "One day a man rode into the place on horseback and said, 'we are going to have a Fourth of July celebration and want every man, woman and child to be sure and come to Jefferson City.' There were very few horses in the locality then, and my sister remembers going to the celebration and riding after the ox team; she also remembers seeing our mother marching in the procession and has an idea of the dress she wore, of course it was one she had brought from the east two years before, when she came in as a pioneer. They came in 1845, making the celebration an event of 1847. I have often heard my mother tell of Mrs. William Long, who lived where Holt is now, borrowing two sunbonnets which my mother and sister wore when they came from York State, for her two girls to wear to the Fourth of July celebration at Jefferson City. No doubt it was the same year, for I never heard of but one celebration being held at Jefferson City. "School records were not very accurately kept, nor were they always saved in early days, otherwise I might have had a more complete record." A history of District No. 2, known as the Robbins school, was read by Mrs. Clair Wilkins as follows: Little do we know, as we sit in our comfortable homes or ride in our automobiles, of the men and women who helped to make the land what is. We cannot realize the hardships that they endured,

262 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY or the dangers that surrounded them, yet by the strength that overcame these hardships and faced these dangers were laid the foundations of the splendid farms that we see around us today. The first settler in District No. 2 was Egbert Patterson, who bought his land in 1836. Later, in 1839, William P. Robbins bought 80 acres from Amos Overacker, who had cleared five acres and built a small log cabin. Mr. Robbins cleared the remaining 75 acres alone. The first school house was a small log shanty built in 1839. Miss Harriet Childs was the teacher. At that time there were six pupils in the district and school was held for three months. In 1851 Charles Foler moved from New York. In 1862 Martin Laycock bought the land where Harold Laycock now lives. About that time Mrs. Kay came from England with her children, Mary, Richard and Alfred Robinson. Samuel Lamb and his son Samuel and grandson Lambert moved from Ohio in 1865. It was about this time that Augustus Gillespie moved from Tecumseh and Everett Beardsley bought land that is now a part of the Benham farm. In 1869 Perry Stevens bought his farm from Mr. Davidson. In the spring of the year 1871 Nathan Severence purchased the land where his son Frank now lives. In 1864 Davis Fitzsimmons bought his farm from George Traver. It is now owned by his daughter, Mrs. Walter Pratt. Mrs. Severance, Richard and Alfred Robinson and Lambert Lamb are the only early settlers now living in the district. DISTRICT NO 3, ALAIEDON, THE DUBOIS DISTRICT. By MRS. ROY DRESSER. The Dubois's were the first to settle in this district. They were natives of Ulster county, N. Y. In the spring of 1836 Martin Dubois, with his family, his father and mother, John and Sarah Dubois, settled on a part of section 35. Geo. Hale now owns this farm. Some time later, in the fall of 1836, Matthew DuBois settled on section 24. He lived there a few years then sold to Polly Speer, and her grandson, Marcellus Speer, now owns this farm. In the fall of 1838 Jacob and family settled part of section 36,

ALAIEDON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 263 where Mr. Fuger now lives. The next of the DuBois' to come was Garret. Hearing glowing accounts of Michigan from his brothers already located here, he concluded to join them. He arrived here some time in the spring of 1838 and settled on section 35. He cleared about ninety acres of this land. In the year 1842 he built the barn, said to be the first frame barn built in the town, and in 1845 he built the house and these buildings are still standing. In 1859 he sold this farm to John Every, of Jackson, and it is now owned by his daughters Addie and Ella Every of Mason. In 1840 Conrad DuBois settled on section 24 and lived there until 1844 when he sold to Rudolphus Tyron, of Washtenaw county. Mrs. Ella Cooper, a daughter of Mr. Tyron, now owns this farm. Another of the DuBois's who settled here was Stephen, who settled on section 24, right across the road from where the school house now stands. He came in 1838. Of all the early settlers the DuBois's were the most prominent and noted family in the town. They are descendents of Geoffrie DuBois, a knight banneret and companion to Duke William in the conquest of England in the year 1066. Martin DuBois, a brother of John, one of the early settlers here, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and is buried in the Fitchburg Cemetery in Bunkerhill Township. His grave was the first Revolutionary soldier's grave to be located and marked in Ingham county. It is from this family that District No. 3 got its name "DuBois," and it is better known by that than the number. Other early settlers were Sylvanus Jermaine, who settled on section 26, on Feb. 28, 1836. Chas. Collar now owns the farm. D. Coleman and Geo. Cooper the same year settled on this section. David Finch settled on a part of section 35 in 1840. He was the local minister and was one of the first to be buried in the cemetery in this district. His coffin was made by Mr. Tryon in Garret DuBois' door yard. In 1865 James Steinhoff settled 80 acres on section 26 and this was his home until last year when he sold the farm and moved to Mason. The rest of this district was located by John Rayner, as near as can be learned. The first school meeting in the district was held in Martin DuBois' house on Nov. 11, 1841. At this meeting Jacob DuBois was elected moderator, Garret DuBois director, and Stephen DuBois assessor for the following year. At this meeting it was

264 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY decided to build a new school house. The site chosen was on the southwest corner of the southwest quarter of section 25. The building was to be 22 feet square, built of logs, have shingle roof, box stove and cost $100. The desks and benches ran all the way round the room, except space for a door at one end and room for the pulpit or teachers desk on the opposite end. Before this all meetings had been held in Martin DuBois' house. The price paid for labor for building the school house was five shillings per day. The first teacher was Samuel DuBois, who was fifteen years of age. He moved here with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen DuBois, in 1838. Samuel taught in different places after that. When he reached manhood he studied medicine and graduated from the University of Michigan. The number of pupils who attended this school was seventeen, and the books used were elementary spelling, history of the United States, grammar and geography. Three months of school was taught the first year. In 1856 the frame school house was built. D. H. Parkhurst owns this building, and it stands across the road from the present school house. The first teacher in the new building was Kate DuBois, and the number of scholars 35. In 1891 the brick school house was built at a cost of $1,000. F. E. Searl, cashier of the first State and savings bank in Mason, was the first teacher, and had 52 pupils. The cemetery in this district is one acre of land near the school house, given by Martin DuBois. The first grave is said to be that of Sarah DuBois, the mother of Martin DuBois, who died in 1841, five years after they settled here. In this cemetery is found the grave of one soldier of 1812, Abel Irish, and seven Civil War veterans, Solomon Rowell, John Hasbrook, George Phelps, Talcott Irish, Wm. Tweedie, Ezra Blanchard, and Austin Riggs. Wm. M. Webb, of Aurelius, one of the early day teachers in district No. 4, known as the Canaan, told some of his recollections. The building was made of logs on the plan that has already been described. He told of the big cyclone that swept over that section when many buildings were destroyed. One huge log was carried into Mud Creek and driven so deep into the mud by the force of the wind that eight years after it was still standing there and had become a well known landmark. A family by the name of

ALAIEDON TOWNSIIP AND ITS HISTORY 265 Childs lived in the path of the storm, and when the father saw it coming he called to his boys to flee to the cellar. As Mr. Childs started down the cellar stairs he slipped into his coat, getting one sleeve on before the storm struck. The wind whipped his coat off slick and clean just as he dropped the cellar door; cellars had trap doors in those days. When all was quiet again he opened the door and one of his boys exclaimed, "Why, pa, the house is gone," and so it was, scattered to the four winds of heaven. Mr. Childs was often heard to remark that when he ordered the boys into the cellar was the first time in their lives that they obeyed him without parleying. DISTRICT NO. 4. DATA PROCURED BY MISS MARGUERITE LINDSEY. The record book of District No. 4 bears date of 1844, and the clear, concise reports, written in unfading ink, with the good penmanship, perfect spelling, and well expressed reports, makes this book of 76 years ago a valuable souvenir of those early days. On March 22, 1844, a meeting was called by W. H. Child, township clerk, to be held at the home of Volbert Phillips, for the purpose of organizing fractional District No. 4, of Delhi and Alaiedon, the meeting to be held on April 10. At this meeting John Pierce was chosen chairman and W. H. Child secretary. The officers elected were W. H. Child, director; Elias Phillips, assessor, and John Pierce, moderator. On April 25 another meeting was held to arrange for raising a tax for the purpose of building a school house. It was voted to buy one acre of ground of John Pierce on which to erect the school house, and a tax of $100 was levied to pay for the building and $20 to pay for land and other expenses. The first school census taken October 1, 1844, was as follows: Nathan Child, James Child, William Child, Lemuel Pierce, Phineas Pierce, Calvin Pierce, Matilda Pierce, James Pierce, Almon Pierce, Lucinda Phillips. In 1854 the census list had numbered sixteen names, and there was a noticeable increase between then and 1865 when sixty-one names were recorded. In 1854 we find that J. S. Wood and 0. B. Stillman were each

266 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY allowed 75 cents for "inspecting the teacher," and it was also voted "that a tax of one dollar per scholar be levied for the support of the school." At the same meeting it was resolved "that the district board fix up the school house fit for a school." This same year the part of the district lying in Delhi was detached and other lands in Alaiedon added, so that the entire district then laid in Alaiedon. An appraisal of the property was made and its value set at $25, of which $2.73 was ordered paid to Delhi, with one dollar of the building fund, and a just proportion of the primary moneys, then the district became No. 4, Alaiedon. In 1868 the reports show that the district owns a new school house which cost about $600. The building project had been voted on several times before the majority of tax payers could be brought to vote in its favor. The wages varied from $2.50 per week with board, the teacher boarding round, to $25 per month in 1873. No names of early day teachers are found in the book. The district was named Canaan School by Gilbert Drew, who for many years was superintendent of a Sunday school held at the school house. Miss Cynthia Wilkins added this very interesting sketch of District No. 5, known as the Leek School: In 1837 the first settler in this community, Wm. C. Leek, located with his family of five children on section 3, on the farm where we today are assembled, and which is now owned by his grandson, Lloyd Laylin. Mrs. Leek burned off a brush heap and planted apple seeds that she brought with her from the East. From this planting grew their first orchard. Mrs. Leek lived here six months before she saw another white woman. District No. 5, known as the Leek District, was organized in 1840. The log school house was built on a plot of ground leased to the district by Mr. Leek for a term of 99 years. In 1839 A. Dobie, with his family of four children, settled on his farm one-half mile south of this plot. In 1841 D. Stillman, with a family of six children, settled on his farm one-half mile north of the school house. In 1843 S. L. Rathbone, with a family of five children, settled on his farm one-half mile west of the school house, and in 1844 F. B. Wilkins, with a family of four children,

ALAIEDON TOWNSIIP AND ITS HISTORY 267 settled on his farm a trifle more than one-half mile west of the school house. All these farms are still occupied by direct desecendants of the original owners. The first post office was at Mason, and the first ministers who preached to the people came from Mason. With the exception of one or two short periods, the Leek District always maintained a preaching appointment at the school house until the late '90's, and it was re-established in 1900 at the Memorial Church, a mile west of the school house. In 1842 there were twelve children in the district between the ages of five and seventeen, four who were under five, and over seventeen also attended school. In 1843 there were fifteen scholars. The teacher was paid $1.00 per week and "boarded round." In 1846 wages had advanced to $1.25 per week. In 1847 the township bought half an acre of land from Mr. Leek for a "Burying Ground;" there were no cemeteries in those days; had there been we should have missed that old time hymn, "Oh, carry me home, carry me home, when I die, Carry me down to the Burying Ground. But don't you carry me by." Mr. Leek by ceding land to the people for school and burial purposes unwittingly made his name imperishable. In 1878 an adjoining half acre was purchased as an addition to the cemetery, and in 1890 four acres were bought on the opposite side of the highway and opened up as a cemetery. Thirteen of the nation's soldiers, and perhaps more, lie in the Leek Cemetery. By 1850 enough more families had arrived to swell the number of the scholars in the district to 44. About this time the log school house burned down and was replaced by a frame building, heated by a box stove instead of the log house fireplace. Not a very long time afterward a set of "outline maps" was purchased and hung on the walls of the new school house, and the man who sold them taught an evening geography school. His method of teaching was unique and most effective. With a long pointer he traced on the maps the divisions of the earth's surface, and pointed out the mountains, rivers, gulfs, bays, capes and cities. The class followed the pointer and sung the facts he gave them to the tune of "Old Dan Tucker."

268 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Primitive school life was not without its excitements and diversions. One day a strange dog appeared in the open doorway. Stood for an instant with his front feet on the sill looking in at the children, then some pigs rooting outside attracted his attention and he turned away. A little girl, with more presence of mind than the teacher, shrieked "mad dog," sprang over the benches and slammed the door shut. The little girl was right. It was a mad dog amd was shot after biting two or three animals that later died of hydrophobia. In the way of diversion there were singing schools for the grown up pupils and spelling schools for everybody, while the boys and girls of lesser years were well supplied with sports and activities of their own planning. They not only had playthings but they made the things they played with. Their grape-vine swings, in the forest shade, grape-vine skipping ropes and teeter boards balanced on a rail fence, were just as alluring as the modern high post swing in the glaring sunlight and the teeter boards of evolution mounted on steel rods. Then there was the "Big Pond" with its hand made rafts in summer, and the ice in winter; and there was sliding down hill, on handsleds, on boards and sometimes on a bob-sled borrowed from a neighbor. One time the crust on the snow was so hard the girls threw their shawls down and slid down hill on them. Their mothers never knew it. And last, but not least, there was the Tamarack swamp, less than half a mile away, with its inexhaustible supply of chewing gum. Just think of it! Genuine tamarack gum! No artificially flavored by-product of coil oal refuse, but the life, the elixir of the tamarack tree, bringing joy unspeakable to the hearts of those youthful seekers after knowledge and woe unfathomable to the unhappy wielder of the "birch." That teacher who could successfully cope with the "gum problem" was teacher, diplomat, general, all rolled in one. The first group of pioneers of the Leek District turned out thirteen school teachers; they lacked, of course, the multitudinous qualifications of the modern teacher; were, no doubt, short on phonetics and object lessons. The main object in the minds of the young victims of those ancient methods of recitation was to avoid the birch-but they could spell.

ALAIEDON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 269 The old school house has lately been completely renovated, outside and in. All traces of pioneer days and all defects have been removed; a heating plant has been installed, and the new house, like the Phoenix of old, rises from the ashes of its old self, the equal of the standard school house of today. So far as known no resident of the Leek District has ever achieved national renown, and none have ever landed in prison, or in politics, and it is a comfort to reflect on the saying of Abraham Lincoln, that "the Lord must like common folks, he made so many of them." DISTRICT NO. 6, ALAIEDON. WRITTEN AND READ BY MRS. FRED BRENNER. In the early days before the steamship made us near enighbors to the mother countries across the ocean our forefathers bade their dear ones a sad adieu and, one by one, made the tedious journey of weeks or months to this new land, here to wrest by hard labor a livelihood and home from the untried soil. As the East became more thickly populated they turned their faces Westward, many finding a haven in our own Michigan. Often several families of like nationality desiring to be with others of their native tongue would settle in one locality. This seems to have been the case in District No. 6 of Alaiedon, which earned its name of German district from the number of German families who settled here, and were too busy to realize what the history of its early development would mean to their descendants. Among the early settlers were the Riggs families, Leslie and Austin, Valetine Raddle, Ernest Dell, the Gilberts and Slaters. A wagon road was cut through the woods from near Mr. Dell's farm and extended to the present site of Alaiedon Center. It was called the Morse road. A log school house was built on this road on the corner of Valentine Raddle's farm. Mrs. J. T. Green, of Holt, a daughter of Mr. Raddle's, tells an incident of the early days that is very interesting. A Miss Rose Strayer taught the school at that time, boarding at the Raddle's home. Miss Strayer had a sister who was a

270 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY country milliner and who was making Mrs. Raddle a bonnet so she with her two children, Kate and Helen, accompanied the teacher to her home near the present site of the Leek school house in order to note the progress of the bonnet and to spend the night with her friends. The next morning Miss Strayer left for her school quite early. Mrs. Raddles, who lingered behind for a longer visit, finally started for home. The trail was dim and she soon lost her way and wandered about through the woods, climbing over logs and through the underbrush until she found a wagon track. This she traced more easily by little pieces of charcoal which had fallen from the wagons, and after a time she came to the clearing where the school house stood. Mrs. August Wolf also tells of a trip she tried to make on the Morse road. Her father, Ernest Dell, who purchased his farm from the government in 1850, moved here from Lansing, and later promised his little daughters, Dean and Emma, that he would take them to Lansing. This was to be a great event. They started early one morning on the wonderful trip with a small onehorse wagon. Their father took the ax along in case a tree might have fallen across the track. They went down the Morse road, advancing very slowly, but finally found the road so obstructed as to be impassable. Mr. Dell turned the horse about and made his way back home, the little girls in the back of the wagon weeping out their disappointment. Indians often came to visit these early settlers and the famous Mackinack trail passed through this settlement, where two Indian camps are known to have existed. The need of a church was felt and a class was organized in 1853, church services being held at the homes and later at the log school house, while still later the school house which was built about onehalf mile south of the old one became the place of worship. Finally a church was built on the old school house site, where services in the German language were held. Some years ago this building was sold and the fact that there was ever a church there is fast becoming a township tradition. Among the early school teachers was Susan Every, who taught here in 1859. She later married Jas. Steinhoff, and was for many years a resident of Alaiedon. The second school house was rebuilt and remodeled a few years ago and is now a standard school, with many modern conveniences.

ALAIEDON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 271 The thick woods of the early days of Alaiedon have been cleared away, the Morse road has given way to well kept highways, the Indian trail and camp is extinct, and the redman is known no more. The oxen and horse are replaced by the automobile, and the fine buildings and well tilled productive farms give evidence of the thrift and prosperity their present owners have received as an inheritance from their sturdy, industrious, God-fearing ancestors. There being no No. 7, Mrs. Jas. True read a history of District No. 8, as follows (and it would seem that District No. 8 must have been organized while Alaiedon still inclided the townships of Delhi, Lansing and Meridian, for the description of the district as found in the records of 1842 do not coincide with the confines of the district now known as District No. 8, Alaiedon. This simply goes to prove how extremely difficult it is to get the early history exact and accurate. Editor). A grant from the United States to the State of Michigan by Act of Congress, approved June 23, 1836, and accepted in the State convention at Ann Arbor, Dec. 15, 1836:"Every section 16 in every township of public land was granted to the State for the use of schools." Later the State sold the patent on this land in Alaiedon to Amos V. Steele, Nov. 28, 1865. No record of any deed or lease has been found. At a meeting of the board of school inspectors of the town of Alaiedon, held the 22nd day of January, A. D. 1842, "Resolved that a new school district be formed in said township by the name and style of school district No. 8, and bounded as follows: To contain the south half of section 27, the southeast quarter of section 28, sections 32, 33 and 24 in town 4 north of range 2 west; also sections 3, 4 and 5, and the north half of section 8, north half of section 9 and section 10, in town 3 north range 2 west. The first district meeting to be held at the house of Henry H. North on the 26th day of February A. D. 1842 at 3 o'clock. "W. H. Child, I. S. Finch, J. Ferguson, School Inspectors. "I certify the above to be a true record, "W. H. Child, Deputy Town Clerk."

272 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Feb. 22, 1842. No. 8 district shall embrace all of sections 17 and 18, one-half of 19 and north one-half of 20. At one time the farm adjoining the school site of District No. 8 was owned by the county, as was also the Lewis farm where the county house buildings were located. The original first school house was a frame building which was later sold to E. N. Wilkins, and at present is used as a granary on the farm of Clair E. Wilkins. A brick building Was then put up and this is still in use, though it is expected that it will be replaced by the centralized school some time. In those early days there were not the State homes for children that there are at present, or at least the youngsters were not all placed there, for each county farm sent a number of pupils to the nearest school, and they not only brought their lunch, but something known in modern times as "cooties." The report of some of the older pupils of No. 8 is that times were interesting at home as well as school after that. But perhaps they served the same purpose as David Harum's fleas, and "kept them from brooding." Traveling in pioneer days was safe as far as the speedmaniac was conerned. Judging from the records of the township clerk which read "decided to raise $150 for the purpose of making roads across the big swamp in the center of the township. March 22, 1843. "D. C. Stillman, Joel B. Strickland, Isreal Chapman. Commissioners of Highways. E. W. Patterson, Town Clerk." It is also found recorded that the amount of mill tax to be collected in the township of Alaiedon in 1855 is $111.50. Of this amount $25 to be taken out for the township library leaders and $86.50 to be divided among the several districts, No. 8 to get $10.16. This was dated Dec. 20, 1855. In 1919 the mill tax in District No. 8 was $200.20. In early days teachers were examined by a board of school inspectors, and the wages varied from $3 to $10 per month and

ALAIEDON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 273 board round. Those were the times when it was nice to be a director's wife. If there happened to be any undesirable boarding places in the district the teacher passed them by and went to the director's instead; also if the teacher's home was some distance away the week ends were spent in the director's family. Nearly every profession has been followed by various pupils from this school; perhaps more have taken up agriculture than any other profession, and the farms in the district speak for themselves. Land that was purchased for a few dollars per acre, swampy and uncleared, today would sell for $200 per acre. Although we cannot boast an Abraham Lincoln, we are right proud of the boys and girls who have gone out from District No. 8, and we can all find a lesson from the pioneer life. "Despise not the day of small things." Mrs. Eva Felton, of East Lansing, told of her experiences in District No. 9, known as the Sandhill School. She well remembered her pride in the spelling contests held there, and of her efforts to become one of the best spellers, and she could boast that she was often victorious. She had her trials in later days when it fell to her to make out the rate bill for the school, and then wait for her pay until the money could be collected. As to the organization of the district she was unable to give dates or figures. District No. 11 and 13, known as the Douglas School, was described by Mrs. John Keippe. Almost a century ago the land now covering District 11 and 13 was a vast and dense wilderness, but foreign emigration soon made a populous East and a westward movement became necessary. Some were luckily led into Michigan by river or lake, and by Indian paths which they used for their guides. They lived in log huts, made by hewing the logs to fit upon each other and roofing them with clapboards. One well known family among these early home seekers was the Manning's, who settled in this district. J. W. Manning is still living on the old settlement place and is the oldest pioneer in the district at the present time. After the toil and strife of the reconstruction period of the Civil War the land was cleared for farming and placed on a progressive basis. About 1880 the population increased, education advanced and

274 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY the essentials of mankind became greater. Churches and schools were their only social functions. It was then that the first school house was erected, being constructed out of an old log house. It was situated across the road from the old Douglas settlement, and was named after the same. Nathan Weston now owns the Douglas place. The first teacher to bring forth educational knowledge to the district was Myrtle Blake (now Mrs. Frank Hillard). After a few years of successful teaching the school house burned and a new one was built, which is still at the Douglas Corners. THE COUNTY FARM WHEN IT WAS IN ALAIEDON. MRS. WILLIS BUTLER. January 7, 1838, and June 6, 1839, Horace Havens and Richard Rayner bought from the United States government the tract of land described as E 12 of NW 1 of section 21, T 3 N, R 1 W, now known as the W. J. Walker farm. On January 9, 1844, this land was deeded to the Superintendents of the Poor of Ingham county, and their successors in office. The superintendents at the time of this transfer were Peter Linderman, Geo. Matthews and Caleb Carr. As this was not thought by the Board of Supervisors to be the proper procedure, the land was transferred in 1877 by the Superintendents of the Poor to the county of Ingham. Feb. 9, 1878, the county of Ingham deeded to O. J. Lewis the old county farm site and secured his farm in Meridian township, which is the present location of the county home. During John Bradman's period as keeper the county house burned, six persons being burned, four incompetents and two who were insane. It was thought to have caught fire from the smoking of some of the crazy women kept there. The building was immediately rebuilt. The county farm was located in Alaiedon township thirty-four years. After it was taken into Meridian township most of the buildings were moved to near-by farms. To S. Lee Cook, the last keeper in Alaiedon township, fell the

ALAIEDON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 275 task of transferring the inmates and property to the new location. The keepers of the poor house during the location of the institution in Alaiedon were Wm. F. Near, James Reed, Joe Hudson, Dan Leek, David Fitzsimmons, John Bradman, Augustus Wells and S. Lee Cook. The secretary of the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical Society while doing research work found the following information regarding the poor funds for the county: "The first recorded action of the board of supervisors in regard to the poor of the county was in June, 1843, when $50 was appropriated for their use. In 1844 the importance of having a home for this class of people was seen, and 80 acres of land on section 21 in Alaiedon was bought for $400. This was added to until the county owned about 200 acres of land, which cost $3,858.72. "Since the county was organized the amount appropriated for the maintenance of the poor has increased from $50 in 1843 to $8,650 in 1879." At the last named date the appropriations seemed to have reached their zenith. The government had not yet made provisions for adequate help for the soldiers of the Civil War and their families, the relief societies which had flourished during the war had dissolved, these veterans, who had taken three, and some of them four, years out of the best earning period of their lives, and had returned "with crippled bodies and health impaired," had no other resource but to call on their home county for help, and of necessity the amount the supervisors were asked to provide must be large.

CHAPTER V. AURELIUS TOWNSHIP HISTORY. Historical notes; R. J. Bullen's North Aurelius history; debating societies of other days; "When The Wolves Sang;" Township history by school districts; stories by W. M. Webb; life of a centenarian, Mrs. Collins. MICHIGAN STATE GAZETTEER. Aurelius, a township and flourishing village of Ingham county, on the stage route from Mason to Onondaga, 100 miles northwest of Detroit-fare $3.50. The township was settled in 1837, and now has 280 voters, and a population of 1,200. Population of the village, 300. The soil is well adapted to agriculture, and is well watered by Grand river, which crosses the northwest corner of the town, and by numerous small streams tributary to that river. The village contains four churches, representing the United Brethren, Congregational, Baptist and Methodist denominations, one hotel, two shingle mills, two saw mills, several good schools, and three stores. Four mails are received each week. Detroit merchants ship goods to Aurelius by the Michigan Central R. R. via Jackson. Postmaster, Robert Hayward. TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. Supervisor-Barney G. Davis. Clerk-C. Marion Jennings. Treasurer-Enos Blanchard. LIST OF PROFESSIONS, TRADES, ETC. Barnes, John A., justice of the peace. Chase, O. E., Rev., Methodist. Coughey, William F., blacksmith.

AURELIUS TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 277 Gilmore, Smith B., carriage maker. Hayward, Abner, physician. Hayward, Robert, general store. Hazelton, Alice, milliner. Hazelton, Ellen, milliner. Hazelton, William, saw mill. Heath, Linden A., hotel. Holley, Alfred J., justice of the peace. Huntley, George, carpenter. Jennings, Charles, justice of the peace. McIntyre, Arthur, carpenter. Marshall, Solomon, carpenter. Nelson, Hiram, blacksmith. Norton, Hiram, saw mill. Potter, David, saw mill. Pratt, Darius, carpenter. Sawtell, Benjamin E., physician. Shaw, Rev., Congregational. Shepard, Rev., Baptist. Stark, Byron W., general store. Swarthout, George W., physician. Toles, Jehial W., saw mill. Torbush, William, carpenter. White, James, justice of the peace. Youngs, Charles, mason. Written by R. J. Bullen and placed in the cornerstone of the North Aurelius church on June 19, 1919. EARLY SETTLERS AND THE SECOND GENERATION. Reuben R. Bullen, wife Elizabeth and brother Joseph, came to Mich. Sept. 27, 1836. Landed in Detroit, came from there to Ingham county, and took up land from the Government. The N. E. Y of Sec. 4, T 2 N, R 2 W, afterward known as Aurelius. They built a log house in which the only board was one brought from Dexter and used as a door. The floor was made of basswood logs, split in the middle and laid bark side down. Into this they moved in Nov., 1836. Here were born Geo. W., Richard J.,

278 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY James T., Phebe A., Susan. Joseph, John and Samuel, who died in infancy. Three, R. J., J. T. and Susan are still living. Some time in 1837 Geo. B. Webb, wife Maria and son John H., 3 yrs old, came to Aurelius and settled on N. E. 14 of Sec. 9. In this home were born W. M., Lucy, Martha and Lewis C., all still living. During the same year, in Nov., came Joseph Wilson, with his wife Maria, and built a log house on W 1 of S. E. 14, Sec. 33, T. 3 N, R 2 W, afterwards known as Delhi. Here were born Geo. W., Henry, Mary Ann, and Harvey. Geo. and Harvey still survive. John Norris was another early settler, who came about the same time with his wife and son Edward. He located on E 1 of S. E. 4 of Sec. 33 and here were born Eliza Jane, Benton, Hiram P., Helen and John. Hiram P. is still alive. Another early settler was John Dunn, who settled on W 2 of S. E. 1 Sec. 34, of Delhi. The children were Joel, Sally Ann, Ezra William, Hannah, George and James. Joel still alive. William and Margaret Witter came about that time and settled on N 12 of N. E. 14 Sec. 3, Aurelius. Their children, Asa, George, Malinda, Charles and Lilly, the last three still living. John and Mary Wright built a home on N. W. 14 of N. W. 14 Sec. 10, Aurelius, and the children were Mary Elizabeth, Philp, Etta Lodema, Silas, Martha, Scott, and Hosmer. Harlow and Scott alive at last accounts. Winslow Turner soon followed and located on W 12 of S. W. 14 Sec. 4, Aurelius. Children, William, George, Frederick, Charles H., Judson, Annette and David. William and Charles living. John Dunn, Sr., and wife, Chester Holley and wife, Stephen Dunn and wife, William Dunn and wife, and Samuel Dunn were among the early settlers. Mrs. John Dunn, Sr., passed away before my recollection but I have been told that she and her son Samuel were among the charter members of the Baptist church of Mason. Among the early settlers whose stay was short were Lewis Butters and wife, in 1837, then came John Niles, who soon departed, and Abram Wilson and wife Mary bought the place, the S 12 of N. W. 1 of Sec. 3. Mrs. Wilson had a large family of Smith children by her first husband, and were Martha (who taught the first school), Thomas, George, Oscar, Joseph, Hannah and John. Only Hannah is living.

AURELIUS TOWNSIIP AND ITS HISTORY 279 To Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were born two sons, William, who died in the Civil War, and Charles S., who lives on the old farm. Among the quite early settlers were grandfather and grandmother Webb with their sons William and David, who built on the N. E. 4 Sec.9, also grandfather and grandmother Wright with their children Henry, Jane, Mary Ann, William, James and Isabell. William Webb married Jane Wright, and Matilda, David and Mary Ann were their children. Spencer and Amanda Markham located land on Sec. 32 in Delhi in 1836, but did not move onto it until the late forties. They had no children, but adopted William P. Brown, Sarah B. Blanchard, C. B. Gilbert, and Charles Rich, and were zealous members of the Baptist church in Mason. Thomas Smith married Mary Ann Wright, children, Mary, William, Lansing, Fanny, Mattie, Jennie and Caleb. Mary and Mattie are dead. Comparatively early came the Holley's, Isaac and wife, with sons Orlando, Joseph, Alfred J., Benjamin, John T., and their daughter, Neoma (Mrs. Mark Williams). About the same time time came Hiram and Margaret Smith with their children,William, Charles, George, Lewis, Hector, Lyman and Sally (now Mrs. Austin Doolittle). Anson J. Calkins and wife Lyda and their family were early comers. The most important events that have occurred since the early settlement is the organization of schools and religious societies. School district No. 4, as near as can be learned, was organized in the early part of 1843. A log school house built on N. W. corner of E 2 of N. W. 14 Sec. 9, being near where W. M. Webb now lives. Martha Smith taught the first school, in the summer of 1843. She was Maud Bullen's grandmother. The first winter school was taught by George Gallery of Eaton Rapids. In 1849 the school house site was changed to where it now stands. The first winter school here was taught by Horace Hobert, who believed in moral suasion, but enforced it by bringing with him every Monday morning a big bundle of switches to be used as persuaders. A log house belonging to John Wright was used for the school until 1851 when a frame building was erected, and the first teacher was Bird Norton of Eaton Rapids. The school had a number of big boys, and had the name of being a "hard school."

280 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY (Reuben Bullen was director, and hearing of Bird Norton having killed a bear by clubbing it to death he declared there was the man for the school, and hired him forthwith.) The date of the first religious society in the neighborhood is hard to fix, but from my earliest recollection I can recall hearing the Webbs, the Wilsons, the Wrights, and the Bullens talk in religious gatherings. The first M. E. preacher I can remember was Elder Glass, who drove a pair of small ponies, amd I as a boy thought he was quite liberal in feeding them for it didn't seem as though such small horses needed such a large amount of feed. The first Baptist preachers I can remember were Rev. Hendee and Rev. Fuller. Rev. Fuller was grandfather to Mrs. J. H. Shafer. The first meeting to organize the N. Aurelius Union church, (M. E. and Baptist.) was held on Feb. 17, 1880. The first trustees were W. M. Webb, James Doolittle, A. J. Holley, Harvey Wilson and 0. F. Leffingwell. A subscription of $1,862.50 was obtained. The trustees were a building committee to build a church. S. A. Paddock of Mason drew the plans, and Alpha Douglas of Holt secured the job of building it, for the sum of $1,375.00. It -was dedicated Oct. 21, 1880. This is all I know, and perhaps some things I don't know, concerning the early settlement of the community. THE THOMAS SMITI FAMILY. Thomas Smith was the oldest son of David and Mary Smith and was born in England, Apr. 27, 1822. At the age of 12 he went to live with his uncle, William Shaw, where he learned the stone cutting trade, building bridges. At the age of 21 he came to America with his parents. Dec. 25, 1846, he married Mary Ann Wright. Ten children, David, John and Thomas died in infancy. The others, Mary, Lansing, William W., Mattie, and Jennie (twins) and Caleb. Mary, wife of Edward Isham, died at the age of 26. A great share of Thos. Smith's married life was spent in Detroit, but his last years were spent on a farm 1 mi E. and 1 mi N. of the N. Aurelius church. He thought the country a better place to bring up children than in the city. With the money that came as bounty for her soldier

AURELIUS TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 281 son who died in the army, a sandstone was bought from the contractors in charge of building the State Capitol, where Mr. Smith was following his trade as sone cutter. From this stone he carved a monument which now stands in the N. Aurelius cemetery as a memorial to his mother, stepfather and brother who are buried there. SKETCHES OF HISTORY BY WM. M. WEBB. In years past, and also in the near, the various wars have demanded of us some sacrifices in both lives and money, and if measured up with other localities we can feel proud that we have done as well as others, and better than most places. Those who went from within a radius of two square miles of here, and who gave their all, would give us six golden stars. Union boys in the Civil War, the Span-Am. and the World War. The six Union soldiers who paid the supreme sacrifice were, W. N. Wilson, captured after being wounded in the battle of Chickamauga, and died in Andersonville prison. Ezra Dunn, died in Andersonville prison. Wmn. Webb, died in hospital Nashville, Tenn. George Mutton, died in Missouri. Jas. Wright died in hospital Alexandria, Va. Henry Ilolley, died from wounds received at Spottsylvania. Within a radius of three miles 26 boys fought for the Union. Four of the six who gave their lives lie in National cemeteries. Aurelius furnished 94 soldiers for the Civil War, for the World War 37. The loss of life for the Twp. in the Civil War was 20, for World War 2. DEBATING SOCIETIES. WM. M. WEBB. One of the past experiences of the long ago, and one that furnished both amusement and much of good thought that remains with us still, was the Literary and Debating Clubs formed in the sixties and running through the years into the eighties. In the winter we would meet at the school house once a week and discuss some subject, thereby gathering many a gem of thought and historical data because of our ambition to present the sharp points of our side of the question in undisputable form that would down the other fellow.

282 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY It was a pleasant and profitable experience; a good school, and remains a pleasant memory. Here are a few of the subjects discussed: Resolved: That the mental faculties of the sexes are equal. That Geology strengthens our faith in the Bible. That the Capitol of the U. S. be removed to the interior. That many enemies are a higher proof of merit than many friends. That a laborers wage should be fixed by law. That the veto power of the President be repealed. That women be granted the right of suffrage throughout the nation. That a lie is sometimes justifiable. That excessive prosperity is more detrimental to the people than excessive adversity. That the warrior is of more service to his country than the statesman. That capital punishment ought to be established in the State. That the resumption act should be repealed. To THE MEMORY OF MARY WILSON. W. M. WEBB. In every community there are forces prevailing that tend to lift people to a higher level, to better thought and understanding, that results in a better citizenship, a higher civilization and of the moral and christian standards. Then again there are forces that would bring about a lower level. Of the former such an one was Mrs. Mary Wilson, to whom this community owes much for through her efforts were started the first religious services here. She organized the first Sunday school in 1846, and did all she could to advance other religious services. She was one who spoke, prayed and acted so it all harmonized. For many years she was superintendent of the Sunday school. There are many descendents of Mrs. Wilson in the neighborhood down to the 4th and 5th generations, so that it will be a long, long time before the line becomes extinct. So when fifty years from now this writing comes to the sunshine there will be some to recall, maybe not from memory but from the story handed down, the history of this good woman and her work,

AURELIUS TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 283 and they will catch the thought that to her we owe the good environment that surrounds us and has tended to lift us to something better and higher. THE FIRST MUSICAL CONCERT WHEN WOLVES SANG THE CHORUS. W. M. WEBB. Written in 1849, read at the Corner Stone meeting June 19, 1919. As sweet as the strains of Auld Lang Syne Come back to me memories of my boyhood time. Scenes and incidents many remembered so well, But tonight it is only of one I had thought to tell. One through the long years remains so fresh and so bright, 'Twas the Christmas songs I heard fifty years ago tonight. So different now from then in so many things, Changes great and all around us that half a century brings. To see us as then to most of you would be an imaginary scene. Here and there a little log cabin, a clearing, and all was wild forest between. In one family were six young men and maidens, all gone. Martha, and Hannah, and Tom, and Joseph, and George and John, Who had come from a land where a custom was known, For singers to sing Christmas songs round their neighbor's homes. And Hannah suggested that in a country so new, with pleasures so few, Wouldn't it be nice that old custom to renew. No sooner said than done, And they were up and bundled and ready in a trice, And nine year old John shouted, "won't it be fun." There was Witters, Dunns, Bullens, Wilsons, Turners and two families of Webbs and Wrights, And around each forest home they sang their merry Christmas songs just fifty years ago tonight. When they came to my father's home 'twas midnight and all was still. In a moment there was music and song all round the house, I never shall forget, How it woke us and charmed us, and as for me, I listened with both ears, you bet. I remember well though so many years have come and gone,

284 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Those young men and maidens could sing in those days, I tell you, especially John. Then on they went, with good will intent, journeying along, Making the forest ring and echo with their merry song. When, 0, what was that? And they stopped and stood and listened to the wolves howling din. "Ho, ho," said Tom, "just let 'em come, and I'll give a tune on my violin." But the wolves had been listening to their merry songs And guessed perhaps it must be a genuine St. Nick, So concluded it would be wise to remain where they were Down on Willow Creek. Then on they went those young men and maidens To the end of their long circuitous route, Coming back to their homes in the early Christmas morn Weary no doubt, But acknowledging they had had a splendid good time. Leave is all to John in the performance of that cheering act, And so had all the rest of us That listened to that merry song in fact. Part of a letter which came to W. M. Webb, containing interesting facts. The writer's name is not given. Dexter, Dec. 19, 1886. Mr. Webb, Dear Friend,-Your letter was received duly. The questions that you ask me carries me back to days more than forty years ago, days that I think of with some pleasure but with many regrets. I remember the time, very well, when we as brothers and sisters went from house to house singing Christmas songs. You know that is an English custom and, as many of the neighbors were English, we tho't it would remind them of home. I shall never forget how alarmed your dear Mother was. She said, "George, what on earth is to pay?" We soon assured her there was nothing to fear. In a few minutes they were up and had a bright fire, and insisting that we should come in. We did and your Mother treated us to some very nice fried cakes and popcorn.

AURELIUS TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 285 The first sermon was preached at the house of Mr. Dunn by Rev. Finch. It was the funeral sermon of a child of Mr. Chester Holley's, whose wife was a daughter of Mr. Dunn. We had no regular prayer meetings but occasionally we had one; sometimes at your grandfather's and sometimes at my Mother's. Mother was always expected to lead when the meeting was at our house. There was no Sunday school organized while I remained in the neighborhood, but in the summer of '45 they had regular preaching every two weeks, and a prayer meeting the alternate Sunday. The first district school was taught in the summer of '45, in a new log school house near your father's. There were 17 scholars enrolled, namely: Mary Elizabeth Wright, Polly Niles and her two brothers, William Turner, George Turner, George Bullen, Richard Bullen, John Henry Webb, Mary Ann Webb, Lucy Webb, Wm. Wilson, and the names of the others I have forgotten. I taught five days in the week besides every other Saturday, boarded round the district and received $1.00 per week. There were two young married couples living in the neighborhood when we first moved there. Mr. Chester Holley and wife, and Mr. Wm. Webb and wife, but the first wedding that I know anything about was my own. I was married on the 10 day of Sept. 1846 by Rev. Thos. Wakelin, M. E. minister. My brother Thomas was married on Christmas day of the same year, by the M. E. minister, whose name was Fox. (The rest of the letter is gone, but with this a sketch of Wm. W. Wilson which was apparently, accompanied by a poem, though that does not appear with the letter. Am sorry because it was said he and his brother always carried on their correspondence in rhyme.) This is the sketch: "Composed in Prison No. 3, Danville, Virginia, by Wm. W. Wilson, a private of Co. I, 11th Mich. Inf., Jan 31, 1864. This poem was written with pencil on half the cover of an old religious monthly published in Richmond, Va., in July, 1856, and was addressed to one of the members of Congress from Mich. It came by way of a "Flag of truce boat," and was endorsed, "Prisoner's Letter," and bore the postmark Old Point Comfort, Va., Feb. 23, 1864. It was published first in the Detroit Tribune."

286 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY HIRAM SMITH. Hiram Smith and wife Margaret came from Cortland Co., N. Y., in 1851. There were no roads from Detroit and they had to cut their way through the woods. Settled on their farm on Columbia road 1 mile east of N. Aurelius church. There they opened and kept the first Post Office during the Civil War and after. Used to walk to Mason to church through the woods, just a narrow path. Had eight children, and their descendents in Aurelius, and at this date, 1919, there are 30 of their great grandchildren living. Renewed interest in local history is seen in Ingham county, and it is very gratifying to the officers of the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical Society, as each year carries the events of the past into greater obscurity, and now is the time, if ever, to gather and preserve the priceless records and stories of the past. The township meetings introduced in 1920 are bringing much into the treasure box of memories concerning the long ago, and at the meeting held in Aurelius on September 16, 1921, much valuable information was gathered, as its history was given by school districts. W. M. Webb was chairman and conducted the meeting, and although he is well into the 80's, and has the record of being the oldest native born Ingham county resident, the vim he showed in conducting the meeting gave evidence that age had not affected his efficiency in that line. At the noon hour the old tin dinner horn that awoke the echoes seventy years ago was "tooted" by Mrs. Lucy Jennings, the first white girl born in the township, and as of old this call to dinner received a ready response. The program opened with old time music by local talent, followed by prayer by Rev. W. B. Hartzog. By the side of a regulation silk flag which graced the platform was one of unique appearance, over seventy years old. In these days when the American flag is in evidence everywhere, it is interesting to learn the devices resorted to by the women of the early forties in their efforts to bring before the public a banner to symbolize their patriotism. A flag for some patriotic demonstration in the Sunday school at Aurelius was greatly desired-and Mrs. Fowler (whose two gray

AURELIUS TOWNStIP AND ITS HISTORY 287 haired sons were present at the meeting and brought this precious old time relic) set her wits to work, after efforts to procure a flag at Jackson and other trading posts had failed. Without a flag to copy from, she took a piece of unbleached muslin about two by three feet in size, and in the upper left hand corner constructed a field of alternate red and white stripes of figured red and blue calico, with large stars of the same material sewed at intervals on the remaining space. This was the first church flag ever used in Ingham county, and its peculiar formation is proof of the old saying that "necessity is the mother of invention." The history of District No. 1 was given by Mrs. Theron Grinnell, as follows: District No. 1 was organized in 1841. The first school house was built in that year, one-half mile east from where the present school house stands. It was a long building rolled up with timbers cut from the spot where it was built by the following settlers: Benjamin Hazelton, Cyrus Austin, Joshua Bump, Linden Heath, Burton Robinson, Joseph Robinson, Leonard Pratt, John Barnes and Alexander Waggoner. Joseph Robinson built a stone fireplace in one corner of the building and topped it with a stick chimney. Both were plastered inside with clay. The roof was of shakes. The seats were planks hewn out of basswood logs. Julia Smith was the first teacher, and received $1.00 per week. Her brother John Smith taught the second term for $10.00 per month. Luther Horton taught a number of terms in this school house. At this time the district extended over a wide scope of country. Aside from the settlers clearings and the open plains at the west, known as the Montgomery Plains, the country was one unbroken forest. The following were the first scholars who attended school in the log school house: Rosanna, Nancy and James Hazelton, Sarah and Harriet Austin, Mary Elizabeth and Harriet Bump, Elizabeth, Catherine, Harrison and Lafayette Robinson, Sarah, Lemuel and Darius Pratt, Zaccheus, Miranda, O. M., Cordelia and John Barnes, Rebecca and Catherine Waggoner. J. W. Freeman is the oldest person living who attended school in the old log school house, and is present here today. A few years later a second school house was built at a cost of $100, in the southeast corner of the yard where the present school

288 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY house stands. At this time the school became known as the Barnes School, being built on the farm which John Barnes took up from the government. Those living in the district at the present time who attended their first term of school in this building are Dell Barnes, George Disenroth, Theron Grinnell, Page Sanders, John and Ed Edgar. It was in this little red school house that the Baptist church was organized on May 1, 1847, and was known as the First Baptist Conference of Aurelius. The present school house was built in 1871. John Barnes, or Deacon Barnes, as all knew him, was the first settler in this district. He came here from the State of New York and located his farm in 1836, his family coming one year later. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes were the parents of eleven children. Nine of them taught school. Although Deacon Barnes went to his reward many years ago, the memory of his deeds of kindness and the influence of his Christian character still lives. He was always ready to minister to the sick and counsel and aid those in need. It was Mr. Barnes who gave to the township the name of Aurelius. In 1836 Joshua Freeman took from the government the farm now known as the Josiah Hadden farm. Alexander Waggoner, father of J. D. Waggoner, took from the government the farm now owned by George Disenroth, and his brother, Henry Waggoner, also located on government land now owned by Ed Freer and Carl Warner. After a few years he sold his land and returned to New York. An incident relating to Henry Waggoner is told, which always brings a smile to the faces of the women. When he started back to his old home, his wife wanted him to let her carry the money he had received from his farm, but as usually is the case he thought he was as capable of looking after it as she was. While they were at Niagara Falls he had his pockets picked of all he had. Mrs. Waggoner happened to have enough money in her purse to carry them to their destination, but history omits the information as to whether she revenged herself by saying "I told you so" or not. Joseph Robinson, father of Lafayette Robinson, had an ashery across the road from the old log school house, where for many

AURELIUS TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 289 years he made potash and black salts, two articles used largely in trade in early days. Leonard Pratt owned 160 acres across the road from the ashery now owned by Elmer Ellsworth. E. M. Sanders, better known as Deacon Sanders, bought his farm in 1857 of Mr. Hobert. He lived there until his death in 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Edgar came from Ohio in 1862, and bought the farm where they have since lived. Thomas Cook took this land from the government. Mr. Edgar died in 1915, and Mrs. Edgar lives on the old homestead with her youngest son Claude and family. Two of the pioneers of this district had large families; Mr. and Mrs. Barnes had eleven children, and Mr. and Mrs. Slaght eighteen. It seems appropriate here to mention those of this district who fought in the Civil War: Orrin Converse, Henry Converse, Myron Davis, Corvis McIntyre, David Waggoner, Chauncy Slaght, Rosell Sanders, Wm. Austin. David Waggoner and Henry Converse died on a Southern battlefield. Orrin Converse dropped dead in his door yard while home on a furlough. Two boys from this district entered service in the World War. Lynn Grinnell enlisted in an aviation corps, and was at Rockway Beach, New York City, when the armistice was signed. Lucius Warner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Warner, entered service June 25, 1918, and made the supreme sacrifice, being killed in action in the Argonne Forest, France, on Oct. 14, 1918. His body was sent to his home where he was given a military funeral in the fall of 1921, and buried in Maple Grove Cemetery at Mason. Along the first mile of the highway running west from the present school house there has not been a real estate transfer outside some members of the families residing there in 54 years. Nearly all the early settlers of this district are now lying in the Aurelius Cemetery.

290 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY DISTRICT NO. 2, AURELIUS. MRS. A. B. GRETTON, Isham or Gretton School. The first man to cast his lot in the wilds of what was destined to be District No. 2, Aurelius, was a young man from Ohio, one Wm. Isham. While looking about for a location he chanced to meet in the woods Mr. John Barnes. Perhaps this had something to do with his choosing, for he made his choice 160 acres to the west of a portion of the Barnes's holdings. Later relations of the two families were more closely connected, as this enterprising young pioneer married Amanda Barnes, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Barnes. In a log cabin, with doors and windows yet to be, this young couple set up housekeeping. Here Nelson Isham was born, the first child in the future District No. 2. As Mr. Isham felled and burned the trees the ashes by crude means were converted into potash, then drawn to Jackson by oxen. In this way he provided for his family until crops could be procured from the land. In 184- Michael Mattison with his wife and family came from the East, purchased the rights of J. Hammond, an early land speculator, in 160 acres of timbered land. To Michael Mattison belongs the credit for the first orchard, and also of killing the biggest bear ever seen in that locality. Jacob Parish, with wife and babe, was the next to find in the forest the prospect of a home. At about the same date, 1844 or 1845, one mile east from the site of the present school house, John Cook with his family came to a halt. Theirs had been a journey o'er land and sea, and England their former home. Of their children one son, Wm., was killed by a falling tree, and one daughter passed away at an early age. The Cooks were soon followed by Wm. Sear and family, also Rev. Robert Hamp. They were all of English birth. Peter Parish came from New York and found a home with his brother Jacob until a home could be erected on the newly acquired homestead.

AURELIUS TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 291 Amos Mattison, eldest son of Michael, had followed his parents from the East, and obtained title to 80 acres east of his father's property. To the north a family by the name of Weldon obtained first claim to 80 acres, but soon sold to Mr. Willoughby, who with his family had just crossed over from Canada. In the barter for this land a gun and a clock, the latter a treasured possession of the Willoughby family, changed hands as first payment. To the south the home of John Osborn was found. Mr. Osborn engaged in making shingles, and gave employment to several helpers that lived in cabins near by. The product of this industry found a market in Jackson, transported there by oxen. David Potter saw a future for a saw mill, so obtained title to 400 acres of land and erected a saw mill near its center. All the early frame buildings of that region were made from lumber sawed in that mill. David Potter was a Knight Templar, one of nine of that order then residing in the State. Mr. Potter took a keen interest in the affairs of the township, as the records of those days tell. The early townshlp meetings were held at his home, though sometimes this honor fell to Jacob Parrish, and later to John VanWert, whose home was in the center of the township. The burning of a huge pile of logs was a rite always celebrated on these occasions. Other names that can be mentioned in connection with the settlenient and development of the pioneer community are Bohannon, Miles, Haskell, Near and Spaulding. Something like seventy-five years ago the first school was established. Mr. John Barnes gave permission, and a small clearing was made on the northwest corner of his land, some ten or twelve feet back from the road, and a small log structure erected. It is said to have been a very primitive affair. Basswood, because of being easy to work, was the timber chosen. The first teacher to guide the destinies of the children gathered there was Ann Barnes. This, her first school, commenced on her sixteenth birthday, with a salary of $1.00 per week. The log cabin school house served its purpose in a few years, and in 1851 a frame building took its place. The names of Ellen Austin, Mary Barnes, Abbie Stokes, Ruth Bateman appear as early teachers.

292 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY With Abbie Stokes as teacher, the pupils at the Isham School, as it was then called, were not slow to sense a romance. A new house took shape on Amos Mattison's eighty. A wonderful house for those days. The porches enclosed with lattice work, each gable decorated with a quaint design in wood work. It boasted of porcelain door knobs brought up from Ohio, the first seen in this part of the country. There were two white ones for the front door and two brown ones for the side door. In the year 1855, at the close of school, Miss Abbie Stokes went to the new house to dwell, as Mrs. Amos Mattison. Of the old red school house and the activities of its patrons, brief mention at least needs be made of the Sabbath school, the devout men who preached there, men who labored, not for compensation or praise, but for the privilege that they deemed greater, that of pointing the way to the higher life. Among these men the names of Gueber, Swift and Tallman stand prominent. One lady of the community relates how her mother used to tell of attending a watch meeting, and how, when the old year was all but past and all was still as death, as the hour of midnight passed, one young man sprung to his feet, then to the top of a desk, and shouted, "Happy New Year all!" This young man was J. W. Freeman, and the happening more than sixty years ago. In 1855 there still remained government land in plenty. Wm. Hopkins with his wife and a family of five children came up from Ohio, made choice of 80 acres of land at $1.25 an acre. He proceeded to make a clearing and build the traditional log house. As soon as possible a small patch of corn was growing among the stumps. Then came trying times. There was no flour, no meal and no money in the log cabin, and the appetites of five husky boys and girls growing keener as the supply of flour and meal grew less. Mr. Hopkins was equal to the situation. I-e procured a length of stovepipe and by aid of a hammer and nails, a grater was soon constructed. Each morning he would rise before the sun and gather a quantity of the ripening corn, then grate, grate, grate until enough meal was made for the day's needs. Then he would commence the real labor of the day, that of making barrel hoops. In the course of time enough hoops were made to purchase a barrel of flour when they were taken to Jackson, the nearest mar

AURELIUS TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 293 ket, and the exchange made. Such is a small part of the history of those who blazed the way for the settlement of District No. 2, Aurelius. To the list that have carried on, when the first named pioneers must of need lay their work down, may be added those of Davis, Scutt, Bateman, Craft and Fanson, who have done for their day and times much to make District No. 2 a commendable and progressive part of our great commonwealth. DISTRICT NO. 3, WILCOX SCHOOL. By Miss SARAH JENNINGS. One warm summer day as the sun was sinking below the horizon I chanced to be passing the Wilcox school house. The door standing ajar, I decided to enter and sat down in one of the old seats to see how it would seem. As I sat there my mind began to recall the happenings of by-gone days. The day was sultry, and very unintentionally I fell asleep. I awoke with a start finding the room dark, save for the light of the moon which cast its silvery beams across the floor, and the night wind gently blowing in at the door through which I had entered. A voice very soft and low and with the tremor of age, seeming to proceed from the front walls of the room said, "I am the voice of the school and I have much of importance that I have long waited an opportunity to relate. Many years I have resided here and I claim first place as historian, for throughout the years have I not had daily representatives from nearly every home in this little community, and how better could one know the life of the homes than through the children? "My story dates back a to a time 85 years ago, in 1836, before this school existed here, to a time when the spot on which I now stand, and all around, was part of a vast wilderness. Far away to the east, on the shores of Lake Ontario in Orleans county, N. Y., two young men, Demetrius Olmstead and Elijah Wilcox, were seeing visions and dreaming dreams of a land far away to the west, a land of opportunity where they might make a home. With the hope and buoyancy of youth, Demetrius and his young wife

294 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Philema, and Elijah and his wife Alvira, gathered together the articles most necessary for home keeping, and bidding their relatives and friends farewell, each with ox-team and covered wagon started out on their long journey. "After crossing Lake Ontario they slowly made their way through Canada to Detroit river, which they crossed on a ferry boat. From there they wended their way through the dense Michigan forests by means of a blazed trail, until they reached what is now Onondaga. From there they had to cut their own road through, coming to a halt, after many long weeks of travel, at a spot near where the school house now stands. Mr. Olmstead took from the government the land now owned by Daniel DeCamp, and just a little south of George Smith's home built a little log cabin. Mr. Wilcox took up the land that was afterward for many years owned by John Slaughter, building his log house near the Elkins home. "At about this time came Geo. Wilcox from the old home in Orleans county, and settled on what was later the Floyd Rorabeck farm. "It was very new, as I have before stated. Indians roamed through the forests, and often frequented their cabins, and through the quiet of the night could be heard the howling of wolves, or the breaking of branches as the deer sprang through the thickets pressed by their wild enemies. This lonely life and the call of the homeland led Demetrius back over the same trail by which he had come back to the old home in York State. Demetrius traded his south 80 to one of his neighbors, Chas. Jennings, a young man, who with his wife Evelin and his two sons Dar and Marion, followed the same trail Mr. Olmstead had taken to the West, and at last reached the land they had purchased. They erected a log house near where Daniel DeCamp's house now stands. Again the call of the wild and the desire to grasp the opportunity offered by the new country led Demetrius to come back to the cabin and land he had left. "In 1839 came Timothy Strong. Up from the East he traveled with his wife Sarah, then a girl of eighteen years, and settled on the farm now owned by his son Dave. At the same time with Timothy came his brother David, and settled across from Geo. Smith's home. The solitude of the vast forest is now broken.

AURELIUS TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 295 Now one hears the report of a gun, the barking of a dog, the sound of the ax, the crashing of the mighty forest trees, the tinkling of the cow bells in the distance, and the joyous shouts and laughter of the boys and girls as they echo and re-echo through the forest. "Neighbors were very friendly in those days, and as Philome Olmstead, Alvira Wilcox, Sarah Strong. Evelin Jennings and others made their rounds of afternoon and evening visits the ever recurring topic of conversation was a school for the boys and girls. So the men at last called a meeting and planned the building of a school house, which was erected on a plot of ground donated by Elijah Olmstead and just a little north of the present school building. Thus in the year 1840 this school came into existence in this community. How well I remember how this little log school house in which I resided looked. It was a rough log structure with a stick chimney on one end, and within the building a large fireplace. Up and down the room ran rows of slab seats. How interested everyone was in the process of building, and how proud they were when it was completed. "Yes, and those early teachers, how well I remember them. There was Mariah Howlan, Kate Wilcox, Mrs. Tom Montgomery, Mary Barnes, John French, Hannah Fowler, Helen and Lucelia Toles and others. Mrs. Tom Montgomery brought her baby to school, often laying it on the broad mantel above the fireplace. What salary did they get? Well, that depended on circumstances. They had in those early days a rate bill, so much a pupil, and it was no great sum either. Many of those teachers were soul developed men and women, and great and lasting were the impressions they made on the young life of those early times. Yes, it is true that many were the obstacles they encountered, but as one has said, "Tis the set of the sail and not the gale that determines the way we go.' The older boys, John and Free Wilcox, Dar and Marion Jennings and others, used to chop and draw up the big logs for the fireplace. There was no fuel famine in those days, I tell you. My, how those logs used to crackle and burn. "One day, in 1842, the children were telling at school how new neighbors by the name of Fowler had arrived the day before. The man's name was Linus, and besides his wife there was a little girl named Bashy, a smaller one named Ann and a baby boy named Luman. They, like most of the other settlers in this

296 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY neighborhood, had come from Orleans county, N. Y., and from what I heard I knew they received a very hearty welcome. Soon their log house located just south of Ira Eckhart's was ready for them to move into. In 1849 came Josiah Fowler, Linus' father, and he settled just south of where Dan Slaughter now lives. "About this time came Alexander Henry and settled on the place now owned by John Stimer. Naturally much news from this little settlement drifted back east and another young man was fired with the desire to come West, so in 1844 from Ontario county, N. Y., came Jas. Jennings with his wife Malvina, and settled in a log house just east of where his grandson, Jas. Jennings, now lives. Each year the red roses blooming by the roadside mark the site of what was then their little home. After living there a number of years they went back East, but in 1851 they returned bringing with them their three year old son Isaac. Next to come from the old home community was Lins Brown, who settled on what was afterward the Mix farm. "Were not these early settlers often overcome by the hardships that they were obliged to endure in this new country, and did they not often long for their old homes? Yes, they had a hard struggle, but as the tree growing amid the rocks on the mountain side and exposed to the fierce blasts develops strength and toughness of fiber, they in like manner became strong. I think they were often lonely. I remember feeling very much that way myself at times, especially one cold winter night when the wind was whistling through the trees and these lines from Lowell began to run through my mind, 'Within thy walls thou sittest alone, alone, alone, ah, woe, alone.' 'The world is happy, the world is wide, Kind hearts are beating on every side.' I began to look about me. From every side I could see the lights shining forth from those little homes. Only candles or the flickering light from the fireplace, but they seemed just as bright as the lights of today. Perhaps that is because I am getting old, but how cheery and comfortable they looked. Yes, there was a great deal of happiness in this little community. "Demetrius Olmstead and Elijah Wilcox raised the first wheat in this little settlement, and started bright and early one morning with their ox teams to market their crop. The trail being very muddy it took several days to go and come. They received fifty

AURELIUS TOWNSIIIP AND ITS HISTORY 297 cents for a seventy pound bushel and on returning home found themselves a number of dollars in debt as the trip proved so expensive. "This small settlement lacked now but one of the three most important institutions of the State-the church. Soon a Sunday school was started with Linus Fowler as superintendent. My seats were more than filled, because you know in those days everyone went to Sunday school. A number who were especially helpful in the services at this time and later were Linus and Josiah Fowler, Chas. Jennings and Elder Ranney. The township meetings were sometimes held here too, so that it gave me a chance to learn something of the political news of that time. "About 1840 I left my abode in the old log school house and came to live in the present one which was then completed. Other families were now fast coming in. In 1849 Charles Simpson and wife settled on the farm now owned by their son Ed. Geo. Simpson and wife Margaret settled on the farm now owned by Miles Norris. Then there was Andrew Fowler and his wife Sally, where they lived for many years. Joseph Dixon on the farm later owned by Floyd Rorabeck. In 1855 Almond Parks settled where Ira Eckhart lives. In 1861 Cornelius Handy came to the farm later owned by his son Marion. How familiar these names all sound! 'It seems but yesterday,' said the voice, 'when they were here, but this only goes to remind one of the swift flight of years.' Yes, and there was Lewis Eckhart, came in 1864, settling where his grandson Ira now lives, the Sabins family, where Ray DeCamp lives, Elder Ranney, on what is now the Weeks farm, Joseph Howe, where his son Grant later lived, John Slaughter in 1861, and Humphry and Mary Sherman on the place now owned by John Hodgiboom. Those whose names I have given you are all gone. They have finished their journey here, but like the brook their influence goes on and on forever. "'I could tell you much more,' said the voice, 'but I must not now. I just wanted you to know something of those stirring times of '61. War was declared and that was the only topic of conversation. Out from our little community went Henry and Morris Olmstead, Jas. Jennings and Harrison Dixon. Those were very anxious days, and well I remember when the news reached us that Morris Olmstead had fallen on the battlefield. It

298 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY was a very sad day in our little settlement, and then came the news, only a few days after he left home, that Harrison Dixon was the first man to fall in his regiment. We could hardly believe the news. Harrison's body was sent home by his comrades. Those were truly sad days.' The voice faltered and then tremblingly continued, 'You know they were my boys for had they not for many years sat within my walls? Since then year on year hath flown forever, but over their graves "The sun still shines and the flowers bloom And the gentle winds still whisper low, And the stars have them in their keeping."' "The voice ceased and all was still, but as I crept from the moonlit room, I felt that I had truly communed with the distant past." DISTRICT NO. 4, WEBB SCHOOL. By W. M. WEBB. I know not when the school commissioners formed the district and established its bounds, but it was some time in 1842. On the 19th day of November, 1842, the organization took place at my father's home, it being a central part of the district. It was then district officers were elected for the first. Jonathan Snyder was made moderator, Winslow Turner director and Reuben R. Bullen assessor. They also voted to build a school house; this was to be of logs, with a room twenty feet square, and also voted to raise the sum of $100 for said purpose. They then adjourned to meet in January, 1843. Meantime between times the residents were discussing the house and the $100, and many of them thought to raise this sum would be more of a burden than they could bear, but after much discussion it was left as voted, only it was arranged that the house should be built by individual labor as far as possible, each to receive fifty cents a day for his labor. When the house was up and enclosed 134 days of labor had been performed, amounting to $67, leaving $33 with which to finish the inside. This was done by Joseph Bullen, the only mechanic in the neighborhood at that time.

AURELIUS TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 299 I can recall most of the teachers who taught in that log school house. It was our school house for four years, and during that time there were eight teachers employed, only one of them of the masculine gender. In 1849 the school center was moved one mile to the east, and school was held in a log residence for two years. In 1851 a new and large frame building was erected, 24 x 30 feet in size. The school attendance had increased from 17 to 50, and in 1858 the roll call was 72. That was the largest number that attended at any one time, and the pupils were under the tuition of Hon. S. L. Kilborne, of Lansing. Great and entertaining were the gatherings held in that school house; spelling schools, writing schools, singing schools and debating schools. Let me take a minute to tell you of those debates. For entertainment and information they were only second to the instruction we received in the day school. Through a part of the winters of the sixties and seventies and up into the eighties we had our weekly discussions. Some relating to local affairs, some scientific, moral, national, in fact all the live topics of the day, and many of them you will see, for there were meetings once a week for at least a dozen years. We had our constitution and by-laws and aimed to conduct our discussions with as much dignity and propriety as would be in any legislative body. Some of the questions we discussed forty and fifty years ago have been in recent times handled by the nation and solved, as for instance: "Resolved, that women be granted the right of suffrage throughout the nation." Here is another the State and nation will handle twenty years from now, and that will be only sixty years behind our pioneer movement: "Resolved, that a breach of the marriage promise be punishable by imprisonment as well as pecuniary fines." We also tried our wits and knowledge on the following: "Resolved, the resumption act be passed by Congress;" "that the mental faculties of the sezes are equal;" "that necessity is the mother of invention;" "that a lie is sometimes justifiable;" "that the mind always thinks;" "that conscience is man's proper guide;" "that gambling be suppressed by law;" "that it requires more skill and ability to be a successful agriculturist than for any other calling;" "that a congress of nations be encouraged" (forty years behind us but will catch up soon) "that the signs of the times

300 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY indicate the downfall of this Republic" (this was during the reconstruction period after the Civil War; )"that the warrior benefits his country more than the statesman." This also followed closely the Civil War. Without going further into details will say that those years were a very interesting period in the history of the district. Will mention the teachers who taught here before 1860 and resided in the township: Martha Smith, Benjamin Holley, James Williams, Horace Hobart, Kate Wilcox, Bashia Fowler, Mary Bump. Those were early day teachers, and many taught here later. The years of the Civil War mark an interesting period in the life of the district. From three square miles in the neighborhood there went into the Union army during that four year's struggle 26 boys. A pretty good quota for a rural neighborhood. But few places did as well, and none better. There were four Turner brothers, three Baldwin, three Holley, three Dunn, two Wright, three from the Webb families, and one each from the Smith, Watkins, Gunn, Jewett, Mutton, Wilson, Norris and Williams, and were divided among nine organizations. But what became of them, and where are they now? Five met Confederate bullets, five died in the southland, one was wounded on the battlefield at Chickamauga, captured and died in Andersonville prison, and another was wounded and captured on the Stoneman raid and died in Andersonville. One sickened on the Franklin and Nashville campaign and died in the hospital; one died in camp in Missouri. and one in a hospital at Alexandria, Va.; one was severely wounded at the battle of Bull Run; one died ten years after the war from wounds he received at Spottsylvania; one was killed by a premature discharge of a cannon at the village of Onondaga during the presidential campaign of 1876. Four lie in national cemeteries, four in North Aurelius Cemetery, one in the Leeke Cemetery, Alaiedon, one in Maple Grove, Mason, one in Rose Hill, Eaton Rapids, one at Atlanta, Iowa, and one at Logansport, Indiana. Thirteen are still living, almost a wonder that fifty per cent of the North Aurelius boys should be living while there is but a trifle over ten per cent of the entire Union forces now alive. But they are old men, with the exception of myself (am 83). One is 85, one 83, three are 80, one 79, one

AURELIUS TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 301 78, one 77, one 76, and three are younger. Two live in Texas, two in California, and nine in Michigan. I am the only one still tenting on the old camp ground. Of those who located and settled here in a very early day all were of a class that came to stay and stayed to build a home in the wilderness, and built it, to compel the forest to give way to cultured field, and compelled it, and here they lived their remaining days. Of the 32 pioneers that came very early, 30 lie in the North Aurelius Cemetery, while one died in New York and one in Ohio. The first marriage in the neighborhood was performed by Rev. Thomas Wakelin; the contracting parties Thomas Presley and Martha Smith, Sept. 10, 1846. The second was on the following Christmas eve., when occurred the marriage of Thomas and Mary Ann Wright. DISTRICT NO. 6 (FRACTIONAL), IN TOWNSHIPS OF AURELIUS, ONONDAGA, IN INGHAM COUNTY AND HAMLIN AND EATON RAPIDS, EATON COUNTY. By MRS. ALFRED PARKER, Aurelius. This fractional district is known as the Plains District. The first record I found of actual settlement was in 1835, made by Col. Robert Montgomery and wife and their five sons, Col. John, Johnson, Robert, Wm. and Alexander. They obtained their land from the government, and settled on the Onondaga Township corner, and later obtaining more land for the boys upon which they settled. Hence the name Montgomery Plains. To John M., who built the stone house on the Hamlin Township corner, was born three sons, Robert, Scott and Albert, also one daughter, Alvira Montgomery Miller. The sons were all farmers. To Johnson was born a large family of children: Lieut. Dudley, who after the Civil War went to Kansas; Amanda Huntington; Helen Baldwin, now living in Minnesota; Charles, who was accidentally killed in early childhood; Jack, a farmer; Ezra, who was killed while serving in the Civil War; Caroline Shaw, Celestia Miller, and Judge Morris Robert, who died at his home in Eaton

392 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Rapids in 1920, having moved there but a short time before from Washington, D. C., where he had been Judge of Customs Court of Appeals. He had served as circuit judge in Grand Rapids, and was a member of the supreme court in Ingham county. His name was well known, not only in Michigan, but through the United States. To Robert was born Alonzo, Clifford, Fred, Frank, Almerion and Sarah Dunham. To Wm. was born Wm., Jr., Martin, Richard, Louisa Haff, and Mallie Medkiff Eisenbiss. Alexander had no issue. All of these children were born on the Plains. The original Montgomery homestead on the Onondaga Township corner was later owned by the Schimmerhorn's, Waller's, Hewett's, Henry Olmstead, who built the house that now stands there, and others. In 1837 the Robt. Haywood family settled on the corner one mile east of the school house. Their children were Robert, Dr. Abner, Henry and Harriet, who married a son of Rev. Crane. The school district was organized in 1837, and the first school in the township was taught in the Plains' school house in the summer of that year. It was a small log building and the Huntington family occupied it for a residence the next spring until they could build themselves a home. However, school had been held in this building before this, supported by families without public aid. The brick structure which now stands there was built in 1865. Marcella Parker taught the last term in the old school and went to school to a male teacher in the new school during the first term taught there, and this was Dudley Bateman. The site for the school house was bought of John Montgomery, $70 being paid for a square acre. Almeron Parks was the carpenter and the building cost $2,000. In 1877 the district voted money for the ornamental pine trees along the Plains road. In the early days the stage coach passed along this road from Eaton Rapids to Mason. It was a fine road and horseback riding was much indulged in, making of this road a rather famous race track. In 1838 John French obtained three or four hundred acres from the government, east of the school house. The later owners were Wm. Miller, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Mull and Richard Blair.

AURELItUS TOWNSHII AND ITS HISTORY 303 About 1839 Erastus Ranney settled east of the Hayward farm. In the early forties Zeno Terry obtained from the government 360 acres in the part of the district lying in Eaton Rapids Township. He built the large barns on what is now the Pierce place. In 1849 he sold to his son-in-law, Wheeler Miller, who built the brick house. One son, Morris Miller, is now living in Jackson at the advanced age of 97 years. His daughter (Wheeler Miller), Millie Miller French, was a successful teacher, and she and her husband were teaching in Mason at the time of her death, and Nancy Miller Jopp, still living, aged 87 years. Nancy Miller Jopp and Harriet Hayward Crane were married at a double wedding at seven o'clock in the morning. Another son, Chas. Miller, held the office of sheriff in Eaton county for many years. The homestead passed out of the Miller family in 1892. The Plains' church was built in 1845, and cost $300. Later it was remodeled. It was maintained by people of various religious beliefs, and pastors of different denominations held services there. Present indications are that it will in time be used as a community house. The first burial in the cemetery was the infant child of Mr. and Mrs. Erastus Ranney, and the second Mrs. Caroline French Hamlin. The Parker farm, obtained from the government by a Mr. Scofield, the date unknown. He built the large barn on the west side of the road, and Alfred Parker bought the farm in 1849 and built the grout house, and is still owned by Alfred Parker, Jr. In the early days of the district, each pupil was called upon to furnish his quota of four foot wood for heating purposes. The building was accepted in 1866, but it was some years later when a bell was purchased for $8.35 and its clarion tones called the youth of the district to this place of learning. In 1869 there was $60 raised by tax for fences and to grade and pay for ornamental trees, and in 1879 $30 was raised for more trees and their care for one year. In 1880 the plan of using forest trees to replace those that died was adopted, and the trees cared for by the residents. A singing school held at the school house was one of the events of 1869. In 1876 the building was closed to the public except for educational purposes.

304 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Other residents of the district were Willis Bush and family, a family named Brooks, the Whites, Seth Harmon, John Gale, Hiram and Harmon Gibbs. An amusing story is told, which contains a unique hint as to the first aid remedies used in early times. Miller and Bush were working swamp land when Bush was bitten by a massasauga. He was addicted to the use of tobacco, so clapped his quid onto the wound and was carried to the house. While waiting for a physician to come Mr. Miller milked a cow and immersed the wounded foot in the warm fluid, then killed a chicken, opened it and bound the warm carcass on the foot. Before the doctor arrived three chickens had been used, and the physician declared this treatment saved the man's life. The only descendents of the earlier pioneers now living in the district are Mrs. Ransom Bush, Mrs. Rena Gale Corbin, and Alfred Parker. NO. 7, AURELIUS CENTER SCHOOL. By MRS. EVELIN. In the year 1836 Joshua and Henry Freeman came from Oneida county, N. Y., to what is known as District No. 7, Aurelius Center. The government had surveyed land and divided it into sections. Joshua Freeman took land on section 25 and Henry Freeman on section 34. The Freeman's cut the road through the forest from Jackson, building a bridge over Grand river, and this is known as the Freeman bridge to this day. J. W. Freeman, son of Henry Freeman, is the oldest man in District No. 7, being 85 years old, and still lives on part of the farm his father took from the government when he was but six months old. J. H. Covert is another old resident of District No. 7. He came with his parents, J. S. Covert and wife, to this place from Seneca county, N. Y. They drove overland to Lake Erie, then their team and wagon were put on a boat and they sailed to Detroit, as so many of the pioneers did, and from there they drove across the State to Aurelius. This was in 1842, and Mr. Covert was only four months old.

AURELIUS TOWNSIIP AND ITS HISTORY 305 Mrs. Covert's father, Jeremiah Loucks, had come here at a still earlier day and taken up land on section 35. J. S. Covert bought his land of Mr. Loucks and paid $1.25 per acre giving gold in exchange. Mr. Covert told this story: His father having business in another part of the township was on his way home through the woods when he saw a little fawn. He took it home to his little son and it grew to be a great pet. They put three bells on it, to distinguish it from the cows that roamed at large with bells on, and so had no trouble keeping track of it. On moonlight nights it often wandered off into the woods and later return to the clearing with other deer. One day it went over on the farm now owned by Dave Strong and on its way home some one shot it, thinking it a wild deer. Mr. Covert is now 78 years old. J. C. Bond, Sr., is the oldest man who was born in this district and has lived here all his life. His father, Samuel Bond, was one of the very early settlers in District No. 7, and J. C. Bond still lives on the farm where he was born 77 years ago. The first school was held in a log house, with only one room, and this was occupied by a family named Stewart. They had two little boys who slept in the trundlebed, which during the day was kept under the big bed and pulled out at night for their use. In the morning to make room for the boys and girls that came this was pushed back in place, and then Mrs. Stewart would proceed to teach the pupils in her home. Some time later a log school house was built just north of the Aurelius Cemetery. Jane Rolfe was one of the first teachers in the log school house, teaching six days a week and receiving 75 cents for each week's work. The seats were made of logs with pegs driven in for legs; the desks ran round the room, the pupils facing the wall with their backs to the teacher. Later another school house was built just south of the old one, and Sarah Pratt Cook was the first teacher. In 1867 the present building was erected, with Mattie Cochran Strong (Dr. Strong, who practiced medicine for many years in Jackson) as teacher.

306 PIONEER IISTORY OF INGIIIA COUNTY DISTRICT NO. 10, TOLES SCHOOL. By MRS. O. M. ROBERTSON. District No. 10, known as the Toles School, was organized in the spring of 1856, and the first school was taught by Mary Jane Kiper, now widow of the late Dr. Hyde, of Eaton Rapids. The building was a shanty in the Toles mill yard. It stood about where the Chas. Klink granary now stands. The children who attended school were from the families of Jehial Toles, Joseph Moreau, Linus H. Fowler and Elisha Cruson. Ten children in all. The first school house was built on the northwest corner of section 29, the same year the district was organized. The winter term was taught by Amanda Montgomery. In the early seventies this school house burned. The district disorganized, and the territory was set off into the adjoining districts for a short time. This not proving satisfactory, the district was reorganized, and a school house built in the fall of 1875. "Gully College" as it was called from the time the first house was built produced seventeen teachers, one minister, one lawyer, two physicians and one dentist. and we know not how many successful tradesmen and farmers. Ten stalwart sons took their places in the army during the Civil War. Some served three years and got home just in time to help pay the tax to clear Aurelius Township from the draft. L. A. Fowler recalls the fact that he got out timber for scythe snaths which he delivered to the State Prison at Jackson to pay his share, which amounted to $36. Some bonus! There are left of those early residents who have lived all their lives in District No. 10 Mrs. Tillie Clark Markley, Olin Fowler and son Glen, Roy Buckingham and Frank Robertson. Of those who were here 50 years ago only four are left, Olin Fowler, Rena Fowler Klink, Tillie Clark Markley, and Lucy Webb Robertson. Luman A. Fowler, of Aromas, Calif., lived in District No. 10 since before it was organized until 1894, when he and his family moved to their present home. Mr. Fowler was present at the Aurelius meeting, and gave an interesting talk on the early days and their events.

AURELIUS TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 307 Dudley Bateman, an early day teacher, and a veteran of the Civil War, related some of his experiences along both lines. Wm. McGuire gave an original poem which pleased all. In this he pleaded for worth while memorials for those who fought in the wars of our country. Before the meeting closed Mr. Webb called all the Civil War veterans to the platform, and as they held high the colors all joined in singing "Rally Round the Flag." TIHE WEBB FAMILY OF AURELIUS. Taken from "The Past and Present of Ingham County," With Consent of the Writers. George B. Webb was born in Summersetshire, England, in 1803 and before coming to America he saw the effects of the Battle of Waterloo and had experiences in its aftermath which he never forgot. When a boy of thirteen he was compelled to take his father's team and carry wounded French prisoners, who had been captured in this battle, to various places of safety in England. Believing that he could better himself in America, he came to this country when he was twenty-two years old and settled in Syracuse, N. Y., where he engaged in the butcher and dairy business. When twenty-eight years of age he married Miss Anna M. Cately, of Syracuse, and to them five children were born, and in 1921 three of them are living in Ingham county and numbered among its best known pioneers. George B. Webb came to Michigan in 1836 and settled in Aurelius Township, where he purchased eighty acres of land from the government. When he selected this tract upon which to found his home it was necessary for him to go to Ionia to the land office to make his entry. He started out on an Indian trail, and expected when he reached Grand river to find some friendly Indian to ferry him across, but in this he was disappointed. He began building a raft, his only tool being his jack knife, but by using flood wood he finally had a raft which he thought-and hoped-might carry him across the river safely. The water was deep and the current strong, and the frail craft upon which he had ventured out soon fell

308 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY to pieces, and he, unable to swim, was caught in the swift flowing water. Had not a friendly Indian fortunately appeared at this time his life would have been lost, but instead he was able to reach the land office, make his entry and return home safely. This eighty acres secured at that time he added to until he owned 340 acres of fine farming land, which some years later had become one of the best known farms in the county. Indians frequently camped on or near his farm, but being amicably disposed the relations with the Webb family were always friendly. After the death of Mr. Webb's first wife he married Mrs. Lucy Harty, of Bunkerhill Township, and one child, Lewis C. Webb, now of Mason, was born to them. Mr. Webb died in 1890, aged eighty-six years, his wife having preceded him in 1882. W. M. (Mac) Webb has written many things regarding early life in Aurelius Township, on which he is an authority, but there was never a more interesting account given than the following, which with Mr. Webb's consent is taken from "The Past and Present of Ingham County," compiled by the late Albert E. Cowles, of Lansing. I was born on section nine in the township of Aurelius on the 21st day of May, 1838, under better conditions and with more favorable surroundings than many an Ingham county pioneer boy who was born about the same period. They were probably born in log shanties under a trough roof, while I was born in a board shanty under a bark roof. The corners of the house were three small trees, standing in about the right position, and at the fourth corner a post was set. The trees were cut off at the proper height, boards were nailed round forming an enclosure which was covered with great slabs of elm bark laid on poles. There were beautiful and extensive groves of beech and maple on four sides of the house, and all the lawns were covered in spring with a very luxuriant growth of verdure known to the early settlers as leeks. I was the fourth child born in the township, so that being born in Aurelius had passed the experimental period and had become an established industry; George W. Bullen, born August 18, 1837; Freeman Wilcox, born August 20, 1837; Charles Ranney, born April 20, 1838. We made a big team to help clear the forests in an early day.

AURELIUS TOWNSEIP AND ITS HISTORY 309 I was not born with an axe in my hand, but with a disposition to grasp one as soon as opportunity offered. My life would not vary greatly on the whole from that of the average man who has seen Ingham county grow from the time of the "blazed" trail that marked the way in so many directions through the forest so dense and lone, and who has listened to the tinkle of the cow bell through the woodland pasture, and who in those early days sat around the cheery fireside within the old log cabin. The first thing I remember was the burning of the broom. It was the spring I was three years old. It had been used to sweep up the coals on the hearth in front of the fireplace, then stood brush end up in the corner of the house, and a coal that had lodged in the splints soon blazed and consumed the broom. I was five years old when I saw a horse for the first time; a wonderful sight for a little boy who had never seen any beast of burden except oxen. I also remember the same year of hearing much talk among my elders of what was believed by many as the coming of the end of the world in April. It was a sect called Millerites who prophesied this. My father got one of the believers, a cooper by trade, to make him a pork barrel during the previous winter, and he would take no pay, saying he had plenty to last him until the great day came. Some went so far as to make their ascension robes. It must have been a great disappointment to them. That spring I remember the snow was two feet deep at the time of the spring election. The town meeting was held at the home of Michael Mattison, on section fifteen. Those going from our neighborhood took the shortest route, one man going ahead a few rods to break the way, then falling to the rear, the next in line leading, until each had served his turn. By the next spring the little log cabins were fast filling up with boys and girls, and the great question in the community was the one of schooling. A meeting was called at my father's house early in 1844 to consider the matter. It was voted that a school house should be built 100 rods east of the northwest corner of section nine, and that $100 should be raised by direct tax for the purpose. After giving the subject more thought another meeting was called at my father's house to reconsider the vote on the amount to be raised, several being of the opinion that the sum was too burdensome to be borne. After much discussion it was left at the same

310 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGITAM COUNTY figure but agreed that each resident could give labor toward the erection of the building at fifty cents a day, no charge to be made for team work. Logs were cut and hauled by some, scored and hewed by others. One man got out material and built a stick chimney for his share, while another got out shakes for the roof, and so on. The labor amounted in all to $67, leaving $33 to be raised by tax, which was quite sufficient for sash doors, glass, nails, lumber and the inside mechanic work which was hired done. This house stood directly across the road from where I now live, and here at the age of six years I first attended school. The building stood for many years a monument to the enlightenment and intelligence of the neighborhood. My mother had taught me my letters, so I was quite a scholar at the start. I had my first primer full of pictures with words underneath descriptive of the same. These I must spell and pronounce. I went at it with a will. There was the word "gate" beneath the picture and I spelled g-a-t-e-bars, the word "spade" s-p-a-d-e-shovel. I had seen bars and shovel, but never a gate nor a spade, yet to me they were the same. So I surprised the teacher by my ability to pronounce such words so readily, and the rest of her life she laughed as she recalled that incident. The summer I was seven years old a band of Indians encamped across the road from my father's for a short time. I remember a little red who was doing some quite fine target practice with bows and arrows. I had a penny, no inconsiderable sum for a small boy at that time. In some way it was arranged by our elders that I should put up my penny as a target for the little redskin to shoot at, and if he hit it the first trial he won it. The distance as arranged was so great that my father thought my money was safe. It was put in a slit in the top of a stake and the stake set in the ground. The little Indian won with the first shot hitting the target square. I was sad for many a day from the loss of my fortune, but in time it became a golden memory. I remember Chief Okemos well. He visited my father's home a number of times during my boyhood. One time he offered to exchange a pony for me, telling father he would teach me to fish and hunt like an Indian. I was in my teens when the last Indian located in the forest close by us. Game was still plenty. His was

AURELIUS TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 311 quite a peaceable family, but someone didn't like him or didn't want him to be killing off all the wild game, so he with a jack knife carved the portrait of an Indian in the bark of a tree where the Indian would be likely to see it, then he fired two or three bullets into the picture. This was a suggestion that an Indian always understood, so he soon left for other parts. Some of us were sorry to see him go for we liked him, at least I did. The spring that I was eight years old two neighbors were going through a piece of woods and came across a bear and three cubs. They managed to secure two of the cubs. My father bought one of them so then I had a playmate, but he played rough and so did I. He was chained to a post that was about ten feet in height and wore a light chain about the same length. He would travel all day going one way until his chain was wound up, then the other way until it was unwound and wound up again. Sometimes he would climb to the top of the post and stay for awhile. He was always ready for a scrap and many were the cuffs I received when I got near enough to be reached by him. Although still a little fellow, sometimes I would grab him both sides of the neck when he was eating and shake him thoroughly to get even with him. We had much respect for each other. When just out of reach it used to please me greatly to induce some playmate to go near enough to get him cuffed over by bruin. Once he got hold of a little fellow and tore his clothes nearly off from him. The neighbors found so much fault because their children got so roughly treated that father sold him. I was nine years old the year the Capitol was located at Lansing. There was to be a big Fourth of July celebration in the new city, and everybody from our neighborhood was going, so father permitted myself and older brother to go. We went on foot. It was only twenty-four miles there and back. I had the time of my life. I listened to an oration by George WV. Peck, a prominent democratic politician. The exercises were held in a grove near what was later known? as the Benton House. My brother and I had a shilling to spend on that occasion, twelve and onehalf cents. There was a coin of that denomination in circulation at that time. It answered our purpose well. We blowed ourselves and came home financially busted, but all my life I felt that it was one of my big days.

312 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHIAM COUNTY My first gunning was done with a flint lock gun and my first game secured was a black squirrel. As soon as I had fired I dropped my gun and ran home as fast as I could to exhibit my game and boast of my markmanship. In my enthusiasm my gun was forgotten for the time and left nearly a half mile from home. In those early days before the time of lucifer matches the problem that required constant solving was to keep or secure a fire. A big log or a dry stub in the forest was kept burning. If those failed we would resort to flint and steel. These failing, we would use a gun, putting in a light charge of powder and a little tow in the muzzle, then fire the gun which would set the tow burning, and so with proper materials at hand we would soon have a blazing fire. One neighbor whittled out brooms for several families. Another gauged the sap yokes, and another made ox yokes. There was a good sized mortar made in a good sized stump in nearly every yard where with a pestle corn was made into meal. The Fourth of July when I was six years old the whole family, in fact the entire neighborhood, went to Mason to celebrate. A big long sled, such as was common for both winter and summer use at that time, had been shod for the day. Four yoke of oxen were hitched to the sled, and perhaps a score or more women and children climbed on while the men walked and drove the teams. When we had crossed the stilt bridge, which was near the southeast corner of Maple Grove Cemetery, the road led directly up to Steel's tavern. A boy was put on each nigh ox and the procession entered the town with colors flying. Chauncey Osborne was marshal of the day, a great man in our estimation, and the admiration of all boys. In an early day we sought anything that would furnish amusement for boys. My father had a section cut from a large hollow tree about five feet in length and with a hollow perhaps four feet across. This we often used to roll down hill in when it was not being used for a smoke house. We would get inside and standing bend the head forward so the shoulders would brace onto one side and the feet on the other. Someone would start the thing rolling, and if it started rightly it would go flying down the grade for twenty or thirty rods. It was a novel way to ride and produced a novel sensation while riding. One day a young fellow came

AURELIUS TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 313 along and after seeing us perform wanted to try it. We wanted he should. So we placed him inside with proper caution to keep his bracing and then cut her loose. Three or four stones got in the way and the log jumping and bounding over them broke his bracing. His feet were dangling out of one end, arms out of the other, and he was making two hundred revolutions a minute when he reached the bottom of the hill. He was considerably dazed, slightly bruised, but not much hurt. If we could have gotten him to take another trip we would have given him a square deal. All persuasion, however, failed. The poor fellow never caught on to the kinks of the game. For us boys those days were happy and full of fun. Those old school days! How many pleasant memories go back to them. We usually got three months schooling during the year. The rest of the time was put on the farm at hard work. Valuable lessons were interspersed. I recall how one time an Indian came into the school room unannounced, uninvited. Squatting down on the hearth stone he proceeded to sharpen his big hunting knife on a whetstone. The teacher, a young lady, went on with her duties just as if nothing strange was taking place. That was pioneer nerve on her part. One teacher, I remember, opened school each morning with devotional exercises, then carried a ferule or whip in his hand all day. At the slightest provocation he would use them freely. We took delight in keeping him busy in that branch of his business. Another teacher, I call to mind, didn't try to govern us, yet we were thoroughly governed. We obeyed every rule we had ever heard of and some good ones no one had ever heard of before. We had a practical demonstration every day in our copy books and I have had it in mind ever since. It ran: "The best government is that which governs least." Among our teachers were Judge George M. Huntington, Judge M. V. Montgomery, Hon. S. L. Kilborne, and many others who later came into prominence in the affairs of the State. So many recollections come trooping along the lines of the past bringing memories of the long ago. There were apple-paring bees, singing and spelling schools. The latter in which we took much pride in trying to outdo the best foreign spellers fired our ambition.

314 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHIIA COUNTY The best year of my life, or the one to which I look back with the most satisfaction, was the one I spent in the Union army during the Civil War. I was a member of Co. C, 8th Michigan Cavalry. My command was on the move most of the time, which suited me. We had an occasional brush with the enemy, which suited me also. I was on duty every day during my term of service. I never reported at sick call, had no occasion to. I did not see the inside of a hospital, field or elsewhere, while in the army, there being no occasion for that either. I obeyed every order given me, as far as I know, except one. Conditions at a certain time became very much mixed, Union soldiers and rebels were everywhere. A Confederate colonel rode up and in a stentorian voice ordered several of us to surrender. This was a new command and one in which we had not drilled. We simply put the spurs to our horses. The prompt action of a nearby comrade prevented the officer from giving further orders to Union soldiers. I enlisted on the 26th day of August, 1864, was discharged the 6th of June, 1865. There were eight young men from this and nearby neighborhoods who enlisted at the same time. A short time and two had found a resting place in Southern cemeteries. Most of the duties I had to perform were pleasant ones, but being detailed to march with trailing arms and to fire a volley over the grave of a departed comrade, was to me extremely sad. PIONEER NOTES. By W. M. WEBB, Aurelius, 1920. The historic page with scenes and events of other days recorded gives one a chance to compare present conditions with those of long ago, and the longer the space lying between the more interesting the comparison, and to look back through three-fourths of a century there are but a few things that do not mark so great a change that they seem wonderful when compared with present conditions. Oft in my musing from memory I recall things of long ago and place by the side of the new, as splint broom with carpet sweeper;

AURELIUS TOWNSHIP AND ITS IIISTORY0 315 tin bake oven with fireless cooker; goose quill pen with typewriter; flint lock with machine gun; ox cart and linchpin wagon with auto; flail with tractor thresher; sickle with twine binder; the dash churn, spinning wheel, pod augur, sap neck-yoke, the crotch-tree harrow, the bake kettle, the swinging crane and the old oaken busket, these and a hundred other things that played so prominent a part in early days, and soon it will only be the historic page that will recall them. LETTER POSTAGE. Just to catch an idea of what a few changes can bring about. Take for instance United States postage on letters for the seventyfive years just past. In 1843 we had to pay as follows: when we received a letter, if it had come thirty miles or less, the postage was 61 cents (six pence); if it had come a distance of between thirty and eighty miles it was 10 cents; if from eighty to one hundred fifty miles then 12 2 cents (one shilling), if from one hundred fifty to four hundred miles it would require 18 3-4 cents to secure your letter, and if four hundred miles and more, a quarter of a dollar paid postage and the letter was yours. If the letter contained an extra piece of paper or weighed more than one-half ounce, then it would be four times the above rates for like distances. Postage laws at that time were such that the postage could be paid at the mailing or delivery station, but mostly at the delivering station. The prevailing silver coins at that time were of the value of 64 and 122 cents. Perhaps Congress took into consideration the value of the coins we would pay postage with and fixed the rates accordingly. How many letters can we now send through the mails for our twenty-five cents for four hundred miles? Suppose for a little pastime we solve it as a mathematical problem, taking distance twenty times as far, ten times as much inclosed, onetwelfth the postage, 2,400 letters; nothing in it of course, only as it may give one an idea of the better conditions that have been brought about through seventy-five years of postal service. Again, if we should consider the ease with which we can secure twenty-five cents as compared with the effort required in 1843, the number would be very much greater, twice as many sure.

316 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY TAXES. In the fall of 1843 as tax time was approaching the question with many of the early settlers was how they were going to meet them. The Seymour dam in Lansing was being built at that time and laborers were wanted. Some Aurelius-ites went to Lansing and were employed. It required one-half day to go the fourteen miles, and likewise to return, so they got credit for five days during the week at 50 cents per day, $2.50,which would pay the postage on ten letters coming from New York. Now the laboring man demands $4.00 per day, $24.00 per week, paying the postage on 1,200 letters. So thus by comparing we see the difference in the effort required to pay postage in 1843 and 1920. AURELIUS. The first permanent settler in the township of Aurelius when it was the "big town," comprising the west half of Ingham county, was Elijah Woodworth, who came here in 1835 or 1836 and settled in what was later Leslie Township. He came from the township of Aurelius, Cayuga county, N. Y., and pleased to bring something of his old home to the new gave the west half of the county the name of Aurelius. He sent his request to the Legislature at Detriot, giving name and bounds, and its was duly honored, and thus Aurelius got its name. I learn of six places in the United States called Aurelius, mainly townships. Perhaps the name first was given to honor a noted Roman historian, soldier and emperor in the early centuries. The first Aurelius became a township on the 11th day of March, 1837. The present one, a Congressional township, the 16th day of March, 1838. The first township election was held on April 20, 1838, at the residence of Robert Hayward on section 32, where thirteen electors cast their ballots. The names of the first voters were as follows: John Barnes, Zacchius Barnes, R. R. Bullen, Joseph Bullen, W. Isham, Elijah Wilcox, George Wilcox, Erastus Ranney, Robert Hayward, Franklin Hayward, D. D. Olmstead, O. C. Robinson and G. B. Webb. Zacchius Barnes being a fine penman it fell to him to write out the ballots, which was done in fine style. Supervisor, Clerk,

AURELIUS TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 317 Treasurer, four justices of the peace, three highway commissioners, three school commissioners, three fence viewers, four constables and a poundmaster, twenty-one offices to be divided among thirteen voters. Each could have a political plum, and then some. The ballot box on that occasion was a cigar box and it is said to be in the hands of the Hayward's yet. At this time the nominating was done at the same time and place as the election, and at this meeting the very best men in the township were put in nomination. For eight years men in Aurelius were nominated for official positions without regard to party, then it was Democrat and Whig. The spring elections were held at various residences throughout the township for twenty-five years, since then they have been held at Aurelius Center. Of those first voters there are still in the township three generations of the Barnes', four of the Webbs', three of the Bullens,' three of the Ishams' and some descendents of others. Sometimes, perhaps, someone will wonder what were the duties of a poundmaster, as a township officer? In an early day all stock owned by the first settlers ran as they pleased through the forests, feeding wherever they could find pasture; sometimes they would mingle with other herds and stray away. Anyone finding such a stray with his cattle was expected to take it to the poundmaster, where it was kept in pound until the owner was located. This was not very difficult as most of the settlers had their individual ear-mark on their stock, which was on record in the clerk's office. In many clips, slits, notches and holes, nearly twenty marks could be placed upon one ear and a like number on the other. When stray was found the record was consulted, and the owner located. Then someone would grab a gun, go on a hunt, and while on the way carry tidings to the owner. Very seldom was there a fee asked, for everyone felt an interest in every other one, and would go far out of his way to do a neighborly act. There was very much of the Samaritan spirit prevailing among the settlers in the early days.

318 PIONEELR IHISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY AURELIUS FOLKS WILL WANT TO READ THIS. A CIGAR Box WAS USED FOR BALLOT Box FIRST ELECTION. W. M. Webb Used to Steer an Ox Team at the Rate of Two Miles an Hour-Now Hits "Forty." The Ingham County Historical and Pioneer Society is nearing its fiftieth anniversary, and W. M. Webb, who was born in Aurelius Township in May, 1837, and has never resided outside its boundaries, thinks it high time to ascertain if there is any native born resident of the county older than he, or if any came into the county and has been a continuous resident longer than he. Mr. Webb issues what he calls a challenge to anyone in the county to write a history of its early days, as he or his forefathers experienced it, and send to the secretary of the County Historical Society, Mrs. Franc L. Adams, Mason. At the recent township historical meeting held in Aurelius, Mr Webb had prepared a paper on "Old Days, Old Times, Old Scenes and Old Folks of Aurelius," which was omitted for lack of time. This cannot fail to be of interest to anyone who desires to see the history of Ingham county gathered and preserved, but would be doubly interesting and valuable should Mr. Webb write the stories to which he refers and present them to the public. This is his paper, told in his own inimitable manner: "How wonderful were those good old days of the long ago, but not more so than the glad new days of the present! Yet, to go back into the far past and bring forward, only in memory, those old days, old ways, old scenes and times, and compare them with our surroundings today, presents a picture both pleasing and instructive. We grasp the present much better by knowing as much of the past as we may, and this meeting today is for the purpose of calling to mind the doings of the past. "The township of Aurelius is two months and three days older than I, so practically we have touched elbows all of my years and the years of the township's development, from log shanties, underbrushed roads, blazed trails, the yearly, I might say almost daily, picture is before me of the constant changing of the wild and the

AURELIUS TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 319 new, to the now. I see, though only in memory, who were here, how they did and what they had to do with. "Let us for a few minutes get away from the hurrying, rushing, throbbing, pulsing present, and go back to pod auger days, to tin oven days, bake kettle, swinging crane, oaken bucket, ox cart, linchpin wagons, flint lock guns, goosequill pens, the old tin dinner horn, the crotch tree harrow, the swingle flail, the harvesting sickle and a hundred other things that had their day; these were reckoned as conveniences and answered their time well, for we knew not of aught that was better. "We were satisfied, happy and contented to ride in an ox cart at two miles an hour, while now to whiz along in an auto at forty miles an hour marks the change along one line in my day. To follow each of the things I have mentioned would mark a change almost as wonderful, but I will take only one, the harvesting of grain. Until I was seven years old the sickle cut all the grain in the neighborhood; then the turkey-wing cradle, the grape-vine, the mully, the man rake-off reaper, the self raking reaper, the dropper, the marsh harvester, the wire binder, then the twine binder-ten jumps, or to make the term more modern, we'll call them improvements instead of 'jumps.' "Mr. Reuben R. Bullen was the first man to settle in Aurelius. He came in November, 1836. At that time there was no resident west of Mason, and only two there. The Wilcox brothers and A. D. Olmstead came a few days later. The Hayward brothers came in March, 1837, and my father, G. B. Webb, in April, 1837. The Barnes' and Wm. Isham in June, 1837, also Erastus Ranney. These and many others, 68 in all, located their land in 1836, and settled on it later. In 1837 there were 48 more who located land in Aurelius. The first man to take up land in the township was Nathaniel Silsby, in October, 1835, and the next Col. John Montgomery in December of the same year. "The first township meeting was held at the home of the Hayward brothers on section 31, on the 20th day of April, 1838, when 15 votes were cast, and 21 officers elected. I can follow the career of all of them except F. Robinson and Sanford D. Morse. "The ballots were all written by Zaccheus Barnes, with a cigar box for a ballot box, and this was still in existence a few years ago. The township meetings were held for some 25 years at different

320 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY homes in the township, or at David Potter's saw mill near the center of the township, but for many years have been held at Aurelius Center. "Late in 1837 and during 1838, there was a village started on the banks of the Grand river in Aurelius, called Columbia, and in 1838-39 there were 13 families located in this village; a saw mill was built and was run for some time. It had the appearance at that time of becoming a city some day, only to be completely abandoned within three years. Eighty acres of land had been surveyed into village lots and a plat made, though it was never recorded. It doesn't look now as though it had seen better days. "I had thought to tell of those first settlers who organized the township, and what became of them, especially those 15 first voters: Reuben R. Bullen, G. B. Webb, Elijah and Geo. Wilcox, the Hayward brothers, Erastus Ranney, John Barnes, Wm. Isham lived their day and died in the township. A. D. Olmstead went just across the line into Onondaga, Joseph Bullen to New York, Zaccheus Barnes to Lansing, the others I cannot follow. "There were many scenes, incidents and accidents I might recall, and will mention a few: pike pole barn raisings with hair raising incidents and accidents; bull push log raising with many happenings; how the Indians got honey from the top of a high tree without cutting it down; the shooting matches just before Thanksgiving; the big days when we washed sheep; the political campaigns with big gatherings, pole raisings and torch light processions; chopping and logging bees; jockey baseball games; about the man who dodged under a beech tree in a thunder storm with the remark that lightning didn't dare strike a beech tree-lightning won; when two political nominees drank out of the same campaign jug, and what happened; when 12 Aurelius boys were drowning in Grand river at the same time, a story attached; about when a man got into the top of a tree, 50 feet from the ground, and couldn't get down-another story; about the big trees in Aurelius in the old days, some 11 feet in diameter one foot above the ground. Then there was tremendous excitement prevailed over a large section of southern Michigan when the Capitol was located in Ingham county. How much I can recall of the doings of that excited period, and without referring to any recorded history might be more lengthy than interesting."

AURELIUS TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 321 Mr. Webb goes on to say that at the township meeting recently held at Aurelius there were three present who attended the first school taught in the north one-half of the township 77 years ago; also, of the 94 boys of Aurelius who responded to Lincoln's call, all the survivors were present, Luman A. Fowler, now of California; Dudley N. Bateman and Wm. M. Webb, all past 80 years of age. To Wm. M. Webb, of Aurelius Township, belongs the honor of being the only octogenarian who was born in Ingham county and has lived continuously on the farm where he was born, at least all the challenges sent out by Mr. Webb regarding this record remain unanswered. Mr. Webb has had the story of his life put in rhyme, though never published, and it tells the story of his birth in a nutshell: "A rough board shack set in a primal wood; Three corners of it formed by trees that stood Cut to the proper height; A post was set At the fourth corner. Trees sometimes forget To grow four in a square, yet men four-square Were born of pioneers and nourished there. Boards formed the sides, and slabs of bark were laid To roof the house thus quickly, strongly made. It had few windows; for outlook one could see But tangled wilderness of bush and tree. A wonder house this would seem to you or me, To pioneers it was a dream come true. 'Twas shelter, and meant safety. Here, twenty-first of May, In eighteen thirty-eight, I came to stay. They little thought who heard my wailing fears That I should live to count my four-score years. All, all are gone the way of all the earth, Who knew me in that shack which saw my birth!" Wm. M. Webb says, "I was the fourth child, all boys, born in the township, so that being born in Aurelius Township had passed the experimental stage and become an established industry, and we four boys made a strong team in clearing the forests. I was not

322 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGITAM COUNTY born with an axe in my hand, but with a disposition to use one while still very young," and the following from his rhyme story plants a vivid picture in all minds of the life of a real pioneer boy: "Of one event when I was seven years old Perhaps you'll pardon here the story told; A wornout axe of father's fell to me, So straightway I was moved to fell a tree. The biggest one by measurement I found, And started in to bring it to the ground. For two whole weeks I hacked and cut away, Unconscious that my father watched me day by day, He knowing well how dangerous my work, And that my ignorance would not let me shirk. As proud as Lucifer I'd planned to say To my young mates, ' I felled a tree today!' Alas, my tree was hollow; when cut through it crashed Slumping before me, just completely smashed. I kept the secret well. None ever knew from me What fond hopes perished with that hollow tree." After the war Mr. Webb returned to his home in Aurelius, and since then farming has been his life work, and it has proved one of prosperity to him. He is a man of broad understanding, very public spirited, greatly interested in all agricultural matters, and in the pioneer history of his county. He taught school in his early manhood, and knows of the trials and hardships that fall to the lot of pioneer teachers. He was for years connected with the Ingham County Agricultural Society and one of its efficient officers. For fifty years he has been identified with the Ingham County Farmers Club and the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical Society, now serving his thirtieth consecutive year as its treasurer, ever ready to give of his time and his money to carry on the work. He is intensely interested in carrying to a successful finish the "Pioneer History of Ingham County" which the society now has ready for publication. He is an ardent church worker, and is well known for his philanthropic spirit and work. He is also a charter member of Phil McKernan Post, G. A. R.

AURELIUS TOWNSHIIP AND ITS HISTORY 323 Mr. Webb has been twice married, but is now a widower and lives alone on his farm homestead, not far from the home of his only son. Although somewhat handicapped by failing sight and hearing, his step is as quick as that of a boy, and his hand and brain still retain their cunning, as one can readily see upon perusal of the pioneer stories he loves to write. It can truly be said of him that he is 84 years young. CELEBRATES 102ND ANNIVERSARY AT BUNKER REUNION IN MOORES PARK. The annual reunion of the Bunker family was held at Moores Park Tuesday, and the function brought together a large number of members of the Bunker Family Association, representing Lansing, Mason, Eaton Rapids, Aurelius, Dimondale, Delhi, and other towns. One of the special features of the program was the celebration of the one hundred and second birthday anniversary of Mrs. Eliza Collins, who enjoys the distinction of being the oldest person in central Michigan, and very much the oldest member of the association. Because of her extreme age and her general activity for one of her years, she was the most conspicuous figure at the reunion, the same as when she celebrated her one hundredth anniversary when the Bunker family held its reunion at the State Holiness camp ground in Eaton Rapids in 1915. Many outside of the Bunker family called to pay their respects to this venerable pioneer. Mrs. Collins was born at Scottville, N. Y., Aug. 20, 1815, and is the second daughter of the late John and Annie Bunker. From Scottville she went with her parents to Attica, N. Y., where at the age of 17 years she was united in marriage to James Collins. About three years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Collins started for Michigan by the overland route, when the country was so new that one member of the party was obliged to sit up nights to keep the wolves away from the camp of the travelers. After reaching Michigan Mr. and Mrs. Collins settled near Ann Arbor, where they resided a short time, after which they moved to the Montgomery Plains district, a short distance east of Eaton Rapids, where they built them a little cabin without doors, windows or shingles, on the site where the Plains school house now

324 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY stands. However, by hard work and saving as much as possible out of what Mr. Collins was able to earn in those early days when real money was one of the scarcest articles on the market, they soon saw their way clear to shingle half of their cabin in order to have a dry place to sleep, and lived in this crude little pioneer home for a year or so. Then they moved to Eaton Rapids, and for some time lived in a little house at what is now the southeast corner of Main and Hamlin streets. At this time the population of Eaton Rapids consisted of the Spicer, Hamlin, Darling and Knight families, and a postoffice, general store and hotel were its only business places. Mr. Collins enjoyed the distinction of cutting the first tree in the initial work of clearing away the forest on the east side of Grand river at Eaton Rapids, and he soon became one of the most popular men of the town. For 12 years he held the office of supervisor and justice of the peace and at the time of his death held the office of chief justice. Mr. Collins died when he was 36 years old, and following his death Mrs. Collins went to live with her parents near the Bunker school house in Aurelius township. Within a year or so her daughter, Marie, was married, and she made her home with the daughter until 1867, when Marie died, after which she returned to the home of her parents for a short time, and then bought and moved onto the farm in Delhi, where she still resides and is cared for by Frank Everett, her grandson. Mrs. Collins is unusually bright and active for one of her age. For the past few years she has rode to the Bunker family reunions in an automobile, and says she enjoys the rides immensely. She also says she is full of confidence that she is going to live to at least celebrate her one hundred and tenth birthday anniversary, and her general appearance at this time would indicate that she has made a good guess. Since she was a hundred years old Mrs. Collins has ridden to Eaton Rapids and back to her Delhi farm a number of times in an automobile, and on each occasion said she enjoyed the trip just as much as if she were not more than half as old. She tells some interesting stories of pioneer life in this section of Michigan, and is delighted at the fact that she has lived to see the ox team express relegated to the rear and replaced with steam cars, interurbans, automobiles and flying machines. Died 1921.

CHAPTER VI. BUNKERHILL Bunkerhill in 1863: history by Ferris S. Fitch: pioneer life of Job Archer and family: history by Elliott H. Angell: stories by G. W. Holland: history of DuBois family: pioneer stories as told by Mrs. W. B. Dean: the parish of S. S. Cornelius and Cyprian and the history of the Catholic church. A small post village of Ingham county, in Bunkerhill Township, 75 miles northwest of Detroit. FELT'S. A post office of Ingham county, 85 miles west of Detroit. Postmaster, J. Fuller. Morris C. Bowditch, machinist; J. C. Dubois, resident farmer; Randall (Lyman), blacksmith. FITCHBURG. A small post village of Ingham county, containing a population of about 100. It has a hotel, general store and saw mill. Distance from Detroit, 80 miles. Fare $3.00, via Jackson. Excellent location for flour mills. Postmaster, William Dowden. TRADES AND PROFESSIONS. Clark, Albert-gunsmith. Dowden, William-general store. Dutcher, Joseph-physician. Fitch, Charles-lawyer. Fitch, Ferris F.-mason. Fitch, Selah B.-mason. Hawley, Henry-lawyer. Heaton, John C.-carriage maker. Hopkins, Richard-hotel. Knight, John-boot and shoe maker.

326 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY Lawrence, Thomas-cabinet maker. McCreary, John B.-justice of the peace. Miller, John-saw mill. Nuaffer, Fereinane-blacksmith. Parker, Alexander H.-livery stable. Peak, Peter-cooper. Sabin, Hannah-milliner. Sheer, Winslow-blacksmith. Smith, E. J.-carpenter. Tuttle, George.-Rev. Ferris S. Fitch, in February, 1873, wrote the following history of Bunkerhill: A glance at the map will show the geographical situation of the township of Bunkerhill, Ingham county, to be one north, range one east. It lies west of the summit level which divides the waters that flow east through the Huron river to Lake Erie, and the waters of Grand river which flow west into Lake Michigan, and is wholly in the water shed of the latter. The soil is greatly diversified, being sandy-sand and gravel, sandy loam, clay loam and muck or vegetable loam in the swales and marshes. This diversity is not only characteristic of the township, but of the farms as well, almost every farm in the town possessing all these varieties of soil, which makes them peculiarly adapted to the growth and perfect production of the cereals, roots and grasses grown in this climate. For fruit, the township is unsurpassed by any other in this portion of the State. The timber is mostly white oak mixed in with red, yellow and black oak, and hickory, with an abundant undergrowth of hazel, and occasionally willow, plum and crab-apple. There are inexhaustible beds of peat in different parts of the town, which will afford good and cheap fuel when the timber is exhausted. The township was named by Major Johnathan Shearer, of Plymouth, Wayne county, who in an early day located a section of land in the township, in honor of his father who served as captain in the memorable battle of Bunkerhill. The first settlers were Abram Bunker, Deacon David Fuller and son (Henry, I think), C. Eaton, Wm. B. Dean, Job Earl, Jas.

BUNKERHILL TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 327 Markey, and several of his sons, Lewis Case, Parley Moore, Henry Wood, Jonathan and Charles Wood and others. The first house built in the township was by Abram Bunker, and some suppose the town took its name from him; it is a mistake, however. The town was organized in 1838, I think. At the time it was organized there were not men enough living in it to fill all the township offices. Some of them were completely loaded down with "blushing honors." The first school district was organized by Deacon Fuller, father of Rev. Fuller, of Leslie, and others in the northwest part of the town, taking in a small part of Leslie. The first church organization in the town was Presbyterian, organized by Wm. B. Dean and others. The first church edifice built was by the Catholics in the north part of the town. They have the most numerous congregation in town, numbering their members by the hundreds. The next was built by the Episcopal Methodists at Fitchburg, in the southeastern part of the town. There are several other church organizations, but none of them have built houses of worship. The first and only mill built in the town was by Selah B. Fitch, a steam saw mill, now owned and run by John Miller & Son, of Fitchburg. The first store was kept by Chilean Smalley, near the center of the town, now closed. There are but two stores at present in town, both at Fitchburg. One is kept by Lewis Clark and the other by Anselmo Morris. At the same place are two blacksmith and wagon shops. Also there is a blacksmith and a shoe shop in the center of the town. The first post office established was near the center of town, with Jonathan Poast as postmaster. The next was in the northwest part of town, and Dorman Felt (now of Grass Lake) was the first postmaster. The next was at Fitchburg, with Hubbard Fitch first postmaster. (Hubbard Fitch was a soldier in the War of 1812, and is buried in the Fitchburg Cemetery. His grave is marked with a regulation U. S. marker for soldiers of that war.) The politics of the town at the time of its organization were Whig, and remained so until the spring election of 1848, when

328 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGtIAM COUNTY there was a tie between Henry Wood, Whig, and John B. McCreery, Democrat, candidates for supervisor. They drew cuts for the office and McCreery won. The town, with one exception, remained Democratic until last fall (1872), when it went Republican. The morals of the town are second to none in the county or State. No citizen of the township was ever arranged in the circuit court for crime, and but one after leaving town has been arraigned for crime committed within its borders. Not that we are entirely free from rogues and knaves, but they are comparatively scarce, and the worst of them are making arrangements to move. (It is thought that Mr. Fitch was perpetrating a little joke on himself by making that statement.) The inhabitants are, and with few exceptions always have been, temperate. There never was but one tavern kept in town, and that was in an early day, and chiefly for the benefit of those who would get lost in the woods. When the landlord commenced to sell blue ruin he woke up one fine morning to hear the last of a very effective temperance lecture, in the dripping of the last drops of whiskey running from a full barrel left in his wagon the night before on his return from Jackson. The run broke his bank. He soon after gave up tavern keeping, furbished up his spiritual armor, laid aside some years previously, joined the Methodist church, and has been a zealous member and efficient officer thereof ever since, and, as a matter of course, and honored, honest and useful citizen. As to anecdotes, a few have been preserved. When Job Earl moved into the State he stopped at his brother John's in Saline, Washtenaw county. In the following summer they loaded their wagon with provisions and other things, put two yoke of oxen to it and started for Bunkerhill, then an almost unbroken wilderness, not a stream bridged on most of the road west of Ann Arbor. After a long and wearisome journey they reached the "promised land," as all do who travel far enough in the right direction. They chopped and drew logs for a house, got all the men and boys within a radius of ten or fifteen miles, and rolled up the logs. They then began riving out shingles for the roof, but their provisions gave out, so they piled what shingles they had made up in one corner of the house body and went back to Saline for the winter. The

BUNKERHILL TOWNSIPI1L AND ITS IISTORY 329 next spring Uncle Job started again for his home, taking with him his family. When he arrived he found that old Chief Okemos and a few of his followers had occupied his house during the winter, had used one corner as a fireplace, burned out all the logs in that corner, and used all the shingles for kindling wood. By way of paying rent and compensation for fuel, the tenant voted the landlord "good Ingin." Uncle Job built another house, improved his farm, and lived for years thereon, an honest, hospitable man, and some years ago was gathered to his fathers, mourned by all who knew him. A large moiety of our population are Irish, and excellent citizens and neighbors they are. If any community runs short of wit, good humor or good cheer, let them draw on our Irish population. Mr. Fitch closes his article by giving several anecdotes strongly characteristic of the type of humor found among his neighbors. "Several years ago I let a piece of land to Uncle Stephen O'Brian to sow to oats. Later in the season I let a pieces of grass to cut to a wag of an English boy. The nearest way for the boy to reach the grass was through Uncle Stephen's oats. About the time the boy had finished haying, Uncle Stephen went over to see when his oats would be ready to harvest, and when he came to the field he saw a broad, well-beaten path through them. He followed the path across the meadow where he found the boy busy with his hay, and the following colloquy took place: Uncle Stephen.-''Billy, me boy, what makes ye tramp through me oats when ye come to your hay?" Billy.-"I hain't tramped through your oats, Uncle Stephen, Fitch's cattle done that." Uncle Stephen. "Arrah, Billy me boy, do ye mind I know Mr. Fitch very well, an' bedad I know he never buys boots or shoes for his cattle." Another time I let some corn land to Lary Plunkett, and in the fall S. Brown wanted to help husk it on shares, but Plunkett preferred to do the work himself until a snow storm led him to change his mind and he sought Brown to get him to help, and the following conversation took place: Plunkett.-"Brown, I have concluded to let you have some of that corn to husk."

330 PIONEER HISTORY OF ING-IAM COUNTY Brown.-" I won't husk corn any such weather as this if I never have any." Plunkett.-"That's right! That's right! Take good care of yourself Brown, for good men are getting dang scarce." In those days the following was a sample of what they considered good cheer: When Jas. Markey, Jr., was married, being the youngest of the family, Uncle James, Sr., determined to have a good "old Irish wedding night," when James brought home the bride, and a comelier or better was never brought into Bunkerhill. Uncle James, Sr., described the entertainment thus: "We had a hearty time when James brought home his wife. There was no end to the eating and drinking, especially the drinking. We had a full barrel of whiskey set on end, with the head knocked out and little tin cups setting round convenient, so that every one that liked could help himself without one having to wait for another. Indeed, we had a hearty time, I haven't seen so many men gay at one time before since I left Ireland." THE PIONEER LIFE OF JOB ARCHER AND FAMILY. The pioneer life of Job Archer and family as told me by his daughter, Maria Archer Potter, in January of 1910, when she was 75 years old. She died in 1918, having lived in Ingham county 81 years. I was the fourth in a family of five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Job Archer. I was born in Carleton, N. Y. (Orleans county), on February 17, 1834. In March, 1837, my father came with ox team, his own and two other families with him, through Canada to settle in the territory of Michigan. Stevens T. Mason was governor at that time, and Martin VanBuren the President of the United States. I have heard my people say that they were on the road one month. Jonathan and Abram Bunker, cousins on my mother's side, came with them, also David Hodges, another cousin, and all located near Bunkerhill Center, though the township was not then named, but as soon as our house was built the township was named Bunkerhill in honor of Jonathan Bunker.

BUNKER!IILL TOWNSIIIP AND ITS HISTORY 331 My father, Job Archer, was the first real settler in the township. Immediately after arriving in Bunkerhill one of the oxen was missing, and when found he was mired in a marsh, and died while they were trying to get him out. This was a serious handicap to a pioneer, as another ox had to be procured. It goes without saying that the country was an unbroken wilderness, and in Jackson, twenty miles away, where they went for supplies there were but two little stores. To reach there the men had to swim the Grand river with their clothes and guns strapped to their backs, and they packed their supplies across in the same way. I heard my father say that in Jackson once he saw a woman give sixteen pounds of butter for one of tea. I don't remember that I ever saw my father leave the house without his gun. After living in Bunkerhill awhile father bought a farm in Henrietta, Jackson county, with nothing but underbrush and standing trees overrun with wild animals and birds of all descriptions. Of course the first thing was to get a house, barn and fences, but the crops were of very inferior quality, the land not as fertile as the farm he left. Previous to buying this farm father bought a field of wheat on the ground from a Mr. Slater, who soon left the country, and the man who bought his farm refused to let father harvest the wheat. The neighbors had no idea of letting "Uncle Job," as he was called, be cheated out of his bread, and they accordingly turned out en masse with teams, wagons, scythes, rakes, cradles and everything necessary, cut the wheat and drew it to our house and stacked it. Before Mr. Slater left the country his wife died rather mysteriously and he was arrested for murder, and during the investigation at the school house near us night came on and there were no lights. There seemed to be a dearth of candles in the neighborhood, and they asked mother to help them out. She took squares of cotton cloth and spread them with partly melted beeswax and rolled them in the shape of candles. I think it took about three dozen of them, for they came back two or three times before they could finish the inquest. Candles at that time were made by melting a large quantity of tallow, the wicks were strung on sticks, six on a stick, then they were dipped, one set at a time into the melted tallow until large

332 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY enough to be placed in the candle stick. Then a little later, when they wanted to be stylish, they used molds made of tin, but when they could do no better a broken saucer filled with grease and a rag for a wick answered every purpose. My first school teacher was Mr. Denton, who taught summer and winter, and he must have been a good teacher, for he let us do as we liked, only insisting that we keep out of Mr. Sibert's orchard. It being the only one in the country made it hard for him and us children too. Fruit was very scarce, thornapples, crab apples, wild grapes and wild plums formed the variety, and when Grandmother Archer sent us some dried apples from York State we children were the envy of the whole school when we could get a few pieces of these and carry them to school to eat. Our writing at that time was done with a quill pen, made from a goose quill, and a teacher that couldn't make a pen was considered incompetent to teach. A standing joke at that time was that it took the pinion of one goose to write the o-pinion of another goose. Teachers wages at that time was usually 75 cents per week, and all teachers boarded around the district. Money was scarce and one source of revenue was the making of "black salts." Logs were rolled together and burned, the ashes leached and then the lye boiled down into salts, and what the family didn't use in baking was taken to Dexter and exchanged for money or merchandise. Matches were unknown, and flint and steel were used instead. Sometimes lightning would strike a tree, and every effort would be made to keep it burning a long time to supply the neighborhood with fire. A letter was an event in the life of the pioneers, and when our neighbor, Mr. Silent, was notified that there was one in the office for him and the postage had not been paid, his daughter and I were sent to the office to get it. The postage was 25 cents, and instead of money to pay this the girl produced a two-quart basin cake of deer's tallow, which answered every purpose. That was considered legal tender there. Our journey was through the woods two and one-half miles, and as we went we frightened up the denizens of the forest in earnest, I can assure you. We saw deer, partridges, turkeys, every kind of squirrel, snakes and one

BITNKERIIILI TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 333 Indian who said "Boshoo." When we got home and told mother there was a big black hog crossed the road we learned that it was a bear. We frequently heard wolves, but I never saw one. Wild horses, or Indian ponies, were there in droves, and any one who wished to could catch a pony and tame it for his own use. Brother Hiram tried it and got a broken arm for his pains. I think it was 1842 that I attended a funeral with several other girls. It was very warm so we carried our shoes and stockings, also our pantalets tied up in our handkerchiefs, and when we came near the house where the funeral was we sat down on a log and finished dressing ourselves. A miserable wag called our pantalets "shin-curtains." Spelling schools were among the entertainments for the winter, the others were pumpkin bees, husking bees, occasionally a house or barn raising, a logging bee or quilting. These quiltings were enjoyed by ladies old and young, and a rule was established that each one must sing a song or tell a story. The thread used was made from fine cotton yarn doubled and twisted on a big wheel and dyed with maple bark. The common thread of that day was made from flax raised among us, and mother divided her time between the big wheel, the small wheel and the baby in the cradle. We carded the wool, spun and dyed it, and then it was woven into cloth for our dresses. We also knitted all the stockings and socks for the family, all the suspenders for the men, and braided straw and sewed it into hats for the family. It was a common thing for the Indians to lift the latch and walk in without knocking, sit down flat on the floor until ready to go. Chief Okemos frequently called and would always say, "Okemos, me hungry," and if we fed him he would bring several hungry ones with him the next time he came. The contrast between those days and now is quite pronounced, good roads, excellent schools, and church privileges having made the difference." During the last year of her life Mrs. Potter knit eleven sweaters and many pairs of socks for our boys in service.

334 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY HISTORY OF THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWNSHIP OF BUNKERHILL. Written by ELLIOTT H. ANGELL in 1891. The township lines for this town were first surveyed in the year 1824 by Joseph Wampler, and in 1826 were sub-divided by the same person. The first person to locate land in this township was Luther Branch, June 19, 1835, on section 33. The next person to locate land was Elias Thompson, August 27, on sections 34 and 35. The next was Blossom I. Efner, August 27, on sections 27-28-33. Blossom I. Efner again Sept. 2, on section 34. Silas Holt, September 17, on section 1. Martin Allen, October 27, on section 34. These were all that located land in this town in 1835. In 1836 locations were more frequent, and nearly half of the town was taken in that year. The first house built in the town was erected by Abram Bunker, on the N. E. 1 of section 33, who had the job of building it on land owned by Noah Clark. In the work of building he was assisted by James Harkness, David Hodges and William Vickary. Of these first builders William Vickary still lives (1891) on the farm he had then bought on section 32, and David Hodges lives at this writing in Stanton, Montcalm county. Abram Bunker died a few years ago in Henrietta, Jackson county. Unfortunately for Mr. Clark, who hired this house built, he did not know where the lines of his land were, and the house was built on another man's land, consequently was never occupied by its owner, but was used as the stopping place for many of the early settlers as they came to commence improvements on land nearby. Though the house was small it is said to have sheltered four families in one winter. This house not being occupied by its owner was frequently vacant, and had no land cleared around it except a small piece for a garden. The house was consumed by forest fires with all the fences surrounding it.

BUNKERIIILL TOWNSIII AND ITS HISTORY 335 The first permanent improvement was made by David Fuller on section 7, probably in 1837. Henry Wood was next to make improvement, and he also came in 1837. There were others who came in that year, among them John O'Brien and Job Earl. Of the settlers of 1837, William Vickary still lives on the farm he bought in that year on section 32, and is now 84 years old. John O'Brien died last year (1890) on the farm he bought in 1837, on section 25. George E. Wood, son of Henry Wood, lives on the old homestead on section 1. Of the family of Job Earl, who came with him in 1837 and yet living in Bunkerhill, are Mrs. Amanda Watterhouse and Charles Earl. The first white child born in this town was Charles H. Wood, son of Henry Wood, born April 7, 1837. I am aware that other historians have said that Mary Bunker was the first white child born here. An uncle of Mary Bunker told me a short time since that Mary's father was not married until 1840, and that Mary was born in Henrietta, Jackson county. This leaves Charles H. Wood undisputed possessor of the honor of first birth. (Charles H. Wood died in 1922.) The township was settled quite rapidly during 1838-39, so that in 1840 there were twenty voters. By an act of the Legislature, approved March 21, 1839, the township was organized. Said act also provided that a town meeting be held at the house of David Fuller in said township. The officers elected at the first town meeting were: Supervisor-David Fuller. Clerk-Uzziel C. Taylor. Treasurer-David Fuller. Assessors-Henry Wood, Tristram Smith. George Taylor. Collector-Harvey Taylor. Directors of the Poor-Ebenezer Whitmore, Brutus Hoyt. Commissioners of Highway-Ebenezer Whitmore, Job Earl, Tristram Smith. Justices of the Peace-Henry Wood, Tristram Smith, George Taylor. Constable-Brutus Hoyt. Of those who voted at the first township meeting only one is left now living in the township they helped to organize, and that is William Vickary, who yet holds the fort on section 32. John

336 P1IONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY O'Brien claimed to have attended the first township meeting and to have been the only Democrat there. He said that the Whigs thought it would be a good time to kill him so there would be no Democrat seed in the town, and said, "Faith, and I think they would, but I went home." I think he was mistaken about his being the only Democrat here then, for a number of those first votes were afterward identified with the Democratic party. There was only one ticket nominated, and they were mostly Whigs. School District No. 1 on section 7, and District No. 2, with house on section 29, were organized in May, 1840. District No. 2 was organized first, but owing to some negligence on the part of the officers in the district first organized, and a little sharp practice with the second, No. 2 got recorded first and captured the number, and now stands as No. 1. Louisa Ann Woodruff taught the first school in No. 1, and Mary Jane Smith was the first teacher in No. 2. The first religious society was formed through the influence of David Fuller at his house by the Baptists about 1838. In 1842 there was a Presbyterian society organized at the Dean school house in District No. 2, and about the same time there was a Methodist Episcopal class formed at the Fuller school house now called Felt's school house in District No. 1. Soon after this followed the organization of the Roman Catholic church in 1844 at the house of James Markey on section No. 10. The Catholics would never use a public school house for religious service, so held their meetings at private houses until they built their church about 1859 or 1860. This was the first church edifice built in Bunkerhill township, and stands near the middle of section 10. This church society grew very rapidly, and soon outnumbered all the other religious societies in membership. Their membership extends over an area of ten to twelve miles from the church and numbers over two hundred communicants. The first post office was established in 1848. Chester Tuttle was postmaster on section 10. The mails were brought to this office from Henrietta, Jackson county, Mr. Prescott being postmaster there. He went to Jackson every Saturday for the mail for his office and ours. Then Mr. Tuttle would go on foot, following cattle trails a large portion of the way, often across marshes and through swamps, generally on Sunday, and bring the Bunkerhill

BUNKERHILL TOWNSHIP AND ITS H1ISTOIRY 337 mail from Henrietta in his hat, pocket or handkerchief. Mr. Tuttle got tired of carrying mail for so small pay, so a scheme was devised to get "Uncle Sam" to carry the mail. In 1850 a petition was circulated to have a mail route established from Mason to Jackson and back once a week, and supply Henrietta, Bunkerhill and Felt's with mail. This arrangement led to establishing a new post office at Felt's with Dorman Felt first postmaster. Abijah L. Clark was the first to conceive the propriety of the new mail route and was also first to carry mail over it. A few years later, I think about 1855, a new post office was established at Fitchburg, with Hubbard Fitch as postmaster. Felt's post office was discontinued after a few years. The office at Bunkerhill is yet maintained and Judson S. Sweezey is postmaster. The post office at Fitchburg is still running, with Mrs. Frank Havens as postmistress. These post offices are now supplied with mail three times a week by a spur or side route from Leslie. The first blacksmith who did custom work was H. C. VanHorn, who settled here in 1840. He built a shop and commenced work on section 21, then known as the Tuttle farm. now occupied by R. II. Davis and son. Mr. VanHorn worked here two years, and believing that more work could be found in other locations moved with his family to Williamston. Soon after he went to California and after a year or two was never heard from again. The first wedding in this town is believed to have been Henry Fuller and Lovina Whitmore, in 1841. Mr. Fuller lived only a few years and died, leaving his wife with two little girls. The widow never again married and now lives with her youngest daughter, the wife of C. B. Smith, at Bloomingdale, Van Buren county. The married couple who have lived the longest married life together is Timothy Poxon and wife. Timothy Poxon married Nancy Gatchel in 1840, and came very soon after to the farm they now own on section 21. The first death that occurred in the township was a child in a family by the name of Davis who lived in the Bunker house (the one first built) a little while and being homesick went back to the place they came from. The first saw mill was a steam mill, with an upright muley saw,

338 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY built by Selah Fitch. This mill is yet in good condition, and is owned and run by Alonzo Miller. The first store where general merchandise was kept for sale was at Bunkerhill Center, and owned by Almond Cozier. Mr. Cozier first started his store in 1854, and kept it until the winter of 1858, when he was found dead in his store, it was thought of apoplexy. ORIGIN OF THE NAME OF THE TOWNSHIP. When the petition was being circulated asking the Legislature to organize the township the question of the name was talked of. David Fuller being first man to make permanent improvements in the town claimed the right to furnish the name. He wanted to name it "Emma" after the town he came from. Jonathan Shearer, who owned all but one lot on section 29, opposed this, saying that our town was not always going to be a little girl, and that he would not present such a petition. Mr. Shearer was then member of the Legislature from the west district of Wayne county. He wanted to call it "Bunker" in honor of the man who built the first house. Mr. Bunker did not like so much distinction, so the matter was compromised by calling it Bunkerhill. Mr. Shearer presented the petition to the Legislature and secured the passage of the bill to organize the township. Bunkerhill is rather a level town for such a hilly name. It has a large area of open marsh, some of these marshes extending nearly across the town from north to south. The water all runs south into Jackson county. The people of our town experienced great inconvenience by having no suitable outlet for the main ditches, and very much of the marsh on the south side of the town became flooded. When the drain laws were revised in 1881 our old drain commissioner was instrumental in getting a clause inserted (Sec. 5, Laws of 1881) to enable the people of one county to run drains across county lines into adjoining counties. Taking advantage of this act, fearing it would soon be repealed, our people had four separate drains extended far enough into Jackson county to secure good outlets.

BUNKERIIILL TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 339 COUNTY OFFICERS. Of the county officers elected from this town, the first was Ferris Fitch, Democrat, elected to the Legislature in 1852, when the county was all one representative district. After the county was divided, the east district elected Dorman Felt, Republican, of this town, to the Legislature in 1858. In 1869 Elliott H. Angell, Republican, was elected drain commissioner at the spring election and re-elected in 1871. The Legislature of 1872 changed the laws so that county drain commissioners were elected by the board of supervisors, and Mr. Angell was elected to a third term by a Democratic board of supervisors. John W. Whallon was elected county clerk by a fusion of the Democrats and Greenbacks, in 1882, re-elected in 1884, and again in 1886. Daniel Markey, Republican, was elected to the Legislature from Ogemaw county in 1884, and re-elected in 1886; was elected speaker of the house of sessions following his second election. He was born in Bunkerhill and lived here until quite a boy, the family being the strongest kind of Democrats in those days. His father was James Markey, Jr., and lived on section 10. Milo Dakin, member of the Legislature of 1885, and elected from the first district of Saginaw county, was raised and educated in this town. Charles C. Fitch, elected register of deeds in 1884 and re-elected in 1886 and elected to the Legislature in 1888 and again in 1890 from the city of Mason, was a son of Ferris S. Fitch of this town, as was also Ferris S. Fitch, Jr., who was elected Superintendent of Public Instruction from Pontiac in 1890. Prominent among the early settlers of this town, and who did much to develop its resources and its institutions, besides those already named are: James Vicary, George W. M. Shearer, Zachariah Makeley, Parley P. Moore, Stoddard Culver, Bezaleel Archer, Bazaleel Hodge, Lewis Case, Calvin P. Eaton, Patrick Markey, Thomas Markey, Orson O. Janes, Joseph C. Ewers, Timothy Birney, Abram A. Wilcox, Lucius Lord, William B. Dean, John B. McCreery, Hubbard McCreery, Philander Peak, Peter M. Peak, Danforth Parmalee, Henry B. Hawley, Jonathan Wood, Charles Wood, John DeCamp and Silas Holt. The first roads were laid out from one settlement to another

340 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGITAM COUNTY without regard to section lines, crossing swamps or marshes at places where it would require the least causeway. This made much trouble in after years in getting them changed to where they should have been laid out in the first place. The first road regularly laid out according to law was on May 30-31, 1839, by Anson Jackson, who was then county surevyor. BUNKERHILL ANECDOTE. G. W. HOLLAND. Once on a time a son of the Emerald Isle crossed the Atlantic and settled, like many others of his race, in Bunkerhill. He bought a nice piece of land and started out to build a home; tie was successful and soon had abundant crops. While he was plowing for summer fallow one of his oxen got into the clover and ate so much that he died. Learning that a neighbor had a good mate for his remaining ox, he went to see if he could buy it and pay when he sold his wheat, the neighbor to take his note. The bargain was made, the note made out and signed, and then Pat took it and put it into his own pocket. "Oh, I want the note," said his neighbor. "Oh, no," said Pat, "I can't pay unless I have the note to tell when it is due." He kept the note, but the day it was due he was on hand with the money and promptly paid it. Hon. S. R. Fitch once let a man have some wheat to sow, and it was to be paid back when the man threshed in the fall, in time for Mr. Fitch to use it for seed. When threshing time came there was no machine came into the neighborhood, so this man loaded up his wagon and took it to a machine eight miles away and had enough wheat threshed to pay Mr. Fitch as he had agreed. G. W. Holland, of White Oak, who has lived in Ingham county for sixty-six years, has written a very interesting letter to the secretary of the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical Society, giving some data that cannot fail to be of interest to the descendents of the pioneers of the county. Mr. Holland's early life was spent in the townships of Leroy, Wheatfield, White Oak and Ingham. In

BlINKERIIILL TOWNSnrII' AND ITS HIISTORY 341 1879 he settled in Bunkerhill where he lived for forty years, until his home was broken up by the death of his wife. In 1876 he became a regular correspondent for the Ingham County Democrat, and a few years later began the same work for the Ingham County News, The Leslie Local, Stockbridge Sun, The Lansing Sentinel and other newspapers. He was justice of the peace in Bunkerhill for about 22 years and can tell many very interesting tales of early days proceedings. Hie died in 1922. He tells the following story of Bunkerhill township: "In the southeast part of Ingham county is a township which for a long time was known as town 1 North of Range 1 East. Two men claimed to be the first settlers, Mr. Bunker and Mr. Hill. Both arrived on the same day. At a house raising a little later a vote was taken and the name of both the men was given to the township. (Several stories have been told regarding the way the township received its name, and all claim to be authentic. Ed." At the first town meeting Henry Wood was chosen as supervisor, Abram Wilcox, Treasurer, James Markey, Clerk. There were but seven legal voters in the township, and some of them held three or four different offices. Timothy Poxson was justice of the peace, highway commissioner and school inspector; Crocket Ewert was highway commissioner and school inspector, and these and Zackariah Mechley and Dorman Felt made the list of voters. Mr. Henry Wood, the supervisor, had one son, the first male white child born in Bunkerhill. He grew to manhood and married Emma Post, of White Oak Township. Charles Wood left his young wife and went to defend and uphold the flag at Lincoln's call for volunteers. Mr. Timothy Poxon was the father of the first white female child born in the township. Her name was Sophia Poxson, and when a young woman she married Charles J. Earl. Other settlers soon followed, and from a wilderness their perseverance, industry and frugality turned Bunkerhill into a town of fine farms and beautiful homes. Its swamps are now well drained, and in place of dense forests are found fertile, well tilled fields, commodious houses and barns, school houses and churches. She gave her sons in defense of the country in the dark days of '61 to '65; when Spain destroyed the Maine she sent help; when the

342 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY inhuman Huns were sinking our ships her boys went across the Atlantic and helped lay the German tyrant low. There are six churches and five cemeteries in Bunkerhill-the Felt, Catholic, Reeves, Fitchburg and Bunkerhill Center. The school districts of the township are known as the Felt, Laberteaux, Fitchburg, Bunkerhill, Birney, Reeves, Bachelor and the Catholic school. In 1845 school district No. 6, Bunkerhill, was organized, and Miss Ellen Angell taught the first term in a granary in the northwest part of section 13. This was owned by B. M. Regnold, and it accommodated fifteen pupils that term. The families in the district were B. M. Regnold, John DeCamp, Daniel H. Beers, Wm. Angell, Jerry DeCamp, Charles and Jonathan Wood. The second term was taught by Miss Louise Beers in a log building in the northwest part of section 16. The next teacher was Miss Amanda Hart, followed by Miss Hannah Lord, the only one of those early teachers alive in 1920. A school house was built in the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of section 16 in 1849, and the first teachers were Miss Adda Clark and Miss Emma Reynolds. That school house burned in 1860, and school was taught in a part of G. P. Bailey's house. Later another school house was built, and the following teachers have been associated with it: a man named Trask, John May, John Whallon, Rose Schofield, Flora Maxson, Miss Cramer, Laura Knauf, Hattie Maxson, J. E. Titus, Earl Cronkite, Hattie Welch, Bell Proctor, Sarah McKnight, Carrie Haan, Maggie Marks, Rosa Winters, May O'Brien, Orla Garrison, Frank Murray, Joe Morrison, Orson Garrison, Anna McKinder, Laura McKinder, Pearl Ferris, Bessie Elliott, Lyle DeCamp, Miss Latter and Ethel Row. MARTIN DUBOIS. The first grave of a Revolutionary soldier to be located and marked in Ingham county was that of Martin Dubois, who laid in an unmarked grave in what is known as the Dean or Fitchburg Cemetery, in Bunkerhill Township. Elijah Grout Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, of Leslie, have the honor of finding this grave and placing on it a

BUNKERIIILL TOWNSII'P AND ITS HISTORY 343 government D. A. R. marker, with appropriate ceremonies. This was a part of the program at the annual meeting of the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical Society in June, 1918. The history of the Dubois family is one of unusual interest, and a part of it is not out of place as an introduction to Revolutionary records of its members. The "Dubois" family is one of the oldest of the noble houses of Colentin, Duchy of Normandy, France, and we find it spelled "DuBois," "du Booys," "Dewboys," and "Dubo," before "Dubois" seemed the accepted form. The Heraldic records at Paris begin with: Geoffroi du Bois, a knight banneret and companion of Duke William in the Conquest of England in 1066. The coat of arms is described in full in the records at the State Library at Lansing, and among the symbols it bears is a lion, and the motto "Tiens ta foy," which means "Keep the Faith" or "Keepers of the Faith." This seems very appropriate for a family which figured so conspicuously in the history of the Huguenot's, as the Dubois family did. Much research would be necessary to get the direct line down to the time of Chretian, whose name appears soon after 1600, though these records, too, are to found at the State Library. Two sons of Chretian were strong in the Huguenot faith, and because of continued religious persecution they left their native Normandy, like others of that day, and sought homes in other lands. Louis, the elder, went to Mannheim, while Jacques took up his abode in Leyden. About that time there was an effort made by the enemies of the two brothers to destroy all evidence of their connection with the French nobility, because of their adherence to the Huguenot faith, though this proved unsuccessful. Louis was born in 1627, and came to America about 1660 with his wife Catherine Blanchan, whom he married in 1655. They came on the ship "Gilded Otter," and soon settled in New Paltz, Ulster county, N. Y. Catherine and three sons were captured by the Indians, but soon rescued by Louis and his friends after a "bloody fray." For fifty years Louis was known as chief of the Huguenot settlers

344 PIONEER HISTORY OF IN(IIAM COUNTY and always referred to as "Louis the Walloon." The Walloon's were from the province of Wallachie and of Celtic origin, though they spoke the French of the 13th century. As Louis du Bois came to America from Germany, settled among the Dutch and spoke French it is easy to see why he was given the title " Walloon." Louis was a patentee and some of his receipts are still in existence. In 1683 he was made an elder in the Reformed Church at New Paltz, a strictly Huguenot church, and here again he is mentioned as the "Walloon." For the first fifty years that this church existed the records were kept in French in Louis du Bois' handwriting, then for seventy years they were kept in Dutch, and since then they have been kept entirely in English. Copies of many Dubois wills have been found, some written in French and some in Dutch. To Louis and Catherine duBois were born ten children: Abraham, 1657. Married, 1st, Maria Hasbrook; 2nd, Margaret Deyo. Isaac, 1659. Jacob, 1661; married Lysbeth Varmoye. Sarah, 1664; married Joost Janz. David, 1667; married Cornelia Vermoye. Solomon, 1670; married Tryntje Gernston Slaght. Rebecca, 1671. Ragal, 1675. Louis, Jr., 1677; married Racjel Hasbrouck. Martin, 1697; married Sara Matthysen. Jacob, born 1661, died 1745, son of Louis, son of Chretian (Christian), was known as "Jacob of Hurley," though he also lived at New Paltz and Kingston; all of the baptisms in the Dubois family were at that time administered in the Reformed Church at the latter place. Jacob was a Continental colonial soldier in 1717. The children of Jacob and Lysbeth Vermoye Dubois: Magdalena, 1691; married Gerritt Rosa. Barent, 1693; married Jacomnetje Dubois, daughter of Solomon Dubois. Louis 3rd, 1695; married, 1st, Jane Van Vliet; 2nd, Margaret Jansen. Grietja, 1700; married Cornelius Newkirk. Isaac, 1702; married, 1st, Nealtja Rosa; 2nd, Janetja Rosa.

BUINKrRRHILT, TOWNSrITP AND ITS HISTORY 345 Rebecca; married Petrus Bogardus. Gerrit, 1704; married Margeret Elmendorf. Johannes, 1710; married Judith Wynkeep. Sara; married Conrad Elmendorf. With the marriage of Gerrit, and five of his brothers and sisters, the line merged into that of Anneke Jans, a character prominent in history in those days, and a name well known in later years through its use in connection with the litigation carried on by her heirs in an endeavor to prove their title to the Trinity Church property in New York City. Trynje Jansen or Tryn Jonas (both names being used) was a professional mid-wife from Maesterlandt, employed by the West India Company for the colony in the New Netherlands, and it is claimed that in a way the family was connected with William IX, Prince of Orange. Her daughter-Anne Ka Weblen-came to America in 1630, after her marriage to Jans Roe-loffes and after his death she married Everardus Bogardus, well known in the history of New Amsterdam. Gerrit Dubois married Margretge Elmendorf, one of the fourth generation from Anneke Jans. Their children: Conrad or Coenradt, and Tobias. Coenradt served in the Revolutionary army in Capt. John Hasbrouck's company, Col. John Cantine's regiment, the third regiment in Ulster county troops, 1778. He married Marie DeLameter and among their children are found Jacob and Martin. Martin was born Oct. 21, 1764, baptized Nov. 25, 1764, at Kingston Dutch Reformed church. He served in Col. Wessenfels regiment, under the levies of Ulster county from Wessenfels. Levies were drafts from inside militia to go outside the state to do service. That he was a bugler is shown by the fact that his granddaughter, Mrs. Julia Price, of Mason, has the conch shell which he used for that purpose, and within her recollection it was adorned with a metal plate with his name and the title of bugler. The shell was stolen and out of the hands of the family for awhile, and when recovered the plate with the inscription was gone and could never be found. Clarence Cook, of Cement City, Jackson county, has many papers relating to the family history. The old family Bible was

346 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY loaned to a representative of the Anneke Jans estate to be used as proof in certain matters and was never returned, nor any trace of it found, though it would have been an invaluable record. Martin Dubois and his wife, Margerite Avery, whom he married in 1791, came to Bunkerhill, Ingham county, Michigan, at an early day to live with their children, who were pioneers of that township, and both died on the same day some time in the year 1854, and were both buried in the same grave, after a double funeral had been held. He had reached the ripe old age of 94. When the marker was placed on Martin Dubois' grave commemorating his service in the Revolution, flowers and a flag were placed on the grave of his wife who for over sixty years trod life's pathway by his side. Jacob Dubois married Sarah Buck, and came to Ingham county while it was still a wilderness, and it is to his granddaughter, Miss Adelia Dubois, we are indebted for the history of the Dubois family in Ingham county, and their pioneer experiences in both Alaiedon and Bunkerhill townships. With the marriage of Garret Dubois and five of his brothers and sisters the line merged into that of Anneke Jans, one of the most prominent characters the history of New York has furnished. Anne Ka Weblen Jans Roeloffes Sarah Roeloffes Sarah Roe-loffes De Hand Halice Kierstead Roeloffes Kierstead Sarah Roe-loffes De Hand Halice Kierstead Roeloffes Kierstead Roeloffes Kierstead Eyta Rosa Blandena Kierstead

BUTNKERIIILL TOWNSLrI' AND ITS IHISTORY 347 Blandena Kierstead Conrad Elmendorf Margretje Elmendorf Margretje Elmendorf Garret Dubois Conradt or Coenradt Dubois Conrad Dubois (Rev. soldier) Maria Delameter Martin Dubois (According to Miss Adelia Dubois, Martin had three sons residing in Washtenaw Co., Matthew, Conrad and Jacob D.) Martin Dubois (Rev. soldier, buried in Fitchburg Cemetery, Ingham county.) Margerite Avery Jacob Dubois Jacob Dubois Eliza Van Riper Julia Dubois Julia Dubois J. George Price (A nephew of Mrs. Price, Delmar Dubois, lives in Leslie, and the conch shell mentioned falls to him as an heirloom.) DUBOIS HISTORY. Miss ADELIA DUBOIS, 1915-16. When the president of the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical Society asked me to prepare a history of the Dubois family for the next Pioneer meeting, I was greatly surprised, to say the least. I had not been in the habit of attending the meetings, and about the most pioneering I had ever done was to go to school through a

348 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHIAM COUNTY mile stretch of woods with mosquitoes to the right of us, mosquitoes to the left of us and mosquitoes in front of us-they came in battalions-and I knew that such an experience was the common fate of all in those days, so what could I say that would be new or of interest. But he urged that I tell something of the Dubois family, as I had been a member of that family for quite a number of years, over seventy in fact. I thought I might tell how many came, where they lived and worked and died. He also mentioned schools and churches. The first member of the family to come to Michigan from the old home in Ulster county, N. Y., was John Dubois, who came in 1834. I have been told that he came in search of health. That when he left home it seemed a doubtful question whether he would ever see Michigan or not. Lake Erie gave a rough passage, but he finally reached Lodi, Washtenaw county, where he had relatives, and after a time began to improve in health. After about four years of single blessedness he doubled his joys and divided his sorrows by taking to himself a wife, Miss Abigail Bullock, and they began their married life in pioneer style on a piece of land on the White Oak side of the line between White Oak and Stockbridge. The first church was on his land and in the building of it he took a leading part. Only one of the family of three daughters survives, Mrs. Daniel McKenzie, and the family lives on the old homestead. The next to come was grandfather, Jacob Dubois and his wife, Sarah Buck Dubois, with their two sons, Martin and Jacob Jr. Martin's family consisted of his wife and two boys and two girls. Jacob was single, but later married Miss Mary Longyear, whose family came from Ulster county, N. Y., and which gave to Michigan some notable men. I have been told that Uncle Martin was very homesick and had it not been for the brave little wife would have taken the back trail for the Delaware river country. Grandfather and grandmother and Martin's little wife lie in the cemetery in the old neighborhood (the Dubois neighborhood in Alaiedon) on a sandy knoll on Uncle Martin's farm. From the top of it one can see all the principal buildings in Mason. Their trip was made in 1837, the year Michigan became a State,

BUNKERHILL TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 349 but I have no means of knowing the time of year or how long they were on the road. My father, Garrett Dubois, came with his family soon after grandfather settled here and had time to write back glowing descriptions of the country. Father's family then consisted of himself, wife and three boys, the youngest a babe in arms. Their starting point was Equinunk, Wayne county, Pennsylvania, and the time June in the year 1839. The conveyance, I suppose, was what has since been called a "prairie schooner," and with this they traveled for nineteen days. At Buffalo they took a boat for Detroit. The lake was in a rough mood and kept the water spattering and hitting the horses, which so frightened them that father had to stay with them all night. He thought to give them a rest after such a hard night, so when he landed he took them to a stable, but they would not lie down until after he had driven them far enough to let them realize they were on solid ground. At the new settlement in Alaiedon Uncle Martin's house came first, but the news of their arrival was soon conveyed to grandfather's home, and in a short time grandmother came hustling along wiping her eyes, and father met her with the mischievous remark, "Well, mother, if you feel as bad as that we can go back." The promised land was now reached and the next thing was to choose and secure a piece of land, and that involved a trip to Ionia, where the nearest land office was located. I think father rode one of the horses he drove from the East on this trip. He bought six lots, a part in Alaiedon and part in Vevay. Some time in 1840 Asa, the oldest of the family, came bringing his wife, son and four daughters. Steven, the youngest of the family, came very soon after, and with his wife, Hannah Longyear, settled just across the road from father. Uncle Asa's children were more nearly grown than any of the rest, and while they would not now be thought of as candidates for school teachers, they were at that time, and the son Samuel taught in the home district when only fifteen years of age, and whether it was the first school in that school house deponent saith not. The school house was on the corner of Uncle Steven's farm and faced the south. Decks and benches ran all the way round the

350 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY room except the space for the door and another one on the opposite side which was reserved for a puplit. Before that time all meetings had been held in Uncle Martin's house. Samuel taught in different places after that, and when he reached manhood he studied medicine, graduated at the U. of M., and settled in Unadilla, Livingston county, and became a trusted physician. He had a remarkable memory, and a brother physician once said that he always liked to have Dr. Dubois for counsel for if he once knew a thing he never forgot it. Coming down to more recent events in the family, one of Dr. Dubois' grandsons has spent four years teaching in the Philippines, three as superintendent of a certain number of schools which he had to visit once in two weeks, and the fourth year as a city teacher. He then came home and entered the U. of M. as a medical student. The girls of the family all taught school more or less. Jacob D. Dubois lived for a time in Alaiedon, and his two brothers, Matthew and Conrad, also lived in this county. Their father, Martin Dubois, was a great uncle of mine, and found his last resting place in the Fitchburg Cemetery in Bunkerhill. Grandfather and grandmother and six sons were now in Michigan, all but one within the space of a mile. The story of one pioneer home in the making must be very near like all, and I know of only one, and that only by having the story told to me. One wagon could not bring a family and very much in the way of household furnishings. A small rocking chair was all the chair there was room for; the forest furnished the rest, and they were hewed and whittled out by father and the hired man by candle light, or perhaps the light of the fireplace. Bedsteads and tables were made by the same hands. After some years a carpenter came in and brought a turning lathe. Now was a chance to get some nice bedsteads made! Father got out some curly maple, had the posts and rails sawed four inches square, and made four bedsteads. That was before the days of castors, and I will leave the rest to your imagination, only saying that that was the smallest size they would tolerate in the city of Brotherly Love when he went down the Delaware with a raft load of lumber a few years before. A shelter for the family was the first in order for newcomers; then clearing the land for crops came next with a plan for an orchard

BUNKERIIILL TOWNSTIP AND ITS HISTORY 351 in the near future. Part of the trees for this were brought in from Canada by a tree peddler, and part of them came from Ypsilanti, and at that time the trip must have taken a week. Very soon after the arrival of these Dubois families a young, energetic man named Hawley came in and built a saw mill within a few miles of them. This was great help for then lumber could be obtained to put up better buildings than the log ones first used. Father built a barn in 1842, probably the first frame barn in that township, and the new house was built three years later. I have some recollections of that, especially how the carpenter worked on my juvenile sympathy by telling me how poor he was, so poor that he had to go to bed barefoot, and get up without his breakfast. Saying that the house was built in '45 does not mean that it was finished, as only part of the lower story was plastered. Later on the lower story was completed and after that a part of the chamber, a wing containing a kitchen and wood house finally finished it. Among those who came soon after our folks was mother's brother, Isreal Chapman, who decided to make his home there, and married Miss Martha Kent, daughter of a pioneer, and they settled down about a quarter of a mile west of the school house. The school house now stands just across the road west from the old one. Other pioneers were Mr. Tryon, two families by the name of Finch, Peter Longyear, whose oldest son became a leading lawyer and represented his district in Congress, and afterward was judge of the eastern district of Michigan, and whose oldest son, in turn, became multi-millionaire copper mine owner. That region, too, had the distinction of sending a soldier to the Mexican War. John Aseltine was his name. The first death I remember was that of David Finch, a near neighbor west of us, and a local preacher. Very likely I remember that because the coffin was made in our door yard. Father always kept some choice lumber on hand and Mr. Tryon came to our house and made the coffin. The first funeral I remember attending was that of my Uncle Jacob Dubois' wife. As I stood at the grave I noticed a headstone near by and thought I could always find aunt's grave for it was near that. It was the first headstone I ever saw, so of course was the first one ever put in that cemetery.

352 PIONEER HISTORY OF TNGTTAM COUNTY I suppose a story of pioneer life would hardly be orthodox without some reference to bears, wolves or wildcats. I never saw but one, a bear, and it was dead. It had invaded one of our fields and was hugging a pig when my oldest brother took a shot at it that put an end to its depredations. At one time my aunt. Mrs. Chapman, was going through the woods with her two little girls when just ahead of them they saw a bear. She said to them, "Don't be frightened, but let us make all the noise we can," so they began to clap their hands and yell. Mr. Bruin looked at them awhile, then turned and loped off. Her husband was a little skeptical, thought it might have been a dog, and asked how long its tail was. She said, "It didn't have any tail at all." The next day Mr. Tryon looked the ground over and said there were bear tracks there. One summer there was something very unusual done in the neighborhood. Three barns were built, all in sight of the school house, and it was arranged to have them all raised the same day. We were allowed to watch the work to some extent, and when one frame was up we could see the men hustle to the next until all were completed. A few years later a barn on the farm where the school house stood, and only a few rods away, was built, and the teacher was kind enough to watch and when a bent was about ready to go up we were allowed the liberty of the windows. We in this country have always heard much about the Pilgrim Fathers, but a few years ago a writer, who had a streak of humor in his make-up, asked what about the Pilgrim Mothers? Where were they while the Pilgrim Fathers were doing such great things? What I have written so far has concerned the doings of the pioneer fathers mostly. Now let us look at some things the pioneer mother had to prepare in whole or in part. I wonder if any woman here thinks when she buys a spool of thread that the pioneer mother could not do just that? When my mother wanted thread to make up the family underwear she bought No. 20 cotton yarn and doubled it three times for sewing; if for basting she used single thread. After doubling it had to be twisted, and here is where the oldest girl of the family came in. She could trot back and forth at the wheel before she was big enough to do heavy work. If, in the future, anyone should happen to read this, I hope it will not be thought that this was the only kind of thread in use at

BUNKERHIILL TOWNSIIP AND ITS HISTORY 353 that time, or that it looked anything like Peerless carpet warp. But perhaps Peerless carpet warp will be just as much out of date then as No. 20 cotton yarn is now. There was finer thread for finer uses, and linen thread, both black and in the natural flax color, which could be bought in skeins, also silk and cotton thread done up in the same way. I hardly think skein thread went out entirely until sewing machines came in. Dr. Dubois' mother brought her flax wheel with her when she came to Michigan, and she was an expert in the use of it. Some of the thread she spun was knit by her daughters into lace that was simply beautiful. At that time a man could not go to town and buy Stark A bags all ready to use. If he had grain to sell lie had to get the material, and mother and the girls made them. One of my earliest recollections is of sitting in my little chair and sewing on bags. If I remember rightly the material was narrow, so there were two overand-over seams, an abomination to any little girl. If sheep made a part of the farm stock the wool was made up into clothing. It was first scoured and washed, then picked out light, that is the snarls picked out, which was done by the pioneer mother and the children, with outside help if it could be got. The next step was to get it carded into rolls. The carding mill was at Dexter, and when the rolls came home the spinning and weaving was done in the house. As much of it as was needed for the women folks was sometimes colored red with madder, a color that never faded. Sometimes the yarn was colored different colors and woven into a plaid. That intended for the men's underwear was sometimes colored red, and sometimes yellow, the dye for the latter being made from the leaves of peach trees. Any for the men's outer garments was sent to the fulling mill, or sometimes woven into satinette. A favorite color for men's clothes was brown, the dye made from butternut shucks or bark. When making time comes, the pioneer mother takes her shears in hand, and if she is fortunate enough to have help, the job is soon done, for everything was made in the most simple way. Some of the yarn will be doubled and twisted ready for knitting, and the pioneer mother and all the girls old enough, and some of them begin very early in life, put in all their spare minutes knitting stockings and socks. So after a time the garments were all fin

354 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY ished. The only style about them was pioneer style, but they answered the purpose of keeping people warm, and the boys and girls who wore them were just as likely to become reliable men and women as if their fathers had been millionaires. Grandfather came here in 1837 and died in 1844. His sons, except Steven, the youngest, lived to be quite old. Asa, the oldest of the family, outlived all the others and died in 1885. The members of the Dubois family are quite well scattered throughout the United States, and the name is one quite frequently seen and heard. In 1855 my father moved from Alaiedon to Bunkerhill Township, on what is known as Felt's Plains. He bought 160 acres of unimproved land, and he immediately cleared a plat of ground and erected a shanty as a temporary home, and later built a substantial farm house, which is still standing and in which may be seen the four bedsteads made at an early day. Among the early school teachers of which I know were the following: Jane Horton, Samuel Dubois, Mary Obear, Fanny Longyear, Elizabeth Miller, Miranda Spaulding, Miss Stranahan, Emeline Harkness, Jane Eaton, Louise Cooper, she was supposed to be something unusual as a teacher, and commanded the sum of fifteen dollars a month, Olivia Knapp and Marianne Dubois. One teacher in the days of big bustles found difficulty in sitting in the chair at the school house, but she invented a way to overcome this, for she quietly removed two slats or rounds from the back, and made place to let the bustle through. A TRIBUTE TO MISS ADELIA DUBOIS. Written by Mrs. Franc L. Adams, Secretary of the Ingham County Historical and Pioneer Society, and read at the annual meeting held in Stockbridge, 1918, by Mrs. Lowell L. Dubois, of Mason. "When Memory opens her golden gates And the misty past unfurls, How gladly we hear familiar names, Like echoes from other worlds." The name of Miss Adelia Dubois, whose death occurred a few

BUNKERIIILL TOWNSHII AND ITS HISTORY 355 months ago, brings echoes whose reverberations have rolled from generation to generation down through the ages since the days of William the Conqueror, and the "misty past" of her own life of 75 years is not without interest, covering as it does nearly all of Ingham county's history. In 1837 Miss Dubois' grandparents and parents came to Alaiedon and settled in the "Dubois" neighborhood, where she was born. In 1855 her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Garret Dubois, moved to Bunkerhill, and the remainder of her life was spent there. Miss Dubois found her life work in the home, caring for her father and mother in their declining years, making life easier for an invalid sister and conducting the farm after her father's death in 1884. She had a keen sense of humor, and both in her conversation and in her writing her quaint manner of expression and humorous touches were a delight to her friends. She was a great reader, and took pride in having completed the Chautauqua course of study. She was a member of the M. E. church and took an active part in all its work until the time of her death. She took great interest in her family history, and in 1915 and again in 1916 she gave the Ingham County Historical and Pioneer Society a detailed account of the pioneer life of the family and its part in the early history of the county, told in her racy and pleasing manner. In God's acre she is at rest, awaiting the resurrection morn. STORIES TOLD BY MRS. WM. B. DEAN (WHOSE HUSBAND WAS A SOLDIER IN THE WAR OF 1812), TO HER GRANDDAUGHTER, MRS. FRED BRENNER, OF ALAIEDON. "Backward, turn backward, O time in your flight, Make me a child again just for tonight." These words recur to me time and again, and I think of my childhood days when I sat in a little chair at my maternal grandmother's knee sewing never-ending hit-or-miss carpet rags while she

356 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY lessened, in a degree, the tiresome monotony of them by telling me tales of early days. Tales that are closely interwoven with the early history of Bunkerhill in Ingham county. My grandfather was a soldier in the War of 1812, and grandmother was fond of telling us incidents of that war, although she was but twelve years old at that time. One story in particular was of being left at home alone one day, her parents being called to visit a sick relative, when she saw a company of soldiers coming down the road. She hastily bolted the door, ran upstairs and crept under the bed. One of the company rode up to the door and knocked on it with his whip. On getting no response he gave the command to his men to continue their march, but it was not until the last trooper was out of sight that the little lass returned from her hiding place. My grandparents, Wm. B. and Sarah A. Dean, came to Michigan about 1841. Grandfather and the boys came first, and put up a small log house. They later built a larger house farther up from the road and on a hill. When this was being built the boys were unable to be with the men who were helping grandfather get out the timbers, for the weather was very cold and they had no foot wear except their socks. One of the men helped them over this difficulty by drawing his mittens on their feet. My mother's older sister, Sarah Ann, did not come to Michigan with the family, but stayed at Plymouth to complete her education. When she came two years later she hired to teach the school near Pleasant Lake. She was also shocked to find that her little five year old sister had not commenced her education, and insisted that she should go with her and attend her school, but little Lydia developed a bad case of homesickness and efforts along the educational lines were brief. However, a school was started about three and one-half miles from the Dean home the next winter, near the present site of the McCreery school house in Jackson county. The brothers attended this school, little Lydia accompanying them, being drawn back and forth by them on a home made sled. About this time a family by the name of Hawley came to that vicinity, settling about one and one-half miles south of my grandfather's. Mrs. Hawley was an educated woman and my mother spoke of her as talented and lovely, a rare flower to be transplanted

BUNKERIIILL TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 357 to such surroundings; but she was the founder of the first religious class in that section and opened a Sunday school in her home, to which all were only too glad to go. The Indians were constant visitors, having a camp on Cahoogan creek, east of grandfather's farm. Their chief was named Okemos, and at his death young John Okemos, as he was then called, became chief. He was about twenty-one years of age, and grandmother said he was much looked up to by his tribe, who were quite numerous in number. They possessed quite a large camp equipment, and a number of good horses. They always entered the houses of the settlers without knocking, would take a chair and with Indian stoicism sit for some length of time without uttering a sound. One day five large Indians walked in and sat down by the fireplace. After a while one of them told, in broken English, that they had a deer and wanted grandmother to get dinner for them. This she did and they presented her with a quarter of the venison. Mother used to tell a story that always amused me, and was often called for. One day as grandmother was cleaning her floor, she walked backward out onto the doorstep to finish the space just beside the door. Feeling that someone was near she turned quickly about, and saw a tall Indian close behind her. She was very much startled, but trying not to show her fear walked into the house followed by the brave who sat down on a chair. After a time he threw his blanket back and produced a small puppy which he placed on the floor and asked for some milk to feed it. Grandmother hastened to get some milk for the puppy and desiring to be kind to the Indian, who was a young man, brought a bowl of milk for him and going to the fireplace dipped some hot mush from a kettle. The Indian seemingly much pleased, as well as hungry, took up a huge spoonful which he hastily put in his mouth, and as hastily spit out into the bowl. Mother, who was watching him, never told the story without laughing heartily, although she did not dare laugh at the time. Another story was about old Scabbahoose. The Indians had come to the camp and were going to celebrate some event with a dance. Scabbahoose was sent to a tavern near Bateese Lake for whiskey. When he returned he had a jug of the liquor hung over his back by a piece of twine, and enough in his stomach to make

358 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY him sprightly. There was a very large stone in the road in front of grandfather's house, and when Scabbahoose reached it he gave a loud whoop and a great jump over it. The string broke and the jug fell onto the stone breaking it into bits, and the precious liquid was soon lost to sight in the ground. The children who had been watching him discreetly kept out of sight; then he began to call" White Schmokeman! White Schmokeman!" till grandfather went to the door and inquired what he wanted. He told of his sad loss and wanted to borrow a jug, but grandfather had none to lend, and with a bound into the air he gave a whoop and ran on to the camp, soon running back with another jug on his way back to the tavern for more fire-water. The early days were full of privations, which we of today would not feel that we could meet. Eight pounds of sugar had to last a year. Pumpkin molasses was their usual sweetening. Once a year they tried to go back to Detroit for a few supplies. One of the boys would drive the team of oxen, in a chair in the wagon, would knit all the way there and back, adding to the store of socks, mittens, caps, etc., needed for winter's use. Doctors were almost unknown; grandmother was often surgeon as well as physician. When mother was about three years old, Uncle Palmer, who was six, took her out of doors, helped her up on a log and gave her a stick to hold while he chopped it in two. At the first blow of the ax he completely severed the little sister's first finger. She ran screaming to the house; grandmother caught her up and held the stub of the finger tightly while she looked for the severed portion. Not finding it she bound up the wounded member and it soon healed. This was her first practice in surgery. The Dean Cemetery, now known as the Fitchburg Cemetery, was laid out, and one by one these sturdy pioneers have been gathered into its bosom for the rest so well earned. But their memories will ever live in the minds of those who knew them. The parish of S. S. Cornelius and Cyprian, situated in Bunkerhill Township, Ingham county, is an institution worthy of more than passing note. It is situated on section 10, some distance from any other settlement out in the farming district. In riding through the country one comes upon it quite unexpectedly,

BUNKERHILL TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 359 and is not prepared to see so large and flourishing a church, with commodious school buildings adjacent, a modern rectory, and a well kept cemetery across the road. Rev. Fr. John F. Farrell, now in charge of the parish, has furnished a very comprehensive history of this parish, following it through all its vicissitudes from the time of its first inception. HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN BUNKERHILL TOWNSHIP, INGHAM COUNTY. The history of the Catholic Church in Bunkerhill Township begins with the coming of the first Catholic family to that place in the year 1839. This was the family of Mr. James Markey. One of the sons, Patrick, had arrived a short time before and was followed in that year by his parents, brothers and sister. The emigration of this family from their native Ireland was typical of that of many of the families which afterwards settled about them. In many instances some courageous youth first ventured forth into this land of opportunity, and, through a hard struggle with primitive nature, earned sufficient to enable him to send for his loved ones and unite them again in America. The Markey family lived on the farm now occupied by Mr. Timothy McCann, lying east of the church. For some years they were deprived of religious services. At that time Father Kelly, a remarkable pioneer missionary, had charge of the Catholic settlers throughout a large part of southern Michigan. He rode on horseback from one settlement to another, and on his arrival at a Catholic settlement word was sent to the neighboring families, and the next morning Mass was offered in one of the homes of the pioneers. One of his missions was White Oak. On a trip to this mission he first heard of the one Catholic family at Bunkerhill. Missionary zeal prompted him to find them; so he set out, though it was winter, accompanied by Mr. McKernan, of White Oak, and made the long journey on horseback over the primitive roads. An incident recalls his welcome. A rainstorm had overtaken them on the journey, and the white vestments, used for the services, which Father Kelly carried with him, had become soiled. That night after all had retired Mrs. Markey washed and dried

360 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY them before the fireplace and had them ready for the next morning. Thus the first Holy Mass was celebrated in Bunkerhill Township in the month of February, 1845. Father Kelly came as often as old age and the hardships of travel would permit until August, 1852, and that was to prepare Mrs. Markey for death. Mr. James Birney and family came to Bunkerhill in 1848. The next year a little child of this family died, and this child was the first person to be buried in what is now the Catholic cemetery. Father Hennessy, of Ann Arbor, had taken charge of the mission at Bunkerhill in 1852. He visited it via Dexter, the nearest railroad station, some of the pioneers going to that place to meet him. Two persons had died in the settlement and the need arose of forming an enclosure sacred to their remains. The land, the present site of the cemetery, was donated by Mr. Patrick Markey. An interesting letter regarding this event is still in the possession of Mr. William Fleming, of Henrietta Township. It was written by Father Hennessy from Marshall to Mr. James Markey, and is dated Apr. 25, 1853. In it he says he encloses the deed of the cemetery which he instructed him to have recorded at once. He ends his letter by a request for the prayers of the family for his "poor missions". The cemetery was then enclosed by a fence of tamarack poles, and each one who took part in this work received a family lot in the cemetery. Among those present at this early date were Mr. James Markey, who came in 1839; Mr. James Birney, who came in 1848; Mr. Patrick McCann, who came in 1854, and Mr. John S. O'Brien. Other names also may have been represented in the parish. After Father Hennessy, Father Pulser attended Bunkerhill from Dexter, making his last visit to the mission in June, 1867. During these years there had been no appointed date for services. The Catholics were notified when the priest arrived, and Mass was always celebrated in the Markey home. As an example of the hospitality of those times we are told that, for many years, all who came for services remained to enjoy dinner with the Markey family. In November, 1857, Father Moutard, of Jackson, came to Bunkerhill for the first time, and arrangements were made for holding services at more regular intervals. Mass was to be celebrated at the mission once in every three months and on a week day. Not long after this the parishioners, though still small in numbers

BUNKERIIILL TOWNSIIP AND ITS I-ISTORY 361 began to talk of building a church. It was a weighty undertaking, but finally after many sacrifices Mass was offered, to the joy of the little community, in their new church in the autumn of 1863. The church still lacked plaster and pews and the choir-three members of the Jackson choir-stood before the altar and sang without accompaniment. The following year, 1864, the church was finished and Bishop Lefever came from Detroit and dedicated it. This church, a frame structure, as was the custom in those times, stood in the middle of the cemetery. Long after it was moved across the road where it served for some years as a school. It still stands in the rear of the present church grounds. In 1867 Father Moutard, of Jackson, received as assistant Father Hilarion Driessen. This proved to be an important event for Bunkerhill parish, for Father Driessen came to offer Mass every second Sunday, thus establishing regular services. Many families had moved into the settlement before this date, and a thriving parish was under way. Father Driessen came on Saturday before the Sundays when services were to be held, and remained over night with the Birney family. Arriving from Jackson one Saturday in December, 1868, he said to Mrs. Birney, "Well, Mother, I've come to stay," thus announcing that Bunkerhill parish was to have a resident pastor. The Bishop shortly before had given him the appointment. The following spring the parish purchased the farm adjoining the church property. The pastor occupied the house which stood across the road from where the residence of James Egenton now stands, and a tenant was employed to work the farm. A magnificent elm tree which stood before the house is all that now marks the site of the former rectory. Father Driessen was a native of Belgium, and was a scholar of unusual attainments. Being the first resident pastor of the church we have the records from his hands, beginning with January, 1869, and the language and penmanship of these records are witness of his abilities. Father Driessen remained as pastor until the fall of 1871, and Father Slattery took charge of the parish on the 23d of December of that year. A few years later after that Father Slattery was moved to Pinckney; the church farm was sold and the parish became a mission of Pinckney. For many years after this Bunkerhill remained a mission,

362 PIONEER HISTORY Qle INGIIAM COUNTY being attended successively from Pinckney, Jackson, and Williamston. Although their pastors no longer resided among them, the members of the parish remained loyal and faithful. Some names have come down in hallowed remembrance from that long period during which Bunkerhill existed as a mission. One is that of Father Buyse, who attended from Jackson, and who is remembered kindly in the community. Father Comerford is another whose memory will never perish among the Catholics of Bunkerhill. His fortitude under the long drives with horse and buggy from Pinckney, his love for the people, are still topics of conversation. In the summer of 1898 Father Connelly, pastor of Williamston, assumed charge of the parish, and under his energetic guidance great improvements were made. The old church had become overcrowded and on the feast of the Virgin Mary, Dec. 8, 1898, Father Connelly launched the project of a new church, to be built on what are now the church grounds, opposite the cemetery. So generous was the response that ground was broken for the new and handsome edifice on May 1, 1899, and on Dec. 1, 1899, only one year from the beginning of the undertaking the completed building was dedicated by Bishop Foley, of Detroit. To the credit of the pastor and the members of the congregation it is recorded that the building was paid for as it progressed, and when finished was free from debt. Father Connelly continued to care for the people from Williamston for seven years, and in 1905 began new projects which meant more for the people than those which he had already accomplished. In that year, having decided to live among his people in Bunkerhill, he began the construction of a rectory east of the new church. He also erected a convent on the grounds and arranged for the Sisters of St. Joseph, of Kalamazoo, to come that fall and open a school. But that very summer he was forced to leave these undertakings to take charge of a new parish on Woodward avenue, Detroit. After having been a mission church for thirty-two years Bunkerhill again became a parish with a resident pastor in the summer of 1905, when Father James E. O'Brien came to take charge. Then came the most progressive period in the history of the parish. Father O'Brien was an exemplary pastor and an excellent manUnder him Bunkerhill became one of the important parishes of the diocese. He completed the rectory and convent begun by

BUNKERIIILL TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 363 Father Connelly, but his work was not finished, for during his time the parish suffered two serious disasters. These were the destruction of the new church by fire in the winter of 1906, and the similar destruction of the rectory in 1910. Though the people had but recently made great sacrifices to erect these buildings, they nevertheless began anew and under the undaunted leadership of their pastor reconstructed both, better and more substantially than before. Their courage under these calamities is well worth being recorded. Shortly after his arrival in the parish Father O'Brien opened the school, and during all his years as pastor took a deep personal interest in the welfare of its students. A new school, upto-date in all respects and possessing an auditorium unequalled in the neighborhood, was constructed in the year 1912. Today a group of buildings adorn the church grounds, the size and beauty of which attract the attention of all who pass. They stand as a monument to the courage of the people and the leadership of their pastor. In the minds of the parishioners they are a more cherished monument to the memory of those years when Father O'Brien lived and worked among them. This account of the Catholic parish of Bunkerhill closes with his departure to new fields of labor, amidst the regrets of his people, on the first day of October, 1919.

CHAPTER VII. DELHI TOWNSHIP. Mid-year meeting at Holt, 1919: the Aldrich family by Mrs. Adelaide Jones and Mrs. W. A. Melton: recollections of Mrs. Joseph Feier: history of Delhi township by Mrs. Myrtle B. Hilliard: story of Harvey Lamoreaux: North family: Clan Thorburn: recollections of M. E. Park. MID-YEAR MEETING AT HOLT, DEC. 4, 1919. It was voted at the annual meeting of the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical Society, held in Mason, June 13, 1919, that the society should introduce the plan of holding a mid-year meeting. Holt entered into the scheme with great enthusiasm, agreed to hold the first meeting of the kind and give the society a good time, and right royally they fulfilled their pledge. The thermometer ran low, and the day proved to be one of the coldest in a cold winter, but the warm welcome the visitors received more than atoned for this, and the 200 people from Delhi and the surrounding country showed their interest in the township history by their presence on that day. The morning was spent in getting acquainted, and shortly before the dinner hour President L. H. Ives called the meeting to order, while Mrs. Frank Hilliard, general chairman for the day, outlined the program as it had been prepared. A bountiful dinner was served in the basement of the M. E. church, where the meeting was held, the Ladies' Aid Society furnishing the meal for twenty-five cents per plate. After dinner, with both the audience room and the chapel well filled, the president called for Mrs. Hilliard to proceed with the program, which it had been designed to have purely a Delhi one. First was a song service led by Rev. Andrews. Address of welcome-Mrs. Wm. Binkley. Response by President L. H. Ives. Mrs. Hilliard read a letter from Mrs. Adelaide Jones, of Jones

DELHI TOWNSHIPI AND ITS HISTORY 365 ville, a former resident, in which she gave a history of her father's family, A. D. Aldrich, and incidents of their pioneer days. Mrs. Hilliard spoke of Harvey Lamoreaux, who is over 100 years old, and told of his disappointment at not being able to be present. Mrs. Blake, mother of Mrs. Hilliard, was the oldest person present. Several songs were sung by the Holt high school, who attended the meeting in a body, as it was thought the knowledge they would gain would be greater than they could get from their books in the same time. A song by Rev. and Mrs. Ainsworth, one by three Holt pioneers and one by Mrs. Andrews helped to enliven the program, which was full of interest from start to finish. Mrs. Joseph Fier told her first recollections of Delhi Township, and the customs of early days. J. B. Thorburn gave a sketch of the Thorburn family. M. E. Park described the country surrounding Holt before the land was cleared, when often the Sycamore was a raging stream with no bridge, except perhaps a fallen log. Described the first school house, where it was the custom on Monday mornings to send someone after a fire brand to start the fire. Patrons provided wood, such an amount for each child they sent, There was a school library which contained a History of the Bible, Life of George Whitfield and Mary Queen of Scots. Intemperance was common in early days, and he concluded by telling of dance halls and conditions surrounding them in Delhi sixty years ago, then read a poem which he had printed in the Ingham County Democrat some years ago. Dr. F. N. Turner then read a paper on Early Days in Lansing. Mrs. W. C. Fisher read a history of the Grovenburg family and Mrs. Green one of the Watson family. Mrs. Eva Felton related some of her girlhood experiences, and told of being followed by some wild animal while hunting for the cows some distance from home one night. Wm. Wright told of coming into Michigan when a boy, and of his father's getting a team in Jackson to drive through to Delhi, and how they reached the top of the hogsback east of Holt and having to camp for the night. He helped cut roads through that

366 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIAM COUNTY section 57 years ago, and had lived for 62 years on the same place. Ile remembered John, Jim and Mary, children of Chief Okemos. The secretary explained the plan for increasing the interest in the society and for publishing a history of the county. An invitation to join the society led to 25 new names being added to the membership list. Howard North gave a sketch of the North family, after which four young men from Grovenburg sang a quartet. Meeting closed with the Benediction pronounced by Rev. Andrews. There was a goodly display of historical relics, among them the naturalization papers of Matthew King, which led to some of his personal history being given. The meeting was unanimously pronounced a success, and was a glorious precedent for other townships to follow. Matthew King, a subject of Great Britain, made petition to become an American citizen on Oct. 16, 1844. Clerk Peter Lowe. Admitted on Dec. 14, 1844, showing that it was not such a long drawn-out performance then as now. THE ALDRICH FAMILY, PIONEERS OF DELHI. My parents, Almond Denslow Aldrich and Delilah Ann Phillips Aldrich, his wife, with their two small children, one a babe in arms, came from the township of Plymouth, Chenango county, N. Y., to the township of Delhi, Ingham county, in the latter part of September, 1844. After a few months my father purchased a piece of land which had been taken up and a shanty built on it, though no clearing had been done. When the family came from New York they only brought their clothing, bedding and dishes, no furniture whatever. They soon had a homemade bedstead, a trundle bed, table and four benches, one for each side of the table. My mother said they were never pinched for food, everything planted grew so profusely, and my father was a good marksman, so there was generally a quarter of venison hanging up to be cut from. They soon had a cow or two, and it was not long before

DELHI TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 367 there were pigs in a pen. But money, real money, was a scarce article. The few citizens dealt with each other by making exchanges, one thing for another. Father said they would speak of this as "dicker." After we had lived on this place some time the neighbors got together and chopped out a road north from the house. One day my father had taken up a part of the floor and was digging out underneath an apology for a small cellar, a place to put a few vegetables or set a crock of butter. My mother came in from the outside quite excited. She had seen an unusual sight. Winding slowly along between the stumps in the new road was a wagon load of chairs. She said to father, "There's a load of chairs coming and they do not go by this place until I have one." He said, "What will you pay for it with?" and she said she would find something. My parents were possessed with determination as well as other sterling qualities. The chair peddler stopped to know if they wanted chairs. Mother said, "Have you a rocking chair?" and he said he had. Mother then asked, "Do you buy butter?" to which he replied, "Yes, I take most everything." Father had some good pocket books that he had taken on a debt from a man in New York. They were made of good leather, with several pockets and a place for bills. They were really well made and desirable pocket books. Father offered the peddler some of those which he was very willing to take. So with the butter and pocket books the chair was soon bought and paid for, and from then on was nearly always occupied. In a few years a log house was built of large basswood logs split in the center and placed with the round side out, the flat side making a good wall inside. A really comfortable house. Although other chairs were added the old rocking chair was taken to the new home and was still of good service. As time passed the arms were whittled and holes dug in them by jack knives in the hands of mischievous youngsters. Owing to the untiring industry and thrifty habits of my parents, by this time the farm consisted of broad and well tilled acres. Years passed on, and a commodious and suitable brick house was built on the farm. Although more modern furniture was provided, still the old rocking chair was not thrown away. After the death of the dear parents it went to the home of a granddaughter, and is still in use. It has a new pair of arms, an upholstered seat

368 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHIAM COUNTY replaces the old finely woven splint seat, but it has the same frame, the same straight high back with four slats across it, and is often spoken of as the first chair that Grandma Aldrich bought in Michigan. I am wondering if the present generation fully realize the worth and work of the pioneers. The majority of the pioneers of Delhi Township were intelligent, conscientious, ambitious, generous and helpful. All honor to the pioneers who have blazed the way for the improved farms, fine buildings, with all modern conveniences and also the great educational advantages of the present day. MRS. ADELAIDE ALDRICH JONES, Jonesville, Mich. Written for the mid-year meeting of the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical meeting held in IHolt, Dec. 4, 1919. (In the old Aldrich homestead, now owned by Frank Hilliard, are preserved the old homemade bedsteads made by A. D. Aldrich.) Almond DeAslow Aldrich was born in Connecticut, April 9, 1815, and went with his parents to Plymouth, Chenango county, N. Y., when he was three years old. March 1, 1837, he united his future prospects with Miss Delilah Ann Phillips, of the same place, and a true and noble wife she proved to be. In 1844 they came to Delhi Township, and settled on the farm which was their home until they died. Their worldly effects when they arrived here consisted of a horse team and thirty dollars in money. Every cent they ever had was made by their own straight forward industry. Four children were born to them: Adelaide, born in Plymouth, N. Y., on March 11, 1839; Almond Denslow, Jr., born April 19, 1843, at Plymouth; Ann Eliza, born December 23, 1849, in Delhi, Ingham county, Mich., and Nathan Phillips, born March 28, 1853, also in Delhi. Adelaide was married December 22, 1859, to John Jay Jones. To them two children were born, Mervin Aldrich Jones, born November 18, 1860, in Delhi, and was married January 8, 1890, to Allie J. Pray, of Windsor, Eaton county, they have two children, Maurene Adelaide and Daale Pray, both in college at Ypsilanti. Etta Beatrice Jones was born August 29, 1866, in Delhi, and

DEILHI TOWNSHIP AND ITS IIIS; TORY 369 married Freeman G. Pray, of Dimondale, now lives in Jonesville, Hillsdale county, Mich. Almond Denslow Aldrich, Jr., first married Amelia Ann Cornwell, of Delhi. Two children were born to them: Alma Irene, born July 5, 1870, single and living in Newaygo, Mich. Claude Denslow Aldrich, born Jan. 29, 1877, in Onondaga, Ingham county, now postmaster at East Lansing, Mich. Almond D. Aldrich, Jr., was married the second time to Hattie Welch, of Delhi, June 28, 1894. Two children were born: Maude Adelaide, died when a few months old; Ada Harriet, born June 3, 1905, in Delhi. Almond D. Aldrich, Jr., died August 25, 1913, at Holt. Ann Eliza was married to William Adelbert Melton July 3, 1870. Three children were born to them: Eliza Myrtle, born September 14, 1871, and died April 14, 1874; Addie May, born September 21, 1873, married September 20, 1898, to Louis Kyle Politte, of California, died at her home in Fernando, Calif, on March 8, 1902. Grace Aldrich Melton was born June 3, 1878, married June 21, 1899, to Burt Leland Green, of Mason, Mich. They have two boys, Leland Melton and Ferris Kyle, both in school.* Nathan Aldrich was married to Rosaltha Thompson in Delhi in 1875, and died in July, 1880. A. D. Aldrich, the father and pioneer settler, was a staunch Democrat. He was a great lover of good horses, and owned at one time eighteen. He loved to hunt and it took a lively man to keep up with him in the woods, but as well as he loved the sport he never neglected his work for the pleasure of hunting. He was known as a good farmer and believed in doing his work in the very best way. One of his sayings was, "a thing that is worth doing at all is worth doing well." I have him to thank for knowing how to sweep and hold my broom so it will wear straight. In the log house with the fireplace and big brick hearth, it was his delight to see it swept clean, and I, a little girl, was shown how to sweep that hearth by my father. In our day we know but little of the hardships endured by the early pioneers. A. D. Aldrich and wife, my father and mother, journeyed to Michigan in the fall of 1844, bringing their two children, one an infant only eighteen months old, with them in an open wagon. They settled in the wilderness, as their friends back

370 PIONEER HISTORY OF' INGHAM COUNTY East called it. There was only a cattle path through the woods. They lived in a little shanty with a stick chimney, and I have often heard my mother say that almost every day she would have to carry water up on the roof and put out the fire as it would catch from this primitive chimney. The first bedstead was made by putting poles in between the logs and building a stationary frame; the trundle-bed for the children was pushed under the pole bedstead. There was always room for one more, and no one was ever turned from the door. In that little new home my father had two or three men logging and helping clear the land. For those men my mother did all the washing in a deep trough hewed from a log and a washboard made by herself with the butcher knife. That outfit was used for five years. The cooking was done by the fireplace, which for the first ten years of Michigan life was all the stove my mother had. I have often heard her tell of her first stove and her first chair. After a few years of shanty life my father built a split log house, which was talked about a great deal and considered something very grand, and house warmings were very common in that new house. Neighbors would come from miles around for an evening's visit. After a social time, with supper, the fiddlers would tune up, a set would form on in the nice big chamber, and they would trip the light fantastic toe until the "wee sma' hours." Those were happy days; all were working for a home but they took their good times as they went along. I think it was in 1847 that the Capitol was located and named Lansing. My father helped cut the underbrush so they could play ball where the Capitol now stands. When a certain saw mill was built in Lansing all the men in Delhi who could went together and cut the tallest tree they could find, left all the limbs on and then hitched all the oxen and horses in town to it, and dragged it to mill. They had so much fun pulling each other off the tree as they were going that my mother often told how she sat up all night to make a new pair of pants to take the place of the ones my father wore to the saw mill. It cost twenty-five cents to send a letter, and when one came from the loved ones in the eastern home it was hailed with delight. The Indians came to the homes occasionally and asked for

DELHI TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 371 food. They were friendly, but my mother was always afraid of them. She said they would look at her and then laugh and say "red sqauw." They knew very well why her face was red. Both my father and mother enjoyed the pioneer meetings, they seemed to take them back in years, and they would live those happy early days over again, that were filled with golden memories of long ago. The day my father was sixty-three years old, April 9, 1878, he with one other man attempted to load a big log onto a sled from a side hill. The hand spike broke and the log rolled onto my father breaking his back. He lived fifty-nine hours suffering great agony. On September 4, 1880, my mother left us, and within three years father, mother, brother and his wife had gone, leaving the big brick house empty. It has now passed out of our family, been sold, and others live in those rooms that are filled with loving memories of our dear ones who are gone never to return. *(Leland M. Green was in the S. A. T. C. at East Lansing when the armistice was signed on November 11, 1918. In the fall of 1919 he had an operation for appendicitis, pneumonia followed, and he died at the hospital in Mason.) Written by Mrs. W. A. Melton, and read by her at the annual meeting of the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical Society in Mason, in June, 1914. DELHI TOWNSHIP RECOLLECTIONS OF MRS. JOSEPH FEIER, HOLT, MICH., DEC. 4, 1919. I came from Eaton county in 1863 with my parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Ables, to the township of Delhi. After we crossed the west town line my father said we were in the Grovenburg Settlement, and that they-the Grovenburg'swere noted for being great hunters, that when they went with their guns they always came home with their share of the game, which was abundant at that time. The buildings in the settlement were all of logs, though there were but few of them. After a time we came to a place of mud and water, and when I asked what it was my brother told me it was Ghost Lake. He said the men would fix the road good, and

372 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY in the night the ghosts would come our of the water and turn the road up side-wise or sink it entirely. That was the reason it was called Ghost Lake. Fifty-seven years have passed and upon inquiry I think the ghosts must still be on their job, as in 1919 the people are having the same trouble with that road, which to be more modern is now called the Mud Lake road. As we came farther east it was nothing but swamp and woods, with one or two log houses. Soon we came to what was then known as Delhi Center, where were not more than six buildings, besides the tavern, later known as the hotel, and still later as the old hotel. Here one could get what he wanted to drink and all he wanted. The large dance hall always called great crowds from far and near. Delhi had a bunch of about a dozen fighters, and they would challenge the fighters from Aurelius, Dansville, Williamston and other towns, and when there was a dance the fighters from some other town would come to Delhi to clean up the bunch here. When they first got here they would not be in fighting mood, but as soon as they thought they were properly filled on drink they would go at it, but they generally got too full to be very great as fighters. If Delhi got the most black eyes then the men from there would visit the home of their victors, and that made an endless chain of fights. ' My home was about one hundred rods south of here (the M. E. church in Holt) and I remember one morning after one of these dances of passing five men lying dead drunk beside the road as I went to school, and the scholars from the north said there were more than that up their way. As they also sold liquor at the "Five Corners" (now known as North Holt) there was no reason for a man to go thirsty. People say that the world is growing worse, but I cannot conceive anything worse than some of those "good old times" we occasionally hear tell about. When the ladies went to the dances they carried their party gowns in a band-box, and those from a distance generally arrived about five or six o'clock. These boxes were not disturbed until just before the midnight supper, when the ladies would retire to

DELII TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY their rooms and change their gowns in readiness for supper, and after the supper would dance until daylight. We may well be thankful that we do not live under some of the conditions existing then; it is not that the people were so very bad, but that social laws differed from those of today. Delhi Township suffered greatly from the effects of the Civil War; those pioneers who laid the foundations for the beautiful farms we now see everywhere were many of them called to the colors. Some gave their lives on the field of battle, and others in Andersonville and other Southern prisons, while those who came home were either maimed or physical wrecks because of the hardhips they had endured, but with the same spirit they showed in battle they started anew with their ox teams, ax and hoe, the general equipment of that day. They were greatly handicapped by sickness, ague being the prevailing disease; the theory was if the chills kept growing lighter every day you would wear it out, but if they grew harder every day it was likely to get you. Probably it was all caused by the impure water, all open wells. Some were stoned up and others were planked inside, and the surface water would seep through the openings. Once or twice a year they would be cleaned out, and often dead animals and other objectionable things would be found. Pioneers of those days were very punctual in paying their debts. It was often necessary to run a store account to be paid after harvest, and that was always the first thing attended to. You would see a farmer with his ox-team and load of grain start for the market town, in a hurry to sell and pay his debts. There was no such thing known as the installment plan. Their motto was, Courage, Perseverance, and Faith in God. I have tried to make you live fifty-seven years ago under conditions existing fifty-seven years ago throughout the township. Now I want you to imagine you have been gone fifty-seven years and just arrived in Holt, Delhi Center no more. Notice our homes, churches and schools, then walk out into the surrounding country and see the productive farms, fine homes, with all modern conveniences, where lighting, heating, washing and milking are all done with modern equipment; high powered tractors

374 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY where they can fit twenty acres of land for wheat in one day, where it took our forefathers twenty days to fit one acre, and yet people are not content. Delhi people are proud of their schools, which have always been of high standard, and I don't believe there is another township in the county whose rural population has turned out more professional men and women than Delhi, doctors, lawyers, teachers, preachers and missionaries-and all making good in their work. Last but not least, we have our politicians, just as great workers in their particular line as any city can produce. Let us compare the pioneers of the '60's with us today; they with their faithful ox teams, and frugal way of living, which enabled them to pay all debts promptly, with our way of 1919. The first party I ever attended I went in an ox cart, one with two large wheels, and the driver walked beside the oxen, but it was a swell party for us school children. Now it is with a high powered machine, and we go so fast that we have to dodge the man we owe in order not to run over him. The early days compared to those of 1919 reminds me of a bit of verse by Clem Bradshaw, entitled "A Dollar Down." "Our forefathers frugal planked down the cold cash for their furniture fashions and fixings; they did the same thing for their clothes and their hash, and they ran up no bills for their mixings. But folks now-adays in the country or towns have schemes that are modern and clever; they buy all their stuff a dollar down and a dollar a week forever. And the weeks they come and the weeks they go and ever we're paying, paying; and it's easy to figure and easy to know where the plunks go straying, straying. Carpet and table and folding bed, cabinet, chairs and piany; we pay and we pay till its takes the last red, and then start on a new hat for Fanny. Our ancestors lived in an age that was slow; they'd have thought that our ways were most shocking; they bought on the theory 'Pay as you go,' and they saved a few coins for the stocking. We live in an age that is doing things brown, an age of high aim and endeavor, and we live by paying a dollar down and a dollar a week forever." Read at the mid-year meeting of the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical Society held in Holt, Dec. 4, 1919.

DELIII TOW\NSHII1' AND ITS HISTORY 375 DELHI TOWNSHIP. Written by Mrs. Myrtle B. Hilliard, Holt, Mich., June 6, 1916. Read before the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical Society at the 44th Annual Meeting. This township is situated in the northern part of Ingham county. It is bounded by the township of Lansing on the north, Alaiedon on the east, Aurelius on the south and Windsor, Eaton county, on the west. The township in most parts has a level surface, although some sections are slightly rolling. There is however one ridge of hills, called the Hogsback, which traverses the township from section 2 to 36. It is composed of clay, sand and gravel, the last two predominating. The hills are becoming quite valuable, the gravel being used for road building and other purposes. On section 2 a gravel pit has been opened by Messrs. Holbrook and Skinner, and a steam shovel installed. The Michigan Central R. R. has run a spur in and a car can be loaded in twelve minutes. This is shipped to all parts of the State. A few years ago many fine fruit trees were seen growing on the sides of the Hogsback. Apples, pears and peaches, also many grapes were raised. These however are decaying fast, and will soon be a luxury of the past. This is also true of much of the fruit in the whole township. There are many excellent and finely improved farms in the township, which rank among the best in productiveness in the county. Immense quantities of timber have been cut and marketed in former years from the forests. This was mostly oak, whitewood and black walnut. I said marketed, but I am afraid the term may give to the younger generation a false impression. While much of the wood was sawed and put to good use, much of it was piled into hugh heaps and burned. This was necessary in order to get it out of the way so the land could be plowed. When a man wanted to have a logging bee, his neighbors would come from miles around with their ox teams to assist in hauling and piling the logs, after which they were fired. The first settlers in the township are said to have been Frederick

376 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY Luther and John Norris. This was in 1837. It is said that H. H. North came here the same year, but could not at that time be called a settler as it was necessary for him to return to New York for his family, and he was not fully settled here until June, 1839. George Phillips settled here in 1839 on section 23, and afterwards kept a hotel and post office at his place at Delhi Center. Among the other early settlers may be named the several North families, Alonzo Douglas, David Wait, Darius Abbott, John L. Davis, Z. L. Holmes, Matthew King, Wm. Cook, Caleb Thompson, Wm. B. Watson, Price Welch, Josiah Hedden, Wm. Long, Dennis Long, A. D. Aldrich, D. H. Hilliard and Perry Rooker. The name Delhi is credited to Roswell Everett, just what he took the name from is uncertain. The first town meeting was held in a log school house at Delhi Center, April 4, 1842. The whole number of votes polled was twenty-two. Henry H. North was the first supervisor. The first marriage in the township was between Wm. P. Robbins, of Alaiedon, and Lydia M. Wells, of Delhi, July 6, 1842. Roswell Everatt and Eliza Ann North were married a few months later. The first building used for a hotel at the Center was built by Price Welch in 1848. Among the landlords who later kept hotel were Mr. Beebe, Joseph Hunt, Wm. Willoughby, Frank North, John Decker, H. J. Aldrich, John Ferguson, Nathaniel Thayer, David Laycock, Reuben Barker and A. J. Black. This hotel was on the ground where the residence of Dr. Alexander now stands. Some sixty-five years ago (1851) a man named Thomas Treat built a hotel in the western part of Delhi Township on the angling road running from Lansing to Eaton Rapids. It was built of grout and was octagonal in shape. It was called the Octagon Hotel. A frame dance hall was connected with the building. This building was torn down several years ago. A post office was established at the Center in 1848, with George Phillips as postmaster. He was succeeded by Price Welch, and since then the following persons have served: Caleb Thompson, Samuel Hoffman, S. S. Gidney, L. W. Baker, James Wiegman, Fred Phillips, John Ahrens, S. W. Mayer and Herbert E. Gunn. All letters were addressed to Delhi Center until after the close

DELIII TOWNSIP AND ITS IISTORY 377 of the Civil War. As soon as the Michigan Central R. R. commenced to carry mail, in 1865 or '66, it was thought best to change the name from Delhi to Holt, as the mail was often mixed with that for Delhi Mills. It took some time to bring this about; I cannot say the exact year when the change took place, but think it must have been between 1865 and 1870 when it was changed to Holt in compliment to Postmaster General Holt. The first mercantile establishment at Holt was opened by Robert Smith in 1857. Others who have kept general stores are Mosher and Thompson, Samuel J. Hoffman, Hoffman and Watson, Elmer, Baker and Bond, U. T. Watrous, Henry Lott, James Wiegman, M. T. Gunn, E. G. Hunt, M. E. Park, Manchester and Son, Mr. Welch, Sheathelm Bros., Fred B. Phillips, A. E. Hilliard, A. J. Black, Frank Clapham, Gunn and Freodtert, Albert and Nickel, Fay and Wrook, Manz Bros., and Wrook and Eifert. I think that it must have been in the early eighties that Carl Wohlfahrt opened a harness shop and general leather store. He did a good business for about twenty-five years. The first saw mill in the township was built by Lee and Corey in 1856. In 1864 it was purchased by J. M. Ables. The first carriage and wagon shop was owned by Addison Stone at the Five Corners. In 1878 Augustus Gaylord opened a shop at the Center and made wagons, carriages, wheelbarrows, etc. Durant's history of Eaton and Ingham counties tells us that the first blacksmith was Nelson Hilliard, who owned and operated a shop at the Five Corners, later moving it to section 10. This his children think is not quite correct, as they believe James Cole opened a shop before their father did, at any rate they were both doing business at the same time. A foundry and repair shop was established about three-fourths of a mile east of Holt by Edwin Shaw, in 1875. In 1879 Isreal Wood became interested and the shop made land rollers, plows, drags and did general repairing. At one time brick was made on section 13 by Henry Lott and M. T. Brown. Several years ago Alexander Ferguson did quite a business making bed springs, but quit it later. There are three township cemeteries in Delhi. One on section 3, the North Cemetery, purchased in 18492 from Joshua North for the sum of fifteen dollars.

378 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY One on section 14, called "The Pioneer Cemetery," purchased in 1859 and "The Maple Ridge" Cemetery, purchased in 1884. All are located on sandy knolls and kept in good condition. Associations have been formed to beautify and care for each, in co-operation with the town board. There is also another cemetery in the southwest part of the township called "The Markham Cemetery." This is private property and not under control of the town board. Dr. Levertt P. Chaddock came to Delhi in 1850 and practiced medicine for many years. I think it was in 1884 that he retired from actual practice, but was often called upon for council. Dr. Wm. Matthaie was a practicing physician in an early day, also Doctor's Joel S. Wheelock and Jefferson Ohlinger. The first school in the township was taught by Miss Lydia M. Wells in the cabin of George Phillips. She also taught the first two terms in the log school house at the Center. The first school house at the Center was built of logs about 1840. In 1852 a frame building was erected. This did duty until 1875 when a brick building took its place. This burned Nov. 17, 1914, and the following year a modern and commodious school house was built. Three teachers are employed and ten grades are taught. The Presbyterian church was organized April 5, 1865, principally through the instrumentality of Rev. Alfred Bryant. Rev. Hosea Kittridge was also a valuable assistant. The original members were: James Thorburn, Sr., Wm. Somerville, Mrs. Jane Somerville, Mrs. Mary Hedden, Mrs. Susan Thompson, Mrs. Harriet Stanton, Mrs. Fanny Itarkness, Church Wilbur, Mrs. Hannah Wilbur, James Thorburn, Jr., Mrs. Marion Thorburn, Casper Lott, Mrs. Catherine Lott, Mrs. Mariah Mallory, Miss Alice M. Mallory (now Mrs. Pixley), Miss Hattie Stanton (later Mrs. Geo. Bristol), Mrs. Arena Gunn, Wm. Irwin and Mrs. Jane Thorburn, Mr. G. W. Mallory joining a little later. The first minister was Rev. Alfred Bryant, who remained three years at this time, returning again in 1877 and staying nearly three years more. There were a few Methodists in Delhi at an early date. Rev. Bennett used to preach in the dwelling house and school buildings, and his followers at that time were Mrs. Isabella Abbott, Mrs.

I)DELHI 'TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 379 Geo. Phillips, Mrs. L. R. Chaddock, Mrs. Alonzo Douglas, Mrs. Thomas J. Brown, and Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Langley. Wm. Mayer, a native of England, who came to Delhi in 1854, and Albert McEwen were early members also. About 1854 Mr. McEwen organized a class. At first meetings were held in the school house at the Center, and in the homes, but at a later date at the German Methodist church at the Five Corners, the Germans and others using the church alternately. This continued for about five years, and in 1876 the Methodist Episcopal church was erected at a cost of $1,500. Among the early ministers were Revs. Clump, Kellogg, Dodge and Crittenden. The first to preach in the new edifice was Rev. Jason Cadwell, followed by Rev. B. W. Smith. The German Methodist church was organized in 1868 and in the same year a building for public worship was built at the Five Corners, one-half mile northwest of the Center. This did service until 1894 when the present fine brick church was built. Among the pastors who have preached there we find the names of Rev. G. A. Reuter, G. H. Fiedler, A. Mayer, Daniel Volz, Revs. Gerlock, Gommel, Aust, Scheuman, Dobrie, Wahl and Iey. The early members were A. Helmker, H.Wiegman, J. Switzgable, G. Diehl, Lewis Dail, Geo. Roth, Geo. Ahrend, Phillip Biebesheimer, H. Exner, Adam Knieriem, Mr. Zickgraf, and Mr. Moldenhauer. The oldest man in the township at the present time is Harvey Lamoreaux, who was ninety-seven years of age May 20, 1916. (Was 100 years old on May 20, 1919, and died in January, 1920, having fallen and broken his hip a month before. Ed.) He purchased eighty acres of land on section 10, in 1844, and moved his family there the following year, where he lived until his death. The oldest woman in the township is Mrs. Eliza Collins, who says she will be 100 years old in August, 1916, but her relatives think her to be one year older than that. There are no records to prove her age, but from events she has mentioned they think her older than she claims to be. She was born in Scottsville, N. Y., and came to Michigan when twenty years of age, coming to Detroit by boat. From there to Dexter part of the way she rode in a wagon and part of the way she walked, bringing with her her two children,

380 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY one aged two years and the other three months. Later she with her husband settled at Eaton Rapids. Her husband here did the work of justice of the peace, lawyer and undertaker. He helped to cut the first trees and build the first building in Eaton Rapids. It is said that he prepared for burial the body of everyone who died in the place until he too passed away. Mrs. Collins was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Bunker, pioneers of Ingham county, who lived on a farm near where now stands the Bunker church in Aurelius Township. In 1876 Mrs. Collins settled on a farm in the western part of Delhi, and this is still her home. Her grandson and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Everett, live with her. She is remarkably well preserved for one of her years; her mind is clear and at times she loves to tell anecdotes of pioneer days, which are very interesting to her hearers. Just who was the first whilte child born in Delhi Township I cannot say for certain. Henry Phillips was born June 5, 1841, and I have been told that this was the first birth. If I undertsand correctly why it was requested that this paper should be prepared, it was that a history of Delhi Township should be preserved for the benefit of coming generations. Believing this to be the object I would not end the paper without telling something of what is being done in our town today. First I would mention our churches. There is the German Methodist church with Rev. Theodore Hey as pastor. The Presbyterian church, whose pastor is Rev. Winfield S. Sly, and the Methodist Episcopal church presided over by Rev. George Brown. There is a feeling of good fellowship existing between the three churches. There is a Sabbath school in connection with each, and a good work is being done. In the western part of the town is another church called the Grovenburg Methodist Protestant church. Rev. Thompson is the pastor. This is a very flourishing wide awake little country church, and is doing much good. About 1900 there was a post office established near this church called West Holt, with Samuel J. Haley as postmaster. This was continued until rural service was established. There are three general stores in Holt. Gunn and Foredtert are the proprietors of one. The postoffice is situated in this store, with Herbert E. Gunn as postmaster. For several years there

DELHII TOWNSI-IP AND ITS HISTORY 381 were two rural mail routes running out of Holt, but one has been discontinued, and Edward Switzgable is the only carrier now. Wrook and Eifert are proprietors of one general store, and they have a meat market in connection with this. This store, as well as the one occupied by Gunn and Foedtert, is in a new building belonging to the Odd Fellows. The second floor of this building is used for fraternal gatherings. A. J. Black owns the other Holt store and also the stock. He keeps a line of groceries and buys cream. David Potter runs a tin shop in the rear of Mr. Black's store. Bryce Spencer and Fred Nickel each run a blacksmith shop where horseshoeing and general blacksmith work is done. Drs. E. P. North and R. H. Alexander are our efficient doctors. Practice is quite evenly divided. The Bell Telephone has an exchange at Holt. The rates are $14 per year for Holt and $16 for Holt and Lansing. This gives a wide range of territory and good service is had. The Michigan Central Railroad runs one-half mile east of Holt village, where there is a passenger station and a freight depot. Perhaps the one thing that has been the greatest boom to Holt and made it a desirable residence place is the electric railway. This runs directly through the town, and all cars stop in the village, making it very convenient for people to live here and work in Lansing and also send their children to school there. Holt is a well kept, neat little village. The people are, as a rule, of good habits, quiet and law-abiding. One thing is noticeable, and I think commendable, all seem loyal to their home town. If perchance they have found homes elsewhere, they are almost certain to come back in time to view old scenes and renew old acquaintances. Along the electric road, all the way from Holt to Lansing, small tracts of land are being bought and houses built. This land brings from $200 to $300 per acre. These houses are being built so rapidly that the saying has already gone forth "that Lansing will soon be a suburb of Holt." Since writing the above I have learned that the first white child born in Delhi was Marion North, daughter of H. IH. North, and in after years became the wife of Irving Holmes. She was the mother of Clarence E. Holmes, Superintendent of the School for the Blind,

382 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY also the mother of Mrs. Wm. Gardner, who with her husband was drowned in Grand river some years ago. I believe Henry Phillips was the first male child born in the township. Henry D. North wrote for the annual meeting of the Ingham County Pioneer Association, held in Mason, May 25, 1873, the following: The township of Delhi was first settled in January, 1838, by Frederick R. Luther and wife of Lenawee county, Mich. William Wood, Joseph Wilson, Philander Morton and Mr. Norris came the same year. In 1839 my father, Joseph E. North, settled in what is now Lansing Township, from his former home Lansing, Tompkins county, N. Y. My mother died in August, 1854, aged 64 years. I first came to Ingham county to look for a location in the fall of 1837, and moved my family here in the spring of 1839. The first death was that of the wife of William Wood, who died in the summer of 1839. Our oldest child was the first white child born in the township. Elder Bennett, of the M. E. church, was our first minister. The first couple married here was Russell P. Everett and Eliza A., daughter of Joseph E. North. Delhi was inserted in the petition to the Legislature for organization in 1841 by Roswell Everett. Matthew King came from Scotland in 1839, and bought 160 acres of land from the government at one shilling an acre, onehalf mile east of Delhi Center. He lived in a cave in the hogs back the first winter, then built a log house and married Flora Hudson. Seven children came from this union, Sarah, Jane, Maryann, William, Catherine, John, Marcia and Mattie, five of them still living in 1919. Later Mr. King took some gravel and lime and built one of the first gravel or grout houses, which still stands on the hogsback. One day the family looked out of the house and saw a hog coming toward them; some wild animal had eaten a meal out of one ham, and the hog was hastening into the vicinity of human beings. Such was life in those early days! Written for the mid-year meeting at Holt, Dec. 4, 1919.

DELHI TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 383 HARVEY LAMOREAUX. Was born in Ransellaerville, Albany county, N. Y., May 20, 1819, and died at his home near North Holt, Ingham county, in the spring of 1920. He remained active and in possession of all his faculties, except his eyesight, until after his one hundredth birthday. Soon after the year 1920 opened he had the misfortune to fall and break one hip, and his death followed after a few weeks. When he was five years old his parents moved to Green county, N. Y., among the Catskill Mountains. Five years later they moved to Wayne county on the old Erie canal. When he was fifteen years old his parents migrated to Michigan and settled in Lenawee county. Michigan was then a Territory. He lived in Lenawee county ten years before he finally settled in Ingham county, purchasing the farm on which he died, three-fourths of a mile north of the German church in North Holt. Mr. Lamoreaux bought the farm from Alexander Morton, who had taken it from the government. He gave $175.00 for eighty acres. In 1843, the year he bought the farm, Mr. Lamoreaux was married to Lucretia Glassbrook, and the next year they came to their home in Ingham county. There were no roads at this time and as there was no house on this land he and his family stayed at the home of his brother-in-law, Fred Luther, who lived on what is now the Miller farm at Miller's Crossing, until he could build a shanty. This he did and moved in a little before Christmas with the snow a foot deep. The shanty was 12 x 14 feet square and covered with shakes. The family lived in this shanty six years, then built a log house 16 x 25 feet with a chamber. The logs were whitewood, hewed very smooth and about two feet wide. These used to be whitewashed. Mr. Lamoreaux moved his goods from the shanty to the log house on a hand sled. In 1868 he built the substantial frame house where he lived with his daughter at the time of his death. He says that his sister, Mrs. Luther, was the first white woman ever in Delhi Township, and that she was here six months before she ever saw another white woman, and then Eck North, who had

384 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY been to Leslie and married, came, bringing his wife to his home in Lansing, and stopped at Mr. Luther's. The Indians were frequent callers and always hungry, but when fed would leave very good-natured. Mr. Lamoreaux, when 96 years old, told that he split all the wood his family burned the preceding winter, except one-half cord. On his one hundredth birthday a family reunion was held at his home to which some of his oldest neighbors were invited, and he greatly enjoyed the day, and particularly having his picture taken. Mrs. Lamoreaux died Feb. 23, 1905, and of their eight children six survived both the father and mother. Thirty-seven grand and greatgrandchildren are left to hear the story of the pioneer life of Mr. and Mrs. Lamoreaux. THE NORTH FAMILY IN DELHI. By HOWARD C. NORTH, Holt, Mich., 1920. Our family is of English origin. The first one to come to the United States was Roger North, who came before the Revolution and settled near Philadelphia. Joseph North, Sr., his grandson, left there when a young man and settled at Lansing, N. Y., in Tompkins county, which was the "frontier" at that time. His son, Joseph North, Jr., came to Michigan and settled in Lansing Township in 1836. With him came Levi Buck, an older brother of Daniel W. Buck, an old pioneer of Lansing, and they settled in section 32. Joseph North gave the name Lansing to the township after his old home in New York. A few years later, when the Capital was located at the junction of the Grand and Cedar rivers, at what was then the town of Michigan, his younger brother, Henry Harrison North, my grandfather, went before the Legislature and proposed the name of Lansing for the new city, which was accepted April 1, 1848. Joshua, another son of Joseph North, Sr., came to Ingham county in 1837, and the father, Joseph E., came the following year. Their goods were shipped by canal to Buffalo, thence by the steamer Michigan to Detroit. From there they were shipped to

DELI-I TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 385 Ypsilanti, which was then the end of the road. There they were met by Joseph E., Jr., who had come from Lansing with an ox team to meet them. My grandfather, Henry Harrison North, came on a visit in 1837. He went back to New York, and in December, 1838, was married to Miss Almira Buck, a sister of Daniel W. Buck. They came to Michigan and settled with his father on the farm in Delhi which always remained their home. His son, Dr. J. S. North, lived on it until his death and it is still owned by his family. Another brother, John, father of Dr. E. P. North, soon purchased a farm adjoining his brother's. Joshua also purchased an adjoining farm in 1840, and went back to the old New York home to marry another sister of Daniel W. Buck. When they arrived in Ann Arbor, to which the road had been extended, he found his father, who had taken a load of wheat to market, and went home with him. The father and four sons purchased in all 1,280 acres, parts of which are still owned by their descendents. Joseph North, who was a surveyor, laid out the road from Lansing to Mason through Delhi Center in 1837. The same year he built the first bridge over the Cedar river in Lansing. The first marriage in the township was that of Russell P. Everett to Eliza Ann North, daughter of Joseph North, Sr. The first white child born in the township was my father's oldest sister, Marian, the mother of Clarence Holmes, of Lansing. An incident which happened then illustrates the wilderness conditions of that time. The family needed additional help and Joshua went over where Mt. Hope Cemetery is now, and engaged the services of a young woman living there. He was taking her home behind him on horseback. The road was only partly brushed out; night fell; he had lost the path and looked for it in vain. The candle in his old-fashioned tin lantern was nearly gone, so he stopped and kindled a fire in the butt of a fallen tree, to drive off the wolves which were following them. Then they sat by the fire and watched until morning. When day came they found the trail and continued their journey. The township of Delhi was organized from Alaiedon in February, 1842. The name is credited to Roswell Everett, who inserted it in the petition sent to the Legislature.

386 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY The first cemetery in the township was the North Cemetery, which was laid out in 1842, and cost the township fifteen dollars. The first town meeting was held in a log school house at Delhi Center, April 4, 1842. It organized by appointing David Wait, chairman; Roswell Everett, Caleb Thompson, D. H. Stanton and Henry H. North inspectors. The whole number of votes cast was twenty-two. The following is the list of officers elected: Supervisor-Henry H. North. Clerk-Caleb Thompson. Treasurer-Roswell Everett. Henry H. North brought into the township with him the first hog that was here. He made a log pen and covered it with logs to keep out the wild animals. One spring day while he was making sugar in the woods my grandmother, hearing the hog making an outcry, ran out just in time to see a bear push off the top logs and try to lift the hog out of the pen. She ran where they were and tried to scare the bear away, but he had no mind to lose his pork dinner. At this opportune moment two of my grandfather's brothers arrived on the scene, and succeeded in driving the bear away with clubs, and without the hog. The porker's back had to be sewed up where the bear's claws had ripped it open, but in a short time she was none the worse for the adventure, and lived to tell the story to her children. I have heard my father tell stories of the Indian Chief Okemos. He often stopped at grandfather's and would open the door and walk in without knocking. Grandfather reproved him, saying that white folks knocked before entering anyone's house. The next time Okemos stopped he pounded vigorously on the door, then opened it at once and entered with a satisfied expression, exclaiming, "Me heap white man now, me knock." Once a year, sometimes twice, he and his band would pass grandfather's home and camp on the flats north of there. The string of ponies was often more than three quarters of a mile long. When the first one was opposite the house the last one had not yet passed the North school house. One day a squaw stopped at grandfather's and wanted to trade baskets for food. Seymour North, then a little fellow of three or four, had crawled way back under the elevated oven of the old fashioned stove, but the sharp eyes of the Indian woman saw

)ELtII TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 387 him, and she pointed at him with a broad grin, saying, "Little papoose, little papoose!" Then she turned and picked up a board which she had leaned against the wall on entering. On it was strapped an Indian baby and holding it up she said, "Me little papoose too." One day father and some of his brothers followed the band to see them make camp. When they reached the flats a short distance north of the old home, the braves seized their guns and disappeared in the forest in quest of game, leaving the squaws the setting up of tents, starting fires, and such trivial duties. They worked very swiftly, and in a short time the rifles began to crash out in the forest, telling that the braves, too, were busy. One after another they came in with their woodchucks, squirrels, rabbits or birds and threw them at the feet of the squaws. Their part was done until meal time. The daughter of Chief Okemos who was one of the most beautiful Indian girls, had just married a young brave, who by virtue of his marriage to the Chief's daughter became second chief. She had just finished setting up the wigwam and started the fire when her husband stalked in with a big deer over his shoulder. This he laid at her feet. In an incredibly short time she had skinned it and had some of the choicest portions over the fire. Perhaps this was due to entire elimination of washing either hands or venison. Once some of the boys persuaded Chief Okemos to have his picture taken. He protested vigorously, saying, "If any take my face I die." Then one after another sat for their pictures to show them it did not harm them. At last with some misgivings he sat with two of them to have his picture taken. Fifty-five years ago (1865) my father was passing along the path where Whitmore's Corners now lies. He'd been spending the evening with a young lady and was returning home somewhere about midnight. Suddenly a black shape reared up in front of him, and an ominous growl was heard. Thinking it a rather surly, big black dog he fired twice with his pistol. The black shape vanished and he went on to the place where he worked just west of the corners. The next day two men came by inquiring if he had seen a bear. He said "No," but went with them, folllowing the tracks. These led to the place just where he had seen and fired at the "dog." They were bloody tracks from that point.

388 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY The men followed on, found the bear and killed him just west of where the School for the Blind is now. In the bear's hide they found two holes made by father's pistol shots. One night John North, Dr. E. P. North's father, was on his way home from an evening spent with Miss Eliza Skinner, who later became his wife. When he reached a little flat which was known as "Grovenburg's prairie" he was overtaken by a pack of wolves. He shinned up a tree just in time to escape the leader's jaws. There he was forced to cling and shiver while the pack camped underneath. At last, when daylight came, the brutes withdrew deeper into the forest, and cramped and half-frozen he was able to scramble down and go home. CLAN THORBURN. The history of Delhi Township would not be complete without a sketch of the Thorburn family. It was in 1848 that John and Robert Thorburn sailed from Glasgow, Scotland, in an old wooden sailing vessel, leaving their native land for the new world. The fact that land could not be bought in Scotland, and the desire to own homes of their own, and having heard of the cheap lands in America, were the chief reasons for their making the change. The desire had been growing for several years, as such things usually grow. Leaving Glasgow, they turned their faces westward, the old vessel slowly moving before the wind down the river Clyde toward the ocean. When in mid-ocean they were taken in a calm and lay rocking in the cradle of the deep for nearly four weeks. Food and water became about exhausted and had to be rationed out. At length a breeze arose and the vessel began to move, finally reaching New York harbor, where our wanderers were welcomed to the new world at Castle Garden, after a three months' voyage on the briny deep. Upon reaching New York they left at once for Pittsburgh, Pa., where each of the Thorburn brothers found work at his respective trade, one as a blacksmith and the other as a stonecutter. They did not stay long in Pittsburgh, however, but soon came to Michigan to the home of a former friend and acquaintance in Scotland,

DELHI TOWNSIIP AND ITS HISTORY 389 William Cook, who with his wife and family had four years previously come to Michigan and settled on section 23, Delhi Township, in Ingham county. Soon after John and Robert Thorburn reached Delhi John took up forty acres adjoining Mr. Cook, on the south, and here during the winter following they chopped off four or five acres of timber and erected a log house in preparation for the father and mother who were to arrive in the following spring. The father and mother, James and Christina Boe Thorburn, reached Delhi in the summer of 1849 and settled in the new house the boys had built the previous winter. Their children were John and Robert, who preceded them to Delhi, James, Jr., and one daughter, Jane, who married William Somerville in Scotland. James, Jr., and Marian, his wife, came with their family to this country in 1855 and settled on 120 acres of land on section 23, Delhi. The same year Jane and her husband, William Somerville, came to Michigan and settled on a forty acre farm adjoining James Thorburn on the south. Robert took up a claim in Gratiot county, where he raised a family of four boys and two girls. He died early in life leaving his wife with six children, who were looked after by the grandfather, James Thorburn, Sr., and soon were moved to Ingham county and located on an eighty acre farm on section 27, Delhi, which one of these boys still owns. The mother is best known among her friends as Aunt Jane Mallory. Her sons, James, Robert. John D., Thomas Martin, are all much respected residents of Holt. William is a resident of Lansing. One daughter, Christina, married Matthew Cook, of Holt, and is the mother of two girls, Mettie and Inez. Mr. Cook died young. Jane Ann married Byron Wilcox and to this union four sons were born, George, Raymond, Bert and Chester. On Jan. 26, 1854, John Thorburn was married to Hannah Jane Olds, of Lansing. This union was blessed with three sons, James Boe, William Warren, and Robert Clark. James Boe married Louisa Mary, daughter of Casper and Catherine Lott, of Delhi, Dec. 23, 1874, and two daughters, Rose Bell, born Oct. 6, 1875, and Nettie May, born May 22, 1880, with one son, John Royal E., born Dec. 2, 1883 (died Dec. 13, 1912), came to bless this home. Nettie May married Rev. Cecil Everett Pollok, Oct. 6, 1903.

390 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY They have two sons and one daughter. Rose is a maiden lady and lives at home with her parents. She was a successful public school teacher until failing health forced her to retire. Willian Warren was born in Delhi Aug. 14, 1858, and was married Jan. 31, 1878, to Anna T. Wauvle, also of Delhi, and to them was born one son, George, on Dec. 24, 1878. Mr. Thorburn's second marriage occurred on Oct. 20, 1891, to Marian Lang, of Delhi. Robert Clark, third son of John Thorburn, was born Aug. 14, 1865, and on Aug. 10, 1899, he married Bertha Phelps, of Bath. They had one son, Russell, born March 18, 1900. Robert C. was a member of Co. F, 31st Michigan Volunteer Infantry, with the rank of sergeant, and served in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. He contracted fever in the service, which resulted in his death on Oct. 30, 1903. John Thorburn was a blacksmith by trade, and after getting his father and mother comfortably located in the new home in Delhi, he worked for some years in Mason, Jackson and Ypsilanti. He finally located in Lansing and built a brick shop on the south side of Franklin Avenue east, which he run for five years very successfully. He contracted typhoid fever about that time, and after a three months illness concluded he would quit blacksmithing and move to the farm. In March, 1858, he moved his family to the farm on section 24, Delhi, and there remained the balance of his life, having collected 950 acres of land and other property. He died Dec. 20, 1908. His wife Hannah Jane died March 16, 1889. Politically the Democratic and Republican parties are both represented. However the Thorburn's never figured much in politics, but they have all been conscientious and loyal supporters of the government, and also loyal supporters of the Presbyterian church at Holt. In fact, they were so numerous in the church at one time that nearly every other person you met was a Thorburn, but, like the disciples of old, they have been scattered and can be found doing a good work for the Master in other churches. Well do I remember Grandfather James Thorburn as a weaver, farmer and churchman. Weaving was his trade in Scotland, and of course when he came here the country was new and cloth

DELIII TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 391 scarce. It was a great advantage in a new country to be able to make one's own cloth. The women would prepare wool which was taken to Lansing and carded, then they would spin the yarn, and perhaps color some of it, and grandfather would put it in the loom and weave the cloth for our clothes. This would wear well as I have reason to know. As a farmer his operations were not extensive, but what he did was thoroughly done. Well do I remember the old ox-cart, made by cutting two blocks off a large log for wheels, and an "ex" (axle-tree) and a tongue made from a sapling, and with a box the cart was complete. As a churchman grandfather was all right. Coming from the free kirk of Scotland he had some notions of his own, yet he was a firm believer, a faithful worker and strong supporter of the church. Perhaps I might give one incident which shows something of the character of the man. The young people had organized a choir and taken an organ into the gallery and on Sunday morning they went up to sing, not having asked permission of the session first. Grandfather, who was a member of the session, being hard of hearing, used to sit in a chair in front of the pulpit, facing the audience. He took his seat this particular Sunday morning, and as he happened to look up and saw the young people there he asked Mr. Lott, another member of the session, what they were doing. Mr. Lott told him when he requested this other elder "to gang awa up and tell them to come doon," and the result was that when Mr. Lott delivered his message they immediately "came doon." Grandfather joined the church as a charter member in 1865, and was a faithful member and official until his death which occurred in May, 1872. A little incident occurred the first winter when the boys were clearing their land which might be of interest. Each had a good ax, and both were strong and active. One day as they were chopping a tree, one on each side, making the chips fly, their axes came together with a clap in the middle of the tree, and the result was two axes badly damaged. The next question was where could they find a grindstone? They were told that Mr. Darius Abbott at Mud Lake corners had a stone, and they went there to sharpen their tools, consuming much valuable time in so doing. John, who was of a practical turn of mind, decided that a grindstone was needed in their own neighborhood, and their neighbor Mr. Cook

392 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY said if they would buy the stone he would make a frame and hang it, to which they readily agreed and a stone was soon procured. In 1859 when John Thorburn moved from Lansing to the farm on section 24, Delhi, the city people laughed at him and said he would soon starve out. He replied, "I will give it a five year trial and if in that time I do not succeed as a farmer I will move back to the city." Result. The first year the weevil took the wheat so that only five or six bushels were left, not enough for seed. The following year the frost killed the wheat and corn, so that year there was no wheat for bread nor corn for johnny-cake. Two years of crop failure made it look as though the Lansing people were laughing right, but the laugh soon was turned, for that fall the farmer sowed wheat and rye. The spring following he sowed spring wheat, oats, corn, buckwheat, beans, etc., and had the joy of reaping good and bountiful crops of everything. But something had to be done to offset the bad years. The farmer had several fat sheep which he killed, took the carcasses, pelts and tallow, also some whitewood lumber, and drove through to Dexter and traded these commodities for flour and provisions. Tallow was high in those days as nearly everyone used tallow candles. At the end of the five years' probation on the farm things were so prosperous that father had no desire to return to the city, but continued to farm until 1890, when he practically retired. It was customary for the cows to run in the woods in the early days before fences were built, and it often happened that at dark no cows were in sight, and it would become necessary for father to listen for the bell that he might be guided to where the cows were. Some of the bell cows would become so cute that they would stand perfectly quiet so the bell would not ring, then it was difficult to locate them. When father first came to the farm the deer would often show up in the clearing. Often droves of wild turkeys would cross the farm or live in the cornfield next to the woods. Wild pigeons were very plentiful in spring and fall. Thus father and mother, no less, experienced the joys and privations of the new country and lived to see the wilderness blossom like the rose. They, together with their brothers and sisters, took a large share in the making of Delhi Township what it is today. Having labored, their work is finished and their mantles have fallen upon the shoulders of their sons and daughters. May they rest in peace. JOHN BOE THORBURN.

DELHI TOWNSIIIIP AND ITS HISTORY 393 RECOLLECTIONS. A paper read by M. E. Park, Holt, Mich., at the mid-year meeting of the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical Society on December 4, 1919. I covet the ability to tell the story of the past at this time, for I am looking into the faces of many this afternoon that have had some of the same experiences and witnessed many of the things that I have. Where my parents settled, and where I was born, on section 11, Delhi, was one of the most unpromising places you can imagine. Long stretches of causeway had to be built on both sides of our home. The hogsback on the west was as steep as anyone could climb, and was eight rods from the base to the top. On the north end of our farm was the Sycamore which for years had to be forded, or passage made on a log laid across the stream. Many times I crossed with great fear and trembling. One time when I was carrying a niece of mine to the other side we both fell in. Later there were built several bridges at different points over the creek. Some of them had as many as twenty-five bents, and were covered with planks but no railing. I always walked very close to the middle when going over. One-half mile east of our place was what was known as the "Mason clearing," several acres in extent. There were hardly any stumps on it, and this might have possibly been the first home of white people in Ingham county. I was told that two brothers by the name of Mason, accompanied by a woman, cleared the land. The woman died and the men went away. I was shown where the grave was. The reason for their stopping here might have been that the timber on considerable land in this vicinity was small and easily cleared off. There was always a dispute as to who was the first settler in Delhi; Fred Luther coming first to what is the Miller farm at Miller road, where he built a shanty. John Norris came some time later and built a house on section 3 and moved his family into it before Mr. Luther's house was occupied, and thus he claimed the distinction of being the first settler in Delhi.

394 PIONEER IIISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY The school house where I first attended school was built of logs, and was about 18 x 24 feet in size with the stove set in the middle of the room. The desks were built around the sides and end of the room. We had to sit facing the walls when writing, which was the only time we used the desks. While studying and reciting we sat facing the center of the room on benches split out of trees which had sticks placed in holes bored in them to support them. Logs were drawn up by the side of the school house, and the young men from fourteen to twenty years of age cut the wood to warm the room. These young men, many of them visited their traps before coming to school. These were generally of the kind called "dead-falls." One young man reported on two different occasions having found two mink in his traps. The fur was bringing $10 at that time, which was just the price of a pair of French calf boots. Matches were scarce and we were often sent to the neighbors for live coals with which to start the fire. The readers used in the schools at that time contained the best expressions on patriotism of any time in the history of the country. The contents were also of a religious nature. The leather covered Sander's fifth reader, which I still possess, devoted one-third of its contents to religious quotations founded on the Bible. The Scriptures were brought to the pupils through the text books. On examining the readers of the same grade used in our schools now we found only two selections that made mention of God or religion. The qualifications of teachers in those early days was determined by three school commissioners who conducted the examinations orally. At that early date, 1856, each school possessed a library of good books. Many of them discussed religious subjects and contained biographies of good men. When I was quite a lad the Indian chief, Okemos, and his tribe was much talked of. I saw him once. The squaws came several times to our house, peddling baskets. The old Chief often visited Lansing, but could never be persuaded to have his picture taken, saying if they took his face he would die, until on one ocaasion Joseph North, father of the North's that early settled in Delhi, and my grandfather, Dennison Hewett Hilliard, met him

DELIII TOWNSlIP AND ITS HISTORY 395 in Lansing, and knowing his appetite for fire-water persuaded him to take enough so that he was in condition to fall in with their plan for getting his picture taken. This I saw several times, with North on one side of the old Chief and Hilliard on the other. There are but three landmarks in the way of buildings left. One is Fred Nichol's blacksmith shop, which is a part of the first hotel, and was the bar-room. The residences of William Buck and C. A. Gunn are the others. Delhi at this time has the distinction of having the two oldest people in the county, Harvey Lamoreaux and Eliza Collins. The village for many years was known as Delhi Center, but in the early sixties it was changed to Holt, in honor of the postmaster general at that time. The first settlers mostly came from New York, but a little later many came from Germany, England and Scotland. In 1875 the German language was about as commonly spoken as the English. At an early day the village had two hotels, and both had bars where liquor was sold, and large dance halls, often as many as two hundred and fifty couples attending these dances. There was much drunkenness and fighting and various kinds of immorality prevalent then. JERUSALEM WAGON FITCHBURG CURIOSITY. Correspondent Sends Interesting Item to News. Wagon of 1877 Had Wheels Six Feet in Diameter-Has No Axle. To those who have read "The Chronicles of Break O'Day," a story dealing with affairs in the early seventies, in the southern part of Ingham and the northern part of Jackson counties, to hear of a "Jerusalem Wagon" will be nothing new, though they, as well as others, may be interested in an item furnished by a Fitchburg correspondent to the Ingham County News in October, 1877. It reads as follows: One of the curiosities of this burg is a new Jerusalem wagon, brought into existence by a Mr. Drew, three miles east of this place. The wheels are six feet in diameter, the running gear is simply two racks. The wheels run between two perpendicular

396 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY posts, as there is no axle. Each wheel works on a gudgeon and independently of each other, the posts or standards being attached on the inner side to these racks, thereby supporting the load. The load when on the wagon will be about two feet from the ground. It requires two boxes, two hay racks or two wood racks when in operation, and, taking it all together, it is a comical looking structure. It looks something like two large carts fastened together. Mr. Drew expects soon to have this new vehicle complete, and hopes to derive a fortune from it. Who can tell how his plans turned out?

CHAPTER VIII. TIlE FIRST TOWNSHIP MEETING IIELD IN INGHAM TOWNSHIP. Story by William A. Dryer; Dansville in 1863; Dansville Village; recollections of D. L. Crossman; James Swan story; Clark family history; Benjamin Perkins Avery. Wim. A. Dryer was born in 1813, and came to Michigan with his family in 1836. They came from Cazenovia, N. Y., to Buffalo by canal, then on the old steamer Michigan through the lakes to Detroit. HIe was for many years one of the best known citizens of Lansing, took a lively interest in all public affairs, and was especially keen in everything pertaining to agriculture. He was for several years a member of the Board of Supervisors, and this is the story he told of the first township meeting held in the town of Ingham: "This township at that time comprised what is now the townships of Ingham, White Oak, Leroy and Wheatfield. The meeting was held at the home of Caleb Carr in the spring of 1838. There were about twenty-five men then living in Ingham Township who claimed the right to vote, and these represented half that number of states. Being scattered over so large a territory as the township then was, we were comparatively strangers to each other. We had been residents, the most of us, from twelve to eighteen months, with civil organization. "We felt the need of some proper authority to lay out roads, organize school districts, etc. The place to hold the meeting was designated in the act of Legislature organizing the township. The first question to be settled was what constituted a set of township officers. We had no records, no laws, nothing to guide us. "Now commenced an interesting scene. The Massachusetts man said, 'We want three select men,' and the Vermont man declared such and such officers were necessary. The Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey men all advanced their ideas. Up

398 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHIAM COUNTY comes the Buckeye, who insists that the county treasurer takes the assessment, and so on until arguments had been brought from all the men representing different states. "The discussion had now become very exciting and somewhat personal. The township of Stockbridge had been organized the year before. Ingham county was not yet organized, so Stockbridge was attached to Jackson county for all judicial purposes. "I had the pleasure of being acquainted with P. Lowe, Esq., afterward of Mason, but then a resident of Stockbridge and holding an office in that township. I had learned from him what officers were necessary for a township organization in Michigan. They were presented to the meeting, and having urged the correctness of the authority amid a pandemonium of excitement, a compromise was finally effected. "We agreed to elect men to the same offices that were held in Stockbridge, and we now came to the question of who should be the honored ones. Having had very little intercourse with each other, we knew still less of each other's ability or qualifications. The discussion, as may be imagined, became quite personal. It was a delicate question for one man to ask another how much he knew, and for the questioned man, having the prosperity and welfare of the newly organized township at heart, to say that he was capable of discharging the duties that he knew nothing about, without example, precept or law to guide him, was most assuredly a delicate matter. "It will be understood of course that we knew no politics. The subject was not mentioned. It was the earnest desire of each and every man to use the very best material in our possession, and to run the ship of state so that she might be launched safely and successfully. That we might bring order out of chaos and inaugurate a system of organization in the wilds and wilderness, such questions of course were indirectly asked, but there was an effort made to learn something of each other's qualifications. "About three o'clock we had agreed on a ticket. Now came the interesting question of who shall receive the votes, and who shall have the authority to declare the election and administer the oath of office? These were questions that no one could answer. Several suggestions were made representative of the different states, but none seemed to help us out of the dilemma. No

INGHIAM TOWNSIIIP AND ITS HISTORY 399 supervisor, no town clerk, no justice of the peace, and we were up a stump. "It was now nearly night, if anything farther was done it must be done quickly, for some of us were several miles from home. Our way was through a trackless wilderness, and night would surely overtake us. Suddenly the clouds gave way, a ray of light burst upon the mind of one man, who nominated Caleb Carr for chairman; a secretary was appointed. The chairman doffed his hat into which the votes were cast, and as soon as these we were counted we swore each other into office, adjourned, shook hands all around, and struck out for our homes a happy and independent people with a full-fledged government fairly inaugurated. And thus ended the first town meeting in the town of Ingham. "Few of our readers of today can realize what we old-timers passed through to make possible the comforts of life and the beautiful homes they are now enjoying." DANSVILLE IN 1863. Michigan State Gazetteer. Dansville, a post village of Ingham county, Ingham Township, on the stage route from Dexter to Mason. Has two shops for the manufacture of carriages, several stores, one church edifice, Baptist, and four organized religious societies, Methodist Protestant, Methodist Episcopal, Baptist and Universal. The north part of the township abounds in oak openings, with sandy soil, and the south part is heavily timbered, with deep soil and much clay and loam. The village has a stage connection with Howell, also with Dexter and Mason. Distance from Detroit 77 miles, 47 railroad, 30 stage. Fare $1.30 to Dexter via Michigan Central R. R., $1.50 thence by stage to Dansville. Three mails per week from the West and three from the East. Postmaster, Daniel L. Crossman.

400 IPIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. Daniel S. Crossman. Clerk-Marshall Hawcraft. Treasurer-Nelson A. Whipple. TRADES AND PROIESSIONS. Aseltine, H.-mason. Atwood, Marcus M.-lawyer. Barnes, Chauncey-carriage maker. Carson, S. B.-mason. Castor, J. H., Rev.-Methodist. Cobb, Daniel J.-cabinet maker. Cobb, Thomas M.-cabinet maker. Crossman and Atwood (Daniel L. Crossman and Martin Atwood)-flour mill. Crossman, Daniel L.-general store and postmaster. Dakin, Elisha-cooper. Darkin, John B.-general store. Dean, Cyrus W.-harness maker. Demming, N. S. & W.-shoe makers. Etchells, Peter-general store. Fields, H. H.-cabinet maker. Fox, David D.-hotel. Francis, Joseph-shoe maker. Granger, H. D.-mason. Hann, Edgar-physician. Harris, B. S.-carpenter. Hatch, Ira-justice of the I)cace. Herald, James L.-blacksmith. Heald, William W.-carriage maker. Hendrick, S. P.-carpenter. Hicks, A. P.-blacksmith. Hoffman, Mrs. J.-milliner. Jessup, C. & M.-saw mill. Keene, Joseph-carpenter. Lebar, L.-carriage maker. Miller, Loren-justice of the peace. Needham, William-blacksmith.

ING1IAM TOWNSIiIP AND ITS HISTORY 401 Olds, Rev.-Universalist. Owens, Rev.-Methodist. Parks, Carleton-shoemaker. Parks, S. V.-carriage maker. Rice, Egbert-general store. Rice, Herman-blacksmith. Richards, -, cabinet maker. Sheldon, J. O.-lawyer. Sherwood, Jesse-shoemaker. Stewart, William A.-cooper. Strong, L. K.-carpenter. Swarthout, Nathaniel-hotel. Tibbits, Rev.-Baptist. Waldo, Charles-cooper. Webb, T. J.-physician. West, John-blacksmith. Weston, D. J.-physician. Weston, D. T.-boots and shoes. Whipple, George G.-carriage maker. White, Abel-livery stable. Worden, Joseph-carpenter. DANSVILLE. In history Dansville is one of the earliest settlements in the county. Permanent home-seekers located there as early as 1836-40, and the first business establishment was a small store, with a general stock, opened by Samuel Crossman about 1847. The first hotel was the present "Union Hotel," now kept by Mr. Hurst. It was built in 1856-7 by David D. Fox. A post office was established in the southern part of Ingham Township in 1846, and was first kept by John B. Lobdell. Later it was moved to Hayne's Corners, one and one-half mile south of the present village, and Henry Densmore was post master. It finally came to Dansville, where Daniel T. Weston was the first post master in 1855. The original plat of the village was laid out May 26, 1857, by

402 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY Samuel Crossman and Ephraim Hillaird. D. L. Crossman and Dakin and Otis made additions and October 26, 1866, "Crossman's complete plat," embracing all others, was acknowledged. March 9, 1867, the village was incorporated by act of the Legislature, and the first charter election was held May 6, 1867, at which the following officers were elected: President, Daniel L. Crossman; recorder, Marshall Hawcroft, he resigned and Z. Ransom was appointed; treasurer, L. K. Strong; trustees, H. L. Strong, M. V. Jessop and Joseph Keene. Churches, schools and fraternal organizations were quickly organized, and its growth only hampered by the lack of a railroad, but to offset this it has two stage lines run by G. P. Glynn and L. Geer, who carry trade between the village and Mason. Many of its citizens have gone out into the world where they hold prominent positions and have written their names high on honor's roll. DANSVILLE REMINISCENCES. By D. L. CROSSMAN, 1889. A part of a letter written in reply to an invitation to address the Masonic lodge in Dansville: "Your kind invitation for me to address you on the evening of St. John's day, as a feature of the annual installation of the officers of your lodge, and I write mainly to thank you for the courtesy and for the compliment you pay me by such invitation. "You can easily believe, when you recall that part of my history which relates to your locality, that the name of your lodge and your village is of peculiar interest to me. The poetry of age is to recall, and live over, anew, those events which happened in youth. I have gotten far enough along in the journey of life to appreciate the truth of this sentiment and to know now what I did not know then, viz.: that I saw my best days in the village of Dansville. That I lived my happiest years among her people and that the memory of the friends of those years will outlast all later friendships. My boyhood reaches back to the joys and struggles of the pioneers of that locality, and as I summon up the memories of

INGIIAM TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 403 those early years and recall the names of those whose sturdy blows cleared the fields whose tillage you now enjoy, I realize that the greater part of those names are now on tombstones, beneath which their ashes rest to await the call of the angel of light in the morning. "This brings to my mind the first grave in Dansville, that of a little girl about ten years old. The family, Robinson I think by name, had come from the State of New York with my father, and a few weeks later the child sickened and died. Ter remains found a temporary resting place on the knoll, where the sawmill yard is now situated, there being no cemetery site established. A short time after the body was exhumed to find a more fitting burial spot. All the scanty population of the place being present, the body was placed in state in a log building standing on the corner now occupied by Mr. Rice's store, general curiosity being such that the coffin was opened to give all a view of the dissolution which follows interment. "In that log building was held the first town meeting ever held in Dansville. In fact the building was put up and intended for general use as a town house and a church; but it did not long serve in any capacity as it was lost by fire, the first building burned in Dansville. It was not much of a fire compared with what you have recently suffered, but I can assure you, the loss of the only public building in the vicinity was quite a loss, even though it was constructed of logs and not at all pretentious as to size or appearance. "It was about 1846 when I commenced going to school at the Howard school house, there being no school district yet formed in Dansville. Well do I remember the road as it was in those days. The low ground just south of Mr. Bullen's was not yet causewayed, and pedestrians must wade in water, sometimes quite deep, or cross the pools on logs. I usually had company over the road. A girl two or three years older than myself was generally ready, with her dinner basket in hand, to join me as I passed her home in the morning. She lives in your midst now-a worthy woman, and I have no doubt she well remembers one wet morning when a barkless elm log, which was the only bridge over one of those pools of water, was too slippery for her feet and she fell in. I went the balance of the way alone that day, and when I went home at

404 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHIAM COUNTY night quite a complete wardrobe for a young lady about the size of my usual school companion, was still drying on the fence. "A year later a careful examination of the new settlement revealed eight children of legal school age, and the Dansville district was formed. The first school meeting was held in Hale Granger's wagon shop, or what is now the McKnight lot, and the voters of the new district decided to start a school at once. True they had no house, nothing but a district and eight children; but pioneers were not held back by trifles. "They did not wait for tax levies or contractors. They did not look for an architect with plans and specifications; but they invited every man to come to a bee and bring his axe. Two days of this combined labor and the temple of education was complete. District No. 8 was fully equipped to give instructions to its pupils and take rank with the other seven districts of the township. The seating capacity of the new edifice was ample, yet it can safely be said that the children's clothing would have lasted longer if the slabs of which the benches were made had been denuded of some of their surplus shakes and slivers. But in due time the boys' jack knives got in their work to advantage and the pupils could move about as uneasily as pupils usually do, with safety to body and limb and without unusual destruction of clothing. "Among the first teachers employed to take charge of this model school house was a young lady of the district, whose people, just from western New York, had given her the advantages of eastern schools where discipline was somewhat in advance of the western idea. It was not strange therefore that she should find fault with some of the charcoal sketches with which I and my equally artistic seatmate, undertook to adorn the rough hewn logs of our temple, and when we persisted in our efforts to decorate the walls, she set us to shading each other's faces with the same coal pencils with which we had sought to beautify the room. I remember very well that the other pupils and the teacher seemed to enjoy the situation more than we did. This lady is still a prominent lady of your village and I presume never sees me without thinking of the ridiculous figure cut by her two pupils while undergoing this punishment. "The same wagon shop before spoken of also served as a hall of justice for those primitive people, the jury sitting in line on the

INGHAM TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 405 workbench, while the justice of the peace occupied a splint chair in the corner. Law suits were not frequent, but when they did occur general interest was manifest, everybody being active on one side or the other of the case. I remember one case which involved an accounting between the parties. One item charged was the pasturing of a yoke of oxen over night, and a stuttering witness was called to prove the value of the pasturage. He was very reluctant to set the figure, but when pressed by the attorney said, 'It's w-w-w-worth two and six a week, you've g-g-got your pencil and you can f-f-f-igure it up to suit yourself.' " JAMES SWAN, AN INGHAM PIONEER. Now In His 85th Year, Hale and Hearty, Had Many Interesting Experiences in the Early Days of This County. From the Ingham County News of March 18, 1909. A remarkable old man is James Swan, of Ingham Township, four miles east of here, who claims the proud distinction of having called off the first cotillion ever danced in Michigan west of Detroit. He celebrated his 84th birthday on the 27th of last October, but his snow white hair and slightly bowed shoulders are the only signs that age has laid on him. He can dance as nimble as any youth in the country, and on a brisk cold winter day not long ago he led his son-in-law, John A. Davidson, with whom he lives, a merry 'cross country chase on foot over twelve miles of rough country on a hunting expedition. And his hand has not lost its cunning with a fiddle. You have only to hear him play Money Musk, Speed the Plow, or Durang's Hornpipe, and call off the figures of the Scotch Reel, Lady Washington, or Sicilian Circles to realize what he and his violin must have been to the pioneer settlers in a time when musicians were as scarce as are now the bears and wolves which were then the nightly visitors of the clearings. Mr. Swan first came to Michigan from Orleans county, N. Y., his birthplace, when he was 16 years old. He came by boat to

406 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Detroit, and took the Michigan Central to Dexter, then the most important town in this part of the State. It was the only mill and market for Ingham county settlers, and he followed the thirtymile ox trail through the woods to his brother John's clearing, close beside the farm which he himself now owns. Stretches of heavy timber alternated here with "oak openings," rolling sandy country, from which the underbrush was burned off by yearly fires, leaving the great oaks standing with long vistas visible between them. Our York State lad compared the openings to great orchards. The Indians fired the brush each year so that they could better hunt the deer and other game which hid in the thickets. As soon as the settlers fenced the land the underbrush sprang up quickly, and there were no more "oak openings." Mr. Swan was here only six weeks this time, but performed a notable exploit. While ploughing for his brother one day he heard an unusual commotion on the other side of a long windrow of felled trees, and seizing some stones he climbed the windrow. A dog was holding a wounded deer by the haunch and he had heard its cry of distress. He struck the deer between the eyes with a stone, felling it to the ground, and after bleeding it returned to his work, expecting the dog's owner to appear and claim the game. No one came, and after awhile he found the dog crouched on a log in the windrow watching the dead deer. His sister-in-law, Mrs. Harriet Swan, of Mason, then a girl of 17, helped him dress the deer and she collaborates the story. When they cut off the deer's head the dog seized it and disappeared, and they never saw him again. Mr. Swan and his brother Reuben returned to the home in New York that winter. They went on foot to Dexter and from there to Ypsilanti, following the Michigan Central. Here they stayed over night, and as they had plenty of gold bought a quantity of "wild-cat" paper money for considerably below par, as the railroad company had to accept it at its face value. The next morning at five o'clock they took the train, riding in a pelting snow storm on open flat cars loaded with flour. The engine frequently uncoupled and ran ahead to clear the snow off the track, and the two young men finally got off and walked to keep from freezing. The train passed them and refused to stop, though their passage was paid to Detroit, but they caught it on a siding and arrived in De

INGHIAM TOWNSIIP AND ITS HISTORY 407 troit at noon. The old Commodore Perry eventually came in and they sailed to Buffalo. The trip took two days and nights and they arrived just before the great storm broke, in which nearly every vessel on the lake went down. During this storm a colored sailor swam nine miles to shore with his captain on his back, and they were the only survivors from the men on their boat. At Buffalo the Swan boys took an Erie canal packet. After going a ways some of the crew tapped one of the kegs of brandy in the cargo. First they knocked a hoop loose, then bored a hole in the stave under it, and after drawing out a kettle full of brandy plugged the hole and drove the hoop back. The driver left his team on the tow-path and came abroad to get his share, and while running forward to throw potatoes at his horses and keel) them moving he stumbled and fell overboard. A deck hand ran to the rail with a pike pole. "Oh, Mike!" he called, " aId can ye shwim?" "Sure," sputtered Mike, "an' I dunno yit." Mike was hauled abroad, dripping, shivering and half strangled. "Let me git to thot brandy," he begged, as he hovered over the cook's fire, "I want the inside to be as wet as the outside." Eleven years passed before Mr. Swan came to Michigan to stay. In that time he made another short visit here and also sailed one season off the Atlantic coast mackerel fishing. On March 4, 1852, he was married to Miss Ann Francisco at Knowlesville, Orleans county, N. Y. He still preserves the marriage certificate, written out on a small sheet of fancy note paper and reading as follows: Orleans County, New York, Town of Ridgeway, ss. I do certify that on the 4th day of March, 1852, at the home of D James, in said town, James Swan and Ann Francisco were with their mutual consent lawfully joined together in matrimony, which was duly solemnized by me in the presence of Edward Bellows and Abigal Bellows, and I do further certify that I ascertained that they were of lawful age to contract the same. Sands. Cole, J. P. The witnesses did not sign the certificate. Mrs. Abigail Bellows, the bride's sister, is now living in Lansing as Mrs. Anson Loomis. The harbor was full of ice when Mr. and Mrs. Swan left Buffalo one night early in May of that year on a boat which they after

408 PI'ONEER IIIS;TORY OF INGIAM COUNTY ward learned had been condemned. They had gone only seven miles when morning came and so many floats were broken from the paddle wheels that the vessel only dared stop once at Erie before running straight to Detroit. They bought their furniture in Jackson where they found brother John with an ox-cart waiting to take them to the new home in Ingham county. Most of the furniture had to be left behind, and when they had settled in the log house on John's farm and the first meal was on the table Mr. Swan sat on the churn and his wife on the bed. Soon, however, the rest of the furniture was brought from Jackson and in the fall they moved to the farm nearby, bought that summer of an insistent neighbor, where they lived together ever after until the death of Mrs. Swan. Mr. Swan still holds the old deed, dated August 2, 1852, and all his tax receipts. The tax that year on his 80 acres was $2.11; six years later it reached the low figure of $1.66. In 1860, on 116 acres, he was taxed $7.25 as compared with $53.57 for 1908. The house was a comfortable dwelling with walls of solid logs, hewn smooth on the inside, and with the chinks "mudded up" to make them wind and weather proof. The only sawed lumber in the whole building was used in the door and window casings and these boards were sawed by hand by whip-sawyers. The floors were made of split basswood, puncheons; the same puncheons, hollowed down the middle, were laid concave side up for a roof, and others with the hollowed side down were laid over the joints and the chinks were filled with moss. A great fireplace nearly filled one end of the living room, and at one end of this swung the iron crane on which the pots and kettles were hung and then suspended over the fire. One night that fall Mr. Swan was asked to bring his fiddle to a dance at Hunt's tavern, two miles south of his farm. IIe went and then and there he says was danced the first cotillion ever called off in Michigan west of Detroit. He formed the young people on the floor and taught them cotillions, with their various figures and movements. "Country dances," which were never "called off," were all that had been known here, and the news went over the country that a man over in Ingham could fiddle cotillions and call them off. After that he and his fiddle were kept busy, and he played at dances far and near for three shillings and sixpense per

INGIIAM TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 409 couple. Many were the notable gatherings where he played, but the one which he remembers best is the great ball at Squire Linderman's tavern in Mason, two blocks north of where the court house now stands. The big ball room was crowded, and as for refreshments, "Everything's all right," said the doorkeeper, "There's a bottle in the bed room and a hog in the house. Soon there was not room for the dancers on the ball room floor, and an overflow meeting was started in the dining room of the other tavern, just south of the present court house square. Another fiddler was secured who could play country dances, and each couple, after dancing a cotillion in the big ball room, threaded their way up Main street in the dark, dodging the stumps and hollows, and sought the other tavern, where they stepped through the movements of the country dance until the arrival of more couples notified them that there was room on the floor at Squire Linderman's. The sun was shining in at the windows when the dance ended, and the dancers, many of whom had come 20 miles or more through the forest on horseback or in ox-carts, went home. Members of Mr. Swan's family played the organ, dulcimer, 'cello and other instruments, and with this orchestra he held dances at his home, besides playing all over the country for many years, but with the introduction of modern two-steps and waltzes he quit in disgust. He calls them "baby dances," and remains constant in his preference for the graceful figures and merry tunes of his younger days. Mr. Swan tells interesting tales of hunting in the early days. While he was taking the honey from a bee tree he had cut in the forest back of his house one day a big buck came bounding past, and his dog caught the creature by the ear and dragged it down. It pushed the dog along on the ground, however, and Mr. Swan ran up with the ax to kill it before it should press the dog up against a tree or stump and impale him on its antlers. The dog lost its hold just as the man swung the ax, and the deer's great horns swept up by his face. As he struck at its head the dog dragged the deer down again, and the ax was buried so deeply in the creature's body behind the fore leg that the man could hardly pull it out. A second blow cut off one of the struggling animal's hind legs, and then Mr. Swan, forcing his knee between the deer's other limb and its body, so that it could not draw up and strike

410 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY him with the terrible sharp hind hoof, cut its throat. He was dressing it when the dog gave warning again, and looking up, he saw a drove of hogs coming at a brisk run. The settlers' hogs ran wild in the woods all summer. They were savage at any time, and these were especially so now that they had smelt the deer's blood. Seizing a heavy stick Mr. Swan stood ready, with the dog, to fight them off as long as possible, but after gazing at him a moment the leader, a huge boar, curled his tail, and with a whistling snort wheeled and trotted off into the woods, followed by the others. More bees came flying by while Mr. Swan was dressing the deer, and about that time Chief Johnny Okelnos, a prominent character in Ingham county history, appeared on the scene, carrying a wild turkey over his shoulder, slung from his gun barrel. He "lined" the bees for Mr. Swan, and they soon found the bee tree and cut it, and there were five pails of clear honey and a deer to show for this day's work. The settlers' sheep and other stock had to be yarded every night to keep them from the great timber wolves. Mr. Swan was coon hunting with a party one night when a wolf followed them in the underbrush. Their dog finally attacked the animal, and after a fierce battle the wolf broke away, leaving the dog badly lamed. One monstrous wolf, which had been killing sheep in the neighborhood, was finally poisoned and sent to a museum to be mounted. Bears were numerous but not dangerous, except to stock. Deer roamed the runways in the woods in herds like sheep, and were almost as easily killed. Wild turkeys were as numerous and as easy to shoot as sparrows are now. Mr. Swan went cooning alone one night in the big swamp west of his farm. Reaching Dobie's lake, eight miles away, he rolled up in the bark of a tree and slept there until three in the morning, when he started home, hunting on his way. On reaching home he found that a fur buyer from Detroit had been waiting over night for him, and he sold that night's catch of coon and mink skins for $21. The Indians were always friendly, and used to trade huckleberries to the settlers for provisions. Mr. Swan often visited them and fiddled for them at their favorite camping ground, on a little stream three and a half miles east of Mason, where the Ingham county seat had been formerly located. Some of the younger white men and women went there one Sunday, and

INGIIAMS TOWNSTIII AND ITS HISTORY 411 although things were not very clean around camp, they could not refuse the maple sugar which the squaws gave them as a mark of hospitality. Dozens of muskrats were roasting on twigs stuck up around the great campfire. The wigwams had pole frames covered with bark, and a big buck strode in from a hunting trip and tossing a woodchuck and other game from his shoulder threw himself down in one of these houses. As he lay there on a bed of black ash bark, covered with deer skins, in full view of the visitors, they were highly amused to see several little blind woodchuck kittens come crawling out of his clothes. Mr. Swan visited Lansing once in the early history of that town. and after paying fifty cents to be ferried across Cedar river on a raft found only two or three shanties on the present site of the Capital city. He was offered an eighty-acre timber lot, including the spot where the Capitol stands now, for $800, but the land was too swampy to suit him. He would not lose such a chance again, however, he says, as he has noticed that cities in a new country always spring up along good water courses. With his other activities, Mr. Swan practiced the trade of a collier. Many times he has piled all the timber from six or seven acres of woodland up in a great windrow 100 feet or more long, covered the whole with earth, and then fired it. Then lie would watch it almost constantly, day and night, sometimes for six or seven weeks, covering the holes where the fire would break out, and as the burned logs shrank away, pounding down the earth over them to prevent air spaces. When it was thoroughly burned he would uncover the coal pit and roll out the great maple logs, as perfect as when they were first cut, and ringing like silver when they were broken up with the ax. This coal was the only fuel used by blacksmiths and tinners all over the country for years. Mr. and Mrs. Swan went to Wyoming to visit their son Reuben in 1890, and the thing which impressed them most there was the enormous herds of elk which he saw in the mountains. TIe shot three deer from the wagon while taking a 75-mile trip to Snake River, the headquarters of Kit Carson in his hunting trips in that vicinity. Around Alkali creek, near by, he could see every morning a herd of 200 or more antelope and from three tokfive hundred deer when they came there to drink. March 4, 1902, Mr. and Mrs. Swan celebrated their golden wed

412 PIIONIEER H1-ISTORIY OF INGIIAM COI. NTY ding. Eighty-five friends and relatives were present, and it was a memorable occasion. Nearly three years later, on Jan. 31, 1905, Mrs. Swan died. Two thrifty wild cherry trees, which stood in the door yard and were trimmed and kept for shade trees when the home was first bought, had been cut and sawed into lumber a few years before, and from the lumber three coffins had been made, for Mr. Swan, his wife, and their daughter, Mrs. Ina Davidson. On Feb. 3 Mrs. Swan was buried in her coffin, and the other two are stored away in the old home. Since then Mr. Swan has lived with his daughter, Mrs. Davidson. She is very carefully preserving several phonograph records of violin selections by him, and also has one of an old-fashioned song which he sings, "To Make Me a Beautiful Boy." He knows a number of these quaint old ballads of Revolutionary vintage, each telling a complete tale in their many verses, set to tunes that have come down from Shakespeare's time. And, in fact, although he takes a lively interest in things of the present, Mr. Swan longs for the good old days that are past, for the music, the dancing, the wholesome privations and simple pleasures of pioneer days, when the settlers would go as far to church as they would to a dance. Four miles through the woods to hear a preacher was a short walk for them, and all the country for miles around went afoot to Teal's mill pond to see a baptism. They went to Sunday school at Hawley Corners, three miles away, and while the elders and young people were engaged with the lesson, the children were outside playing marbles with wild gooseberries. Neighbors were more neighborly then. On one night in the week every family in the community would yoke up the oxen and drive to Swan's to spend the evening. Next night another family would entertain. Wealth and poverty made no social distinctions, and we are the losers, he contends, for having exchanged the simplicity of pioneer life for the conveniences and luxuries of today. RoY W. ADAMS.

INGEIAM TOWNSIIIP AND ITS HISTORY 413 FAMOUS BIBLE GIVEN TO DANSVILLE CHURCH. Charles I-. Crossman, of New York City, Makes Gift. Was Published in 1795 When George Washington Was PresidentWashington Owned Bible of Same Issue. Charles II. Crossman, of New York City, has presented the Dansville Baptist church with a Bible with a history. The book, which was published in 1795 while George Washington was President of the United States, is one of a subscription edition, and the Father of His Country was one of those who subscribed. The family who subscribed to this volume kept it in their possession for more than a century. It was then presented to Charles H. Crossman, a son of Samuel Crossnman, who was the founder of the village of Dansville. Samuel Crossman was born in 1796 at IIillsdale, N. Y., of ancestry that cane to America in 1639. He located at I)ansville in 1836 and the village was named after his son, Daniel H. Crossman. The historical book was presented to the Dansville Baptists in order that the church might become its custodian. This old and valuable book will be highly prized by the society, both for its historical value and the sentiments that prompted the gift. E. S. CLARK FAMILY. Andrew C. Clark, now of Lansing, contributes the following relative to his family history: Elias S. Clark, the father, was born May 3, 1814, and died in Ingham Township, Ingham county, Mich., June 30, 1894. The mother, Mary A. Clark, born August 30, 1817, died August 17, 1880. By Andrew C. Clark. A sketch of my early recollections of the pioneer life of our dear parents' hardships and deprivations as I can recollect them. Our parents came into Ingham county, township of Ingham, in

414 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY the year 1840 and settled upon the northwest quarter of section 6, but did not remain there long as in April of the same year they moved to section 1, northeast quarter, and there in those early pioneer days of seventy-nine years ago in a then almost unbroken forest they commenced again anew to hew out the place that was to be and afterwards was the home where a family of nine children were reared. And so by extreme industry and the most strict economy they were able to fell the forest and hew out what is today one of the finest farms of Ingham county. But they have passed out. The people of those early days had so many inconveniences, you may quite safely say they had none but inconveniences as compared with the present day. At that time there were no stoves. Can you ladies of this generation conceive how you could cook for a large family without a stove. I think I hear the answer "no." I will call your attention to some of the hardships of a pioneer life. The nearest market at that time was Ann Arbor, a distance of 45 miles through the forest by blazed trail, and over roads many of them through the low marshy ground which today we would think impossible to travel over. The roads were so bad it required two yoke of oxen to endure the fatigue and it took five days to make the round trip. Our mothers would clean the wool and card by hand and spin the rolls into yarn and weave and knit it into stockings and socks and weave into cloth all garments for the family, and this was done by the light of a tallow candle. But at this time girls did not wear pinhead heels and toothpick-toed shoes, nor did they wear peeka-boo dresses, but time has changed since 1840. In those pioneer days many of our mothers corded and spun the rolls and wove or had them woven into cloth and made the dresses that the girls wore, and this without the aid of a dressmaker, and in the summer time if the girls perchance were fortunate enough to have a pink calico dress and sunbonnet to match they looked just as sweet to the boys as do the girls of 1919. And for shoes, all the girls went to the shoemaker and the measure of the foot was taken and the shoe made to fit the foot, not the foot made to fit the shoe. But here we will let the girls rest and I will return to some of the pioneer inconveniences of the pioneer life of my parents. An incident that may be of interest to the present generation of a pioneer life of what we would now call poverty. I well remember

INGHAM TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 415 of hearing my father tell of making a visit to one of the old pioneers upon the 4th of July which was about five miles distant with an ox team and wooden shod sled through the then almost unbroken forest by the aid of blazed trees as their guide. Perhaps there are some present that may know of the family of this pioneer. He was known in those days as Squire Atwood. He was the grandfather of Tip Atwood, of Tuscola county. And again I remember of hearing my father tell of one of his oxen being left out at large at night and drinking so much syrup that it acted as a cathartic to the extent that the ox was unable to get around and procure sustenance to sustain life. Father did not have either hog nor grain and setting out to see if some of his neighbors were not more fortunate than he went to a man by the name of Eben Crossman, then living as nearly all of the good people did in a log house and having a log barn told him the predicament he was in. Mr. Crossman says, "Now, Mr. Clark, I have just about as much hay in my barn as you could do up in that rope twice and come with me and I will share with you." This was about one and a half miles from home. My father took the hay upon his back and started homeward. This ox being one of his team. My father never forgot that great display of friendship and generosity. But such was the spirit of friendliness and generosity of those days. Friends, what would we of today think of our prospect for tilling the soil to procure a living for a large family with such a team as described above. In those pioneer days all stock were free commoners and people thought if their stock could live through until the 1st of April they could then procure their living, subsisting upon brakes and leeks and gleaning upon grass growing upon the low marshy land. Sometimes the cattle being thin in flesh would venture into the low marshy and springy places until being weak were unable to return and so were mired. In such case they were to be found and get neighbors with long ropes and remove them and often this was done by the light of a lantern with a tallow candle. But such were the hardships of an early pioneer's life. Again, one more hardship of those days. My father used to have to go to Milan to get all grinding done, a distance of 18 or 20 miles, and all this with an ox team. But he always performed those tasks cheerfully, looking for brighter days. And his expectations were not in vain. He was comfortably and nicely

416 PIrONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY situated long years before passing out. Now, trusting this may be of interest to some of you at least, I shall be repaid for my effort. A. C. CLARK. Lansing, Mich., April 13th, 1919. Having thought perhaps a little sketch of the biography of my past life from my earliest recollections up to the present time might be of interest to the most of you, I will endeavor to narrate some of the incidents that I think will be of the most interest. I was born upon section 6 of the township of Ingham county on February 23rd, 1843, and my people moved from there onto section 3 of the northeast quarter in the fore part of April of the same year, I being then about one and a half months old. I remained in this home continuously until I reached the age of twenty-one. This was practically a new county. There were bear, deer and fox as wild game, and I can remember the early settlers having to cover their hog pens with small logs to prevent the bear from carrying away their hogs, and of the hunters of the then wild forests belling and putting their hound dogs on their runways and the hunters standing still in hiding to shoot them as they came along. I can also well remember the inconvenience we were put to before matches were made. The pioneers were accustomed to building up their fire in the old Dutchback fireplaces and oftentimes the fire would not keep until morning and I have often had to go to the nearest neighbor with a shovel to get some coals if they were more fortunate than we were. Some people depended upon steel flint and punk in case of an emergency and sun glasses were used by some, but of course they were only successful when the sun shone brightly. I can remember when hand sickles were used for reaping grain, but they were replaced by more modern tools before I reached the age of manhood. There were no machines for reaping grain or hay until I was about twenty years of age. One of my earliest recollections of the pioneer days was that of a man by the name of Hammond who was a shoemaker by trade who used to make all of our shoes and boots, and as my father was a blacksmith they ex

INGIIAM TOWNShIPI AND ITS HISTORY 417 changed with each other goods in their line. My senior brother had started to go for some work that we were promised. Cold weather was coming on and the mornings were getting pretty frosty. At that time the forest was only cleared about sixty rods north of the house which at this time stands upon the same farm. On his way my brother saw a large bear and the bear reared upon his hind legs and brother called the dog and spatted his hands until the bear turned to go away and then he took leg bail for home. I suppose if ever a boy was frightened it was he. From this point the forest was unbroken for a distance of about two miles, being guided only by marked trees for the highway. I can remember seeing corpses drawn by oxen to the school house for the funeral ceremonies as there was not a church in the land. The dwellings consisted of only one room. The first stove I ever saw was brought in by a man by the name of Webster, who came through the country peddling them. He had two of them and my father traded him a yoke of oxen for the two, keeping one and selling the other one. Another bit of my early recollections perhaps may be of interest to you. I have a very distinct recollection of the days when a teacher of the public schools was barred from a certificate if he was unable to make a writing pen from a goose quill and the scholars were supposed to roam the pastures where the geese were kept and gather the quills after being shed by the geese. Another little incident that occurred to me at the age of about five or six was connected with the first horse my father ever owned. This horse became the dam of a little colt, and my father not having sufficient land cleared for pasture he procured pasture for her in a field adjacent to the school house where I attended school, being one mile from our home. Being anxious to exhibit my father's little colt, it at that time being a very rare specimen of that race, I invited my little comrade to go with me to see it. Of course I was leading, and upon nearing old Sake, that being her name, came to protect her young knocking me down and otherwise bruising my back to such an extent that Mr. R. W. Whipple, seeing it, came running to my rescue and carried me into his house and administered the care I needed. Mr. Whipple was then living in a log house standing where the school house now stands

418 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY and is called the Whipple school house. This occurred probably when I was at the age of five or six years. There is just one more little incident that occurred in my childhood days which I would like to make mention of. Back in the early fifties schools were supported by rate bill as was called, i. e., those sending scholars to school paid the teacher. There being a division in the district of opinion as regard to the teacher there were two teachers hired and taught in the same house for one day only. The scholars whose parents favored the one teacher took the side that the teacher occupied, but on the second day there was but one teacher for the entire school. And well do I recollect back in my early childhood days when the forests were only partially broken of meeting large processions of Indians as we were either going or returning from school with their herds of ponies with bells on them and the squaws with their papooses strapped upon their backs, some riding the ponies and some walking, and they always had several dogs, but they were always very civil. Once they camped in front of our house, which was a natural forest at that time. And now last, but not least, in my early school days our fathers always found something for a boy to do upon the farm at the age of seven or eight years. The teacher would cut a bundle of good tough whips and keep them on hand as the boys had disputes and would fight and the teacher would give each boy a whip and tell them to go to it. This was considerable amusement for the other boys looking on to see who would become the champion. But, thank fortune, we have advanced from such crude practice to a more enlightened age. BENJAMIN PERKINS AVERY, PIONEER OF INGHAM COUNTY. Benjamin Perkins Avery, the youngest son of Nathan and Aliff (Pearson) Avery, was born in Rutland, Vt., Jan. 26, 1799. HiS father, Nathan Avery, was a Revolutionary soldier, and after a few years residence in Vermont after the war settled in Palmyra, N. Y., when Benjamin was about seventeen years old, living in that vicinity until 1838 when he came with his family to Michigan.

INGIHAMI TOWNShIIP AND ITS HISTORY 419 He married Feb. 4, 1821, Elizabeth (Betsey) Brewer, whom tradition gives as a descendent of Anneke Jans. The journey to Michigan was made by canal boat from Palmyra to Buffalo, and from there to Detroit by steamboat. Elias Avery writes of those early times: "The first I remember of my father he was working land on shares and two years before coming to Michigan got enough together to get that far west and buy eighty acres of land and get home again. In the fall of 1838 we moved to Ingham county. We stopped in what is now called Meadsville. "Old Esquire Caleb Carr lived there and kept the post office, and if one of our friends happened to write to us we could have the letter by paying twenty-five cents for it, which was the price of carrying a letter in those days. "We secured a log school house with an old fashioned stick chimney and Dutch fireplace that smoked badly. This was about three miles from my father's land. He had just about enough money to get here with, and a large family on his hands in the woods, but father, Nathan and Christopher found wheat to thrash with flails for every eighth bushel and they pounded out black ash splints and mother and the younger children made baskets and carried them to what neighbors we could find and sold them for venison or anything we could eat, and we had such appetites we only knew when we had enough when there was no more on the table. Yet, by diligence we got our living and in the spring rolled up a log house, covered it with shacks and used split basswood planks for a floor, for lumber could not yet be procured. For a chamber floor elm bark was peeled and spread down so the children could be stowed away overhead. I think about an acre of ground was cleared and planted. We stayed a year and traded places with Eaton, getting only fifty-nine acres, but of better quality and more improvements." After moving to the Eaton place the family had more room as another log house was added to the one already standing giving double the accommodations they had been having. The deer used to come out of the woods in winter and feed on the young wheat. "One night," Henry Avery said, "father went out, and resting his rifle on the corner of the house shot one of the pretty creatures." Other game was quite plentiful. He remembered of two black bears being killed at one time.

420 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY It was so far to mill the corn was ground in the top of a stump that had been hollowed out, Indian fashion. There were no roads through the woods from one settlement to the other, nor to the school. The way was found by trees which the surveyors had blazed. The children went to school when possible and probably prized their advantages more than the present generation who have so many facilities for learning. One of the pioneer amusements of that early day was to take a boy, put him in a deer skin, toss him up and catch him. Benjamin Perkins Avery was a man about five feet, seven or eight inches in height, and weighed about 140 pounds; he had blue eyes and light brown hair and was of a quiet and affectionate nature, temperate in his habits. In his old age he sometimes smoked but finally gave up the practice entirely. He was a Democrat, and although always interested never became active in political matters. The only offices he ever held were commissioner of highways and poor commissioner. He was a member of the M. E. church from early life. A hospitable greeting was always accorded the visitor, and the Methodist preacher often came there for a "Welcome Home." from Deacon Avery. The training and example given his family of sons had good effect, for all, in mature life, were consistent church members. For many years he served as class leader, until stricken with shaking palsey, about twenty years before his death. The condition of his health obliged him to give up work and he deeded his farm to his son Elias, who was to take care of him for the remainder of his life. Elias, being by nature more of a mechanic than a farmer, sold the farm and moved into the village of Dansville. After the death of his mother in 1878, and later his wife, and business reverses, he found himself unable to care for his father; so for the two years which remained for this old pioneer to live he found a home with his other sons. Rheumatism and paralysis rendered him entirely helpless, yet the old man uncomplainingly bore his lot with Christian fortitude. He died May 31, 1883, at Dansville. His wife was a woman of much force of character. She showed her Dutch origin very plainly in her appearance and by her thrifty ways. Shewas very ambitious and even after losing her sight in

INGHAM TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 421 her old age would knit and sew, even when she could make nothing but holders. She had her own loom and her spinning and weaving were quite notable. We of this generation scarecly realize the methods of our grandmother's cooking, which was done at a fireplace, the kettle hanging from a hook or crane. Beans were cooked in an iron kettle that had a tight-fitting iron cover with a handle. The beans were parboiled, then pork was added and the kettle buried, with its contents, in the coals for hours. The first ovens, made before bricks could be procured, were built after this fashion: A pile of wood was made very compact, the size and shape of the oven desired, and then plastered over with clay. The wood was burnt out and the clay was made by the action of the fire, as strong as and serviceable as brick. When baking was to be done a fire was built in it some time before it was wanted, then when thoroughly heated the coals were taken out and bread, pies, cakes and all sorts of good things were put in, those articles requiring least baking being placed in the front, where they could be taken out handily. When the tin ovens came into use they were considered a great invention. These set before the fireplace. and were open on the side of the fire, the heat being. reflected on the other by the cover. William Avery remembers well the first stove they ever used. The top was circular, with a griddle in the center and four other holes around it. The top revolved, allowing the cook to bring each part of the top within easy reach. This article was secondhand and after a time was replaced with a Clinton air-tight stove with an elevated oven, the door of which dropped down. It cost $30, which was paid in chopping. The same amount was paid for a clock, a few years later, and the brass works of this timepiece are still running. (Written 1899 by Lillian Drake Avery, of Pontiac, for a Family Record.)

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND LANSING CITY

I

CHAPTER IX LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY. Lansing in 1863; a pioneer foundry as described by Dr. F. N. Turner; early days in Lansing; Lansing in Civil War days; pioneer architecture; Weiman's brewery; early day gardens; the Cowles property; Dryer family; old first ward school; sketch by Alvin Rolfe; G. A. Gower's collection of early newspapers; Eben S. Dart; Museum relics: Wild-cat money; Indians in Lansing; F. S. Hartshorn and Allen S. Shattuck; Lansing's early industries; passing of early landmarks; Austin Blair monument; Jenison family; Butler family; early day photos and attendant history; Dr. Orville Marshall; old Booster book; poem, by Dr. H. S. Burr; more about early newspapers; Old Capitol Hall; pioneer business; heart flutters of early Lansing; first fire engine; story of Chief Okemos and his gang; Grand River boat house; history of Michigan Agricultural College; schools of the '60's; first railroad; Lansing as a trade center in '73; history of the Whitely family; peoms by Byron M. Brown; the Ballard family; old buildings in Lansing; Wescott family; B. F. Davis; R. B. Calahan story; John Broad. From the Michigan State Gazetteer for 1863. Lansing, a city of Ingham county and Capital of the State, beautifully situated on the Grand river, about 100 miles northwesterly from Detroit, and as nearly as possible in the center of the settled portion of the State. Latitude 42 deg. 43 min. north, and longitude 84 deg. 29 min. west. The city was commenced under the name of "Michigan," in 1847 (it having been decided by an act of Legislature passed the same year that the Capital should be here located), and on the 25th of December of that year became the permanent seat of government, being at that time surrounded by an almost unbroken wilderness. The first settlement made upon the territory which now constitutes the city of Lansing was by the Hon. James Seymour, who erected a small log house and a saw mill in 1846 in what is now the fourth ward. The name "Lansing" was given the city in honor of one of its early settlers in the year 1849. The necessarily slow process of clearing up a heavily timbered country has tended somewhat to retard the growth of the city,

426 PIIONEER IIISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY but notwithstanding its many disadvantages it has increased with a rapidity that has satisfied its most sanguine friends. Its situation, in the center of a fine farming district, is such that it cannot fail to become a place of considerable commercial importance, and when its contemplated railroad connections are completed it will undoubtedly take rank as one of the first cities of the State. The city is at present composed of three villages, known respectively as the "Upper," "Lower" and "Middle" towns, having a population of nearly 4,000. The act of incorporation as a city was obtained in 1859. The State House, a large two-story frame building, was one of the first houses commenced in the town, and the first session was held in it in 1850. The Grand river at this point furnishes an excellent water power, which has been partially improved. About one mile above the city proper is another water power, no advantage of which has yet been taken. There are now within the city eleven churches, five hotels, two flouring mills (turning out 10,000 barrels of flour per year), three tanneries, two breweries, three saw mills, two sash and blind factories, three iron foundries and machine shops, two printing offices, several brick yards, and a large number of mechanic shops. There are 200,000 pounds of wool purchased here annually, and a heavy business is carried on in grain and other products. About a mile from the city there is an extensive quarry of fine building stone. The city is handsomely laid out, in a high and healthy location, on gently rolling ground, and already boasts of several elegant private residences and public buildings. An extensive system of grading and public improvement is being carried on by the city government, which, when completed, will add greatly to the appearance of the place. Coal of excellent quality has been found in the vicinity, and has been worked to some extent. It is found in conjunction with fire clay and kidney iron, similar to the deposits at Jackson, Corunna and Owosso. The soil in the vicinity is fully equal, in productiveness, to that of any portion of the State, and is especially adapted to the growth of cereals. Besides the public buildings, there are at or in the vicinity of Lansing the "State Reform School," the "Michigan Female College," and the "State Agricultural College," all elegant structures

LANSING TOWNSHII AND CITY, WITII HISTORY 427 that reflect great credit upon the city and State. The Benton House is one of the best conducted hotels in Michigan, and is managed in a style not inferior to that of the best hotels in the country. The State Library in the Capitol contains 16,000 volumes, and is open to the public. It contains an original portrait of the Marquis de La Fayette, painted by Horace Vernet, in Paris, in 1836-7. Among the rare and curious works in the library is a copy of Livy, three hundred and forty-seven years old, printed in German text, in Paris. Also a work entitled the "Laws of Nemo," containing "Fourteen Volumes in One, Embracing a Code of Laws that Governed 300,000,000 of the Human Race for 1,000 years, without alteration or amendment," translated from the Burmese, and printed at an English Missionary Station in the Burmese Empire. The library also contains the largest and best collection of law books in the State, and one of the best in the country. STATE REFORM SCHOOL. Superintendent-Cephas B. Robinson. Assistant Superintendent-Harmon B. Crosby. Teachers-Rev. Charles Johnson, Harmon B. Crosby. Matron-Mrs. Sarah A. Hibbard. Physician-J. B. Hull. Chaplain-L. R. Fisk. The "State Reform School" is a beautiful structure, of brick, on the east side of Grand river, about three-fourths of a mile from the center of Lansing, but within the city limits. The institution consists of a main building four stories high, with two wings (also four stories, but of less height than the center building), and at the end of each wing a tower five stories high. The entire length of front is 238 feet. The towers are 37 feet square, the wings 34 and the main building 56 feet deep. The building is constructed in the most thorough manner and is girded and braced with iron throughout. There are 160 boys now in the institution (1862), 162 being the highest number at any one time within its walls. The inmates are employed principally in farming and gardening, there being 30 acres of excellent land attached to the school, and the balance in tailoring, shoemaking, chair making and the necessary work about the premises. Five hours out of the twenty-four are devoted to study (all the branches of a common school edu

428 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY cation being taught by competent teachers), six to labor and the balance to sleep, eating and recreation. A chapel in which religious services are held each Sabbath, a reading room and a bathing room are attached to the school, and are always accessible to the boys. The Superintendent, Mr. Robinson, is a gentleman who thoroughly understands his position, and never for a moment loses sight of the great object of the institution, the reformation of the youth under his charge.. His firm but kind mode of conducting the school has not only made him a favorite with the boys, but has been the means of saving many of them from the consequence of vicious training. STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. Faculty of Instruction. Lewis R. Fiske, A. M., professor of agricultural chemistry. T. C. Abbott, A. M., professor of history and English literature. George Thurber, M. D., professor of botany and horticulture. Manly Miles, M. D., professor of zoology and animal physiology James Bayley, superintendent of the farm. J. G. Ramsdell, instructor in bookkeeping. This institution, although generally regarded as one of the public buildings of Lansing, in reality is three and one-half miles distant from the city, and within the limits of the township of Meridian. The tract was purchased by the State Agricultural Society on the 16th of June, 1855, and comprises 676.57 acres. It lies on both sides of the Cedar river, and is regarded as a judicious and admirable location, although it was nearly in a state of nature at the time of the purchase. The soil, fortunately for the institution, embraces nearly every variety known to Michigan, while the surface is sufficiently diversified to admit of all the various experiments deemed desirable. Under the superintendence of S. M. Bartlett, of Monroe, a college building 100 x 50 feet, and a boarding house of nearly equal size, each three stories high, and of brick, have been erected, and others are in contemplation. The object of the Agricultural College is to give to students a thorough, practical and theoretical education to fit them to enter understandingly upon that profession which the immortal Wash

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 429 ington has characterized as the "noblest enjoyment of man," agriculture. Thus far, although contending against the most formidable obstacles, the college has proved a complete success, while the prospect for the future is as brilliant as the most ardent friends of the institution could desire. Attached to the college is an agricultural library and reading room, which, although yet in its infancy, promises to become not only one of the most useful adjuncts of the institution, but one of the best collections of the kind in the country. A museum of the models of ancient and modern agricultural implements is also in contemplation. A chemical and philosophical laboratory second to but few in the country is already obtained and is constantly receiving such additions as the necessities of the students may require. Cabinets of natural science, together with anatomical preparations and specimens of birds, fishes, reptiles and insects, have been commenced and are receiving daily additions. The herbarium of the college is one of the largest in America, and already contains upwards of 20,000 specimens from all parts of the world, being especially rich in rare American plants. The specimens collected on the various government expeditions are numerous, and it is believed that in the grasses, the family so important to the agriculturist, it is not exceeded by any collection in the country. At a convenient distance from the college buildings is the admirable botanical garden, containing a valuable and extensive collection of trees, flowers, shrubs and herbacious plants, selected especially for the illustration of the study of botany. Several acres are also devoted to raising vegetables to supply the table of the boarding hall. Tuition is free to all students from this State. Students from other States will be charged twenty dollars per year for tuition. Board at cost, for the present probably about two dollars a week. Washing forty-two cents per dozen. Settlement for board and washing must be made quarterly. Room rent for each student, four dollars per year, paid quarterly in advance. Rooms furnished with bedsteads and stoves. Matriculation fee, five dollars, which entitles to the privileges of the whole course. At the opening of the term each student is required to pay into the treasury ten dollars, as an advance on board, which is allowed in the settlement of accounts at the end of the term. Students work on the farm or in the garden three hours a day, for which they receive adequate remuneration, the amount paid

430 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIHAMI COIUNTY depending on their ability and fidelity. The wages for labor are applied on their board in the quarterly settlement of accounts. Students are required to board in the college boarding hall, and are not allowed to absent themselves from the college grounds without permission. They are expected to be present during the entire college term; none are excused from such attendance except from urgent necessity. None are excused from the daily manual labor except from physical disability, and an attendance upon all stated exercises of the college is required. Students failing in punctual attendance upon all exercises, and those whose influence upon others is considered deleterious will be reprimanded, suspended or expelled, at the discretion of the faculty. CITY OFFICERS. Mayor-William II. Chapman. Recorder-D. W. Birch. Clerk-Joseph E. Warner. Treasurer-Rodney R. Gibson. Marshall-James P. Baker. Attorney-George I. Parsons. Auditor-J. W. Barker. ALDERMEN. 1st Ward-James I. Mead, S. P. Newbro. 2nd Ward-F. M. Cowles, Daniel W. Buck. 3rd Ward-John A. Kerr, George K. Grove. 4th Ward-S. W. Wright, John E. Barker. FIRE DEPARTMENT. Chief Engineer-J. W. Edmonds. Torrent Engine Company, No. 1-Allegan street, H. Paddleford, foreman. Rescue Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1-Allegan street, Charles Harrison, foreman. BOARD OF EDUCATION. President-George W. Peck. Secretary-James Somerville. Treasurer-Rodney R. Gibson.

LANSING TOWNS-I I AND CITY. WITI HISTORY 431 The board consists of three members from each of the four wards of the city; elected one from each ward annually; term of office three years. There are three school edifices, one in the 1st, one in the 2nd, and one in the 3rd ward, the first two being large brick buildings, costing about $7,000. NEWSPAPERS. Lansing State Republican-(Weekly), $1.00 per year. Published every Wednesday on Michigan Avenue, by John A. Kerr & Co. (State Printers). George I. Parsons, editor. Republican. Michigan State Journal-(Weekly), $1.00 per year. Published every Thursday on Washington Avenue, by the "State Journal Publishing Company." Democratic. PUBLIC HALLS. Masonic Hall-Dodge & Beebe's block, Washington Avenue. Dodge's Hall-Dodge & Beebe's Block, Washington Avenue. CHURCHES. First Methodist Church-Wall street, Rev. D. D. Gillett, pastor. Presbyterian Church-Washington Avenue, Rev. C. S. Armstrong, pastor. Episcopal Church-Washington Avenue, Rev. H. B. Burgess, rector. Free Will Baptist Church-Kalamazoo street. Rev. L. B. Potter, pastor. Second Methodist Church-Washington Avenue, Rev. D.D. Gillett, pastor. Baptist Church-Capitol Avenue, Rev. Charles Johnson, pastor. United Brethren in Christ's Church-Capitol Avenue, no pastor. Universalist Church-Grand street, no pastor. Roman Catholic Church-middle town (erecting). German Lutheran Church-Kilborn street, Rev. A. Buerkle, pastor. German Methodist Church-Saginaw street, Rev. Adolph Hoffman, pastor.

432 IPIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY SOCIETIES. Capitol Lodge of S. O., No. 66, F. & A. M.-Meets Wednesday on or before each full moon at Masonic Hall, Washington Avenue. Lansing Lodge, No. 33, F. & A. M.-Meets Thursday on or before each full moon at Masonic Hall. Capitol Chapter, No. 9, F. & A. M.-Meets on or before each full moon at Masonic Hall. RAILROAD AND STAGE ROUTES. Amboy, Lansing and Traverse Bay Railroad-Lansing to Owosso (on D. & M. R. R.). 28 miles. Fare $1.25. One train per day each way. Lansing and St. Johns stage road-(Daily). 22 miles. Fare $1.50. Lansing and Jackson Stage Route-(Daily via Eaton Rapids). 43 miles. Fare $2.00. Distance to Eaton Rapids, 18 miles. Fare $1.00. Lansing and Jackson Stage Route-(Daily via Mason). 38 miles. Fare $2.00. Distance to Mason, 14 miles. Fare 75 cents. Lansing and Detroit Stage Route-(Tri-weekly via Howell). 83 miles. Fare $4.00. Distance to Howell, 33 miles. Fare $1.75. Lansing and Marshall Stage Route-(Semi-weekly via Charlotte). 45 miles. Fare $2.00. Distance to Charlotte, 18 miles. Fare 75 cents. LIST OF PROFESSIONS, TRADES, ETC. Allen, William S., dry goods, boots, shoes, etc.. middle town. Amerhein, John, groceries and provisions, middle town. Amphlett, John W., crockery and glassware, middle town. Angel, Horace, proprietor Seymour House, lower town. Armstrong, C. S., Rev., pastor Presbyterian Church. Aynes, Philo C., carpenter, middle town. Babo, Charles, saloon, middle town. Bacon, John H., physicain, middle town. Bailey, Alfred B., groceries and provisions, middle town. Bailey, J. C. & Co. (Joseph C. Bailey and Chas. S. Hunt), bankers, middle town.

LANSING TOWNSHII' AND CITY, WITHI HISTo(RY 433 Baker, James H., chair factory, middle town. Baker, Milo S., foundry and machine shop, middle town. Balland, Appleton, boots, shoes and groceries, lower town. Barret, L., Miss, millinery and dressmaking, middle town. Berringer, Jacob, cooper, lower town. Bartholomew, Ira H., physician. middle town. Bauerley, Frederick and Bro. (Frederick and Godlob), carriage, wagon and blacksmith shop, lower town. Beebe, Ellis E., clothing, hats and caps, middle town. Berner, Jacob, carriage, wagon and blacksmith shop, lower town. Berry, Langford G., Auditor General. Bertch, Andrew, meat market, middle town. Billings, Theodore D., dry goods, groceries, etc., middle town. Breisch, Gottlieb, meat market, lower town. Briggs, Stanley, saloon, middle town. Bryant, Reuben R., saw mill, upper town. Buck, Daniel W., furniture, middle town. Buerkle, A., pastor German Lutheran Church. Burgess, H. B., Rev., rector Episocpal Church. Burr, Allen R., postmaster, office middle town. Burtch, Edmund D. W., lawyer, middle town. Cannell & Edmonds (Charles Cannell and John W. Edmonds), saddle, harness and trunks, middle town. Carr, Wm. M., books and stationery, middle town. Causin, Henry, boots and shoes, lower town. Chadwick, Alpheus M., blacksmith, middle town. Chapman, William, shingle mill, middle town. Cheney & Baker (Alonzo M. Cheney and Harvey Baker), photographers, middle town. Coryell & Jenison (Samuel S. Coryell and Orrin A. Jenison), dry goods, groceries, etc., middle town. Cowles, Frederick M., dry goods, groceries, etc., middle town. Cowles, J. R., justice of the peace, lower town. Daniels, Philo, livery stable, middle town. Daniels & Williams (M. J. Daniels and William K. Williams), saloon, middle town. Dart & Bingham (Rollin C. Dart and Stephen D. Bingham), lawyers, middle town. Dart & Marvin (Eben W. Dart and M. P. Marvin), hardware, stoves, etc., middle town.

434 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY Dart, Rollin C., justice of the peace, middle town. Dodge, Cyrus C., carpenter, planing mill and sashes, blinds and doors, middle town. Downs, J. W., merchant tailor, middle town. Ekstein, David, tanner, groceries and provisions. middle town. Edgar, Nelson W., proprietor Edgar House, middle town. Edgerly, M. Miss, dressmaking, middle town. Elliott, John, blacksmith, middle town. Elliott, Richard, stoves and tinware, lower town. Engelhardt, Anton, groceries and provisions, lower town. Engelhardt, Joseph, groceries and provisions, middle town. Engelhardt, Philip, photographer, middle town. Foot, Clark, proprietor Eagle Hotel, lower town. Ford & Wells (Theron Ford and Frank Wells), dry goods and groceries, middle town. Francis, Thomas, jeweler, lower town. Gardner, William, wagon and carriage shop, middle town. Gillett, D. D., Rev., pastor First Methodist Church. Gillett, Israel, Jr., clocks, watches, jewelry, agent sewing machines, middle town. Green, Shubael R., builder, architect and furniture dealer, middle town. Green, Thomas W., chair factory, lower town. Greene, William M., lawyer, middle town. Grove & Whitney (George K. Grove and Edwin H. Whitney), hardware, stoves and tinware, middle town. Guiles, Nathan, livery stable, middle town. Hart, Alvin N., flour mill, lower town. Hart, B. E. & Co. (Benjamin E. and Alvin N. Hart), hardware and drugs, lower town. Hawley, Henry T., physician (homoeopathic), middle town. Hewett, Cyrus, Deputy Commissioner State Land Office. Hinckley, Henry V., cigars and tobacco, middle town. Hinman, Charles T., clocks, watches and jewelry, middle town. Hinman & Co. (William Hinman and Dorastus Hinman), dry goods, groceries, middle town. Hoffman, Adolph, Rev., pastor German Methodist Church. H-olmes, Theodore S., groceries and provisions, middle town. House, George H., Deputy Secretary of State. Howell, Michael A., boot and shoe shop, middle town.

LANSING TOWNSIIII AND CITY, WlITII HISTORY 435 Hudson, Martin, proprietor of Benton House, upper town. Hull, Joseph B., physician, middle town. Hunter, Smith, groceries and provisions, middle town. Hunter, Theodore, banker and insurance agent, middle town. Ingersoll, Harley, dry goods, groceries, middle town. Jefferies, Charles, physician (homoeopathic), lower town. Jameison, Luther S., meat marker, middle town. Johns & Bailey (James Johns and Rufus Bailey), boots and shoes, middle town. Johnson, Charles, Rev., pastor Baptist Church. Johnson, William, saddle and harness, middle town. Jones, Ezra, Deputy State Auditor. Kerr, John A. & Co. (John A. Kerr and George Jerome), printers to State and publishers Lansing State Republican, middle town. Kilbourn, Samuel L., lawyer, middle town. Lansing and Sons (Solomon and Garrett), blacksmiths, middle town. Lanterman, J. L., dentist, middle town. Lewis, Lloyd, carriage and wagon shop, lower town. Lindsey, William F., groceries and provisions, lower town. Longyear, Ephraim, lawyer, middle town. Longyear, John M., lawyer, middle town. McGeorge, Kate E., Miss, milliner and dressmaker, middle town. Martin & Cooper (colored) (Charles H. Martin and Benjamin Cooper), barbers, middle town. Mead, J. I. & Co. (James I. Mead and John Robson), dry goods, groceries, lower town. Mead, Robson and Co. (James I. Mead, Robert S. Robson and John Robson), dry goods, groceries, etc., middle town. Merrifield, Edwin R., insurance agent, middle town. Morrison, Stacy A., dentist, middle town. Moseley, Chester, flour mill, lower town. Nebro, S. D. & Brother, (Solomen D. and Eugene P.), drugs, groceries, lower town. Nichols, Jason, cooper, lower town. Parmalee, Edmund, saw mill, sash, door, blind and woolen factory, lower town. Peck & Merrifield (George W. Peck, Edwin B. Merrifield and Augustus F. Weller), dry goods, etc., middle town.

436 PIONEER IISTORY OF INGIJAMI COUNTY Parment, M. A., Miss, millinery, middle town. Potter, L. B., Rev., pastor of Free-Will Baptist Church. Price, Eleazer, physician, middle town. Schoettle, John G., proprietor city brewery, lower town. Shearer, James M., proprietor Eagle Hotel, middle town. Simons, Benjamin F., dry goods, groceries, middle town. Somerville & Colby (James Somerville and Jabez Colby), saddle, harness, lower town. Sprang, Philip G., wagon and carriage shop, middle town. Stebbins, Cortland B., Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction. Straub, Christian A., groceries, boots and shoes, lower town. Swift, George W., furniture, middle town. Thayer, R. & Co. (Russell Thayer and Charles H. L. Iarrison), druggists, middle town. Russell, Thayer, physician, middle town. Tompkins & Co. (John Tompkins, Alanson Watkins and John Tooker), iron foundry, machine shop and agricultural implements, lower town. Trostel, Frederick, gunsmith, middle town. Turner, James, Deputy State Treasurer. Turner, James and Brothers (James, George and Charles), iron foundry, machine shop, agricultural implements and hot air furnaces, lower town. Turner, Rogers and Co. (Amos Turner, Horace B. Rogers and Daniel L. Case), dry goods, groceries, etc., lower town. VanAuken, Dan W., dry goods, groceries, etc., lower town. Vedder, Henry S., sash factory, lower town. Viele, Andrew J., books, stationery, paper hangings, piano fortes, melodeons, and agent for American Express Company, middle town. Waits, James B., billiard room, middle town. Waldbauer, George, baker, middle town. Walter, Theodore, groceries and provisions, lower town. Warner, Mary E., Mrs., millinery, lower town. Weinman, Fred, brewer, middle town. Westcott, David, tailor shop, middle town. White, C. R., boot and shoe store, lower town. Whiteley, John, groceries and provisions, middle town.

LANSING TOWNSHIPII AND CITY, WITHI HISTORY 437 Wiley, Delos, lawyer, middle town. Williams, Silas, stoves and tinware, lower town. Wilson, Timothy (colored), barber, middle town. Wolf, Christ, brewer, middle town. Woodhouse and Butler (William Woodhouse and Charles W. Butler), land and tax agents, dealers in marble, middle town. Zeigler, Christ, tanner, lower town. LANSING INDUSTRY IN FABRICATION OF IRON IS SEIOWN OF EARLY ORIGIN. The story of iron rule in Lansing is told by a pioneer, who saw from the beginning the development of the sway of the necessary metal. Dr. F. N. Turner's story, "A Pioneer Foundry," seems a fitting accompaniment to the historical questions for January, 1920, sent out by the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical Society, and cannot fail to be of interest to Lansing people. He says: "Lansing is a manufacturing town or city. From 5:30 a. m. until 7 a. m. the steam whistles six days in the week tell us that it is. It is the morning call to nearly 20,000 workmen. The numerous street cars loaded with men and boys, also women, each with a dinner basket, tell us, and the observing stranger or transient sojourner, that we have large shops where these people earn their daily bread. The grocers and other merchants, with their rapid auto-delivery vehicles, are busy during the forenoon delivering food and fuel to the vast army of workers toiling in the grime and dust to earn money to pay for the same. "Stop a moment on one of the many bridges that span the Grand river and count the tall chimneys and smokestacks, lumber yards and coal piles. Do you wish for further proof that the Capital City of the great State of Michigan is a factory city? We want more factories, for signs on all roads leading into the city announce that sites for factory plants are to be given away. "Most of our factories make articles from iron. We are living in an 'Iron Age.' Iron is king of all metals; it holds a Kaiserlike

438 P)IONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY rule over all metals. Even gold and silver are only used to a limited extent. "Now, considering that iron is the metal largely used in our manufacturing, can we not go back and trace the beginning of its manufacture here, or find the pioneer foundry? I will have to go back to my childhood days and give the public a bit of family history. "Come with me to North Lansing, cross the bridge and turn down the alley between the postoffice and Morse's jewelry store, and a few steps will bring you to a foundry-Standard Castings Company-in full blast. "According to the records, the site of this foundry was granted by the United States to Fred Bushnell in 1836. Bushnell went to Louisiana, where he died, and his heirs in that state deeded the property to James Seymour, of Rochester, N. Y., who in turn sold it to J. W. Burchard, who was drowned in Grand river at North Lansing in 1845-46. I have heard my father say that he was the first man that was drowned at Lansing, and relate how the accident happened near the dam. "James Turner was appointed administrator of Burchard's estate, and the property was re-deeded to James Seymour Nov. 1, 1848, and the deed was recorded on March 10, 1850. Between these dates the framework of the mill was built and the foundry started. We can say that it was built 70 years ago, and with one or two exceptions when shut down for repairs this foundry has been in operation since that time. It would be interesting to know how many thousand tons of iron the old foundry has melted, and it would be fully as interesting to know how many workmen have earned their daily bread within its grimy walls. In its early days it did a general jobbing business, made plows, agricultural and similar implements. Some of the old castings found in the homes and other buildings in the city were made there. At M. A. C. the old College Hall-wrecked a year ago-had a water table of the foundry's cast iron that protected the exposed layers of brick near the ground. This was cast in this foundry, and my father laid it on the college wall. "Mr. Cady, father of William Cady, of North Lansing, was one of the workmen that worked a long time in this foundty, and when my father and his brothers, George and James, built the 'Turner

LANSING TOWNS1II' AND CITY, WITI HISTORY 439 Brothers Foundry' where the offices of the Auto Body Works are today, Mr. Cady went with them into the new place. He was a pattern maker, and my ideal of a workman. His painstaking accuracy and interest in his work always attracted my boyish fancy. "Mr. Hildreth, who owned the foundry at one time, was a son of my father's head moulder. Than Glassbrook, another owner, was a boy from the street that my father took an interest in and got him into the machine shop, where he made such rapid progress that he afterward became owner of the shop where he had worked. "I can remember in the seventies a long-legged youth who left his father's library and worked in the old foundry. He was Prof. Tracy's son. The grime of the shop, the whir of the machinery had more attraction for him than the smell of sheepskin bindings and the printed page. A grimy pair of overalls seemed to fit better and was worn with more ease than a starched shirt and broadcloth. "Since I have been at my present office I have watched, as I did when a boy, the flames and fumes pour out of the cupola, have stepped inside and watched the hot metal being poured into the flasks by the strong-armed workmen, and can see myself a small boy again. The dream fades when I see the workmen fishing out from the cool moulds parts of auto and gas engines instead of plow beams and plowshares. I then realize that I am in the bustling, energetic present, with its many cares and duties. " Today, Jan. 6, 1920,workmen are tearing out the old frame work and replacing the same with brick and iron. The large oak timbers my father helped hew and frame are many of them sound, due, perhaps, to the fumes of the iron permeating their fiber and acting as a preservative. It has kept them from decay for 70 years. I hope the renovated building will melt and mould iron until it reaches the century mark." This story may serve to remind some reader of other industries of Lansing's early days, whose history would add to the interest of the Ingham County History the County Historical Society hopes soon to have published.

440 P'IONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY EARLY DAYS IN LANSING. By DR. F. N. TURNER, North Lansing. It is appropriate in meetings of this kind to present something we think will be of interest to those present. In pioneer meetings we always hear historical subjects-something pertaining to the past. We are apt to write or relate some of our personal history, some of our impressions-something of how certain events that transpired in the past impressed us and shaped our lives. Impressions received in our younger days are very lasting, and we like to review them and with a judgment of mature years to recall them. This is a human trait, for even among barbarous nations and semi-civilized tribes they have their story tellers and sages. In order to tell you something about the early days of Lansing, the city of my birth, my home during my boyhood and the residence of my mature years, I will have to take you with me and try to show you what the city was fifty-five years ago. Let us take a walk and describe some things we see, locate some spots that are now covered with buildings and factories suited to an up-to-date Capital City. We will start at Franklin street bridge, North Lansing. The time some day in May, 1864. The bridge is built of wood and from the beams and floor extends an upright framework of 2 x 8 planks, in the form of a lattice work. Where the planks cross are wooden pins inserted to hold them together, and this lattice work extends across the top binding the whole into a firm structure. These two frames separate the foot walk on each side from the main driveway in the center, and help to brace and strengthen the beams below. This was an up-to-date bridge in those days. On the south side, as we go west, we notice a log house and large frame barn in the rear. This house is the only log house left in this vicinity, and is occupied by Mr. Van Gorder. In the barn he keeps a mule of the masculine gender that voices his plaint for green fields and clover pasture. Some passing ladies do not recognize the voice of this animal and stop to make inquiries.

LANSING TOWNSIIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 441 On the north side is Mr. Yauger's residence and his large garden. I have referred to this garden in my paper on Pioneer Gardens, so will not stop to describe it, only to say that it takes up the whole block. There are no buildings on the south side on the corner, but just south on the east side is Nichols' cooper shop, and we hear Mr. Nichols and his workmen hammering at the barrels. Crossing Washington Avenue we notice on the northeast corner they have broken ground for the new Presbyterian church. Elder Bryant, a missionary preacher, has been laboring here for the past year and has formed a society and they are going to build a brick church on this corner. West of this corner we pass two or three small houses before we come to Dan VanAuken's large house, the best in the block. Dan is one of the principal merchants in the north end. Diagonally across the corner west is the frame house of Lewis Preston, a surveyor, who did most of the surveying in the city. West of the Preston house are two or three small houses and then comes the large house of Mr. Sommerville, the principal harness maker in North Lansing. West of the VanAuken house, on the next block, is the home of Mr. Van Aiken, our city treasurer. West one block and we come to the home of Alfred Bigsby. The board walk here crosses Weinman's creek, and as the street has not been graded the walk is put on stilts to cross the ravine made by the stream. Opposite this block is a row of houses, six in number, built to rent by D. L. Case. Going on west from Bigsby's we find two or three small frame houses, but the square south is vacant, and on the north side is a grove. This square and the grove are both fenced in and used to pasture cows, hold picnics and Fourth of July celebrations. The last squares on the north and south have no houses but are fenced and planted to corn and potatoes. The end of the street brings us to the grounds of the Lansing Female Seminary. Let us take a short walk to the north along Willow street. We find at the corner of Capitol Avenue and Willow street Mr. Narmore's large house and barns on the north. Mr. Narmore is the pottery manufacturer of Lansing and has his factory on Center street. He has to draw his clay and other material to the factory with teams, also distribute his wares

442 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY through the surrounding country in the same way, consequently uses a lot of horses. West of Mr. Narmore's on the corner is a small house which in after years was the home of Mr. Root. Farther west was Deacon Calkins' farm, then the Borden and Smith farms. People in the north end used to buy milk, butter and other things there. This was convenient for the consumer as he did not have to pay any transportation or charges for cold storage. There were no milk peddlers in the city. Jacob Risley was the first milkman in the north end and he did not come to Lansing until 1865. We will go back to the end of Franklin Avenue and before we enter the Seminary grounds notice Weiman's Brewery, on the northwest corner of Maple and Pine streets. We can smell the malt, so he is making beer today. The south side of the Seminary grounds is sowed to wheat, and the north side is planted with fruit trees, and a part of the ground is used as a garden. The Misses Rodgers are not believers in coeducation, but we noticed one or two boys with the girls. One of these boys is E. B. Ward's son from Detroit. Miss Rodgers has broken the rules of admission in the case of these boys, sons of rich men of Detroit. After passing through the grounds we are in the country, as there are farms on both sides of the road. There is only one house for a mile and a half, or until we get to the Dryer farm. Turning to the left at the first turn and going south we come to Mr. Ford's farm, which used to be the H. IH. Smith farm. I was on this road (now Logan street) a few days ago, and noticed a fragment of the old farm house was there yet, but the barns across the road have been gone for years. West on Warner street nearly opposite Richard Turner's farm house was a small farm of four acres planted with fruit trees and owned by Mr. Lindsley, the postmaster at North Lansing. Mr. Lindsley and his son used to have an ox team that did all the work on their farm. He told my father that he did no injury to his young fruit trees when plowing with oxen. Mr. H. H. Smith was an eastern man and came to Mason before the Capital was located at Lansing, and in 1847 he came with James Turner, Dan Case and my father to the city in the woods. He engaged in business with James Turner and cleared this farm.

LANSING TWNSIIII' AND CITY, WITI IIISTORY 443 As he had no capital he had to work with his men to cut timber, burn brush and logs, before it could be cultivated and grain sowed. He kept his own cows and used to drive them from his home on North Washington Avenue near Maple street, up to the woods to pasture. Then work all day and drive them home at night. He retained much of his pride, for he always wore good clothes to his work, then changed to his working garments and changed back before he returned home. One day when it rained he placed his good clothes in a hollow log to keep them dry, but a fire got into the log and burned them up. That night he went home after dark, for he did not want his neighbors to see him looking like a coal heaver or a charcoal burner in his working clothes. Mrs. Smith waited for him until sundown to milk the cows, for her babe and small children were hungry. Before Mr. Smith reached home she had been obliged to go to a neighbor and borrow milk. She told the neighbors the cows had come before sundown, but she had never learned to milk, to her regret. She remarked that all her children should learn that art, and she made her word good, and that part of domestic training was not neglected in her home. Going south from the Ford farm we come to the road running west. On the corner is the Rapp place, where Jake and George Rapp lived with their mother. Turning east we skirt the forty acres of timber called Bennett's woods. To the south there are a few houses, but mostly commons where the Middle Town people pasture their cows. There are a few houses on North Chestnut street near the Catholic church, but the largest house as we approach Washington Avenue is on a hill in the center of a square between North Chestnut and Seymour streets. This is Dr. Wood's house. When we come to the avenue we find the Half Way House kept by Mr. Mevis, on the southeast corner. Turning down the avenue north we pass the Mort Cowles house, D. L. Case house and H. H. Smith's white house, while on the east side we see the brick house of Dewitt C. Leach, State Indian Agent, also L. Walkins' house, the hardware merchant at North Lansing. Glancing across the river we see Scofield's mill running, and the boom above the dam is full of logs. Hart's mill has a crowd of

444 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY teams before the door, and the old Turner, Walkins and Tompkins iron foundry is taking off a heat. Our walk ends here and we hope the listener is not as tired as our walk has made us, but as our vision travels back we can see Mr. Henry Mosley whispering some business into his father's ear across the street from where we stopped. Mr. Mosley is the deaf miller at our end of the city. As we grow older we love more and more to recall those early days and live them again in memory. RECOLLECTIONS OF THE CIVIL WAR. The display of flags and bunting, the sound of martial music, the recruiting stations on our main streets, also the patriotic public meetings, the proclamation of President Wilson, in fact all this bustle, this dread, this uncertainty of what the future has in store for us as a people, a nation, a government, brings back to my mind buried but not forgotten memories of the opening events of the great Civil War. I was very young at that time, too young to comprehend all the meanings of those stirring times, too young to know a Freesoil Democrat from an Abolitionist or Fremont Whig, by their political talk, etc., but my young eyes saw and formed miniature pictures in my brain of events that took place and of people in this city who took part, who were the actors in this great drama of human blood and carnage. Can I in a few sentences tell or recall these almost forgotten war memories or pictures so that some of the older people who lived here at that time, who witnessed the same, can recognize them? I will try. My first recollections go back to the spring of 1861 when I was a beginner in the public schools, a first grader in the First Ward Union School-now the Cedar street-with Daniel O'Rork as principal and Miss Limeback my teacher. My first sight of the "Boys in Blue" was a squad under the command of an officersergeant-drilling in front of the old Butterfield Hotel on Franklin street near the school house. Some of the older boys who stood watching them drill became so enthused with the martial spirit

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 445 that they got sticks and lined up with the soldiers for instruction in the manual of arms. This did not suit another pompous officer, who stood nearby, who was too dignified to recognize the spirit in the boys, but thought they were mocking the awkward movements of the squad, so he drew his sword and drove them away, telling them in a haughty tone they were too small for such work. This rebuff did not dampen our martial spirit for we were so anxious to go to war that we made a mark on the school yard fence to measure our height every week. There was a "drummer boys' mark," and when one of us reached that mark "honest to goodness without any cheating" he was an officer, put on airs and ordered us around. He was the commanding officer and we were nothing but privates. In a short time the picture changes to a picnic dinner in the school yard on the leaving of the company for the front. The picnic dinner interested us more than the sorrowful farewells, for we were afraid that the hungry soldiers, with the prospect of a salt pork and hardtack ration before them, would eat all the ice cream and good things the ladies had provided and leave nothing for us poor kids. I remember one soldier saying as he was looking over his equipment that he wished his canteen could always be full of Weiman's beer so he would not get homesick. Next picture was a sad one, a soldier's funeral. Andrew Calkins was brought back to his boyhood home on Willow street to be buried with soldier honors. His body was accompanied by a sergeant and four privates in full uniform and equipment. I can recall his coffin covered with the flag and borne by his comrades, who acted as pallbearers, into the old Franklin street church, how the soldiers filed into one of the pews at the side of the pulpit and at the subdued but hoarse command of the officer to "Ground arms" their muskets struck the floor. I can remember that hollow, empty sound. It had no ring, had no sound of life, but was empty and dead. The last ceremonies at the grave, the firing of the volley over it, brought us back to the present, made us realize that in our country the Southland was strife and bloodshed as well as death. Andrew was, if I remember rightly, an only son, and his weeping, sorrowing mother has given her only boy as a sacrifice in the defense of his country.

446 IPIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY After the first year some of the soldiers were sent home as invalids. One I remember most distinctly was a captain. What his disease was that unfitted him for duty did not interest us much, but what he brought back as a trophy from the South took our fancy and was a source of amusement to us kids. What was it? A colored boy, a contraband about twelve years old named Joe Darey. His songs, dances and other capers was our movie show for years to come. Joe lived a life of single blessedness and died at a ripe old age. In after years when I had reached manhood and he was an old man he told me something of his life on a plantation in Virginia, how he never heard from his brothers and sisters until forty years had gone, then by accident he heard that a colored man-a cook in a hotel in this city-bore the same name, his visit to this man, and how he recognized, after forty years, in this man a brother. I wish I could describe Joe's quaint speech as he told me how he made himself known to his brother. Another man I recall was Captain James Jeffcrics-Capt. Jim. Ile was an architect and builder. HIe designed and built the D. L. Case home on North Washington Avenue, now the home of Judge Weist. I remember his wife and four growing boys. He had everything to make a man happy, a good business, excellent wife, four sons that would in a few years help him, but his patriotism, his duty to his country had, he thought, the first claim, so he left all and went. His body long ago has crumbled into dust in an unmarked grave in the southland. Next picture I remember was on a bright sunny morning, April 9th, 1865. What a day of rejoicing, of feasting, of display of flags and bunting, of band playing and marching of Reform School boys, etc. Why? General Lee had surrendered and the war was ended. Political foes met and rejoiced together, family quarrels and neighborhood rows were forgotten and everybody rejoiced. The laboring man, who had not tasted fresh meat or drank any coffee for six months, bought some and feasted that day. In four days our rejoicing was changed to mourning, for our beloved President had been assassinated and lay dead in the White House at Washington. For thirty days our flags and decorations were draped with crepe and the people mourned. I will never forget the memorial

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH 'HISTORY 447 services at the old State House building. Daniel O'Rork, our principal, had all the school march in line from the school to attend it. My how it rained that day, but not even the rain could dampen our spirits nor the solemnity of the occasion quiet our laughter at the comical figure Daniel made in the rain as he trotted up and down the line to keep us kids in marching order. As faint impressions in the past are recalled by occasions of similar things in the present, so the youthful, extreme youthful, impression of the stirring times of 1861 are recalled by the present events and a desire to put on paper some of those old Civil War pictures. DR. F. N. TURNER. PIONEER ARCHITECTURE. Anyone interested in architecture who wants to find out the style of dwelling that the first settlers of this city built, what they built them of, and how they were placed in regard to streets, etc., should take a walk one of these fine spring mornings and go to the northwest corner of Capitol Avenue and Maple street. It is an old fashioned house that shows the effects of time and the elements, the main part or upright stands with its gable facing east, the addition or one-story wing at its north side. It was built in 1851 or 1852, so it has stood and the morning sun has bathed its front with rosy light for 66 years. As a devout Mohammedan faces the east every morning, so this old frame house has shown its front to the rising sun for over half a century. Our forebears always liked to place their homes so they would face the east, which was their former home, and some had a certain mark on the floor or walls opposite an eastern window so when the rising sun shone upon it the time or hour could be told. It took the place of a clock or timepiece. What peculiarity or distinguishing mark has this old house? The first thing we notice is its shape; the main part being two stories high while the wing was only one. As a result the living and sleeping rooms are in the main part, while the kitchen and pantry or working rooms are in the wing with an attic above them

448 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY for a store room. This style of planning and building a house came with the early settlers from the New England states. What more is peculiar about this house that tells us something about the architecture of the early fifties? The shape of the cornice. You will notice that where the side cornice meets the gable the cornice is carried out over the gable eighteen inches or two feet and then stops and we have a boxed-in cornice. Most of the dwellings built from 1840 to 1860 have this style of cornice. You will also notice that in the costly homes built during this same period the cornice is carried across the whole gable and makes the same as a pediment but in the humbler homes the builder stops and boxes it in. This might be the distinguishing mark between the rich and poor dweller. Those that build a home or house today little realize what it was to build in the early fifties, especially here in the woods. Material, especially wood, was not lacking, but all the material had to be worked out by hand before it was placed into a home. Two years at least before building the builder went into the woods and selected the trees to make the covering, cornice, inside finish, and window sash and doors. These trees were felled, cut into saw logs and hauled to the nearest sawmill, there sawed into rough lumber. This lumber had to be seasoned in the open air for one or two years and then during the winter months planed by hand and made into siding, flooring, cornice, door and window frames, also sash and doors. If there were no shingle mills near, shingle bolts were cut and shingles split and shaved by hand on a shaving horse, to cover the roof. A builder in those days had to be master of his trade, not a saw and hammer carpenter. The hardware, nails and glass for the windows had to be contracted for six months before it was used as it had to be brought from Detroit or some lake port by teams. Most of the builders were handicapped as there were no architects and no blue prints, so they had to make their own estimates. No wonder they served a long apprenticeship, for they were taught to use their brains as well as their hands, and these old houses show an individuality that we don't get in our modern machine made homes. Thomas Carlyle in his reminiscences speaks of his father as a master mason, a stone bridge builder and how his father when he

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 449 got too old to work used to visit some of the bridges he had built and view them with pride. They were his children, creations of his brain and hand work, so I think if the spirits of these old builders could come back and see their creations, even when built of such a perishing material as wood that has lasted after their bones have crumbled into dust, they would rejoice. This old house is dear to me, and I cannot forget the memories associated with it, for my father built it and in one of the old rooms I was born. DR. F. N. TURNER. WEIMANN'S BREWERY. In this period of temperance, when the public press and public forum are used to give publicity to the temperance movement, to extoll the blessings of temperance in public and private life and magnify the evils of rum selling and intemperate use of same, it might interest some to relate my recollections of the birth and growth of temperance sentiment in this city; how the social habit of drinking was done away with as a social feature in entertainment. Clubs of men, when men meet for recreation and entertainment, who have tried to graft the drinking, which by the way is not original but borrowed from Europe, have failed as it has been found that the use of intoxicants lowered the standards of their social and intellectual life. I have noticed that in our progressive cosmopolitan western public life, when a foreigner or group of foreigners tries to draft upon our social or public life something they had or enjoyed in their own country they in many instances meet with disappointment and failure. The thing has to be acclimated and tested out before we will give it our hearty support. In writing about this growth of temperance, I can illustrate it by the growth, life and death of a pioneer brewery at the north end of North Lansing. Go with me to the northeast corner of Maple and Pine streets and notice that old one-story-and-a-half wooden house with a low one-story addition along its westside. There is nothing very striking about its appearance or its location. There are many old wooden buildings in this city that look like it.

450 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY It looked better fifty years ago, when at that time it stood in the western suburb of the north end. Well, what about this old building? It stands today as the ruins of an industry and two-score years ago was part of Weimann's brewery. Sixty or sixty-five years ago there drifted into the north end a tall German. He was accompanied by his wife and baby. He showed by his movements and actions that he was full of energy and hard work. In this he was helped by his short, sturdy frau. He told the public that he was looking for a location, that he was a brewer and intended starting a brewery. After a time, we find him clearing and building on the northeastern corner of Pine and Maple streets. Why did he locate here? At that time a small spring brook crossed Maple street near the corner of Pine and meandered down across Franklin street near Mr. Alfred Bigsby's place and emptied into Grand river, east of our present gas works. This creek could give him plenty of fresh water and the banks could be utilized at small expense and not much digging as a cooling cellar for his brewery. A vacant square just east of his building which had a small grove of maples and other trees on its north side could, if his business was a success and needed expanding, be bought or leased as a beer garden, also the creek flats with its dark, rich soil was an ideal cabbage patch. The unfenced commons south and west of his location afforded pasture, with no expense, to his cows; My earliest recollections of this brewery was the present building with its long porch on the east side, the brew house proper set a short distance north, a young forest of hop poles along a drive on the eastern side, for German thrift and custom made him raise his own hops which he used in his business, his bustling wife waiting upon customers in the front room while her good man was busy with the brewing. Very distinct recollections come to me now of this front room with its sanded floor, the tall hop poles with their swaying vines, the smell of steaming malt, the tinkle of cow bells on the common and the harsh, guttural tones of the German customers, mingled with clouds of tobacco smoke from some large porcelain pipes. The creek with the dark forest as its background and impenetrable swamp-Bogus Swamp- that hid

LANSING TOWNSHII AND CITY, WITH HIISTORY 451 the springs from which it had its source, must have stirred memories in the brewer's mind of the Black Forest in Germany. For the first few years this industry flourished, but all this time a cloud, small at first but as years passed increased in size, overshadowed it. What was this cloud? On a large square directly west of this industry was an institution whose growth did not depend upon beer or the consumption of it, but upon its suppression. What was this institution? An educational institution, the Lansing Female Seminary, with Miss Abbie and Adelia Rodgers for owners and instructors. Why should these ladies object to the brewery and its customers as Mr. Weimann never peddled his wares on the Seminary grounds and always treated the Miss Rodgers in a polite and respectful manner when they met. No, it wasn't that, but it was the location of the brewery, for the only driveway to the Seminary grounds was a drive that entered the southeast corner of the square and that led directly past the brewery in going to and from the Middle Town and North Lansing. This school was a select one, and all the pupils were from the first families of Lansing, Detroit and other cities. They had refined tastes, noses and hearing, and they came to this school to have the same cultivated and trained for their future stations in life. How could they do this when they had to pass this German brewery two or three times a day. They objected to the smell of the brewing, the sauer kraut making, the pig pens that contained the pigs fattening on the waste malt and their ears could not take in the beauties of "Wagner's Drinking Songs" or the "Watch on the Rhine" sung at 12 o'clock at night by a score of lusty Germans each with one or two quarts of beer under his belt, so they objected. The Miss Rodgers carried their complaints to the brewer, and we can imagine the result. He with his broken English and she with authoritative way must have made a discussion and a scene that would tempt the pen of an author or the brush of an artist. Miss Abbie Rodgers, as I remember her, was a woman of sterling character, resolute will and active, progressive mind. She, if living now, would make a shining light in the suffrage or any progressive movement. She was not a believer in co-education. Many striking things occurred in this woman's life and into my

452 PIONEER HISTORY OF ING-HAM COUNTY youthful ears stories were told of her birth in a New England state, her migration into Missouri with her sister and their trials and failure to start a select school for girls there, their horseback ride of a thousand miles north and their founding a school here in the woods, how she went before the Legislature of State session after session for means to carry on same and how her death occurred before she could reap the fruits of her labors and life work. Can you imagine such a woman letting a German brewerer get the best of her in a deal or argument? No, he had to give way and his dream of a beer garden, on the German plan, vanished as well as his profits and customers. I can imagine that in their discussion she told him that beer was a plebian drink-her ancestors drank nothing but New England or New Bedford rum-the smell of his brewery and sauer kraut disturbed her digestion and the nights were too noisy for sleep by the drinking songs of his customers. Her way prevailed and she carried the neighborhood with her, so gradually the smoke from Weimann's brewery was a thing of the past and only by a hitch of memory from some of the old pioneers is it remembered. Miss Rodgers was then the pioneer in this temperance movement. She showed by her work that beer making and beer drinking as a factor of entertainment and sociability was a foreign product and could not be grafted upon our American social life. GARDENS. For the past four years and especially at this season of the year we hear a lot about gardens, high school gardens, municipal gardens, gardens for workingmen, directions to plant, what soils are suitable, how to enrich the same if soil is poor, instructions in regard to fruit trees and flowers, also a word about injurious bugs and how to curb their destructive propensities. All this talk, all these directions, all this publicity about benefits to be derived or profits made-if the season is right-are well and will awaken an interest in those who have never gardened, but it would be well to publish these directions in installments, spread them out over the whole growing season. The preparation of the

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 453 ground, planting, etc., is only a part, a small part, it is the care of the growing crop that fills the market basket, the fruit jars, or, in case of flowers, please the eye and sheds fragrance over the table and rooms of the rich manufacturer or humble workman alike, that is the part we are all interested in. To those who are not afraid to dirty their manicured hands, or that the vulgar sun will freckle or destroy their delicate complexions, those that take an interest in seeing things grow, watching that mysterious thing life unfold in the growing things around them, there is nothing so restful to their tired brain, so healthful to their physical being as a garden, a garden they can work themselves, one they can try out experiments in regard to soils, seeds, cultivation, and climatic influences. A garden you can work, study and dream about. Of all the plats published in our newspapers, I have a word of criticism. Most of them have corn and potatoes as well as other vegetables on their plat. Our city lots are too small for these crops, as they want space and a rich soil. They are apt to, if crowded and the soil is not right, grow to tops with no ears of corn on the stalks or potatoes on the vines, also they are sun plants and must have the sunlight or they will wither and die. A city gardener with a small plat of ground must content himself with small things, not with what are grown in the large open fields. Most of the land agents in this city that are engaged in booming garden lands in the South-Florida and the Gulf States-hold out the inducement that there you can raise two or three crops in the growing season. Can we do the same thing here in the North in regard to our hardy vegetables? We can, and I can say from my own personal experience that with a little judgment and a suitable soil any gardener in this city can grow two or three crops of radishes, peas, lettuce, beets, etc., if he will plant them at intervals in the months of May, June and July. He will have to cultivate and care for the second and third crops, the same as he did the first or he will meet with failure. While on this subject, I wish to say a few words in regard to an old garden in this city, where it was and how it looked to me fifty years ago, how the size, it seemed a small farm to me then, or half a dozen flower, vegetable and fruit gardens combined into one vast expanse of beauty, fragrance and usefulness; a place where

454 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY the sunbeams liked to linger, the birds sang their sweetest songs and the butterflies showed their multicolored wings to the drooning hum of the busy bees. It was to my youthful fancy an ideal garden. The house, with its gorgeous background, blended in with shrubs, trees and flowers, my idea of a home. Where was it located? It was located at the west end of Franklin street bridge and on the north side of the street. It extended west to Washington Avenue, north to Willow street and the river was its eastern boundary, so you can see it was some size. Mr. Yawger was the gardener, and he raised fruits, flowers and vegetables. It was laid out in the old style English way with gravel walks, different shaped beds and terraces. During the growing season it was a great attraction to the passerby, for the garden was below the level of Franklin street and the greater part could be seen from the sidewalk. Mr. Yawger could be seen spading or working, for he did not use horses. In those days, when everybody had a garden, Mr. Yawger did not receive much profit for his labor, but he showed by his work what could be done in this city in the way of raising fruits, flowers, and vegetables, also teaching the younger generation what an ideal garden should be. Old fashioned? Yes, in this day of hot house plants, but I have noticed in the past few years that even the rich are tiring of tropical plants, for borders and groups, and are using the native hardy plants for the same with better results. The intense coloring, the large leaves and thick stems of the tropical plants, that only thrive best under the intense heat of their home, the tropics, look as much out of place in a blue grass lawn as a trailing arbutus under a banana tree. Give the home grown the same care and chance as the alien and you will be surprised at their usefulness and beauty. THE COWLES PROPERTY. The election last week-June 14th, 1917-closed the long drawn out business transaction between this city and the heirs of the Cowles estate and the city is the loser. In other words, the voting taxpayers decided by a small majority that our rapidly growing

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 455 city does not need a public square, a square already covered with native forest trees, trees that would cost twenty to thirty thousand dollars in time and money to grow to their present size and beauty; does not need this open air space when in the future years Washington Avenue will be built up with stores and business blocks from Franklin Avenue to Genesee street. When that time comes, when both sides of Washington Avenue is lined with skyscrapers, humming with commercial life, I can predict that the merchants and other people in the congested district will criticize our shortsighted policy and our lack of business ability. They will ask why we did not provide for them. We must acknowledge that it-Cowles Square-would be a source of enjoyment now, would aid to promote good health and would be an untold financial asset to the city in the future. The argument of those opposed to the purchase was that Lansing has plenty of parks and the cost of keeping them up was too much of a burden on the taxpayers. This might be true, but where are our parks located? Moores, Potters and Waverly Parks are too far away to be of any benefit to our people on a working day and can only be enjoyed on Sunday or holidays and then the street car fares bar some of our extreme poor from enjoying them. East or Oak Park can be enjoyed by the workmen and families living in the immediate vicinity. Third Ward Park cannot be used, as it is too far away from the main business center, and Ferris has no shade, and for this reason it will be years before it can be utilized for general park purposes. Our city hasn't or never will have an open square, a breathing place, in her congested business district. We call our city progressive and upto-date. Are we? In this one thing we are fifty years behind Detroit, Grand Rapids and other cities in this State. We find in most all of them a small open square or park in the congested business district, and they regard them as a necessity as well as a business asset. Some years ago it was my good fortune to visit New York and other eastern cities, and what attracted my attention, especially in New York, was the three or four small open squares in the congested district along Broadway. Old St. Paul's church and its shaded square; Trinity church and its yard; Mulberry Bend and its sunlight space showed to me that this great city knew their

456 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY value and must have these breathing places in the midst of her skyscrapers and subways. Will Detroit ever sell or build upon her Campus Martius, her Grand Circus parks or other small parks in her business districts? No. They are too valuable an asset in health and wealth to be sold or built upon. No smooth tongued promoter or real estate dealer could ever persuade the city government or taxpayers of Detroit to ever use them in any other way than they are used today. A HISTORY OF COWLES BLOCK. It would be of interest to many people here to give a short history of what I know and can recall of this property. I will have to mention a small group of pioneer business men and merchants who were associated with the late Mortimer Cowles. They all invested in real estate, built homes and were in business between the years 1847 and 1880, a period of thirty-three years. They all bought land on North Washington Avenue except one who bought a small farm on North street and built across the river opposite the north end of Washington Avenue. These men were James Turner, Sr., Daniel L. Case, Hiram H. Smith and Mortimer Cowles. They bought and built on North Washington Avenue because it was the first land cleared from the primeval forest and they did business at the north end. Hiram H. Smith built his house at or near the southeast corner of North Washington Avenue and Maple street. Dr. Nice has remodelled the house and lives there now. I can remember the old house as it was, the largest and finest house on North Washington Avenue, with its set-in porch and four large wooden pillars facing the avenue. Mr. Cowles, who had worked for and been associated with Mr. Smith in business, built next the brick house on the square that bears his name. There seemed to be some rivalry between these men as each tried to build somewhat different or better than his neighbor or business associate, for while Hiram built his house of wood in the eastern or colonial style of architecture, Mortimer built of brick in the villa or southern style of architecture, also placed a cupola on the roof of the main part while Hiram's roof was plain and unadorned. James built on the

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 457 bluff at a bend in the river. To make his house prominent, to show through the screen of foliage on the sides of the bluff, he built of red brick also to show size, built in Italian villa style of architecture, i. e., square central building, wing each side lower than main part, pillared porches extending whole length of the wings. Daniel L. Case was the last one to build and he erected the Judge Wiest house on the west side of the avenue between Madison and Jefferson streets. He had to build something different so he built a square house, with high arched windows and a high basement, as anyone will notice, as there is quite a flight of steps to climb before you will or can enter the main entrance and reach the first floor. I don't know what style of architecture Mr. Case used in designing his house or what instruction he gave his architectJames Jeffers-but I would call it the English or baronial style. If I am not misinformed, Mr. Case was Canadian born and he might have copied from some English baronial house in Canada, but anyway a glance at the high arched windows on the outside and a peep inside at the wide hall extending across the building, the open staircase, the high ceiling of the rooms, show blue blood in style and arrangement. Mr. Case boasted when he built that his house cost more than any of the others, and that was no idle talk, for my father was a builder and a good judge of work and material and he worked under James Jeffers on this house. Of these houses and grounds I have briefly described the Cowles property is the only one left intact. All the others have passed into strange hands; the grounds surrounding them has been sold and built upon and the houses changed or remodelled. Mr. Cowles, when clearing the land to build, left some of the trees we see grown to maturity. He also planted an evergreen hedge around the square and spent time and money in planting flowering shrubs, fruit trees and evergreens over the whole square. He was a tree lover, and some of the beautiful shade trees that line our streets today are his work and due to his efforts in interesting his neighbors to plant and care for the same. In a conversation with one of his daughters a short time ago, I could see that she inherited the same love for trees, especially those that her father planted, trimmed and cared for, that she

458 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAIM COUNTY played under in infancy and that as a city park those old trees would be preserved and cared for so that the children of this city now and in the future could enjoy themselves as she and her sisters enjoyed themselves in past years. The taxpayers who voted against this measure will regret their action or stand of acquiring this property for a play ground for their children, a breathing place in what in future years will be the congested business part of our city and a valuable asset. EARLY SETTLERS OF INGHAM COUNTY. A BRIEF CHAT WITH HON. W. A. DRYER, 1889. (Furnished the Ingham County Historical and Pioneer Society by Mrs. W. G. Titus, of Lansing, Mich., a former neighbor of Mr. Dryer's, whom she says was born in 1813, and died in Lansing, June 1, 1896.) In rummaging around among old relics, or in other words, in seeking out the hiding places of the old pioneers (only a few of whom are left), the news hunter ferreted out the abiding place, at the corner of Maple and Seymour streets, Lansing, of the man whose name stands at the head of this article. Mr. Dryer is nearing his 77th birthday, which will occur on March 9th next. The hardships of pioneer life have left their imprint on many an early settler, but particularly is it noticeable in this case, as it is only by the aid of a cane and a crutch that Mr. Dryer is able to move about. Yielding to the inevitable and resolving to shake off the care and responsibilities attendant upon the management of his various agricultural interests, he recently disposed of his comfortable home and valuable farm property near the city and moved into town, where he will enjoy a respite from toil, and have the comforts due to old age, which have been honestly earned by years of active labor. "I came," said Mr. Dryer, "from Cazenovia, N. Y., to Michigan in October, 1836, the year that Michigan was admitted as a State. I brought my family with me, which comprised myself,

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITI- HISTORY 459 wife and one child six months old, now the wife of Ex-Mayor J. E. Warner, of this city. "The journey was made from Cazenovia to Buffalo by canal, a distance of about 175 miles, thence by lake on the old steamer Michigan to Detroit. In those days steamboats had not reached the magnificent proportions that they present today; the genius of man had not then been taxed to provide the comforts and convenience for the traveling public that is displayed in this age of our country's progression. The Michigan was a sort of Chinese junk, nearly as broad as she was long, and judging from appearances would make just as good time stern foremost as she would if called upon to part the waters of the great lake with her prow. "On this occasion she was crowded to at least a third more than her comfortable carrying capacity, there being not far from five hundred passengers on board. We left Buffalo early in the evening!we had been out but a short time when the wind that had been blowing freshly all the afternoon increased to a gale, and the lake soon became very rough. Such scenes as we experienced that night, I fancy, are seldom witnessed on the great oceans. Nearly everyone was terribly seasick, and the old boat seemed to be under water fully half the time. The captain headed for Dunkirk, where we arrived about daylight. After that we hugged the shore closely all the way to Cleveland. Then we set out to cross the lake direct to Detroit, but were compelled to seek shelter and safety among a group of islands where we lay to, as sailors would say, for nearly two days. Finally, after an exciting hazardous and seasick voyage of nearly five days we reached Detroit, at that time only a small village, whose inhabitants were composed principally of French, Indians and half-breeds. What a wonderful change has been made in fifty-four years! From the little begrimed and uninviting village has grown one of the most magnificent cities on this continent, while the State at large has kept pace with its proud metropolis. "I brought the gearing of a wagon with me; went to a lumber yard and got some rough boards, out of which I made a wagonbox, loaded up my worldly effects, bought a yoke of oxen, and started out to find a home in the wild wilderness of Ingham county. A slow, tedious journey of five days brought us to Dexter. Think of the way the water came into the wagon box and the mud that

460 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY was a constant barrier to our progress. Log houses were scattered along the route, all of which were counted as wayside inns, for the accommodation of the thousands of immigrants that were working their way west. "There was no road from Dexter. We took a trail that led us to the corner of Jackson, Livingston, Washtenaw and Ingham counties. There we left the trail, and started out to cross the plains. We were now compelled to travel by intuition, having no compass and the sun being obscured by a hazy mist. In this effort to cross the plains without any landmarks to follow we lost our way, night overtook us, and a dismal rain set in. Unprovided with camp equipments and being short of provisions it was necessary for us to keep moving. After establishing a code of signals, leaving my wife to drive the oxen, I started on ahead directing the movements of the miniature caravan to the right, left or straight forward, as the case required by the signals, which consisted of one whoop for the right, two whoops for the left and three whoops for straight ahead. At midnight I sighted a dim light. I followed its direction, which brought us to an unfinished log house, the only occupant being a woman. They had been located only a few days, and the husband was away skirmishing for provisions. The woman objected to taking us in, but we were in the majority, and finally got possession of the house where we rested until morning. This was the beginning of our eighth day from Detroit. By this time our hostess had become very friendly. We got our bearings and started for Unadilla. There was a bad slough to cross about a mile from the house, and the woman told us that our team would not be able to pull us through, and she offered to take her oxen and go with us until we reached solid ground on the opposite side of the marsh. Her cattle she said were peculiar, and they had got in the habit of turning in their yoke, and the only way to keep them from it was to tie their tails together. I yoked the oxen, she got a string and the caudal appenages of the two steers, as we supposed, were securely fastened. We hitched the teams to the wagon, the borrowed team in the lead. All went well until we were within thirty feet of hard land and right in the very worst part of the slough when the string became loosened and in an instant the oxen turned in the yoke and were facing the wheel team. The water was about a foot

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITII HISTORY 461 deep and there seemed no bottom to the mud. I unhooked the chain and let the lead team go ashore; then cut some poles to lengthen the chains, took my oxen to hard land, hitched the combination of chain and pole to the wagon tongue, and with my team pulled through to terra firma. One of the oxen belonging to our new friend had been broken to ride, the yoke was adjusted and I assisted the lady to mount. She started back for her cabin and we continued our journey. "I mention these incidents to show the trials and tribulations encountered and endured by the early settlers of this country. That night we reached a settlement of three or four families who had located on or near the present site of Unadilla village. Here we rested for three days, then resumed our journey and at the end of the second day reached the home of Henry Clements, a mile from the land that I had already located from the government. There were already three families quartered in the Clements mansion, and we made the fourth. This palatial residence was in a crude state. It was a structure 16 x 18 feet. No windows had yet been put in, no doors hung, no chinking between the logs, yet it offered shelter to four happy families. The women did the cooking by log fires out of doors. "I set about immediately to build a home on my land and in about two weeks we moved into our first home in Michigan. It was a log house 16 x 24 feet. When we took possession there was only one-third of the roof on, and only eight feet space of the floor laid. The openings had been cut for doors and windows, but these necessary adjuncts to our comfort had not yet found a resting place in the niches prepared for them. Neither had the chimney been built, but we managed to keep quite comfortable by a fire built on the ground in one end of the house. Our first night in the new home was made memorable by a heavy snow storm, and it required a good share of the next forenoon to shovel the snow out of our cabin. But in due time we were comfortably housed for the winter. My land was in the town of White Oak, four miles east of Dansville, where we remained nine years, at the end of which time I had cleared fifty acres of heavy timber land, had it well fenced and under cultivation. During this nine years of pioneer life in Ingham county many hardships and privations were endured which, if our young people nowadays, who are just starting

462 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGH:AM COUNTY out in life were called upon to pass through, it would weaken their matrimonial ardor and cause them to cling more closely to the old folks and their comfortable firesides. "Leaving the farm in 1845, we moved to Pinckney, where I resumed my trade of wagon and carriage building, a trade I had thoroughly mastered before coming to Michigan. I made the first lumber wagon complete that was made in Livingston county. We remained in Pinckney three years, then came to Lansing, reaching here the first day of November, 1848. Since that time, now over forty-one years, I have lived on my farm one and onehalf miles west of the School for the Blind. "I have lived to see Lansing grow out of a dense forest to a city of beauty and prosperity, in which I, in common with every citizen, have a just pride. "Few of our readers of today can realize what we old timers passed through to make possible the comforts of life and beautiful homes that they are now enjoying." Mr. Dryer was for many years one of the best known citizens of Ingham county and the city of Lansing. Ile took a lively interest in public affairs, was for several years a member of the board of supervisors, and especially took a keen interest in everything pertaining to agriculture. He was a member of the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical Society, and served as its president for several years. OLD FIRST WARD SCHOOL, LANSING. Dn. F. N. TURNER. My first recollection of school was in 1860, when my sister, older than I, and myself were sent to a private school on Washington Avenue. It was kept by an English lady. She had an ingenious but kind way of managing infants and starting them in the right way when entering the field of knowledge. After she left the city my sister and I were sent to another private school kept by Miss Eliza Preston. The location of this school was in a private house on the southeast corner of Capitol Avenue and Franklin street. Our parents did not like to have us attend the ward or public

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 463 school. They thought it too rough and boisterous for youngsters of five and six years of age. Miss Preston was, or thought herself an invalid, and started this school because she could or would not do housework. I can remember we had half holidays quite frequently when Eliza had a bad headache. Our noise made it worse. After several weeks of rather irregular attendance the school was closed and we were sent across the river to the First Ward, now Cedar street school. I can remember the old red wooden bridge that spanned the river then at Franklin street. The butternut tree that stood on the east and south side of the east abutment. The First Ward school house was built of red brick, two stories high, with a basement and a belfry on the roof. It was square in shape, stood back from the street and had a large plat of ground in the rear for a play ground. This play ground had a high board fence on three sides, and the same kind of a fence divided the ground into two parts, one for the boys and the other for the girls. This fence was not so high but we could climb it for apples and other spoils raised on private grounds. The basement extended under the whole building and was used to store wood for the stoves, and in the winter the big boys used it for a club-on the sly-to pull off a fight or play "old sledge." A wide hall extending east and west divided the first story into two rooms, and the wide stairway with no turns connected the two floors. The second story, or floor, was one large room with a rostrum at or near the north end. There were two small rooms in the north end that were used for recitation rooms. On the walls each side of the rostrum were portable wooden blackboards for the advanced pupils in arithmetic and grammar. One thing I nearly forgot was the well on the north side of the school ground. The pump was always out of order, and I thought some of the boys purposely kept it so, for they then had a good excuse to search the neighborhood for drinking water. The dry facts every school boy has to get into his system naturally makes him thirsty, and it is astonishing how much water it takes to supply a school. The dry facts must be moistened before they can be assimilated. The ward school was graded into primary, intermediate and academic departments with one teacher in each apartment, except the academic, where the principal had an assistant or recitative

464 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY teacher. The principal was most always a young man-single, just graduated from some academy or denominational college. State Normal or U. of M. graduates were few and scattering in those days. The principal or master when I entered school was an Irishman named Daniel O'Rork. He had all the traits of that race in his makeup, as he was witty, tactful and a hard worker. He was also intensely patriotic, for every morning in chapel exercises, he had something to tell about the great Civil War, and the patriotism of the boys fighting in the Southland. What he told us interested me, a youth six years old, more than my schoolmates, as his assistant was a relative of mine, Miss Louise Turner. Her brother had left his desk in the Auditor General's Department, enlisted and gone to fight for his country. I can just remember his last visit at our home. He gave his life for his country, as he was mortally wounded in the second battle of the Wilderness. Charles Calkins, another boy from the same school, preceded him, a score of boys from that school served their country in the Civil War, the Spanish-American and the great World War. One word before I leave this subject. Could we not show our community spirit by placing a memorial tablet with their names on the walls of the present school building? It would be a reminder for the present and future scholars who will attend this school, a permanent memento of the sacrifice they made. The primary department in which we youngsters entered public school was presided over by a Miss Limeback. When we were advanced to the intermediate department she was also advanced to the same, so my five years' attendance, with the exception of one year, was under her instruction. She was a good teacher, a firm believer in corporal punishment and an exhaustive drill in the three "R's." The most noticeable thing was her wig. lWe kids all wondered if she had any natural hair. Vast speculations were made by the youngsters in this matter without any results. In 1872, after an absence of six years, I returned and entered the high school. Miss Limeback had married Mr. Purdy and lived at the corner of Franklin street and Washington Avenue. In 1884 or 1885 Daniel O'Rork came back and started a private school in the Dart home, where the Auditorium is now. After two or three years it was given up as the competition of our ward

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITIH IISTORY 465 and high school was too strong to make it a success. Among the many boys who were my school mates were Ed Tooker, John Blasius, John Sindlinger, Charles Claflin, Frank Robson, Charles Allen, Dell Dane, Charles Calkins, Charles Borden and Herman and Jake Kiefer from the fourth ward, Fred Mead, Fred Shier, Fred Brossinger, Lewis Straugh, the Englehart boys, Adams boys, who lived near the school on Wall street, Frank Ray, who lived on North Cedar street. The large boys from the "upper room" who attended school at that time were Russell Ostrander and his brother Arthur, Myron Cline, Will Sapry, Hubert Webster, J. A. Carr, Frank Lewis, brother to M. Quad of the Free Press, Dr. Richardson's boys, Frank Mead and Charles, his brother, James Turner, Jr., J. M. Longyear, and others. The instruction we got in that old school house was thorough with all frills sidetracked. The physical training was given us by our schoolmates on the school grounds or in the streets. It consisted of wrestling matches, ball games or races, fights or boxing matches. I remember two boys from the upper room were not satisfied with a sparring match, so got behind a barn near the rear fence of the school grounds and tried to settle their difficulties with an old horse pistol loaded with fine shot. This was during the war, and they had imbibed the war spirit. Their parents finally settled their difficulty in the woodshed at home. From what I can remember of the old first ward school, and my memory goes back to 1860, I think it was the first ward school established in the city. We all know that it was the leading school in the past, and its influence, even today, is recognized. Many have gone out from this school, took up and made a success of the great battle of life. Some of the boys are dead, some still live in this city. Those living have reached their three-score years, and will, no doubt, recall some incidents or names that the present writer has mentioned.

466 PIONEER HISTORY OF1 INGHAM COUNTY REMINISCENCES OF ALVIN ROLFE, WRITTEN IN 1873. I was living in Lansing at the time the first stake was driven for the State Capitol in that city. I moved to Lansing in the fall of 1844. It took us two days to move from Vevay to Lansing. We got there at sundown and found an old log house that had been used for a stable, which we had to clean out before we could find shelter for the night. My father-in-law, Noah Page, took the job of finishing the mill dam and putting up a saw mill at lower town. My wife and Louisa, the wife of Chancy Page, did the cooking for forty or fifty hands. They did the cooking in a fivepail kettle and a tin baker, before a fire in the fireplace. In the winter of 1846-47 the Capitol was located at Lansing, and it caused much excitement. People came from a great distance in sleighs to see the Capitol and all they could see was a solitary log house that we were living in. When the news came that the Capital had been located at,ansing, the people in Delhi and the south part of Lansing Township cut a large log some forty or fifty feet long, and with a great many yoke of oxen drew it to the mill. When they got in sight of where we lived they got up on the log and gave three cheers, swung their hats and cried, "The Capitol has come." They gave us the log and told us to saw it up for the Capitol, and my impression is that some of it went into the old State building. The first accident that happened after the Capital was located was fatal. The commissioners wanted someone to ferry them over the river to survey for the Capitol. One of Mr. Seymour's hands undertook the job and went over the dam and was drowned. The first frame house built in the city of Lansing I helped to build. It was a boarding house Father Page put up.

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITI HISTORY 467 COLLECTION OF OLD WEEKLY PAPERS SHOWS ODDITIES AND HUMOR OF PAST. C. A. Gower is Owner of Publications Antedating Old Settlers. Cornelius A. Gower is the possessor of several old newspapers which antedate the memory of even the most aged of Lansing's pioneers. The papers are interesting from a journalistic viewpoint as well as in point of age and peculiar subject matter. All of the papers are yellow with age and some of them are so worn and tattered that it is next to impossible to read them. They are unlike the usual type of antique newspaper which is unearthed now and then in that they are simply plain everyday papers giving the daily run of news. Usually old papers have been preserved because of their account of some historic incident, but the papers belonging to Mr. Gower deal with nothing more startling than the arrival of a packet ship from Europe or a bear hunt by some correspondent. Most of the papers contain but four pages and have practically no headlines. Usually the news items contain detailed information as to the source of the news and told where it could be substantiated. One of the papers, "The Downfall of Babylon," which was published in New York in 1837, is strongly anti-Catholic. Its editor was one Samuel B. Smith, self-styled defender of the Protestant faith, and referred to in the paper as being "late a Polish priest." A sub-title of the paper is "The Triumph of Truth Over Papery." Another paper, equally as radical and antagonistic in regard to Masonry, was published in Batavia, N. Y., at about the same time. Mr. Gower has several copies of both papers. The first anti-Masonic reference is contained in the "Republican Advocate" for Oct. 2, 1832. This paper was published every Tuesday in Batavia and several columns were devoted to poetry which was given a conspicuous position on page 1. Issues of Sept. 7, 1827, and May 13, 1831, are unusually interesting. One of the advertisements appearing in the columns of this paper was inserted by the Batavia Academy. The terms for admission seem almost ridiculous at this day. For those who wished

468 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY to study reading and writing the sum of $3 was asked. For the course in these same subjects, but with grammar added, the price as $3.50. Arithmetic and geography were taught for $5, and language for $4.50. The highest price charged was $5, for which one learned rhetoric, philosophy and mathematics. In case the student wished to pay in advance a discount of 10 per cent was allowed. The papers are filled with Revolutionary anecdotes, some of which are semi-humorous. Among the Gower collection of papers is a copy of the "New York Baptist Register" for April 13, 1823. This paper was published in Utica, N. Y. "The Fentonville Observer" is another interesting five-column paper printed in Fentonville, Genesee county, Mich., in 1855. At that time "rare old whisky" was selling for 25 cents per gallon. "The People's Press" was published in New York by B. Blodgett. The copy of this paper which is most interesting is dated July 1, 1826. The "latest foreign news from Europe" is three months old at the time the paper is dated. An account of the arrival of a packet ship early in the previous May is contained in this issue. The ship brought newspaper files from London, Harve and Paris as well as Liverpool. Among the news items is the announcement of the death of the Princess of Partauna, widow of King Ferdinand of Naples, who died April 24, 1826. The news was only four months old when it appeared in the "People's Press." "The Temperance Recorder," published in 1835, is another smile provoker. The arid desert of prohibition is forecast in nearly every column and temperance pledge cards are distributed liberally throughout the paper. They read as follows: "Fellow Citizens Beware!" "Or our city will soon be eclipsed, for the RESPECTABLE and VIRTUOUS will take refuge in our sister city, Brooklyn, and leave us to the blighting influence and curse of "Three Thousand Grog Shops!!" "New York, December 24." A pledge of total abstinence follows the above warning.

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 469 The humor of the day is well revealed in the following quotations taken from the "White Pigeon Republican" and "St. Joseph County Advertiser," which was published in White Pigeon, St. Joseph county, Mich., in 1839. The issue dated Wednesday, Sept. 25, of that year, contains the following: "A young lady in B- street came home from a ride the other evening and left her horse at the door of her father's house, walking herself to the stable, and taking the horse's place in the stall. She did not discover her mistake till the hostler began to rub her down." Following the above account is a most curious case of absence of mind in the following "love letter" which smacks of the Dere Mabel letters: "The following epistle from a damsel in Illinois to her 'lovyer' in Pennsylvania is warm enough to melt wax. Its tender, touching and transporting pathos must have so affected 'my sweet henry, my turtle dove,' that he must have exclaimed in the pathetic language of his 'dearest deary,' 'I must get married because I've let it run too long already.' "Suspendersburg, away in the Il-you-noise, Aprile the 2th. "1,000-eight hundred and 30 nine. "My deer dere henry-I imbrace the present opporchoonity to let you know as how i am had a spell of the aigur, and i hope these few lines may find you enjoying the same Blessin! Why don't you onely rite i sweat line to tell your sufferin Kathrun all about her swete henry. Oh my sweet henry-my turkle duv-my piging-my deer deare henry, etc. KATHRUN AN TILDEN. There is nearly one column of letters similar to that above. The advertisements in the papers are unusually interesting and are for the most part illustrated by old wood cuts. FULLER IS TO EDIT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE. Dr. George N. Fuller, who has been acting secretary of the State Historical Commission since February, 1916, has been appointed secretary of that commission. His new duties will make him the editor-in-chief of the Michigan History Magazine, which

470 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY will make its initial appearance with the July number. It will be printed quarterly. Fuller's salary is to be $2,000. He has had special training in this branch of work, covering from 1902 to 1912 in continuous study of historical methods at Harvard, Yale, the U. of M., and abroad. His book recently published by the commission, "Economic and Social Beginnings of Michigan," has attracted the attention of historical writers throughout the country to the State of Michigan, and if the plans of Dr. Fuller develop this book will strongly stimulate the writing of the State's history. He has planned a similar book on "The Latter Period" and another on the history of the Upper Peninsula. Fuller was well known in college as an historical writer, having among other trophies twice won the Bowdoin prize contest in history at Harvard in 1906 and 1908.-State Journal, 1920. SEEK TO PRESERVE LANSING'S "MANSION OF THE WILDERNESS." A petition to conserve the old Turner homestead, the first frame house built in Lansing, will be presented to the Council Monday night by Alderman Charles W. Reck, president of the North Side Commercial Club. The petition is backed by the club and citizens outside the organization who desire to see the landmark given a final resting place in some local park. Alderman Reck will ask the Council to make arrangements to buy the house and move it into any public park the Council may direct; to make what few repairs are necessary to keep the house in condition and to formulate some plan for establishing a museum in the house under the direction of some local pioneer society. BUILT IN 1848. The Turner house was built in 1848 by James Turner and was one of the first frame houses in the county. It is proposed to place in it relics of an earlier Lansing, such relics to be contributed by Lansing pioneers. The original Turner came to Lansing as a representative of Governor Horatio Seymour, of the State of New York. His pur

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 471 pose in settling in the wilderness here was to keep in touch with Michigan possibilities as a possible investment for Governor Seymour. Mr. Turner bought 75 acres of land in the northern part of the city and the greater part of it lay along the Grand river in the main section of the north side business district. Having a business here that would keep him in the village of Lansing permanently, Mr. Turner decided to erect a home that would be in keeping with his standing in the State. There were no sawmills here at the time and all lumber and finish for the proposed home had to be carted overland for miles. The material for the home was assembled with great difficulty on account of the absence of roads. STILL IN GOOD CONDITION. When finally completed the first frame house in Lansing was considered a veritable "mansion" and one of the sights of the settlement. In the original Turner homestead were born the late James M. Turner and Mrs. C. P. Black, now residing on North street, within a short distance of her birthplace. Mr. Turner's father continued to live in the original home for years. Some of his activities while a resident here were the building of the railroad from this city to Ionia; the construction of a plank wagon road from Lansing to Howell and the laying out of the city of Lansing. Seymour street was named for Governor Seymour, whom Mr. Turner represented in Michigan. Mr. Turner took an active part in Michigan politics and was elected State Senator from this district. The old homestead is still in fair condition and tenable regardless of its extreme age. Its imperviability to weather and time is pointed out as an illustration of the dependability and stability with which the earlier generations built.-State Journal, 1920.

472 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY STATE MUSEUM GETS VALUABLE ADDITIONS. "No place is safer for keeping war relics than the State Museum," says Mrs. Ferrey, in charge of the Michigan Historical collection, as she pointed out two war helmets which recently have been added. They were presented by R. W. Cooper, reporter of the Supreme Court, who received them from his son, Lieut. Cooper. One of them has a shrapnel hole at the junction of the brim and crown in front and a dent on the top. The Museum, "the closet of Michigan," is being given a general housecleaning. Another recent addition to the collection is a silver bugle presented by Mrs. George Murray, whose husband, a Civil War bugler, was given the instrument because he volunteered to bring up food at a dangerous time. Mrs. Ferrey is also proud of a yellow party dress and ostrich fan, which were given to an organization for relief of the needy. She has a Persian shawl, given by Mr. and Mrs. Sechler,1036 Townsend street. Mrs. Ferrey has by much work secured biographical material about 30 of the 190 former State officials, about whom there was no authentic information.-State Journal, 1920. TABLE FROM BAGLEY HOME IS PRESENTED TO STATE. A great mahogany library table from the home of ex-Governor Bagley was presented to the Michigan Pioneer Historical Commission today by Mrs. Charles C. Hopkins. The table was a personal possession of the governor in the time of his administration from 1872 to 1876. It stood in the family home in Detroit, where George Hopkins, brother of the late Charles C. Hopkins, acted as private secretary. After the death of the governor the table was presented to George Hopkins. Later he presented it to Charles Hopkins. Its size and historical value made it far better fitted to the needs of the Historical Commission and today it was presented by Mrs. Charles C. Hopkins. It is solid mahogany trimmed with birdseye maple.-State Journal, 1920.

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 473 REVOLUTIONARY WAR MAP IS TREASURE OF STATE MUSEUM, COLLECTION OF QUEER LAMPS. Among the innumerable articles of historical interest and value in the Museum of the State Pioneer Society in the Capitol building is a war map drawn during the Revolutionary war. The map, drawn on thick paper with black, red and green ink, shows the strategical moves made in a battle at Gloucester, Mass., between the Americans and French against the British. The map was evidently drawn during the progress of the battle for it shows the path taken by American and French soldiers in an assault against a red coat redoubt, which was captured after a fierce struggle, according to data on the map. The drawing, which is faded so as to make it indistinct, shows the Americans and French drawn up in a semicircle before the British troops, who were huddled up in a bend of a river. The lettering on the map is very curious, being the old style stilted letters originally used. Another exhibit in one of the cases is a queer shaped jug used in olden days by traders to carry whisky to the Indians. Firewater is painted in red letters on the outside of the jug, although this label looks like a latter day addition. A collection of lanterns and lamps is another interesting unit of the Museum. The lanterns date back to the old Paul Revere lantern, and up through the lighting apparatus of the succeeding century and a half including the old bear's grease lamps, and the gorgeous affairs of gilt and glass, popular the latter half of the last century. Among the collection of books is a history over 100 years old showing a map of the Great Lakes. Lake Michigan is considered narrower than on present maps, while Lake Superior arches far up into Canada, much farther than in reality. The collection of old pewter in the Museum is considered to be very good in view of the fact that old pewter is rare, most of the "real thing" being melted up by the pioneers for bullets in time of need. The Pioneer Society has a large case filled with this rare and interesting ware.-State Journal, 1920.

474 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY WIGWAM OF OKEMOS IS REMEMBERED AS IT STOOD ON LANSING STREET. When Washington Avenue was only a trail, many inches deep with mud, when Indians of all kinds roamed about the country and lived in their tepees, and when Chief Okemos' wigwam stood where the Buck furniture store now stands, when wolves, bears and other animals appeared on the streets during the day and hayed and quarreled among themselves in the streets at night, are a few of the instances that are related by Eben W. Dart, 315 Bartlett street, of the early days of Lansing. Mr. Dart celebrated his ninety-third birthday Monday. As reported in The State Journal, the occasion was signally marked by the Masons of Lodge No. 33, of which Mr. Dart is a member. Mr. Dart came to Lansing in 1854 from Potsdam, N. Y. The trip from Potsdam to Detroit was made by water. From Detroit to Lansing Mr. Dart, who was then 28 years of age, came by stage over the plank road. The stage left Detroit at 7 o'clock in the morning and arrived in Lansing at 9 o'clock at night. The horses were changed every 16 miles, and they were kept at top speed during the 16-mile period. Lansing had 1,500 inhabitants at that time and had been the Capitol of Michigan for only seven years. Robert McClelland was governor at that time. The next year, 1855, Kingsley S. Bingham was elected governor, The Capitol, an old frame building, was located between what is now Washtenaw and Allegan streets. At that time there was a row of log buildings near where Washington and Michigan Avenues intersect. Mr. Dart engaged in the hardware business for many years and did a great deal of business both with the whites and with the Indians. He states that the Indians were excellent people to deal with and that he found them honest, but that in their trading they invariably called for whiskey. Lansing was a trading point at that time, says Mr. Dart. Wood was brought here from many miles around. It was drawn by ox teams, the bells around the necks of which could be heard

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITII HISTORY 475 clanging through the streets. At night the bells could be heard under the windows of the hotels and of private houses. There were no factories in Lansing at that time, and no railroad. The first railroad, the "Ramshorn," ran from Lansing to Owosso. This was constructed somewhere about 1860. The trains ran very slowly and Mr. Dart states that people could get off the train and pick berries, then run and catch the train again. Wood was used to fire the locomotive. Mr. Dart recalls the time when a plough was used on Washington Avenue to turnpike it. That was in 1855. The first paving that was used on Washington Avenue was cedar blocks. But the people thought that this was a wonderful improvement over the dirt roads, says Mr. Dart. Mr. Dart is still hale and hearty and hopes to have many more birthdays. His memory is excellent. During recent weeks he has been living over again the olden days. When he tells of those times his speech is so graphic one almost sees the State, muddy trails, the log cabins, and the Indians of which he tells. Mr. Dart has reaped the best fruits of life, he has worked and played in the city of Lansing, and now enjoys the restrospect on useful, enjoyed years.-State Journal, 1919. LITTLE JOURNEYS TO THE MUSEUM-WHEEL WITH A HISTORY. High on the shelf in the Museum of the State Pioneer Society is a wheel of the type that was used before the modern bicycle came into general use. The wheel, pictures of which are familiar to everyone, has the enormous front wheel and miniature back wheel of the general type. Unusual interest is attached to the bicycle because of the fact that in its youth it was owned, ridden and fallen from by the Hermann brothers, who are now staid Lansing business men. It is related that the brothers saved their money bit by bit until they had saved $160 with which to buy the wheel, which was considered very stylish in the days of the last century.

476 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM 'COUNTY After buying the wheel, they were the envy of the neighborhood for several years, although it is said that they had several severe quarrels over who should ride it at times. Fifteen or twenty years ago the wheel was placed in the garret and about ten years ago it was resurrected from dusty oblivion and stationed in the Pioneer Museum. The interest of many people is being centered on this wheel,because of the fact that the Rev. Mr. Prudden. almost the first minister of the Congregational church of Lansing, rode one exactly like it to church, on sick calls, and everywhere but to funerals, "where he drew the line." It is said that Mr. Prudden rode his high wheel, even after the more modern wheels had come into use. This was fully fifty years ago.-State Journal, 1919. INDIAN COSTUME IS ADDED TO MUSEUM. A complete suit as worn by a Chippewa Indian upon gala occasions was purchased this week by Mrs. Marie B. Ferrey, curator of the Michigan Historical Commission, from George Sky Eagle, an Indian, at Omena, Antrim county, for the Michigan Historical Commission. Mrs. Ferrey was able to secure the entire costume for a trifle under $150 and it is one of the most perfect specimens to be had in Michigan. The costume consists of a purple silk shirt and a bead jacket patterned upon a leather coat. The beads are threaded upon the leather in patterns, which according to Mrs. Ferrey, relate the history of the tribe, whether the weaver was married or single, the date and maybe a legend of the times. To be worn with the jacket are armlets and cuffs of beads in the same designs and brilliant colors. The trousers are of softest suede and beaded bands follow the line of the crease from waist to foot. Long fringe adorns the sides. The moccasins are of deer skin almost solid with bead embroidery. A necklace accompanying the costume is made from the claw of a bear, teeth of the bear and long slender, brightly polished shells and colored beads strung on rawhide. A breast plate made from shiny white bones, all of a size, and bright beads complete the costume. The purchase of the outfit was made possible through Repre

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 477 sentative A. H. Anderson. The suit is one of the valuable additions Mrs. Ferrey has been able to make to the Museum during the past few weeks. They are all on display in the State building. -State Journal, 1919. MRS. FERREY. Mrs. M. B. Ferrey, curator of the State Museum, is unearthing a deal of interesting data on pioneer days in Michigan. She is arousing much interest and enthusiasm among adults and youth concerning Michigan's pioneers and their doings. Incidentally she loses no opportunity of putting "Old Glory" to the front and appealing to our present generation to make room in their hearts for a goodly bit of intelligent and red blooded patriotism. To Mrs. Ferrey more than to any other one person is due the credit for that fine bronze bust of "Father Pierce," our first Superintendent of Public Instruction, which now stands guard over the entrance into the State Superintendent's office in our Capitol. 1916. WILD-CAT MONEY OF EARLY DAYS INTERESTING STATE MUSEUM EXHIBIT. Among the most interesting of the many exhibits in the Museum of the Pioneer Society at the Capitol building is the collection of wild-cat money, preserved as a reminder of the flourishing days of the wild-cat banks in the early days of Michigan's history. Among them are notes of the old bank of Singapore, which, like the mythical city of Singapore, was reputed to have been one of the worst "confidence deals" in the history of the country. The city of Singapore was laid out on the sand dunes near Saugatuck. A wild-cat bank was established and notes were widely circulated in eastern cities where the city was being boosted. This bank failed after a sensational career. Most of the notes were issued in the forties when the wild-cat fad was at its height. The banks started failing rapidly, however, and many were the disastrous falls from wealth in those palmy days of speculation. It is said that one man papered his

478 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGJ1IAM COUNTY log cabin with the bank notes as a sarcastic reminder of his folly, after he had lost his fortune in investing in wild-cat bank stock. When the banks started to fail, examiners were sent by the State to examine the accounts. When the examination of one bank was completed the directors would detain the examiners at banquets until the ready cash was transferred to the next bank, where it was examined again by the examiners. It is said that one bank's funds would furnish a whole string of like establishments with enough money to satisfy the examiners. The authority for this report is H. MI. Utley, a Michigan historical writer. Notes from practically all these banks are displayed. Other exhibits are shinplasters, issued by private companies and corporations to their employes in lieu of real money. Confederate money also forms an extensive part of the exhibit. The Confederate notes were more finely engraved than the Federal notes, and looked more like real money to many at the beginning of the Civil War. In the South many Southerners were "buncoed" by Northern soldiers who "passed" wild-cat money. The Southerners supposed that this money was genuine government greenbacks. A part of this exhibit contains money more interesting from a historical standpoint than the wild-cat notes. These are pieces of paper money issued by colonial governments in the days of the Revolution. One interesting note spelled with the old form spelling was issued in 1780 by the Bank of the State of Massachusetts Bay. The others are all dated about the same time.State Journal, 1920. WAYSIDE PICKUPS. It is probable that the Michigan Historical Library will be enriched in its interest by the loan of a "Netherlands" Bible, three centuries old and containing the complete geneological history of the progenitors of H. B. Jones, 918 West St. Joseph street, this city. The ancient book, a ponderous affair of beautiful print and containing biblical maps, was authorized by the Netherlands government in 1647 and printed under governmental direction. The

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 479 book covers are tough boards covered with hog skin and the binding is neatly done with tough rope. It is evident that the original biographers of the Jones family were Hollanders as they inscribe their first family records in the book in 1637. The writing is a bit faded but still legible and William Wagenvoord and Schelto Swart, of this city, have been able to read and interpret these century-old records to the present day Jones'. Records are in Dutch until 1753, when the first English entry is made. The Jones', a Welsh family, make their appearance in 1803. H. B. Jones, present owner, received the book from his father, James Henry Jones, deceased. The father had it from his father, Victor Jones, who married Margaret Cratsenburg, a Dutch womau. A number of local enthusiasts who have seen the prized volume have importuned Mr. Jones to place it in the Michigan Historical Library and he has practically assented to the plan.-State Journal, 1920. SLEIGHING IN LANSING WAS ONCE SOME SPORT, SAYS REVIVED MEMORY. "It does not look much like sleighing for New Year's, still y' can never tell." The speaker was looking meditatively at the fine snow sifting down about noon Saturday. "Well, even if the old sky woman should start 'picking her geese' and the 'beautiful' should pile up two feet deep by morning how could there be any sleighing?" was asked of the meditative individual. "You mean, where would the sleighs come from, don't you? Well, I'll have to admit there are not as many of them in Lansing as there once were. Still, if we should have a right good spell of sleighing I guess you would see more sleighs than you think there are in Lansing. "Where have the sleighs gone to? Well, blessed if I knowgone the same place baby carriages go, I guess. Few of the latter are ever worn out, and yet there is not that pile of them higher than the Capitol dome one would expect. Queer where things go that never wear out, isn't it?

480 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY "Oh, yes, we were talking about sleighs, weren't we? Say, son, I can remember when sleighing used to be an institution in this town. But that was the day before automobiles, you understand. Why, back in those days we used to have sleighing that was sleighing. It was not much of a stable that did not boast a 'swell box' cutter or a 'Portland' style of sleigh. An' bells! Gee whiz, I wonder where all the sleigh bells that this man's town used to afford have gone to? And buffalo robes, too-I don't suppose a single buffalo robe can be found in Lansing today, and yet I remember when each rig, not alone had a buffalo lap robe but a long swinging affair that hung over the back of the sleigh and went streaming out behind just to heighten the festive effect. "And say, there used to be some hoss racin' in those days. Some hoss racing! Why, all the young blades, such as go in nowadays for automobiles minus mud-guards and seats so placed that they give the occupant the aspect of intoxication, used to have fast nags, and as soon as the snow came some pretty high stakes used to be placed. "All of a winter afternoon our avenues would be filled with fast-flying sleighs. Every driver would have a girl along and they used to be rigged out mighty pretty in those days, 'cording to my notion. "And how the nags would go! They were sharp shod and the feet of the horses would pick up the packed snow and hurl it like cannon balls. The girls used to have to hold their muffs before their faces, but they were always game for every race, no matter how fast. "No, I dunno where all those old sleighs have gone to. The last I saw of one it was being used for a chicken roost, but even chicken raising in this town has gone out of fashion-that is, by our fashionable families. Still, I suppose there are a few sleighs." -State Journal, 1920.

LANSING TOW\NS1III AND) CITY, WITH HISTORY 481 TELLS REMEMBRANCES OF INDIANS IN AND ABOUT LANSING IN OLD DAYS. DR. F. N. TURNER, North Lansing. The Indian bands that visited Lansing, or the northern part of Ingham county 55 years ago, were few and far between. They were the remnants of the Pottawatamies, that roamed over southern Michigan 100 years ago. Those that visited Lansing belonged to Chief Okemos' tribe, and only consisted of three or four families. Their stay was always short and their only object was to sell or barter baskets of their own manufacture, wild berries and furs. If they could not sell their wares to the local merchants they would try to dispose of them to the good housewives for flour or garden truck. Sometimes they would have small cakes of dark brown maple sugar to tempt the children. These wanderers always calIped near the river on the commons at the north end of Washingtton Avenue or in the woods just north of the present residence of Hon. Frank L. Dodge. They always rode Indian ponies, and used a part of their animals for pack horses. Occasionally one or two would come by way of the water route, down the Grand river in canoes from Eaton Rapids. When they left the city their ponies were headed north, or in a northwesterly direction toward Maple Rapids or the Indian reservation in Clinton and Ionia counties. The stories of old settlers and Indian traders, as I can remember them, were to the effect that Indian tribes north of the Ohio river always made an annual trip from Ohio and Indiana into southern Michigan. After wintering in these states they would start in the spring, come north to fish, hunt duck, geese and pigeons until they came to a fertile river bottom or flat, that the squaws could clear of brush and timber. Here they would plant corn and some other crops, stay until they harvested them, then, after the fall hunt, go south again. One of these planting grounds was at Okemos, another at Red Bridge on Cedar river. If anyone going from Lansing to Williamston will stop before crossing the

482 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAMI COUINTY bridge, look south along the west he will see a cleared field of 10 or 15 acres. This is an old planting ground. The high bank on the same side, north of the bridge, was an Indian cemetery. The late Charles F. Mullett, who came in the forties from Detroit and helped clear his father's farm, on which these places are, told me he could locate several Indian graves on the bluff. He also said he had seen the Indians plant corn on the flat and had run races with the Indian boys, using the old wooden bridge for a race track. Flint arrow heads were often plowed up on this old planting ground and bluff, and at one time in the seventies when a man was digging the foundation for a saw mill, the skeleton of an Indian was found. My brother found a stone pipe bowl on the eastern bank of the river opposite the planting ground. This pipe was made of stone not found in that vicinity, so was thought to have been brought from Ohio or Indiana. In 1866 there was an Indian trail in Mullett's woods, east of the school house, that went north to Pine Lake, connecting the planting ground with aforesaid lake. This trail had been used so long that no bushes grew in the track, but it was overgrown with grass. In the southeastern part of Leroy Township there was a gravel and sand ridge, on Edward Lewis' farm near the West Branch of Cedar river that was a mine for flint arrow heads, skinning stones and stone axes, showing that it must have been in the remote past a battlefield. From these planting grounds and trails we can, with the help of the old stories, map out the routes of these aboriginal gypsies or travelers. They had three different ways of traveling: First, by water; second, by water with a portage or carry, and third, by land. The Indians in Ohio along Lake Erie could coast with their canoes along the south shore, go up the Detroit river into Lake St. Clair, through St. Clair river in Lake Huron; from this lake into Saginaw river, and by the branches of the same into all parts of the Saginaw Valley. Indians in northern Indiana could put their canoes into small branches of St. Joe river, float down that stream into Lake Michigan and coast along the east shore and reach the lake region of Grand Traverse.

LANSING TO\WNSII ' AND CITY, WITII HISTORY By the second route they could leave Detroit river or Lake Erie at the mouth of Huron river, ascend the river to near the head waters of the Cedar river at Cedar Lake, carry across to this river and descend the east branch of Cedar to main Cedar, down this to Grand river and thence to Lake Michigan; or go up Huron river to Portage Lakes, carry across to Grand river, down to Thornapple river, up that river to the source of the Kalamazoo river, and so reach the inland territory in that part of the State; or, still another way, was to leave the Grand river at the mouth of the Maple river, then up to near a branch of the Saginaw, carry across to that river and down that into Saginaw Valley. The land trails were always near these water routes, but followed the high ground, making some short cuts and connecting the planting grounds as did the old trails, running from Red Bridge via Pine Lake to planting ground on Maple river and in Saginaw Valley. There was one, though I cannot say positively where, that connected the planting grounds on the Grand river near Eaton Rapids with one near Kalamazoo. My mother told the following stories of her experience with the Indians at Lansing in early pioneer days. She and father had just commenced housekeeping in a frame dwelling on the west side of Washington Avenue near Franklin street. It was in November, 1849. One afternoon she sat sewing with her back to the door. She thought she heard the door close, and upon turning round she beheld a tall Indian with rifle in hand inside the room. She was too frightened to move or to scream. The Indian set his gun in the corner and stepped up to the fire to warm his hands. Mother saw she was not going to be killed, so asked him in a weak voice, "What do you want?" He answered, "Indian hungry and want something to eat." She got up and with fear and trembling hustled onto the table all the food she had cooked. He ate it all but three crusts of bread which he put into his pocket, remarking "Papoose hungry," took his gun and left. Mother locked the door after that when alone, for an Indian never knocked before he entered a white man's house. Another time she bought some berries of an Indian, paying him in flour. He left his sack and went to "Middle Town." On his return he was full of fire-water. When he got his sack he spied some cu

484 PIONEEIR H-ISTOR1Y OF ING IIIAM COUNTY cumber pickles that mother had just made and wanted them. She gave him a few but he wanted all of them and was going to take them. This made mother angry and she grabbed the broom and drove him out of the house. Some men working near came to her assistance, and the Indian was thrown out into the street, where he stood for some time and talked about the "stingy white squaw, who no give poor sick Indian cucumber," but finally left. Old Chief Okemos used to make James Turner's his visiting place when he came to Lansing. These visits became too frequent and Mrs. Turner had to scheme to stop them. One time he wanted to stay all night, but he was too dirty to sleep in a bed, so Mrs. Turner gave him some blankets and sent him to the barn. This offended him and he said to her, in a tone of wounded pride and dignity, "No sleep with horses and own wigwam." Another time when he said he was hungry Mrs. Turner gave him a "hand out" and he very promptly gave it back, saying, "Okemos big chief, no little boy, eat out of hand." This was his last visit. These original inhabitants of our State have vanished, and the only reminders we have of them are their names that cling to the rivers, lakes and some towns. Their old trails are obliterated, and their planting grounds plowed by the white man. Even their bones are not allowed to moulder into dust, but are dug up and exhibited in museums. They are studied by the scientists and gazed at by the inquisitive and ignorant. We study the works of our forefathers, their public and private lives, but we would object if some scientist dug up their bones and placed tham on exhibition. Can we not be as considerate with the Indians? DRUMMER BOY OF SHILO WOULD SELL HIS PICTURES, BUY LIBERTY BONDS. S. F. Hartshorn, 82 years of age, who beat the "long roll" at the battle of Shiloh, that gave the first warning to the men of the Union armies of the approach of the "Johnnies," would like to enlist and help do to the Kaiser what he helped to do in 1862 to the rebels. "They won't let me enlist and fight, but I am going

LANSING TOWNSHIII AND CITY, WITI HISTORY 485 to help Uncle Sam by buying a $50 Liberty Bond. To get the money to do this I am selling my pictures for 25 cents. I think everyone ought to help. If they can't fight they should at least buy a Liberty Bond." Mr. Hartshorn has been in this city for the past three years, living with his daughter, Mrs. W. S. Kellogg, at East Lansing. He is well known in our city, having marched in numerous parades. He has been at nine different Grand Army encampments in as many different states, having belonged to that organization for 30 years. Mr. Hartshorn was a member of the famous Hornets Nest Brigade, Co. C, 12th Iowa Infantry, and was wounded with his brigade at Shiloh. Of the battle Mr. Hartshorn said: "Our brigade was encamped in a ravine on the second hill near the Tennessee river. I was near the colonel's tent when I heard the long roll from our men who were at the front three miles away. I knew that meant trouble, so I took my drum and beat the long roll. The colonel came out of his tent and asked me what the trouble was. I told him that I had heard the long roll from the front. He listened and heard it too, and said, 'Give her hell.' So I beat my drum as hard as I could, but in a few minutes the 'Johnnies' were on us. I was hit in the eye with a part of a shell and my eye put out. The Rebs were trying to take Pittsburg Landing before we could get help. They killed a large number of our men and captured a lot more of them. I was wounded but they did not stop for wounded men, so I escaped. They captured almost all of the five regiments of the brigade. Later I was picked up and taken from the field of battle. I was first taken to Smithland, and from there to a hospital at St. Louis. After being in the hospital for six weeks I was discharged. After I got out of the hospital the first thing that I wanted was a chew of tobacco. I bought a plug, but I was so weak that it made me sick and I was disappointed." Mr. Hartshorn still has that plug of tobacco, it being 55 years old. Mr. Hartshorn enlisted in 1860 at Fayette, Iowa. He was at the battles of Forts Donaldson and Henry. He says that at Fort Donaldson he had the best meal that he ever had in his life, some meat from a mule that was found on the camp. All of the

486 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY men had three days' rations, but Mr. Hartshorn had eaten his, so he roasted some of the mule meat. Mr. Hartshorn has a number of relics. Some Confederate bills that he secured while in the army, and a cane that was made by his bunk mate who was in Libbey prison. This cane is made from the bones that were picked clean of meat at the prison. There is a ramrod running through the middle of it. It was made in prison during the idle hours of the men. Mr. Hartshorn also has five pennies that he carried during the war. One of these is 108 years old, it being a half penny with the date of 1809.-State Journal, 1917. DRUMMER OF SHILOHI FALLS, ENDS PARADE IN MOTOR CAR. "Now I won't be able to finish the parade," said Sumner F. Hartshorn, drummer boy of Shiloh, when he collapsed in the parade given in honor of Lansing's conscripts Monday. The cold wind and the long march proved quite a task for the drummer boy of Shiloh, as he marched along beating a merry tattoo on his old drum, his feet grew heavier and heavier. His comrades urged him to stop but he refused. In front of the Downey Red Cross head station he fell to the pavement. Alden Thomas, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. T. Thomas, 114 South Walnut street, one of Hartshorn's admirers, found him seated on the curb, bitterly disappointed because he couldn't drum all of the way to the station. Alden is six years old. In two minutes he had guided Hartshorn into a big coupe and found his mother to drive and the drummer boy of Shiloh, wreathed in smiles, snug and warm, drummed his way to the station, directly following the parade. Mr. Hartshorn is all right today. "I wouldn't have missed marching with those young fellows for anything," he says. "They are just as I was when I went off to the Civil War. My comrades and I have a mighty lot of respect for the fine boys who left yesterday." -State Journal, 1918.

LANSING TOWNShIP' ANI) CITY, WITII HISTORY 487 ALLAN S. SHATTUCK CLIMBED CAPITOL DOME 36 YEARS AGO. Placed Flag at Pinnacle to Celebrate Garfield's Election. Had Painting Contract. Couldn't Get Any of His Men to Ascend Until He Had Carried Up Wire Which Made Way Easier. It will be just 36 years ago this coming Presidential election that Allan S. Shattuck, well known G. A. R. veteran, paid an election bet and duplicated a part of the feat of the Human Fly who climbed the State Capitol building in September. Mr. Shattuck, who settled in Lansing April 1, 1850, took a contract to paint the dome of the Capitol as well as other exterior and interior parts. He gathered a force of seven men, among them being Captain Julius N. Baker, retired captain of the local fire department. The contract proceeded smoothly until the dome was reached, then Mr. Shattuck discovered that his painter force were land artists, not steeplejacks. None of the men would volunteer to climb the dome and spread color. Mr. Shattuck, in fair play, refused to ask his men to do that which he refused to do. He began to write about the country for an aerial painter, but received no responses and the dome still remained a shabby color. It seemed likely to remain unpainted but for a timely political argument. BET Is MADE. Mr. Shattuck, while on his way to his work one morning, got into a heated argument relative to the campaign. Garfield, Republican, was running against Samuel Hancock, the only war veteran that the Dems ever attempted to run for President. Mr. Shattuck was a staunch Republican, and the Democratic arguments stirred his bile. Presidential campaigns in those days were feverish affairs and even foreign nations were interested in them. Mr. Shattuck, in his closing argument with his Democratic enemy, declared that if Garfield was elected he would place the American flag right on the pinnacle of the Capitol dome so that

488 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAMS COUNTY the old Stars and Stripes would flaunt their principles of Republicanism right in the faces of Lansing Democrats. The count in November gave Garfield a substantial majority over General Hancock and there was general rejoicing among the Republicans all over the country. But Mr. Shattuck, while exulting in the victory of his party, was just "tickled to death" personally with his obligation. He had won his bet, but also had to pay a paradox in local political history. "We paraded and all that," said Mr. Shattuck in relating the incident, "and I cheered with the rest of 'em, but that blamed Capitol dome and its dizzy height kept bobbing up in my mind and making me seasick. That's the worst part of a man bragging, you know, it sometimes gets him into trouble. "TOWN WAS WAITING. "Well, I had the debt to pay and the town knew it. There were not so many of us here in those days and a stranger was a curiosity. We were just plain 'Bill,' and 'Hank.' Everybody knew his neighbor's business and his given name, you see. The dome had to be painted and I had my obligation to meet. "So one day I got up spunk and looked the situation over. I announced when I would climb that dome and had a pretty fair crowd to watch me in case I fell. I got out of a window, the highest one accessible by an inside ladder, and started my climb. And I was one scared man. But the further I went up the calmer I became and I took no chances. I picked my way carefully and before I knew it was right on top of the big ball which caps the dome. This looks like an apple from below, but is really two feet through, I should think. "Just to show my defiance for my Democratic friend in the crowd who had come to see my downfall, I mounted the ball and stood upright. Here I fastened a good-sized American flag and unfurled it to the breeze. I accompanied the ceremony with several lifesized whoops for Garfield and the Republican party. Then I arranged a copper wire so that anybody from the lower windows could fasten a rope to it and draw the rope up thus making it possible for painters to fasten tackle conveniently and work to the pinnacle. I reckon the wire is still there.

LANSING TO\NSIIII' ANI) CITY, WITI IIISTORY 489 "MOST SCARED AFTER CLIMB. "When I got to the ground I was more scared than when I was climbing. But that wire that I had rigged in the top of the dome had solved the problem of painting it as far as I was concerned. The next day the old State Republican came out with an article to the effect that I had kept my promise and had paid my political debt. The dome is not so difficult to climb as one would imagine, but no unskillful person could do the stunt the Human Fly did in getting up the walls to the first roof. The Fly's easy climb was up the dome as there are places where one may stick on easily and find a fair footing." There are a number of Lansing's older generation who still remember the Shattuck feat. And it was considered some stunt inasmuch as Mr. Shattuck was handicapped by a disabled arm, the bone of which was broken in the battle of the Wilderness, and a right ankle, weak from another bullet wound received Feb. 3, 1862, in the battle of Occoqum. The Human Fly's crazy entertainment was of considerable interest to Lansing's veteran dome climber. Mr. Shattuck, who lives at 1117 Lee street, is still hale and hearty and declares if he had good " wind " he would duplicate his feat just for the fun of it.State Journal, 1916. RARE BOOK PRINTED IN 1727 IS ONE OF CURIOSITIES OF STATE LIBRARY; OWNED BY LANSING MAN. One of the most interesting exhibits in the Museum of the Michigan Pioneer Society is a book, unique both from the standpoint of its own age, and from the historical story woven about it. The volume, which is printed in Hebrew, English and Spanish and entitled "Kehilath Jahacob," a vocabulary, or words printed in the Hebrew language, was written by Jacob Rodriguez Moreva prior to 1527, at a time when the Spanish language was commonly spoken in the marts of the world, and, in 1527, was published by A. Alexander in White Chapel, High street, London. The volume, which was published before printing presses came into general use, was printed with the aid of crude type in a hand

490 PIONE;ER IIS;TORY OF INGIIHAM COUNTY stamp, with a quill pen, to mark the lines between the three columns on each page of the book. The paper upon which the words were stamped is a thick, pulpy substance much different from the modern finished product, with peculiar creases in the paper which indicated some obsolete method of preparation. The book is enclosed in a massive binding of some sort of leather, which is probably morocco, although the age of the book makes this uncertain. Reading the words in the book, and noticing the queer stilted spelling and use of words, one can see the change which is taking place gradually in the method of expressing and spelling the English language. Words such as preface, mathematics and rhetoric are spelled "preaface," "mathematicks" and "rhitoric." The historical interest which the book holds started when Colonel John Ely, a landed Englishman, ancestor of Charles J. Decker, 820 North Pennsylvania avenue, owner of the book, crossed the Atlantic prior to the Revolutionary War, bringing the volume with him. During the Revolutionary struggle Ely became a colonel in the American army under Washington, and his lands were confiscated by the English government. Ely died penniless excepting for this book, and a few other heirlooms. The volume has since been handed down from generation to generation until it reached its present owner. Mr. Decker, whose hobby is collecting rare volumes, has many other unique books, among them an ancient Hebrew Bible with the preface starting in the back of the book, and with the pages reading forward. Another is a book on medicine entitled "Practise of Physics," written at a time when medicine was commonly called physics.-State Journal, 1916. SOME TOWN SAID OF OLD LANSING. Saw Mills, Grist Mills, Tanneries, Stage Coach Lines and All Listed. A copy of the Michigan State Gazetteer for 1862, which was recently presented to the Ingham County Historical and Pioneer Society by John C. Squiers, of Mason, contains much of interest

LANSING:( TOWNSlrJI, AND CITY, WVIThI HISTORY 491 to one gathering information of an historical nature. In it are found the following items relative to Lansing: "Lansing-a city of Ingham county, and Capitol of the State, beautifully situated on the Grand river about 100 miles northwesterly from Detroit, and as nearly as possible in the center of the settled portion of the State. The city was commenced under the name of 'Michigan,' in 1847, and upon the 25th of December in that year became the permanent seat of government, being at that time surrounded by an almost unbroken wilderness. "The first settlement made upon the territory which now constitutes the city of Lansing was made by Hon. James Seymour, who erected a small log house and saw mill in 1846, in what is now the fourth ward. "The name of 'Lansing' was given tile city in honor of one of its early settlers in 1849." The article goes on to tell of the divisions into "Lower," "Upper" and "Middle" towns, and claimed at that time a population of 4,000, it not being incorporated as a city until 1859. It describes the State house and tells of the first session held in it in 1850. The excellent water power furnished by the Grand river is mentioned, and the high, healthy location of the city, with its several handsome residences and public buildings, well laid out streets and extensive grading are spoken of with pride. The coal mines in that vicinity, also the fire clay and "kidney iron" are referred to. At that time the city boasted of eleven churches, two flouring mills, three tanneries, two breweries, three saw mills, two sash and blind shops, two printing offices, several brick yards and a large number of mechanical shops. Mention is made of the "State Reform School," the "Michigan Female College," and the "State Agricultural College." The "Benton House" is called one of the best conducted hotels in Michigan. Of the "State Library" in the Capitol building, it says that it contains 16,000 volumes, and is open to the public. It contains an original portrait of the Marquis de La Fayette, painted by Horace Vernet, of Paris, in 1836-7. Among the rare and curious books is a copy of Livy, 347, printed in German text, at Paris, also a work entitled the "Laws of Nemo," containing "fourteen

492 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY volumes in one, embracing a code of laws that governed 300,000,000 of the human race for 1,000 years, without alteration or amendment, translated from the Burmese, and printed at an English missionary station in the Burmese empire." The library is also said to contain the largest and best collection of law books in the State, and one of the best in the country. There is a description of the "Reform School," with its 160 inmates, the superintendent being Cephas B. Robinson. Lewis R. Fiske, A. M., heads the list of the faculty at the State Agricultural College. He afterwards was president of Albion College. William H. Chapman was mayor of the city at that time. The two newspapers were the Lansing State Republican, George I. Parsons, editor, and the Michigan State Journal, put out by the "State Journal Publishing Company." Three 2Masonic lodges were listed, and one railroad and five stage routes given. The railroad was the "Lansing, Amboy and Traverse Bay R. R." from Lansing to Owosso, one train each way per day, fare $1.25. There was the Lansing and St. Johns stage route, daily, fare $1.50; the Lansing and Jackson route (daily via Eaton Rapids), fare $2; Lansing and Jackson route (daily via Mason), fare $2; Lansing and Detroit route (tri-weekly via Howell), fare $4; Lansing and Marshall route (semi-weekly via Charlotte), fare $2. Then followed a long list of men and the business in which they were engged, 142 professions, trades, etc., being given.

LANSING TOWNSHIPI AtND) CITY, WITII HISTORY 493 PASSING OF TWO OLD LANDMARKS AT NORT-I LANSING. The past week has witnessed the obliteration of two old landmarks at the north end: the moving of the old James Turner house on Turner street and the tearing down of the old fashioned brick house at the corner of Clinton and Center streets. The James Turner house was built in 1847. The sills and other parts of the frame were hewn out of hardwood, the siding, flooring and cornice was dressed by hand, also first shingles were riven with an old-fashioned hand froe by workmen in Mason, then hauled by ox teams over the hogsback road through the almost unbroken wilderness to the few months old Capitol City. Mr. Turner's brothers in July, 1847, cleared a place in the woods and erected the first frame dwelling in North Lansing. While the workmen were erecting this building they had to fight deer flies, mosquitos, snakes and other pests of the wilderness. I remember one of them told about killing two moccasin snakes that came out and sunned themselves on a log in a cat hole just north of the house. He said they were real snakes as the men had nothing to drink but spring water. If the walls of this old house could speak they could tell of many remarkable events that took place in the early pioneer days of our city. This house was a meeting place for all the Turner families. Brother James kept open house. The Methodist ministers when they came on the circuit never neglected to call, as they were always sure of good cheer and good beds at the class leader's. Sometimes the preacher brought the whole family and the more there were the heartier the welcome. The bashful youth brought his blushing bride there to be married and to neet Brother James, who always had a word of good cheer to give them, also the good wife always had a wedding cake baked or in the oven. Chief Okemos and his band always got hungry when they arrived at "Big Chief James's" house. The Quakers from Albany, N. Y., who were investing money in Michigan lands, always stopped with James, because he was their agent as well as the agent of the Seymour's, Wadsworth's, Danforth's and other New York finan

494 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGTIAM COUNTY ciers. What a tale those old walls could tell of the conferences between these men and their agent about the future growth and development of this Capitol city in the woods and the prosperous farms that were to surround it. We can imagine a grave Quaker listening to the agent's glowing description of the future growth of the Capitol city, and finally saying, "We will leave the matter with thee, James, and trust in your good judgment." In those pioneer days the agent thought more of the trust and confidence bestowed than he did of the percentage he was to receive. The brick house on the corner of Clinton and Center streets was built by Richard Elliott in the late fifties or early sixties. The bricks show that they were moulded by hand and the square sills show signs of the broadax, the laths were split with an axe and nailed to studding with old fashioned cut nails. The workmen find in tearing it down that pioneer workmen put walls up to stay, as the mortar is as hard or harder than the bricks and the rough stones in the cellar walls are woven and tied together so they have to be picked apart with a pickaxe. Such stone building is a lost art with the stone mason today. Mr. Elliott came from Ohio to Lansing and opened a small store on Center street, from this he branched out into the grain and real estate business. He operated the old North Lansing Elevator that was east across the railroad tracks from the Breisch Milling Co.s' present elevator. He was quite a builder, for I remember a row of houses he built on Center street south of Wall street. Another old pioneer built a row of houses on West Franklin street between Walnut and Chestnut streets similar to Elliot's houses. In one of the houses on Franklin street lived for years an Episcopal clergyman,his two daughters and son. The son went the way of a wild youth and finally ended his career with a shotgun in Mark's livery barn, this city. The father and daughters lived for years on the good will and charity of the people and finally faded and died. The last years they lived they were striking figures when they appeared on our streets both in dress and habits, and their peculiarities were best seen at a distance. These houses on Franklin street were built on four by eight rod lots which were considered small in those times. They were

LANSINC( TowNNsIIt AND) CITY, WITH IIISTOUY 495 in a state as nature left them, not filled in with tin cans and other rubbish with a thin coating of earth. Most of them had timber for the house frame and wood for fuel after the house was built, The younger generation that are used to reinforced concrete buildings with all the modern conveniences of sanitary plunbing, steam heat, electric lights, etc., little realize the work and sacrifice of their forefathers in erecting these old buildings now being torn down. DR. F. N. TURNER, Lansing, Sept. 30th, 1916. INSCRIPTIONS. Inscriptions that adorn the face of the monument erected in honor of Austin Blair, the War Governor of Michigan, in front of the State Capitol at Lansing, Mich. Furnished by Mrs. HI. E. Moliter, of Lansing. (East Side.) Austin Blair, \War Governor of Michigan, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864. He gave the best years of his life to Michigan and his fame is inseparably linked with the glorious achievements of her citizen soldier. Erected by the people of Michigan under joint resolution of the Legislature. Approved May 8, 1895. (West Side.) The true glory of the republic must consist not only in the beneficence and freedom of our institutions, but also in our ability and courage to defend and protect them. Message to the Legislature 1863. All the blood and courage of this terrible war, all the heart-rending casualties of battle and the sad bereavements occasioned by them, have the same cause, slavery-the greatest, vilest criminal of the world; it must perish. Message 1863.

496 1PIONIEEIR hISTORY OF ISNGIIAM COUNTY Again and for the last time I commend the Michigan troops to your continued care and support. They have never failed in their duty to the country or to the State. Upon every battle field of the war their shouts have been heard and their sturdy blows have been delivered for the Union and victory. It is my sole regret at quitting office that I part with them. Last message Jan. 4th, 1865. ORIEN AUSTIN JENISON. Orien Austin Jenison was born in Watertown, N. Y., May 22, 1823. His father died before he was born, and his mother was left with eight children dependent upon her. His schooling ended when he was twelve years old. -Ie then went away to a distant town and began to support himself as a clerk in a store and from that time was self-supporting. He remained away from home a year and then returned to work in a store. He continued to live in and about Watertown for several years. During this time he practiced artistic penmanship and became expect in the use of a pen. He then maintained himself until he was twenty-one as a writing master. During all this time he contributed to the extent of his power to the support of his mother. The day after reaching his majority he started away from home with just a six-pence in his pocket, bound for St. Lawrence county, N. Y. He made his way from place to place, earning what he got to eat by "setting copies" for the farmers' children along his route. Published writing books were unknown in those days and the beautiful examples of penmanship which he wrote for children to copy when learning to write were highly prized. Reaching St. Lawrence county, he remained there two years, following his business as a teacher of writing. From thence he started west, and reached Detroit August 28, 1846. He had nine silver dollars in his pocket when he landed. The family has one of them yet. Within three days he had secured a position in the private land office of Macey & Diggs. The Capitol was located at Lansing the next year and Mr. Jenison was sent by his firm to establish a

LANSING To\NSHIIP' AND CITY, WITH hISTORYoI t 4 497 branch office here. This fixed his residence and he never changed it. Ie arrived here on Christmas day after having walked a large part of the way from Jackson on account of the miserable condition of the stage road. As most residents of Lansing know, the town consisted then of a cluster of buildings at the foot of Main street, and another around the dam at North Lansing. Mr. Jenison spent his first three weeks in Lansing at the National Hotel on Main street. The town was so crowded that during that time there was not an available bed in the city for Mr. Jenison to sleep in. A wooden building was being built on the present site of the Baird and Hudson block. Quarters were secured there for Macey & Driggs, and after getting their business into shape he resigned his position with them and went into the Auditor General's Department, where he held a clerkship for twelve years. After these long years, during which writing of some sort had been Mr. Jenison's means of support, he abandoned the pen and went into the mercantile business with the late S. S. Coryell. This business continued until 1868 when he began his long connection with the State Republican. John A. Kerr & Company were then State printers and proprietors of the State Republican and Mr. Jenison was bookkeeper in their office and of the other proprietors of the paper until 1886. The succeeding four years of Mr. Jenison's life were variously employed, but in 1890 Robert Smith secured the State printing contract and recalled Mr. Jenison to his old position as bookkeeper in tIhe State printing office Mr. Jenison was married in Lansing, January 20, 1851, to Ielen M. Butler. They lhad two sons, Frank 11. and Orien A. Jenison. There are men who, through a life of fidelity to principle and scrupulous exactness of dealing, even in the heart of things, gain a reputation for honesty so that no one hesitated to trust them. Mr. Jenison was one of these. He was nore than this. He was a kind-hearted, genial, loving man, who sometimes concealed under an off-hand brusqueness of manner, a gentle heart. Children knew him and loved him. A generation of them years ago learned to call him "Uncle Jen," and growing to manhood and womanhood have continued to call him so until the whole city has learned to use the name. No sketch of Mr. Jenison's life would be complete without

498 498 I ~~h) 'R I S lIsORNY 01 INGI IAI\ COUNTY mentioning his remarkable instinct for collecting quaint, curious and valuable things. Indian relics at one time formed a large and valuable part of his collection. Bows and arrows, articles of apparel, stone implements, pipes, and other Indian curiosities to the number of 700 were collected by him, mostly around Lansing. These, with 3,000 coins and medals, were sold by him in New York city a number of years ago. Local history and the collection of documents and books relative to it were almost a passion with him. He has every State Manual ever published. He had the autograph of every governor of Michigan. Documents innumerable were pasted by him in scrap books and preserved. Nothing relative to the history of the city was too trivial, and two large scrap books were devoted to the preservation of posters and handbills announcing elections, caucuses, political speeches. Public announcements of all kinds were kept by him. The Capitol books, as lie called them, were a series of scrap books containing clippings relative to the building of the State Capitol. A history of the building from day to day could be made from the books. The Capitol books, the Manuals, and numerous other books and documents belonging to Mr. Jenison which refer to the history of Michigan, were bought recently by the State Librarian and will occupy a separate case in the Library and be known as the Jenison collection. IIe also studied the Jenison family, tracing his ancestry back to the time of the landing of the first Jenison in America off the ship Arabella in 1632. A pocketbook which this founder of the family brought to America is in the possession of the family. Mr. Jenison died Aug. 6th, 1895. ORANGE BUTLER. June 11, 1870. Orange Butler, of this city, who died very suddenly on Saturday evening, was a man of talent and distinction-one of those to whom our State was early indebted for her good start in intellectual as well as material growth. Ile was born in Pompey, Onondaga county, N. Y., March 5, 1794; graduated at Union College, Schenectady; studied law with the celebrated Victory Birdseye, of Pompey, and taught classical languages at about the same time. He commenced the practice of

.LAN';SIN' TON()'NIIII' AND (IrTY, WVITlI ISTrORY 499 law at Vienna, Ontario counAty, but removed to Gaines, Orleans county, N. Y. He was district attorney of Orleans county for several years, and had a very extensive practice, being prominent in the famous Morgan trials, during the anti-Masonic excitement. He removed from Gaines to Adrian, Michigan, about the year 1835, and was a member of the Legislature from Lenawee county while Stevens T. Mason was governor of the State. Mr. Butler came to Delta, Eaton county, in April, 1847, and to Lansing in 1849. He practiced law here, and was justice of the peace for a long period in the early days, with general acceptability. He has filled up the measure of a long and useful life, being 76 years and 3 months old when called away. INTERESTING BITS OF EARLY HISTORY OF CITY IS GIVEN IN IDENTIFYING "PHOTO OF 1872." Memories of the morning of life have been stirred for Mrs. Alex. McPhee, 411 South Chestnut street, by the reproduction of the old photograph, showing the preparation of the cornerstone of the Capitol, printed in the State Journal Tuesday. She has identified beyond question the man sitting atop the stone and preparing it for the copper box receptacle as Eban McPhee, her first husband, and brother of Alex. McPhee, her present husband. Beside the identification of Eban McPhee, there was awakened in Mrs. McPhee's memory the circumstances of her coming to America and how she met, on the deck of the old Celtic, Chester A. Arthur, then collector of the port of New York, afterward President of the United States, and with him James Gordon Bennett, the elder, famous founder and publisler of the New York Ierald. Of this experience more later. Two other men, shown in the old photograph, are also identified, both now deceased. One is Joseph Glaister, Sr., deceased, and the other is Jack Smeaton, also dead. Glaister was a contractor for the cut stone work and Smeaton was one of his workmen. Others are not remembered. Eban McPhee, the stone cutter most prominently shown in the photograph, was a young Scotchman, as perhaps need not be said

500 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIASM COUNTY because of his name. To the casual observer of the photograph, McPhee appears as a man of middle life, because of the heavy beard and moustache; but, as to fact. he was then in the heydey of his youth and at the top of his powers as a skilled workman. He was not yet 30. Eban McPhee, although of wonderful physique and stamina, nevertheless died in 1884 of typhoid fever. Lansing and its vicinity, however, still claim five of his descendants. There is John and Will and Mrs. William Saier and Mrs. J. W. Higgs and Richard, a farmer of Eaton county. Richard was among those to view the old photograph of his father Wednesday. In some respects, particularly in the expression across the eyes, he is very like his father as shown in the photograph. An island of Scotland, to the north, the site of famous Inverness Castle, was the birthplace of Eban McPhee. As a youth he was early apprenticed as a stone cutter and learned the trade in all its branches. When he came to New York about 1870 he was accounted a craftsman of the highest worth. Following his advent in America, he was soon attracted to Chicago, where his services were in great demand following the devastating fire that swept that city in the early 70's. Joseph Glaister, knowing of the capabilities of Eban McPhee, brought him here by pay inducements, which, until the recent after-the-war period, would have seemed fabulous. Mrs. McPhee, then the wife of Eban, came to America about the time he came to Lansing. It was upon her arrival in New York harbor that she met Chester A. Arthur and James Gordon Bennett. The experience lingers vividly in her memory. Unknown to the passengers, the old Celtic of the White Star line, had been engaged in a trans-Atlantic race with another ocean liner. The Celtic won the contest and so the dignitaries of New York, accompanied by a band, had come down to Sandy Hook, with the pilot boat and other craft, to extend a welcome. "Oh, I can see those many boats coming to meet us even yet-how their sails whitened and glistened in the sunshine and the waves danced!" exclaimed Mrs. McPhee, the old memory flooding back, out of the past. Arthur and Bennett were attracted to Mrs. McPhee because of her slight, girlish appearance-and one may well guess, good looks-and the fact that they could scarcely believe she was the

,LANSING TOWANSIIIL AND CITY, VITII HISTORY 501 mother of the three boys with her. The result of the conversation was that James Gordon Bennett gave $5 to Will McPhee, the baby, and to Mrs. McPhee he gave sufficient funds to put her through to Goodrich, Ont., where she was going to visit relatives before joining her husband. This he did, so that Mrs. McPhee need not have English funds exchanged into American money until she was among friends. It does not appear, however, that the then young Mrs. McPhee lacked self-reliance. Remembrances of Chester A. Arthur and James Gordon Bennett by Mrs. McPhee accords with what is understood to be the appearance of those men. Arthur, she says, was a stalwart figure with black eyes and heavy black moustache and beard. Bennett was markedly the opposite, a man of slight build and noticeably blonde. "When I reached Lansing," says Mrs. McPhee, "I remarked, 'Have they brought me to the jumping off place of the world?' My notion of a Capitol city was vastly different from the aspect that Lansing then presented. It was nothing but a rambling, poorly-built, little village, seemingly set in a marsh. Why, I can remember what we called Third Ward Park (Central Park, Capitol Avenue and Kalamazoo street) was a veritable swamp with a hummock of dry ground in the center. I have actually seen men go in boats along what is now Sycamore street in the spring of the year. Mrs. McPhee went on to explain that rents in Lansing in those days were as high as now. There were no houses to be had by the veritable army of stone cutters, bricklayers, masons and carpenters that swarmed in here for the building of the Capitol. "So impossible was it to get a house that we were forced to take rooms over the Store of Fallon & Isabell, which stood on Washington Avenue opposite where is now the Hotel Downey." Something of the difference between city prices and those prevailing here at that time is told by Mrs. McPhee. She followed her husband here via Chicago and contrasts prices there with those here. At Chicago she paid $13 a barrel for flour, but upon her arrival here bought it for $5. Potatoes in Chicago were $1.50 a bushel, here they were 25 cents. She bought her first potatoes of John Whiteley, now deceased. Indicative of the fact that Lansing less than 50 years ago was on

502 P)IONEER HISTORY OF INGLIAM COUNTY the veritable frontier, Mrs. McPhce relates that the workmen on the Capitol used to take their guns and within a walk of a few rods used to hunt wild game. Wild turkey was plentiful. Joseph Glaister, she says, had so tamed two of the turkeys that he kept them roosting in a tree near where is now the intersection of Chestnut and Washtenaw streets. Mrs. McPhee was born in Liverpool. She was married when only a girl. Her memory of the old home still abides. "I have always loved the sea because it enters into my earliest recollections. I was born on the banks of the Mersey river and the great sea into which it flowed was always becoming in my sight as a child. When I came to America how I loved the trip across the ocean. Yes, I can still see in memory the spirit of the great cathedral where three of my children were christened and sealed with the sign of the cross. As I look back over the years, it is a great wonder to me how Lansing could have grown from the poor little village I first beheld to the city it is today." Mrs. McPhee is still an active woman, cheery and full of enthusiasm for life. She has experienced some dangerous illnesses of late, but in spite of all appears possessed of bodily vigor. Her memory of the events of her life are particularly vivid and she tells of the circumstances of her youth as if they were but yesterday.-State Journal, 1916. "PHOTO OF '72" IS CUE FOR NEW REMINISCENCES OF OLD-TIME DAYS. The style in feminine dress of 1873, which raises a smile today when brought to memory by a photograph, was indeed an eyeful in their time, declares Charles Emery, who writes to the State Journal further concerning the old photograph which has so much interested the "old settlers" in recent days. In his communication he says: "State Journal Editor: "You cannot imagine how glad I am that I broke the glass in the storm house. I did not feel that way while handling over that punk glass, but it would seem that 'curses, not loud but deep,'

LANSING TOWNSHII AND) CITY, W\ITHI HISTORY 503 have induced vibrations in Lansing's circumambient ether which are productive of many interesting recollections. "With apologies to Orah Glaister Emery I beg to differ as to the stylishness of Miss Moody. Please bear in mind that the socalled photo of '72 was taken in September, 1873, and that styles changed even in those days. That slender waist, those Sis Hopkins braids, that Dolly Varden dress, all proclaim their era, and if that hat is not of 1873 I will eat it. "The other day a gang of boys on their way home from school went through the basement of the Capitol. They were into everything as they went, running about and yelling, regardless of the work that was going on. Another gang going through on the first floor slyly filled some paper drinking cups with water and were out on the front porch ready to duck the first gang when they came out of the basement. I wondered if any of them had ever heard or could imagine what the Capitol grounds looked like fifty years ago. Could they imagine that their grandafthers or great uncles, prodding around there fifty years ago, had nearly been scared out of their wits by stumbling over human bodies and severed arms, and legs and heads. I know two little boys living today in Lansing whose grandfather was in that gang, and Auditor General Fuller vouches for the truth of the statement that the whole gang went down a ladder at the same time. The boys of 1920 are after all not so very different from those of 1870. And I wonder if any young lady in Lansing high school today can imagine her grandmother sliding down the bannister of the old frame high school of fifty years ago. But that is another story. "Picture to yourself a field containing 11 acres. Near the center on a slight elevation, an enlargement of Lansing's new comfort station, and you have the Capitol grounds as they looked to me 50 years ago. The building, composed of red brick, which now makes the Butler block,had been the State offices, but was temporarily occupied as a medical college and was soon afterward torn down to make way for the present Capitol building. The dissecting room of the College was one from which a safe had been removed by way of a hole through the floor. One bunch of school kids put a ladder up through this hole and another bunch gained entrance through the door by picking the lock. The first ones in were scared nearly as stiff as the 'stiffs' on the tables, but those

504 PIONEER IIISTORY OFr I(NGII.AM COI:NTY behind crowded them on until they too had one look, and then it was a case of devil take the hindermost. "Then in 1872 the present building was begun. I was very much interested in it as Willie Appleyard, the superintendent, was a schoolmate, and was my pass to any part of the job at all times. The most wonderful thing about the building is the part that cannot now be seen, the foundation. Especially is this true of the deep, broad foundations of the rotunda. There is a story below the basement, and at the bottom of that story the foundation of solid masonry is broad enough so that the biggest trucks that travels our streets could be driven round and round on it. The steel framework of the dome before it was covered was a beautiful sight. "The tops of the rib work before the frame of the lantern was erected were riveted to a broad circle of steel. One noon some of us from the school climbed up there and were chasing one another around on that circle to the horror of the people on the ground, who were afraid to call us down for fear we would get scared and fall. "But when the first bell rang we hurried down in safety. And when my father heard about it, take it from me, he handed me what was coming to me. It is hard to realize the height of the dome as you see it from the ground. If the steeple of the Congregational church were standing out away from the church the dome of the Capitol might be sliced off close to the roof and set right over the steeple without touching it anywhere. I haven't tried it myself, but I had it straight from X- Y- (Prof. Carpenter), when I took engineering under him at M. A. C. in 1876. "That other story, of more interest to the girls, will come some other time."-State Journal, 1916.

LANSING TOWNSHIIP AND (CITY, WITI IIISTORY 505 DAUGHTER GIVES INTERESTING SKETCI OF DR. MARSHALL, LOCAL PIONEER. 2720 Hillegass Ave., Berkeley, Calif., October 29, 1921. Editor of Lansing State Journal, Lansing, Michigan. Dear Sir: A Lansing friend has sent me an article clipped from your publication of Sept. 22. This article was supposed to be a sketch of the life of the late Dr. Marshall, written by Dr. F. N. Turner. The inaccuracies and glaring misstatements are a great injustice to the memory of a man whose life and service played such a prominent part of the lives of the citizens of North Lansing thirty years ago. I am therefore enclosing a corrected sketch of the life of my father, with the earnest hope that you will publish it, that your readers may know that truth may be as interesting as fiction and a more perfect tribute to the memory of a useful citizen. Yours very truly, LAURA E. MARSHALL. The physician who carried on the practice of medicine and surgery for 24 years prior to 1890 was Dr. Orville Marshall, and not Thomas, that being the name of his son. Dr. Marshall graduated from the University of Michigan in 1865. He had not been drafted for service in the Civil War because of his delicate health. But in the last year of the war, he, with four other medical students, went to Washington as volunteer surgeons. He was stationed at City Point and within a week was put in charge of the hospital at that place. After three months of unceasing work he became ill and was sent home. He only reached Rochester when he became so ill that he sought the home of an aunt where lie remained several months. The effect of this illness followed him through life. After graduation Dr. Marshall shared the office of Dr. Chapin, of Chelsea, for one year. During that year he visited his aunt, Mrs. Elisha Turner, in North Lansing and decided that the

506 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIA1M COUNTY Capitol City should be the scene of his future labors. He returned in the fall of 1866. Elisha Turner and his brother, James Turner (who were doubtless relatives of the Dr Turner who wrote the article referred to) befriended the young physician as much as his independent spirit would allow. WORKED WITH FATHER. Before taking up the study of medicine the doctor had assisted his father as contractor and builder. In the early months when patients were scarce lie made use of this early training by building himself a little office on Franklin Avenue between the bridge and Washington Avenue. Ile boarded with other young men with a widow who kept a boarding house on Turner street. The doctor's mother had been dead for many years, therefore, the socks of her knitting mentioned in the previous article were as much a myth as Dr. Turner's enumeration of other articles of Dr. Marshall's early equipment for practice. The skill of the energetic little doctor soon brought him a thriving practice. As little attention was paid to road building in those days, roads were often impassable; he spent many hours on horseback visiting the sick on the outlying farms. The buck-board of those early days was later replaced by a buggy of his own invention; a skeleton affair with side springs and a swinging seat, which saved his delicate back from the jars of rutty roads. The mud-spattered buggy with the small black horse and the doctor's musical whistle were familiar sights and sounds by day or night for many years as he answered the call of his fellow man for help. On Dec. 1, 1870, Dr. Marshall married Sarah Metlin after a year of courtship. Maggie Metlin, whom Dr. Turner credits the doctor with marrying, was an older sister. The statement that a wife was selected for him by his lady patients is also fiction. The suggestion was doubtless made but the doctor's fearless and determined character would never allow anyone to make his choices or decisions for him. BUILT HOME. The doctor and his bride made their home for one year in a house at the southeast corner of Seymour and Maple streets

LANSING( TrOW\xNSII' AND C(ITY, A WITI[ HISTORY 597 while they were building their future office and home at the southeast corner of Franklin and Capitol avenues. In this home their two children were born and it was here the doctor died. After his death the home was sold to Hiram Rikerd, but within the last few years it has passed into other hands and has been remodeled. In the beautiful flower gardens at the west side of the house the doctor reserved a bed for the cultivation of pansies. He bought choice seeds and crossed the varieties until perfect black and perfect white flowers without even a yellow center were obtained. This striving for the unusual and perfection was also demonstrated when the doctor made his fruit farm his avocation His strawberries were noted for their size and flavor. At this time he studied horticultural journals as faithfully as his medica journals and became a useful member of the Lansing Grange. In his leisure hours the doctor indulged his fondness for poetry and history. He had an untrained talent for drawing, evidences of which were found in clever sketches in his note books and visiting lists. CLOSE OBSERVER. Dr. Turner's statement is correct that Dr. Marshall was a close observer, a diligent student and greatly interested in the civic life of the community. He was the first doctor in the city to buy a microscope and to make a thorough study of germ diseases. When the public sewer dumped its refuse into the river at the foot of Washington Avenue and epidemic of contagious diseases followed. The doctor's attempts to quarantine his patients were not upheld by the civic authorities. This so enraged him that at the next election he ran for city physician. IIe held the office for two terms, during which time the sewer was extended below the city, the open wells were condemned and quarantine was permanently established. It was during his second term as city physician that he was sued for malpractice by an eccentric old woman who was a city charge. She had broken her arm and had refused to submit to the doctor's treatment. At the sensational trial, which the doctor won, the court was three days selecting a jury. Finally, when it seemed impossible to select the twelfth man, the weary judge ordered the bailiff to go out on the street

508 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY and not return until he had found a man who did not employ Dr. Marshall as a physician. Danger to the health of the children of the city through poor lighting, bad ventilation and sanitation of school buildings again forced the doctor into political life; this time as member of the board of education. The immoral, the untruthful or the penurious man dreaded a glance from the doctor's piercing grey eyes or words from his satirical tongue. AMUSING STORY. The story is told of a wealthy but penurious man who had a sick daughter. For several mornings when the doctor came to the drug store, where he often received patients, he found this man waiting to casually ask him what home remedies he might suggest for the daughter. After several days the doctor heard that the child was very ill. The next morning when the father appeared with the usual questions, the doctor replied that he would suggest calling a physician and paying him for services. The man, not enjoying the smiles of the bystanders, asked him to attend his daughter. The doctor remained at the child's bedside for 24 hours. After midnight he heard continuous voices in the house. On investigation he found the family and neighbors holding a session of prayer for the recovery of the child. Later the father attributed the child's recovery to the intercession of the Lord. When he received the doctor's bill he protested against its size. He was informed that the extra charge was for-the assistance of the Almighty. The doctor's lack of reverence for conventional religion was a constant source of grief to his religious friends and a tool in the hands of his enemies. He was not irreligious but had a creed of his own, which was service to humanity. He answered the call of rich and poor alike and gave so freely of his slender strength that when illness came he had no physical resistance. After an illness of four days he passed away on December 5, 1889, at the age of 51 years, respected and loved by the community for which he had laid down his life. Perhaps the following may be of interest also: Mrs. Marshall passed away in July, 1911, and was laid to rest beside her husband in the family lot in Mt. Hope Cemetery.

LANSING TowNsIIL 1 AND CITY. WITII HISTORY 5'09 The doctor's love of poetry and history and a talent for drawing he has passed on to his children. The son, Thomas M. Marshall, Ph.D., is at the head of the history department in the University of Washington at St. Louis, and is the author of several volumes of history. The daughter is in the art department of the Berkeley high School, Berkeley, Calif.-State Journal. WTALNUT FINISHINGS AT CAPITOL NOW REPRESENT VALUE OF $60,000. And now, people of Michigan, after nearly 50 years, what will you take for the inside woodwork of your Capitol? How about that black walnut finishing upstairs and downstairs and in the governor's chambers, not to mention the fittings where the supreme court holds forth, the 100 desks in representative hall, 32 similar desks in the senate chamber, and all the other fittings of the hard, dark wood once so characteristic of the State? It may be that you, the people, have been losing money on too many executive boards, but, look!-here are some other old boards worth while. Conservative estimate puts the number of board feet necessary to replace the present black walnut finishing at 200,000 board feet. Black walnut is not carried in stock these days, but it can be had at between $200 and $300 a thousand board feet. This means that to replace the black walnut in the Capitol would cost the tidy sum of $40,000 at the lowest figure. To work up this lumber into a duplicate of the Capitol finishings would probably cost at conservative estimate $50 a thousand, so here is to be added another $10,000. After being completed at the mill it is estimated the work of putting the finishings in place in the building would cost on the basis of another $50 a thousand, and so there would be another $10,000 to add. Iere then is a total of $60,000 for the interior woodwork on three floors of the Capitol. But the old wood involved is held as more precious than its worth in dollars and cents. It is emblematic of the day in which the Capitol was built. Black walnut was a highly esteemed wood then, but more plentiful and less costly than hard pine of today.

510 II()ONEER HISTORY OF INGl11AM\ COUNTY Its significance lies largely in the fact that when in was put in, it was a tylical Michigan hard wood. Its cost, then, is estimated at from $75 to $100 a thousand. Today, if the Capitol were to be rebuilt, it is not likely there would be any thought of using black walnut. More likely marble would be used. The use of black walnut for interior finishing is scarcely known today. Furniture factories are taking black walnut wherever and in whatever shape it can be found. Not a crumb of the wood is wasted in these places. Little blocks no larger, perhaps, than an inch square or so, are preserved and used later as a delicate inlay, perhaps, in some choice bit of cabinet work. The inquiry probably will arise with some, how does black walnut compare with mahogany? The answer is that while mahogany is in considerable better supply-is, in short, a commercial commodity and regularly carried in stock-it is nevertheless quoted considerably above black walnut, at $500 or more a thousand. The law of supply and demand, however, still holds. While the supply of black walnut is very limited, much more so than mahogany, nevertheless the fact remains that there is scarcely any call for black walnut today. Black walnut seems to be more of an honored relic than otherwise. Black walnut, for the most part, seems to have fallen on an evil time, so far as present day demand for it is concerned. For the most part, nothing like the artistry was put into its use, when plentiful, that was put into colonial mahogany. "Early Grand Rapids," the product of the great furniture city when it was striving for ornateness rather than for lines that would make its creations of eternal worth, is that into which all too much of the valuable wood went and so is not likely to be redeemed except as it is worked over. While there is some black walnut still to be had, nevertheless as a commercial wood it appears to be gone forever and the interior finishings of the Capitol will grow in value, both in dollars and in sentiment, as the years go by. The estimates used in the foregoing were elicited from Win. Burgess, of the Rickerd Lumber Company, from Harry Conrad and Martin Lechlitner, of the 11. G. Christman Company, and from Harold J. Reniger, of the Reniger Construction Company.

LANSINA TOW\NS11 II AND C(ITY, VXITI lHISTORY 511 OLD BOOSTER BOOK OF LANSING TELLS WHEN FUEL WAS CHEAP. Advantages of Early City are Set Forth in Full in Effort to Stimulate Manufacturing and Jobbing Business IHere in Large Way. In 1873 the advantages of Lansing other than those known as natural advantages were much different than those of today. A book published by the Lansing Improvement Association in that year under the title of "Iansing, the Capital of Michigan, Its Advantages, Natural and Acquired, As a Center of Trade and Manufaclture,"' had for its purpose to show "how Lansing had become the commercial and financial, as well as the political Capitol of a great State." The pamphlet was issued as booster material for the city by the association, whose officers were J. J. Bush, president; A. N. Iart, vice-president, and E. W. Sparrow, secretary and treasurer. The purpose of the organization was to promote the building up of manufacturing and jobbing interests of the city. The book covered every phase of civic activity and reviewed all the industries and business projects of the city. A good idea of the size of the city at the time of the publication of the book may be gained by perusal of a map of Lansing in the front of the book which shows the Grand Trunk depot to be far south of the city limits of that time, which were located at the present Washington Avenue bridge. The territory immediately west of the State Capitol building between Allegan street and Michigan Avenue was not even platted at that time. The old I. O. O. F. Institute, which is now the Sclool for the Blind, was on the edge of the territory bounding the city on the west and was outside the city limits, while the Industrial School or "Reform School," as then called, was on the eastern boundary. CITY IS AMPLY PLANNED. The city, as first platted, was two miles in length north and south, by one mile east and west. It was laid out on a liberal scale, the main avenues being seven, and the other streets five rods in width. Eleven acres were reserved for the grounds upon which

512 'IONnEER HISTORY OF INGIIA3I (OIUNTY to build the present State Cal;itol building and seven and onehalf squares besides the Capitol grounds were reserved for other public purposes. A paragraph in the book describing the business location of that time as follows: "In the horseshoe formation made by the Grand river is located section 16, upon which stands the State Capitol and the main business center of the city. Another business center is located in the northern section of the city, upon the east bank of the Grand river known as North Lansing, where a number of manufacturing establishments are located, as well as many stores." The growth of the city was stated as follows: "The population of the city and township of Lansing in 1845 was 88; in 1850, 1,229; and in 1855, 1,556. The city was organized in 1859 and its population by the census of 1860 was 3,085, and of the township, 497. The population of the city in 1864 was 3,573, that of the township remaining nearly the same, having fallen off 28 from the census of 1860. In 1870 the population of the city was 5,243, and of the township 823-a total of 6,066. By that census the township contained 183 voters and the city 1,230. At that time the city was divided into only four wards. Of the total number of people in the city, 4,403 were native born; 838 were foreign born; 77 colored, and there was one native born Chinaman. There were 1,065 dwellings and 1,091 families. The land about Lansing was heavily timbered and anything but inviting to settlers. The first railroad was built from Owosso to Lansing in 1862. The growth of the city from the time of the location of the Capitol up to 1871 was slow and did not come up to the expectations. Many of the residents feared that the city would lose the Capitol buildings and it was not until the years of 1871 when the Legislature voted $1,200,000 to be raised by taxation in six years for the building of the State house, that the question of Lansing's retaining that position permanently was regarded as finally settled. Since that time the population has steadily increased until at the present time, April, 1873, the count is 8,556(. The future of the city may be regarded as secure." TELLS OF NATURAL ADVANTAGES. In mentioning the natural advantages of the city, the book

LANSING TOW\NSHSIP ANDL CITY, WITI HISTORY 513 commented at length on the favorable climate showing in what ways the temperature was favorable to all modes of life and industry. Relative to the water power of Lansing the pamphlet went on to say: "The water power at Upper and Lower Lansing is excellent. That at North Lansing has been utilized, and has become the nucleus of a large manufacturing interest; that at the Upper Town is equally good and is only waiting for the right men to avail themselves of it. The fall obtained at each of these privileges is nine feet, and the amount of water is limited only by the Grand river." Quotations from the book go to show that there was no shortage of lumber at a low price in the good old days when the ground for the Capital City of Michigan was being broken. The article went on to say: "We are situated in the midst of the finest variety of hardwood timber of the following sorts: Beech, maple, ash, whiteoak, basswood, black walnut, cherry, etc. The finest beech and hard maple, which exists in great abundance within the immediate vicinity of our city, is now available for wood, at $2.50 per cord, a price rendering it of little or no value, at a greater distance than four miles from our city, yet this lumber would be a mine of wealth if properly utilized. Any amount of it could be furnished for years to come at from $10 to $12 per thousand feet, delivered in the city, manufactured into lumber of any shape. Large quantities of oak, ash, walnut, cherry, hickory, and rock-elm are being shipped from our city and the country adjacent thereto to eastern and western markets." The fact that the timber lands of Michigan had not even been as much as scratched by the woodman's axe is shown in the following: "Another great advantage we possess is our easy access to the extensive pineries of northern Michigan. We have direct connection with this great lumber region by means of two railroads diverging from our city to the northeast and northwest, penetrating the pineries for over 100 miles each, which afford freight for said roads for at least a quarter of a century to their utmost capacity. The average number of cars laden with lumber passing through our city at the present time will exceed 100 per day and must increase very rapidly as the roads are extended northerly."

514 PIONEER HISTOlRY OF INGTIAMI COUNTY MAKES URGENT APPEAL FOR INDUSTRIES. An urgent appeal for the establishment of manufacturing industries in our city was made in the following paragraph of the book: "A much more extended reference might be made to the advantages of our timber lands in connection with the manufacture of articles composed largely of wood, and especially such as are in constant demand in our own and adjacent states, such as agricultural implements, furniture, railroad cars and other products. It is very questionable economy for our railroads to wear out thousands of cars in hauling from and through our city to distant points the raw materials for the building of other cars to take their place. These are considerations worthy of some note at least by manufacturers." That there was no need for government control of fuel conditions back in the happy days of 1873 is shown in the paragraph which reads: "A question of first importance to any manufacturing city is that of fuel. In this respect Lansing again comes up to the front with a wealth of wood and coal accessible and cheap. Being situated in the midst of heavy forests of hard timber, wood, being the most easily and cheaply obtained, has been hitherto the staple article of fuel and for some years to come it will continue to be plenty at low prices; but in all cases, when it becomes necessary to use coal it can be obtained in good quantities and quality within 12 miles of the city at the rate of $4 to $5 a ton." Building stone was abundant in the vicinity of Lansing in the early seventies and the brick situation was described as follows: "Mr. George B. Hall, who is supplying the brick for the new State Capitol, is also shipping large quantities to Jackson and other towns, and there is no good reason why, with our abundant and cheap fuel, our direct and competing lines of railroads to Chicago, we may not send to that extensive and growing city millions of brick every year at remunerative prices. They are now being furnished at the yards at from $5 to $6 a thousand. The demand for drain tile is just commencing and must increase rapidly." Much space was given to the fine farm land adjacent to the city and the advantages in crop growing near the city of Lansing as a market for the products. The scale of prices for farm lands is shown in the book as follows: "Lands within 15 miles of the city range in value from $15

LANSING TOWNSHII' AND CITY, WITI HISTORY 515 to $40 per acre for timbered and from $25 to $75 for improved farnis." The author of the book evidently had a "hunch" as to a profitable investment as is shown when he said, "There is no better chance to realize fortunes from the advancement of real estate than is now offered in farming lands about Lansing. Their advancement must be commensurate with the growth of the city." POETIC TRIBUTE TO LANSING OAK, WRITTEN IN 1847, COMES TO LIGHT. Tree Once Shaded Site of Old Capitol; Poem in Old Scrap Book. Sentiments, expressed in the days of Lansing's far past, today cause realization that its citizens are now living in a day of realized prophecy. A poem written here in June, 1847, by Dr. H. S. Burr, a resident here at that time, has just come to light. This poem comes to The State Journal from Mrs. J. N. Bush, the woman who is credited with having lived longer in Lansing than any other person here. Mrs. Bush, who came here as Eliza Powell, taught the first school ever conducted in Lansing. She knew Dr. Burr, the author of the poem. Mrs. Bush, in looking through an old scrapbook recently, made in her girlhood days, found the verses. The poem was printed in a Detroit paper, for that was before any publication had been started in Lansing. Accompanying the lines was a note of explanation stating the lines were written concerning a great oak, standing about on the site where the first Capitol was soon to arise. Reference is of course intended to the site of the old Capitol, not the present one. The effusion to the oak was dated at "Michigan," Ingham county, as Lansing was then designated. The poem follows: THE OAK OF THE CAPITAL. Alas for Time! what changes hath he wrought In this wild realm! The race that once came here, To pitch their tents, to light the calumet And talk of peace, laden with trophies from

516 5PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIAM 'COUNTY The vanquish'd foe, are scattered o'er the earth Like wither'd leaves, that float along our path In Autumn's blast. The dark-hair'd maid, no more, Shall meet her sire, the Sachem, crown'd with plumes Of age, and rank, and listen to his tale of war, And blood. Nor shall her lover pipe his reed In wildly solemn, strangely mournful notes, To serenade the Day-god, as he folds The sombre curtains of the dusky night Around his weary limbs, and sinks beneath The bosom of the western waves, in calm, And quiet rest. Where in thy book, 0 Time! Hast thou the record kept? Where the rude seed Was planted in the earth, and from its heart The tender germ uprose, to tower, ere long High o'er the forest ground, and reign the king Of all the tuneful woods. And those, old oak, whose limbs are sered with age, Speaks out, and give us hist'ry of the past. How many years hs this bright river roll'd With glassy bosom, at thy earthbound feet? Hath she passed on, in the same beaten track, Age after age? or hath she not, full oft, Turn'd far aside, to tread some untried path, When frowning clouds have drench'd her sloping banks And fill'd her gentle breasts with heaving rage! Hath she not, sometimes, groaned beneath the weight Of the fierce red-man's fleet of blacken'd troughs, And felt her sides transfix'd, when warfare rag'd With flinty missiles from the whizzing dart? Hath not her mirror cheek turn'd hectic When the crimson tide hath pour'd, in combats, From the red-man's veins? 0, yes! I answer For thee, since thy lips are sealed, and utter More than thou couldst ever speak, but meeting Thy assent, at every word. Fix'd like a Faithful sentinel upon his tower Those must have seen such service as the rest Can never boast. Clad in the gaudy robe

LANSING TOWNSH1IP ANID CITY, WITI- HISTORY 517 Of youthful spring, thou oft didst lift thy head Towards heaven, and frown upon the less luxuriant, 'Neath thy shade, and spurn the feeble art By which they clung, with slender root, to this Cold earth. When summer hung her richer garb Around thy form, and life was coursing free Through every vein, how didst thou glory in Thine own majestic strength and court, e'en court The warfare of the storm. But when the dark Fierce tempest press'd upon thy leafy crown, And scathing lightnings lick'd, with forky tongues, Thy pompous robe, then thou wast glad to lean Thy quaking form, against the arms of those That scarce could see thy tow'ring height And Thus it is with man. If thrift attend him In his earthly course, he towers aloft, in Vain, and selfish thought, scarce deigning, in his Height to view a common man; but when his Breast is wrung with racking pain, and riches Cease to prop his sinking heart, the least is Worthy to afford him aid. Yes, thou, old Oak hast seen full many a change. Spring, doubtless, Hast renew'd these twice an hundred times, and Fill'd thy heart with the rich joy of hope; and Sweetest incense from the aromatic bower Has mingl'd with the carol of wild birds, And sent thee up an offering that a king Might prize. If Summer made thy verdant robe More full and fann'd thee with the zephyr's wing, Autumn breathed mildew on its gorgeous folds, And left thy limbs in all the nakedness Of beggary. But thou hast gain'd thy full Appointed strength. The wintry winds have dash'd Against thy form, the fiery bolts fell at Thy giant feet, and thou through time, hast brav'd Them all unhurt; but soon the poison axe Shall pierce thy side, and thou shalt prostrate lie

518 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHIAM COUNTY Among the weak; and from thy heart, pillars Shall soon be cut to stud the Capitol. But thou shalt not be lone in thy proud fall; A plague shall hang upon thy neighbors, too, For death is on the woodman's greedy blade, And it is bound to desolate thy fair Domain. And where the sturdy forresters For ages stood, a throng of active forms With busy minds shall come, and rear huge halls, And domes, and churches high, and porticos; From out whose chambers iron tongues shall Speak through brazen lips, and congregate proudmen To worship God, discuss affairs of nation, And of state. The soil where thou Hast strewn thy Yearly fruit, shall now be plotted by the Just hand of art; and dwellings where strange Passions of the human heart will ebb and Flow, shall rise to vie with thy magnificence, And strength, and round their base the blushing rose Will cling, and lend her fragrance to the streets, In which a busy throng will move in all The gayety of fashionable life. Thou who hast witness'd long the warring strife Of winds, and waters, driving storms, and frosts, Must listen, now, to wars of fiercer kind. The hostile mind of parties politic Will soon be gathered from this thriving state, And join in conflict on contending plans, Where mighty public int'rests are at stake In secret rooms where portions of thy trunk May chance to be, a knot of party-color'd Men will often slip, by artful remedies Adjust the pulse, and o'er a glass of wine, Control the destinies of this great state. -State Journal, 1920.

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITII HISTORY 519 FINDS FIRST PAPER WAS PUBLISHED HERE IN '49; "JOURNAL" HERE, 1850. Dr. F. N. Turner Digs Out Interesting Data on Early Newspaper History. Dr. F. N. Turner, 2003 East Franklin Avenue, has submitted a manuscript of unusual interest on the pioneer history of newspaperdom in Lansing. It is printed here in full: Looking over some old papers recently, I came across a bill for printer's supplies and a wage sheet that informs me the same was for the first newspaper published in our city. In 1849 Rev. J. H. Sanford, an evangelist of the Universalist church, came to this city in the woods, bringing with him a small printing outfit. He immediately set this up in a small frame building that had been used as a jewelry shop. This building was located in the first block on South Washington Avenue. To aid in his evangelistic work Mr. Sanford published a small newspaper called the "Expounder." The first number of this paper was published in the same year, 1849. The circulation increased so that in 1855 -(date of bills)-he, Sanford, was compelled to enlarge his office, purchase more type, etc., and employ more help. In consulting an old history of Ingham county, I find that in 1848 a firm of two men, Bagg and Harmon, of Detroit, Mich., started a newspaper, "Free Press," to give the people of the State news about the new Capitol in the woods of Ingham county. After a few numbers had been issued or printed this paper was sold and the name was changed to "State Journal." This must have taken place in the latter part of 1848 or first part of the year '49. This paper must have been published in Detroit as we have no record of its being moved to Lansing prior to 1850. We know that there were no buildings erected at that date that could house anything but a small or one-horse printing office and outfit. The workmen here at that time had to work overtime in 1847 and 1848 to complete the Capitol building and Seymour Hotel at the north end to get them ready for the first session of the Legislature in the winter of 1849. Another reason for want of buildings was the instability of its

520 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHIAM COUNTY (Capitol's) new location. The old pioneers will tell you how they lived in fear during subsequent sessions of Legislature as its members wanted to move or change the location to Ann Arbor, Jackson or some town where there was a railroad and other conveniences other than the Grand river, Indian trails and muddy roads through the dense woods that at that time surrounded our city. From above facts we can say that The Journal was the second and not the first newspaper published here. The third newspaper was the State Republican. Henry Barnes was the first publisher, and its first number appeared April 28, 1855. In a few weeks Barnes sold his interests to Herman E. Haskill. Shortly after Haskill made this purchase he met with a great disappointment. He was not appointed State Printer. Two men, Fitch and Hosmer, got the appointment, and Haskill sold his interests to them, and they published the paper in connection with the State printing. In 1857 Fitch sold his interests to John A. Kerr, and the firm's name was changed to Kerr & Hosmer. I can remember the two men and the old red building on West Michigan Avenue where the State printing and binding was done, and this paper was published. It had a long sign on the roof that informed the passerby that it was the State Bindery and Republican Office. This building was wrecked a few years ago to make room for the present Y. M. C. A. building. One word about the name-Republican. There was no Republican party in 1855. History tells us that this party had its birth under the Oaks at Jackson, Mich., in 1856. It was formed out of the Old Whig, Freesoil Democrat and Abolition parties. The paper must have borne another name until after the party was formed and then rechristened in honor of this new party. These old bills are a record of the cost of printers' supplies, also establishing the fact that the workmen had a union 66 years ago called "American Printers' Association." From what I can learn, without a copy of this old paper, it was in favor of a communistic or close communion form of government in religion, education, social and industrial life. This form of government died. Representative democracy and progress made it a back number and the only record we have of its propaganda is these old scraps of State history.

LANSING TOWNSHIIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 521 Some of my readers would like to see these old bills and the following is a true copy: "New York, April 14, '55. "Mr. E. V. Sanford. "Bought of Geo. Bruce Dr. 50 lbs. Double Gt. Primer No. 3, " 32c............... $16.00 34 lbs. 12 oz. Double Small Pica No. 2, 32c............ 11.12 22 lbs. 8 oz. Pica No. 6, 32c.......................... 7.20 33 lbs. Five-line Pica Extra Con., 44c................. 14.52 19 lbs. 2 oz. Double Paragon Con., 36c............... 6.89 32 lbs. Double Gt. Primer Ant. Ex., 38c............... 12.16 3 lbs. 9 oz. Two-line Brevier No. 4, 44c................ 1.57 4 lbs. Two-line Nonpareil No. 1, 90c................... 3.60 5 lbs. 9 oz. Two-line Nonpariel No. 6, 90c............. 5.01 3 lbs. 8 oz. Long Pr. Hairline, $1.00................... 3.50 9 lbs. 10 oz. Brevier Title, 74c....................... 7.12 10 lbs. Leads, 27c................................... 2.70 O rnam ents......................................... 8.80 B rass rule.......................................... 1.04 2 Brass Galleys, $3.00............................... 6.00 1 M ahogany Stick.................................. 2.00 5 pair Cases, $2, 3 Job Cases, $1.122................. 13.37 156 Letter 16 line Pica Condensed, 10c................ 10.60 225 Letter 12 line Pica Condensed, 7c................. 15.75 225 Letter 8 line Pica, 5c............................ 11.25 3 Boxes Battening & Carting......................... 2.20 $162.40 "The Am. Printing Association. To G. V. Sanford. Dr. May 21, To balance due on Settlement................ $93.00 To 9 weeks' work since............................. 90.00 To Cash paid John Gould for work same times......... 10.00 To Cash paid Wm. T. Merritt.........................75 To Cash paid for Candles & Sundries.................. 2.00 To Cash paid for Ink............................ 12.00 To Cash paid for freight on same..................... 2.25

522 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHIAM COUNTY To Cash paid Ink and pail........................... 1.25 $211.25 49.00 $172.25 Credit by cash on Probate Notices.................... $26.40 Credit by cash on Chancery Sale.................... 3.00 Credit by cash of Masons............................ 12.00 Credit by cash of A. Knight.......................... 3.00 Credit by cash of T. Treat........................... 3.00 Credit by cash of Vaughan...........................50 Credit by cash of Abby...............................50 $49.00" LANSING'S FIRST DAILY PAPER WAS FOUR PAGES, NEARLY ALL POLITICS. State Republican, First Issued in 1872, Handed Jolts to Austin Blair. "See that black flag-has Lansing gone in for piracy?" "Well, well-sure enough, but didn't you read in the State Republican yesterday how Fire Chief Cottrell had devised a new set of signals for his fire department. That black flag means that members of the volunteer force are needed between 'Middle Town' and North Lansing. At night, in case of need, fire balls will be thrown aloft." Maybe this conversation did not actually occur on the streets of Lansing in August, 1872, but it well might have occurred. Indeed, as the second speaker is here made to explain, the chief of the fire department did announce the "black flag" and the "fire balls" in one of the earliest issues of the new daily edition of the Lansing State Republican, a sort of journalistic grandfather of the present State Journal. Lansing, on July 30, 1872, saw its first daily paper, It was four columns wide and about 14 inches long.

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITII HISTORY 523 It was constituted of four pages, well printed and typographically neat. It was hand set. The publisher was W. S. George & Company. The staff was stated to be S. D. Bingham, political editor; J. W. King, local editor, and D. F. Woodcock, local agent. EDITOR A "VERSATILE Cuss." As his contemporary, Artemus Ward, might have described Editor Bingham, so it may now be said, "He was a versatile cuss." That is to say, Bingham was promiscuously active. He was postmaster and chairman of the Republican State Central Committee, in addition to his editorial position. What the Civil Service Commission would do to Editor Bingham in the present day on the score of "pernicious partisian activity" would be a plenty. "Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud?" quoted one from what is said to be Lincoln's favorite poem, looking over the shoulder of the explorer of this old paper, as its leaves were turned. Sure enough-the aspirations and the activities of those old-timers, of nearly 50 years ago, do seem highly inconsequential as one sees them now, in old-fashioned type and on pages that have too far gone for the sustenance of mice. Really, whatever was consequential about those early Lansing folks, we of the present, and not they, are reaping. The first little mouse-eaten file of the Lansing State Republican tells us that this city was then in the heat of the "Greeley campaign." How earnestly the old-timers did take their politics. Not an issue of the "Republican" misses a whack at the Liberal Republican and Democratic coalition, led by Horace Greeley, against Grant and Wilson. CALLED BLAIR POOR G. O. P. MAN. We of the present generation, as we daily pass and repass the bronze statue of Gov. Blair, think of him as altogether a stalwart Republican, but the old Lansing daily tells us unmistakably that Blair was "off the reservation" at that time, and how they were abusing him. Well, he was in good company. Here we find Editor Bingham "taking the hide off" Senator Charles Sumner, the

524 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY distinguished Massachusetts leader. But the editor had his cue from a strong source. No less a person than James G. Blaine led in the matter of denouncing Sumner. What, ho! here we find Blaine quoted as denouncing Sumner as an ally of Jeff Davis. Evidently the old boys overshot their mark in those days. Among our local celebrities, 0. M. Barnes was also "off the Republican reservation," and we find him announced to make a Greeley speech at the Allegan street fire engine house. The Republican State Convention which nominated John J. Bagley, of Detroit, was held here, in Representative Hall, July 31, the day after the new paper was started. There was a contest between Bagley and Francis B. Stockbridge, of Kalamazoo, and Bagley beat the latter 164 to 44. Inasmuch as Stockbridge went later to the Senate, it may be that the outcome represents a "deal" instead of a contest. Oh, well-the old boys were just as human if not a little more so than the present ones. It is amusing to read of the activities of that fiery rising young orator, Capt. Burrows (Julius Caesar Burrows). But Lansing was not all politics in those days, even though Editor Bingham seemed to try to give that notion. Improvements were afoot. Of course politics was discussed column length and the industrial matters in "local items," but one gets the picture of the past, nevertheless. NEW GAS WORKS. The new gas works was stated to be well under way and promised to be in readiness by Nov. 1. It's retort house was to be a substantial brick structure and its storage tank of steel was to have a capacity of 24,000 cubic feet. Oh, yes, Lansing was coming along. There appears to be considerable doing in otler building activity. The contract has been let to C. W. Butler for this part of the job, and the excavation for the new Capitol is progressing. The old Hinman block has just been sold and renamed the "Union" block, and is having a new front put in. Thayer & Cottrell have their building about completed and Bush & Hinman have the walls up for their new building just south of the old American House. C. W. Butler has another project afoot, other than the excavation for the Capitol. The paper states that this new block,

LANSING TOWNSHII AND CITY, WITIH HISTORY 525 with three stores, is about ready. Evidently "Middle Town" is getting the edge on North Lansing. But even over there, business is good. D. L. Case has begun his new store and B. E. Hart is making an addition to his flour mill. The new daily edition of the Lansing State Republican apparently did not greatly appeal to the merchants at the very outset, as a medium for getting business. The first few issues are without any advertising. But soon D. W. Buck, furniture dealer, and L. M. Simon, grocer, led the procession into the columns of the new paper. CIRCUS IN TOWN. Heigh, ho! Dan Rice's circus is in town. Dan is described as the world's foremost comedian-it is likely Editor Bingham and his local staff were already in possession of tickets calling for reserved seats. But Dan did not get off scott free. He offered $20 as a prize to whatever Lansing youth could ride his trick mule, and after several had failed, James Harris, a youth of 18-gee! he is 62 now-from North Lansing, did ride that mule. Then, according to the testimony, which convicted Rice of assault, he struck Harris with his whip. Circuses were not the only fun they had in those days. Here we find the daily trips of the "Sea Bird" and the "Minnie Cass," advertised by Capt. A. P. Loomis to make daily excursions trip on the Grand river between North Lansing and the Miner Springs Hotel, with stops at the Michigan Avenue bridge. By the way, the Mineral Springs Hotel (situated near the confluence of the Cedar with the Grand river) was no inconsiderable institution in those days. The State Republican made a practice of printing the names of the guests at all three hotels in the city. At the Mineral Springs are listed a number of guests from New York and Chicago and other places of importance. Among the guests is listed Mrs. Bayard F. Taylor, the wife of the distinguished poet and leading prose writer of those days. Up at the Chapman House George M. Huntington and wife are recorded as registered from Mason. Also at the Chapman House are "J. L. Lair and lady, of Dewitt." Also at the Springs Hotel, "Dr. L. C. Rose and lady" are registered.

526 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGLIAM COUNTY Whew! In these days the city editor would say to the reporter, "Whatcha mean!-'and lady?' " -State Journal. TELLS OF OLD CAPITOL HALL, FIRST OF LANSING'S BRICK TRADE BLOCKS. Another Interesting Chapter of Pioneer History Given by Robt. Edmonds. With old Capitol Hall, hull down as the sailors would say, behind memory's horizon, there is little wonder that some of its former aspects are slightly at variance in the memories of Lansing's old-timers. Now here comes Robert G. Edmonds, of the J. W. Edmonds' Sons store, on Washington Avenue, saying that he thinks O. H. Loyd is mistaken with respect to what he terms "Chapman's Hall." Mr. Edmonds thinks he has confused it with old Capitol Hall which stood (and still stands in part) near where Mr. Loyd ascribes the site of what he terms the "Chapman Hall." Old Capitol Hall, which long antedated Mead's Hall, later the Star Theater, recently told of by John Crotty, was within the walls which now inclose the business places at 109 and 111 South Washington Avenue. This building, according to Mr. Edmonds, was the first brick business block in what is now the down town part of Lansing. Indeed, he thinks it the second for Lansing in general, ascribing first place in this respect to the old Benton House, afterward known as the Everett House, the old brick tavern of territorial days, which stood approximately where the residence of Ransom E. Olds now stands. BEFORE His DAY. Mr. Edmonds is willing to admit that he did not live in the heydey of Capitol Hall, but was born of parents who were here then. He seems to regard those who came here some time during the '70's as late comers to Lansing. Capitol Hall, he says, was the great rallying place for the patriotic in Civil War days. Its stage was at the east end of the room and there was a gallery

LANSING TowNSHIIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 527 at the opposite end, under which were some small rooms that served as offices. The Edmonds store, as is told in a legend of copper letters on a brass background, was founded here in 1854. It first was a harness shop which stood further up the block. The present site was first occupied with a general merchandise store, painted with a checkered blue front. A fire about 1872 swept the frame buildings out where the Edmonds store and the bank building now stand. The Edmonds business was the second of business houses still existing here. The first of the concerns still in existence is the Buck furniture store, the founding of which antedates the Edmonds store by about seven years. Mr. Edmonds relates that he was born in the same block where his business is now located. Grand street, in those days, was the fine and fashionable thoroughfare of the city. At the corner of Michigan and Grand Avenues, where the VanDervoort hardware store now stands, was the old Chapman House, conducted in its later years by a Mr. Wentworth, who later transferred his hotel business diagonally across Michigan Avenue, to where the Wentworth portion of Wentworth-Kerns now stands. Grand Avenue was first called Grand street, but it became so pretentious that it was changed to avenue. The east side was particularly attractive, according to Mr. Edmonds. The river bank was sightly in those days and numerous families had terraces that overhung the river or else landing places for boats at the water's edge. Those sites are now occupied by industrial plants and no trace of the former glories of the river bank are even suggested, save one. A trace of the old steamboat landing can still be found under the Michigan Avenue bridge. OLD BOAT LINES. In the " 5 Years Ago Today" department of the State Journal, conducted on the editorial page, some reference is made from time to time to the old steamboat that ran from somewhere near the Logan street bridge to what was called Leadley's Park, now Waverly Park, but that steamboating was a modern instance as compared to the trips of the "Pickwick" and the "Mary" from a landing place just above the dam at North Lansing up to the old Mineral Springs Hotel. This stood near the confluence of the

528 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Cedar and Grand rivers. That old institution, now long since burned and nearly forgotten, is a story in itself. The Grand river in the days when boating was popular upon it was not the thick, green, scum-encrusted affair it is to day. Then it did not receive the filth of a big city or scarcely any at all. REAL WINTERS. The boating was not the only feature of attractiveness then. In winter (winters were winters then, they say) skating was a pastime that engaged the attention of practically the whole city. There perhaps are quite a number of Lansing residents with thinning or graying hair who might not be with us today had not their grandfather put on their grandmothers' skates down on the banks of the Grand. Ice skating was not the only pastime either. Harness racing of as good nags as ever leaned against a breast strap went up and down the ice at a 40-clip while fur robes sailed out behind, in the breeze, from "swell box" cutters. Lansing got its liking for fast horses in those days which did not entirely die out until after the advent of the automobile. Mr. Edmonds says that if anyone wishes to talk of harness racing in the old days to take W. K. Prudden aside for a quiet little chat, when in a reminiscent mood.State Journal. INTERESTING CHAPTER OF PIONEER BUSINESS HISTORY. "My father sold ox yokes to your grandfather." This bit of information which gives one an idea of the business history of a single Lansing family, is imparted on the show windows of the Robson Auto Sales Company, 408 North Washington Avenue. Old-timers who read it turn back the pages of memory and on these dusty pages read something of the business history of the John Robson family. Mr. Robson, who died four years ago at a ripe old age, was the father of Dwight Robson, owner and manager of the Robson Auto Sales Company, and also of A. M. Robson, owner of the Peninsular

LANSING TOWNStIIP AND CITY, AVITTI HISTORY 529 Cafeteria, Lansing State Savings Bank. The elder Robson was a genuine pioneer in Lansing's business history. The building, which saw his first efforts as a business man, is still standing in the north side business district at Center street and Franklin Avenue, and is occupied by a tobacconist. The elder Robson came to Lansing in 1851, at the age of 18 years, and began business in this north side location with James I. Meade, a man somewhat Mr. Robson's senior in point of age. The firm sold everything for the pioneer and this included everything from molasses and clay pipes to ox yokes and spinning wheel accessories. The favorite mode of travel in 1851 was by team, for the patient ox with his snail like gait was the only motive power that could negotiate the deep mud of the early roads around Lansing. So ox yokes were in somewhat of demand and Mr. Robson and partner kept them constantly in stock. The elder Robson saw the modes of transportation evolute with the generation. From the ox to the horse and from the horse to the automobile. It was a long step. The son, D. J. Robson, is now engaged in a line of business that the father couldn't have imagined even in the days of dreaming youth. The father from retailer became wholesaler and was almost continuously in business in Lansing from 1851 to the day of his death. And he left a most interesting business history whose leaves are unblemished and whose life as a citizen and booster for Lansing reflects the clean, honorable record of the real man.-State Journal. PIONEER TELLS OF FIRST-HAND HOLDINGS AND HEART FLUTTERS OF EARLY LANSING. Walk Through Woods From Benton House to Capitol in '49 Has Romance. Sarah Thomas was 17 and in love. Maybe she did not quite admit it to herself, but let us imagine her skipping out the back door of her father's house, which used to stand down where East Main and River streets now interesect,

530 I'1IONEE R IISTORY OF INGII[AM COUNTY and taking to the wild flower-bordered footpath that ran through the woods from the old Benton House to the new State Capitol. They called it Washington Avenue, deep mud though it was. That Sarah was in love that day in the spring woods is now historically proven; but that she came out in the clearing to meet quite by accident the young sergeant-at-arms at the new Capitol, as he should leave the task of keeping a majority lot of Democrats and a handful of Whigs in order, and return to the Benton House, is something we will have to imagine. Lovers in the woods about Lansing in the spring of 1849 were, we may well guess, not different than lovers in the parks will be in the spring of 1921. Edward Randolph Merrifield, history now relates, was in love, too, that spring day. Some years later he was to lose his job in the Auditor General's office because of party reasons and with a young wife and a small boy, Robert Thomas Merrifield, on his hands, he was to be very distressed in mind and not know which way to turn. What the Republican party would do to his love dream a few years later he could not suspect-the party had not arisen. "Oh, phsaw!-why need those old-timers have worried?" said someone to whom this little story was related just before the typewriter began relating it to the linotype. "Looking back to their time, a worry seems so incongruousthose pioneer folks were in the hands of a kind Providence." So, in the woods of Michigan in '49, they recklessly loved and married and then worried and their worries changed to good fortune quite magically and life went on about as today. The young clerk by losing his job got into merchandising and made a fortune here. But we must get back to our love story we just picked up on the edge of the woods. Love story, yes; but the young people were not admitting the fact, not even to themselves-oh, mercy no!the game had only begun. Still there were some things young Edward Randolph Merrifield, hero of the Mexican War and then sergeant-at-arms of the house, wanted to say and yet appear very casual in the saying. "Clerk Hovey told me today that Speaker Leander Chapman had told him that the Legislature is going to adjourn in a day or two-April 2 is the day set. More than 260 bills have been made

LANSING TOWNSIIII' ANDI CITY, WIT-H HISTORY 531 law and only seven more are likely to get through," he asserted by way of leading up to his news. "Oh, that is too bad-I suppose you will be going back to the store of Jacob Sumner. I hear the girls over at Utica, in Macomb county, are very attractive," replied Sarah. That is we can guess she did. "Huh!-girls in Utica-why they are that homely I was always glad when they kept their faces far back in their sunbonnets. I had a tough time driving old Sumner through the woods from Macomb county for the Legislature last winter, but now I am glad I came," continued Edward. "Why are you glad you came?" This from Sarah. Then there ensued a panic in her heart for fear he would tell. Probably he was on the point of telling the truth, but he explained as follows: "Well, you see, I have got a job in the Auditor General's office. Auditor General John J. Adam is going to take me in. He is sure John Swiggles, Jr., is to succeed him-the politicians have been fixing it up the last few days-and I will stand all right with him, too, and so remain here." By this time the young folks, let us guess again, had reached the Benton House. They paused and looked down the hill toward the wooden bridge across the Grand on the Jackson road. The old stage, with six mud-bespattered horses, straining under the long lash wielded from the driver's seat, were just coming up the hill. It was a warm day in March and seemingly the whole hotel full of men swarmed out to get the papers and the news. "My, how pa and Mr. Bush did drive to get this tavern ready for the opening of the Legislature-everyone said they couldn't do it, but they did," continued Sarah in the way of safe conversation. "Ann Cochran, who caine over here with her brother, Henry, from Woodhull, to do the cooking, told ma the other day that if it were not for so much cheap whiskey helping out as filling that they never could fill all these men with food. How Ann does hate the black waiters pa and Mr. Bush hired from a lake boat at Detroit to come up here during the session." By this time the spring-enchanted pair had turned down East Main street, and, because of instinct they did not realize, they

532 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHIAM COUNTY paused at the little new jewelry store. (It stood where the house at 112 East Main street now stands, occupied until recently by Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Kilbourne). So they stopped at the little pioneer jewelry store where the sight of plain gold rings set Sarah off saying: "Have you heard that Sarah Bush and Will Hinman are going to be married soon? I am going to stand up with Miss Bush and Secretary of State George W. Peck is to attend Will. There is to be big doings at the Benton House. Will Hinman is going to run the Benton House for Mr. Bush." Edward Randolph Merrified, Mexican War hero, took a conversational plunge. "'Member the night I met you?" began Edward, not exactly knowing where he was going conversationally, but feeling he must be on the way. "No; when was it?" evaded Sarah, knowing full well when it was. "Don't you remember how after I took Jacob Sumner's horse back to Utica I came back here by way of Detroit and the new railroad that runs to Jackson? From there I came here by stage. The night I arrived I was awful homesick and I wished I had not come. "I was moping around that night, and Rep. Thomas-your father-I didn't know it then-came along and he said, 'Say, young feller, come in here and meet some of the girls and shake a foot.' He would not take 'no' for an answer. I went with him inside the door and stopped there-and then-and then-I saw you * * *" "Yes, I was there with my sister, Eugenia, and her beau," admitted Sarah by way of helping on the story, just a trifle. Perhaps she thought it well for Edward to get into conversational high gear while they were yet in comparative solitude. "Your father asked me if there was any girl there I would especially like to meet, I looked again, and I told him that girl right over there-and it was you." Here Edward Randolph Merrifield must have paused to take a long breath. "How your father laughed. "Come right over; that is my girl," he said. Maybe this was not quite the way of it; but there is some such picture of the long ago; the time when halting conversations and

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 533 deep sighs and hand holdings and heart flutters began in Lansing. Yes, it must be some such picture, for today, in her 89th year, Mrs. Sarah Merrifield, at her home, 301 Seymour street, giggles like a girl when she tells the old story. Probably she remembers still how the tongue of Edward Randolph Merrifield was loosened and how he told why, of all the girls present that night at the pioneer ball, he wanted to know only her. Anyway, the story, in one way or another, was told. On Dec. 11, 1851, there was a marriage at the home of Rep. John Thomas. Assessor "Bill" Hinman's grandparents were there, and his newly married parents were there and probably a lot of those Torrent Engine Company firemen. Anyway, whoever were present as guests, Sarah was married to Edward and they lived happily ever after.-State Journal. LANSING, BACK IN '57, CLOSED SHOP WHEN NEW FIRE "MACHINE" ARRIVED. "To turn out in uniform and exercise with the machine on Tuesdays." So runs the minutes of old Torrent Fire Engine Company No. 1, told of along with other circumstances of Lansing's first engine company, back in 1857, in the State Journal Friday. Search the old record as one will, no more enlightening reference to the engine of those early firemen can be found than occasionally the word "machine." However, the old "machine" has a story all its own, rather romantic, too, in the ramifications of all circumstances concerning it, and the story deserves to be told. A lead to the story comes through James P. Edmunds, president of the Bates & Edmonds Engine Company, whose father, J. W. Edmonds, was an assistant foreman of the old Torrent Company in 1857 and afterwards a chief of the volunteer department. Triumphal entry to the city, over a flower-strewn way, honorable and exciting service through a period of perhaps two years; then sold far up north for service much as "Uncle Tom" was sold down South to ignominious slavery; then rescue and restoration to an honored place back at its old home in Lansing is, in brief, the history of Lansing's first fire engine.

534 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY The old minutes, told of in Friday's State Journal, refer now and then to negotiation with the concern of Button & Blake, and it was from this firm, says Mr. Edmonds, from other evidence he possesses, that the first engine was bought. The minutes seem to reveal that the money for its purchase was obtained by subscription of the citizens. Nothing, however, is revealed as to how much money was obtained nor how much was paid for the old "tub." Perhaps further investigation will reveal where Button & Blake, the manufacturers, were located. Some surmise Buffalo, others New York, perhaps it was Elmira, N. Y., inasmuch as a big concern for the manufacture of fire apparatus has long been located there. However it may be, certain it is the old engine came up the lake to Detroit and was sent from there over the Michigan Central, then completed as far as Jackson. BROUGHT OVERLAND. From Jackson the new fire fighting machine was brought "on hoof," so to speak. It was a great day for Lansing when the old tub arrived. Mrs. Sarah T. Merrifield, one of Lansing's oldest residents, was in the heydey of her young womanhood when the engine was brought triumphantly into town and she remembers the circumstance well. Those in charge brought the engine up through Leslie and Mason. Then they halted just outside of Lansing while word was sent into town warning that the engine was prepared to enter and be received in due form. What a furore there must have been. Great doings were afoot. There must have been a hurried donning of red shirts by the firemen, and deft and fetching placing of poke bonnets atop bewitching curls, and still more deft managing of wide hoopskirts, and oh, yes, to be sure-fresh pantalettes put on by the young maids who were to strew the street with flowers, through which the firemen and their new charge should pass. One may guess that there were plenty of old-fashioned pink and yellow roses to be had from every dooryard. Anyway, Lansing's first fire engine came to town amid a great hurrah. Too bad that early scene, as the "tub" was halted down

LANSING TOWNSIIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 535 town and men, women and children began to gather round and push and shove and crane their necks for a look at its resplendent brass work and inlaid rosewood sides could not have been filmed and today thrown on the screen to be glimpsed anew, in our day. Time went on, Lansing grew and began to take on airs and bigger fires. Somewhere about 1870 steam fire engines, then which, with their highly polished brass or nickled boilers and smoke stacks, nothing in the fire-fighting line more impressive has ever been produced, were purchased. Then came the day of the beginning of tragedy for the first old "tub." It was sold to the village of Cheboygan, and apparently its history was closed forever, so far as Lansing might be concerned. FIND "OLD TUB." Six or seven years ago James P. ("Jim") Edmonds and Oscar L. McKinley were hay fever victims at Mullett Lake. From there they went into Cheboygan one morning, hearing of a big fire at that place. Mr. Edmonds was talking with a barber there and one thing led to another and finally the barber told of the most curious old contraption in the way of fire fighting apparatus stored away in a shed down at the pumping station. The connection came to the mind of Mr. Edmonds in a flash. The old "tub" standing hub deep in mud was found and in due time dug out and photographed. Later negotiations led to its purchase, for old-times sake, and the former pride of the old Torrent Engine Company was shipped to Chief Delfs at Lansing. Again the old "tub" came back triumphantly. At the present time the old engine is stored in the loft at Engine house No. 3, in the southwestern section of the city. It has been taken apart because there does not seem to be room to display the old relic adequately; but some day-perhaps when the collection of the State Pioneer and Historical Society is adequately housed-the old engine may be taken out, placed upon its wheels and displayed to stir the imagination of those who find pleasure in revivifying the old days and living them over again with the ghostly folks who once materially trod the ways and byways of this city of outs. It deserves to be said in this connection that there was at one time Torrent Engine Company No. 2. It was at North Lansing.

536 PIONE0ER HISTORY OF INGIIAMI COUNTY Its engine was also sold when the steamers came and is now owned at Jamaica Plains, Long Island, not so far from Oyster Bay, where Roosevelt lived. It, too, is said to be carefully preserved. PAY IN BONDS. Another incident in connection with the first engine is that of what became of the money when it was sold. The sale of the old "tub" to Cheboygan was engineered by Watts S. Humphrey, a lawyer, once here but later of Cheboygan. Payment was made in bonds of Cheboygan, bearing 10 per cent. When it was discovered that there was "something in it" for the old boys, members of old Torrent Company were called together again. The minutes were scanned and those who had not paid their dues were declared to have forfeited their membership, as the by-laws provided. So, with the circle thus reduced, there was a nice little fund to distribute among the few faithful. The disposal of these bonds connects the story up with Orlando M. Barnes, Mayor of Lansing in 1871, and the city's foremost financial figure in his time. The residence built by him, still occupied by the widow, Mrs. Amanda F. Barnes, is still considered one of the remarkable show places of the city. Mr. Barnes sold the Cheboygan bonds in the Wall Street market, with which, as a railroad financier, he was familiar. So the story of the first old fire engine in one way or another runs through practically three generations. The old relic is worthy in itself, but, considered as to the memories that may be clustered about it, it is priceless. It deserves a glass case right now, without waiting for the pioneer museum which may be a long way in the distance.-State Journal.

I

C(IEF OKEMOS

LANSING TO)WNStIIIP AND CITY, WITIt HISTORY 537 CHIEF OKEMOS AND "GANG" SWOOP DOWN ON BIG "FEED" BACK IN 1855. Old Timer, Who Bought Old State House, Tells of City's First Days. Old Okemos and a hundred or more of his hungry braves, their squaws and papooses swarming into Lansing, July 4, 1855, and consuming the profits that had been hoped by two of our enterprising citizens from a big patriotic feast they had provided here on that date, was a circumstance of only yesterday. Only yesterday when we pause to consider that Myron Green, still living right here in Lansing, was one of the promoters of that Fourth of July feast; yet centuries ago was that occasion, if we measure not by actual time, but measure, rather by the changed aspect of Lansing and life in Lansing. Never before has so great a change been. We are living right in view of that miracle of change, and yet we scarcely ever pause to be impressed by it. Massachusetts a hundred years after the Pilgrims landed was not impressively different than it was the day they came; but Lansing, within a lifetime, presents a change that is nothing short of a miracle. Woods and Indians yesterday; a big, modern city today. Of an almost identical time and of a quite identical circumstance in Kansas, William Alden White, in a paragraph of his best fiction writes: "Either the canvas-covered wagon was coming from the ford of Sycamore Creek, or disappearing over the hill beyond the town, or passing in front of the boys as they stopped their play. Being a boy, he (John Barkley) could not know, nor would he care if he did know, that he was seeing one of God's miracles-the migration of a people, blind but as instinctive as that of birds or buffalo, from old pastures into new. All over the plains in those days, on a hundred roads like that which ran through Sycamore Ridge, men and women were moving from East toWest, and, as had often happened since the beginning of time, when men have migrated, a great ethical principle was stirring in them. The pioneers do not go to the wilderness always in lust of land, but sometimes they go

538 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY to satisfy their souls. The spirit of God moves in the hearts of men as it moves on the face of the waters." The two southern tiers of Michigan counties had thought of themselves as settled quite a while before 1855, but as for Ingham and as for Lansing in particular, the great trek was on into this region in '55 as markedly as it was into Kansas in the way White describes. So, in the Fourth of July feast and in the old Torrent Fire Company, the miracle of Lansing was then stirring and the participants knew it not. "Enterprise" seems to be the characteristic word of the early comers here, no less than "piety" seems to have been the characteristic word of the Pilgrims. Myron Green came to Lansing in '54 and yet it was only next year that, joined with John C. Darling, they spread a great feast on tables set in the old Capitol yard, extending across from the north to the south gate. For this celebration feast they charged 50 cents a plate. Quite a price for those days, but one must remember that they had brought oranges, a rare novelty here in those days, and almonds and similar nuts. With the roast wild turkey it was indeed some layout. All went well with the big dinner and the enterprising young men had already begun to count their profits, when lo, and behold! Old Okemos and his following loomed up just outside the paling fence of the Capitol yard and demanded to be fed. "We couldn't do a thing but feed 'em," related Mr. Green, and so, when they had finished, we found ourselves $100 in the hole on our undertaking that had begun so auspiciously." WAs TOP-NOTCH AFFAIR. But when one pictures in his mind such an occasion as that dinner was, when one realizes that it must have been the top event on the way of entertainment for Lansing, one gets a picture of those old days. The J. C. Darling joined with Mr. Green in the dinner enterprise was the Darling who was recently mentioned in these columns as one of the officers of the Torrent Engine Company. Mr. Green's name is also listed in the roster of that pioneer firefighting organization. The name of Mr. Darling also deserves to be remembered in another particular, according to Mr. Green. Darling was the

LANSING TOWNSHlII' AND CITY, WITI HISTORY 539 proprietor of the old Columbus House. It stood where the Hudson House later stood, which burned last winter, and is now being replaced by the new arcade and theater. Darling's middle name was Columbus and by that name he called his hotel. It was the first building ever put up on that site. Instead of a basement and foundation of masonry, the Columbus House was built on a foundation of beech stumps. They were sawn off square, a short distance above the ground, and the building built on them as supports. In after years, when the Hudson House succeeded the older Columbus House, the old stumps were found. Mr. Green has always been public-spirited as well as aggressive in his private affairs. He was one of the commissioners to remove the cemetery from its site, now known as Oak, or East Side, Park, to its present location. He was one of the committee of three to locate the fair grounds of the old Central Michigan Agricultural Society. The site of the old grounds is now occupied by the Oldsmobile plant. The fair grounds were laid out and the track built in 1867, but even as late as that oxen were used to plow for the race track buildings. Mr. Green was city treasurer in 1866 and 1867 and held other public offices. He expects to be present at the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce.-State Journal. SEARCH FOR STRAIGHTEST BACK UNCOVERS BIT OF LOCAL HISTORY. Grand River Boat Club, Back in Seventies, Met All Comers on Water. Ah, the old Grand River Boat Club-what a flood of memories is conjured up for those who remembered the days and activities of that organization. The straightest back in Lansing-it was the clue which put the State Journal upon the trail of perhaps the best of the series of "Old Timers" stories. "See that straight man over there?" said one old-timer, calling attention to another, across the street. "Well, that straight back of his goes back to his boating days on the Grand river."

540 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY The straight back is that of Mayton J. Buck, and so, through him comes the story of the old boating days on the Grand. Mr. Buck is president of the M. J. and B. M. Buck Furniture Co., the oldest business concern in Lansing. His residence is at 526 South Capitol Avenue. Pleasurable memories of the Grand River Boat Club are held by Mr. Buck, but these are.supplemented by a fine old scrap book in which is contained many newspaper clippings and other mementoes of the time when the barge crew of the old boat club was champion of Michigan. The Grand River Boat Club was organized in June, 1872, and duly incorporated. Mr. Buck still has the original constitution and by-laws of the organization and the articles of incorporation. These articles disclose that Daniel Striker was then Secretary of State, a name at present as unknown at the Capitol and elsewhere in Michigan, for the most part, as that of Tiglathpeleaser. FIRST OFFICERS. The original roster of the club contained 45 names. The first officers were B. H. Berry, president; William A. Barnard, vice president; William C. Teneyck, secretary; H. T. Carpenter, treasurer; E. C. Chapin, coxswain, and F. W. Westcott and R. J. Shank, assistant and second assistant coxswains, respectively. Though their names do not appear among the first officials, L. S. Hudson and M. J. Buck were active in bringing about the organization. Probably the only remaining clew to Hudson is that the new Arcade theater, now rising on South Washington Avenue, is on the site of the old Hudson House, once the premier hotel of central Michigan-L. S. Hudson was the son of the landlord of that hotel. He was active as a promoter of good times among the youths of Lansing in his day. E. C. Chapin, the first coxswain of the club, was none other than the late Edward C. Chapin, who died at his home here this fall. In the eyes of the younger generation Mr. Chapin, although long a lawyer here and for 40 years vestryman of St. Paul's church, was merely father of Roy C, Chapin, Detroit, of Hudson Motor Car Company fame. The boat house of the club was at the foot of Ottawa street just beyond the State Journal building, where the municipal power

LANSING TOWNSHIPI AND CITY, WITI HISTORY 541 plant now stands. There was but one dam in the river in those days-the one at North Lansing. It was a foot higher than it is today and the river presented a different aspect than it does now. But even then the course for rowing was so crooked that it would have discouraged less enthusiastic boatmen. Still, the bends in the course served in their way. The crew of the club became so expert in turning that in a famous regatta at Detroit the Lansing crew turned the far stake so quickly that a contesting crew protested to the judges, claiming the Grand river crew did not turn the stake at all. Judges, however, knew different. ONE OF GREAT RACES. Probably one of the greatest races in which the Grand River Boat Club ever participated was that at Detroit, July 4, 1876. That must have been a great day-July Fourth of centennial year. On that occasion the Lansing boys were matched against two Detroit crews. In one of these crews was George M. Savage and Alex. I. McLeod. Mr. Savage is today one of the oldest and most widely known advertising experts and agents in the country. McLeod, nearly a generation ago, was one of the most prominent names in Detroit and Michigan politics. The Detroit race on that memorable occasion was a spirited one and the boys from the Grand river won by only a second. Detroit, as a whole, not merely the boatmen, took that defeat hard. Mr. Buck's scrap book has a clipping from the Detroit Evening News which makes a more strident "holler" than any paper would today in behalf of its defeated young sportsmen. The complaint was that the Lansing boys had a very special shell boat, costing fully $700, with special devices for quick turning. As a matter of fact the Lansing crew rowed in their usual barge, which was even heavier and some wider than those of their competitors. At one time in its career the club here did have a sixoared shell, similar to the boats in which college races are pulled today, but the club was not highly successful with it. In connection with the famous Detroit rate it deserves to be related that there were only eight in the Lansing barge as against ten in the Detroit boats, and the latter were slightly handicapped to compensate.

542 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY GRAND RAPIDS RACE. Another famous race was that on Reed Lake, near Grand Rapids, in 1886. This was the junior pair race rowed by M. J. Buck and Fred J. Blair. Blair went into the boat the morning of the race, taking the place of the then, as now, husky J. Edward Roe. Buck and Roe had trained hard for this race through the spring and so far as Mr. Roe was concerned the training reached the point of overtraining for he collapsed in the final practice pull here at Lansing. Mr. Roe went into the boat that spring at 198 pounds, but lost flesh to such a degree during the summer that he could not stand the pace. Mr. Buck rowed the Grand Rapids race at 158. Blair weighed il at 146. According to clippings from Grand Rapids papers of that time, the race was a most exciting one. The Lansing pair won narrowly and suffered an upset as they crossed the line. This gave rise to the report that Mr. Buck had collapsed in the boat, but this later was found to be untrue. Mr. Buck, in exultation, threw up his oar at the finish and this is what caused the upset. Among the most cherished of his possessions are the trophies of his boat racing days now held by Mr. Buck. In the Grand Rapids race the first prize was a gold medal of a design particularly suggesting acquatic sport. Another memento is a certificate which attests premier honors for the Lansing crew in a race in 1875. At one time Mr. Buck had a trophy in the form of a miniature barge executed in solid gold. This was stolen some years ago by a sneak thief who entered the Buck home while everyone was out viewing a circus parade. The certificate, just mentioned, is now framed and has a proud place in the Buck residence. But the athletic prowess of the old boat club should not be emphasized unduly. There was another important aspect-they were the social lions of their day. It is doubtful if the present generation has ever known quite the eclat with which matters social were carried through in those times. At the outset the boat club gave frequent dancing parties, but after a time there developed an annual ball that was acknowedged the chief social event of central Michigan. Not only would Lansing merrymakers be out in force, but large delegations would come from Jackson, Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, Flint, Saginaw and elsewhere.

LASNSING TOW)NsIIi, ANI) (IT ITH, I IIISTOIRY 543 SUCH DECORATIONS. And such preparations as were made! Mr. Buck tells of using 1,000 lace curtains as part of the material of decoration for the old rink, where now is the armory. The event was looked forward to for weeks and months and of wonderful brilliance was the culmination. The fifth annual ball of the Grand River Boat Club is described in a clipping from a newspaper of that time as the "most brilliant." The large orchestra was brought here for that occasion from afar. It were futile to attempt a full description of this affair at this time- as Kipling would say, this is another story. There is one other affair that centers around the old boat club. Reference is intended to the farewell tendered by the club to Charles A. Towne, at the old Hudson House, Feb. 18, 1886. Mr. Torwn went out from here to win a name known nation-wide. He was for a time senator from Minnesota, and was second only to Bryan as a silver-tongued advocate of bi-metalism in 1896. He served several terms in Congress and was known as one of its foremost orators. Mr. Buck relates of him, "Charlie was one of the smoothest talkers, even as a young fellow, as I ever knew; he had the gift." Another occasion of the boat club was the annual banquet. Dec. 28, 1887. Hon. Samuel L. Kilbourne, still a resident of Lansing and probably oldest member of the Ingham County bar, presided as toastmaster. A sharp contrast between then and now resides in the quantity of food set forth. At the club banquet in 1886 there are 25 articles of food on the bill of fare not including the vegetables, which were probably held of too little account to mention. Mr. Buck says the banquet committee was not trying to show off either in point of lavishness of food. But 25 articles of food are more than the number supplied the other evening at the dinner in compliment to President Burton, concerning which a number are still questioning whether or not there was anything to eat. Still another occasion was a farewell tendered by the club to Mr. Buck himself, on the occasion of his leaving for a period of residence in California. The same Charles A. Towne, referred to above, was present and delivered a poem suitable to the occasion. Its first stanza ran:

544 110NEIER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY "Fair Michigan's Capitol City, The pride of the Wolverine State, Sends greetings to far Sacramento And her sister beside the Golden Gate. And the billows of music prolific, That love California's strand, Shall speak for the mighty Pacific And answer the voice of the Grand." There were more verses equally highfaluting and one cannot but conclude with Mr. Buck that Charlie Towne was a smooth word artist. The poet concludes, "For the happy reunion shall yearn And the signals shall blaze at the boat house Until our last cruiser's return." M. A. C. BIRTHDAY IS CELEBRATED. College Founded 64 Years Ago; First President's Address Significant. Michigan Agricultural College, through its alumni and students, celebrated the sixty-fourth anniversary of its dedication Friday. Sixty-four years ago after a corps of professors had been selected it was dedicated by the Board of Education in the presence of Governor Bingham and representative citizens from various parts of the State. The Hon. Joseph R. Williams was made president of the institution, and his addreess delivered on May 13, 1857, holds many thoughts that, considering the history of the college, are of much interest now. "I will," said the president, "at the outset deal with some of the objections to the institution. Men will brand it as an experiment. They will demand results before they give aid or sympathy. Even legislators pause in maturing the plan, which in its design and nature must be comprehensive or prove abortive. They propose to allow us the range of waters when we have learned to swim on dry land. "We have no guides, no precedents. We have to mark out the

LANSING TOWNSHIIP ANT) CITY, WITI HISTORY 545 course of studies and the whole discipline and policy to be followed in the administration of the institution. There are numerous agricultural schools in Europe, but while an inspection would afford important vital suggestions, they would afford no models for us. "Again, the institution commences here, almost in a virgin forest, to be subdued and subverted, before it becomes an instrument to maintain the self-sustaining character of the institution, or a means of ample illustration. The labor and the appropriation must be largely bestowed in creating what it is desirable that we should have at ready command. "The want of a permanent endowment will act as a discouragement. In its infancy, the institution must rely on the caprice of successive Legislatures. The adoption of a permanent policy requires a stable and reliant support that will carry it through adversity, regardless alike of the frowns or smiles of indifference, ignorance or malice. "Friends and enemies will demand too much, and that too early. The acorn we bury today will not branch into a majestic oak tomorrow. The orchard we plant this year will not afford a harvest of fruit the next. "It is proposed to do for the farmer what West Point does for the soldier; what the recently established scientific schools of our country do for the machinist or engineer, or the medical course of studies does for the physician. "A great advantage of such colleges as this will be, that the farmer will learn to observe, learn to think, learn to learn. The farmer, isolated and engrossed with labor, feels not the advantage of constant discussion and observation. That discouragement will be partially neutralized here. Every man who acquires thoroughly even all the information attainable in a college like ours should become a perpetual teacher and example in his vicinity. Thus one of the grand results should be a far wider dissemination of vital agricultural knowledge. "As to this youthful State belongs the honor of establishing the pioneer State institution of the kind and initiating what may prove one of the significant movements of the age, may she enjoy the glory of its complete and ultimate triumph." "For 64 years Michigan Agricultural College has been known

546 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY throughout the world as the foremost agricultural school," said President Frank S. Kedzie in his Founders' Day address to the student body this morning. "Of late there has been some agitation concerning a new name for M. A. C. I hope that it will never be found necessary to change the name which this college has so proudly borne for close to three-quarters of a century." From 11 to 12 o'clock this morning all classes were dismissed and the students joined in a huge mass meeting on the campus. President Kedzie was followed by Clarence E. Holmes, '93, superintendent of the State School for the Blind, who spoke briefly in praise of his alma mater. Led by the college band, the mass meeting closed with an impromptu parade around the campus.State Journal, 1921. LIST OF PUPILS OF SCHOOL OF '60'S WIDELY CIRCULATED. Old-time school days in Lansing have been made to live again because of the memories called up in the minds of those once here, now scattered far and wide. The list of names of some of the high school and grammar school pupils of the late '60's, which was published in the State Journal fairly recently, after having been preserved through half a century, by Charles S. Emery, has aroused interest in various sections of the country. A copy of the paper, containing the list of the boys and girls of the old times, was sent to W. D. Bagley, of Old Mission, and he was moved to subscribe for the State Journal and because of the news it carried moved later to come to attend Farmer's Week at Michigan Agricultural College. It was his first visit here in 11 years. Another interested person is Miss Delia M. Howe, M.D., who is at present in Riverside, Calif. Some extracts from her letter to a friend follows: "The names of the high school pupils of 51 years ago carried me back to those days so completely that I re-lived them again. It was really vastly entertaining. "Colonel Burr and I were the babies of our class; and when we met at 12 years of age, in high school, it was the first time that

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 547 either of us had ever had a classmate as young as ourselves. We became great chums and he lent me my first and last dime novel. He also instructed me as to the method of reading it in school hours-a method in which he had been very successful and had never been detected. But I, alas! (being always inexpert in concealing anything) was detected in the most blood-curdling part of the story, and the book was confiscated by a scandalized teacher, and after being held up to the execration of the school, while I wore an air of bravado, although I was inwardly wondering what would be the best way to commit suicide, the dime novel was burned. "As I had a debt of honor to pay, I couldn't suicide until I had collected 10 cents to pay Colonel for that book. Germany thinks herself hard pressed, but if she knew the difficulties I encountered in getting together the indemnity she would be heartened, I know. I finally succeeded, thanks to Angia, who always seemed somehow to be 'in funds' and had a penchant for buying of us children four-leaved clovers at 2 cents a head. "So, one happy morning, I triumphantly placed those 10 hard-earned pennies on Colonel's desk, inwardly hoping that he would not accept them since he had read the book and really had no further use for it. Alas! He protested-I insisted-he protested more faintly-I insisted with great vigor and at last-he fell! There was nothing left for me but to live up to my reputation as a bad girl. I went from bad to worse and one day reached a climax and said, 'darn it!' "Oh, what a commotion was there. I never understood why the heavens did not fall. There was a special session with my teacher, to whom I was adamant. I think no one dared to tell my father. My mother looked deeply grieved and quoted the Bible at me. She really had her quotations quite straight and this I knew for I was more criticial of her performance, as I had Bible by heart, than I was submissive to her talk. "As for my little friends, they stood by me. We lived with our heads in the clouds, steeped in Emerson, Carlyle and Ruskin. Not one of the little band was so tactless as to make the most distant allusion to my fall from grace. And this I will say for us all: No word ever passed our lips that the whole world might not have listened to.

548 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY "Life now resolved itself into a struggle with Miss, who, for some incomprehensible reason, felt it her bounden duty to break up this party. I fought like a tigress for her young. I think I felt that amidst surroundings not altogether elevating that little company of girls gave the one hope of reaching lofty ideals. That we were silly and sentimental is doubtless truethat we were developing our very highest selves seems to me now incontrovertible. "Poor Miss. She made a lamentable failure with us according to her own views. According to mine, we achieved a brilliant triumph over her. "Long live such creditable friendships!"-State Journal. FIRST RAIL STATION AT LANSING WAS TWO MILES "NOR' BY EAST" OF CITY. "Ram's Horn" Road Began Train Service Here in 1862. "All aboard!-Owosso and Detroit train, over the Ram's Horn, leaves station in 55 minutes-'bus going right down. All aboard!" This is the cry of the 'bus driver, opening the office door of the old Benton House, up on the hill, at 10 o'clock of the forenoon of a morning in Lansing back in 1862. Let the cry of the old 'bus driver come back to you through almost 60 years. Here they go-Landlord Hindman stands at the door and waves them off and perhaps young "Bob" Merrifield (Robert T.) springs out, boy-like, and hops up by the driver for the ride to the station. These folks leaving the Benton House have a long, hard ride before them before they reach the station. According to "Bill" Hinman, the veteran city assessor, Lansing's first railroad station stood just at the edge of the "big marsh," about two miles north, or, north by east, as the sailors would say, from Lansing. Go over the high, dry bridge out that way today and then down to the edge of the marsh and there you will be approximately on the site of Lansing's first station. It was called the station at Ballard road.

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND 'CITY, WITH HISTORY 549 PLENTY OF MUD. No wonder, taking account of the mud, mud, mud, that was everywhere in Lansing in those days, that it required fully 55 minutes froin the Benton House. The 'bus was very necessary. Like the "Toonerville trolley," it met all trains. But all the trains were not many. The train left in the morning at 10:55 for Owosso, where connection was made with trains of the old Detroit & Milwaukee road, east and west. In the afternoon, the train for Lansing, according to an official announcement printed in the State Republican of Jan. 1, 1861, was to leave Owosso at 2:15 p. m., or as soon as the mail from Detroit was in, and arrive at Lansing at 5 o'clock. These were the two trains a day, one out and one in, the 'bus was required to meet. The first railroad into Lansing was known as the Amboy, Lansing & Traverse Bay Railroad, but so far as everyday reference to it is concerned, both in the newspaper and by word of mouth, it was always the "Ram's Horn." The notion we get and the testimony we get from the old-timers is that the road was just as crooked as that. But that name-Amboy, Lansing & Traverse Bay Railroadthere is a story just in that, but it is so much a story of itself that it will have to wait until another time. In the name is bound up a whole chapter-now wholly forgotten except to the archivistof early Michigan railroad policy. But let that story wait for the present. Here is a human interest story of "great expectations'? told in the dry formula of the records of the circuit court of the United States for the eastern district, file No. 1,259. Let your imagination run a little and you can make this old record live again in terms of human ambitions, expectations and disappointments in Lansing over half a century ago. The State Journal is indebted to Edmund O. Calkins, statistician of the Public Utilities Commission. The old court record says: BATH GETS PRESENT. "Deposition of David Gould, managing agent of the Amboy, Lansing & Traverse Railroad. "The railroad was begun at Owosso and completed to Laings

550 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY burg, 12 miles, Nov., 1860, and later to Bath, a distance of 20 miles, Dec. 25, the same year. (Some Christmas present for Bath.) In January, 1862, the road was completed to within two miles of Lansing; to Lansing, November, 1862, and to Michigan ave., Lansing, August 25, 1863, a distance of 28 miles." The deposition goes on to state that practically nothing had been done to extend the road north of Owosso except to cut some brush on the right of way. South of Lansing (for the Amboy, Lansing & Traverse Bay from Owosso to Lansing was only part of a big plan), a little grading was done, a very little, toward Eaton Rapids, 19 miles away. The rolling stock, according to the deposition, was first that belonging to Amos Gould and B. O. Williams and later the cars of the Detroit & Milwaukee. Now let the story be told by the old State Republican. William P. Innes, who used to be designated as engineer and superintendent, used to give out the news to the press in those days. Under the heading, "Progress on the Ram's Horn," the State Republican, Jan. 8, 1862, says: "The cars are now running across the big marsh to the deep cut, some four miles from town." FREIGHT RATES LIVE ISSUE. Feb. 19, 1862, there was some reference in the paper to the discussion of freight rates, indicating that the subject was a live one here. March 5, 1862, the State Republican says: "The track is now laid within a mile and a half of the first ward, and the company having placed a powerful locomotive on the road the past week, our eastern mail gets in by 5 o'clock. The connections will undoubtedly be made with regularity hereafter and the road become what it has only promised, a convenience and a great public benefit." Would that we had a picture of that "powerful locomotive"oh, the newspaper tribe "flossed up" their story, even in those days. Somehow, reading between the lines, one gets the notion of hopes long deferred in that phrase, "and the road become what it has hitherto only promised." The State Republican continues through the spring and summer. It says, April 2: "Ram's Horn Railroad: It is stated for

LANSING TOWNSIIIP AND CITY, WITHI HISTORY 551 the twentieth time that the iron has been procured for laying the track on the Ram's Horn to Michigan Avenue. We admonish our citizens to give aid in the work of grading." Imagine, if you can, a newspaper 60 years later, asking the citizenry to turn out and bend their backs as a public spirited endeavor in behalf of a railroad. On May 7, 1862, the following freight rate schedule was published in the State Republican, as follows: Class. 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Detroit to Owosso................. 30 28 21 17 Owosso to Lansing.................. 15 12 9 8 45 40 30 25 Flour and wheat appear to have had a special classification. Flour per barrel from Detroit to Lansing was 40 cents; wheat per 100 pounds was a total of 21 cents. SINK HOLE MAKES TROUBLE. May 21, 1862, slow progress on the "sink hole" is reported. This "sink hole" it appears was in the "big marsh" just north of Lansing. The editor later tells of visiting the bridge over the "sink hole" and assures the public that the bridge is all right, but that he gravely doubts if the foundation of the bridge over the "sink hole" is sufficiently broad and has had enough logs dumped into it. Editors did not shy from engineering opinions even in those days. Aug. 6: "The contractors have surrendered the job of filling the 'sink hole' to the enterprise of the city." There must have been giants in Lansing in those days, for on Aug. 27 the State Republican states that the "sink hole" has been overcome. Oct. 8, '62: "The management of the Ram's Horn says that the iron will be down in two weeks to Franklin ave." Oct. 29, '62: "Trains will be run to Ballard road tomorrow." Nov. 5, '62: "Iron laid into the city." Nov. 19, '62: "The cars are now running to Franklin st." "Cars running to Franklin st.!" Lansing gets its railroad and yet the paper of that day contents

552 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY itself with as inconsequential a little notice as a birth item. Indeed it was a birth item-the belated birth of the nineteenth century in Lansing.-State Journal. LANSING SEEN AS TRADE CENTER BY INDUSTRIAL WRITER IN '73. Following the same lines as in a former story regarding the booster book published in this city in 1873, this second article tells more of the early advantages of the city and of the predictions of the early settlers. The previous account dwelt at length on the natural advantages of Lansing while the following tells more of the acquired advantages. Previously it was told how in Lansing in 1873 coal was plentiful at $5 a ton, while the article to follow explains how $15,000 worth of business in 1873 was considered to be an enormous volume for one firm. The book explained that manufacturing was beginning to spring into its own in the early part of the seventies. Several pages were devoted to the topic, "Lansing as a Trade Center," in which the book elaborated on the advantages of the city for trading and the means by which Lansing might become a great trade center. The author or authors of the book must have been sages for the contents went to show that every prediction made by them has come true to a certain degree or promises to come true in the coming few years. Growth of the city along industrial lines was predicted in the same manner in which it has taken place, so that the city now ranks as a great center of trade and industry. The jobbing business was pronounced in the book as a promising field for future activity. Special attention was given the wooden manufacturing industry and the following was said of this branch of industry: "All establishments that have started here, using wood, have been more than successful, owing to the abundance of all kinds of timber and its cheapness. There are several establishments in this line, among them being three manufacturing sash, doors and blinds. They have on the average of 100 men con

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 553 stantly employed and in fact there is no limit to this business as the goods may be shipped to. any part of the country. The manufacture of chairs is getting to be one of the important industries of the city owing to the abundance of maple, beech and oak in the surrounding territory. One chair factory has been operating in Lansing for a period of four years." "Iron manufacturing," said the book in commenting on other industry, "is still in its infancy, but little as yet having been accomplished in this line. Messrs. Cady, Glassbrook and Company, at the north part of the city, who succeed Metlin and Company, manufacture agricultural implements, sawing machines, and do a general jobbing and machine business. They are the leaders of Lansing's iron workers. They employ about 10 men and will turn out about $15,000 worth of business this year. The Lansing Iron Works does an extensive business in steam engines and railroad work. E. Bement and Sons are making a specialty of agricultural implements. They have been located in Lansing for nearly four years and are steadily increasing their business each year. They are employing on an average of 15 men and will turn out about $18,000 worth of business this year. They are rated as Lansing's leading manufacturers." In the seventies the leather business was one of the chief industries and Lansing had a number of tanneries. At that time Lansing had four banks: The Second National Bank, capital $100,000; the Lansing National Bank, capital $75,000, and two private banks, C. Hewitt & Co. and Eugene Angell. The book described the situation as follows: "There is about $250,000 invested in the banking business. There is also some money besides invested in brokerage business and other financial enterprises. All of our banks and capitalists passed through the late money crisis without suspension and have continued to do business as usual with good prospects for the future." The State Insurance Company of Lansing was mentioned in the book as one of Lansing's foremost business enterprises. Under the chapter on public institutions, the book dwelt for some time on the many State offices and institutions in this city. That the city was justly proud of the Michigan Agricultural College was shown in the space devoted to the institution in the book. The paragraph which started, "The buildings stand upon

554 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY a slight eminence among the forest trees" goes to prove that the country around Lansing was not very thickly settled and the timber for which Michigan was famous was still standing. That money went considerably farther in the early days is shown in the fact that only the interest on a $207,500.74 fund was needed to support the school. The old Odd Fellows Insitute, which was converted into the present School for the Blind, was one of the civic prides in the early days of the city. The description and account in the book of 1873 was as follows: "The citizens of Lansing donated 45 acres of land and the north end of the Misses Rogers' female college to the grand lodge for the purposes of an Odd Fellows Institute. Miss Delia Rogers generously donates a large portion of the land purchased, a library of 1,500 volumes, and a fine philosophical apparatus. The land and buildings are located in the northwest portion of the city and valued at $70,000. The whole, when completed, will cost about $300,000. During the years of 1871-2 an addition of 57 feet square, constituting the main front, was put up at a cost of $30,000. The entire structure is to be completed as fast as the demands of the order may require." In 1873 Lansing had 15 churches, of which the congregations were constituted of people of practically every denomination. The city had two newspapers, the Republican and the Journal. At that time both papers were weeklies. The book described them as follows: "The Lansing State Republican, now in its nineteenth year, and the oldest paper in the city or county of Ingham, has an extensive circulation and first-class reputation. It is published every Friday morning by the firm of W. S. George and Company. It is a nine-column paper, on a large sheet, handsomely printed, and its editorial force is strong. This company also does the State printing and conducts a printing and bookbinding business. The company employs about 40 or 50 men and the operations are carried on in a three-story building on Michigan Avenue near the new State Capitol building. The Lansing Journal is an excellent weekly newspaper, published every Thursday by George P. Sandford, editor and proprietor. It is liberal in politics, has a large and growing circulation, and is well sustained with advertising patronage. It has a fine job office and turns out excellent work,"

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 555 In the closing paragraphs of the book the editor went on to explain Lansing's fine mineral wells and magnetic springs in such manner that could be termed nothing less than boastful. The editor was like all other Lansingites of that time and believed the springs to be Lansing's greatest asset, which was indeed true, as the springs had attracted worldwide attention. Persons were known to have come from Europe in the early days to visit these springs, which were touted for properties said to cure diseases of all natures. The Lansing Mineral Spring House was a handsome three-story hotel for patients and patrons of the springs that was situated in a beautiful park and was surrounded with spacious verandas. Boating on the beautiful Grand river was one of the chief recreations of the patrons of the hotel, and pleasant rides on steamers plying up and down the river for long distances could be enjoyed.-State Journal. THE BIOGRAPHY OF ELIZABETH WHITELEY, THE MOTHER OF JOHN WHITELEY, OF LANSING. Elizabeth Dean Service was born on September 21, 1800, in Salem, Massachusetts. Her mother died when she was only five years of age. She and her father went to live with her grandmother, Mrs. Williams, on St. Peter's street, Salem. The house is still standing in a good state of preservation. Her Grandfather Williams died in the Revolutionary War. He was one of the bravest and most daring of soldiers. He participated in many of its hard fought battles and his vigorous action, stubborn pluck and brilliant dash gained for him an enviable reputation throughout his regiment. He helped the men of Salem defend the North Bridge. Numbered among her ancestors were the noted families of Williams', Woodberry's and Millett's. Joseph Millett, her great uncle, was one of the brave and fearless soldiers of the Revolutionary War. He carried dispatches for his general in the end of his musket, so if he was surprised by the enemy he would shoot the document into fragments. Her forefathers were noted for their bravery, courage and unfaltering faithfulness in all they undertook. Her Grandmother Williams was a Puritan of the old school,

556 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY intensely religious, very precise and eccentric. She was a devout Presbyterian and thought it a sin to do any work on the Sabbath day, or even to have a fire built in the kitchen. So little Elizabeth was sent early each Saturday morning with the brown bean pot and one quart of beans carefully measured out to the public bake house where they would be prepared for Sunday. (This old bakery was built in 1663 and still stands on Washington street and is well preserved.) Early Sunday morning the baker boy would drive up with a pot of steaming hot beans and a loaf of brown bread, which constituted their Sunday menu. If it was winter the old lady would fill her little foot stove with hot coals from the sitting room fire and they would start for church. The meeting house, as they were called in those days, was very large, cold and desolate, often without fire. The minister had a large hour glass, filled with red sand, that took an hour to run through. The elders of the church required their minister to preach a sermon one hour in length, whether he had anything to say or not. It was very hard for little children to sit and watch the sand run through, and the time seemed very long. Another very hard proposition the little girl had was concerning her mother's grave clothes. They were made of the finest linen, kept in the spare bedroom upstairs, in the upper bureau drawer, with lavender laid between their folds. Once or twice a year they were taken out, washed, bleached and carefully ironed and again packed away, ready for the time when they would be needed. Elizabeth lived to be ninety-three years old, but to her dying day she never forgot the terror and awe with which she used to gaze on those grave clothes of her grandmother. The child had some very happy experiences. Her Uncle Abraham Millett owned boats that sailed to the West Indies, Central and South America. Once when he returned from a trip he brought her a monkey, much to the horror and disgust of her grandmother, but he was kept in his cage the most of the time. Once each year her grandmother invited the minister and the elders of the church, with their wives, to tea. That year there were twelve in the party invited. The best table cloth and the finest china and silver were taken out and the table set. She had three kinds of sauce at each

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 557 plate, sweet pickles, sour pickles, jelly and everything on the table ready to serve. The four kinds of cake were on their high glass standards; the tall caster set in the center of the table, the glass candelabra on either side, with the candles in place ready to be lighted, and everything in readiness. Then the grandmother had a happy thought; before sitting down to partake of this elaborate meal she would take her guests out in the yard to see her old fashioned garden and fruit trees. In some unaccountable way Jocko got out of his cage, went into the dining room and turned every dish on the table bottomside up. The old lady brought her guests back into the dining room, and what a sight met their view! The one grand occasion of the whole year was a mass of ruins. This grandmother attended the grand ball given in honor of General George Washington in Salem in 1779, one of the most brilliant affairs which ever occurred in that city. In after years Elizabeth's daughter-in-law, Mrs. John Whiteley, of Lansing, was granted the opportunity of seeing in the Salem Museum a dress worn by Mrs. William Gray at this grand festivity given in Washington's honor, and also of seeing the old historical colonial mansion where he was entertained on this memorable vist. Mrs. Williams numbered among her intimate friends the Pickering family, Timothy Pickering being Washington's Secretary of State. The Pickering house was built in 1660, and is one of the most picturesque of the early Salem houses. The beautiful old colonial building with its beautifully laid out grounds is still well preserved. Elizabeth's father was private secretary to William Gray, who was lieutenant governor of Massachusetts in 1810-1811. He was considered one of the wealthiest men in the State, owning one of the largest lines of sailing vessels in the country at that time. These vessels sailed to the West Indies and all parts of Central and South America. His office was located on the Crowninshield wharf. At the office where Elizabeth often went to accompany her father home she used to watch William Gray and her father count the gold that the sea captains brought in from their voyages, and her father would place it in wooden kegs and then head them up. Sometimes she was allowed to accompany these men in the private yacht of William Gray to Boston, where the gold

558 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY was placed in the banks. It was considered safer to carry the precious metal by water than overland by stage. William Gray built the first American yacht. He, accompanied by Elizabeth's father and a picked crew of men, sailed for France. On their return trip they visited St. Helena, the island home of the deposed Napoleon Bonaparte, whom they secretly hoped to secure and bring with them to America, but they failed in their undertaking. They visited with the Emperor, and on the whole it was a very eventful trip. Elizabeth often told of the beauties of this boat. It was upholstered in rich, light blue brocaded satin, with beautiful hangings. The silverware used in the dining room was very rare and costly. Elizabeth was visiting her aunt in Boston, a Mrs. Millett, on the occasion of General Lafayette's second visit to this country. She was chosen as one of the young ladies to head the procession and to strew flowers before the General's carriage. She never tired of telling of this grand event, describing the triumphal arch built for the occasion, brilliant with flags and flowers, with ladies standing at the four corners holding flags. The men were in colonial dress, with powdered wigs, and the ladies wore light brocaded satin gowns, with short sleeves and fancy bags hanging from their arms. She described Lafayette as a gentleman with a charming personality, tall and slender and exquisitely dressed. She remembered especially the beautiful, jewelled sword which hung at his side, and gleamed in the sun as he stood in his carriage bowing graciously to the multitude. The carriage was drawn by twelve white horses. At a certain point in the procession the carriage was detached from these horses, and drawn the remainder of the distance by prominent Boston citizens. It was on this eventful visit that Elizabeth met her future husband, Mr. William Whiteley, of Leeds, Yorkshire county, England, who had lately arrived in this country after a three months journey in a sailing vessel. They were shortly after married in the famous old South Church in Boston. Mr. Whiteley had been a shoe merchant in England, and learning of a good opening in Richmond, Virginia, he took his bride and they went by sailing vessel to that place, arriving in ten days, after a very stormy passage. While living in Richmond

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 559 they became acquainted with the old body servant of George Washington, and learned from that source many interesting anecdotes of the Father of our Country. After a time they moved to Charlottesville, Virginia, going up the James river. While there they often attended the Episcopal church that Jefferson helped build and many times visited the old Jefferson home. The old historic college was just outside the town. It would seem that college pranks were worse then than now. The southern kitchens were detached from the houses. Mrs. Whiteley had a famous old colored cook, Aunt Judy, who was noted for her beaten biscuit, always beating them thirty minutes. Oftentimes the students coming into town from the college in the late afternoon for their mail would surround the kitchen, hold up the old colored woman, take her hot biscuits from the oven, also any other eatables in sight, and as they devoured them would laugh at her funny remarks. One of the worst college escapades happened during the time the Whiteley's lived in Charlottesville, when the students captured the old village doctor. He was very venerable and dearly loved by the entire community. He drove a very large, old white horse, and old fashioned one-horse shay. One dark stormy night he drove out into the country to see a patient. When coming back on a lonely road through the woods he was suddenly held up by a band of students. The doctor was bound and gagged, the horse killed and disemboweled, and the doctor placed inside with just his head and shoulders out, then the carcass was sewed up. The shay was hung in the top of the highest tree. The aged doctor was rescued in the morning more dead than alive. The whole community was highly indignant and many students were suspended. The story is that at one time Edgar Allen Poe attended this college and was suspended for his pranks. About 1826 Mr. and Mrs. Whiteley moved from Charlottesville to Palmyra, N. Y., and soon after Mr. Whiteley commenced the erection of the Whiteley block. That was ninety-six years ago, and the building is standing today well preserved, showing what care and pains he took in its erection. He was a long time in completing the building, for workmen were hard to find, and the

560 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY lumber had to be hewn by hand. All the interior finish was hand made, even to the nails. When the building was completed he established a boot and shoe store in one part. He was an expert shoemaker, and was seven years learning the trade before he left England. All boots and shoes were at that time made by hand. Mr. and Mrs. Whiteley occupied the upper floor of the building for their residence, and their son John was born there on January 21, 1828. While living in Palmyra, Mr. Whiteley's mother in England was ill and he went to pay her a visit, spending six months on the ocean, three going over and three coming back, in a small sailing vessel. He was well repaid, however, as his mother improved after his arrival and lived to be one hundred years old. She came to America at the age of ninety-five, and resided with her son Joseph Whiteley in Lowell, Massachusetts, until her death. One Sunday morning during their residence in Palmyra there was great excitement in the town. Joseph Smith came rushing into the village calling out that he had gone out back of his barn early that morning and had dug up a wonderful gold plate and a pair of gold spectacles. He said that he had put on the spectacles and had been able to read the remarkable message engraved on the gold plate, which no one could read without the spectacles. Mr. and Mrs. Whireley with a crowd from the town went out to the Smith farm. They put on the spectacles and could read the words engraved on the metal. (Another version of the Joseph Smith miracles.) After leaving Palmyra Mr. and Mrs. Whiteley resided for a time in Philadelphia. Mrs. Whiteley often related how the watchmen would walk the streets at night, wearing continental hats and long black coats. They carried candles in tin lanterns, the sides of which were perforated with many holes, through which a dim light was shed. These men would call the hour of the night, adding "and all is well." In every front hall people were compelled to keep a leather fire bucket filled with water and when these night officers were heard to give a fire cry every man hurriedly dressed, took his bucket and ran to assist the firemen. While on a visit to New York city with her husband, Mrs. Whitely saw the Clermont, the first American steamboat, on her

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, W1IThI HISTORY 561 maiden trip, and witnessed the fear and anxiety of the people gathered on the river bank as they looked every minute for the boat to be blown up. A few years later the family moved to Wheeling, West Virginia, and were living there when General Andrew Jackson was elected President of the United States. They often told of the overwhelming ovation he received when he entered that city in a stage coach drawn by six horses. He went overland all the way from Nashville to Washington. The crowd following him increased as it reached Washington until there was a vast multitude of people gathered to do him honor. Mr. and Mrs. Whiteley were possessed of ample means, and the luxury of travel was extensively indulged in, though the mode of conveyance at that time was the stage coach, the canal boat, sailing packets and on horseback. From Wheeling, West Virginia, they moved to Toledo, Ohio, going from there to Lansing, Michigan, in 1850, where Mr. Whiteley was engaged in the boot and shoe business until his death on May 30, 1859. Their removal from Toledo to Lansing was accomplished by Ieans of a large prairie schooner, drawn by the largest span of horses ever seen in Lansing up to that time. It was a journey requiring twenty-eight days. the railroad era in Michigan having hardly begun. They were accompanied on this trip by their two sons, James and John. John Whiteley was a man of energetic character, marvelously clear business judgment, great determination, and a business man to whom much of the prosperity of Lansing is due. His friendship when secured never failed; he was charitable, benevolent, and ever ready to assist the needy. In his home he was a kind, indulgent husband and father. James Whiteley was a splendid student, realizing great success in later life as a farmer. Mrs. Elizabeth Whiteley's ninety-first birthday was charmingly celebrated at the home of her daughter-in-law, Mrs. John Whiteley, seventeen guests being entertained whose average age was eighty-four years. The evening was an enjoyable one and it was certainly an entertainment seldom equalled. The remainder of Mrs. Whiteley's life was spent in Lansing and vicinity, and she

562 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY died at the home of her son James, in Lansing Township, in 1893, at the ripe old age of ninety-three. Mrs. Whiteley was in many ways a remarkable woman, both through the strength and sweetness of her character and her varied experiences. Her life's recollections will be intensely interesting to the children of later generations, and a publication of her reminiscences that could be added thereto would be priceless to history. JOHN WHITELEY. John Whiteley was born in Palmyra, Wayne county, N. Y., January 28, 1828. When he was fourteen years of age he emigrated with his parents by the way of the Erie Canal and by wagon to Newark, Ohio. After a few years residence there the family removed to Wheeling, West Virginia, and in 1848 came back to Ohio, settling in Toledo, where they remained until 1850. His father, William Whiteley, carried on a prosperous boot and shoe business in this place. The star of the empire was moving westward and John's father caught the fever to emigrate. Quite a little excitement had been caused in northern Ohio about the Capital of Michigan being removed from Detroit into the wilderness of Michigan and the wonderful land values one could obtain near the new Capital City. During that year the family came to Lansing from Toledo. Their transit through the wilderness was a most painful, tedious and laborious process, a matter of hardship and endurance. The pioneer life was, in fact, in all its aspects and experiences, fraught with sufferings and privations. Many trees and brush had to be cut down and roads cleared before they could get through. Young Whiteley was of great assistance to his parents on the journey. No railroads connected Lansing with the outside world at that time, only the old fashioned stage coaches. They were twentyeight days coming from Toledo to Lansing, camping out at night when they could not reach a village or a farm house. They met many pleasant people en route, some traveling by wagon and oxteams. Often they stayed in old log houses built by earlier pioneers who had come in and cleared the way for those who were to follow.

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 563 Mr. Whiteley brought the largest span of horses that had ever been in Lansing at that time and an immense Prairie Schooner which he had brought from Virginia. When they arrived at Main street east on Cedar street they did not dare to cross the bridge at that point so came down to Michigan Avenue. Word traveled fast in a new pioneer town and when they reached the Michigan Avenue bridge nearly the whole town was there to welcome them, also to see the big horses and wagon. John was in his early twenties when he arrived in Lansing, but he already showed signs of his great business qualities. From his father he learned the habits and methods of a business man. Early in life he manifested prudence, economy and the strong business characteristics which made him so successful in after years. Soon after their arrival his father purchased the land where the Oakland Building now stands, also the present site of the post office. These fine corner lots were bought for three hundred dollars apiece. On the Oakland site he built a large double frame house. It was called the twin house. In 1857 John and his father leased some land midway between Allegan street and Michigan Avenue on the east side of Washington Avenue and erected five wooden store buildings. John took one of these buildings and embarked in the grocery business, one was leased to Peter Smith for a bakery and restaurant, another to Mr. Haynes for a jewelry store, one to his sister as a millinery store, and Mr. William Whiteley carried on a boot and shoe business in the other. These stores with nearly all their contents were burned down in April, 1862, with but very little insurance. The old Torrant hand engine did valiant work in saving Capitol Hall, just north, and other property in the vicinity. The following names of men and women are a partial list of Mr. Whiteley's business associates in those early pioneer days: Mr. Viele, of the noted old book store, corner of Michigan and Washington avenues; Mr. Elliott, of the checkered store; Mr. Hitchcock, who had a jewelry store; Mr. Truesdale had a small wooden store where the Capitol National Bank now stands; next north was Nichols and Hinckley, grocers; Thomas Westcott, merchant tailor; Merrifield and Weller, dry goods; then four one-story wooden buildings occupied by Coryell and Jensen, dry goods;

564 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAI COUNTY Mrs. Kirkpatrick, millinery; Bouthroyd and Van Kuren, boots and shoes, and on the corner where the Prudden Building now stands, Grove and Whitney hardware store. The following men were among Mr. Whiteley's business associates in the early fifties and sixties: Christopher Columbus Darling, John Billings, Henry Rodney Gibson, James Bascom, J. H. Beebe, Stanley Briggs, W. M. Clapsadle, Jacob Gibbs, Elder Greene, Charles Butler, F. M. Cowles, David Eckstine, John N. Bagley, Ebbin Dart, A. V. Dearin, John J. Bush, Andrew Birch, Henry Leader, Cyrus Hewitt, Daniel W. Buck, George W. Peck, Thomas Westcott, Harley Ingersol, John A. Kerr, James I.Mead, Judge W. H. Pinckney, Johns and Bailey, Ephraim Longyear, John Robson, Peter Wiswold, Mr. Quackenbush, Smith Hunter, Samuel R. Coryell, A. W. Williams, Daniel Parker, Washington Wiley, Hiram H. Smith, E. H. Davies, Frank Weller, H. H. Lee, William Hinnen, James Seymour, Thomas Bell, Orange Butler, George I. Parson, Thomas J. Ramsdell, Camell and Edwards, W. W. Upton, George I. Parsons. Among the early physicians were Dr. H. B. Shank, Dr. I. H. Bartholomew, Dr. Daniel Johnson, Dr. John Goucher, Dr. J. W. Holmes, Dr. H. S. Burr, Dr. David E. McClure, Dr. Russel Thayer, Dr. Price, Dr. B. F. Bailey, Dr. S. W. Wright and Dr. Jeffries. The arrival of the old fashioned stage coach in the early evening was the event of the day to the Lansingites, to see the stage arrive and who had come to town. The stage could be heard a number of miles out on the plank road which led to Detroit. The coach was built with massive wheels and the body hung in leather braces. The driver's seat was in the front with the trunk rack in the rear. In these old fashioned stage coaches the passengers soon became well acquainted as the roads were often so full of ruts and deep holes they would all be in a heap in the bottom of the coach. The driver with the reins in his hands and his long whip cracking over the four prancing horses and often blowing a long tin horn would suddenly come to a stop with a great flourish in front of the Veile book store, where the American State Savings Bank is now located. During the Civil War Stephen Bingham or some other promi

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 565 nent citizen would mount a barrel or box and read aloud from the Detroit paper the latest war news to a large crowd of both men and women. Newspapers were scarce in those days, almost worth their weight in gold, and everyone was so anxious to hear about the boys at the front, and especially as a great many Lansing men and boys had gone to the war. Mr. Whiteley was very much interested in the Ramshorn Railroad, our first railroad. When the first prospects of a railroad coming into the city was agitated which meant so much to the little slow growing town, Mr. Whiteley gave much of his time and money to help the project along. He went over to Owosso soon after the road was completed and often told of the shaking up the passengers received. When they came to one of the high sand hills all the people had to get off and walk so the locomotive could pull the empty cars up. Mr. Whiteley built the first brick house in the third ward, which is still standing. All the windows and doors and finishing lumber was brought overland from Owosso, the lime came from Bellevue. The house was built with three rows of brick on the outside, being called a solid brick house. White oak beams one and a half foot through were used in the frame work, no heat or cold could penetrate through the solid brick. On September 6th, 1857, Mr. Whiteley was united in marriage to Elizabeth Briggs. She was a young lady of rare qualities of mind and heart, amply qualified not only to assist him in the consummation of his business projects but also to make his life and home happy. The members of the Legislature were always saying there was no hotel accommodation in Lansing and the best thing that could be done was to remove the Capitol back to Detroit, out of the wilderness of Ingham county. They used to say there was nothing in Lansing but wild cats, wolves and Indians. The citizens of Lansing had to exert every effort to save the Capitol from being removed. Prominent Lansing men made a house to house canvass to have citizens who had large comfortable homes take in the members of the Legislature to room and board. Mr. Whiteley exerted every effort to have a good hotel built. Dr. Goucher lived in a story and a half house where the Downey now stands. The land was very low and the house stood way

566 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY down below the street level in a hole. The boys used the land around the house for a skating pond in the winter. This spot was finally selected as a site for a hotel and Mr. Whiteley headed the list and was very active in soliciting other business associates to raise funds to buy the site. A Mr. Baker was willing to build the hotel but he wanted the citizens to buy the site. The new hotel meant a great deal to the citizens of Lansing and there was very much rejoicing when it was completed. In early days it was as it is now, everyone wanted the new hotel on their particular corner, but it was finally settled to be build on the corner of Washington Avenue and Washtenaw street, where the Hotel Downey now stands. In 1860 Mr. Whiteley erected a store just south of the Hotel Downey where he conducted a very successful grocery business for over thirty years. Mr. Whiteley was a staunch Democrat of the old Jeffersonian type. His friendship when secured never failed. He was charitable and benevolent and ever ready to help the deserving. His fund of information was large and he understood and conversed eloquently on all important questions rendering himself a delightful and entertaining companion. He was a man of energetic character with a great determination and a business man to whom much of Lansing's prosperity is due. He was a kind and indulgent husband and father. In later years he traveled extensively, generally spending his winters in the South accompanied by his wife and daughter. Mr. Whiteley died of heart paralysis May 1, 1891. In the door yard at the Whiteley home, 414 S. Washington Avenue, Lansing, is a highly treasured relic preserved by the daughter of the Whiteley's, Mrs. Nellie Zimmerman, who owns and occupies this old homestead. This consists of a wagon tire from one of the wheels of the huge wagon mentioned in the story of Mr. Whiteley, which is used as the rim of a flower bed. One can judge something of the unusual size of the wagon when looking on this massive iron tire, about four feet in diameter, and which forms a lasting link between the early days of Lansing and the present time.

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 567 MRS. ELIZABETH WHITELEY. Mrs. Elizabeth Whiteley came to Lansing with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Briggs, from their country home in DeWitt in 1849. Mr. Briggs in his early life was a millwright and he helped to frame the old State Capitol building which was erected on Washington Avenue. At that time Lansing was almost a dense wilderness, with trees, stumps and woods as thick as they could be. Her father built one of the first frame houses in Lansing, on Washington Avenue south near Lenawee street. Mrs. Whiteley often lost her way in the woods going to the Townsend street school from her home. Sometimes deers and fawns would dart out in front of her on her way there. She remembered very well a member of the Legislature stepping off the narrow board walk which extended from the Benton House to the Capitol, killing a wild turkey and taking it to his broading house. Partridge and quails were very plentiful, and in the outskirts of the new Capitol City the wolves often used to howl at night. There were a great many Indians who used to camp in the woods near the city, coming to town in great numbers. Among these was Chief Okemos. IIe used to come to town very often and usually had two of his braves come with him. They always walked back of him in single file. They sometimes would walk right into her father's house without knocking, sit down to the table and tell her mother "Indians was very hungry. Give Indians something to eat. Put it into a great big pan," and it was "some eat;" the amount they could store away was remarkable. Mrs. Whiteley often described Chief Okemos as a short, thick-set man, very straight and erect, a man of great strength, and very quick and cat-like in his movements. He had a deep saber cut at one time which left a great scar in his head. If he happened to be good natured he would let you put your hand into the hole. At times the old warrior was very talkative and interesting and at other times was very morose and sullen. His face was deeply furrowed with many scars. His usual dress consisted of a blanket coat with belt in which he carried a long peace pipe, tomahawk, and a heavy scalping knife. He always wore buckskin leggings and moccasions and looked very fierce.

568 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIHAM COUNTY In 1852 Mrs. Whiteley's father built a large three-story brick building opposite the old Capitol where he carried on a very successful general store selling all kinds of dry goods and groceries. One of the first lodges in Lansing rented the third floor of this building for lodge purposes. This store was burned down in 1867. Nearly all the merchants in the early fifties went once a year to New York City to buy goods. They used to make up a party and go together. Often Detroit merchants would join them. On one of these visits to New York City Mr. Briggs heard Jennie Lind and never tired of telling of her wonderful voice and stage presence. He often entertained Zachariah Chandler when he came to the Capitol City. Mrs. Whiteley often recalled how interesting and entertaining he was. The planting of the elm trees around the present Capitol building was directed by Mr. Briggs, many of these young trees being brought from his farm in DeWitt. He was one of the early members of the Masonic lodge of this city, doing much to help in its organization. Mr. Briggs was noted far and wide for his ready wit, his kindness to the unfortunate, and his wide and deep sympathy endeared him to all who were privileged to know him. He died in May, 1867. His wife, Ann, died of pneumonia just six weeks before his death. If they could have been spared a few weeks longer they would have celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Mrs. Whiteley was married to Mr. John Whiteley in 1857. To this union two children were born, Isabella, who died of diphtheria when five years of age, and Nellie, who always resided with her parents. Mrs. Whiteley helped to get four of her husband's clerks ready for the Civil War. Three of them were killed in battle and the other one had his leg shot off. During the war she went nearly every day to the old Capitol building with other faithful women and under the able direction of the late Dr. H. B. Shank used to help make bandages and scrap lint. There were no sewing machines in those days and everything had to be done by hand. The ladies often took their fine linen table cloths as the linen lint was much better than the cotton. She also helped cut cabbage for

LANSIN(, TOWNSlIIIr AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 569 sauer kraut. Many barrels of this was made for the soldiers, as they had to have something sour. Mrs. Whiteley was one of the charter members of St. Paul's Episcopal church when the new church was started in 1859. The church was erected on the southwest corner of Washington and Ionia streets. She was a constant and faithful worker in this church for over sixty-three years. Nothing was dearer to her heart than her church and everything pertaining to the church life. Any effort, great or small, enlisted her ready sympathy and support, and she was never any happier than when she could do something to help in church work. Mrs. Whiteley died December 30, 1921, of heart trouble. Her radiant cheerfulness shed sunshine around her and her kindness was a benediction to all about her; a faithful friend abandoned in tender affection for her family and cherishing to the end old friends. To know her was to trust and to love her. This strong and beautiful womanly character, true in all the relations of life, her unselfish and thoughtful service for others, ever kind, very charitable and hospitable. Her friends always enjoyed being entertained by her in her beautiful home which she loved so much. She was admired and respected by all and her memory will be cherished with grateful affection by all who knew her. Her very presence was evidence of cheerful Christian faith, and we who are left offer the fervent prayer that we, too, in our pilgrimage here on earth, may radiate such an atmosphere of serenity, faith, and hope, and we thank God for permitting us the friendship of such a woman. Her influence will long be felt as a power and her memory as a sweet benediction. Written by her daughter, Nellie M. Zimmerman. A TRIBUTE BY A LIFE-LONG FRIEND TO ELIZABETH WHITELEY. The days of the aged are precious, And we sorrowfully note day by day The sure, burning low of life's candle, As the life slowly passes away.

570 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY And now sitting alone in the darkness, All alone in our hours of grief, We turn back o'er the pages of memory, Seeking there for some hope of relief. There we learn of the long years of service Of devotion to those she held dear, Of that patience that marked hours of suffering Ever striving to cheerful appear. Of her love for her church and its teachings How it helped her along life's rude way, Of her unfailing trust in the "Master" As he guided her steps day by day. But the light of that life has departed, And 'tis only the memory that's left, Of the years we have journeyed together That can comfort the heart now bereft. Yet, in the new life that awaits us, We'll meet the "Dear Mother" again, And in the few years intervening Memories sweet of that life will remain. PIONEER LOCAL WOMAN PAYS TRIBUTE TO HER GIRLHOOD FRIEND, NOW DEAD. Mrs. Elizabeth Whiteley Commemorates Mrs. Maria Sanford's Memory in Verse. By MRS. ELIZABETH WHIITELEY. Memory, running back to the days when Lansing was in the woods, and life was young, has stirred in the heart of Mrs. Elizabeth Whiteley, one of Lansing's residents who has been here almost from the city's beginnings, the following tribute to a girlhood friend of those early days and a companion here, down through the days and changing experiences since.

LANSING TOWNSHIP' AND CITY, WITI HISTORY 571 The tribute is to Mrs. Maria Sanford, recently deceased, at the age of 84, whose passing was noticed in these columns some weeks ago. Elizabeth Briggs and Maria Balch were scarcely more than little girls when back in 1848 and 1849 they came to Lansing and found it a bleak little place, very much in the mud and Indian infested. But girlhood friendships flourished then as now, and then the friendship began which has lasted through the years, even though the scene of it has changed almost passing knowledge. Girlhood past, Miss Balch became Mrs. Sanford, marrying the son of an early Universalist preacher here, while Miss Briggs became the wife of John Whiteley, one of Lansing's earliest merchants. Into the early experience of both these women came the Civil War. Mrs. Whiteley to this day vividly remembers Maria Balch going almost daily to the old, big white Capitol building, now gone, to work for the "boys in blue." One of her tasks was the aiding of her brother Myron, age 18, to get ready to go off to the war. He went and, described as a "bright handsome youth," war claimed him and he now lies buried in the national cemetery at Chattanooga. Mrs. Sanford, says her surviving friend of her, never forgot her patriotism, and so it was, in the days of the World War, though past 80, she went almost as often as in the days of the early 60's to work for the soldiers, at the Elks' Home, where the Red Cross workers expended their efforts. Her last photographic likeness was taken with a gray soldier sweater in her lap, knitting the while. In verse Mrs. Whiteley pays the following tribute to the fallen friend of a lifetime here. The verses say: "The days of the aged are precious, And the past memories of years long since past, Will be to me ever a treasure, While life and while reason shall last. "And so, to the friend of my childhood, Through all the long years of life's way, For the sweet blessed charm of her friendship, One last loving tribute I'd pay.

572 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY "In the long ago days of our girlhood, 'Twas together we walked hand in hand, To and fro, to the school, through the forest, Not far from the banks of the Grand. "Life had brought her at times much of sorrow, Yet, though bowed 'neath the chastening rod, Had kept firm in her faith, never wavering, Never doubted the goodness of God. "When the war clouds hung over our nation, And brave men left their family and homes, It was hers, then, to care for the suffering, To bring cheer to the hearts sad and lone. "And no doubt many brave lads now resting Where the poppies bloom over their graves, And above, like a sentinel faithful, The flag of their country e'er waves,"Would attest to the comfort and pleasure, That the work of her willing hands brought, When they donned those most welcome of garments, That her hands had so cleverly wrought. "Thus her life was a life of true service, And of loving companionship, too, And though sadly I'll miss her, yet ever, To her memory, be loyal and true. "And then, when to me comes the message, Bidding me to my last welcome home. May it be just one sweet, glad reunion, With the friend I have long loved and known."

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 573 TURNING MOTHER OUT-DOORS. Written by BYRON M. BROWNE, for the "Lansing Republican," May 2, 1870. You say you had a forewarning That soon there would be a fuss, From the very day that mother Came here to reside with us; And from the severest of trials The wise conclusion you draw No house in the world's large enough For a wife and her mother-in-law! You say you have suffered in silence The deepest grief of your life, And patiently tried to bear it And be a devoted wife; And that you'll suffer no longerNot even a single day; And you've made up your mind in earnest That mother must go away! I have silently heard your scolding, While my heart was full of pain; But now I will do some talkingIt is better for both to be plain. I earned this home for you, Nellie, And blessed it with labor's stores; And now you want to be turning My poor old mother out-doors! I'm sorry there's been any trouble, And sorry you can't agree; God knows my heart is in anguish; You're both very dear to me.

574 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAMI COUNTY And you can rely upon it There's nothing truer in life, That a man who don't love his mother Isn't fit to have a wife! My mother gave me my being, And guarded me kind and true; From her fair, beautiful bosom The sweet draughts of life I drew. And I think there's nothing purer, On earth or in heaven above, Than the earnest, tender yearning Of a mother's care and love. With her hands she made my clothing, Fed me, soothed me and blest; Tenderly nursed me in sickness, And pillowed my head on her breast. And once, when thought to be dying, The pulse but a fitful start, She pressed me close to her bosom And a new life came from her heart. O God! that was love to sigh for, That clings to the latest breath! To dream of, and hope for, and die for; That will conquer even death! It is holy, sacred and potent, Given to man from above, And only the loving Father Knows the mighty power of LOVE! The deep, strong love of my mother Guarded me when a boy; God only can know her trouble, God only can know her joy! She taught me true Christian lessons, She taught me to kneel and pray, And counseled me wisely, and guided Lest I should be led astray.

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 575 When ill, devoted and loving, In manhood's later years, She's watched all night by my bedside, And bathed my face with her tears. And if I needed her labor To "keep the wolf from the door," She'd work with her dear old fingers Till she couldn't work any more. Should I fall as low as the drunkardE'en down to the gutter's slime, Or were I confined in prison For a life of sin and crime, Though the whole world hated, reviled meDeserted by every one, She would come to me, cling to me, love me, And call me her own dear son. She's weary and old and feeble, 'Tis but a short time at best Ere all her cares will be ended, Her dear old heart will find rest. She's marched with the Christian heroes 'Neath the banner of truth unfurled Till she totters upon the borders Of the unseen spirit world. And peaceful, hopeful and faithful, Ready she seems to stand Awaiting the angels to summon Her home to the summerland. And when they shall welcome dear mother To her home on heav'nly shores, I know that the loving angels Will never turn her out-doors! And should I ungratefully do so, And turn her out, and forsake, My father's bones in his coffin Would tremble and shudder and shake.

576 ]}IONEIE1 R IIISTOIRY OF INGIIAM, COITNTY You're weeping, and you have repented, Your bosom with sorrow is rife. And mother shall live with us, Nellie, And you are my darling, just wife. (Taken from Mrs. Elizabeth Whiteley's scrap book and presented by her daughter, Mrs. Nellie Zimmerman, 414 South Washington Avenue, Lansing, Mich.) FARMER JONES AND THE PARSON. Written by BYRON M. BROWNE, for the "Lansing Republican," May 2, 1870. I am glad to see you parson, Your visits are few and rare. And this is my wife, sir. Polly, Please give the parson a chair. You're troubled 'bout me in spirit? You're full of pious groans? You've come to labor with me And convert old Farmer Jones? And you say I'm going to hell, sir, And I must ever burn, And suffer the greatest torments In that infernal concern? And there's my better half, PollyA good old soul in her wayAnd we're going to hell together? Now, Parson, that's rough to say. And to church we ought to be goin', And my ways are dark as sinI'm a stranger to that "blessed fold," And you want to "take me in?"

LANSING TOWNSIHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 577 As to that, you may be right, parson; I'm sure I cannot say; 'Bout those things I am uncertain And I walk the "worldly way." Yet I hold if a man is honest, Don't leave his friends in the lurch, He's just as good as the hypocrite Who's regular at the church. He's just as good as the preacher Who shows the way to bliss To a loving, trusting sister With a "paroxysmal kiss." I-e's as good as the pious brother Who weeps with you, and prays As long as the shrewd investment Of his tender brotherhood pays. Though a little preaching is wholesome, And, certain, it's right to pray, My spirit don't hanker for either, Though my debts I always pay. And I never have wronged a person Out of a cent in my life, Or robbed the widow and orphan, Or parted man and wife. And I hold if a man don't do so, Striving' for truth and right, He's as good as the praying miser Who covets "the widow's mite." And thinking the matter overThough I know I'm full of sinI'll not enter the shining fold And you needn't "take me in."

578 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY You think I'm lost sure, parson? Well, you needn't frown or scold, For I have no money to give you And Polly is homely and old. And she is the oddest woman That any old fellow owns; For she don't care a cent for kisses Only from Farmer Jones. And we're trudging along together, As loving as we begun; And we hope the Lord will receive us When our life's journey is done. So you're going, are you, parson? Maybe I've talked too plain; You think I'm a tough old sinner And warning's all in vain; And though you may not be willing, It is not wrong to say That I hope the Lord will judge us In a loving, tender way. (From Mrs. Elizabeth Whiteley's scrap book. Presented by her daughter, Mrs. Nellie Zimmerman, Lansing, Mich.) APPLETON BALLARD AND FAMILY. By L. ANNA BALLARD, M. D. Most pioneer history is preserved through personal recollection or family tradition. This record is a mixture of both methods. The heads of the Ballard family of Ingham county originally came from far east, Appleton Ballard having been born in Hanover, New Hampshire, and his wife, Epiphene Ellenwood, was born in Liverpool, Nova Scotia. The Ellenwoods drifted into Vermont, where the families met and Epiphene and Appleton

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 579 were married in 1830. The call of the west brought them to Sparta, Ohio, in 1836. In April, 1848, the family journeyed from southern Ohio to Lansing, Michigan. Mr. Ballard, with some other Ohio men, having scouted the country in the previous February. The family travelled by special train of two canvas covered wagons driven by Mr. Ballard and the three older boys, followed by a carriage driven by Mrs. Ballard, and with her the two girls and two small boys, the youngest two years old. They were two weeks on the road. For a few months they were housed in a plank house on the east bank of Grand river, a block or two north of the bridge that once crossed from Main street to Cedar street. The east side of that bend of the river was for a time the prominent business center of the new city. The first post office was located in Bush & Thomas' store at the corner of Main and Cedar streets. Later business moved across the river, up Main street toward what became Washington Avenue. The Ballards moved also. The writer of these reminiscences was born in that plank house on the east bank of Grand river in July, 1848. The novel move that was made is not within her own recollection, but is, however, well attested by family history. My father had bought some lots on the south side of Main street not far from the present terminus of Grand street, and he had to exercise his ingenuity to get that plank house with the mother and baby over on the new lots, for carpenters and lumber were hard to get because settlers were coming in so fast. So the plank house and contents were lifted onto a raft and propelled up stream to the desired point. There the balance of the year 1848 and first months of 1849 were spent, then a farm was purchased south of Okemos and the next summer was passed in the woods where the family took turns shaking hands with "Mr. Ague." Some days they did not alternate, for I have heard the boys tell that frequently they all had the " shakes " together and the only way they could get the cows home was to send the dog after them. Another horror of that summer, particularly to my mother, was the wolves. I have heard her tell of their howling around the house at night, even scratching on the doors. Then the men of the neighborhood would have wolf hunts, and for a time there would be peace at night. The domestic animals had to be as safely housed as the families at night, and all

580 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY pens for pigs, calves, sheep and chickens were built with high strong wall of logs. Because of the danger of extinguishing the family if we remained near the swamps, we moved into town again, and my father and brother David conducted the big store of the town, on Washington Avenue about where the Capitol National Bank now stands, where they sold everything under one roof, from silks to buffalo robes, from codfish to pitchforks, without the dignity of the modern department store. I have in my possession some bills of invoice preserved from father's papers. South of Allegan street was the Capitol block where the State House was built. On the northwest corner of this block was the house where the Auditor General lived. His name was Swegles. North of Ottawa street some cottages had been built and we lived in one of them. Those houses stood until the Tussing building was erected. Later, about 1852, we lived in the Bennett House, which for many years stood in the middle of the block between Ionia and Shiawassee streets, east side of Washington Avenue. This block dropped down from the street and some steps led down to the walk to the house. One of the principal hostelries of those years was the Ohio House, on Washtenaw street facing the south side of the Capitol block. When it was sold out father purchased some of the dishes. One large blue and white platter, decorated with pastoral scenes, is now a prized possession of Sister Alice (Mrs. W. O. Crosby). One winter night the store burned, father had a few months before purchased a tract of land north of town, just within the present city limits. I have the government deed by which Uncle Sam transferred the land to Appleton Ballard. Before spring the house was enclosed and the family moved in, and the boys were clearing off the forest of heavy timber to make place for spring crops. We did not see many horses in those days, but the sturdy oxen did valiant service in starting Lansing's prosperity. For a time the family continued to attend the Free Baptist church on Kalamazoo street between Washington and Capitol avenues. I can remember riding on Sunday mornings behind the ox team up Washington Avenue in a not very straight path, as we had to dodge the stumps, oftentimes with mud half way to the hubs. Later the First Methodist church at North Lansing became the church of the family, and through the remainder of his life my

LANSING TOWNSH-1IP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 581 father was an official member and class leader. His honesty and integrity was unimpeachable, a man of large sympathies and generous impulses, he was charitable, both in his opinions of others and his conduct toward them. In his political preferences he was a Republican and a strong advocate of temperance, even radical on the subject. He spent the last ten years of his life as a vegetable gardener, paying unusual attention to the propagation of choice new varieties of vegetables. He died October 96, 1885, aged 76 years. Mother died March 31, 1888, aged 79. She had not only brought up her own ten children but also three grandchildren who had become motherless. Not one of the thirteen brought sorrow to that home, or failed to receive the respect of their contemporaries. We pay homage, and justly, to great statesmen and heroes, but the home is the center of all noble impulses and influence. If there is anyone in the wide world who deserves the plaudits of humanity it is such a mother, wise, tender, patient and faithful, not only to her own but all about her as well. The entire family of ten children, three of them born in Lansing, lived to adult age and most of them to old age. James Allen, the eldest, enlisted in 1861 in the Third Michigan Infantry, serving his country in the Civil War until he dropped from heart disease on the march into the wilderness in Virginia. Sindenia A., after teaching school several years, married Dr. G. W. Topping, of DeWitt, Michigan. She died at the home of her son in Columbus, Ohio, at the age of 66. David E., in his early twenties (1857) became a pioneer of Kansas, where he served the State under General Jim Lane through the border slavery troubles, while the historic John Brown was shipping wagon loads of escaped negroes from Missouri into freedom. In 1860 Brother David was elected to the First Kansas Legislature. Immediately at close of the session he organized Co. H 2d Kansas Cavalry, of which he was commissioned captain. In 1865 he was appointed Quartermaster General of the State, and in 1878 again elected to the State Legislature. Now at the age of 86 he is making Miami, Florida, his home. Henry D. also enlisted in 1861, in the Second Regiment of Michigan Sharpshooters, serving in the ranks until badly wounded in the shoulder, when he was transferred to hospitallservice. He died at his home in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, at the age of 78 years. Eunice, who was possessed of an adventurous spirit and mission

582 IPIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY ary zeal, for some years taught government Indian schools at Sault Ste. Marie and Mt. Pleasant. At one time there was only one white family within one hundred miles. She became the wife of Albert Bowker, of Mt. Pleasant, and died at the age of 39 years. Alonzo enlisted in 1861 at the age of seventeen in the First Regiment of Michigan Sharpshooters. In that summer of '61, when the drums were beating for the volunteers and squads of patriots were daily testing their marksmanship, young Ballard hovered around watching for a chance to show his skill with the rifle and prove to his father that he ought to join the Sharpshooters. Appleton Ballard already had three sons in the field and Alonzo was a slender lad, too young he thought for army life, but his chance came and he stood the test of rifle practice; however, it was only when his father was convinced by nightly watching that if he did not give his consent the boy would run away and find his way into the army that he won the privilege he was seeking. At the Battle of Gettysburg he received a severe bullet wound in his side but served in hospital duties to the close of the war. He later adopted Kansas for his home, where he died at the age of 74. Benjamin Everett, though too young to go into the army, was a host of help to his father during those war years. He died at the residence of his son, Henry E. Ballard, at Nampa, Idaho, December 17, 1917, aged 71 years. L. Anna, the next in order of age, is living in Lansing. Sarah M., wife of W. E. West, is living on their farm northeast of the city. Alice, the youngest, after graduating from Lansing high school, took a select course in Boston University and married W. O. Crosby, Professor of Geology in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Their home is at Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts. One of my childhood memories is of the yearly visits of Chief Okemos, who always came in time for dinner. We children looked forward to these visits as one of the incidents of our lives. Once, I remember, he had a young Indian lad with him who was, no doubt, later the young Chief John. This vicinity would appear to have been a favorite camping ground of the Indians for a long time past. At the southwest corner of our farm, what is now East and McKinley streets, was a considerable hill, which the boys worked at for years to level down to the portion where the house was built. In the process of grading they came upon

LANSING TOWNSIIPr AND CITY, WITII HISTORY 583 an Indian skeleton in a sitting posture. The skeleton was given to a doctor. It is my impression it was Dr. S. D. Newbro, who practiced in North Lansing about that time. The building of the Ramshorn Railroad was an important event in the life of our city. We had our share in it as its track was diagonally across the farm. Great was the day when the first train went through, and long to be remembered was the first train load of soldier boys bound for southern camps in 1861. Our own hearts were burning with excitement for out from our home three boys were bound on the same mission. The fourth enlisted in Kansas. Much of the old place is still in the Ballard name, the farm house with its great hewn timbers still stands on its original foundations, and there too is the big black walnut tree in front that Brother Henry transplanted from the woods before he went into the army. For a time between the years 1855 and 1861 eight boys and girls went from this home with dinner baskets to school. Two of them to the Michigan Female College and six to the Cedar street school. When I first went to school Mr. Taylor was the principal and Mrs. Taylor taught the primary. This Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were teachers of large influence in Lansing in the years from 1850 to 1860. They first conducted a popular private school uptown. While we lived up there Sister Sindenia attended that school. I have a vivid remembrance of one day going to school with her. It is the first event I really do remember. Doubtless the reason it made such a lasting impression upon my mind is because the occurrence struck terror to my young heart. At close of school we started home in the rain when a cyclonic wind struck us. I was clinging to her hand as hard as I could, she was trying to keep the umbrella over us, but the umbrella was blown into space, and we were tumbled into the corner of a rail fence, somewhere about the three hundred block on South Capitol Avenue, and we were well drenched before we were able to pick ourselves up and proceed those few blocks home. No doubt my discomforture over a ruined hat and dress had no small part in my distress. One of the enjoyable memories of our Cedar street school years was the spelling contests. When we were about fourteen years old I remember standing with two boys after the rest of the school had dropped out of the long line around the room. The two boys

584 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGITAM COUNTY were Dwight Smith and Charlie Wood. I wonder if they would enjoy a spelling contest today. A little later there were the famous mental arithmetic drills under that prince of teachers, Martin V. Rork, in which we tried hard to compete with Russel Ostrander, the late Judge Ostrander. The Michigan Female College, which was established in 1856 and conducted by the Misses Abigal and Delia Rogers, was the educational mecca for young people around Lansing. It was built in the midst of a square of four blocks at the west end of Franklin Avenue, where is now the School for the Blind. Sister Sindenia was in the first class that graduated. Miss Emma Haze, sister of Dr. H. A. Haze, was also in that class. My brother Henry was a student there, for although it was primarily a girls school, a few boys were admitted. I spent two years in the school, and after teaching a few years, and later studying medicine and graduating at the Woman's Medical College of Chicago (now under the Northwestern University), I filled the position of resident physician in the Dr. Mary Thompson Hospital for Women and Children for a year and returned to Lansing in the spring of 1879 and entered the ranks of the physicians of the city. Among my never fading memories is the courteous way I was received by my brother physicians and the kindly help of those veterans of the profession, Dr. H. B. Shank and Dr. W. J. Hagadorn. They have passed on to their reward for their good deeds, not only for their kindness to a pioneer woman physician, but also for their genial helpfulness to humanity. ONE OF CITY'S FIRST STORE BUILDINGS STILL SHELTERS NORTH END BUSINESS. Gray with age, pathetically obsolete, the old Meade store building on the northwest corner of East Franklin Avenue and Center street, stands aloof from its fellows, dreaming of the past, no doubt, as a grandsire among his descendants. The old building, now occupied by a retail tobacco business, was one of Lansing's first store buildings. It has arrived at nearly the allotted time of man, having been built in 1854, but is still

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, XWITLI HISTORY 585 sturdy and sound and an expression in wood and beam of what our forefathers wrought so substantially in the days of pride of workmanship and conscience of craft. Dr. Frank N. Turner, who has become Lansing's official historian, and whose childhood days were spent in Lansing's first settlement, has a most distinct recollection of the early life in and around the old Meade building. When Lansing was designated as the Capital of the State in 1847, James and Horatio Seymour, New Yorkers, selected Lansing as a prospect for business. They settled in the northern part of the city and surveyed and platted out a good share of the north side. The block on which the business relic now stands was then and is now known as Block 8. MEADE OPENS STORE. The Seymour's sold the site and other property to James I. Meade, a character even in that day of characters and Mr. Meade built the present building upon the site of Block 8. Mr. Meade, described by Dr. Turner as a tall, always well-dressed man, opened a general store in the building. Meade was a tailor and made his own clothes and own shoes. He handled everything for the early settlers from ox yokes to "Meade's Pills." Dr. Turner says the building has changed in no way since the time it was erected with the one exception that it has been lowered. Steps formerly led to the first floor. Only a few scattered shacks surrounded the building at the time Dr. Turner played around the Meade store as a barefoot boy. Where the Auto Body plant now stands and much of the other business section of the north side was a quagmire in which lived black snakes and "blue racers." Every boy was cautioned to keep clear of the quagmire as it was a menace. Meade, says Dr. Turner, did a flourishing business until 1863 when he believed that the Confederate states, then at war with the North, would win. In this eventuality, Meade believed that the Confederacy would compel the northern states to pay such reparation money that northern business would be completely confiscated. So Meade sold to his three clerks, John, Charles, and Robert Robson.

586 PIION IEER HISTORY OF' INGIHAM COUNTY ROBSONS "CLEAN UP." The North won the war, however, and the Robsons, who had bought the Meade store and business at a low figure, made a financial cleaning. Meade remained in the city, however, and later engaged in other business and bought local real estate extensively. The old Meade store derived a lucrative business from transients who arrived on the stage from Detroit. Dr. Turner says the country around Lansing began to settle rapidly following the establishment of the capital here. Business grew and the town prospered. The Robsons continued the business in the old store until the seventies when they moved "down town." Since the Robson tenancy the old building has witnessed many new owners and tenants. The relic is now owned by J. G. Reutter, former mayor, who plans in time to raze it and erect a new brick block on the site. When this plan materializes the ancient of ancients in local business history will have vanished with its first owners and builders.-From the State Journal, Lansing, 1921. CITY'S FIRST HOTEL, WHERE SOLONS MET IN OLDEN DAYS, STILL STANDING. Franklin Terrace Has Important Niche in Lansing's Pioneer History. Who was Lansing's first landlord and when and where was the city's first hotel built? It is probable that few traveling salesmen, and there are 500 of them making their headquarters in this city ever give the question a thought as they roll up to local hotels in metered taxis and kick if they can't get room and bath. If the bell is out of order or the boy is slow of foot, there is another chance to kick, and if the telephone doesn't work or the electric lighting system is on the blink, still another chance to protest is offered. Dr. Frank N. Turner, Lansing's own historian, has located not only the spot and the first hotel, but can also give a list of landlords together with their various regimes. And Lansing's first hotel is still standing, although now so camouflaged that none of those pioneer landlords would recognize it.

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 587 The city's very first hotel, and in fact one of the first buildings to be erected in the town, is located on the southwest corner of Franklin Avenue and Center street and now serves the very modern purpose of housing a score or more of families. The building is known now as Franklin Terrace. Seventy-five years ago, when only a trail led to the door, "The Seymour Tavern," was the name by which it was known to early members of the Legislature and to the few settlers about Lansing. SEYMOUR BROTHERS. According to Dr. Turner's historic record of the building, James and Horatio Seymour, two brothers, speculated as to Lansing being the Capital of the State and eventually amounting to something. The Seymours were New Yorkers but owned saw mills at Flushing. In 1847 Lansing was named the Capital and the Legislature was assured. So the Seymours started the first hotel. The building originally was 48 x 128 feet with cellars and two stories. Lumber and interior finish for the new hostelry were hauled from the Seymour mills at Flushing by oxen over mere trails. Some of the hardware, hinges for doors, etc., was brought from Eaton Rapids by boat as much of the traffic then was on the Grand River. The hotel was built on the city's first clearing. Dr. Turner's father, Richard Turner, a then unmarried young man, came up from Mason where his uncle kept store and started to work on the hotel for the Seymours. He often, previous to his death, told his son, Dr. Turner, of taking a Sunday ride one June up river with "Mort" Cole. Mr. Cole was also working for the Seymours but later went into business when the town became larger. The west bank of the Grand, when the hotel was building, showed not a sign of the white man except occasional marks of surveyors who had been sent here by the government to locate the Capital site and survey the town. For miles upon miles west was unbroken timber. Lansing's first hotel had few conveniences, but was shelter and served good meals. It had one convenience not known to modernity, however, and that was a bar. Its lighting system was candles. If guests were sick in the night or wanted anything they

588 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGLIAM COUNTY "hollered." If the landlord was awake he heard them and responded. If asleep, the guest "hollered" until tired. Dr. Turner's mother often related how the first legislators cussed the town. Dr. Turner's father married here and settled on North Washington Avenue in a little clearing past which ran what was the city's main street. It was a cow patch at the time, full of stumps and roots and bog holes. SOLONS Go IN MUD. Planks were laid down here and there for the accommodation of Michigan's early statesmen who lived at the Hotel Seymour, a mile or more from the place where the early legislative sessions were held. When a legislator who had forgotten his candle lighted lantern lost his way and fell off the planks into the mud Dr. Turner's mother heard what they thought of the town. "In front of our home," says Dr. Turner, "my mother used to tell that she has heard the mud-engulfed legislators threaten time and again to change the capital to some other town. But the mud holes on the 'avenue' made business for the boys at the hotel who either greased or shined the legislative boots. Legislators generally arrived at the hotel very dry inwardly, but outwardly wet and mud bedraggled. They all wore boots in those days." The first landlord was Jesse F. Turner. He held forth as host from 1848 to 1849. A man named McGlovey succeeded Landlord Turner and listened to legislative complaints for four years. Then in 1853 John Powell bought the property and catered to an early public until 1861 when Horace Angell, then sheriff of Ingham county, bought Powell's business and the hotel. Dr. Israel Richardson succeeded Angell and was landlord until 1863. Louis Daman succeeded Dr. Richardson. Finally the property, which was not a very paying investment at the time because of new hotels in the growing settlement near the Capitol, passed into the hands of J. W. Hinchey. The name was changed to the "Hinchey House." Thirty years ago George Lovely took charge of the property and conducted it as a hotel for a number of years. Lovely was the last landlord and during his regime was the last period the old building was used as a hotel. Some years ago E. S. Porter, owner of the Porter, bought the property and entirely remodeled it. He "veneered" the sides

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 589 with brick and converted the building into an apartment house. The name was again changed to Franklin Terraces and this name still clings. The original frame work of the building, however, is still intact and much of the lumber formerly cut from virgin forests about Flushing is still intact and in good state of repair. The hotel in an earlier day became popular as a stopping place for stages, which plied between Lansing and Detroit and Lansing and northern points. Horses were changed at the old hotel which had a barn of huge proportions in the rear. With the coming of the railroads the stage business became a dead issue. From that period the hotel's patronage began to decline.-Lansing State Journal, 1921. LANSING'S FIRST CHURCH BUILDING WAS OLD STABLE, PIONEER DECLARES. Initial Denomination Established Here Was Methodist Dr. F. N. Turner Says. How Lansing's first church was organized in 1846 by four devout women is told by Dr. F. N. Turner in a paper he has recently prepared giving the facts in relation to this first religious movement in the community. In compiling the data he spent much time in consulting old records to refresh his memory. The paper follows: "The first church organization in our city was Methodist. In 1846 a small band of Methodists met and formed a society with four members, Joab Page, Abigail Page, Orcella Pease, and Eliza Lester. "Lansing was a village and three women and one man, realizing the need of religious interest to their families and the difficulties of getting it from the outside world through lack of roads and other means of communication, resolved to help each other, hence the formation of this first church society. "After the Capital was located, and immigration to the north end commenced this society increased in numbers. Many of the new members were Presbyterians, so when the trustees and minister decided upon a site for church and church build

590 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHIAM COUNTY ing the members, other than Methodists, wanted the building part of the time for their own particular service. This was agreed upon and a frame building that had been used by James Seymour for a horse barn, located on lot 6, block 14, facing south, was purchased in 1848. This building was remodeled and was used for church purposes until 1865 by both denominations. "In 1865 the Presbyterians withdrew and formed a church society of their own that built the Franklin Presbyterian church on the corner of Washington and Franklin avenues, according to records in the abstract office the Presbyterian society sold its interests in property in 1858 as we find the formation of first recorded board of Methodist trustees. "The names of James Turner, William Dryer, A. U. Hart, Mr. Parmalee, and others prominent in North Lansing business affairs appears on this record. The Presbyterians continued to use the building for religious services until they moved into their new church. BUY PRESENT SITE. "After the Presbyterians left the Methodists continued to use the old building for their services until they bought a site on the corner of Franklin Avenue and Cedar street, the present church ground, and in 1868 built a wooden building that was wrecked a few years ago to make room for the present brick structure. "In the early seventies the old first church was sold to Henry Southward, who moved it to North Center street back of the old Mead store, where he used it for a stable to house his delivery horses. A stable it was first and last, and finally it was wrecked and used for fuel. This is the beginning and the end of the first Christian church in one city. "RECOLLECTIONS OF OLD CHURCH. "This old building was a long, wooden, one-story structure with windows on the east and west sides and a brick chimney on or near the north gable. It had been painted white but the paint had faded or worn off in spots so that it had a mottled gray color. There were two entrances on the south or Wall street side. I cannot remember any shade trees near the building.

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 591 "On entering the building a double row of wooden pillars extended to the north end. These were used, not for ornaments, but to support the ceiling and roof. A broad, raised platform extended across the north side and on it was the puplit and chairs for the ministers and choir-when they did not have congregational singing. "The walls were plastered and destitute of any decoration. The pews were high back, home made affairs that extended across from the center aisle. Sometimes the pillars cut off our small boys' view from the puplit and gave us a chance to nap or play tricks on the minister or deacon in the pew in front. "BOASTED OF LONG SERVICE. "I went to Sunday school in this building and old James Turner was our superintendent. Members of this church used to boast of his length of service and no absent or tardy marks against his record. He was a great lover of children and never a youngster walked the streets of North Lansing but he formed his acquaintence and invited him to come to Sunday school. "I cannot find from records who was the first minister that preached in this church, but in 1864 old Elder Bryant, who was sent as a missionary minister by the Presbyterian Synod to get the Presbyterian members to form a society, preached a series of sermons on the 'Prophecies of Daniel.' Elder Bryant had a good congregation out to hear him and made many converts in these meetings. FUNERALS DRAW CROWDS. "This church was great on funeral services. A public funeral always drew a crowd. It was a great public attraction and divided its honors of attendance with a public political meeting. Those that attended funerals outside of mourners and friends went more out of idle curiosity to hear the funeral sermon and comment upon the amount of grief shown by the mourners. Even the departed came into his share of comment as poor, haggard, worn, or peaceful and happy. "The sermon was usually a short biography of the life of the dead person with a word of praise for his services to God and his fellow man, with an admonition to the unconverted warning them

592 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY of the great punishment awaiting them if they died in their sins or without due preparation. This was the Methodist doctrine and that of other denominations 50 years ago. It had to be strong and full of penalties if the sinner transgressed. The ministers, deacons and members in their experience meeting would openly confess their sins or sinful life and then tell how they were forgiven and regenerated. This was the method used by the early Methodists to get a corresponding confession from a casehardened sinner. "NEED STRONG DOCTRINE. "Methodism in 1840 to 1870 was going through a pioneer experience itself and had to use methods suitable for the times and the people. The pioneers of this church in the first ward were at that period passing through deep waters of affliction. They did not know whether their experiment of founding a Capitol City in the woods was going to be a success or a failure. If the legislature moved it, or changed the location to some other city, all their work and expense of building houses and clearing lots was a dead loss. "Diseases of new climate, as intermittent fever and ague, chills were making them weak and discouraged so they needed a religion full of strong doctrine, a belief that a loud appeal delivered in public for help and guidance would be heard and answered. Some of the other denominations at that time and since have criticised the way the Methodists conducted their worship. Did these scoffers ever stop to think or analyze this way and its purposes? It is to attract the attention, set the public mind to thinking and by so doing create in the indifferent, immoral and criminal classes a desire for something better, more moral, more patriotic and a desire to prepare the mind or soul for its higher plane when the separation from the body should take place. "These pioneer Methodists did this work 60 years ago. They now rest from their labors. The churches they established are rich and powerful, so well organized that they have discontinued their appeals about the sins of commission and dwell more on the sins of omission. "From 1870 to 1885 a band of teachers and preachers went out from our Methodist churches and denunciation to do this old

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, A1ITII HISTORY 593 pioneer work again. They reorganized the creed of it and they used the same methods that the pioneers did and were equally successful-Free Methodists. "All Christian churches employ the same methods in their pioneer or reform work. All social, civil and moral reforms use the same methods to further or advocate their cause, bring it before the people, to attract their attention and set people thinking about themselves and their fellow men. Those who do not want to enter the reform ranks or act as reformers give financial support when they see success crowning their reformers' efforts. "The first church performed its mission and is gone but in my opinion the ground on which it stood was consecrated and a suitable marker should be placed to mark the spot where it stood so that future generations will know where this little band of four met and worhsipped God."-State Journal, Lansing, 1921. MR. AND MRS. THOMAS WESLEY WESTCOTT. By Their Daughter, MRS. CLARA WESTCOTT STEELE. Thomas Welsey Westcott was born in Philadelphia, Pa., July 27, 1834. When he was five years old his parents moved west to Beaver, Pa., where his father engaged in cotton spinning. In 1844 Thomas Welsey was sent to Warren, Ohio, where a half brother of his father lived, with whom he lived while learning the trade of a merchant tailor. After living in Warren a few years he became discontented with his surroundings and concluded to visit another uncle who was living in Lansing, Micih. The way was long and the journey a hard one in those days, but he finally reached Jackson, where he took the stage for Lansing, arriving there on October 1, 1849. He often said that the first man to speak to him in his new home was the late "Gus" Weller, who stood in front of the old Lansing House when the stage coach arrived. Mr. Weller's greeting was so kind and cheerful that it put new life into the homesick boy, and when 38 years after, on October 1, 1887, he helped carry Mr. Weller to his last resting place, he felt as if a good friend had gone. In May, 1854, "Wes," as he was called, married Miss Ellen L.

594 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGTIAM COUNTY Rice, and they went to housekeeping in a little cottage which stood on the corner north of the present Woman's Club House. There were no sidewalks and only a path through the woods from the hotel to the cottage, so on dark and foggy nights a lantern was placed on the gate post, and the few travelers going farther on toward the Benton House and houses in that part of the town were greatly benefited by the single light. His uncle, Charles Wescott, was a leading tailor in Lansing in those days, and "Wes" stayed with him until the fall of 1861 he returned to Ohio to an old employer who had a large tailoring establishment. While there he became interested in several societies, and among other things he joined a company of Zouaves and the Ohio Home Guards, called the "Squirrel Hunters." These companies were full of the excitement of the times and had many daily drills in the court house square. Later on when Morgan was threatening to cross the Ohio and wipe Cincinnati off the earth, Gov. Todd called for all able-bodied men to go down and save the city and perhaps the State. "Wes" went with his company, on a hot summer day, his knapsack filled with all needful provisions made ready by loving hands. He was gone from home almost a week and returned bringing the knapsack still filled with the food he had carried away. He said the soldiers were so feted at every town on the way by the ladies they could not eat what had been cooked for them at home. It was always a matter of regret to him that his company of Home Guards had not been sworn into the U. S. service, but his discharge from service was given him in the winter of 1865 and it with his knapsack are still in the possession of his daughter. He returned with his family to Lansing in the spring of 1864, and engaged in the tailoring business in a small wooden building at the corner of Washtenaw and Washington Avenue; this building was later on laid low by a tornado, and some time later he opened a store in a small wooden building where Mills Dry Goods Store now stands. At one time he was a partner of the late Geo. R. Murray, the old sign reading "Westcott and Murray, Merchant Tailors." He was a member of the Lansing fire department in the old days of the hand engine, and in later years when horses and a modern

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 595 engine came into use. He served some time as city alderman. Was a member of the State Pioneer and Historical Society; he was always interested in the growth of Lansing, and had the greatest faith in its future. He died after a lingering illness Aug. 7, 1898, in the same neighborhood where he had lived so many years. He left a widow and two children, Harry, who died in Birmingham, Ala., in 1905, and Clara L., of Detroit. Ellen L. Rice was born in Fairview, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., Feb. 10, 1834. Her mother moved to Howell, Mich., when her brother, Lucius Mills, was pastor of the Presbyterian church there, when Ella was eighteen years old, but they only remained there a few weeks, coming to the young city of Lansing in November, 1852, where a son. Clane Rice, had obtained a position as typesetter on a Lansing paper. They lived at the corner of Main and Cherry streets, the house that some years later was owned by the late John H. Stephenson. It soon became known that a new family had come to town and that one of the young ladies could do plain and family sewing, and she was not left long with time hanging heavily on her hands. The State Legislature was to convene in January, 1853, and for weeks Miss Rice was at the old Lansing House, a hostelry conducted by H. Jipson, making bed and table linen before the State solons should arrive. As this was long before the days of sewing machines and wide sheeting, it was considered a good days work when she could sew over-and-over the long seams and hem the ends of six sheets, or make twelve pillow cases in a day. There was good society of young people and plenty of sports to entertain them. I have heard her tell many stories of early days of trials and joys. Her family went through the regular siege of "chills and fever," and having come from among the hills of western New York, did not realize what a trial that disease was, and when given a dose of the usual medicine, calomel, by their attending physician who thought, probably, that everyone knew the effects of that medicine, so did not explain the results of taking cold, consequently when on one cold rainy day Miss Rice exposed herself to the elements, there came more "trials" and no "joy" in sight. In those days the sick and those in trouble were promptly called

596 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY upon, and comfort and sympathy freely given. I remember hearing my grandmother, Emily Rice, tell the story of when the news reached them that good Father Knickerbocker's daughter was quite seriously ill, she with her daughter Ellen went at once to call and offer their assistance if necessary. The good pastor lived in the Union Block near the Hudson House. The paths were not of the best at any time, and when the snow was deep it was hard walking, but at last they arrived at their destination and were greeted with more than usual pleasure and kindness by the good man and his wife. After they had warmed and rested themselves they went into the room to see the sick girl. My grandmother said she did not care to stay long in there, and soon found a good excuse to leave. On reaching the street she hurried her daughter over on to what is now Capitol Avenue, not stopping for explanations. They almost ran in spite of the deep snow, and when she was far enough away so there was no chance of meeting anyone, she turned to her wondering daughter and said, "Adah Knickerbocker has a bad case of smallpox." When they reached home they went into the basement and changed their clothing and threw it out into the deep snow, where it remained all winter, and not a word of their trip was said until months afterward, when the danger was all over. In May, 1854, Ella was married to Thos. W. Westcott, and together for nearly fifty years they watched the growth of their chosen home. Her sister, Maryette, early in the year 1854, married Lieut. J. J. Whitman, who was a member of Berdan Sharpshooters in the Civil War and lost his life at Antietam. In 1859, Mr. and Mrs. Westcott were living at the corner of South Washington Avenue and Elm street. There were only two or three houses on that side of Grand river, but dense woods clear out to the road that is now Mt. Hope Avenue, except the block between Elm and South streets, which for some reason had been partially cleared. The Indians often came along selling their baskets and bead work, and in the summer time when there were electrical storms they would run out of the woods into the open and stand huddled together until the storm was over. One beautiful moonlight night in the early fall when my mother and a young sister were alone, my father having gone east to buy goods, they were awakened from a sound sleep by a loud knocking at the

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 597 door. Without a thought of fear, my mother, thinking my father had returned as the Jackson stage passed by the house, opened the door. Instead of my father, there stood a middle-aged man who calmly asked her "if she had a good sharp butcher knife handy, and would she let him take it for a few minutes." When she handed it to him he took it with a "thank you" and a smile that in the moonlight looked rather leary, and went away round the house to the front gate. She and her sister went to the window, cautiously lifted the window shade, trying to see where their visitor had gone, but the moon had hidden under a passing cloud, and they could see nothing. In a half hour they heard the man coming to the door again. When my mother answered his knock a second time, he handed her the knife with a "thank you, ma'am," and an explanation that he was going to St. Johns to market and his harness had broken, "so I jest tinkered it up a bit." Ella Rice Westcott was one of the first members of the Universalist church, a charter member of the Lansing Woman's Club, and of the Daughters of the American Revolution; a member of the State Pioneer and Historical Society, and for twenty years was secretary of the Lansing Industrial Aid Society, when Mrs. Irma G. Jones was its president. In the winter of 1903 she removed to Birmingham, Ala., to be with her son Harry W. Here she lived again in the past, and never thought of claiming a home in the southland; it was always "Lansing, my home." She passed away at the home of her daughter in Birmingham Oct. 31, 1914. B. F. DAVIS. B. F. Davis, of Lansing, is of English extraction, his greatgreat grand parents having come from England at a very early day. William Davis was born in London, England, in 1764, and died in his 45th year in the city of New York, and his wife was born in London in 1769, and she died in New York of cholera in the 65th year of her life. Mr. Davis had their pictures in a good state of preservation. Nothing is told of his grandparents or greatgrandparents, but

598 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY the father of Mr. Davis settled in Elba, N. Y., where B. F. Davis was born. When he was still a small boy his parents came to Lansing, and here his father, William F. Davis, built a home in 1853 at the corner of Cedar and Baker streets. The family drove from Elba to Lansing, where they soon were in possession of 160 acres of land. The present site of the Reo automobile plant is a part of the Davis farm. The Reo plant has a worldwide reputation for the autos that are sent out from there, and it was not only the home of the first autos manufactured in Lansing, but is still a leader in production. The present home of the Davis family is on South Washington Avenue, and it was here that little Bennie, the grandson of B. F. Davis, rounded out a busy life at the age of ten years. He was an exceedingly patriotic little chap, and from the time he was three years old until the end of his life he superintended or helped in raising and lowering the large flag which floated on the breeze on the Davis lawn. He would never allow the flag to touch the ground. When the World War broke out he was only six years old, but he was the first child to join the Red Cross, and was the first to buy a Liberty Bond. He alone raised seventy dollars in the school drive to give assistance to the Belgians. He worked so hard in the Canteen that the soldiers called him little K. P. (Kitchen Police). When he was eight years old he with his mother spent the summer at White Lake, eight miles from a store, and here he spent some time in "overcoming the old law of gravity," as he told his mother. He wanted a sail on his boat, that was a hired one, so he rigged up a pail with sand and stones to hold his mast, and took a partly worn dress of his mother's and contrived him a sail, and really did "overcome" his difficulties.

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH HISTORY 599 LOCAL MAN, 88, TELLS HOW, WHEN 13, HE CAME TO NEW HOME IN MICHIGAN. R. B. Calahan Describes Trip to Okemos Through Forbidding Forest. There was a boy of 13 and a dog. Both were of a little party identified with the covered wagon that had lumbered up the hill and had paused for a bit at the town of Mason. Mason was then a very crude and small dot in the Michigan wilderness. The man of the party cracked his long whip, the horses strained in their harness, the big covered wagon creaked and moved, the woman within the wagon grasped her precious belongings to shield them so far as she might from the jolting, and again the party was off. The dog and the boy, perhaps with instincts sensitive beyond those of the others, somehow divined the situation. It meant a final and last plunge into the somber, almost trackless depths that lay just ahead. DOG PROTESTS. The dog ran toward the woods, then paused and looking back towars the oncoming wagon, lifted his nose, and howled. "Oh, how he howled! I have heard wolves howl many a time since, but never has a howl struck so inwardly as did that howl of our dog. It seemed to me that he was making a protest, giving his last warning as best he could against plunging into those woods. Oh, how dark they were. It was like driving into the shadows of night." So related Russell B. Calahan, now in his eighty-eighth year, speaking one day this week of his recollections when as a boy with his parents he came into this county. The Calahan party had emigrated from Knox county, Ohio, to the wilds of Michigan to make for themselves a new home. Mr. Calahan, once the boy who looked with such dread upon the dark forest surrounding Mason, now lives with his son and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt Woodman, 1026 East Main street. Mr. Woodman is deputy

600 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHIAM COUNTY state treasurer. Few, indeed, are those who have lived longer in Ingham than Mr. Calahan. "We had come by way of Jackson," continued Mr. Calahan. "My father had been able to send his belongings that far by rail. I do not remember anything of Jackson except that it was there that I first saw an Indian in full Indian panoply. That brave must have been in full native rig for I distinctly remember the feathers in his hair and that I was struck with the marked difference in his appearance from the white men. I was soon destined to see other Indians, but never afterward did I see any not already under the influence of the whites as to dress. "MASON CLEARING IN WOODS. "One today can have little conception of how close up, completely surrounding, dark and forbidding the woods were about Mason. The town set in just a little opening that had been hewn out of the pimeval forest. "When our wagon plunged into those depths, the little frontier town was lost to view almost at once. There was no road as we think of a road now. We followed the trail of other wagons that had gone before us. Not a tree, so far as I remember, had been felled to provide for the trail. We simply wound in and out among the trees as the space between them made it possible. "We were in the beech and maple timber. How high those trees were and how they shut down our vision to the immediate spot in which we were, and the sun was so excluded that we seemed as if in deep twilight. "My father knew that we were nearing our destination and so he pressed on eagerly. After a time we came to a place where a tree had fallen across the trail. I remember that as father took an ax and hewed it away, so we could pass, he remarked, 'Well, we are at last on our land.' "PLANS UPSET. "We pressed on toward Okemos. Father believed that he had arranged shelter for his family there. But our disappointment goes to show how unsettled life was in those days. My father had arranged a stopping place for us but when we arrived we found all

LANSIN(G TOWNSIIII' AND CITY, 'WVITI HISTORY 601 his arrangements upset and there was no place for us. We were a new family, however, that had just come into the woods and so were the center of everybody's interest, and it was not long before one family offered to take us in. So we were provided for temporarily. It was not long after that that father found an abandoned log house into which we could move, and so we fortified ourselves there for the winter, which was almost upon us. "The farm my folks had selected was about two and a half miles southwest of Okemos. There was sort of a trail that led out to it. I was early set to cutting brush and I well remember cutting the brush in one particular place because my father said that was where our house was to stand. "We had not been so long in our new home when, with a party of others, we went on horseback through the woods to Lansing. I think we must have followed a trail that is substantially where the road is now, but we came out at the settlement about the dam at North Lansing. On the way to this settlement we passed one cleared farm, but I do not remember whose it was. It gave evidence of having been cleared for some years. "I do not recall whether the Bush & Thomas store, which for a time stood at East Main and River streets, was there when I first knew Lansing, but I remember it distinctly at that location in after years. "TALKED WITH CHIEF OKEMOS. "Yes," said Mr. Calahan, "I often saw and talked with Okemos. The village of his people was right at the spot we now call Okemos. Okemos was a man of character, Indian fashion. He was generally liked and, I feel, respected according to the lights of those crude days. My remembrance of him was that he was neither large nor small, but, as we say, well-built. The last time I remember of seeing him he was seated at the roadside. My friend and I spoke with him. He was asked how old he was; as always, he answered 'Heventy-poi.' He meant he was seventy-four, but that did not signify, for so long as I knew of him he was always 'heventy-poi.' He never said differently. I remember vividly the terrible scars he carried. They were received in the battle of Sandusky, in the War of 1812." It is related that the son of "Old Okemos," who, like his father,

602 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY bore the name John, was last seen in Lansing in 1879. It is Mr. Calahan's impression that that was the last time that he, too, saw any of the Indians of the Okemos tribe. The son, Johnny, came to see the new Capitol. Mr. Calahan relates that the agricultural methods of the old days were crude in the extreme. "We planted corn by striking the ground with an ax and dropping the seed in the opening made by the blow and then crowding the earth over with our foot. It is surprising how well corn grew under those methods. As for raising wheat, we took a heavy drag which was drawn in and out about the stumps. This tore up the surface and then the seed was sown broadcast. If we succeeded in making the seed catch, a pretty good crop often resulted. It had to be reaped by methods that would permit us to get about the stumps." DRYER Now, SAYS. There is considerable dispute in these days as to just how "dry" the country is, but Mr. Calahan is of the distinct impression that it is a good deal "dryer" than it was when he first came to Michigan. He remembers the old hotel at Okemos kept by Freeman Bray. "The post office was in the hotel," relates Mr. Calahan, "and I remember never having gone for the mail as a lad that the old bar room was not filled with men, some dead drunk, some noisy drunk, and all more or less under the influence of liquor. On one occasion some of the men seized men and tried to make me drink, but I wiggled away from them. The hotel at Okemos was no worse than the rest. It was merely typical of the taverns of those days, which abounded along every road." Mr. Calahan remembers Kingsley S. Bingham, the first Republican governor, and also remembers Austin Blair, who followed next after him. He has a host of other memories, some thin and shadowy and others that remain very vivid. It is to him a miracle how Lansing has come from a little group of wilderness houses about the power site at North Lansing to the city it is today, all within his lifetime. Mr. Calahan will be 88 years old April 21, 1923.-Lansing State Journal.

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITI HISTORY 603 JOHN BROAD. One of nature's real noblemen, John Broad, was born in Cornwall, England, May 15, 1832. At the age of twenty he came to America and lived in New York City one year, when he came to Michigan and settled in Van Buren county. He took out his naturalization papers in Paw Paw, 1855. He lived with an English family whom he had met while on the boat coming to America. Porter Township was new and sparsely settled, and the pioneers depended upon each other when in sickness or trouble. Mr. Broad, though working by the day or month, could always be relied upon to care for the sick, look after their household wants and procure for them medical aid. Once when he was looking after the affairs of a man who had been called back east, he stayed there through a long hard winter, vaccinated the entire family during a smallpox epidemic, cleared five acres of ground and had a flourishing field of corn when the owner returned. Such deed gained for him the title of "Good Samaritan." In 1858 he came to Lansing, where for the rest of his days he lived on Cedar street. In 1859 he married Mrs. Charlotte Sherman. He worked in the State Capitol until failing health, the result of service in the Civil War, forced him to stop. He was an active member of Lansing Lodge, No. 33, F. & A. M., a life member. He was also a member of Charles T. Foster Post G. A. R. He fought valiantly for his adopted country. In 1861 he enlisted in Company G, Third Michigan Infantry, and assigned to the second division of the Army of the Potomac. At the battle of Fair Oaks, where Mr. Broad was killed,the company lost its color bearer, Charles T. Foster, brother of Postmaster Seymour Foster, and after whom the local post was named, and around his dead body were piled the bodies of a score of dead and wounded of Company G, among them being that of Mr. Broad. He tells the story as follows: "Our quartermaster sergeant was sick and I had been helping in his department when the call to fall in was given. It was about noon and the rest had all hurried to the front before me. I had to

604 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY borrow a gun from a sick comrade and by the time I got in line with my company business was beginning to pick up with them. "I had hardly been in line two minutes before Charley Foster, the colorbearer, staggered and fell as did a dozen others shot dead. That was the last I saw or knew. The ground on which we were fighting was low and covered with brush and fallen trees. Behind one of the stumps some comrade dragged me until they had time after the battle to pick up the dead and the wounded. My left arm was shot through and through and the bones broken and a ball had passed under my left eye through the bridge of my nose and then back of my right eye which it has entirely destroyed the sight of. The bullet was never taken from my head and bothers me a great deal now at times. "Well, I lay behind the stump unconscious until someone came along and piled me on a brush pile near a railroad track where it was higher and out of the mud and so that I could be found by the 'sexton.' Here on the brush pile I came to life Sunday night, so that I could hear voices. One of them said, using the endearing term according to custom, 'Is the dead? Wonder whose old carcass that is?' Someone said, 'He breathes,' and then they hurried on, as there was no time for anyone to 'fool away' making investigations. "So I lay in the hot sun exposed to mosquito bites, my throat aching for a drink of water, and blind. My head was swollen as large as a pail and my broken arm curled under me while the maggots began their feast of the dead, as they always did in the South shortly after finding a body. "Finally 'Steve' Longyear, an army friend, came along and discovering who I was, washed out my mouth with some 'cold' water from the swamp and straightened me around until he could send someone to care for me. The water revived me and I began to feel the process of resurrection, but consciousness did not last, and when I came to life a second time, on Wednesday, I was at Fortress Monroe. "At the fort I received what little attention they could spare me, for they worked on those who were livelier first, as every surgeon was worked to death and saved his time on the one who looked as if he could be patched up for service. "Then I became unconscious again and when I came out of

LANSING TOWNSHIP AND CITY, WITH- HISTORY 605 that I was packed in ice near Hell's Gate in the New York harbor hospital on David's Island. Here I finally began to mend and was able on December 18 to fall in with my company at the battle of Fredericksburg, as I did not wish to go into the invalid's corps. "When I was 'killed' there were a lot of Lansing men fell, and while there may be others of the company still alive somewhere in the world, the only ones I know are Allan Shattuck, of this city, who is the witness on my 'death' certificate, and three others. John Bissell and Dewitt Foreman of Grand Ledge and Henry Patterson, of St. Johns. There were four of us left in Lansing until within the last few months when 'Al' Croy and 'Art' Newman died, and in a short time there will not be two of us left, for the next time with their new and up-to-date kinds of embalming fluid, I'll probably stay dead until all of those other 'honest' dead ones back in the Fair Oaks swamp are resurrected and the order given to fall in under one flag or the other." He represented one of the pioneer families which have made Michigan the sturdy commonwealth it is, he and his wife Charlotte and her daughter, Mary Sherman. Charlotte Holcomb had an unassuming, refined, lovable personality. She was born in Auburn, N. Y., in 1830. When she was four years of age her parents moved to Buffalo, where she received her education. In 1849 she came to Michigan, settling in Dewitt, where she married Samuel Sherman. He died in 1856, leaving her with one daughter, and the next year she moved to Lansing, where in 1859 she married John Broad, and they lived for over fifty years in the home on Cedar street. When Mr. Broad went to join the army in 1861 his wife was one of a party who traveled the length of the "Ram's Horn Railroad" to give the boys a cheery farewell. She spent her time during her husband's absence in helping make and send supplies to wounded soldiers, and was the leader in a society engaged in making articles for the soldiers confined in southern hospitals. She was an active member of the Central Methodist church, becoming a member when the services were held in the representative hall of the old State House, at the corner of Allegan street and Washington Avenue. She was a charter member of Charles T. Foster Woman's Relief Corps, and belonged to the W. C. T. U. She died in 1907 at the Cedar street home, Mr. Broad surviving her several years, he dying on Sept. 4, 1915.

606 6PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAL I COUNTY MARY L. SHERMAN. Energy, unselfishness, constant service to others, and great musical ability are some of the things remembered about Mary L. Sherman, known to her friends as "Minnie." She was born June 22, 1851, on a farm four miles east of Dewitt. Fatherless at four, in 1857 she came with her mother to Lansing, where she spent the rest of her life. She attended Cedar and Townsend street schools, the Lansing high school, and the Lansing Academy, conducted by C. C. Olds, on the site of the present R. E. Olds home. Miss Sherman was one of the pioneer music teachers of this part of the State, having classes in Williamston, Okemos, and up to the time of her death a very large class in Lansing. She studied piano and organ in Detroit. When thirteen years old she began her career as organist at the Central Methodist church, continuing for nine years. During six of these years she was also organist at the Michigan Industrial School for Boys, and for over three years never missed a service at either place. Then for six years she was organist at St. Paul's Episcopal church, and for two years at the First Baptist church. The first money raised for the Pilgrim Congregational church was $500, and of this Miss Sherman raised one-half. For seven years she was organist for the "Pilgrim Branch" on North Larch street, and worked untiringly for the organization. She was a member of Lansing Rebekah Lodge, and of the Unity Club. So well she kept the spirit of youth that death seemed premature when it came January 7, 1921. In the midst of her busy life she found time always to lend a helping hand to others, among other things bringing up an orphan cousin from babyhood.

CHAPTER X. LEROY TOWNSHIP. History by Dr. F. N. Turner; Gillett Jones; Dana family; Rix family; story by Mrs. Nancy Meach; Webberville. One of the old settlers told me the following story about the name of this township. A friend or relative of his who had emigrated to this section of Ingham county when Michigan was a territory, wrote his address Brutus, Ingham county, Territory of Michigan. This post office was located at Podunk. Locke and Leroy were combined and this post office served both. After Michigan became a state this territory was divided, the north half named Locke Township and the south half Leroy Township after Daniel LeRoy, the first Attorney General of the new state. Hon. Lawton T. Hemans once when visiting the village and school in Webberville, told the board, of which I was a member, that he would present the school with a picture of the above official, the godfather of the township. The first settler in the township was Ephraim Meech, who moved into the township in 1838. His farm was in the southwestern part of the township, at that time a wilderness inhabited by deer, wolves and other wild animals. Today you will find a school house in that section that bears his name. The farm was just east of this school house. In 1838 James Rosencrans, from Ohio, Orren Dana, from Genesee county, Michigan, and Henry Lee settled in the western part of the township. In one or two years David Wilcox, Leo and George Rouse, Richard Putman, Oliver Geer, Daniel Knapp, A. F. Horton, Harley Bement, Calvin Wilson and Hiram Rix had also settled in the western section. This part was settled first because the Kalamink Creek, the outlet of Mud Lake in White Oak, traversed the middle of the township emptying into Red Cedar river on the north township line. This stream topographically divided the township into two parts. The course of the creek was through a low tamarack

608 P)IONrEER HISTORY OF INGHIAMl COUNTY swamp, nearly a mile wide on the south of the township, but diminishing in width toward the Cedar river, and two miles from its mouth the timber changed from tamarack to black oak and elm. This creek and swamp formed a great bugbear in pioneer days, and was a breeder of chills and fever. Within the last thirtyfive years Supervisor J. H. Huston used this swamp and creek in a political way to keep down the valuation of the township property, by reporting to the county board of supervisors that Leroy Township was one-third swamp and not fit for cultivation. He was always telling his political opponents that he was a friend to them, because he had lowered their county taxes. I cannot remember how many times he served by means of this political scheme. Today you can travel over this township where the swamp has disappeared, the creek had been ditched and the worthless land made into dairy farms profitable to their owners. These farms furnish most of the milk for the milk factory at Webberville. In the forties Edmund Alchin, David Herrick, Nathan Pament, Alex. Monroe, Albert Gunsolly, Levi Dean, Sidney Murray and Robert Cole braved the dangers of ague and fever and settled in the eastern part of the township. They crossed the Rubiconswamp and creek-and changed the virgin forest into fine farms. The southern and southeastern part of the township remained undeveloped for years. It was the abode of wild animals and malaria. The southeastern corner was crossed by a range of sand hills and the west branch of Cedar river. In the seventies they sold a farm in this section to a German farmer named John Risch. This man had worked for the McPherson's of Howell. After purchasing this farm, Mr. Risch sent word to Germany that he was a land owner, and in two or three years Charles Risch, his brother, Fred Foreman, and Fred Meindorph, his brother-in-law, were loacted near him on this apparently worthless land. Herman and John Mattheisen, neighbors of these men, came and settled in this section. By hard work, energy backed by German frugality, these men have changed this almost worthless section into good farms. They were helped in their work of clearing the land of timber by having a market for their logs at Dart's mill and for their wood at the charcoal kilns at Webberville. The sand hills unfit for culti

LEROY TowNshIP AND ITS HISTORY 609 vation have proven mines of wealth since we have expanded our highway system. They find a market at home for their sand and gravel. John Risch, Sr., for many years was the business and financial director of this colony, but when the younger generation got old enough to be educated into the mysteries of business, he was told that his services were no longer required, and they could save the fees he had charged them. The descendents of these sturdy farmers are all prosperous. Some have taken unto themselves Yankee wives and are located on farms near the paternal farms. Across the swamp from the Risch farm is another German, Jacob Strobel, who has carved out a farm and made a fortune for his children. In the northern section along the line of the old Plank Road we find the Kinney homestead, the York and Charles Turrell farms and the large 640 acre farm of Silas Alger and his son-inlaw, Hugh Webber. Farther east the old Smith farm, now occupied by Lucian B. Smith, son of the original owner. North of the Smith farm was a large tract of land owned in an early day by the Gamby family. In my time it used to be called the "Gamby Tract," when speaking of the extreme northeastern corner. These different sections or neighborhoods were handicapped by having no market or grist mill in the vicinity until 1872 when the railroad was built, and they had direct communication with Detroit and other cities. From this date the growth and development of the township was linked with the growth and development of Webberville. In describing the farmers, their sterling qualities, and their influence upon the development of this interesting section of Ingham county, I will have to begin with the settlers in the western section. Orren Dana was a farmer and justice of the peace. He served several times in this office and was the legal authority for the pioneers. He had three sons, Hiram, Edwin and James. Hiram was a prosperous farmer, inherited his father's farm, and added to the paternal acres until he had 550 acres of rich land. Since his death his sons have sought other fields of labor and their father's farms have passed into the hands of strangers. James was a soldier in the Civil War, and left his good right arm in the south

610 IPIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY land, so was unfitted to follow his brother's occupation. Edwin was the historian of the family. At social and pioneer meetings he always spoke of or wrote a paper on the events of early days. He always claimed to be the first white child born in Leroy Township, but John Rosencrans maintained that he was born two or three days before Edwin. He-Rosencrans-said that his mother marked the dates in Ayers Almanac and he had presrved the book. I never knew how they settled the matter. A. F. Horton and his wife came from Ohio. Both worked hard to clear a farm of 240 acres of heavy timber and make it fit for the plow. He was a horticulturist and his orchards were the best in that section. He also served several times as supervisor. Hiram Rix, who lived west of the Dana homestead, had a son named Hiram who was elected supervisor in 1890. His sister was a literary woman and has written several articles and poems of pioneer days. Mr. Putman had three sons, Gilbert, and twins named Daniel and David. I never knew Gilbert, but Dan and Dave were prosperous farmers. David's son-Judge-has a forest nursery in Lansing, and Ferris Park and other places show his taste and good judgment. East and south of A. F. Horton's, on a cross road, lived Warren Haskill, a Civil War veteran. He and his son William worked in the pineries near Tawas. His son never forgot the habits of life in the lumber woods, for they clung to him all during life. In habits, dress and quaintness of speech he was the Diogenese of Leroy Township. Mrs. Haskill, his mother, was noted for her fine bread and her energy in behalf of the Woman's Relief Corps. Edmund Alchin and his wife were English. HIe was a successful farmer and always worked his land with all the thoughtful details you will find on a farm in England. He taught his sons to love the soil, and they all were farmers, while his daughters all married farmers, and most of his grandsons have been successful tillers of the soil. When the railroad was building a timber contractor came into the Alchin neighborhood to buy timber. He got acquainted with the teacher in that district and married her, bought a farm and became a permanent resident of the township.

LEROY TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 611 It was my good fortune to become intimately acquainted with this family, William Beazan's. They were both of English descent. A Yankee is apt to call the English cold, hard to get acquainted with and undemonstrative. They are, to an inquisitive stranger, but to their friends they show a depth of feeling, admirable tact, quiet humor and a capacity to endure suffering and affliction that is astonishing. William Beazan and his wife were of this type. Our soldier boys who were welcomed, when on leave, by English mothers whose hearts were full of sorrow, who had lost all on the Plains of Flanders, will tell you that these brave women never paraded their secret sorrow before strangers. Mr. Beazan was an ideal farmer, an artist with a plow and a noted breeder of Ramboulette sheep. His flocks were the apple of his eye, and every county fair had a pen of his prize winners on exhibition. Mr. McWithey lived on the opposite corner from Mr. Alchin. There was a rivalry between them as each strove to raise the biggest crops of wheat, etc. One mile east of Alchin's corner was the IHerrick settlement. Daniel Herrick was born near Plymouth, Michigan, and came into the woods of Leroy Township to carve out a farm, raise his family according to the rules of the Methodist church, and get as much enjoyment as he could out of a farmer's life. His home was the social center of the neighborhood. All church socials, singing schools and societies of all kinds were held at Uncle Dan's. In entertaining large crowds he was helped by his neighbor and brotherin-law, Nathan Pament. Uncle Nat was a musician and played the bass viol. No musical entertainment was complete without Uncle Nat and his music box to play solos and accompaniments. Nathan Pament was born and raised in England, and learned the plasterers and stone mason trade before he emmigrated. When he could get away from his farm he was busy working at the above trades. Many a wall he laid in Leroy and adjoining townships, and hundreds of rooms were made snug and warm with his deft handling of the trowel. His buddy or helper for a number of years was Daniel Kingsbury, an Ohio man. This pair of workmen were as full of practical jokes as a couple of school kids. Many stories were told of their pranks. I will have'to relate one as a sample. They were building a wall under a barn for Hugh

612 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Webber, and his hound bothered them by getting in the way. Mr. Webber was informed that if he didn't take care of his dog they were liable to get him walled in under the barn. Webber told them the dog could care for himself. The wall was finished and the workmen were leaving when the dog commenced to howl, and the owner found he was shut under the barn. He was mad, for the dog was his pet, and he wanted the men to tear down the wall and release the animal, but they told him they built walls that could not be taken apart, and he would have to get his hound out some other way; suggesting that the dog be starved until he got thin enough to come through a crack in the floor. Uncle Nat told me something about how hard he worked to learn music and to play on his favorite instrument. His father objected to his night study and to discourage him said that "ringers and singers are little house bringers." Alexander Monroe, who lived in the Herrick neighborhood, was a New England type of farmer, rugged and with a slight twang in his speech. His wife was a hopeless invalid for many years. His father was a Revolutionary soldier, and through the efforts of his friends Uncle Alex was elected an honorary member, or original son, of the Detroit Chapter Sons of the American Revolution. He was the only one from Ingham county. Sidney Murray's family consisted of six daughters and one son. Mr. Murray was a model farmer. His fences, fields and stocks were always in apple pie order. No weeds or brush grew in his fence rows or by his road sides. His wife was an ideal housewife, good mother and nurse for the whole neighborhood. I always thought a rivalry existed between Mr. and Mrs. Herrick as to who could do the most in caring for the sick, comforting the sorrowing or helping the destitute. Mr. Murray's son was not interested in farming. For several years he tried various occupations and finally found the life of a rural auctioneer filled the bill, as it gave him opportunities for travel, to see and study the different types of people in rural communities and to display his eloquence and oratorical powers. Today he is a peer among auctioneers in this part of the state. I have known men who attended his sales, with no intention of purchasing, become so hypnotized that they bought an ordinary cow under the impression that she was a great butter maker and had a long pedigree in the Holsteinic records.

LEROY TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 613 George Fear, who lived in the south part of this neighborhood, was English born, but came to Leroy in the sixties. He and his son Thomas were carpenters and farmers. His daughter Mary married George Jacobs, and another daughter, Frances, married Joel Briggs, of Handy Township. The farmers that located and settled in the center of the township on the western border of the swamp were: Seth Stow, J. M. Christian, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Baker, David Stoddard and James Catlin. Mr. Catlin's son, Ashmund, has been supervisor and treasurer of the township, also Representative in the State Legislature from the second district of Ingham county. In the seventies, three German families, Rudolph Huschke, August Keil and Edward Bierley, bought farms from the Gamby tract and became prosperous farmers. Four of Mr. Huschke's boys are farmers in Leroy and adjacent townships. In the eighties a tall, raw-boned, awkward farmer boy, who had no home, worked for the farmers of Handy and Leroy. His employers always found him willing to work, with a happy disposition, careful of his earnings and honest in all his dealings. During the winter, or a slack time, he found some job so that he was never idle. While in his teens he bought an almost worthless piece of land, improved it, sold it and bought a better piece, and by so doing in a short time had a good farm. Today we find him on a good farm, well stocked, and a good bank account. Edward Lewis has improved his opportunities, and by hard work, careful saving and shrewd investment in farm land, made good. By his example he has shown the farmer boys that there is money In farming. The history of this township since 1872 is so interwoven or united with the development of their township village, Webberville, that it will have to be given in the paper on the aforesaid village. Le Roy, in 1863, according to Micigan State Gazetteer, is a postoffice of Ingham county, 19 miles south from Lansing.

614 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY GILLETT JONES. Told by MRS. ALICE CHAPMAN, Daughter of Gillett Jones. In 1848 Gillett Jones, of Cato, Cayuga county, N. Y., contracted for 80 acres of school lands on section 14, in what is now Leroy Township. IIe was to pay about $1.25 per acre, and remained in Cato working on a farm at $11 a month, until he had paid for his land. Each year he paid the taxes, coming occasionally to Michigan to view his holdings; in time he married and raised a family, still living in the east on rented farms. In 1865 he again visited his land in Ingham county to decide whether he should keep it or trade it for property in New York. The township of Leroy was still at that time an unbroken forest, but as he made his way through the undergrowth to a small hill in the middle of his land, and considered the outlook and the possibilities for making a fertile farm and a comfortable home, he decided to go back east and try and persuade his family to come back with him. That he was successful is shown by the fact that a little later they started for their new home in the wilderness. For some reason their household goods were sent from Oswego to Saginaw by boat, then brought overland by ox team to Leroy. On July 3, 1865, the family reached their new home, where Mr. Jones had felled trees and made a clearing sufficiently large for the house he intended to build. He first put up some poles and made a tent of a carpet, and put up their one bedstead under this. The cook stove was set up out of doors, and here they lived until fall. Mrs. Jones had strong objections to living in a log house, so under great difficulties logs were taken to the nearest mill and the lumber brought back by way of a winding trail through the woods and underbrush, and a house 12x12 feet in size erected, with a flat shanty roof of boards. They were able to move into this in November, though it had no doors or windows, only carpets and blankets at the openings. Over the stove set in the open Mrs. Jones had done her preserving and pickling, putting up wild plums, wild grapes and cucumbers from four hills which she planted on the Fourth of July. Their mode

LEROY TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 615 of living during the summer caused the report to go out that Indians were living there, and visitors from the surrounding country frequently called on them to learn the truth of the report. By the next year the house had been made snug and warm, ceiled on the inside and battened on the outside, and rooms were added to the original structure until the hilltop was crowned with a nest of one-storied buildings all connected together, with the granary at the far end. The one bedstead filled the post of honor in the best room, while four bed-sinks ranged along one side of the house with built in beds. Alice Jones, now Mrs. Alice Chapman, of Mason, was a young girl at that time, and tells of her great fear of snakes, which were very plentiful in the woods and swamps. In the afternoons, when sewing or knitting, she always placed her chair on the top of a large, white wood stump which stood near the door and where she felt safe, as she could keep an eye out for hated serpents. Great tree black snakes, known as "sleepy johns," very harmless but frightful to meet, were often seen hanging by their tails from the limbs of trees. Like all newcomers into the Michigan swamp lands, the Jones family had its siege of fever and chills. They had no well, but two of their neighbors did have, and from those places one-half mile away they procured all their drinking water. One of these homes was across a swampy place, and there a wind-fall had been made for a path. Trees were cut in such away that the top of one overlapped the butt of the other, then the limbs trimmed off so people could walk on the trunks. All these hardships were undergone after the Civil War, and it was some years after that before the now thriving village of Webberville was located. The Jones children in those days took their sleigh rides in a "gopher," or what is better known as a "pung." a home-made sleigh where roots or limbs of trees with the right bend were used for runners. Who will dispute the survivors when they say those were as happy days as they ever saw?

616 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY EARLY PIONEER HISTORY OF DANA FAMILY. By E. L. DANA. Dear Readers: Perhaps you will not clearly understand pioneer history or life after reading this unless you lived at that time. I will do the best I can to tell you some things that I hope will interest you. My grandfather, Captain James Dana, was born near Cambridge, Mass., about the year 1755. He served as a soldier during the Revolutionary War. After the war was closed he settled in Genesee county, state of New York, and married a young widow who was the mother of two children, Orren and Hiram Dana. Hiram Dana, my uncle, went to the West Indian Islands for his health in 1833 and died soon after his arrival there. My father, Orren Dana, lived in Genesee county until the autumn of 1837. September 5th of this year he and my mother, a young woman twenty-four years old, started with a yoke of oxen, one cow, and their two little boys for Michigan, a country unknown to them, to make a home in the wilderness. When they arrived at the village of Detroit they had five dollars in wild cat currency left. This proved to be good. After traveling five days in a western direction, they came to the town of Lyndon, Washtenaw county. My mother stayed here and father followed the section lines north and west into what is now Leroy Township, Ingham county, to locate the land he had bought from the United States Government. He found two other families in the township but not near enough to be neighbors. He made their acquaintance and they helped him build a small shanty on his land and cover the roof with bark in place of shingles. There was a place for a door and window, but no door or window nor a floor except one of earth. When he got his shanty finished, he went back to Lyndon for his wife and two boys. After fording two or three streams and cutting his road wide enough for his wagon, he arrived at his shanty October 20, 1837. The first winter the cow and one ox died of starvation. They missed the cow most as it was their only means of support. I was born May 25, 1838, and mother did not have any cow for milk. My birth

LEROY TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 617 makes me the first white child born in Leroy Township. Here I have always lived by chance or choice ever since. I have always lived in the same school district. The first two years of my life I had no playmates outside of the family but Indian boys. My father had a family of eight children but at the present writing, December 26, 1906, I am the only one living. I have no cousins, uncles or aunts living. I am the only survivor of the Dana family who were pioneers. The townships of Leroy, Wheatfield, Locke and Williamston were all together in 1838 and known as Phelpstown. In 1839 Leroy and Wheatfield were one township called Brutus and had an election. Henry Lee was elected supervisor. In 1840 this township was divided and the two parts were called Leroy and Wheatfield. They elected township officers as follows: LEROY TOWNSHIP TICKET, 1840. Whole number of votes cast in election, eleven. Supervisor-Levi Rowley. Clerk-Orren Dana. Treasurer-Isaac Coleman. Justice of the Peace-Orren Dana. Assessors-Ephraim Meech, Daniel Wilcox. Commissioners of Highways-Daniel Tobias, Daniel Wilcox. School Inspectors-Henry Lee, Levi Rowley. Director of Poor-Orren Dana. Twenty-five dollars was raised for the support of the school for one year. My first remembrance was that wolves, bears and deer were very common. There were no roads, only trails cut wide enough for a sled or wagon. These roads followed no surveyed lines but went from one settler's clearing to another's. When any traveling was done people went on foot rather than be jostled in an ox wagon or bounced around in a sled. In hitching up an ox team they had to find the oxen in the woods, so it was a half day before they could get ready to start. One day my two brothers went across the woods to Mr. Rowley's about a mile away. In making the trip they ran across a she bear and two cubs. The mother bear was ugly and started

618 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY after the boys. The only thing that saved them was one of the cubs squealed and the mother turned around and the boys got away. Another time Mr. Meech came to our place and having to make the trip home through the woods after dark, got lost and had to camp in the woods. Mrs. Meech, at home in the shanty, was besieged by wolves and had to climb up in the loft to escape as there was no door except a blanket one. My grandmother, who came to our home in 1839, went through the woods to Mr. Rosencrans, got lost and had to lie out all night in the woods. When found the next day by my father, the fright and exposureit was in the month of November-had unsettled her mind and she never fully recovered the same. When I was about six years old I had a tame deer. It stayed close to the shanty at night, but one night a band of wolves chased it away and killed it. One day at the noon hour a black bear came to the hog pen and stole a hog and carried it off in the woods where it killed and ate it. Indians were quite numerous in the township and camped near us in the summer months. They did not remain long in one place but, like the gypsies, roved from one place to another. I never was afraid of them or considered them dangerous. They were in my opinion a lazy, shiftless people. If they could swap (wascos) deer meat for (napanee) flour or (scuda waboo) whiskey they were satisfied. I may say more about them in my next paper. When the Grand river turnpike was cut through from Detroit to Lansing in the winter of 1842-3 it gave the pioneers more of an outlook in the outside world. The nearest post office in 1837 for my people was Ann Arbor, forty miles away. My father heard that he had a letter there in the winter of 1839, but it was not delivered until spring. When he went after his letter he carried a cake of maple sugar that he sold to pay the postage (twenty-five cents) on the same. The post office had no stamps in those days and the postage was written on the outside of the letter as follows: Mrs. Orren Dana. (New York) Ann Arbor, 25 cents postage. Mich. On the back of the envelope was a red wafer or seal to seal it together. Our first school in 1848 was taught by a girl for seventy-five

LEROY TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 619 cents a week payable in township orders. It might be interesting to know what books we studied at that time. I can truthfully say our supply was limited. I had a spelling book, Warren Coleman had a law book, Sylvester Starks had an old English reader, my brother had a history of the Bible, and William Rowley had an arithmetic. I will close and write you more about this in the near future. EDWIN L. DANA, Leroy, Ingham Co., Mich., December 26, 1906. (This was compiled from original notes by Dr. F. N. Turner, 200/ E. Franklin St., Lansing, Mich.) HIRAM RIX. Hiram Rix, Sr., was born in Canada December 16, 1811, and his wife, Emily Osborne Rix, was born in New York December 15, 1818. They were married in Genesee county, New York, December 23, 1836. They came to Michigan in 1837 and settled on 80 acres of unimproved land in Livingston county, where they lived three years. In 1842 they came into Ingham county, buying 80 acres on section 8, in Leroy Township, which had a small clearing and log house. They lived in Washtenaw county for a while, then came back to Leroy, where they spent the rest of their days. Ten children were born to them, a son, Hiram Jr., serving in the Civil War, in Co. D, 6th Michigan Cavalry. He was taken prisoner in July, 1863, and kept in Libby Prison until September of the same year, when he was paroled, rejoined his regiment and served until the end of the war. In the spring of 1843, I being a babe of three months, my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Rix, Sr., moved from their farm in Leroy Township to the town of Manchester, Washtenaw county, in which vicinity they lived seven years, returning in April, 1850. At that time the country had lost some of its primeval newness, but was still well covered with forests, with great tracts of swamp, quite covered with water in the spring, and even most of the year, in wet seasons, and at all times incapable of cultivation. Indian trails had been replaced by rough roads with log causeways

620 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY through the swampy places. But then, and for several years after, these were in many places almost impassable in times of prevailing high waters. I recall as late as the sixties of some roads being scarcely passable for pedestrians, and when hardly a team or vehicle would be seen for perhaps weeks in succession. At the time of our return Williamston, still called "The Cedar," by some old settlers, was a small village containing, as I remember, a grist mill, tavern, blacksmith shop, and I think only one store, that of J. B. Taylor, and doubtless the post office. Probably there were some other business places which I, being so young, did not know of. The roads leading to the place were, much of the way, lined with trees and thick bushes. Later, uncertain of the date, but I think probably in '52 or '53, a saw mill was erected about two and one-half miles east of Williamston, a few buildings clustered at the place, and it was called "The Burg," afterward christened Podunk. Presently a plank road was laid from Lansing to Howell, by what company or where organized this historian knoweth not. This could hardly have been later than '53 or '54. I well remember the laying of our local section. Small movable buildings on wheels were constructed, equipped with a primitive housekeeping outfit, and managed perhaps by a man and his wife, for the accommodation, boarding, etc., of the workmen, and were moved from point to point as the work progressed. Some of the men were fed at various houses along the road. Toll gates were established some seven or eight miles apart. The toll was something more than two and one-half cents a mile for one horse, and double for a team. Later the road was renewed by graveling. My father has recorded that he paid in all $300 in toll. The Podunk saw mill was for years a busy place, as the woods yielded an almost unlimited supply of sawing timbers. The mill yard and adjoining grounds were crowded with hundreds and hundreds of fine large saw logs. There were considerable tracts of non-resident land in the vicinity, and some unscrupulous persons reaped a harvest of gain from the fine timber. This was afterward peremptorily stopped by the owners. My first recollection of a post office is when Mr. Rowley was postmaster. Some member of our family used to go for the mail usually once a week. I think the name of the office was Phelpstown. Earlier, when my father and mother lived on that farm,

LEROY TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 621 that being the first owned by my father in Ingham county, my mother was postmistress. Later the name of the office was changed to Leroy, and was kept at different places in this township. Afterward our mail came to Williamston, and since the existence of Webberville we have a post office at that place. Schools were a primitive sort in the very early days. A log school house was built on the corner east of father's and I have heard my husband speak of attending school there when it was taught by Lodema Tobias, a young girl of fifteen or sixteen. I suppose she was slightly more advanced in the three Rs than her mates. Mrs. Ephraim Meech, Aunt Nancy, as she was called, was one of the early teachers. The log school house mentioned was afterwards occupied by Hiram Dana as a dwelling house. A tavern building was erected at Podunk about the time the saw mill was built or soon after, and in an unfinished room of this building was kept the first school which I attended in Podunk, although there had been at least one term before taught in a shanty, which was afterward occupied for a short time as a dwelling by Edwin Stanton. Miss Margaret Dryer was teacher in the tavern building. This structure being in the edge of the woods we were wont to play and eat our lunches in its shade. One of our favorite amusements was to pull down saplings and swing or teeter on them; another was to play on the saw logs. "Our school in the green woods" was a rather frequent opening sentence to the compositions which some of us were required to write. Miss Dryer was a good teacher and the school made a fair progress both that summer and the next, when she taught in the new school house which had then been built. My father was director of the school district at that time. Teachers were then paid in part by "rate bill" and boarded around. Right here I wish to make a grateful and well deserved acknowledgment to my parents. For though we went to school more or less regularly after this time, yet the beginning and ground work of such education as we possess is due to them; and they grounded us well in the essentials, and also taught us habits of industry and application. Time passed-farms were cleared, roads improved, bridges built, swamps and marshes drained, the face of the country transformed, and in 1871 the railroad was put through.

622 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIHAM COUNTY In the political world the never resting question of southern slavery was becoming more and more a burning issue. Early in 1856 the Republican party was organized, a Presidential campaign of unusual excitement and bitterness ended in the election of James Buchanan. Then came four years of shameful truckling to the slave power, followed by the election to the Presidency in 1860 of the great and good Abraham Lincoln. Now the threatened cloud of war broke upon us in fury. Many, many of the best of our young manhood were sacrificed, but our brother, after three years of severe service, partly spent in the dreadful experience of a southern prison, came home to us safe and unwounded. With the people at home those were times of hard labor and gruelling anxiety, and my poor mother grew worn and aged, though the safe return of her dear son was as cordial to her soul and my father's also. They were climbing toward old age, but still capable of efficient work. My mother always loved and raised flowers and always her garden was a mass of lovely bloom from spring to the late autumn. Father was a reader and thinker and his memory was well stored with facts relating to the history of our country, the fluctuations of politics, the characters and careers of our prominent men and their influence on the country and its progress. The old home, log house, must have been built some sixty or sixty-one years ago, and though so humble and small scarcely could any home be pleasanter, and many of my fondest recollections are clustered around it and its surroundings. It is a lovely memory now. MARY RIX DIETZ, Daughter of Hiram and Emily Rix. We moved into this log house in November, 1858. Father and mother were married in New York, December 23, 1836, and the following spring moved to Michigan, coming across Lake Erie. I do not remember anything I may have been told of the trip, except of a foreign woman with several children who were passengers, and mother said she gave each child a bath beginning by washing their feet and so on up ending with their faces, but mother said they looked very clean when she finished. John Conghran and wife, who were relation by marriage, came with them and both settled in the same house. It was a log

LEROY TowNsSIIIP AND ITS HISTORY 623 house with shake roof and puncheon floor. Shakes were made in a hand machine and were said to be rived. Puncheon floors were made of logs hewn on the upper side as smoothly as possible. Father, with Mr. Conghran's help, soon began putting up a building for his own home. It was about a mile from where they lived. Mother was only eighteen years old and did not understand big woods, and one day she started to go to the place where father was working. So thinking to shorten the way she started into the woods to cut across a corner of it but was soon lost in the vast timber. She wandered all day trying to find her way out, and near night heard an Indian pony's bell. She went in the direction of the sound and came to an Indian's wigwam. The Indian knew she was lost. He went into the wigwam and brought out a dish with some honey and a piece of meat on it which he offered her, but mother could not eat. He then led the way until he could point to a clearing which she reached and found a house where a family lived by the name of Preston. They took her home, where they arrived just midnight. This was in the town then called Tuscola, but now Cohoctah, county of Livingston. It was in this town our little two-year-old brother George died of scarlet fever. They did not quarantine in those days nor take any measures to prevent disease from spreading and mother had been sitting up with a neighbor family who had it and becoming sick with it herself gave it to George. One time an Indian came to my father's home. Mother was alone with the oldest children, then little ones. The Indian asked for something to eat. There was nothing baked but bread was in the oven. Mother told him so, and at once he took his knife and a whetstone and began sharpening it. After whetting it a spell he paused and looked at mother. If she felt fear she did not show it and he began again. But after trying it a few times he gave up and went away. In their early pioneer days my father and mother moved twenty times, and my mother always raised flowers, so the neighbors told her they could tell where she had lived by the flowers she left behind. When they moved into a house they would begin by whitewashing and cleaning thoroughly, and one time she and father sat Up and cleaned all night the first night. All of this was before my birth, which was in Manchester, and.

624 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIHAM COUNTY the day I was one year old they moved to the farm of the picture into a very bad old log house with an old leaky shake roof and a stick chimney big enough for a good fat Santa Claus to come down. There was a stone hearth all around the fireplace and one andiron, a stone serving for the other. Father used to put on a great back log, then a fore log with small wood filled in and the fire was fine, but we had often to turn with faces then our backs to the fire for alternate warmth. In those days people made holes for the cats to go in and out close to the floor. One time four or five Indians, one a little girl, came to the house for something to eat. Mother gave them each a plate and they sat down in the grass to eat. After eating the little girl came and peeked through the cat hole, perhaps wanting more. They were very shy in their ways, and would always come quietly to the door and open without knocking, and I can remember looking up at an Indian inside the door as the first we heard of him. The last I will mention was a girl, perhaps seventeen, who came in and sat down in a chair near the door, never speaking a word. She had on a red dress which for trimming had white shirt buttons sewed about an inch apart all round the bottom of it. In those days of pioneer poverty Santa Claus never came down our chimney but once that I can recollect, but, Oh! the joy of that day when we each found a primer which cost one penny, a handful of raisins and two sticks of candy in our several stockings. Hiram's sock was stretched very wide at the top and he found besides the things already mentioned a school book, a philosophy. One of my birthday presents was a third reader which gave me as great pleasure as though not something we must have anyway. At another time a necessary school dinner basket served as a present, and of this I am certain, the present day child surfeited with toys does not know the happiness we did with our few. All I have written was prior to our moving into the house in the picture. I do not know how many years we lived in it, but we lived in a new frame house when the picture was taken and the chimney and window shows the unoccupied state. But I am glad the flowers show so beautifully. Father, mother and five of the ten children are gone, and those remaining getting so old that "the western hills half hide the sun, and evening bells ring memory's song." HATTIE E. RIX SIMS, Daughter of Hiram and Emily Rix.

LEROY TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 625 LEROY HISTORY. Written in July, 1874, by NANCY MEACH, a Pioneer. It may not be uninteresting to know some of the incidents of our pioneer life in Michigan. We moved from the town of Brutus, Cayuga county, N. Y., in the year 1832, a year memorable for the scourge of Asiatic cholera and the Black Hawk War. We landed in Detroit on the 17th of June. Detroit was at that time a poor looking place, with clay walled houses with steep roofs. Many of the inhabitants were French and Indian. The first night after leaving Detroit we stayed on the Rouge, and were very much annoyed by mosquitos. The lady of the house was sick and did not give us a very flattering account of the country. We came with our ox team and wagon. I got tired of riding over rough roads and got out of the wagon and walked for some time. While walking along alone I saw something cross the road some distance ahead of me. Soon after I met two men traveling and they asked me if I were alone. I replied that our team was but a few rods behind. They said it was dangerous for me to travel alone for a bear had just crossed the road. Nothing further worthy of notice occurred until we reached Cooper's Corners, a small place. Here some of the people had packed up their goods ready for starting away if the Indians invaded the territory, as there were rumors that the Indians were coming, killing the people and burning their houses. It turned out that the rumor was false. We lived in Plymouth the first year. Then we bought a farm in Green Oak, Livingston county. The country was new and there were but few settlers. It was in the oak openings. The first year my husband trapped and caught five wolves not over sixty rods from the house. My husband's brother lived with us, and one time when my husband was gone, a wolf got into the trap. I took an ax and my brother-in-law his gun, and we went to the swamp where the wolf was. He shot but did not wound the wolf. It was his last bullet. He then left me to watch the animal while he went to the house to cast more bullets. I kept my eye on the wolf with ax in my hand, but he re

626 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGItAM COUNTY mained quiet until my companion returned and soon dispatched him. There was scarcely a night that we did not hear wolves around the house. We sold our farm in Plymouth and bought in the township of Leroy, in Ingham county, in 1836. We built a house and moved into it in January, 1837. The snow was then eighteen inches deep, and we had to cut and break our road for eight miles through a wilderness, with not a house to be seen. We stayed the first night at Knickerbocker's. We started at eight o'clock the next morning and were until sundown going eight miles. About midway on this day's journey we crossed a creek when the ice broke and I got my feet completely wet. I was forced to walk in order to keep my feet from freezing, for my stockings froze stiff. I suffered very much with the cold and was glad to reach our home where I could get warm and rest my weary feet, even if it was in the midst of a forest. The next morning I looked out on a wilderness inhabited only by Indians and wild beasts. It was not long before I saw two Indians, one standing on a stump and looking in the door. They wanted to know if we had any whiskey, but I told them we did not keep the vile stuff. They often came and traded with us. Among them would come Okemos, their chief. I traded once with him. He was then an old man. He looked fierce and savage, and had deep scars on his face. I was not much afraid of the Indians, they never did us any harm. We brought some hogs to our farm the first summer, and a bear caught one of the best of them as we sat at dinner one day. The men heard the hog squeal, and went with a gun in the direction of the noise, but the bear had killed it. They shot the bear though, which was a large one and yielded five gallons of bear's oil. The other hogs ran away, and we got no trace of them until fall. They had strayed miles away onto a man's premises, and he had fattened them. He gave us one. We had a neighbor one mile away, the only one within six miles of us. He came into the woods soon after we did. I remember one time our cows strayed away, and the men folks started after them and did not return that night. I had prepared wood for the morning and gone to bed. I had been in bed but a short time. when the wolves began to howl and came nearer and nearer to

LEROY TOWNSHTIP AND ITS HISTORY 527 the house, finally so near that they made the glass rattle in the window. (We had one six-light window in our house.) I got up and made a good fire, as I had heard that wolves were afraid of the light from a fire. I then took some quilts and spread them out on some boards that served as a chamber floor, only a few feet above our heads. We had a girl eight years old that we had adopted. I helped her get up on the boards, which were about four feet in width, and then climbed up myself. I was afraid the wolves would break through the window from which two panes of glass were gone. The brutes kept up a constant howling until near morning, then it grew fainter as they went farther away. I was glad to see daylight again. The horrors of that night I shall never forget while I live. The next year settlers began to come in. I hailed them with joy, for I had not seen a woman in eight months, except the one that came in with us, and I had had no communication with the outside world in that time. After a few families had come and settled here the Methodist preachers found their way into the wilderness and preached the gospel to us. They were sent by the Board of Home Missions, I suppose, as they claimed no pay for preaching. Mr. Meach raised the first crop of grain raised by a white man in Leroy. It was very favorable to us that we were healthy, as there were no doctors to be found nearer than Dexter. Mr. Meach used to carry grain to mill for the other dwellers in our vicinity, as many of them had no teams. The roads were so bad, and as the streams had to be forded it took nearly a week to make the journey to mill and back. I could tell of much suffering among the pioneers, but what would it avail? Some were forced to live on bread with a little maple sugar. We came to this place before the township had a name or was organized. When they held the first township meeting it was held in Ingham. The inhabitants of four townships met, the few there were of them. The next year they held their meeting in Leroy, at our house. The first time Mr. Meach was in Mason there were three log houses and one frame house partly enclosed. Also a saw mill owned by Danforth and Co. Those were all of the buildings of which Mason could boast in 1838. There were none at Dansville at that time.

628 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY There were many incidents in our pioneer life I can remember, but shall have to omit them for it would make my story too long. In 1843 we left our farm and moved to Mason. Mr. Meach and another man took the job of building a barn for John Rayner. While making one of the numerous trips found necessary back to the farm in Leroy Mr. Meech saw two young bears about a rod from him rooting in the leaves. This was only a few miles from Mason. He jumped toward the little cubs hoping to capture them. One of them ran away but the other laid down and cried, when the mother bear came charging out of the bushes with vengeance in her looks. After facing her a few minutes Mr. Meach thought "discretion the better part of valor" and climbed a sapling that stood near. He didn't stop until he was about twelve feet from the ground, but the bear climbed after him and was five feet up the tree before Mr. Meach thought to throw his coat in her face. Then hearing one of her cubs near by she turned and left the tree, and Mr. Meach lost no time in getting out of that vicinity. Among the pioneers that came into Leroy at the same time we did there are none left except ourselves. Some came a year or two later, and of those Mr. and Mrs. Dana, and Mrs. Daniel Tobias are left. Nancy Tobias, daughter of Mrs. Daniel Tobias, was the first white child born in the township. She was born under our roof and received my name. She is now Mrs. Gordon and lives in Leroy. These incidents are written as nearly correct as my memory serves me. Through all life's checkered scenes I recognize God's unseen hand, that has kept me through these years, and with gratitude I acknowledge His goodness and humbly trust His mercies. NANCY MEACH. WEBBERVILLE. DR. F. N. TURNER, North Lansing. In 1871 the present Pere Marquette Railroad was built from Lansing to Detroit, making a direct route from the Capitol City and the Metropolis of Michigan. Before this date the only direct route was via the Detroit, Lansing and Howell Plank Road. Be

LEROY TOWNSIIIP AND ITS HISTORY 629 tween Williamston and Fowlerville, a distance of eleven miles, there was no village on the line of road that could be used as the nucleus for a town or market, except Podunk, two miles east of Williamston. The farmers of Locke, Leroy and White Oak wanted a market for their timber, grain and stock. The railroad company informed them that they would build a depot, grain elevator, also a stockyard if some farmer along the line would donate land for a site. Hugh Webber, one of the largest land owners in the section, offered to donate a narrow strip of land between the Plank Road and the railroad track, but its shape and size prevented its being platted for a village. However, George H. Galusha, a builder and contractor, bought land of Mr. Webber, platted a few lots and built a house on the proposed village site. Mr. Webber owned a hotel or road house, and there was also a school house and saw mill on the site. For a tine it looked favorable, and Mr. Webber was ready to plat a village and sell lots, when a competitor stopped him, and McPherson Brothers of Howell, larger land owners than Mr. Webber, who owned land in the east, became interested in the project. They saw their opportunities to sell their timber and land, so offered the company a better site and more land to plat a village, and this accounts for the station being one-half mile east of the first plat laid out. Part of the ground at that time was virgin forest, but the McPherson's cut streets through the brush and timber, laid out the site for the public buildings and platted one hundred and fortythree lots. They also built a store on the corner of Main and Grand River streets. This store was afterwards burned, but was rebuilt with brick instead of wood, and is standing today. The plat was recorded in 1872 as "McPherson's Plat of the Village of Leroy." It was called by this name but a short time, for there was another village by that name in the state. The mail, express and freight for this village was sent to the other town, and wandered around from two to three weeks before it was delivered to its owners. This caused so much confusion that the name was changed to Webberville, as a compliment to Mr. Webber. The village will retain its name, and will be the only thing to

630 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAMI COUNTY recall the family, as most of them and their descendents have died or left that section. Although this village of Webberville was founded long after the time limit set for the end of the history to be given in this volume, it seems fitting that it should have this brief mention, to show that as late as 1872 the settlers could be classed with the pioneers of Ingham county, as they cleared the forests and built the settlement that is now a thriving village.

CHAPTER XI. LESLIE TOWNSHIP. History of township and village by Elijah Grout, D. A. R.; Township Iistorical society gives history by school districts; pioneer sketches by Mrs. Ella IIaltz. The following facts concerning Leslie history were gleaned from a little book published by Elijah Grout Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, in 1914, in their desire to preserve some of the early data. The Government survey recognizes this township as Township No. 1 North, Range No. 1 West. It was in 1824 when Joseph Wampler surveyed the eastern and southern boundaries, while the northern and western lines were surveyed by John Mullett in 1824-25, and the township was subdivided by IIervey Parke in 1826. From that time until 1837 Leslie Township was a part of the township of Aurelius, when on December 30 of that year it was organized as a separate township and given its present name, for which Dr. J. A. Cornell, of Spring Arbor, stands sponsor, in honor of a family he knew by that name in eastern New York. When the formal act of organization passed in March, 1838, it received its legislative baptism and has since been known as Leslie. Previous to that time the settlement, where is now the village of Leslie, was known as "Meekersville," a family by the name of Meeker being among the very first to settle there, and one of their number, Dr. Valorous Meeker, was the first physician to settle in Ingham county. The first town meeting in Leslie was held at the home of Henry Fiske on the first Monday in April, 1838. This house stood near the present site of the Allen House, and Henry Fiske presided as moderator and Benjamin Davis was elected supervisor. Leslie Township is one of the southern townships in Ingham county. It has a slightly rolling surface with natural water courses fitting it for general agriculture. Huntoon Creek runs across the township from north to south, and its sources are found in Mud Lake on sections 3 and 10, and

632 PIONEER HISTORY OF IcNGLAM COUNTY Huntoon Lake on sections 13 and 14. At an early day several mills were run by the power this stream afforded, but later the dams were destroyed and the ponds drained. Along this creek bottom the Michigan Central Railroad and the electric line of the Michigan United Railway procured their right of way, and through these two roads the people of Leslie township are connected with the outside world. There are two villages in the township-Leslie, situated in the southern part, and the hamlet of North Leslie in the northwestern part. As in other parts of Ingham county, Indians were quite common when the first settlers came, as the old Indian trail from the north to Detroit, by way of Jackson, was frequently traveled by these original settlers as they went back and forth to Detroit after their pensions paid them by the government. The trails made by the red men were the roads traveled by the white men when they came into the unbroken forest of Ingham county. The numerous stone arrow heads, skinning knives, hammers and hatchets which were discovered as the settlers began to cultivate their fields, proved conclusively that the Indians had done more than to just pass over this ground, but must at various times had camps around there. As specimens of copper were also found, it was thought the Indians must have brought them from the Lake Superior region in their wanderings through the northwest territory. On section 20 it is said that quantities of bones were found, indicating that either a battle had been fought in that vicinity or that a cemetery had been at some time located there. This little book of Leslie history makes no mention of the mounds found on section 17, which O. M. Barnes pronounced a remnant of the work done in prehistoric days, and which he helped to excavate in the later '30's or early '40's when he found proof for his assertion. Many of the early settlers of Leslie were people of culture and refinement, from religious homes in the east, and churches and schools were soon organized. These early settlers lived in a most primitive manner, because surrounding conditions made it impossible for them to do otherwise. They lived in their covered wagons until they could build

LESLIE1 TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 633 log houses, and did their cooking over fires built out of doors. Bread was baked in an iron skillet over the coals. Fires were kept throughout the night to frighten the woves away. Indians were frequent but unwelcome visitors. With hearts yearning for the homes and friends they had left, they labored diligently to establish their new homes as waves of homesickness swept over them. A letter from the old home was hailed with pleasure, though oftentimes after word had reached them that a letter was awaiting them at the nearest postoffice, they would have great difficulty in raising the money to pay the required postage of twenty-five cents. Money was a scarce commodity in those days, and there was but very little of it in circulation among the settlers, black salts and maple sugar being the basis for all their financing. Of their hardships they never complained, and one daughter of an early settler was heard to say, "I remember when we had only salt and potatoes to eat, and we thought it more of a picnic than a hardship-at least the children did." Elijah Woodworth built the first log house in Leslie in March, 1836, on what is now Bellevue street, near Huntoon Creek. Soon there was one built near Five Corners by Mr. Loomis; another near the Methodist church by Henry Meeker, and a frame one, now called the Dowling residence, by Mr. Elmer on Bellevue street. The first school house in Leslie township was built in the fall of 1837, a frame building, located near where the Congregational church now stands, and is now used as a part of a carriage house by J. R. Baggerly. The first teacher was Stillman Rice, and the second Mrs. Butler, followed by Miss Messenger. This first school house was used for both school and religious services. One incident was told by an old resident: "I remember the school house distinctly. We spent many exciting afternoons in it, choosing sides for a spelling down contest. There was a play house too, built in the woods just west of Mr. Tuttle's residence. There the largest boy or girl was elected father or mother and they had a busy time keeping order in their unruly family." In time the first building was vacated and a brick house erected, which is now used as a chapel by the Congregational church. In 1868 the present high school building was erected, but its

634 P)IONEER HISTORY OF INGIAMI COUNTY history belongs to a later period which it is the plan of the Ingham County Historical and Pioneer Society to treat in the second volume of the county history. RCURCHES. As early as 1830 the Methodist Episcopal church did some work in what is now the township of Leslie, and the first Methodist society was formed in the village of Leslie in June, 1837. There were thirteen members, as follows: Henry Meeker and wife, S. O. Russell and wife, Benjamin Davis and wife, Dr. Valorous Meeker and wife, James Royston and wife, Benjamin Meeker and wife, and Denzil P. Rice. Washington Jackson and Rev. Sullivan were the pastors. S. 0..Russell was the first class leader. At the time the society was organized the circuit was changed to Ingham, as was also the Conference. The meetings were held first at the home of Benjamin Davis, one mile west of the village. Afterward they were held in the schoolhouse. In 1838 the following people were taken into the church: Josiah Rice, Laura Rice, Flavel J. Butler, Florella Butler, Richard Davis, Susan Caton, Washington Scovil, Ephraim Wortman, Anna Wortman, Susan Kirby, Laura A. Rice, Alba Blake, Catherine Blake, Nancy Carson, Laura Filkins, Louis A. Ravelin, Wim. Vredenburg, Betsy Vredenburg, Mary J. Carson, John Hawkins, Nancy Hawkins, Samuel Vredenburg, Henry D. Rice, Clarissa Dunsha, VanRansaler Polar, Bathsheba Rice, John Parish, and Edna Rice. The first society at Felts Plains in Bunkerhill was organized about 1848, and attached to Leslie. At that time Leslie, Mason, Okemos, Bunkerhill. Dansville, Stockbridge and some school house appointments were in the Ingham circuit. A. L. Crittenden was the pastor, and lived in Mason, as the circuit owned a parsonage there. For two years this pastor preached once in two weeks at each of the places belonging to the circuit. Hiram Law was presiding elder. In 1856 a Union church was built that was used by both Methodists and Baptists until 1868, when the Methodists rented a hall, where they remained until they erected a church of their own in 1870. The first Baptist church of Leslie was organized on April 12,

LESLIE TOW'NSIII1 ANDI) ITS HISTORY 635 1839, with the following members: Mahlon Covert, Sally Covert, Lewis Reynolds, Laura Reynolds, Martha J. Ives, Mariah Hazleton, Harriet Barden and Elijah K. Grout. Elijah Grout was the first pastor of the church, lie having been ordained in 1841. The early meetings were held in the school house. In 1856 the society decided to try and build a church of their own, and a frame building was begun and finished two years later. This was later veneered with brick, and is still in use by the society. At the time the church was built a Ladies' Sewing Society was organized with thirteen members, -who worked to raise funds to be used in furnishing the building. They did all kinds of needle work, made quilts and garments, which they sold, and after a time were able to buy sash and glass for -the windows and also to paint the church. The Congregational church was organized in February, 1843, by Rev. Marcus Harrison, pastor of the church in Jackson. There were nine members, Henry Fiske and wife, William Huntoon and wife, Benjamin Bingham and wife. Iendrick Leach and wife, and Elizabeth Bugbee. Meetings were held once a month for eight months, and then the organization dissolved. In 1861 another organization was formed with Rev. Edwin W. Shaw as pastor. EARLY DAY MILLS. Two saw mills were built in early days that utilized the water power afforded by Huntoon Creek. One was built by Woodworth, Dwight and Company in 1836, and was known as the Upper Mill. The other, known as tle Lower Mill, was built by Henry Meeker, on what is now Mill street. It was a few years later dismantled. S. 0. Russell built a steam mill about 1850, at the corner of Bellevue and Spring street. This continued in operation about eight years. In 1867 another saw mill was built by E. Oldman and L. G. Becker on the east side of the creek, east of the M. E. church. After running for ten years it was burned, but soon after rebuilt. The first grist mill was near the Meeker saw mill, and was built in 1838 by David Dwight. William Spears and Dell Haines owned it at different times, and it was burned while Henry Hawley was the owner.

636 PIONEER HIISTOIY OF INGHAM COUNTY A second grist mill was built in 1870 by John Burchard, and is now used as a storage house. This is just east of the railroad, near where the Meeker mill stood. There was a third grist mill which after being operated some years was burned. Rice Brothers had a brick kiln on the creek bank, and here were made the brick for the first house built of that material in Leslie, and also for the first brick school house. A post office was established in Leslie in 1838, amd Henry Fiske was the first postmaster. The first mail was brought by a man on horseback, amd a cigar box would have been sufficiently large to carry it in. After a stage was put on the route the mail came once a week, then twice a week until 1865 when the railroad went through. The first hotel was opened to the public in 1844. It was burned in 1852, and rebuilt, and after many years was again burned. The Eagle Hotel was built in 1852, and has since been conducted by various people. In 1869 a private bank was established by Walker Allen & Co., and the First National Bank was established in 1864, with capital of $50,000. The officers were from among the early settlers, with Arnold Walker, president; M. E. Rumsey, vice-president, and C. C. Walker, cashier. This was later reorganized as a state bank and given the name of People's Bank. The first newspaper was the "Leslie Herald," established in May, 1869, by J. W. Allen. It later became a part of the Leslie local, and afterwards when the Republican, a paper which lived but a short time, was absorbed by the Local, the name was changed to the Leslie Local-Republican. Other places and industries of interest were introduced a little too late to appear in the genuine pioneer list, and will have to be left for a later volume. Leslie is wide-awake and supports several flourishing fraternities and societies, but they none of them come in the pioneer list. EARLY SETTLERS UP TO 1850. Elijah Woodworth was born in Mayfield, Montgomery county, N. Y. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and also in the Mexican War. He came to Jackson county, Michigan, in 1835, by

LESLIE TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 637 way of Canada. Early in 1836 he cut a road through the forest to Grand river, which he crossed on a raft, then pursued his way northward to the place where Leslie now stands, and built his log house on the banks of Huntoon Creek. Amos Wortman, another pioneer, assisted him in this work. The nearest settlement north was at DeWitt, Clinton county. That summer saw others coming to the Ingham county settlement in search of homes, the choice of homes following the line of registration. As guides were needed in the wilderness, Amos Wortman, Jasper Wollcott and Elijah Woodworth took that duty on themselves. All newcomers went to Kalamazoo to register the land they desired to take up. Elijah Woodworth was past ninety when he died, and his life was one of active work. IIe was interested in all matters pertaining to the pioneers, was a member of the Ingham County Pioneer Society, and also of the State Society. A poem written by him when nearing the end of his days appears in the reports of the annual meetings of the county society, and also in the Michigan Pioneer Collection. JOSIAH RICE And family arrived in Meekerville, or Leslie, in 1839. He was a brother of Grandmother Meeker. "Uncle Josiah," as everyone called him, had a pottery near where Mr. Kent's house stands. His work was a delight to the children as they watched him take a piece of clay, mould it into the proper consistency, throw it upon his revolving table, where with his hands and a piece of wood he would shape various dishes and utensils. In the Historical Museum at the Capitol is a vase made by Josiah Rice, of Leslie, in 1849. Mr. Rice married Laura Stone in Sheldon, Vermont, Feb. 26, 1812, and eleven children were born to them. JACOB ARMSTRONG Came from Charleston, Montgomery county, N. Y., in the fall-of 1837. He related his experiences after reaching Michigan as follows: "I hired a man and a team to transport my goods (the inference being that he came by boat to Detroit, like the majority of the pioneers) and arrived at Freeman's bridge over the Grand river on September 9, 1837. I found the river impassable on ac

638 PIONEEXlR HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY count of heavy rains. The causeway some thirty rods long between the bridge and the north bank was afloat. I left my goods on the bank on the south side and my wife and I crossed on the floating logs by jumping from one log to another and came to Leslie that night on foot, five miles along a dim trail. The next morning I started with an ox team for my goods, and found the river still impassable for a team. By the help of three hired men we loaded into the wagon what we could draw, and drew it across on planks laid on the floating causeway. By taking two sets of planks we could shift them every length of the wagon. We worked faithfully all day, a part of the time up to our waists in the water, got them over and arrived at Leslie some time after dark. Usually when it was known that a family was at the river waiting to come over settlers would go to their assistance. "Sometimes whole days would be taken in getting them and their household goods across. After a time rough canoes were hewn out of basswood logs, and the use of these lessened the labor somewhat. During 1836 the river was crossed on a log raft. As soon as there were men enough to warrant the undertaking, a log bridge was built. Jacob Armstrong was one of the first settlers in North Leslie in 1837. AMOS WORTMAAN Came to Michigan in 1835 from Genesee county, N. Y. He remained in Jackson the first winter, and on March 11, 1836, filed on section 21. He assisted Elijah Woodworth to build the first house in Leslie and boarded with him for two years. On October 28, 1838, he married Charlotte Woodworth, and the next year settled on his farm. IIe helped cut the first road in the township of Leslie, and helped in cutting roads in other townships while on hunting trips, though these roads were merely trails or cow-paths. By his first wife he had five children, some time after her death he married Mrs. Sybil Barnes, in 1855, and by her had three children. SIDNEY 0. RUSSELL Came from Seneca Falls, N. Y., and filed on land in sections 20 and 29, Leslie, in 1836. The following year he brought his family and settled on his farm. The same year he sowed the first wheat

LESLIE TOWNSHIIP AND ITS HISTORY 639 in Leslie Township. Indians were numerous, and were frequent callers at his log house, and their demands for food were never denied. Chief Okemos was a commnon visitor. In 1842 Mr. Russell moved into the village of Leslie and bought a water-power saw mill. I-le added a small store to this and began his mercantile career. He afterward erected a stean mill which furnished employment for a nulmber of men. Ie built a brick business block, also his residence on Bellevue street. Ile married Mary Fox, of Seneca Falls, N. Y., and to them six children were born. After her deatl hle married Rumina Ilaynes. lie died in November, 1894. TIe was an active member of Ingham County Pioneer Society and filled various offices in the society. JOHN J. TUTTLE Was born at Metz, N. Y., and settled on section 7, in Leslie, in 1836. In 1837 he brought his wife, Emma 'Warren Tuttle, to the log house he had erected on his land. She was a granddaughter of General Warren of Revolutionary fame. It is told of him, "that it was five years after taking up his abode in this new country before a team plassed his door, or he was able to see the smoke of any dwelling but his own. His good wife was ever ready to help indoors or out. Often she assisted him in clearing land by piling and burning the logs. Iye was obtained from the ashes by leaching in sycamore gums, then boiling it down into "black salts," which could be sold for making salaratus for cooking purposes. This and maple sugar were the only products which could be sold for cash in those early days. Mr. Tuttle was a good friend to the Indians who frequently camped on his land. He was a strong-minded man, a good story teller, and always tried to make others happy. During his life he served at different times as supervisor, justice of the peace and coroner of Ingham county. Both Mr. and Mrs. Tuttle were members of the Ingham County Pioneer Society, and many of Mr. Tuttle's delightful stories of pioneer experiences were told at the annual meetings of the society. Three children were born to this couple. Mrs. Tuttle died in September, 1887, and Mr. Tuttle in January, 1903.

640 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY DANIEL ACKLEY Was born in Batavia, N. Y., and in 1829 he married Sarah Wortman. They migrated to Leslie in 1836 and settled on a farm north of the village. Bears were plentiful at that time. One Sunday morning as Mr. and Mrs. Ackley were taking a walk she saw an animal which she mistook for an Indian pony, but Mr. Ackley shot the animal, which proved to be a bear seven feet and two inches in length. Two children were born to this couple. BENJAMIN DAVIS Of Jefferson county, N. Y., came to Michigan in 1836, but remained in Wayne county until January, 1837, then moved to the land in Leslie on which he filed a claim in May, 1836. He was twice married, and was the father of eight children. JAMES ROYSTON Was born in the State of New York in 1800. He came to Michigan in June, 1836, and located on the place where L. A. Royston now resides. The family came by way of Buffalo to Detroit on the lakes, and from Detroit by ox team. At the time Mr. Royston built his log cabin there was but one other family within the limits of Leslie. He can well be called one of the founders of the township, as he was elected justice of the peace at the first township election held 1838. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Royston, one of them, William, died of sunstroke at Resaca de La Palma in the Mexican War. ELISHA GODFREY Came to Leslie in 1836 with his family. When he reached Grand river he found a bridge made of logs which would sink into the water when stepped upon. The father was unwilling to venture with his family in the wagon over this primitive crossing. His little daughter, Betsey, who was a cripple, bravely placed her crutches on a log and pressed it down until it was stationary, then swung herself onto the log and treated the next one in the same manner, until she crossed in safety. This little girl certainly deserves a place in the list of heroic pioneers. Her father was not

LIESIEI ToW\NsHIP AND ITS HISTORY 641 strong and she was thrown upon her own resources early in life. Her school privileges were few. When about fifteen years old she had earned and saved money enough to pay for eight yards of calico at twenty-five cents a yard, of which she made her a dress. Later she added two light calico aprons and a cape to her wardrobe. These capes were made to cross in front, and were considered quite dressy, but she had no shoes. Fortunately an aunt bought herself a new pair, and gave her old ones to Betsey. These she had nicely mended, and though they were two sizes too large she wore them to school all winter, and then when she began teaching in the spring, and from that time she was self-supporting Elisha Godfrey married Polly Barden, and to tllem were born thirteen children. CLARK GRAVES Came to Leslie about 1836. He married Fornia Rice, daughter of Josiah Rice. They had no children but adopted a daughter, who is now Mrs. Palmyra Hahn. MAHLON COVERT Settled in Leslie Township in 1837 on a government claim of 200 acres. He came from New York, and before leaving was married to Sallie Chandlers. He began at once to clear his land and built his log cabin, which in 1855 was replaced by a modern home. Four children came to this household. REV. ELIJAH K. GROUT Of Fairfax, Vermont,in 1838 came to Leslie in a covered wagon bringing with him his wife and three young children. He purchased forty acres where the village now stands, but afterward sold this. He built a plank house on the hill on Bellevue street, and with blankets or pieces of carpet in the place of doors and windows they lived in it for many years before it was completed. In the spring of 1839 Mr. Grout organized a Baptist church in Leslie, amd was ordained as a minister in 1841. He rode his pony through the woods, following the trails by the blazed trees, fording streams, often to the sound of howling wolves, as he spread the gospel through that vicinity. For nearly thirty-seven years

642 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY he lived the life of a pioneer minister, and his death was sincerely mourned by everyone. Mrs. Grout held a prominent place among the pioneers, as she was a sister of Henry and Dr. Valorous Meeker, her father being Benjamin Meeker, one of the earliest settlers. Rev. Grout was the grandson of Elijah Grout, a Revolutionary soldier, for whom Elijah Grout Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution of Leslie was named. JOSEPH NIMS Came from Ohio to Leslie in 1838, with his wife and eight children. He had to go to Eaton Rapids to mill, it often taking a week for the trip, and as the mother had died the children were alone during his absence. WASHINGTON SCOVEL Came to Leslie in 1838. His eldest son Jerome, in 1912, was said to be the oldest man living in Leslie who was born there. When he was nine years old he helped drive the seven yoke of oxen while Eli Barden held the plow when the sod was broken on what is now Main street. Some years before this while he was riding behind an ox team with his father their dog began barking, and the father thought he had treed a squirrel, but it was found to be a large black bear. Like all early settlers, Mr. Scovel had his gun with him and soon dispatched Sir Bruin, and received ten dollars for his pelt. NELSON NORTON Came from New York in 1838, with his wife and one child. He brought some stock with him. When he reached Leslie he had only ten dollars in his pocket, and it took nine of that to buy a barrel of flour. He bought an eighty acre farm one-half mile south of Leslie, where not a tree had been cut, but soon had a log house built. For fresh meat he would hunt deer, which were then quite plentiful. CALVIN EDWARDS Came from Cayuga county, N. Y. They came in a covered wagon

LESLIE TOWNSIIlP AND ITS HISTORY 643 around Lake Erie through Ohio, and it took five weeks to make the trip at ten miles a day. He settled on section 6, in Leslie, and later moved to section 18. He married Jemima Wade in 1814. She died in 1817, and later he married Phoebe Tuttle in 1818. He died in 1851. JOTHAM MORSE Left New York in 1831 and stopped in Ypsilanti and there married Sarah Harwood. In 1841 he settled on a farm two miles south of Leslie. His first house was of primitive build, the logs were paced off for length, the roof made of split shakes held in place by binding poles, and for a time the earth was the floor. A blanket served as a door. The chimney was of the stick and mud variety, common in pioneer days. In order to sharpen his ax he was obliged to go two and one-half miles to Deacon Freeman's, the only man near who had a grindstone. After making a woodpile he went some miles from home to work on a threshing job for Alva True. The threshing was done with a flail. He received five bushels of wheat in payment for his work. This he carried to a mill fifteen miles away with an ox team before it could be made into flour for the family. He lived on that farm for fortyeight years and died in 1890. WILLIAM BARDEN Came to Leslie in 1837, driving a horse team instead of oxen. When they reached Grand river they crossed on the floating log bridge. Mrs. Barden was so anxious for her children to have an education that she started a school in her home, and taught all who came free of charge. MRS. ABBIE HAYNES Left New York in 1837 with her three children and traveled through Canada to Michigan, where she settled in White Oak Township, but later lived in Leslie.

644 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY LESTER MINER And his wife Emily Jones Miner came to Leslie in 1838. They had seven children. WILLIAMi DOTY Came to Leslie in 1837. S. 0. Russell was to assist him in locating a claim, and invited Mr. Doty to stop for dinner when he arrived, but he declined saying he did not have time to stop just then. Mrs. Russell gave him a slice of bread which he ate as he ran to keep up with Mr. Russell, who took him at his word and at once started out into the woods to locate the desired land. They located 160 acres three and one-half miles north of Leslie, now known as the "Campbell Farm." For a time he and his brother built cisterns, and later he sold that farm and bought a farm one mile north of Leslie. Here he had a large stave and cooperage business, operated by horse power, for which he kept fifteen horses. He also dealt quite extensively in producing maple sugar. Wolves were so common he gave them little thought, because his great physical strength gave him such a sense of security. He was said to have seen more daylight and worked more hours than any other man in Leslie Township. He died in 1895 at the age of 83 years. He married Matilda Page in 1840 and they had two children. NELSON B. BACKUS Came with his bride, Nancy Bugbee, and settled in Leslie in 1837 on section 9. Their first child, James, was born the following year. He is said to be the first boy and the second white child born in the township. SILAS KIRBY And his brother Isaac settled in Leslie Township in 1837, on what was later known as the "Tufts Farm." Silas Kirby had seven children, the fourth, Stephen, ran away at night in borrowed clothing to enter the life of a sailor, his father having taken away his clothes to prevent his going. This love for marine life desecended to the third generation, and Frank E. Kirby, a son of

LESLIE TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 645 Stephen, is known throughout America as the greatest marine engineer of the age. He designed the largest passenger boats on the Great Lakes, among then the Tashmoo, the Eastern States, the Western States, the See and the Bee. Washington Irving, the superb passenger steamboat from Albany to New York, with a capacity of 6,000 people, was also designed by him. He has represented the United States in many important marine conferences, and went to Europe as one of the delegates from the United States to the International Marine Safety Conference. HOMER KING and his wife, Asenith Giles, came to Leslie in 1836. Mrs. King said that the wolves would at times come so near the cabin that she could see their eyelashes. Mr. King was a well known hunter, and received a ten dollar bounty for the first wolf killed in the township. When out at night he was often obliged to carry a burning faggot to scare away the wolves that would follow him. Indians would come and beg for buttermilk, and it was the custom at the King home to set out a stone churn full of this beverage when a band of Indians came. ISAAC HUNTOON Came from Vermont to Michigan in 1841 and settled in Leslie. This family of father, mother and nine children, came with an ox team by way of the Erie canal and Lake Erie to Detroit, then to Leslie by the way of Ann Arbor and Jackson. IHuntoon Lake and creek were named after this early settler. R. B. Huntoon was the seventh son in this family and was familiarly known as "Uncle Doc." He was always much interested in the children of Leslie, especially at Christmas time, and when he died the school was closed during the funeral that the children might thus honor their friend. In 1840 we find that Theodore Clark and his wife, Delia Parish, and Thomas Peach and his wife, Clarissa tIarlow, were among the newcomers. In 1841 Orange Barlow and wife, Elizabeth Whaley, Hiram Austin and wife, Mary Jared, and T. J. Blake are mentioned as having settled in Leslie.

646 PIONIEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY In 1842 came Truman Wilbur and Abram Housel with their families. In 1843 the names of John B. Dunsha, Harlow Norton and Erastus L. Lombard appear among the settlers of the township, while 1844 notes the arrival of Harry Backus, on whose farm a was a well known "deer lick," Arnold Walker, an early captain of Curtenius Guards of Mason, that won many prizes in state contests, amd Lyman Minar. In 1845 the names of Edward Variell and James Harkness were added to the list, while 1850 saw Dr. J. D. Woodworth and John Craddock enrolled as taxpayers. Each of these pioneers had experiences different from those of any other settler, but they can all be summed up in the statement that it was only by their courage and perseverance that they made comfortable homes for themselves in the wilderness, as they endured the hardships and privations that fall to the lot of all who go into a new country and overcome the primitive conditions found there. TOWNSHIP HISTORICAL SOCIETY. On November 18, 1921, a Township Historical Society was organized in Leslie, under the auspices of the Ingham County Historical Society, when the history of the township was presented by school districts. Mrs. Palmyra Hahn, a pioneer, was elected president. The meeting was called to order by Col. L. H. Ives, county president, then turned over to Mrs. Ella Haltz, township chairman. Address of welcome by Mrs. 0. B. Thurston, whose father, grandfather and greatgrandfather all cleared farms in Ingham county, their name, Winchell, being one well known in this section. She called a meeting of an historical nature like this "a memorial to our ancestors" and thought there should be more of them, in order to impress upon the minds of the children what we all owe to the pioneers. Mrs. Daisy Call Bartley, county school commissioner, responded to the cordial welcome; she said that children knew but little concerning the Ingham county history, and urged that they

LESLE ToNSHI-III' AND ITS HISTORY 647 receive more instruction regarding the past. Many noble things have been done in Ingham county. She pleaded for improved schools and an advanced school system. Rev. W. B. Hartzog, of Mason, called attention to the value of accuracy in historical matters, and spoke of the Pioneer History of Ingham County, being compiled by the county secretary, and urged that all possess themselves of the volume as soon as it came from the press. Mrs. Hattie Carpenter, who is the (laughter of a veteran; the wife of a veteran, and the morher of a veteran, then gave a history of the Woman's Relief Corps in Leslie. Mrs. Adams, county secretary, told of attending the National American Legion convention held a short time before in Kansas City, where so many military nobles of world-wide reputation were present. Col. Ives told an interesting story connecting the Civil War with the present. While in camp not far from the enemy he found a sixteen-year-old boy who was doing picket duty asleep at his post. He wakened the boy, and impressed upon him the penalty which followed such a deed, but because of the boy's youth he did not report him, feeling sure the act would never be repeated. Gratitude still lives in the hearts of men, and the boy never forgot the kindness shown, and a few years ago when he saw Col. Ives name in a published article he wrote to find if it was his colonel, and in 1921 this boy, now a gray-haired veteran, came to the Ives home to thank his benefactor for sparing his life. W. B. Longyear, a well known drummer boy for the Michigan G. A. R., then gave a history of Dewey Post in Leslie. Mr. Coon, another G. A. R. man, told some of his army experiences, followed by Moore Blakely, who related an incident similar to that told by Mr. Ives, which did not terminate so happily, as in this case the soldier was shot. The afternoon session opened with community singing, after which further welcome was extended to the guests by W. F. Prescott, the mayor of the village. He spoke of the improvements in Leslie during the last half century, and defined the troubles the Council were having in the road improvement now under way. Mrs. Haltz, the chairman, read portions of a letter written at an early day, then told of the farm owned by her uncle on the shore of Bateese Lake. That the people of an earlier

648 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY day were inclined to be superstitious, as in a storm one night her uncle's people saw a strange light, which they called a spirit light, but when one brave soul investigated he found it to be a piece of tin on an apple tree, which the lightning had shone on. Rev. Hall told of the hardships endured by the pioneers, as he had heard it when a boy in Macomb county. Dr. G. N. Fuller, of the Michigan Historical Commission, told a funny story, and said "the spirit of this meeting is fine, and I am glad to see this line of work done in the county. It is a simple matter of justice to the pioneers to gather this history, and it is our duty to see that it is preserved for the generations to come. He then gave a part of an address he has prepared on the "Relalations Between Great Britain and America," which was just a little bit foreign to the trend of the day's program. Mr. Barnard, an old-timer, came from Ann Arbor to attend the meeting. His people came into this section in 1845 with an ox team from south of Jackson. He described the first school house built in Leslie Township, primitive of course, as everything was in those days. There he was taught the three R's. At one time there were 106 pupils and one teacher. Friday was "speaking" day, and this the scholars all enjoyed. Chipmunks and squirrels often came into the school house and got into the dinner pails, to the consternation of the girls and the delight of the boys. He described the old-fashioned games they played, and said the present day model school system owed much to those early day teachers who built the foundation on which it stands. MRS. ROBERT WRIGHT. Read by MARGARET BLACKMORE. The curtain of Time rolls back. A picture comes to my thought today of a young man, Mathias Housel, and his young wife, formerly Miss Elizabeth Bevier, of Seneca county, N. Y., as they are planning to move to the west, and, like Horace Greely advised, to grow up with the country.

LESLIE TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 649 With a babe five weeks old they came to Michigan, where, with the aid of an ox team, they arrived at a small settlement north and east of Leslie. Many times the blazed trail was so deep with mud that the goods had to be taken from the wagon, carried to higher ground, then after the wagon had been pulled out of the slough it was reloaded and another start taken. In the spring of 1848 they halted in the wilderness and took 80 acres of land from the government. Like a moving picture I will only bring out some facts relative to their early struggles. The little log school house was primitive. A long seat extended around three sides of the room, facing crude desks, well marked with the children's initials. Classes were called to the teacher, and toed the mark on the hewed logs floor. Time passed and five children from the Housel family were in attendance-Mary Jane, Josephine, Louisa, Edwin and Dora. The old log school house was on the Babcock farm now owned by Jake Kelly. Fire destroyed this building, and the next school was held in a building owned by Mr. Sage, who had taken his family back to New York. The first teacher was Barbra Robinson, and the second Amanda McClure, who was promoted fron the log building to the new school house built on a half acre of the Housel farm, and named in honor of this brave settler. Philo Abbey and Lo Whitney of Rives were the contractors and the building was finished in 1868. The last log building was used for stock on the farm of John Galloway, who came from Adrian. The personnel of the early settlers follows: William Dewey, C. Smith, A. HIousel, William Miller, William Whitney, J. Hackett, G. Higdon, John Freeland (a soldier in the Black Hawk War), George Young, Jeduthan Fuller. Fever and ague gave the early settlers a hard struggle and loss of appetite. This was a disease incident to the new country. With a pail of butter on one arm, for which the maker received about six cents per pound, and a bucket of eggs on the other, the long walk to the Jackson market would commence. These commodities were exchanged for corn meal, a small supply of wheat flour and a "bit of tay," with other needed groceries, to be "toted" back to the settlement. Indians were camped between the Scoville and Housel school

650 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY houses and were often seen roaming through the forests. They loved pie and were very friendly when their wants were supplied. In early spring Mr. Housel would go to the farm of Mr. Dewey and help sort apples. The supply was then divided and the children of both families would have a feast. Many years have passed, but one of the finest orchards in the district is located on the Housel farm. Graded schools were unknown in those early days, but a practical education was considered as great an honor as a graduated course of today. All the early settlers have passed on to a much needed rest, and Mrs. Robert Wright is the only one now a resident of the district. William Galloway, of Leslie, was a former pupil there. Mathias Housel was a Civil War veteran, and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wright are "Gold Star" Parents. DISTRICT NO. 4, LESLIE. By MRS. ABBIE STILES. About 78 years ago school was kept in an old log building on the northwest corner of where Albert Stitt and Leon Taylor now own farms. The district was large, the east line including the Theodore Clark farm, now known as the Jim Bailey place. In 1843 Elizbeth Godfrey taught in this building. The seats were slabs, smoothed with an adze. Long pegs were driven in auger holes made on the under side to form the legs. The desks were built against the sides of the buildings, and those wishing to write turned completely round on the backless seats, and used the desk behind him. Miss Waterhouse, Miss Morehouse, Phoebe Holmes, Ada Whitmore and George Phelps were teachers in this old building. Two pupils who attended school at that time are still living-Mrs. Mary Austin, aged 87, and Mrs. Lecta Abbey, aged 84. Seventy years ago Alfred Young taught there. Mr. Young took much interest in John Leach, then 21 years old, and advised him to come and get a better education so that he might do something easier than the hard work of those times. He attended

LESLIE TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 651 school one month, was taken sick, and his schooling ended there. Mr. Leach is now 91 years old. Later the district was divided, part going to No. 9. A new log school house was built where the present building stands. The district had no deed of the land until Oct. 12, 1880, when one was executed and signed by Albert J. Wilson and Martha A. Wilson, his wife. Ebenezer Young, Sarah Celey, Mr. Rogers, Miss Taft, Joe Freeman, Thomas Henry, Lorinda White and Adeline White were teachers in the new log structure. Daniel Miner, Ed Shaw and Hattie Godfrey Small are the pupils now living. Sallie Peek was a pupil. She had beautiful hair which she wore in two briads, and the Indians who came to her home to beg would call her "petite PIapoose," which means "pretty child." Lester Miner, Daniel's father, was director for many years. He lived just south of the school house, and the district bears his name. Later the frame building now standing was built, the log house being burned to get it out of the way. The early teachers in this building were Helen Archer, Carrie Harkness, Anna Shaw, Hattie Wicks and Miss McClure, and all "boarded round." "There are no girls like the good old girls, Against the world I'd stake 'em; As buxom and smart and clean of heart As the Lord knows how to make 'em. They were rich in spirit and common sense, And pretty and all-supportin', They could bake and brew, and they tatught school too, And they made such lively courtin'." Daniel Miner is authority for the most of this information, as the records to 1890 are lost. He also gives a partial list of the pupils in the early days of the frame building: In the Jones family were found Lafayette, Helen and Eveline; in the Norton, Theodore, George, Albert, Addie, Carrie, Alma and Alice; the Craddock family had John, Charles, Eliza; the Clark, Polly and Charles; Marston, James, John and Esther; Miner, Washington, Harrison and Daniel; the Stitt, John and Rosetta; in the Wood,

652 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Ellen and Sarah; the Pettis, John and James, also Hattie Godfrey, Ed Shaw, Carlos Barden. Mary Hanchett taught in 1868. Other teachers were Sara Craddock, Mrs. Tibbets, better known as Mrs. J. S. Wilson, Lillie Holling, Alice Norton, Joseph Compton, who taught at least two winters. (On the last day of school he gave each scholar his picture, and one small boy, now a man living in Leslie, took the picture home and asked if it was worth keeping, it was so small.) Eveline Jones, Maggie McCann, George Hull. About this time the district acquired a clock which had the words "C-R-E-A-M-M-U-S-T-A-R-D-" on its face instead of the usual figures. W. W. Cook taught in 1880, and other teachers were Anna Norton, Libbie Fry, Mrs. Hodges, of Eden, Ari Butler, Miss Grimes, Della Wooster, Della Wright. Ella Giles. Eva Demarsh, Marcia Root, Della Pickett, Ada Culver, Ed Pickett, Abbie Pickett, Allie Alexander, Irene Stitt, May Standish, Susie Reynolds, Pauline Rumsey, Hazel Mitchell, Hazel Opdike, Edna Berry, Emma Pickett, Edith Lankin, Blanche Douglas, Lorna Metcalf, Rhea Harvey and Cecil Steffins. HISTORICAL SKETCHES. By MRS. ELLA HALTZ and Read by MRS. CHILDS. John K. Leach, at the Taylor picnic Aug. 8, 1906, told the following story: "My father came to Rives, near the Ingham county line, and bought 320 acres of land for which he paid the government $1.25 per acre. The following year he came again (1836) and built a house and in August of that year we left our home in Cayuga county, N. Y., and started for our new home in the wilds of Michigan. We came by water to Detroit and there father met us with a horse and a span of oxen attached to a covered wagon with which to convey us and our scanty goods through the wilderness. "Besides father and mother there were five children, ranging from one to fourteen years. I was then about six years old. The roads were terrible and it took us about eight days to get from

LESLIE TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 653 Detroit to our destination. Streams had to be forded, as there was scarcely a bridge between Detroit and Jackson. Often a kind settler along the way lent his oxen to help draw us out of the mud. At this time Jackson boasted of a log tavern, general store, quite a few log houses and shanties, and one poor bridge made of logs and covered with poles. The best time we made was when we drove from Grass Lake to George Woodworth's north of Jackson. Here we spent the night, Mrs. Woodworth taking great pains to make us comfortable. The next day we reached the Grand river, which lay between us and the Ingham county line. This was the largest stream we had encountered, but a problem lay before us. The canoe was on the opposite side of tile river. John Crowover, who lived near, came to our aid, however, and lent us his pony, which father rode through the river and brought back the boat. It was getting dark so the wagon was left, but we crossed over and were met by three neighbors each bearing a firebrand torch. Later the wagon was brought over, the oxen swinming and dragging the wagon behind. One neighbor lived in a house 12x16 feet in size, with a log roof, hollowed out. The first layer was put on with the hollowed side up and the next with the hollowed side down. Here we stayed for several weeks, ten of us in all, until our house was finished enough to live in. We moved in before the doors or windows were in, with only the ground for a floor, but before winter we were quite comfortable. Our house was 20x26 feet, all in one room, with chamber above, and stood on the farm now owned by Henry Leach. The furniture was rude and meager; our bedsteads for instance, though made of the same fine woods they use now, were not quarter-sawed, not highly polished, but made stationary in the corners of the room. A short post was made fast to the floor and poles from this into the wall made the frame, then more poles laid across made the springs. Neighbors were scarce; a few north and south of us, but you could probably go 20 miles west without finding a white man, and farther east than that. There was a settlement of Indians at Batteese Lake and another on Grand river just west of the state road bridge, with about one hundred Indians in it, and a well worn path between the two camps. They gave us considerable

654 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY uneasiness. I have seen as many as twenty in our house at a time. Very unwelcome visitors. Many a night do I remember father placing the gun or ax handy in case of emergency. Later, in about 1844, the government sent troops who gathered them up and moved them to the west. "When the flour gave out we had to go to Ann Arbor to mill, taking four or five days. "These things we could stand if we were only well, but sickness came on-nearly everyone had chills and fever. About 1850 a scourge of dysentery visited this section, and at times there were hardly enough well ones to bury the dead. A young lady by the name of Schoonmaker died and Lyman Case and I were the only men able to carry the casket to the grave. One family of father, mother and four children died. "In 1837 or 1838 a new school house was built, and this served also as a church. People came from miles around, women as well as men walking a long distance through the forests. "Sometimes we took the ox team and took a load of folks 30 miles east to quarterly meeting. We did not wear very fancy clothes then. My pants and shirt were made of factory cloth colored with white oak bark. Iat of straw, home made braid of seven strands, then sewed in shape. Did not need coat or shoes in warm weather. "Our table was not overloaded, we sometimes could have eaten more if we had had it. The neighbors were in the same circumstances, so there was no rivalry, but hearty good will and brotherly kindness. "I sometimes think that except for the sickness there was more real comfort and happiness in those days than now." Across the road from the Steven Wyman farm and through to the hills on the farm recently owned by James Coon many Indians camped in early days. Here the white children came to play with the friendly red ones. One day a strange boy came with the the others, and when they were gone the Indian boys discovered that one of their bows and arrows had disappeared. Inquiry was made by the Indians, but all of the white boys denied any knowledge of the act. At last the chief became very angry and said, "I raise the scalp," which frightened the boy and he ad

LESLIE TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 655 mitted the theft and gave up the articles, but was warned never to come near the camp again or he would be burned at the stake. To show their friendship to the good boys, the Indians made each a bow and arrow for himself, and peace was restored. Among the Indians best known in Ingham county was Chief Okemos; he was a good Indian when sober, but a bad one when drunk. His trails through Ingham county are still remembered, and may some day be marked. Bateese, or Batiste, the trader, was at the head of a small band of Indians in the northeast part of Jackson county, and lived near the lake which bears his name, and was well known in the southern part of Ingham county, where were many early settlers who traded with him. He was not a full-blooded Indian, but had French blood in his veins. He was a trader, with several daughters but no sons. His wife and daughters were often seen in the richest of silks and were the envy of many. One daughter married a Frenchman named Beaureaus, and it is said that Batiste Beaureaus traded with settlers in Michigan as far back as 1815. He not only had a large log store, where he kept a big supply of goods, but a farm where he raised much farm produce. Batiste and his wife are buried on top of the hill in the Miner cemetery just over the line in Jackson county, and it is said his wife was buried with much fine jewelry upon her body. Among the early pioneers in Bunkerhill was John Vicary, who came from Devonshire, England, when what is now farm country was unbroken forest with only a footpath trod by the Indians. He wrote back to his family in England, "Boys, hurry up as fast as you can. I've got a farm for each of you, with just enough stone to stone up a well and build a stone fence." This saying was handed down in the family, and the son William had the stone well on his farm, and James the stone fence as foretold by the father. Many a time have the Indians entered the log house of William Vicary in the night and laid down on the floor by the open fireplace, close to the trundle bed in which slept the two little girls, Sara and Laura V. Vicary, the latter Mrs. Arthur Holling, of Leslie. The Indians called the little girls "pretty papooses," and

656 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGEIAM COUNTY always left the house before the break of day, for in those days the latch string always hung out, and doors were never locked. Mrs. Allen gave a short sketch of District No. 1, which was organized in 1866, in the corner of Leslie and Onondaga, Ingham county and Thompkins and Rives of Jackson county. There was a little school house built, and just back of it was a rural cemetery. In 1873 the present school house was built. One teacher kept her position there for ten years, with but little equipment. She named many teachers of early days. Many farms are still owned by the descendents of the men who took them from the government. HISTORY OF DAUGHTERS OF TIE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, ELIJAH GROUT CHAPTER. By MRS. ELVA MURPHY VAN CAMP. Elijah Grout Chapter, D. A. R., was organized in Leslie on October 7, 1910, by Mrs. Kittie Bailey, with sixteen charter members. Leslie has the distinction of being the smallest town in the state with a Chapter of the D. A. R. It has at times taken up various lines of work, but as we today arc especially interested in pioneer history, I will mention only the work it has been our privilege to do in honor of some of the men and women who have made such history. To our Chapter belongs the honor of caring for the grave of Lovey Aldrich, now sleeping in the Leslie cemetery. She was the widow of Caleb Aldrich, who was enrolled as a soldier of the Revolutionary War, New Hampshire and Rhode Island line. He was born in 1766, and died in New Hampshire, aged 84 years. Mrs. Aldrich was born in Belknap county, New Hampshire, in 1800, and was married in 1821 to Mr. Clark, a soldier of the War of 1812, who died in 1829. In 1833 she married Mr. Aldrich, and upon his death became his pensioner, and for some years was the only Revolutionary pensioner living in the west. She was a descendent of the historical Hannah Dustin. On June 11, 1920, our Chapter marked the grave of Martin

LESLIE TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 657 DuBois, in the little rural cemetery at Fitchburg, in Bunkerhill Township. To Elijah Grout Chapter comes the honor of having been the first to discover the grave of a Revolutionary soldier in Ingham county, and to mark the spot with an official "Soldier of the Revolution" marker. In the same grave sleeps his wife, Margerite Avery, who passed away the same day that he did. Martin DuBois and his father, Conrad DuBois, both served in New York regiments from Ulster county. Martin was a bugler, and the conch shell which he used as a bugle is still preserved in the family. In passing, I would say that Mrs. Franc L. Adams, of Mason, did this research work for us, tracing the DuBois history back to 1066. We have done another work of which we are justly proud. During the year 1913 and part of 1914 we devoted our time largely to writing the early history of Leslie, a labor of love and patriotic devotion. This was published in book form, and forms a lasting memorial of our historical work. DISTRICT NO. 9, LESLIE. By MRS. FAUGIHT. In the summer of 1858 the pioneer residents of the southeast quarter of section 36, Leslie Township, consisting of the families of Theodore Clark, Isaac Clark, John, Daniel and Samuel Martin, William James, William Peacock and Janes Craddock, felt the need of a school in which to educate their children. A meeting was held and officers elected, Theodore Clark being the first director. After the district was organized a half acre of land was bought from the farm of James Craddock, for a school house site. This was erected in the early fall of 1858, but no school session was held until the spring of 1859. In the meantime the family of Jehial Hull had moved into the district from Parma, Jackson county, and the family of Jonathan Faught from Blissfield, Lenawee county. Miss Helen Archer, of Henrietta, was hired as the first teacher. The first term was held in the new school house before it was lathed or plastered, and with rough oak benches for seats. The

658 IPIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY teacher's salary was $1.25 per week. The school was supported by what was called a "rate bill," parents paying a certain sum per capita for each child attending. The fuel was provided in much the same way, one cord of wood, chopped and hauled to the ground, for each scholar. No taxes were paid at that time for the support of schools, only for building school houses and roads. The teacher did not pay board, but was boarded by the district, a week at each home, what was termed "boarding around." This was for many years called the Clark school. No road was open to the west of the school house, only an Indian trail led through the forest along the field now owned by Geo. Faught, south of the school house leading across the Houghton place, thus going to the Clark home in the northwest part of the district. The landmarks of the early pioneers in the form of the log cabins erected by them in the district are all effaced and in their place are fertile fields, except in two instances. The log house built by Daniel Martin in 1858, long since beyond the condition for any use, still stands on the Gibbs brothers property, now owned by Lee Rivard. The other is still in a good state of preservation on the William Way farm, doing service as a cosy home for its owner, Champion Down. The native Indian was still here in 1858, having a camping ground on the farm of Isaac Clark, now owned by Bert Olds. They were very peaceful and law-abiding Indians, and as the white men came and disturbed their hunting grounds they moved to the deeper forests, and later to the reservations furnished by the government. Many specimens of their handicraft were found by the settlers; arrow flints, stone hatchets, stones for grinding their corn and wheat. Their burial grounds were also found. About 1900, as he was digging a post hole in his barn yard, Theron Faught found a well preserved skull bone, the bones of the face, eye sockets and the jaw bone with the teeth in perfect condition, and other times while digging around the little knoll by his barn he has found leg and arm bones, showing plainly that this was a burial place for the red men. It was thus in those primitive days, while carving homes from the forest of southern Michigan, these humble pioneers laid the foundation of the board of education in District No. 9, and we

LESLIE TOWNNSIPI AND ITS HISTORY 659 hope to see in the not far distant future, as a culmination of their persevering efforts, a beautiful building erected in a central location, with all modern equipment, a building we may point to with pride as the consolidated school building of the township of Leslie. LESLIE WOMAN GETS UNWELCOME CALL FROM CHIEF OKEMOS IN EARLY DAYS. (Editor's Note. This is the second in a series of articles concerning the early history of Leslie by Mrs. Ella Haltz. Other articles will appear in The State Journal from time to time.) Special to The State Journal. LESLIE, Aug. 2.-While log houses were being built inl Leslie during the early days it often happened that two or more families occupied one house, moving into their own as soon as a shelter covered the logs, doing chinking, fixing the fireplaces, hewing the logs for a floor and other needed accommodations later. Blankets were hung at windows until glass and sash could be procured. A little better protection had to be given windows at night on account of the wolves. One boy, seeing some wolves, said he thought there were a good many dogs in these woods. One man on coming into Leslie said he was looking for the village, and on meeting a man asked how far it was to the village of Leslie. He was told that he was already in the village, and in Main street as well. He said, "I thought it looked more like the woods." The Indians were quite annoying to the settlers, and especially to the women, who as a general thing were afraid of them. They were beggars, too, always wanting flour, bread, biscuit or something. Have often heard this amusing story told on one dear old lady, who, on being left alone, always pulled the latch string in, for Indians never stop to rap, but always stalk in unbidden. On this occasion she was alone and protected herself from intrusion by pulling in the latch string. Presently a rap was heard, and on looking out she beheld the Indian chief, Okemos. She kept very quiet, but the rapping continued with increased violence. She was so terrified that she exclaimed "there's nobody at home. "He went to the next house and laughing heartily said, "White squaw wigwam head scare, me rap, she say, nobody home."

660 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Years went on. At first election of township officers every man was obliged to accept an office for it took every man in the township to fill them. The only controversy being which man was best fitted for which office. Work was plenty, men and women were busy from morning until night, often till midnight hour carding wool, spinning and weaving. Sewing and knitting in the evenings by the light of one tallow dip. The first white boy born in Leslie was a son born to Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Backus (James D. Backus, born 1837 and died January 26, 1921, in Lansing). The first death was of a girl of Mr. and Mrs. Critchett, who died during the winter season. The body was conveyed to the place of burial on a sled drawn by oxen, the driver having to use great care in picking his way among stumps and trees. The relatives of the deceased followed on foot. They also assisted at the burial services by singing. Sunday services were not forgotten from the earliest settlement of Leslie. Families met at the homes of each other. Prayer meeting was held twice a week. In summer services were held in the open air when the weather would permit. If no minister was present someone would be called upon from the audience to officiate. At evening services the grounds were lighted by building a great fire. The speaker's special light in the earliest times was a cloth burning in a saucer of grease, and later on a tallow dip was used which was a much more brilliant light than the first mentioned. After the first school house was built religious services were held there. The steady industry and perseverance of the people brought better times financially and socially, and they began to enjoy the fruits of their labors. The first Fourth of July celebration in Leslie occurred in the year of 1842. Dinner was served on the ground near where the Adventist church stands. Roast pig, chickens, quail and berry pies were served. Maple sugar was made quite extensively during the latter part of February and through March. Sugar parties were quite frequent throughout these weeks. It is said that one bright moonlight night Thomas Austin hitched up his ox team to the sled and with plenty of straw in the box a blanket being provided by each passenger made the sled quite comfortable. He drove around from

LESLIE TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 661 house to house until the sled was filled with a jolly lot of young people who were delighted to go. They drove out to a farm which was all of three miles to attend a self-invited sugar party, where they arrived in due time all unexpected to the host and hostess. They tipped over once or twice on the way, because they said the driver purposely found all the small stumps in his way. He, however, laid the blame on the team, saying that it was a strange team. They were welcomed at the little log house with its one room. Supper was served, also plenty of warm maple sugar, and after a pleasant evening they started on the return trip. When near the upper mill-pond Mr. Austin stopped and unhitched the oxen and drove them down to the mill pond to drink, leaving his passengers sitting and shivering in the cold, frosty night. He said the team was thirsty and must have a drink. Leslie was growing quite rapidly. People were prospering. Steps were taken for the building of another school house. A new brick school house and the Congregational chapel were built. Preparations were made to build a church which in due time was in shape so that services were held in it, but it was some time before it was finished. LESLIE, Aug. 10.-In the early day when one had to go from Leslie to Dexter for flour and walk to Jackson for supplies of sugar and other necessities and often had to carry a basket of butter and eggs to trade, it seemed that one was entitled to a feast. Luke Prime had 11 children and when one of the neighbors died and left an orphan he was adopted and the 12 were as one family. Mr. Prime was born in New York in 1806, and his wife, Rebecca, was born in 1813. At an early age they were married and a long journey "to the wilderness of Ingham county" was taken for a wedding trip. They bought government land. Rich or poor, every newcomer was a neighbor. A well, a mile away, was used until the family could dig one of their own. A yoke fitting the shoulders was hewn out so two pails of water could be carried at once. In the spring the yoke was used to carry the sap to the boiling kettle for making maple sugar. The following is taken from the family Bible: "The Indians were friendly or the reverse. Thanksgiving was approaching and the goodies were made. Eleven children and the little orphan

662 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY were dreaming of the morrow. The dream did not come true. A horrid war whoop awoke them and as they descended the ladder the Indians were disappearing with the last of the feast. They scattered to the bushes and crept behind logs and tears filled the children's eyes. However, they gave the most heartfelt thanks to know that their lives had been spared." Automobiles, airplanes, and associated charities were unknown in those days and no one appeared with well filled baskets to take the place of the stolen goodies. The home was left intact. Luke Prime died in 1883 and Mrs. Prime in 1901. Two sons survive, George, who resides on the old homestead, and Frank, who lives one mile south of Leslie. They often refer to the sad Thanksgiving of many years ago. George has three sons and one daughter. Frank has two sons and two daughters. The two sons and one daughter remain of the Luke Prime family. Sidney O. Russell, of Seneca Falls, N. Y., filed a government claim on section 20 and 29 in May, 1836, The following year he moved his family here and settled on his farm. Having made a small clearing, he sowed that fall the first field of wheat in Leslie Township. Indians were numerous and made frequent calls at his log house, demanding flour and numerous other things. One morning Mr. Russell had started out for his work and a little later the latch string was pulled and Chief Okemos walked in and asked for flour. He was a very friendly Indian, but the little mother knew better than to deny the request. She went up the primitive ladder to the loft and was filling a small sack when "Tee" screamed. She made short work of reaching the ground floor and presenting the sack. After the chief had left she discovered that all the knives and forks had gone too. He may have thought it only small payment for the "many happy hunting grounds" the whites had taken possession of. In 1842 Mr. Russell moved into the village of Leslie that he might operate a water-power saw mill he had bought. A small store for a supply place was built on the present location of the brick store on Main street and was used for storing supplies for the men that worked for him. A better building that later was moved to Armstrong street replaced the first shack. Alba Blake was in business with him for a few years. A steam mill was erected which furnished employment for a large number of men.

LESLIE TOWNStII1' AND ITS HISTORY 663 The last of his building operations were his brick business block on Main street and his brick mansion on Bellevue street, where Mrs. Mary Baggerly and her son, Russell J., now reside. Mr. Russell's first wife was Mary Fox, of Seneca Falls, N. Y. To this couple six children were born, two of whom are now living, Mrs. Baggerly and W. S. Russell, of Jackson. Three grandsons, Russell I. Baggerly and Linford Torrey, of Leslie, and Clayton Torrey, of Dowagiac. S. O. Russell died November 8, 1894.

CHAPTER XII. LOCKE IN 1863. Locke in 1863; general history by Dr. F. N. Turner; Memorial Day 1869. MICHIGAN STATE GAZETTEER. Locke-a township and postoffice of Ingham county, 70 miles northwest of Detroit. The township has within its limits four churches, representing the Second Adventists, Wesleyan Methodist, Universalits and Methodist Episcopal denominations, one steam saw mill, and several mechanical shops. The surface of this township is gently rolling, and mostly covered with heavy forest. Soil peculiarly rich, and crops very heavy. A large quantity of maple sugar is made annually. Population, 900. Postmaster, Moses P. Crowell. TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. Supervisor-John C. Martin. Clerk-George Fisher, Jr. Treasurer-William H. Wallace. LIST OF PROFESSIONS AND TRADES. Atkins Harmon, physician. Brewer, Orlando S.-carpenter. Brotin, -, Rev.-Methodist. Brown, Thomas T.-justice of the peace. Camp, John J.-boot and shoe maker. Chalker, - blacksmith. Climer, Ben-blacksmith. Crowell, Moses P.-justice of the peace. Dunckel, George-carpenter. Duncke, O. G.-carpenter. Fisher, George, Jr.-lumber dealer. Fisher, James-cooper.

LOCKE TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 665 Frederick, gunsmith. Gates, physician. Hill, Alonzo-cooper. Lower, - mason. Lum, William H.-mason. Murphy, William W., Rev.-Methodist. Rowley, Levi-justice of the peace. Spencer & Fisher (Truman Spencer and George Fisher, Jr.)saw mill. Watkins, Joseph, Rev.-Methodist. Wheeler, Elijah B.-cooper. Wright, C.-mason. LOCKE TOWNSHIP. Locke Township is in the northeast corner of InghaIn county. From its location, tucked away in a corner, away from the great highways and railroads, those arteries of travel and traffic, with no minerals or great commercial woodlands to be exploited, it will always be an agricultural community; have nothing but a rural delivery, small country stores, blacksmith shops, etc. From its fertile soil fine farms will be made, and prosperous farmers will exist, whose prosperity will be noticeable in good farm houses, large barns and other convenient outbuildings. Its intellectuality is shown by the numerous school houses, and its morality by its country churches. The pioneers were mostly from New York and Ohio, with a sprinkling of Scotch and Irish from Canada. Its inhabitants were able to purchase land and homesteads, had some means to make improvements and build their houses, so did not endure the hardships and struggles of pioneer life as did their less fortunate neighbors. Among those I became acquainted with were the Wrights, Rowleys, Spencers, Williams, McKees, Lings, Coles, Browns and McCrearys. My first journey into Locke Township was in the winter of 1875-6. I was teaching school in the Alchin district in Leroy Township when I heard that a school friend had charge of the Belle Oak school. I hiked over to see him, walking the distance between Webberville and Belle Oak. I noticed the bridge

666 PIIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY across the Cedar river was built on piles and knew, from its shape and structure, that it was constructed by that noted bridge builder, Smith Tooker, of Lansing. My friend, Elmer Carrier, took me to his boarding place to dinner, and I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Atkin's family. The doctor was away and I missed seeing him and forming his acquaintance. From 1876 until 1888 I never traveled in this township and knew nothing of its inhabitants only as I came in contact with them at Williamston, their market town, or attended meetings held in other townships by preachers from Locke. In 1888 I commenced the practice of medicine in Webberville and my country rides took me into Locke Township nearly every day for twenty-two years. From this long acquaintance I can recall many lasting friendships and tell something about the people of this rural township. Some of the early pioneers worked hard to improve their farms, also to improve the moral and intellectual tone of their neighborhood. In speaking of the people it seems natural to divide them into groups. They were intensely religious, and the largest group was the Methodist and United Brethren denominations. Another group was the irregulars, non-believers or free-thinkers, while the third group were those who believed in muscular Christianity and pleasures not marked by sobriety. The leader of the religious group was Elder Hodgkins and his co-workers, Elders Martin and Cunningham. Elder Hodgkins had been a chaplain in the army during the Civil War, afterward occupying the same position in the Jackson Prison. I always wondered how a man of his learning, eloquence and logic could content himself in a purely farming community. He was a second Henry Ward Beecher except his ambition to speak to a cultured audience. IHe was content to commune with nature, to walk in the quiet paths of rural life and give his message to those that followed the plow. The first time I met him he wore the army blue overcoat, his armor of military service, the chaplain's hat, his badge of office. His great heart went out in pity to the sorrowing, so was always invited to say the comforting words at pioneer funerals and to speak at Decoration Day exercises. His co-worker, Elder Martin, was a quiet, unassuming book

LOCKE TowNSI1P AND) ITS HISTORY 667 worm. I have stood in his library and wondered how he ever found a book from his jumbled, overcrowded shelves. When I recall his short figure, smooth face and long hair, I am reminded of the character of that preacher in "Felix Holt the Radical." The likeness was similar. The other man in the group was Elder Cunningham, the United Brethren minister. He is living today and could relate some interesting experiences. Some of the early Methodists in the seventies seceded from the mother church and formed a society under the leadership of a young red-headed preacher named Golden. Under his leadership they went to extremes in their form of worship, became fanatical, brought discredit upon themselves, and were disb)anded and scattered. Some of their proselytes joined a band of SalvNation Army workers, who drilled them in the saner forms of God's worship. The muscular Christianity group had a leader, "Big George Tuttle." His assistants were his brothers and other minor lights who were enrolled under his banner. Their usual meeting place was Williamston on Saturday afternoons. After a visit to the saloons and coming in contact with similar bands from White Dog Corners, Wheatfield Township, and also from Lee's Corners, then the fun commenced. In the contests which followed, wrestling, running, jumping, or boxing, every man tried to wear the victor's crown. Big George wore the fighter's belt for several years, or until he was cowardly assaulted and nearly killed in a brawl at Fowlerville. After the influx of law and order men from Dansville the bands were scattered and the Saturday nights were quiet and peaceful. The village marshal's work was not so strenuous and he could retire after, locking the jail, to his unbroken slumber after twelve o'clock. Most of Big George's band experienced religion, became good church men, used their surplus energy in breaking new land, instead of heads, chopping cord wood, etc. The unbelievers, free-thinkers and irregulars were small in numbers, could not agree among themselves, so never were able to combine or form a society, and for that reason left no lasting impressions upon the neighborhood where they lived. Among the medical men who lived in this township was one who chose the new country instead of the crowded city for his life work. I never was personally acquainted with him but many of

668 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIHAM COUNTY his friends were always ready to relate something of Dr. Atkins and his practice. He was an old style doctor, went horseback, had his saddle bags, and believed in bleeding and blistering. From necessity he was forced to use barks and herbs. His great knowledge of medical botany enabled him to gather from woods and fields. He made a decoction of white popple bark to take the place of quinine in chills and fever. Many of his old patrons told me how he cured them of the "shakes" by using this decoction. Dr. Atkins was a naturalist and his hobby was ornithology. He was a second John Burroughs in keenness of observation. He always noticed the flight of our migratory birds and would often stop when going to visit the sick to study the habits and appearances of any strange bird. His articles on birds often appeared in the local newspapers, and his "Book on Birds" appeared and was published with Dr. Cook's work issued by M. A. C. Dr. Atkin's studies took a practical trend as he showed the farmers that the birds were great insect destroyers and should be protected instead of destroyed. The prominent politicians of the township were George Dunkle and John Cole. Dunkle was a republican and his right hand man was George Chamberlain, who voted for John C. Fremont. John Cole was a Democrat of the Jeffersonian type and believed in hard cider and states sovereignty. He had construed the latter into township sovereignty and always stood upon that right, especially to speak in political meetings. No threats to corral him or silence him had any effect. John McCreary was born a farmer, but his love for mathematics made him a surveyor, and his artistic inclinations a worker in woods instead of soils, so he became a cabinet and pattern maker. He was a great reader, a student in history and astronomy. At one time when confined to the house with a broken leg a neighbor visited him to cheer him up and offer assistance. He found him in his usual cheerful state, patiently waiting for his leg to mend. In the chat that followed he said, " Harvey, if I had a telescope I could, on my sleepless nights, point it out of the window and count the rings on Saturn." Harvey did not have the 'scope, so the hint was lost. In the western part of the township was another pioneer named John Grimes. He came with the first immigrants, cleared his

LOCKE TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 669 farm, prospered, and added to the original tract until he was the largest land holder in the neighborhood. A few years before his death he branched out, went into the grist mill at Williamston. His associates in that business exploited and expanded this entergrise, incurred debts he had to pay until he lost everything. With the loss of property he lost his health and in a few years died. He, in his prosperous days, was a prominent figure in western Locke. The descendents of these early pioneers are, with few exceptions, fine men, and will take care of the future development and reputation of this township. Will they cherish and keep this good heritage of fine farms, rich soil, country school houses and churches, or will they be attracted by the glitter and glamor of city life and squander it for a mess of pottage, remains to be seen. Locke, May 25, 1869. The time assigned for decoration of the soldiers graves by strewing flowers on them, accompanied by other appropriate testimonials of honor and affection, is at hand. The latter part of the flowery month of May is a most fitting season for this testimonial. Of those who went from our town and died while in the service, I recollect but one whose body was brought home for intermentGuy Scofield. I see, however, in some places appropriate mnonumental inscriptions to their memory. I should be glad to see this in all cases. I do not hear of any public demonstrations in our vicinity this year. Will you permit me, Messrs. Editors, to call the roll of those honored names of soldiers who went from Locke and died for the maintenance of the liberty we enjoy? Noah Porter-Died of sickness at Castle Pickney, while a prisoner. Samuel Atkins-Killed. Charles B. Rowley-Died of sickness. Corydon Wright-Killed. William Sullivan-Died of sickness. Benjamin F. Hammond-Died of sickness. Charles Cole-Died of sickness. Henry Cole-Died of sickness. William Shaw-Killed.

670 ]I'ONEER1 HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY Nelson Smith-Died of sickness. Chandler-Killed. Rufus Hitchcock-Died in rebel prison. Andrew J. Chapin-Died in rebel prison. Guy Scofield-Died of sickness. Stephen L. Price-Died of sickness. William Spinks-Died of sickness. George Truman-Wounded, died from hardships in rebel prison. John Stevenson-Died of sickness. James Fisher-Died of sickness. James Wilder-Killed. Joseph Countryman-Died of sickness. William Mallory-Died of sickness. Daniel Selfridge-Died of sickness. James Avis-Died of sickness. James Russell-Died of sickness. Edward Chamerlain-Killed. Plympton Hill-Died of sickness. Whitney Britton-Died of sickness. George Fisher-Killed by accident. -Ingham County News.

CHAPTER XIII. MERIDIAN IN 1863. Meridian in 1863; Okemos; history of the township; Red Bridge P. O.; Darius Green, a hermit; Mullett school. MICIHIGAN STATE GAZETTEER. Meridian-a township in the northern tier of towns in Ingham county, next east of Lansing. Watered by the Red Cedar river. Population, 900. Red Bridge-a post office in the township of Meridian, county of Ingham, 75 miles west of Detroit, having three mails per week. Postmaster, S. Doyle. OKEMOS. A post village of Ingham county, situated on the Detroit, Howell and Lansing plank road and stage route, 78 miles fron Detroit. Fare, $3.00. It has a Presbyterian and Methodist society, two hotels, a saw and grist mill, a rake manufactory, three stores and several mechanics. Goods are shipped from Detroit by the Detroit and Milwuakee and the Lansing, Amboy and Traverse Bay railroads. The soil is a sandy loam, particularly adapted to the cultivation of wheat. The village has a fine water power, as yet little developed, while its healthy location, its proximity to the State Agricultural College (but three miles distant), and its situation in the center of a fine farming district, renders it one of the most promising villages in the state. Population, 200. Mail daily. Postmaster, Ebenezer Walker. TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. Supervisor-Charles H. Darrow. Clerk-Ezekiel F. Barnes. Treasurer-Mason D. Chatterton.

672 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY PROFESSIONS AND TRADES. Almost, Charles-boots and shoes. Armitage, R.-hotel. Chatterton, Mason D.-lawyer. Chick, Charles, Rev.-Methodist. Cory, Eber M. L.-carpenter. Cory, Hiram-carpenter. Darrow, Charles H.-physician. Dingman, Eber-mason. Edgerly, Americus W.-cabinet maker. Elliot, Jesse S.-blacksmith. Fry, George W.-livery stable. Hammond, Samuel-physician. Herre, Frederick-blacksmith. Hewett, Jeptha-boots and shoes. Hudson, Marale-daguerrotypist., Kay, Richard, Rev.-Presbyterian. Kelly, William-stave dealer. Northrop, James-justice of the peace. Piper, George W.-justice of the peace. Potter, Mary G., Mrs.-milliner. Shively, Thomas-machinist. Stevens, George-hardware. Thompson, Philander-cooper. Thurber, Collins-grocer. Vandeford, Caleb-carriage maker. Walker, Ebenezer-flouring mills. Walker, George N.-general store. Williams, Ralph-saloon. MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP. In August, 1874, I. H. Kilbourne, one of the earliest settlers of Meridian Township, wrote the following for the Ingham County Pioneer Society, and it was published in the Ingham County News: Meridian, town four north, range one west, was originally a part of Alaiedon. It was organized in 1841. George Matthews was the first supervisor. At the time of its organization there were fifty inhabitants. The first settlement was made in 1835 by two brothers named Marshall, who broke ground and built a

MERIDIAN TOWNSHIIP AND ITS HISTORY 673 house on section three, southwest of Pine Lake, which at that time was timbered on the north by yellow pine; fringed on the east by red cedar, while its other surroundings were distinguished by majestic oaks. Pine Lake is about three miles in circumference. Its clear waters are well stocked with various kinds of fish found in other inland lakes of the state. This spring ten thousand white fish have been introduced. Its banks were long the red man's favorite abode, while sepulchral mounds antedating his knowledge and overgrown by primeval forests bring conviction of a race unknown, who felt the charm that lures to shady groves at noontide heat, and a camp by the side of waters teeming with fish. To those early dwellers it was the gate which opened on Elysian fields. It is now a place much frequented by parties in pursuit of pleasure. In 1837 the lands were sold to Pearly Davis, who harvested the first wheat, and in 1838 built the first frame barn. This year Chauncey Davis, Daniel Matthews, George Matthews, Lyman Bayard, Samuel Moe, Ira Harkins and families arrived, settling in the northeast part of the town. In 1839 Sanford Marsh located on section 21, on the south bank of the Cedar river, a durable stream entering the town on the northeast quarter of section 25, passing out on section 18, in its course furnishing several valuable water powers. In December, 1839, J. H. Kilbourne built the first house in what is now the village of Okemos, where he was joined by his brother-in-law, Freeman Bray, the following January. Soon after a post office was established with J. H. Kilbourne, postmaster. The mail bag was carried on horseback from Howell to Grand Rapids. At this time travelers followed an Indian trail from Howell to Portland, a distance of fifty miles. The Grand river turnpike was not yet opened west of Howell, the solitude being broken by only one family residing in town four north, range two east. From Sanford to Delta, Eaton county, there was but one family. In 1841 Freeman Bray laid out the present village of Okemos. In 1842 he built the first saw mill. This town is well timbered; north of the Red Cedar it is mostly oak, while on the south is beech and maple. The soil is unsurpassed in fertility, and well watered by brooks and springs. The Lansing and Howell plank road, which is now graveled, was built upon the Grand river

674 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHIAM COUNTY turnpike, and that and the Detroit, Lansing and Lake Michigan Railroad are the principal routes of travel through the town. The State Agricultural College, located on section 18, has a farm of 676 acres, valued at $47,320; buildings for instruction valued at $27,800; farm buildings valued at $12,300; dormitories and dwellings valued at $76,400; and other property valued at $249,075. It gives instruction to some two hundred students. There are nine school districts with commodious school houses; one graded school at Okemos. The number of children between the ages of five and twenty years in the township is 378. The places of worship, all in Okemos, are one Baptist, one Presbyterian and one Methodist Episcopal church. The business establishments comprise one variety store, including hardware, one dry goods store, one grocery, one millinery shop, two taverns, one custom and flouring mill, run by water power, two steam saw mills, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop and two shoe shops. Our professionals are two physicians and one clergyman. Population in 1874 is 1,436. Number of bushels of wheat raised in 1873, 30,485. RED BRIDGE POSTOFFICE-MERIDIAN. You might search the postoffice directory of Ingham county in vain to find this postoffice. It is a thing of the past; a relic of pioneer days before the Pere Marquette Railroad was built. Few of the old pioneers of Meridian Township are left to tell you anything about it. The stirring scenes of everyday life have blotted out of their minds any recollections which the younger generations may have had of it. I will try in this article to give my recollections of it and the patrons it served. Those old rural post offices in pioneer days were social centers, a meeting place where neighbors gathered to discuss the weather, crops, social events and the more serious questions of politics and religion. Where was this post office located? Going east on the plank road ten miles from Lansing you passed through toll gate number three. A few rods east of the gate was a long one-story and a half white house, on the south side of the road. This was the home of the Mullett family, and here was also the Red Bridge postoffice.

MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 675 This house was originally built for a hotel, but was used as a family residence and post office. When the railroad was built in 1871 the post office was moved south on the Meridian road to the railroad crossing into a hastily erected building owned by J. S. Carr and the name Red Bridge was changed to Meridian. So the name was lost and only lives in the memory of those young then, now gray-haired and the heads of families. Why was it called "Red Bridge?" A few rods east of the post office the Red Cedar river was crossed by an old-fashioned wooden bridge painted red. In the pioneer days the establishing and naming a new post office was not so much a political feature as it is today. The Postmaster General did not have as big a list of political names as he does today, so the rural post office was named by the people it served. They nearly always named it from some natural object as Big Spring, Red Bridge, etc. My first acquaintance with this post office and its postmaster, J. H. Mullett, was in March, 1866. My father had purchased a farm across the river and we had moved from Lansing to reside in an old log house north of the post office, as our future home was occupied by a tenant of the former owner. This tenant's name was Robert Pancost, a district school teacher, who peddled "Dr. Chase's Family Receipt Book" during vacations. I can remember my first meeting with J. II. Mullett, and how he impressed me. His erect figure was clad in a new suit of sheep's gray homespun. This was the popular cloth of pioneer days. The farmers raised their own wool, their good wives manufactured it into cloth and then tailored it into suits. Mr. Mullett's two brothers, R. D. and Marshall, lived with him and worked the farm of 640 acres. J..H. Mullett's father had been a government surveyor and did a vast amount of state and government work. I have heard his son tell of his battles with the Indians in early times. One skirmish in which he had a part took place near Battle Creek, and that city was so named because of that battle. John Mullett followed his father's profession and was county surveyor for years. He was more at home in the woods with his compass and chain than tending stock and raising crops. When I was a young man just from college I had the pleasure of accompanying him on two or three surveying trips. The first was in the month of August, 1882, to run a line across a cranberry marsh south of Bunkerhill

676 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Center. We were gone two days and the practical knowledge of surveying and finding section corners was a great help to me. He was an expert in that work. My second experience was in staking out the new Okemos cemetery, Marshall, his brother, who was a great joker, had the laugh on me for I was an undergraduate in medicine at that time. Marshall was a character, who all his friends will remember with pleasant memories. Certain traits stood out and stamped him above the ordinary man. His memory was so strongly developed that he could in ordinary conversation tell you where he was, what he was doing, what the weather if he was asked after the lapse of ten or fifteen years. He was the historical Encyclopedia of the neighborhood. Another trait was his artistic temperament. He was a natural artist and carried his good taste into his everyday work. His furrows were always straight, his headlands square, his cord wood was cut and piled true to the mark. He was an adept at house painting and sign writing, and did credible work in oil on canvas, in shape of landscapes and portraits. The third trait was his humor. The minstrel stage lost an artist when he turned it down. Some of his criticism regarding architecture were extremely original. I remember a neighbor had built a porch with a high railing around it which he described as "Bull high and hog tight." Associated with J. H. Mullett's family was his brother-in-law, Hon. J. H. Forster. Mr. Forster was a mining engineer and came from Houghton, near Lake Superior, in the early seventies. His coming was a great benefit to the social life around the post office. Building his house and St. Katherine's Chapel, with the work he did in the Okemos Grange, gave the Red Bridge neighborhood a higher moral and intellectual standing. The dead monotony of rural life was broken up and a higher form of religious life replaced the primitive pioneer form. My brothers and I can never forget his kind, neighborly interest in us and our family. IHe was an ideal reformer and the quiet, kindly way he used brought lasting results. I can speak personally for myself, a bashful country boy, whose only delight was a book after a hard day's work in the fields. How he found this out and loaned me books from his library, books of history and travel, and by so doing directed my reading into and an in

MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 677 terest for the solid things in literature, instead of the frothy fiction that so often tempts a young reader. I was not the only one he started in life with the right idea of what life should be. He had no children of his own, so the children and young people pf the community were his, or he claimed them, and thought and lived for them. South of the post office on the Meridian road lived Charles Povey. He was an Englishman, born and raised in Cambridgeshire, near London, but came to Michigan when he was about twenty-five years old. He always retained some of his English habits of dress and speech. His smock frock, ruddy complexion and mutton-chop whiskers stamped his nationality. In speech there were a few words and expressions he anglicized. He always said "sumat" for something, and "thirtways across" for diagonally across. He was an accomplished plowman, and many times I have tried to plow as straight a furrow as he did, but always failed. It grieved him that he could not make a plowman of his son, but the son's taste ran to violins instead of plows. He was a man of some education and told me something of his boyhood life on a farm six miles from London. He was a carter and started out every morning at 4 o'clock with his team, two horses hitched tandem to a two-wheeled cart loaded with produce from the farm for the London market. He had to walk, for no carter was allowed to ride on his loaded cart. And drive his team with reins? No, by word of mouth and a whip. The farmer he worked for was a renter and had to keep up the fertility of the soil by carting fertilizer from London, so the carter was given a sixpence every time he started out and told to bring back a load of fertilizer, and if he failed he suffered the penalty of having the sixpence taken out of his wages, which was the large sum of $50 per year. Mr. Povey's pastime was trading horses, and I can recall how, in a conversation he had with father, he explained the principle of such business transactions: "You have a horse that has some blemish or habit you don't like, and you want to get rid of him; another man has a horse that has some hidden defect and he wants to change ownership. You trade and then somebody gets beat." East of Mr. Povey's on a cross road running east lived another Englishman, Christopher Howarth, with his three tall sons, George, Eli and Mildred. These boys, especially the oldest, led

678 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY in athletics. No social gathering was complete unless the Howarth boys were there to show what could be done in running, jumping or wrestling. A relative in Ohio won national fame in athletics, so these boys, if they had been exploited, might have made a record. West of the post office in the gate house lived Mr. Doyle, the gatekeeper. He was a Canadian by birth, a Douglas Democrat in politics, and father of a family of girls, who, when they were all at home, were never without an escort to the social functions of the neighborhood. Mr. Doyle was humorist in spite of his age and gray hair. Many were the jokes he cracked with his neighbors and the traveling public. I recall two of these. One day in making a change he gave a man all Canadian pennies, and told him he paid him in common sense (cents). Another time when a traveler had to ford an overflowed piece of road east of the bridge he asked him if he was an antedeluvian, and when the traveler asked why, he told him "because he came from the other side of the flood." When the railroad was completed the Plank Road Company surrendered its charter and the gate houses were closed, so Mr. Doyle, with the other gatekeepers, lost his job. He had been there for years, and was so used to the routine that he could not accustom himself to the new order. He lived with his married daughter for a few years and finally died of inertia, just the want of something to do. There are others that I might mention, who come to my mind as I review those early days. The R. F. D. has taken, with its daily mail, the place of the rural post office and the social center that it made is gone with the old pioneers. Other social centers will try to fill its place, but never can do it. The pioneers of that community are laid away in the Okemos cemetery. Their headstones bear their names, but their deeds and the impressions they left on their neighborhoods can be written as a memorial of them. What more appropriate than these words of the poet Gray to close the story of these pioneers: "Can storied urn or animated bust Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath? Can honor's voice provoke the silent dust Or flattery soothe the dull cold ear of death?" FRANK NEAL TURNER, M. D., North Lansing, August 1, 1919.

MERII)IAN TOWNSHI-P AND ITS HISTORY 679 QUERY. Can anyone tell anything about the man mentioned in the following article, which was recently found in an Ingham county paper published in 1874? "A few days ago Sergeant Bachmann, of the Detroit police, had leave of absence, and went to Lansing to visit friends and have a hunt. One day while hunting on the Cedar river, about five miles east of Lansing, the Sergeant came upon a little log hot, erected on the bank of the river. The curious architecture of the hut attracted his attention and drew him nearer than he would have otherwise gone. The builder had cut poles, slanted them up in the shape of an Indian lodge, with an opening at the top for the smoke to pass out, and then plastered mud over the poles, making a snug, warm house. Supposing that he had come across the house of a lone Indian family the Sergeant looked in, and great was his surprise to discover that there was but one occupant, and he an old gray-haired man. When the occupant became aware of his visitor's presence he shrank back, as if inclined to hide, and the Sergeant invited himself in to see what sort of a den it was anyway. "The old man would not speak when first questioned, but when Bachmann threatened to arrest him as a suspicious character he found his tongue. He said he had lived in seclusion in St. Clair county for several years, but having been greatly annoyed by parties who wanted to drive him back to the world he had changed quarters and had been on the Cedar river about two months. He gave his name as Darius Green, and his age as 59. He said he would rather drown himself than mingle with the world again, believing all men liars and all women hypocrites. "When he was about 23 years old he became engaged to a young lady at Medina, Ohio, and in due time all preparations were made for the wedding. At the last minute his fiancee ran away with another lover, leaving Green feeling about as flat as a defeated candidate. He tried his fortune again in a year or two, and the girl of his heart died a few days before the time appointed for their nuptials. These affairs, together with the loss of some property, turned the young man's disposition, and he went from the active world into the woods and built himself a home. Driven out after several years he came to Michigan, and had changed locations four or five times. He has several times been sick, but is his own physician. He lives mostly on corn meal cakes and

680 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY vegetables, and never moves away from his hut until hunger forces him to. He has a few dollars in specie, enough he thinks to last him the remainder of his life. The old man has no companions, not even a dog or bird, no books, no way to pass the time but to sit and brood, and think and sleep. His hair is down on his shoulders and his beard long and matted, while his clothing is in rags and his feet wrapped in cloths. "Who can imagine such a life?" HOMECOMING OF DISTRICT NO. 5-MERIDIAN. MULLETT SCHOOL IHOUSE. A very large and enjoyable homecoming took place at the Mullett school house Saturday, July 18, 1917. It was an ideal summer day and the exercises were held in the grove surrounding the school building and a picnic dinner added to its many attractions. Although it is a very busy season for the farmers they all turned out and had a good time, feasting, visiting and listening to the exercises. Even the automobilists passing looked with envious eyes at the well spread table and the happy faces of the crowd. The Reform School Band was present and after dinner during the exercises played many patriotic airs that were well encored. The principal speakers were Attorney Rhodes, of Lansing, and Supt. Searls, of Mason. The most unique part of the whole thing was the presence of the lady who taught the first school in the district, Mrs. Charles J. Mullett, of Lansing, Mich., a lady 84 years of age. She taught that school 64 years ago under the maiden name of Jerusha Doyle. Several of the other old teachers were Mrs. E. J. Mead, of Williamston; Mrs. E. Elliott, of Haslettt, Michigan, and Mrs. John Grettenburg, of Okemos. The oldest scholar present was Bernard Brennan, of Lansing, Mich., a man 70 years old, who attended this his first school a lad of seven years 63 years ago. Of the boys and girls that attended this school 50 years ago the following were present: George Howarth and Eli Howard, Mrs. Charles Mead, Henry McManderman, Williamston, J. E. Povey, Mrs. E. Blair, East Lansing, Mrs. A. Whitman, Lansing, Charles Foster, Haslett, Frank Watson and Dr. F. N. Turner, Lansing. Hon. Samuel Kilbourne was present, as well as Miss Martha Mullett, of Lansing, whose grandfather gave the school district the land on which the school building is located. DR. F. N. TURNER.

CHAPTER XIV. ONONDAGA TOWNSHIP. MICIIIIGAN STATE GAZETTEER. Onondaga in 1863; history by Mrs. Ira Eldred; Onondaga 85 years ago; East Onondaga; Winfield and West Onondaga; early history of township; School district No. 6. Onondaga-a township and post village, in the county of Ingham. The village is situated oi the Grand river, and the stage route from Jackson to Lansing 80 miles from )ctroit. It contains one Methodist, one Baptist and one Wesleyan Methodist church, three general stores, three saw mills, one flour mill and several mechanical shops. It has two daily mails. Postmaster, John Sherman. TOWNNSHIP OFFICERS. Supervisor-Garret VanRiper. Clerk-William Earl. Treasurer-John W. Gordon. PROFESSIONS AND TRADES. Ashley Henry-carriage maker. Barret, Samuel-blacksmith. Batty, George E.-mason. Buckland, William B.-justice of the peace. Champ, Nathaniel-general store. Champlin, Lyman-carpenter. Cole, Franklin-justice of the peace. Crane, Philo-blacksmith. Dwight, Horace D.-mason. Earl, William-general store. Fern, Daniel-grocer. Gilmore, Moses-blacksmith.

682 P'IONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Griffith & Trefry (D. C. Griffith and Job IH. Trefry)-flouring mill. Hayden, C. N. & R. B.-physicians and druggists. Haynes, E. P.-justice of the peace. Hunt, John and Adna-coopers. Hutchings, Gideon-saw mill. Hutchings, William-stave dealer. Johnson, James-hotel. Justice, James-general store. O'Callghan, William-tailor. Patrick, Christopher C.-carpenter. Plain, William-carpenter. Sharp, Orrin-cabinet maker. Sherd, M.-milliner. Sherman, John-hotel, Onondaga I-ouse. Streeter, Dennis-cooper. Torrey, John J.-saw mill. Trefry, James-carriage maker. Wilmarth, William-blacksmith. HISTORY OF ONONDAGA TOWNSHIP Written by MtR. IRA ELDRED, Onondaga, Mich. I now propose to present, as far as time and ability will permit, such gleanings relating to the carly settlement and sketches of a few pioneers of one of the townships of Ingham county. Nearly all of the earliest settlers, the pioneers prior to 1840, have passed away. That source of information and suggestion is forever closed, hut some of them left sketches of the early times which will be used and compared with authenticated facts for the sake of accuracy, as far as possible, still minor mistakes will be made. Let us revert, in imagination, to the pioneer days in the settlement of one of the small towns of Ingham county, one that was the very first to feel the impulse of the new era, the transition from savagery of unknown ages to the beginning of civilization. No public highways had been surveyed and opened, marshes, creeks

ONONDAGA TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 683 and rivers were generally miry and fordable in but few places; the corduroys across the swamps and the temporary pole bridges were yet to be constructed; clearings and log houses were few and far apart. Trails meandered around the hills and swamps along the easiest routes for Indians and wild animals or for teams and travelers. Primitive oaks covered the hills and plains. Wild deer were common and turkeys numerous. Ox power was used for breaking up and preparing the land for crops. No whistle of locomotive was heard at night and no rumbling of cars on steel rails by day, though the silence of the night was often broken by the howling wolf and the hooting owl. Only those who experienced the pioneer life of four-score or more years ago can realize its limitations and privations. It was under such conditions that the settlement of Onondaga commenced in 1834. It was fortunate in the character and enterprise of its pioneers, who were of New York and New England origin. With heart and hope they worked for and obtained even better conditions than they left behind them when they turned their steps westward. The first entry of land in what is now Onondaga Township was made by Oliver Booth, from Gaines, Orleans county, N. Y., May 26, 1834, and included the whole section 29, T. 1 N, 2 W. Mr. Booth settled on it with his family in the following month, and was therefore the first settler in the township. He died about one year later, and his was the first death in the township. The first marriage was that of his daughter Harriet to Jeduthan Fry in February, 1838, and their daughter, Hannah Fry, was the first white female child born in the township. Jeduthan Fry was originally from Massachusetts, but for a time was a resident of Bucks county, Pa. When nineteen years of age he came to Ingham county and located in the township of Onondaga in October, 1834. He lived for a short time after his arrival on one of the Booth places, northwest of where the village now stands. He came to the township with Mr. Booth, who had returned to New York to settle up his business affairs. There are living near Onondaga at the present time two descendents of this Oliver Booth, Walter and Gurdin Gould, both prosperous farmers, living just across the line in Jackson county. Peter Cranston, from Cayuga county, N. Y., was the second person who purchased land in this township, his entry on section

684 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY 20, dated June 26, 1834. He had been visiting the previous year at Jacksonburg, now the city of Jackson. He was young and unmarried, and was accompanied by six other young men who settled in various parts of Michigan, none of them in Onondaga. Mr. Cranston settled on his land the same year, 1834, his arrival in the township being but seven days later than that of Mr. Booth. His descendents now living are E. A. Cranson, who lives on the parcel of land settled by his father, and T. Murray Cranson, now living at Gaylord, Mich. By an act of the Legislature, approved March 6, 1836, T 1, N R, 2 W, then a part of Aurelius, was set off and organized into a township and was named Onondaga by one of a committee for that purpose, Orrin Phelps, who thought it one of the good old Indian names that are written on our waters and rooted in our soil. The first township meeting was directed to be held at the home of Barney Johnson, the first Monday in April, 1838, and Amos E. Steel was elected supervisor by a majority of seventeen votes. Josephus Tuttle, township clerk, and Peter Cranson, assessor. It was voted that the next annual township meeting be held at the house of Peter Cranson, and at that meeting he was elected township treasurer for the year 1839. About the year 1840 Thomas K. Baldwin came to Onondaga. He was born in 1783 and was one of twelve children of Benj. and Ruth Baldwin. He was married to Dorcas Green 1806, in Vermont, and to them were born eleven children. He built the first frame house in the township, it being modeled somewhat after the Colonial style, with a fireplace and a large brick oven. The pine siding and shingles were hauled by him from Flint in the winter of 1845. Mr. Baldwin died at Onondaga in August, 1873, in his ninetieth year, having spent a long and useful life made possible by his indomitable will and energy. Many well known families descended from this man, six generations now living in Onondaga. Thomas K. Baldwin, a son of Thomas K. Baldwin, came to Onondaga in December, 1837, and bought a farm of 100 acres. At that time the land office was located at Ionia, and he walked all the way there and back to get the deed of this land. His nearest post office was Jackson and the nearest flouring mill Ann Arbor.

ONONDAGA TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 685 Many times during his first winter on this farm he walked to Jackson to get the expected letter from his wife, whom he left in New York state while he made ready a home for her. There were no bridges across Grand river then, so he had to find a shallow place and ford it. His road was the red man's path. He lived to see the river come out of the dense black forests and flow through beautiful sunlit fields, crossed here and there by iron bridges and dotted with mills and factories. He saw the city of Lansing grow from a single log cabin to the thriving, prosperous city of today. Fever and ague came to his home, the rattlesnake hissed at his heels, the red man looked into his window while his squaw came and demanded the pan of biscuit and venison ready for dinner, but regardless of these difficulties, this good man did not falter. Not so with his wife-toil, care and constant fear of her surroundings told on her, and she died on March 14, 1854, leaving five children in the home. Thomas K. Baldwin died in April, 1895. The chief characteristics of this man were his great physical endurance and his great love for home, friends and country. Such men as this have built what we now enjoy. His youngest son, Martin C. Baldwin, still owns the farm on which his father settled. Mosley A. Baldwin, another son of Thos. K. Baldwin, came to this township in 1837 and settled on the land now owned by his son, Henry Baldwin, who was the third child born in the township. Mosley Baldwin was supervisor of the town from 1849 to 1850, and treasurer in 1840. Henry Allen, who lived south of the Cranson place, settled there in 1834, and his youngest son, William, born in June, 1834, was the first white child born in the township. Benjamin Rossman, from Cayuga county, N. Y., came to Michigan in 1834, and located at Jackson. In April, 1836, he came to Onondaga and settled on the farm still owned by one of his sons, Wallace Rossman. Geo. French settled in the same neighborhood in 1837, his son still living on the homestead, and Carl Sherman still owns some of the land on which his grandfather, Lowing Sherman, settled in 1837. Warren B. Buckland was supervisor in 1852 and kept the first

686 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY post office. His son, Warren Buckland, still lives on the original farm. I will mention briefly the names of some of the families that came into the township in the '50's: Joseph S. Pierson, Garrett Van Riper, Henry Crane; the first physician was Dr. Hiram Frye. The first school house was built on section 29, in 1837, and the first contract is now a curiosity. It reads, "the teacher shall receive $1.50 per week and teach every alternate Saturday, mop the school house the other Saturday, and board around the district." Henry S. Willis, another early settler in the '50's, came to Onondaga, built his home and worked at his trade of carpenter. Of their five children, Charles C. Willis is at present proprietor of the lumber and coal yards in the village. Henry Willis died at the age of 88 years. His was a busy life. In 1858 he built a ferry boat which he operated on the river east of the village to carry teams and passengers to and fro across the Grand river. He also carried on the business of buying and selling stock and grain. In 1850 a saw mill, the first in the vicinity, was built by Potter and Lockwood on a small stream east of the village, and it afterwards became the property of Nathaniel Champe, whose father was famed for work he did under Washington in the Revolutionary War. Melvin Champe, a son of Nathaniel, owned this tract and lived there many years, and later his heirs sold it to the state and it is now operated by the State Prison at Jackson. The original plat of the village of Onondaga was laid out, in part, by John Sherman and others in a part of NE Fr. 11 of section 29, July 13, 1870. Though several buildings had been previously erected the place dates its permanent growth from that time. It was also about that date that the Grand River Valley division of the railroad was built through the town, Mr. Sherman donating the land for the first depot. Grove Baldwin laid out an addition in the southeast part of the section on July 10, 1874. The first store of any consequence was established by John Sherman, who opened a general stock of goods. The old part of the present Onondaga Hotel was built about 1847 by Percy Howland for a grocery, and the post office was kept there. It was purchased by Cyrus Baldwin, and converted into a hotel, and afterward sold to Henry S. Willis, who

ONONDAGA TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 687 built a large addition to it and run the hotel for years. At present it is owned by Robert R. Sweeney. The Sherman House was built in 1856 by John Sherman, and is still owned by his son, Carl Sherman. The first church built in the village was organized by the State superintendent of mission Churches, in 1877. with W. B. Williams, of Charlotte, as organizer. It was called the First Congregational Church of Onondaga. About 1907 it was remodeled and a basement built. The Baptist church was moved from Winfield and rebuilt in 1905. The first church in the township was at Winfield, an M. E. church built in 1869. On the site of the old school house a fine brick building was erected in 1901, where now ten grades are taught. The fraternal orders of the town are as follows: Lodge No. 197, F. & A. M. The first Worshipful Master was Garrett VanRiper. The lodge held its first meeting on January 19, 1867. The present Worshipful Master is Warren Byrum; an O. E. S. Chapter was organized in 1908, first Worthy Matron, Ella Woodard, the one serving now, Mabel Tanner, and the membership is 100. Onondaga Lodge, No. 150, I. O. O. F., was instituted February 21, 1871, with Henry S. Willis as Noble Grand; there is also a Rebekah Lodge and Degree of Honor, its present Chief of Honor is Clara Champe. The present population is 800, with about 150 children of school age in the township. "The Knowledge Seekers Club," a ladies' literary club, was organized in 1898, and federated in 1901. Its membership is 30, with Miss Carrie Baldwin the present president. Some of the prominent men of Ingham county were born in Onondaga Township: Lawton T. Hemans, came with his parents, John and Frances Hemans, when they settled on a large farm there in 1875. Hon. Job T. Campbell was born in Onondaga in 1855, and died at Mason April 13, 1899. His parents came from Buffalo, N. Y., and located in Onondaga in 1850. For many years his father, Marshall Campbell, was a prominent citizen, holding

688 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY many important offices. He was justice of the peace for several terms and was usually spoken of as Squire Campbell. Solon C. Lanes was the son of Jonathan Lane, one of the earliest settlers who came to the township in 1834, and took up 640 acres of land. The village of Onondaga at this date comprises several business places, all conducted by efficient business men. It has a cheese factory, conducted by G. E. Moore, where loads of milk are brought from the country every morning. There is a large amount of farm produce shipped from the station; the fine farming country around produces large crops of different varieties. It has an intelligent and enterprising lot of settlers, who are justly proud of its natural beauties, advantages and resources. Local affairs from the first have been well managed; no better evidence of this can be found than in its improved highways; automobile owners have been quick to learn this fact, that good roads are an increasing economic and social factor. Three-fourths of a century has passed since the woodsman's ax was first raised against the sturdy oak. At that time this country was a dense wilderness, and little did the settler think lie was helping open a country whose resources would far surpass the productions of any country, inhabited by man, though at that time he was not thinking of that, his only amibition was to build a home where he could produce enough for the daily needs of himself and family. Slow but sure was the progress, until today we are numbered among the most prosperous townships in the state. (Written by Mrs. Ira Eldred, Onondaga, Mich., June, 1917, and read at the meeting of Ingham County Historical and Pioneer Society, Mason, Mich.) At the first historical meeting for Onondaga Township Mrs. M. C. Baldwin acted as chairman. In the absence of the president of the county association, the secretary explained the object of the township meetings. Mrs. M. B. Ferrey, of the Michigan Historical Commission, gave a talk on the importance of systematic work if the history of the county is to be preserved, and urged that the children be made a part of the organization, and as far as possible the study of local history be carried into the schools.

ONONDAGA TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 689 The day was replete with good things, not least among them the dinner served in the church dining room; many interesting stories were told which were lost, because they had not been written according to the request of the secretary. It was decided to organize a township association, and Supt. G. O. Doxtader was elected president, Mrs. Floy Hayward, vicepresident, and Mrs. Van Clay, secretary and treasurer. Several unique and valuable relics were displayed, books, documents, pictures, household utensils and wearing apparel. ADDITIONAL ONONDAGA HISTORY. By MRS. M. C. BALDWIN. Rachel Green Baldwin, wife of Thomas Kidder Baldwin, was born at Haverhill, Mass., May 22, 1792. Laid at rest in Onondaga May 23, 1869. Thomas Kidder Baldwin served his country during the War of 1812, and later came to Michigan, settling in Onondaga Township and died there. He is buried in the Onondaga cemetery by the side of his wife. Mrs. Baldwin organized the first Sunday school in Onondaga, probably at the first school house built in the village il 1839. This stood on the south side of the main street running east and west through the village, just opposite of the cemetery where she sleeps. When Mrs. Baldwin became weary with her toil and infirm with years, a Mrs. Cochrane came to Onondaga and took her place, causing many to think she was the one who organized the Sunday school. Mary Copeland Cochrane was widowed in County Ulster in Ireland. She bravely gathered her brood of little children and came to America, first to Canada and later to Michigan. She died in Lansing 1879, at the home of her youngest daughter. Mrs. Sara A. C. Plummer. Another daughter, Dr. Martha Strong, now resides in Jackson. The only descendents now living in Onondaga is a grandson, William Cliff, and his daughter Julia, now Mrs. Erwin Rhines.

690 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY ONONDAGA EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO. By MRS, M. C. BALDWIN. The State Land Office was then at Ionia, while Jacksonburg, as it was then called, was the nearest shopping center, post office, and railroad station. Ann Arbor had the nearest flouring mill. The roads were the red man's path. Grand river was the drinking fountain. It was fed by tiny rills running down the hills from bubbling springs above. There were no school houses, no churches, no barber shop, no saloons, no town hall or movies, no woman's club, nor any bridge over the river. There are now four river bridges in the township and one on the line between Ingham and Eaton counties, kept up by both. These are all iron bridges, the change from wood to iron bridges being made by Frank A. Hoes, while he was highway commissioner. The first lands plowed were small tracts where the Indians had camped and burned the timber. Later this land was set to orchards. The first flowing well was drilled by Grove Baldwin in 1869. There are now five in the village. The first white child born in the township was a daughter of Thomas P. and Ursula Baldwin, Ann Jeanette, born 1839, died 1847. The first railroad trains were running through this village in 1864. The road was then called the "Grand River Valley Division" of the Michigan Central Railroad. In 1913 the State bought a large tract of land in school district No. 1 for a farm to be used in connection with the State Penitentiary at Jackson. The large clay beds made it valuable for making brick and tile. It is called the Clay-pit farm. There can be any number of children living there and attending the village schools, yet the State pays no taxes. Also the prison autos and trucks run daily on our highways. The State pays no road tax. In 1914 M. M. Moore bought the old cider mill property and put in a cheese factory. In 1921 the people organized a stock

ONONDAGA TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 691 company and incorporated the "Onondaga Cheese Co., "managed by M. MI. Moore. The Farmers' State Bank was incorporated and opened for business May 1, 1918, with Walter E. Goold president, M. J. Baldwin, vice-president, and A. Rosenbrook, cashier. The first garage was built by Henry Shamp, who came from West Unity, Ohio, in 1915. There are now two of these in the village. In 1897 there were two apple evaporators and building where beans were hand-picked. Those are things of the past. Garrett Van Riper was the only man in the early days who made any pretentions toward fruit growing along scientific lines. He set, grafted and pruned trees with great success. He owned the farm now the property of Jasper Baldwin, and over fifty years ago set the orchard which is still bearing. The first hardware and tin shop was built by the Sanford brothers, George and Albert. Albert Sanford built the house now owned by the Ladies' Aid Society and used as a parsonage. George Sanford married Martha Champe, granddaughter of Nathaniel Champe (whose history is given in the chapter concerning Military Prowess in Ingham County). When there came the call for help in the World War Onondaga filled her quota on time at every time, whether it was for money, buying bonds or giving the best of her young men. Their service flag contained 22 stars. Two from the Onondaga school were promoted: Erwin Rhines, 310th Engineers, was made sergeant at Camp Custer; Truman Sanford, 119th Artillery, was promoted to corporal while overseas. All Onondaga boys returned practically sound, physically and morally. Nearly all have since married and not yet a whisper of a divorce. When the war was an assured fact some of the Y. M. C. A. men of the county, headed by Hon. A. R. Hardy, started from Lansing to sell Liberty Bonds and organize Red Cross societies. They stopped at Leslie, were joined by Rev. Gordon Speer, then proceeded to Onondaga. They went to the home of Mrs. M. C. Baldwin, clerk of the Congregational church, where they were sent to get help, because "those people never turned down a good thing."

692 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY A week later a Red Cross society was formed, with headquarters at the Town Hall, with Miss Carrie Esther Baldwin manager of the sewing department and Miss Julia Cliff (now Mrs. Erwin Rhines) in charge of the knitting department. Every woman turned in to work. Their motto was, "The work must be done that a victory may be won." Onondaga produced one good artist, Mrs. Emma Sibley Wheeler, daughter of Martin Sibley and early settler. Mrs. Wheeler's paintings hang in almost every house in the village. She now resides in Jackson. One of the greatest struggles the township has ever known was in regard to the prohibition question. Two pioneers on that subject were Albert Doxtader and George Washburn. Later, when the question of local option came up, there were Sylvester Davis, C. C. Porter, T. Murray Cranston, Dr. R. H. Nichols, W. M. Carroll, Warren D. Byrum and others to champion the cause led by Rev. Fred Wilbur Corbett, of Lansing. Those who worked for nation-wide, bone-dry prohibition along W. J. Bryan lines were Mrs. C. A. Hunt and son William, and Mr. and Mrs. M. C. Baldwin. Very few business men had the bravery to work in these causes because they might lose a patron or a vote, so the women and noaccounts had to do it. "There are slaves who dare not be In the right with two or three." (Read at the Onondaga Township Historical meeting on October 18, 1921.) HISTORY OF EAST ONONDAGA. By MRS. MONTE HAYWARD. I have been allotted the history of East Onondaga, which, having no established boundaries, I have chosen to include in its territory that part of school district No. 1, east of the village, districts Nos. 3 and 12 and fractional district No. 7. kThe greater part of this tract passed from the United States Government into the hands of the Farmer's Loan and Trust-Co.

ONONDAGA TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 693 of New York City in the early '40's. This company sought to dispose of its holdings to New York speculators and homeseekers, thus, while some homesteads passed through several hands before being settled upon permanently, we readily see why this portion of the township was settled by New Yorkers. The many changes were due largely to the cheapness of the land-40 acres on one instance being traded for a quantity of spelling books, 80 acres for a pony, etc. Among those whose patient industry and influence had much to do with the moulding of our commonwealth were the Newmans, Butts, Walkers, Lyons, Champes, Bucklands, Hunts, Carpenters, Annis's, Dwights, James, Baldwins and others. I have been unable to gain access to abstracts other than our own, but find that Grandfather Adney Hunt purchased our present home, Chester A. Hunt's, from this New York company in 1845, and it has ever remained in the family. These were brave, thrifty, progressive people, to whom we are greatly indebted for this desirable community in which we live. This being a dense forest at the time of its settlement the parent industry was lumbering, which was carried on, not for the products, however, but for the sole purpose of clearing the land. It was, therefore, a most common sight to see immense piles of logs burning day and night. Some would condemn our ancestors for this seeming malicious destruction of the forest, but there was slight demand for forest products and a pressing demand for the products of agriculture. Remembering that the first wheat crops sold for 50 cents per bushel, delivered in Jackson, one-half the price of which had to be taken in trade, our theory of price regulation through supply and demand seemed to be a fallacy, but money was scarce. While engaged in preparing their lands for cultivation, the settlers were obliged to find some means of subsistence, and many turned their attention to the cooper's trade. Among those who worked at this extensively was Grandfather Hunt, who owned the first stave machine, and who with his neighbors marketed their productions in Michigan Center at 25 cents per barrel. Two weary days were required to make this journey, with ox teams, over the old Indian trail, later known as the Plank Road. Some time in the '50's five or six men formed a company to

694 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY take over the trail, and secured a charter to build a Plank Road from Jackson to Eaton Rapids and collect toll at the rate of one cent per mile for double rigs and one-half cent per mile for single rigs. This toll was collected at gates stationed about every five miles along the route. The road was constructed of two-inch planks eight feet long, laid on two 2x4 inch stringers, making a single roadway. That teams might pass a dirt road was made at intervals along the side. Over this road the trip from Jackson to Lansing was made daily, except Sundays, by means of Dan Hibbard's stage coaches, consisting of two four-horse coaches and one two-horse coach. This road was very satisfactory for a time, but as the planks became warped and badly decayed, the company appealed to the Legislature to have their charter amended allowing them to use gravel. Mother has described to me her first "joy ride" over the bumps from Jackson to Eaton Rapids when a girl of fourteen she journeyed from New York state alone to her new Michigan home. The charter was amended and the road graveled to Berryville, but the gravel being of poor quality public dissatisfaction increased, and the people of Blackman and Rives of Jackson county and Leslie and Onondaga of Ingham county called township meetings and appointed committees to present their arguments for the repeal of the charter. Attorneys were secured, a hot debate ensued, which resulted in an agreement by the company to cease toll collections a year from date. Peace reigned therefore for a year, but the company refusing to discontinue as agreed the wrath of the people was again aroused. Travelers broke down and burned the gates, fought the gatekeepers, and at last forced the abolishment of the entire system. There is a current story that when the question of a site for the Capitol of our state was under consideration that point on the Plank Road now known as Champ's Creek lacked only two votes of being the chosen spot. The name of the city was to have been Michigan City instead of Lansing. There was then at this point a store, and an upright saw mill operated by Mr. Newman, who owned what was later known as the Champ farm extending from the village east to the five corners. The mill pond basin is now plainly visible, over which extended a long bridge. A very little later a general store was built and

ONONDAGA TOWNSHII AND ITS HISTORY 695 operated by the Champ sisters, in what is now the Fred Cook residence. Passing on to a point on the river just below the bridge was located, in a very early day, the ford on the Mason trail. This trail extended eastward through East Onondaga to the "Hog's Back" on what is now John Hayward's farm, thence along the ridge to Mason. In the vicinity of the ford the first government post office was located in 1838, and operated by Postmaster Buell Buckland, father of Warren Buckland, a resident of East Onondaga. As the Indian trail was difficult to traverse he journeyed to Jackson on foot where he received the mail. While the Plank Road far surpassed any previous transportation enterprise here, it was soon rivaled by the Grand River Valley Railroad. This road was chartered in 1846, but its construction was not attempted until 1866. During the two years following, it was completed, and on July 4, 1868, the first train, consisting of flat cars only, passed over the road carrying as passengers many who are here today. To those who granted the right-of-way for the road the usual compensation of one year's free transportation was given, and father tells how many old ladies took advantage of their opportunity by almost daily taking their knitting and making the round trip. Although hardships seemed to predominate in the lives of our ancestors there was a sentiment of community loyalty and common interest which unified and strengthened them. They worked, played and worshiped as one great family. Religious advantages were limited and greatly appreciated in the community, where the only meeting place was the school house and the chief source of Bible instruction the home. A general hospitality was extended to the "circuit rider" or traveling parson, who visited practically every home, an honored guest. Foremost among these was Elder Walker, who traveled long distances on foot to his appointments, receiving little or no compensation. His participation in the joys and sorrows of his parishioners endeared him to those in whose service he spent his

696 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY life. The homestead taken up by this good man has ever remained with his kinfolk, now being in the possession of his great grandson, Alfred Walker. Realizing the importance of education, arrangements were made to organize a school, and Mr. Butts donated the land on Lyon's Creek, which is the present school house site of district No. 12. He with the aid of his two sons erected the first building known as the Butts school house. Two of the first school officers were Josephus Tuttle and Chalon Lyon, the latter the grandfather of Robert Lyon, and one of the very first settlers, having taken land from the government in 1837, during the presidency of Martin VanBuren. The deed, written on parchment, is now in the possession of Mr. Lyon. Among the first teachers were Mary Ann Bump and Bartley Blaine, who because of hardships and handicaps were indeed "soldiers of the interior." While school and church activities constituted the earlier social life, groups were continually forming to meet public needs and we find the "paring bee" coming into existence to care for the fruits of the first orchard, in possession of Merritt Johnson, who owned the Otto Peterson home and adjoining lands. This was followed by husking bees, quiltings, rag bees, singing and spelling schools until today it seems we must have reached the zenith of civilization We are today making history. Will it be that of which the coming generations can be proud and through which it can improve? A nation is the sum of its communities, the future of which depends on the character of its citizens. Are we teaching future citizens due respect for honest labor, reasonable service for reasonable pay, and above all the Golden Rule? Let us not forget that our duties lie with the world that is and is to be.

ONONDAGA TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 697 WINFIELD AND NORTHWEST ONONDAGA. By MRS. HENRY GIBBS. It may be of interest to know something concerning the early settlers of North Onondaga as well as of Winfield. Joseph Gale came here in 1839, taking up a considerable portion of land, a part of which is now owned by his youngest son, William Gale. Three of his older children settled in this town, Charles Gale, who lived in District No. 4 for many years on the farm now owned by Roy Ives. Elizabeth, who married Joseph Pierson and settled in District No. 1. John, who settled in the Plains District on the farm now owned by his son, Fred Gale. Peter U. Earle came to Onondaga in 1839, with a large family. Two of his sons, Ed and William, were later connected with the store in Kinnieville. His youngest daughter, Sarah, married Charles Cogswell, and they spent their life on the old farm. After the death of Mr. Cogswell the place passed into the hands of Dr. Stimson, of Eaton Rapids, who had lived with them when a boy. Lawrence Ryan also came in 1839 with a wife and eleven children. Three of these settled in their home town-Milton, who later moved to Mason, where he held many prominent offices and became known as a poet of no mean renown; Horatio, who moved later to the west, and William, who for many years made his home in Kinnieville. Richard Ferris was one of the early comers, and his son Edward now owns the old homestead. Abraham Van Buskirk came in 1853, and his daughter Frances now owns the place on which he settled. My own grandfather, William H. Tonn, came to Michigan in 1837, first settling near Pleasant Lake, but moved to District No. 4, Onondaga, in 1844, where he lived for several years. Then there were the Sherd's, John, Arcaleus and Emmons, the Battley's, Buck's and Decker's, all lived long and useful lives and did much to help build up the country. They are now all gone and almost forgotten.

698 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Concerning District No. 2 I know very little. Russell Trefry settled there in the forties on the farm now owned by Frank Younglove; a man by the name of Taylor owned a place farther east, and Chris Laycox owned near there in 1859. In District 13, or Kinnieville, we find William Hutchings on the place now owned by Arthur Bentley. Homer Wilkinson, in 1856, on the place now owned by his daughter Elizabeth. Hiram Cranson, whose father took land from the government in 1834, deeded it to him in 1844. IIe started for California in 1849 and died on his way. His wife and two childrel, Jane, now Mrs. Robert Iyon, and John, deceased, continued to make their home on the old place. Mrs. Cranson, or Mollie as she was familiarly called, was known as the best lady dancer anywhere in the country, and it was nothing for her or her mother, who lived in Jackson, to go on foot to visit each other. Old Rue Perrine was a rather eccentric old fellow who lived on the county line. He once hitched his team to a boat to attend the town meeting. He also was considered a great dancer. The Abbey's, Hiram and Fred, settled in District No. 10. Hiram on the place now occupied by Earle Frye and Fred on the one owned by Isaac Mosely. Mr. Mosely came to Onondaga when a young man and later married Jane Abbey. Stephen Van Kenney came to this county from Nova Scotia in 1844 and took up a large tract of land which is now owned by Clare and Ray Trefry, great nephews of his, and where the village of Kinnieville now stands. He laid out a village for which he had great hopes, giving it the name of Nova Scotia, but Kinnieville has always been the familiar name. He was rather short-sighted, for a chance came to have Olivet College come there, but he refused the location, fearing that it would make a "nigger settlement" of the place. Mr. Van Kenney built a dam across the river with a saw mill on the east end of the dam, just when is not known, but probably about 1844, and a grist mill on the west end of the dam. Joseph Pierson was the head carpenter, and this mill stood and was run continuously for over forty years, and was known as the best grist mill anywhere in the country. As late as 1890 people from far and wide took

ONONDAGA TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 699 their wheat there to be ground, and Kinnieville became quite a well known market. The last owner, Samuel Stetler, with his brother-in-law, Samuel Matthews, came here in about 1871 or 1872. After a few years Mr. Matthews sold out and went west and Mr. Stettler became the sole owner of the mill. He gave it a thorough overhauling, replacing the old stones with the new roller process. He had a private switch at Welkinson's crossing, and kept a man and team busy hauling and loading flour on the trains there. Every housekeeper in the country considered the Kinnieville flour the best on the market. He also had a cooper shop and employed William Bellamy to make his flourbarrels. At least three young men that I remember learned the miller's trade there. Homer Canfield, who was connected with a mill in Albion for some years; J. K. Trefry, who owns and runs the mill at Rives Junction, and Frank Bassett, who was head miller in Eaton Rapids for a while. Somewhere about 1886 a man named Smith raised the dam at Smithville, greatly improving the water power at Kinnieville, and on April 4, 1890, the mill burned. At the time my grandfather, James Trefry, came to Kinnieville, about 1855, there were three general stores and a hotel, but no one seemed to know exactly when they were built, though Joseph Pierson was said to have been the head carpenter. The lower store, as it was always called, was run by a man named Griffith. It was burned in 1885. The upper store was owned by John Jordan, and was traded by him to Walter Wilkinson for the farm now owned by Pearl Towns. This building stood until 1918, when it was torn down by the Rev. Hamlin. The store on the north side of the road was run by Mr. Sprague, and this old building is still standing. Old Mr. Fister had a blacksmith shop, and nearly all the older residents can remember him. Nichols and Lester Frances owned the grist mill. Just who run the tavern is not known, but the old building is still standing and occupied by Mrs. Luke, though it has been moved from its original site. There is no record of any log school house, and if there never was one, then the first school building is still standing. About 1879 the county line district west was united with Kinnieville and a new school house was built one-half mile west of the vil

700 IPIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY lage. George Waggoner was the head carpenter. The old school house was bought and made into a dwelling by Edward Rossman. William Earle was the first postmaster in 1860. The mail was brought to Onondaga by stage coach and carried from there over to Winfield, the official name given the post office. This office was kept up until the coming of free rural delivery, when it was taken up. After locating in Kinnieville my grandfather, James Trefry, owned and run a small wagon and repair shop and did other wood work. George Waggoner, who worked in one of the stores in the early sixties, used to tell that on Saturdays they would be so busy that they would not have time to go to dinner and the other stores were as badly rushed. People came from Eaton Rapids, Onondaga and the surrounding country to mill, and bought their store supplies there. Some time between 1865 and 1870, a Mr. Payne built and run a tin and hardware store. Ed Miller built a shingle and stave mill on the river just below the grist mill, and Ira Trefry built and run a boot and shoe shop, doing custom work. In 1870 a stock company was formed and a cheese factory built, with Hosea Kenyon as cheese maker. This did a thriving business for several years, but a poor cheese maker for a season or two caused disaster and the building was bought and converted into a dwelling house by Lee Cobb. This was destroyed by fire in 1884. When the railroad was built in 1869 Kinnieville was sure that it was coming that way, and great was the rage and dismay when the town was passed by. It was rumored that certain influential citizens paid the company well to make that big curve in the tracks just there. This was really a bitter blow, and from that time Kinnieville's prosperity began to wane, until today but little is left of the once busy little hamlet. The first town meeting of which we have any record was in 1844, and was likely held in Kinnieville as at that time it was a more important place than Onondaga village. For several years all town meetings were held there, and then as Onondaga grew in size they had every other election, but at last the stronger conquered and Kinnieville was beaten. There were no liquor restrictions in those days and large

ONONDAGA TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 701 amounts of intoxicants were sold and drank, and free-for-all fights and "high old times" were indulged in on election days. In 1880 the Baptists grew strong enough to build a church under the leadership of Rev. Smith. I can shut my eyes now and see some of those old faces as they looked when gathered in this little church. The older and more reliable ones were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cogswell, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Laycock, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. H. Brewer, Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Trefry, Mr. and Mrs. T. M. Cranson, Mrs. Janet Waggoner, E. B. Trefry. There were others, but these were the faithful ones always in their places. In 1904 the Baptists decided that they would do better in Onondaga and moved their church to this village, but about 1917 the Methodists united with the Baptists in community work. Though nearly everyone went to church and the old school house was taxed to its limit, a church was not erected until 1870, then the Methodists, Rev. Wallace, erected their present building. I can still see the faces of the worshipers in this church, too. There were Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, or "Uncle Johnny" as he was called. He used to pay $75 each year toward the minister's salary, and was the wealthy man of the community. Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Lane, Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Conklin, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Munro, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Losey, Mrs. Drusilla Town, Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Gibbs, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Winters, Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Doxtader, and Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Partick. Mr. Patrick always led the singing, and it is safe to say that he taught singing school in every rural school house in that part of the country, and if there was a funeral anywhere he went if the preacher did. These were the reliable attendants, and no matter what the wind or weather it did not keep them home, and the old church was well filled every Sunday. For the last twenty-five years this church faced a rapidly decreasing membership, and a few years ago the church was closed, its members uniting with the community church at Onondaga. The last knell was struck for Kinnieville. She is today like Oliver Goldsmith's "Deserted Village," but a "name and a memory."

702 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY EARLY HISTORY OF ONONDAGA. By MnR. WILL BYRUM. By an act of the Legislature, approved March 6, 1836, Town 1 N, Range 2 W., then a part of Aurelius, was set off and organized into a township named Onondaga. The boundaries had been surveyed in 1824-25. The first recorded town meeting was held at the home of Barney Johnston the first Monday in April, 1838. Amos E. Steele was elected supervisor. Early history shows that many of the first settlers came from Onondaga county, N. Y., among them Orange Phelps, to whom is given the credit of naming the village. It is an Indian name and has various pronunciations. The first land entry was made by Oliver Booth, from Gaines, Orleans county, N. Y., May 26, 1834, and included all of section 29. Just one month later he settled in what is now the village, this being the first settlement in the township. Mr. Booth lived about a year after he came, and his was the first death of a white man in the township. Just seven days after Mr. Booth came to Onondaga Peter Cranson, a young unmarried man, arrived. He came from Cayuga county, N. Y., and made the second entry of land, section 20, on June 26, 1834. He was one of the inspectors of the first town meeting, and the second meeting was held at his home. Later he located the farm now occupied by his son Emmett. Henry Allen, a son-in-law of Oliver Booth, moved his family into the township in 1834, and settled south of the Cranson place. His son William was the first white child born in the township, June, 1834. Mr. Booth returned to New York on business soon after he settled, and Jeduthan Frye, from Massachusetts, returned with him in October, 1834. He lived for some time in the Booth family and in February, 1838, he married Harriet Booth, the first marriage in the township, and their daughter, Harriet, born December 25, 1839, was the first white female child born here. The Frye home was originally west of Onondaga village. The only de

ONONDAGA TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 703 scendent of Oliver Booth is Gerdun Goold, a grandson, and son of Gerdun Goold, another son-in-law of Oliver Booth. Benjamin Rossman, from Cayuga county, N. Y., came to Michigan in 1834, and to Onondaga in 1836, bringing with him his wife, Eliza Westfall Rossman, and seven small children. He purchased a farm one mile east of the village now owned by his son Wallace. Thomas Paddock Baldwin, from Dorsett, Vt., and later from New York, learned through a land speculator of the wonderful hunting in Michigan, came to investigate in 1836. He served in the Vermont militia in 1812. He found two log cabins where the village of Onondaga now stands. One occupied by the Booth family and the other one empty, having been built by Lowing Sherman (a veteran of the War of 1812), who had moved into Jackson county. Later his son John returned to Onondaga and built the Sherman house. He, with others, in 1870, laid out the original plat of the village. It is said that he was instrumental in getting the railroad through Onondaga instead of Kinnieville. A great grandson of Lowing Sherman. Lowing Sherman Barnes, still lives in the township. Thos. P. Baldwin located large tracts of land and returned home. He at once told Martin Sibley and William Wolcott, his brothers-in-law, of the beautiful country he had visited, where the forests were alive with wild game, and the clear running streams with fish. They, with their young wives, Betsey Baldwin Wollcott and Ruth Baldwin Sibley, came immediately to Michigan and began planning homes in the wilderness. The Wolcott home is occupied by Ed Holleken and the Sibley home by George Sibley, a grandson. Thomas P. Baldwin remained in New York and married Ursula Coleman. In 1837, leaving his wife and infant son with his father, he came again to Onondaga to build a home for them. He located one mile west of the village, directly across the road from Benjamin Rossman. This farm is now owned by his youngest son, Martin Coleman Baldwin. Many times that winter Thos. Baldwin walked to Jacksonburg for the expected letter from his wife. In May, however, she with her baby, James Baldwin, accompanied by her husband's brother, Mosely A. Baldwin, and his wife, Electa Gibbs Baldwin, came to the new home.

704 PIONEER HIISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY They came by boat from Buffalo to Toledo and then with ox team by way of Tompkins county, Ohio, to Onondaga, arriving May 24, 1838. Moseley Baldwin located two miles east of the village and spent all the rest of his life there. His oldest child, Henry D., was the third white child born in the township. The deed to a part of this farm was signed by Franklin Pierce. It is now owned and occupied by Aaron Moseley Baldwin, a grandson of Moseley Baldwin. In 1839 Thomas Kidder Baldwin, father of Thomas P., came to the new country bringing with him three other sons, Grove, Aaron and Cyrus. (Thos. K. Baldwin came from Dorsett, Vt., where he served in the militia during the War of 1812.) The Baldwin family were prominent in all the early history of Onondaga. Thos. K. located a farm just south of the village, now owned by Malcolm and LaVan Clay, a great granddaughter. Cyrus Baldwin built the first hotel, the Colby House, in 1850. It is now owned by Robert Sweeney. Grove Baldwin purchased 170 acres of land south of the village, and his grandson, Frank J., lives there now. Grove Baldwin has perpetuated his memory more than the others, for he drilled the first flowing well in front of his village home in 1869, and it still flows as he refused to have it piped. Thomas and Elizabeth Haywood, from Buckinglandshire, England, came to America in 1838 and to Onondaga in 1840. Their farm is owned by John and Jessie Terry, a granddaughter. Other early settlers were George French, 1837. His son John still lives here. Marcus Lane, who located across from the Lane cemetery. The abstract gives the date as 1836. The Maynard's, Sharpe, the village cabinet maker. Statistics show that the first school house was built on a winding road west of the village, and tradition says Orrie Lane was the first teacher. The first store was owned by Nathaniel Champe and conducted by Nance Hoxie, his daughter. The building still stands owned by Fred Cook. The first doctor was Hiram Frye, a brother of Jeduthan Frye. He was a root and herb doctor. He came in 1838 from Andover, Mass. The first regular practitioner was Dr. Charles Newell Hayden. The first post office was on the Maynard farm, one and one-half

ONONDAGA TOWNSP1w AND ITS HISTORY 705 miles east of the village. The first post office established in the village was in 1844, with Percy Howland postmaster. The Grand River Valley Railroad was built in 1864. The first druggist was Levi Godding, a veteran of the Civil War. A Sunday school was organized in 1866 by Miss Sara Cochrane and others. Rev. J. R. Stevenson, of Eaton Rapids, preached occasionally, and in October, 1866, the first Congregational church was formed with fourteen members. This became extinct in 1877, when another organization was perfected and the present frame church dedicated. Onondaga sent her quota of men into the west in search of gold. She sent her share of boys into the ranks during the Civil War, and many of the descendents of the early pioneers served for America in the Wlorld War. DISTRICT NO. 6. By HON. WARREN D. BYRUM. The original purchasers of land from the Government of the United States, or the State of Michigan, in what is now District No. 6, on section 11, Bradley Freeman and John Allen, Sept. 21, 1836; Adney Hunt, Jan. 29, 1838; Levi T. Davis, 1847, and Wm. J. Clark, April 24, 1865. Section 12, Prince Bowerman, Dec. 12, 1836; Wim. Royston, June 14, 1837; John S. Hendee, June 12, 1840; James M. Reck, Jan. 30, 1844; John Elmore, Oct. 26, 1849. Section 13, Prince Bowerman and Barney Johnston, Dec. 12, 1836; Benj. R. Clark, Jan. 20 and June 5, 1837. Section 14, Denton Garrison and Bradley Freeman, July 25, 1836; Benjamin R. Clark, June 5, 1837. August 12, 1837, the township of Onondaga, which was then a part of Aurelius Township, was divided into two school districts, District No. 3 being that part of the township lying east of Grand river, and District No. 4 being that portion lying west of the river. Later a portion of what is now District No. 6 must have been in what was then known as the Peek district, the school house being located on section 1.

706 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHIAM COUNTY The first official record of what is now District No. 6 is to be found in the following: School Inspector's Notice. Mr. Ephraim Potter, Sir, you are hereby notified that a school district is formed and numbered 6, set off of school district number 5 and school district number 3, and is composed of the following territory: S. E. 1 of Sec. 10, S. Y of Sec. 11, S. /2 of S. 2 of Sec. 12. All of Sec. 13 except S. W. Y of Sec. 13. All of Sec. 14 except S. 1 of S. W. /, of Sec. 14 and E. 12 of N. E. 4 of Sec. 15. You are also notified that you are authorized to notify personally each taxable inhabitant of the above formation and that you are to meet on Saturday, December 26, 1857, for the purpose of electing district officers and to organize your district No. 6 at your cooper shop at 6 O'clock p. m. You are also required to return the same to this board. Done by order of the school inspectors of the township of Onondaga. December 19, 1857. This is a true copy of the doings of the school inspectors whose names are appended to the same thus. J. E. Howlan, Hilon Osborn, Inspectors of Primary Schools. The cooper shop mentioned in this call was located on section 11 and was owned and operated by Ephraim Potter and E. Smith for several years preceding 1860, and employed four or five men. All of the meetings regarding the organization of the district and planning for the building of the school house were held at this cooper shop. The meeting was held pursuant to the call at the cooper shop on December 26, 1857, Horace Haynes acting as chairman. E. Smith was elected director, E. Potter moderator, Squire Stevens assessor. Horace Haynes, Peter Hunt and E. Potter were elected to serve on the building committee. The school board was instructed to procure a site for the school house at the southwest corner of section 12 at a reasonable rate. It was voted at this meeting to raise $200 by tax to build a school house, and that the building committee present a draft or drafts of a school house at the next meeting, which was to be held two weeks later at the cooper shop. At a meeting January 16, 1858,

ONONDAcGA TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 707 they voted to adopt a plan for a school house which Mr. Haynes presented, 26 by 32 feet in size. At a later meeting when it was found that a building on this plan would cost $400 to $450, they voted that the greatest amount they would raise for that purpose would be $300, and it was voted too that they drop the plan submitted by Mr. Haynes and adopt a plan shown by Mr. Hunt for a building 22'2 by 32 feet. Evidently after considerable discussion and a number of motions, it was moved and seconded in the meeting of January 22, 1858, that the building committee be excused from serving. This motion was lost, and the director, E. Smith, concludes his records by stating "All in harmony up to this time." Meetings were leld every week at the cooper shop from December 26, 1857, to February 17, 1858. On February 17 it was voted to drop the plan previously presented by Peter Hunt for a house 2212 by 32 feet. It was then agreed to erect a building 30 by 25 feet, and the building committee to use its own judgment in procuring materials anld building said school house, and the school board was authorized to procure the site at the price of five dollars. On April 30, 1858, four legal voters of the district petitioned the school board for a special school meeting to be held for the purpose of rescinding a vote taken January 22, that the district raise no more than $300 to build a school house, and to raise as much as might be thought necessary for said purpose, and for the purpose of altering the plan of school house last adopted, if thought necessary, and for the purpose of having the school house built the present summer, and to authorize the building committee to hire money for said district as the meeting judged best to secure the building of said house in the time specified. This meeting was held May 8, 1858. They voted to enlarge the plan of the school house by adding six inches to the width, voted unanimously to rescind the vote of January 22 that they raise no more than $300 to build a school house, voted unanimously to build a school house the present season, voted unanimously to rescind the vote taken December 26, 1857, to raise $200 to build a school house, voted to raise $300 by tax next fall and the balance of the cost of the school house one year from next fall. The five dollars purchased one acre of ground, which is the pres

708 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY ent school ground where the building over which the preceding controversy was held is still standing. The following is a list of the children residing in the district at its formation in 1857, between the ages of four and eighteen years: Henry Bratfield Sarah Bratfield James Bratfield George Bratfield Daniel Clark Adell Clark George Hunt George Harris Mary Harris Charles Harris Annis Stevens Edgar Stevens Alanson Potter Frank Potter Mary Cummings Clark Cummings Jr. William Byrum Lewis Byrum Floyd Byrum The census taken at the end of the school year, 1858, shows the following additional names to those given above: Luther Potter Sarah J. Hunt Adell Hunt Wade B. Smith Carson J. Clark Yale Johnston Theodore Johnston Asa Johnston Otto Johnston Medora Harris Diantha A. Bratfield James E. Bratfield Darius Johnston Martin Johnston Merritt Johnston Content Johnston Isaac Johnston Narcissa Johnston Leroy Johnston Ervin Johnston In 1864 the census showed the following names added: Eliza Wells James Wells Prose Wells Maryette Clark Eldorus Byrum Montell Byrum Eva Johnston Frank Michael Jane Michael Sarah Michael Ann Herman Mary Herman Olin Stevens Mary Bratfield Libby Smith Irene Clark Wade Smith

ONONDAGA TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 709 The school officers elected at the organization of the district were E. Smith. E. Potter and Square Stevens. 1858-Geo. W. Byrum, Horace Haynes, John Bratfield. 1859-John Bratfield, E. Potter, R. Harris. 1860-Square Stevens, John Bratfield, Robert Harris. 1861-Clark Cummings, Robert Harris. 1861 to 1873 various men serving on the school board were as follows: Wm. J. Clark, Benj. R. Clark, Stephen W. Tripp, Washington Corliss, G. S. Hyde, Aid Garfield, Chauncy Hoyt, Charles Fox, W. B. Hill, Robert Bolles, J. B. Carlough, C. C. King, Lewis Byrum, S. A. Davis, George Hazelton, James Elliott. The first teachers contract was made April 29, 1858, in which Mary Jane Tompkins was to teach thirteen weeks at $1.50 per week and board, she to be paid on or before the first of next October. It was understood that six days constituted a week, but she was not required to teach each alternate Sunday. The term closed August 10, 1858. The second contract was with Dudley Bateman, who was hired to teach for four months beginning November 14, 1859, at $16 per month and board. Margaret P. Case was the third teacher, beginning January 16, 1860, and teaching nine weeks at $2.50, and she was also hired for the summer term of seventeen weeks, beginning April 23, 1860, at $2.00 per week. In perusing the records of the annual and special meetings of the district, there are a number of votes or actions of the electors which appear to be more or less typical of rural schools in those days and show the difficulty of maintaining a school, the necessary tendency toward the strictest economy, and the tendency to more appreciate the value of the school from year to year. At the annual meeting held in September, 1859, it was voted to appropriate two-thirds of all moneys received to pay teachers wages at the winter school, showing that the winter term was the all-important term of the year. They voted to "raise for school purposes fifty cents for each scholar," and one-half cord of wood (stove length) to each scholar, to be furnished the school according to the direction of the director. Voted "to discharge the building committee and thank the members for their services." At this meeting, as well as those preceding and subsequent to it, they

710 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY have considerable difficulty in finding men to serve on the school board. Three men were nominated and refused to serve as director at this one meeting. Voted to "rescind the vote to raise fifty cents on each scholar and voted to rescind the vote to appropriate two-thirds of the public money for the winter school." September 14, 1861, voted that non-resident pupils pay fifty cents a month from the time of entering the school until the close of term, and that fuel be raised by scholars when called for by the director. March 8, 1862. Paid teacher for 15 weeks, at $4.25................. $63.75 Board, George Byrum, 12 days..................... 2.14 Board, Robert Harris, 9 days....................... 1.60 Board, Square Stevens, 3 days.......................53 Board, E. Smith, 10 weeks, 3 days.................. 13.00 T otal........................................ $81.02 September 1, 1862, voted that the mill tax be applied on winter term and primary money on summer term; every man to get onehalf cord of wood for each scholar. Voted to apply the fine money, $3.05, to incidental expenses for the year, and to raise $4 by tax for additional incidentals. September 7, 1863, they raised $15 for incidental expenses and $20 for teachers wages, and voted that the school house be opened for all religious services not interfering with school; the building properly taken care of, and with the right to use wood for the meetings. Voted to raise $10 for a bell to be placed on the building. September 5, 1864, it was voted that the board have the power to dismiss a teacher within a week's notice, and that this be put in the contract. At this meeting it was voted that the teacher should "board round," but on September 19 they called a special meeting and rescinded this vote. September 4, 1865, voted to get 15 cords of wood by tax, hard body wood, and that $14.47 be raised to pay for same. September 5, 1866, the tuition rate was increased to $1 per scholar, and voted that no foreign pupils be admitted to the school. At that time there were 44 names in the school census list.

ONONDAGA TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 711 September 5, 1870, they raised $90 for teachers wages. Robert Harris was let the job of painting the school house two coats in a "good, workmanlike manner," for $33.50, and the school house was to be shingled with Number I pine shingles for $59.00. These shingles were not removed until 45 years later. Aside from the cooper shop operated by Potter and Smith, the industry in the district of most interest was a large saw mill erected about 1860 on the S. W. 14 of Sec. 11, and operated for a time by Raxford Clark and later by Bowles and Bushan. A great deal of lumber was sawed at this mill, which burned about 1867. The first township meeting of Onondaga Township was held in District No. 6, at the home of Barney Johnston, on section 14, on the first Monday in April, 1838. Previous to this time Onondaga had been a part of Aurelius Township, but by act of the Legislature approved March 6, 1836, town 1 north, range 2 west, was set off and organized into a separate township by the name of Onondaga. At this first meeting Amos E. Steele was elected supervisor by a mjority of 17 votes, Josephus Tuttle, township clerk by a majority of 16, and for assessor Peter Cranson received 15 votes, Gabriel V. N. Hatfield and Josephus Tuttle each 14 votes. Other officers elected were Jeduthan Frye, John Darling, Silas Booth, Gilbert Rossman, Adna Hunt, Frederick Abbey, Chauncey Day, Merritt Johnston, Henry Allen, Orris Cranson. On motion it was voted that any resident of the township taking or killing a wolf in the township should receive a bounty of eight dollars therefor. It was also voted to hold the next township meeting at the home of Peter Cranson. The supervisors of Onondaga Township from its organization in 1838 to 1880 were as follows: 1838, Amos E. Steele; 1839, Josephus Tuttle; 1840, Martin R. Sibley; 1841 to 1848, Joseph Gale; 1853, Warren E. Buckland; 1853-1855, Joseph Gale; 1856, Joseph S. Pierson; 1860, John French; 1861-1862, Garrett Van Riper; 1869, John Brown; 1870, Nelson Everett; 1871, Mosely A. Baldwin; 1872, Nelson Everett; 1873, A. S. Noble; 1874, Milton Ryan; 1875-1877, Henry Crain; 1878-1879, Mark Conklin; 1880, Pomeroy VanRiper. The township clerks of Onondaga for the same period were as follows: 1838, Josephus Tuttle; 1839, John Phelps; 1840, Warren

712 ONONDAGA TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY Buckland; 1841-1842, Josiah C. Preston; 1843, Horace Carlick; 1844, W. B. Buckland; 1845-1852, Perez Howlans; 1853, Clinton D. Griffith, resigned, and Merrick Nicholas appointed; 1854-1855, Joseph S. Pierson; 1856, George Phelps; 1857, Hilon Osborn; 1858, James E. Howland; 1859, Wm. 0. Callahan; 1860, G. Hutchings; 1861, William Wilkinson; 1862, William Carll; 1863, James E. Howland; 1864, George H. Waggoner; 1865, Benjamin E. Sawtell; 1866, Wm. H. Plummer; 1867, Wm. L. Cochrane; 1868, William Hutchings; 1869-1870, William Ryan; 1871, Garrett VanRiper; 1872, Frank Hoes; 1873, P. P. Crain; 1874, Albert Sanford; 1875, Frank Hoes; 1876, James P. Townsend; 1877, Frank Hoes; 1878, Fred D. Woodworth; 1879, Albert Sanford; 1880, Albert Sanford. The township treasurers during the same period were as follows: 1838, Peter Cranson; 1840, Moseley A. Baldwin; 1841, Henry Fray; 1842-1843, Lyman Elderkin; 1844, M. A. Baldwin; 1845-1846, David M. Perrine; 1847-1854, Leonard Gilman; 1855, Henry Gibbs; 1856, W. S. Wilkinson; 1857, Elisha Smith; 1858, Peter I. Elting; 1859, James Baker; 1860, Theodore Wisner; 1861, Wm. Hutchings; 1862-1863, John WV. Jordon; 1864, Garrett Van Riper; 1865, Gabriel Trefry; 1866-1867, Garrett VanRiper; 1868-1870, Abner S. Noble; 1871-1872, Philip P. Crain; 1873 -1875, George H. Waggoner; 1876, James Stringham; 1877-1878, Luther L. Stone; 1879-1880, Geo. II. Waggoner. Other men holding township offices during this period were Hazen Rolfe, Cyrus Hampton, Peter Earle, Franklin Elmer, Nathan J. Stark, Richard Ferris, Joseph Sibley, John Matteson, Ruel Perrine, Marshall Campbell, Isaac Tyler, W. H. Town, Horace Haynes, Horace M. Buck, Benjamin Rossman, D. C. Griffith, E. S. Haynes, John Sherman, Aid Garfield, James Baker, John Brown, Rufus Swart, E. A. Parker, James Potter, Henry S. Willis, Brutus Hill, Edwin Miller, Thaddeus Slaght, Frank Norris, B. F. Morris, Win. Longyear, Levi F. Slaght, Thomas M. Cranson, Richard S. Colby, David W. Lane, T. Murray Cranson, Wallace Rossman, John W. Jones, Ward Lesher, L. B. Hatt, Edward Morrison, Seth Jones.

ONONDAGA TOWNSilIP AND ITS HISTORY 713 STAGE COACH DAYS IN ONONDAGA AND VICINITY. N. Morrell, of Jackson, tells the following: "I have lived just outside the county of Ingham all my life of seventy-five years, and have helped haul loads of farm produce to Jackson over stones and ruts, through mud, up hill and down, and even then the roads were better than my father found here when he came in 18372. Then it was but al Indian trail that wound through the forests and avoided the low wet places, when it could. This trail was poorly marked, and when my father and his brother Edward learned that one of their old neighbors was coming to the west, they cut a tree top as large as two yoke of oxen could handle, and dragged it over the trail to improve the road." Between 1830 and 1835 this trail became a main traveled highway for that section, though still hard to travel, and settlers had taken up land along both sides of it. This same road, with but little improvement, is said to have answered for all transportation until some time in the '50's, when a company was formed to take over the road, and with a charter fron the Legislature they built a plank road from Jackson to Eaton Rapids. Toll llouses and gates were erected, and a toll of one cent per mile for a double rig and one-half cent per mile for a single rig was exacted. The road was made of planks eight feet long, two inches thick, laid on 2 x 4 stringers. This was a narrow road, and in order that teams might pass each other a dirt road was built along the side of the plank one. Before the railroad was built north from Jackson, Dan Hibbard's stage coaches were a familiar sight. Two four-horse and one two-horse stages made the trip between Jackson and Lansing daily, except Sundays. At first this road gave entire satisfaction, the dirt road was too soft for easy travel, the planks became warped and were soon cut off where the track ran, and was in every way so unsatisfactory that people refused to pay toll, and company finally went to the Legislature and had their charter revoked, allowing them to build a gravel road. This did not meet the needs and wishes of the traveling public, and later the residents of Blackman and Rives in Jackson county, and Onondaga

714 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGEIAM COUNTY and Leslie in Ingham county called a meeting and appointed a committee to confer with the Legislature and see what could be done. There were two forces met in the Capitol where a spirited controversy took place, Hon. Austin Blair represented the new committee, and Judge Gridley appeared for the plank road company. Judge Gridley temporarily won the day, on the claim that the work done the previous summer would compel them to collect toll longer or face financial loss. The committee report showed that the collection of tolls was to cease in a little over a year, but when the time came tolls continued to be collected, until the people arose in their wrath and took matters into their own hands. Toll gates were broken down, toll men fought until they refused to stay in the houses with their families, and two husky men were placed in each toll house. Later one of the toll houses was burned, after the inmates had been removed to a place of safety, and the perpetrators were never discovered. Soon after the other toll gate was sold and moved away, and quiet reigned. Since that time the road through Onolldaga has been kept up as a gravel road.

CHAPTER XV. STOCKBRIDGE TOWNSHIP. MICHIGAN STATE GAZETTEER. Stockbridge in 1863; Lowe family; sketch by Axie Gorton James; early day notes by Henry M. Wheaton. Stockbridge-a township and postoffice of Ingham county, on the Mason and Dexter stage route, 67 miles northwest of Detroit. Fare $2.40. Receives a daily mail. Has a Presbyterian church, a masonic lodge, hotel and two stores. Postmaster, Edy Baker. TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. Supervisor-David Rogers. Clerk-Ira Wood. Treasurer-George W. Gibbs. TRADES AND PROFESSIONS. Ackley, J. L.-physician. Baker, Edy-general store. Branch and Forbes (Jerome C. Branch and Horatio N. Forbes)general store. Ewing, George H.-blacksmith. Farmer, John-mason. HIolliday, S.-mason. Laner, F.-blacksmith. Lawson, Thomas-blacksmith. Ludwickoski, John-carriage maker. Phillips, John-shoemaker. Reeves, James D.-justice of the peace. Reide, Hantz-blacksmith. Rogers, Joseph D.-justice of the peace. Sawyer, Fred-blacksmith. Smith, Gustavus A.-carpenter.

716 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Titus, Malvin-justice of the peace. VanEttery, Jacob-hotel. Wallace, Joseph B.-cooper. Wallace, Russell-cooper. Winslow, E. M.-physician. LOWE FAMILY. By GERTRUDE Low CHAPPELL, Mother of Mrs. L. A. Randall, Dansville. My father, Heman Lowe. came to Michigan in the spring of 1834 and located land on the plains in Ingham county near Low Lake. On August 20 of the same year the family started for Michigan and arrived in Detroit the first day of September. We rode in the stage to Ann Arbor, where we arrived at 10:00 o'clock at night, and put up at the Clark House. We wintered at Honey Creek in Mr. Sawhill's little log house, about 12 x 14 feet in size. In the spring of 1835 my father and his brother Peter came to Ingham county and built a log house and in April moved his family there in the wilderness, six miles from any house except a shanty built in the south part of Stockbridge by David and Thomas Rogers. Ours was the first house built in Ingham county, then a territory; no one but Indians for neighbors and the rest unbroken wilderness. The next fall John Dutcher came, and others soon followed so that we had quite a settlement around the Lake. Sister Rachel married Hiram Stocking the following year, and that was the first wedding in the county. Her babe, born the next year, was the first white child born in the county. Its little life was short-lived as it lived only a few weeks. The circuit preacher came once in four weeks and held services in our home until a log school house was built. The first school was taught by Melissa Stephens, who received 75 cents a week. Abigail Bullock was the next teacher. The first town meeting was held at Hiram Stocking's, where the voters from three towns gathered, and I helped get dinner for the board.

STOCKBRIDGE TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 717 Peter Lowe was the first justice of the peace in Stockbridge, and Richard Lowe the first sheriff of the county, and later was again elected. Teachers received 75 cents per week and boarded round, teaching every other Saturday. Mrs. Axie Gorton James, of Pine Lake (post office East Lansing), gives some interesting items regarding her family. Her parents, Jacob Bevier and his wife, Rhoda Phillips Bevier, came into Ingham county from Waterloo, Seneca county, New York, in 1858, and settled in Stockbridge. Her father was a blacksmith and followed his trade in the village where he settled, and continued it for forty years. Both he and his wife are buried in Stockbridge. Mrs. James takes pride in the fact that she is a direct descendent of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Her grandmother on maternal side was Rhoda Hopkins (Phillips), daughter of Stephen Hopkins, of Rhode Island, who, as he was a Quaker, wears a hat in all the pictures one sees of the original signers of the Declaration. Stephen Hopkin's wife was a daughter of John Brown of Revolutionary fame, the man who donated forty acres of land to the city of Providence, R. I., on which to found a university, and there Brown University was built. She has pictures of the whole Hopkins line and plans to have them framed and hung in the historical rooms at the Capitol. Among the souvenirs in Mrs. James' possession is a beautiful shawl that once belonged in the family of Commodore Perry of Lake Erie fame. Mrs. James remembers seeing the first mail sack in which mail was brought over the government road from Dexter, and she was told that David Rogers was the carrier, and traveled on horseback. After a stage coach was put on the road he drove it for a while, and her father did all the blacksmith work for the road. The others who drove stage, as far as her rememberance goes, were Thed Owen, Ben Ferry and Lucius Bowdish, a Civil War veteran, wholived to a ripe old age and was burned to death while burning a marsh in 1916. Her mother, Mrs. Bevier, used to go on the stage to Dexter with her wool to get it carded for spinning, and would always take one of her little girls with her, a wonderful trip for them. After the

718 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY rolls were spun and colored, the mother would give each girl her knitting stint to do, and in order to prevent her cheating would mark the work with a white thread so the number of rounds could be easily counted. The girls would race to see who could be done first, and often dropped stitches were the result, and this always brought punishment. Mrs. James' parents lived next door to David Rodgers, and she remembers hearing him tell about the Indians that were in that section when he settled there. TRIP MADE IN 1846 TO NORTHERN MICHIGAN. Notebook of Henry Wheaton Tells of Incidents Reniniscent of Very Beginning of Civilization in Northern Portion of Michigan. Mrs. Bertha Bravender, of Stockbridge, has handed us an article telling of a trip to the northern part of Michigan, made in 1846, by her father, Henry Milton Wheaton. In the old days Mir. Wheaton, who for many years, lived on a farm near Pleasant Lake, which he took up from the government, was surevyor. He died June.30, 1873. His parents were natives of Genesee county and moved to Michigan with the fleet of pioneers who settled the territory from New York. It is sometimes hard to realize the character of the wilderness which confronted the pioneers who came to Michigan sixty years ago. The cleared farms, the well-cultivated country, are far removed from the dense forests which then covered the country. When one stops to consider the day's works which have been put on the land to reclaim it from the wilderness, the sight of an oldtime rail fence gives one the backache-and the mere making of miles upon miles of these, which have since been supplanted by their unpicturesque predecessors, the wire fences, was but the edge of the work. Henry was born in Canada, while his parents were making their way to Michigan. As a young man he followed the occupation of surveyor, and it was as a member of a party surveying the lands along the south shore of Lake Superior that this memoir was written. It is a little leather-bound pocket book, convenient for carrying in the pack of the pioneer surveyor, and the entries were

STOCKI3RIDGE TOWNSTHI- AND ITS HISTORY 719 painfully inscribed, by the light of a camp fire, at the end of a hard day's tramp of perhaps miles. The little three by four-inch volume is reminiscent of the very beginnings of civilization in the northern portion of Michigan-the country which, when the notes which will be partially reproduced below were written, was densely covered with magnificent pine forests. It probably never occurred to Mr. Wheaton that he passed through the country which but a few years later was to be sacrificed to make a few lumber kings, and then abandoned as waste land, not worth the payment of the taxes. A sort of foreword to his journal of pioneer travel is dated July 4, 1846, and is appropriately independent. "May the enemies of this state never be permitted to eat the bread thereof, nor drink the pure water thereof, nor visit the Lake of Independence thereof. Written by Henry M. Wheaton, on the evening of the third day of July, after a heavy shower of rain, and almost dark, and the mosketers thick as h-ll," is the introduction to the story. Following is a sort of narrative of the surveying trip to the northern country, then nearly the same as when Pere Marquette lived and converted the Indians. While some of the names are hard to identify, probably having been changed by later surveys, in general terms the trip seems to have been up Lake Huron, through St. Mary's river and into Superior, and along the south shore of that magnificant body, past the "Pictured Rocks," and into the primeval wilderness. "Had you followed me through all my travels," says the narrative, "you might have seen me leave my family at Detroit on the 12th of May, 1846, and embark on board the steamer Detroit, for the mineral lands of the south shore of Lake Superior, as a hand in a surveying party under the direction of W. M. Ives. After a heavy storm you might have seen me land at Sault Ste. Marie falls; then, under an open tent at night, lying on the ground, our bedclothes consisting of one blanket apiece. Then on board the schooner Merchant; then on Lake Superior, in the hold among the Dutch, with some cord wood and some barrels to lie on, staying there six days, watching for a wind to carry us out on the wide lake, and many were sick around me." Mr. Wheaton apparently left the boat at "Huron river, " and his first duty was the distribution of supplies for the maintenance of

720 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY the surveying parties which were to follow. After a wait at Presque Isle and Porcupine bay, the party landed and began the real work of the laborious trip. "You might have seen us," says the narrative, "first on the lake shore, then on the top of a rocky mountain, then seven or eight hundred feet below in a cedar swamp, wading through and climbing over logs (and the mosketers as thick as h-l). At night we sat down on the ground to eat our bean soup, and then, each one of us took his blanket and laid down on the ground to rest his weary limbs. For pillows, one takes his boots, another a sandstone, the third a chunk of rotten wood, and I a frying pansome one thing and some another. "Again we resume our labor among the rocks, and first we know we run against a small lake, when we take out our axes, cut some old dry trees, build a raft and launch out for the other side. Then commence climbing again-sometimes 'chaining,' sometimes carrying a heavy pack, then making bean soup and mixing bread, and other times running in search of water or digging a hole in the swamp in search of it. "Again you would have seen us take our boat and launch out for the middle islands; then land and climb huge rocks, as barren as the desert of Arabia. Again we take another start and go out to Huron islands, and survey them. Coming back, we are nearly cast away, but we finally reach the shore in safety, take our suppers and retire to rest. In the night comes a thunder storm, with heavy rain and knocks our tent into a cocked hat. We gather up our things and retreat to an old leaky storehouse, and stay till morning, but not to sleep, for the danger of the old trees around." After such a night as this, in the morning the party loaded on heavy packs, and started for the woods. "We done seven miles a day," says the record, "and sometimes eight." Trouble was experienced with a heavier lake or pond, full of mire holes. "The most of the country is not worth five dollars a section, except the slate rock section, and that is good land, covered with sugar timber; no white oak, no beach, no walnut-long rolling and undulating, but not broken. The game is scarce-few bears and a few deer, partridges and grouse." On a trip, apparently to the Pictured Rocks, the homesick surveyors saw a mirage. "The weather was calm and the lake

STOCKBRIIGE TOWNSSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 721 smooth," says the narrative. "The rocks looked beautiful at a distance. We thought we saw a sail. Then we fancied we saw a whole city. At length we turned a point and all was hid from our view. The story of an Independence Day celebration in the wilderness is told in a matter of fact manner. "On the 3d of July it rained all night, and the mosquitoes were very troublesome. On the 4th, held independence at the same place, and I climbed and trimmed the tallest tree that I could find near the lake for a liberty pole, and had an independent dinner of bread, pork, bean soup with some roasted clams." The latter constituted the luxury of the trip. A few days later, in a camp by Independence Lake, whatever that may be, the dinner consisted of a "a bean soup with a duck and 500 clams; it was good." And, it is said, the party ate all the clams and presumably wanted more. A few days later the routine of bean soup for dinner was modified by the addition of a porcupine, cooked with the beans. This was called "porcupine soup." The narrative gives a description of the troubles incident to the trip-besides the rains, which seemed to be interminable, a cut in the foot of one of the party necessitated carrying him out of the wilderness. Sometimes the provisions ran short, and sometimes the surveyors caught sixty speckled trout and feasted; sometimes there was no water, sometimes bad water in the hemlocks, and sometimes the pioneers were nearly drowned. There were always heavy packs to carry, and sometimes tempers gave out under the strain, as shown by such an entry as this: "Carried pack four miles, and camped on Huron river; a quarrel arose in the camp, and the Frenchman got whipped by J. L. Browne." The record continues until November 5, when the start down the lake, in the steamer Detroit, for home was made. Francis M. Wheaton, the youngest of eleven children of Henry M., now resides at 605 West North street, in Jackson, and the curious log of the notable trip of his father is a family heirloom.Ingham County News, 1919.

CHAPTER XVI. VEVAY TOWNSHIP. History of Vevay; the township in 1863; Sidney Parker homestead; Wolcott family; Walters school; Vevay Township Historical society formed, and the history of the township given by school districts; Chapin family history; Mason in 1863; sketch by Mrs. Mary Hammond; plowing match; early history by Alvin Rolfe; Vevay notes; State Gazetteer of 1863; Probate story; Mason Reform Club; first select school; first telephone; Mrs. Stillman's story; Mason fifty years ago; Jewett family; VanDeusen family. Vevay was made a separate township and given its present name about the first of March, 1838, by act of the State Legislature. The first township meeting was held April 2, 1838, and the following citizens were chosen to conduct the election, viz.: Moderator, Minos McRobert; clerk, Anson Jackson; inspectors, Hiram Parker, Hiram Converse and Benjamin T. Smith. The following officers were elected: Supervisor-Peter Linderman. Clerk-Anson Jackson. Assessors-Ira Rolfe, Minos McRobert and Abner Bartlett. Collector-Henry A. IHawlcy. Commissioners of Highways-IHiram Austin, Anson Jackson, Benjamin F. Smith. Justices of the Peace-Peter Linderman, Hiram Convcrse, Hiram Parker, Benjamin F. Smith. Constables-John Daggett, Henry A. Hawley. Inspectors of Primary Schools-Nathan Rolfe, Minos McRobert, Wm. H. Horton. Directors of the Poor-Benjamin Rolfe, George Searl. Fence Viewers-Hinman Hurd, Elisha R. Searl. Pound Masters-Ephraim B. Danforth, Ira Rolfe. The population of the county in 1837 was 822; in 1840 it was 2,498. The township of Vevay now (1873) contains about 2,900 inhabitants, and has about 10,000 acres of land under cultivation. The Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw R. R. runs through the township from north to south, and has two stations on the road, one at

' EVAY TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 723 Mason and one at Chapin's. The railroad company has just completed a water tank, and a windmill for raising water at Mason. The village of Mason now contains about 2,000 inhabitants. Its manufactures and principal business houses consists of two flouring mills, two saw mills, one planing mill, two stave mills, one shingle factory, two pump factories, two cooper shops, three wagon factories, three shoe shops, three harness shops, one iron foundry and machine shop, one bracket manufactory, ashery, one bakery, eight milliners and dressmakers, one printing office, three grain elevators and forwarding houses, three tailoring establishments, three livery stables, two cabinet shops, one furniture store, two meat markets, marble works, two architects and builders, two barber shops, six dry goods stores, two hardware stores, three boot and shoe stores, three drug stores, seven grocery stores, one photograph gallery, three hotels, and two banking establishments. VEVAY TOWNSHIP IN 1863. A township of Ingham county, containing the flourishing village of Mason; population, exclusive of village, 1,000. TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. Supervisor-R. F. Griffin. Clerk-Henry Linderman. Treasurer-John M. Dresser. EDEN IN 1863. A small post village of Ingham county in the township of Vevay, on the stage route from Jackson to Lansing, 100 miles northwest from Detroit. Fare $3.45. Postmaster, L. B. Huntoon. LIST OF PROFESSIONS AND TRADES. Chase, Joseph-carpenter. Horton, William H.-justice of the peace. Snow, Alonzo-carpenter.

724 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY SIDNEY PARKER HOMESTEAD SOLD. Life-time Resident of Vevay Township Will Move to Vermont. Home Historic Spot. Rich in Lore of Pioneer Days, Farm Passes Into Hands of Strangers. The above is the aheading of an article in the Journal-Republican, dated Mason, February 9, 1911, and the article follows: Sidney J. Parker, a well known resident of Vevay, has sold the farm four miles east of here on the Dansville road, where he has lived since his birth there in 1838, and will soon go to Vermont to live. He has been a member of the F. and A. M. lodge here over 45 years, and recently about 30 of his fellow members paid him a farewell visit. During the evening D. P. Whitmore presented Mr. Parker with a gold-headed cane, as an expression of the esteem in which he is held. Mr. Parker was in a reminiscent mood, and told many of the pioneer experiences of his family, who were central figures in early local history. Seventy-five years is a long time in this region for a tract of land to be owned by one family, but the recent transfer is the only one which has been recorded against this 80 acres since Hiram Parker, the father of the family, took it from the government in 1836. The old parchment land grant, signed by President Martin Van Buren, is still treasured by the family. This was not signed until 1839, however, owing to the press of business at the Kalamazoo land office, where Mr. Parker had to go to secure the title to the property. The farm was the first one settled in western Ingham county, and was far in the wilderness away from roads and other settlements when Mr. Parker brought his young bride here in the fall of 1836, shortly after their marriage at her home in Bennington county, Vt. They went by wagon to Albany, N. Y., and from there on the Erie canal to Buffalo, where they boarded the steamer Robert Fulton for Detroit, while three men drove their cattle through Canada to the same place. A lumber wagon was their next conveyance, and in this they journeyed westward over the newly-made roads, and when these were impassable through the

VEVAY TOWNSIIP' AND ITS HISTORY '725 adjacent clearings. At Dexter they struck northward through the wilderness, finally leaving the road behind, and following an Indian trail which led to their destination. Here, on the slope of one of the highest elevations in the county, they made their home. The men rolled up the log house, and, as there were then no saw mills in central Michigan, Mr. Parker made the doors from their packing boxes. Two Indian trails crossed in front of the house, and many were the settlers who found shelter under its roof when they began to flock to the country soon after. The Indians, too, were not slow in accepting its hospitality, and Mrs. Parker was badly startled one night when she awoke to find six braves crouched before the fireplace. They had been following the trail southward, and had stopped to wait for daylight before continuing their journey. The historic chief, Okemos, father of Chief Johnny Okemos, who is remembered by many of the present generation, was a frequent visitor. For some years the nearest post office and grist mill was at Dexter, 30 miles away, through the woods. The western half of Ingham county, then unorganized, was called Aurelius, and belonged to Jackson county for judicial purposes. All officers qualified there and criminals were taken there for trial. In 1838, when the delegates convened to organize the county, they had to meet at the Parker home, as that was the residence nearest the prospective county seat, called the "City of Ingham," and located in the woods about a mile and a half north of the Parker farm. A letter from Sidney J. Parker, from his Vermont home, says, in relation to locating the county seat "In the News of October 30, I find 'A Bit of Ingham County History,' which in the main is correct. I wish to state that my father told me the county seat of Ingham county was established by surveyors, and a stake driven on what was afterwards known as the 'Elijah Brooks' farm, three and a half miles east of Mason. The stake stood near where the present barn stands, and a log house was erected there and was known as the 'county house.' "The place was called 'The City of Ingham.' Some years after the county seat was moved to Mason. The one log house in 'The City of Ingham' was the only one ever built there for many years. As stated, the first county canvass was held at the house of Hiram Parker. The law at that time was to the effect that

726 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGSIAM COUNTY where there was no county buildings the business should be done at the nearest farm residence. This explains why the first county canvass was held at my father's house." So much for Sydney J. Parker's letter. Hiram Parker started one day to vote at his polling place in the Rolfe settlement, four miles south of Mason. A blinding snow storm hindered his progress, and finally hid the blazed trees on the section line he was following, so that he lost his way. He turned to retrace his steps, and found that the snow had effaced his earlier trail. Later in the afternoon he reached home, having lost a whole day in a vain attempt to reach a polling place six miles away. The price of Mr. Parker's land, $1.25 an acre, was a much larger sum, or, at least it meant much more then than it would now; for money was exceedingly scarce in those days of "wildcat banks." The settlers found it a hard matter to pay even the small taxes that were then levied. For the first ten years the taxes on the 160 acres Mr. Parker then owned averaged $4.50 a year; but in 1865, after the Civil War, they jumped to $57.97. Hiram Parker died 25 years previous to this writing, at the age of 84, and his wife died in 1907, at the age of 94. Sydney J. Parker spent practically all the 72 years of his life, before the writing of this sketch, on the farm taken up by his father, and has seen this region change from a trackless wilderness to a well-tilled farming country. He remembers when the first highways were laid out and graded, leading in most cases from one settler's cabin to the next, which accounts mainly for the crooked roads in the eastern part of the county. He remembers when the railroads first went through, and he was one of a jolly crowd that rode to one of the first state fairs at Jackson in a box car. He had a serious fall several years ago, and his neck was permanently injured, so that his last trip on the cars, 22 years ago, was such a painful experience that he never cared to take another. Since the death last summer of his sister Eliza, who had always lived on the farm with him, Mr. Parker has been the only one of the family here, and now that he has sold the farm he will go to make his home with Mrs. J. S. Brush, of Manchester, Vt., his youngest sister, and the only other member of the family now living. Died 1915. ROY W. ADAMS.

VEVAY TOWNSIP' AND ITS HISTORY 727 THE WOICOTT FAMILY. By One of Its Members, MRS. HOGAN, 1918. Jasper Wolcott, a young surveyor from Connecticut, came to Michigan in 1834 to survey the land that is now Ingham and Jackson counties. His brother, William Wolcott, came too, and took up a farm in Onondaga. While Jasper Wolcott was laying out farms near Mason he met Harriet Sargeant, a young girl from Vermont, who was staying with her sister, Mrs. Henry Fifield. They were married soon after at the home of Win. Wolcott in Onondaga. The minister rode out from Jackson on horseback to perform the ceremony, and the family claim that was the first wedding in Onondaga. (A piece of cloth like the bridegroom's waistcoat accompanied the sketch.) They had already taken up a farm extending from within one block of the court house in Mason south to the Walter's school house. They built a cabin across from the Robert Young home in Vevay Township, under the tall clm trees there, and began life in the wilderness. (One huge elm tree still marks the spot, and this is a landmark for miles around, being on the highest elevation of land in that vicinity, it is plainly seen.) It was necessary for them to wait for the Grand river to freeze over before they could go to Jackson after lumber with which to make their doors and furniture. Grandmother said that bears often at night sniffed at the blanket curtains in the doorway. On November 9, 1836, a son, Isaac Nelson, was born to these pioneers, and he was the first white child born in Vevay Township. On the day before a son, Grove Wolcott, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Wolcott in Onondaga. He died in 1917 in Jackson. When Isaac Nelson Wolcott was but two days old the father (only 26 years old himself) lay down to rest and when they called him he was dead. They supposed he had caught cold and malaria from sleeping in camp when on his surveying trips, and drinking poor water had poisoned his system. Grandmother, with her tiny babe, made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Fifield for several years and then married Edwin Hubbard,

728 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGEIAM COUNTY who brought up the small boy as his own. They lived for many years at the old home near the Hubbard school house, where he attended school. He was the only boy in the family, there being six girls bearing the name of Hubbard, all of whom are dead except Mrs. Mary Olds Huntoon, of Harbor Beach. (She died in 1919.) The playmates of Isaac Nelson Wolcott were often Indian boys, and he knew Chief Okemos and John Okemos very well. They were frequent guests at the home. The old chief was very angry once when he learned that young John had come to call when intoxicated, and said to grandmother, "Why didn't white squaw put him to door and give big kick?" Father spent the "Fourth" in Lansing when nine years old. There were no houses except at North Lansing. Indians joined in the sports, and father often laughed when telling of this day and would say, "I never saw an automobile all day." When he was twenty-one he went to California and remained there eleven years, returning home and marrying Cora White, a girl whom his mother had brought up while he was away. He never lost his desire for roving, which grandmother said he acquired from the Indians. At the age of 75 he took a trip to New Mexico and again visited the places he had traveled over in his youth. He never failed to look on the sunny side and was happy to the last. He was greatly interested in the County Historical Society, and was always present when it was possible for him to do so. On October 13, 1917, he went on to join the wife who had preceded him. He is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery at Mason, and is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Russell and Mrs. Hogan, both of Lansing. At one of the meetings of the County Pioneer Society Mr. Wolcott told the following incidents relating to his early life: "When seven years old I made a trip to Lansing with one of my uncles and some of his neighbors. We made the trip with ox teams, and made North Lansing our stopping place. There were three houses there, but all of them were on the east side of the river, and as there were no bridges in Lansing people coming from the south were obliged to ford the Red Cedar river out near the old race track east of the city, then travel on to the North

VEVAY TOWNSHI1' AND ITS HISTORY 729 Lansing settlement. When the Capitol was moved from Detroit to Lansing I had a small part in the work and helped to move the furniture for the Capitol building. "I was only about eleven years old when in 1847 I went with an uncle to trap along Puget Sound in Washington, in the employ of the Hudson Bay Company of England. My familiarity with the Indian language led to my being taken along to act as interpreter." Mr. Wolcott was extremely modest and very averse to speaking in public, but in a quiet conversation he made known the above facts, also said that the marriage of his parents was the first one to occur in Vevay Township and his mother was the first widow there. WALTERS SCHOOL. In a little pasteboard covered blank book, 6 x 8 inches in size, are found the early records of School District No. 7, Vevay Township, now known as the Walter's district. On March 25, 1854, notice of a meeting for the purpose of organizing a school district was personally served on Isaac T. Bush, John R. Bush, Silas A. Holcomb, B. B. Haliday and Myron Chalker. On April 1, 1854, with John Haliday as temporary chairman, the organization was completed and Silas A. Holcomb elected moderator, Isaac T. Bush, director, and Myron G. Chalker, assessor. Notice was then given that on April 10 a special meeting would be held "for to locate a sight for a school house and to raise a tax for to build said school house." At this meeting it was decided to buy as near Fifield's corners as possible. Voted that the size of the school house should be 22 x 24 feet, and that $180 be raised to build it with. On February 20, 1857, Silas A. Holcomb was notified by the clerk of the board of school inspectors that the district had been reconstructed to include the following boundaries: Section 16 parts of sections 21, 22, 20, 27, and he was to notify every taxpayer within those boundaries to be present at the meeting. Their names were as follows: John W. Seely, John W. Wilcox, M. J. Chalker, John R. Bush, Franklin White, Henry Robson, James Patton, S. A. Holcomb. The meeting was held at the

730 P}IONEER HISTORY OF INGHIAM COUNTY home of John R. Bush, and it was voted to establish a site on the corner of the S. W. 4 of section 16, owned by J. W. Wilcox. It was voted to purchase a site at that corner, consisting of onefourth acre, from the center of the highway, for $25. Voted to raise $200 to help pay for land and building school house, and raise that amount, or more, each year until the house and other expenses are paid. On the 27th day of April, 1857, District No. 7 entered into a contract with "Adline White, a qualified teacher in said township, the said Adline White contracts and agrees with the said school district that she will teach the primary school in said district for the term of three months, commencing on the 4th day of May, 1857, for the sum of two dollars per week, which shall be in full for her services and boarding herself." This was signed by John W. Wilcox, Director, approved by Joln W. Seely and Franklin White. When the time came for school to begin there was no school house ready, and these officials contracted with J. W. Wilcox for a log house in which to keep school that summer, the rent being fifty cents per week. The bills presented at that time have a strange sound to modern ears. "May 1, 1857. Bought 201/ pounds of pipe at one shilling a pound............................ $2.56 D o. One broom.............................20 D o. O ne cup................................10 D o. O ne pail................................50 $3.36 Acc't I. W. Phelps & Co. In the fall of that year it was voted to tax each scholar 75 cents. the coming year for the support of the school. Also the patrons of the school to furnish one-half cord of wood a scholar for the winter term of good body wood. It was about this time that D.. Smith's name was added to the district directory, and also that of Joseph Butler. The next move out of the ordinary was that the sum of $3 be raised for incidental expenses. Also that the "school house be

VEVAY T()WNSsIIIi ANDI IrTS HISTORY7 731 open and free for meetings for all denominations for Christian worship." In 1858 a librarian was added to the list of officers, and it was voted to have nine months school during the year, and that same meeting it was voted to raise two dollars for contingent expenses. R. R. Young was elected director. In 1861 a motion to build a board fence round the school house was lost. The winter school was taught by Miss "Antonett" Iorton for $2.50 per week, a fifteen week term, and the summer school in 1862 was taught by Miss Nancy D. Fuller for the princely sum of $1.25 per week. At the annual meeting in 1862 it was decided that a board fence with gates and steps for the school house be built, and later the job was let to R. V. White for $33.50. In the fall of 1864 it is found that Miss Arvilla White taught thirteen weeks for eighteen shillings per week, and Miss Mary Cornell taught three months at twenty shillings per week, and as there was not enough money on hand to pay all expenses $10.75 was raised by rate bill. The record closes with 1865, when we find that the year began with a balance of 75 cents in the treasury, but $37.74 was received from mill tax, and $10.21 for primary money. Wages seem to have been higher that winter as we find Miss Antoinette Horton received $3.75, but that summer Mary Clough taught three weeks while Mrs. Tefft taught nine weeks, and each received $2 per week, probably with the privilege of boarding round the district. VEVAY TOWNSHIP, EDEN, APRIL 26, 1922. The meeting at Eden was very enthusiastic in nature, making up in quality what it lacked in quantity, for the attendance was not what the leaders had hoped for. Mrs. Carrie Chapin was the township chairman, but on that day turned the meeting over to the county secretary, Mrs. Adams. One of the first items of business was to organize a township association, known as the Vevay Township Historical Society, and its officers are as follows: President, Mrs. Vance Douglas, Eden; vice-president, Mrs. W. H. Taylor, Mason; secretary and treasurer, Mrs. Selora Diamond, Mason, R. D.

732 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Mrs. Marie B. Ferrey, of the State Historical Commission, made one of her fervent appeals for the people to become more interested in Michigan history. Ingham county is in the lead in several lines of work, and it is up to the members of the various historical societies to see that it does not lose ground It is the first to adopt the plan of having township societies, and is well on the way, and hopes to be the first to publish a county pioneer history. Jas. H. Shafer, of Mason, gave the history of District No. 1. Its first school building was a rude 30 x 40 two-story structure made about 1835. The first teacher was Anson Jackson, and the first lady teacher Carry Hopkins. The first teacher in the graded school was Prof. Vrooman. A select school was kept in the old court house during the Civil War. Edson Rolfe gave the history of District No. 2, known as the Rolfe. Mrs. Jay Hulse told of the Kipp District. Mrs. Vance Douglas read a paper by Mrs. Van Buren telling of the Eden District. Almon Chapin read a paper written by M. W. Chapin, of Toledo, giving the story of the Chapin family. Mrs. Hodges, of Lansing, read the history of the Hubbard school as written by her mother, Mrs. Lucy Holden-Breed. V. J. Brown gave many interesting facts regarding the Hawley District, and in connection Mrs. Bowden read a paper on the Fuller Academy written by Otis Fuller. Mr. Brown has caught the true spirit for which these meetings were organized, and thinks an effort should be made to have the children attend and have a part in gathering the data to be preserved. Mrs. W. H. Taylor told of the Walters school from its beginning, and Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Vandercook added much to this that was of great interest. Mrs. Selora Diamond read a paper prepared by B. B. Noyes relative to the history of the Wilson school. Mrs. Tanswell had a remarkably well written paper on the Pink school, full of interesting facts, but a part of this had to be omitted owing to the lateness of the hour. This was the first township meeting at which every district had been represented, and the time was found to be altogether too

VEVAY TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 733 short for all the papers and the discussions which should have followed them. The next Vevay meeting will be at the call of the president. The pot luck dinner at noon was an enjoyable affair, and the music in charge of Mrs. Carrie Chapin was a pleasing feature. VEVAY. KIPP, NO. 3, FRACTIONAL. By MRS. JAY HULSE. This district being fractional, the history cannot be given without telling something of the early life in western Vevay and eastern Aurelius. The first land taken up on the Vevay side was on section 18, the patent being issued by the United States to Ormon Coe, and dated May 1, 1839, while on the Aurelius side Daniel Wilson took land from the government in section 13, under date of November 10, 1841. The S. W. 14 of N. W. 14 is the 40 acres now owned by Jay Hulse, the third one to hold a deed of this land, and he has lived there 49 years. The first school house was built in 1854 on the southwest corner of section 18 in Vevay. It was a frame building, and the seating arrangement was very unique, the pupils when reciting sat facing the back of the building with their backs toward the backs of the the other scholars. The first teacher was Miss Ruth Bateman, who later became Mrs. Bradley Matteson, and they lived all their married life in Aurelius Township. When the time came to build the school house the people of that section, and they were few in number, made a bee and cleared the woods from that corner, and Wm. Reeves, one of the residents of the district, and David Hurlbert from over on the Columbia road erected a small frame building about 16 x 18 feet in size. There were six windows, the panes 8 x 10 inches, with two doors on the south side, reached by steps made from squared logs.

734 7PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIHAM COUNTY The stove was one of the old-fashioned kind, a box stove, set in a box of sand. As far as known Mrs. Pitt Ellsworth, of Mason, is the only one now living who attended the first term of school in this building, and to the best of her recollection there were but eight or ten children who were in the school at first. No records of the district earlier than 1890 can be found, but residents of the district remember when the old building having outlived its usefulness it was decided to replace it with a new one, and about 1887 the officers of the district hired Chas. Phillips to build the house still in use. The old building was moved a few rods east of the school house lot and made into a dwelling house, and is now used as a shed on the farm of Chas. Price. The last teacher in the old building and the first one in the new one was Miss Leora Drake, of Mason, now Mrs. Dwight Cole, of Grand Rapids. The present teacher is Miss Mildred Ellison, and there are 15 pupils enrolled. The highest enrollment as far as known is 26, and the lowest 4. From the time the first school house was built until about 25 years ago religious services were held there, with Sunday school through the summer months. Elder Tallman, whom all Vevay pioneers remember, and Elder Swift, equally well known, were the principal ministers for many years. For years the roads in this district were quagmires in the spring, but now state reward roads traverse the district from east to west and north to south. The district can boast of having one factory, when E. D. Lee raised peppermint on the farm in the southeast corner of section 13 in Aurelius, which is best known to early settlers as the Wm. Brodie farm, later owned by John McRobert, and now the home of Harry Freshour. Here for two years Mr. Lee manufactured peppermint oil, but the adventure not proving a financial success it was given up. Had it been possible to have procured the books which the moderator, the late Homer Ellsworth, had kept for 35 years, a much fuller history might have been given.

VEVAY TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 735 HISTORY OF ROLFE COMMUNITY. By EDSON ROLFE. In the summer of 1836 there were three families of RolfesNathan, Ira and Benjamin. The latter, my grandfather, came to Michigan from New York and settled in Vevay Township, making the trip by boat from Buffalo to Detroit, thence by ox team, taking five days to go from Detroit to Saline, a distance of forty miles. Within a year or two three other brothers-Ephraim, Hager and Manasach-came. All settled on sections 29, 30, and 32. My father was the son of Benjamin. The first clearing was on his farm. His sister Fanny died and was buried on this farm in 1837. Her death was the first. The first school in Vevay was taught in 1840 in a log school house by Miss Lucy Page. My father married Lucy Page, daughter of Joab Page, and raised a family of seven children, four of whom are now living: Chauncy, of Lansing; Orcelia, of Jackson; Frank, of Detroit, and myself. My parents remained on this farm nearly the rest of their lives. There were no roads at this time and only a blazed trail to Mason. I have heard my father tell of carrying corn to the mill many times. The mill was in one corner of Danforth's saw mill at Mason. The state road was planked for the stage line from Jackson to Lansing. The road through the swamp to the north of us was logs and at high water they would float out and have to be drawn back in place. We made maple sugar and sometimes we would trade for store sugar, pound for pound. My remembrance is of many woods, with here and there a small clearing on the different farms, also of many ox teams and three teams of horses. Ira Rolfe, Asa Hill and D. C. Cady owned these. Most of the hay and grain were cut with a scythe and a cradle. I also have the happy remembrance of our school days when we would start for school and perhaps drift to the Rolfe creek for a day of fishing or swimming. We were sure to be home about the usual hour and no questions were asked. I think the present school system the best ever. My memory too goes back to the R. F. D. in the early days

736 7PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY when some boy would ride a horse to the post office at Eden and carry back all the mail going his way, to the coming of the mower and the reaper, later the hand binder and finally the wire binder and the binder of the present day. The mode of travel has changed from the oxen to the horses, then the high-wheeled bicycle, then the two wheeled bicycle with pedals on the front wheels, then the bicycle with the chain drive, and at last the horseless carriage. One of the first was built by R. E. Olds at Lansing. Afterward came the many styles of motor cars and trucks of today. There were wild animals in the early days. I have seen fresh bear tracks when driving the cows home, but never happened to meet up with Bruin. I have shot a number of wild turkeys, and many squirrels were here until about 1880. There have been vast changes in the township since about 1865, the time of my first remembrance of the farms and farmers. Transportation changed from ox teams to fine automobiles. Fron the weekly mails with the Rural New Yorker, the Ingham County News and the Little Corporal, to the R. F. D., which brings mail to our doors daily, and many trains each day that bring both weekly and daily papers, numerous magazines, and to supply further needs the telephone and radio. We should be thankful for having been permitted to grow up and come hand-in-hand with all the benefits and pleasures the years have brought. REMINISCENCES. Friends and Neighbors of District No. 4 and Vevay Township. Upon the occasion of your meeting to organize a Vevay Township Pioneer Association, I congratulate you upon the pleasure which the event will furnish, and regret very much that Mrs. Chapin and myself cannot be present. The story of how things came to be as they are is certainly next in interest to the question of what the outcome shall be. I have been asked to give some reminiscences of the early days of this district, but as my personal recollections commence about the end of the Civil War when the heavy blue overcoat

VEVAY TOWNSHIIP' AND ITS HISTOlRY 737 began to appear on the backs of many in tile community, I shall have to get some information from old letters which I have which will take us back to 1843 to bring us up to the time of my own memory. Then again I am handicapped, for since 1875 I have not been a resident of Vevay, but I can plead in extenuation of this absence that I have been back every year for a visit, or a call, of from one or two days to a couple of weeks, and so I have noted the coming of new neighbors and the second and third generations of old neighbors that have come on. During the dozen years preceding 1875 there appears to have been plenty of activities going on about here to keep a small boy busy-for instance the coming of the " Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw Railroad," of which I have watched every operation from the surveying to laying of rails and ballasting of the roadbed for a mile at least each -way from Eden. I doubt if the Calubra cut of the Panllama Canal would impress me more than the deep cut through the Harris farm just north of Eden. At this period of the coming of the railroad was the passing of the stage coaches, which were making their trips, with mail and passengers from Jackson to Lansing, along the state road one-half mile west of Eden. My earliest recollections are of going after the mail at Uncle Iarrison Horton's, who was postmaster, and watching the stage drive up and exchange mail, or rather the mail bag would be opened and the packet for Eden taken out and mail to be despatched put in and return the bag to the stage. With the coming of the railroad commenced the building of Eden. Geo. Curry's was the first house and a blacksmith shop across tle street was the first activities of Eden, then came a store on the corner facing south. I cannot say who opened the first store, perhaps it was S. S. Dewey, who came to Eden about this time and located on the forty acres that Almon Chapin now owns, which was then a wilderness from the corners to where the electric road runs. Another event which many will recall was the long drought of the summer and fall of 1871 (the Chicago fire year), which terminated with the burning of the forests from Leslie to Eden, Great efforts were made to stop the fire at the Laxton, Chase and our (Chapin) sugar bush, but to no avail. Well, these are comparatively recent events. Let us go back and dig up what we can of history events of eighty years ago.

738 PIONEER HISTORY OF IN(IIA (M. COUNTY I have quite a number of old family letters, from one of which I will quote, which was written March 27, 1843 (just 15 years to the day before I was born), to my grandfather and family "back in New York State" by my father, Almon Morris Chapin, my mother, Jane Pease Chapin, my Aunt Charlotte Chapin, who married Carlos Rolfe, and a few years after his death married Henry A. Hawley, of Northeast Vevay, and my Uncle Levi Chapin (whom some of you may remember visited at the Chapin homestead in 1905 after an absence of 49 years). This letter was written and mailed before the days of envelopes and postage stamps (it is hard to realize nowadays that there was such a time as no postage stamps and envelopes, isn't it?), and what was known as a single sheet letter, a 16 by 10 sheet folded to 8 by 10 pages and written on all sides except a certain portion of the back, which was then folded so that it could be directed on this blank space, and the folds sealed down on the back, making a packet about the size of an ordinary letter of today. This letter was mailed at Mason (there was then no Eden P. O.) and marked "single 122 cents." The letter seems peculiarly interesting today as it was written within a quarter of a mile of where you are assembled as it gives an outline of the condition of things all about this neighborhood as they were 79 years ago. After first noting that they had previously been advised of their safe arrival in the "land of the woods" (which was December 30th, 1842), my father, writing the first part of the letter, writes, "I have delayed writing to you thus long in hopes that I might be able when I wrote to give you some idea of the land, etc., in this vicinity, but I am still unable to do so on account of the great depth of snow with which the ground has been covered ever since our arrival here. "The winter had been such as has not before been known in this state by the oldest settler in this vicinity. Farmers (if such they may be called who live in log huts with a garden spot cleared) are generally out of hay, fodder or grain to feed their cattle, and some families lack sufficient for themselves; we have as yet had enough to eat and hope to continue to have. "Potatoes are very scarce; after riding two whole days and making inquiry for two weeks I have been able to buy twenty

VEVAY TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 739 five bushels, though money would not buy them. I was obliged to exchange the oats I had saved for seed to get them, so hard pushed for feed to keep their stock from starvation. "Our stock consists of one yoke of oxen, one cow, one hog, and Indian pony. I have not given them any hay or straw this winter, as it was impossible to buy any when we arrived even to fill our beds, but a kind neighbor gave us enough to fill them. We feed our cattle and pony tall hay as it is called here, that is, tree tops, on which they live very well; they have the lee side of a brush fence for a hovel and the clean snow for their beds; a great many cattle have died of starvation and many more must, especially on the openings, as they have not the chance of browse that we have in the woods. "My land is very heavily timbered, equal to the heavy timber of old Onondaga; the timber consists of basswood, ash, maple, bitternut, beech, whitewood, oak, elm, cherry, butternut, black walnut, etc., but no evergreens; there is not a pine or hemlock in the township. "There is a very thick growth of underbrush, altogether making very heavy clearing. The soil is a sandy loam very easy to till and I am told very productive. "They have experienced some difficulty in raising wheat on account of the heavy growth of straw, but those who raised the Hutchinson or Flint wheat last year had fine plump wheat. I have got about 12 acres chopped ready to burn and am still chopping, and hope to get 15 or 20 acres into spring crops if the spring should be favorable for burning. "There are two very fine sugar orchards on my place-the best in the woods, and we are preparing to tap 700 trees. "Levi and all the folks like the woods well, but the 8 by 10 log hut with a garret they do not relish quite as well. I have got logs to mill and shall build a frame house this spring 21 by 29, one and a half stories, with a small wood house attached. "It is said to be very healthy in this vicinity. We are four miles from Mason, the county seat, twelve miles from Eaton Rapids, and twenty miles from Jackson. "Charlotte has taught school six weeks this winter and is to teach the school in this district next summer at ten shillings per week. (Note-I do not think that he means that there was a

740 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAMr COUNTY school in this district but the Rolfe school, for my mother in her letter farther on speaks of the school house being one mile away.) "The whole vicinity are crazy about mesmerism, Millerism, end of the world, and every other 'ism that can be known or mentioned. Yours, &c Morris." A postscript is dated April 4th, 1843, in which he says: "Since the date which stands at the head of this letter we have had 18 inches of snow, but it is thawing today and although the snow is two and one-half feet deep in the woods, I think 'Old Sol' will soon drive it off. "Your letter of lMarch 19th received yest clrday and we unseal our letter to reply ro some of the matters therein. I hlave made David an offer for his land, both lots, but I see from your letter that he has sold one to Mr. Marshall. You can say to Mr. Marshall for me that this is no place for him, he would starve to death here, I am sure, as he can raise nothing next season if lie does not come until spring, and he can get neither money nor victuals for work. Yours as ever, Morris." Then comes that part of the letter written by Charlotte Chapin (to her sisters who remained at home) as throwing some light on the social activities of the times, she writes: "Dear Sisters-I did not intend to write again untill I heard from you, but I have waited untill I am tired and conclude to try again. I would like to know in what you are so much engaged to prevent you from writing-perhaps, like the people hereabouts, you expect the world to come to an end in the spring and do not think it worth while to write, but we should like to hear from Lakeville once more first. "I suppose you would like to know what we have for society here in the woods as they call it. We do pretty well, Jane goes one day (or rather night, for their calls are made from dark untill 2 o'clock) and I go the next, and we both stay at home the next to receive company, for that is the fashion and of course we must follow it. About 11 or 12 o'clock we have some pork and 'taters' and tea and then we dismiss after singing a few psalm tunes. I wish you could be here one night, you would laugh enough to last you one month I reckon. "Our first company consisted of four couples and one odd onea kind of Methodist exhorter-as we had no chairs, except those

VEVAY TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 741 we brought from home we were obliged to get out our trunks from under the bed and some blocks of wood and we did very well. Just put a stove and fourteen folks in Ma's room and you will know how much room we had to set the table, so we passed the dinner around. We have got well learned now, and get along pretty well considering. Charlotte." My mother writes the next part of the letter in which she gives some information about the house and items about their trip from New York, which was by teams from Lakeville, N. Y., they having sent their household goods by boat to Cleveland, Ohio, some time earlier before the close of navigation on the lake; from there they obtained teams to bring them through the rest of the way. I am told one set of teams and teamsters brought them to Blissfield, Mich., and another set of teams brought them on to Vevay. "You could not have pictured our log palace better if you had been here and seen it. I will tell you what the ladder is for, it is to go up garret to sleep. We get along very well, a great deal better than I had any idea we should after being used to so much room; we are as well off or better than some of our neighbours who have been here five or six years, so we need not complain. I shall not say anthing about building a house any faster than we can and not get in debt. I can live in as poor house as the rest can, as long as we have our health and good appetite as we have now. I am not much concerned but we shall get along well enough-we can eat raw turnips for apples, and they taste good. You would like to know how our provisions lasted us-we got out of bread before we got to Perrysburg, and out of chicken pies before we got to Jackson, out of pork and beans before we got home to the shanty. The dog stuck by us and eat his part and is with us yet, he is good to chase deer but don't catch any. I like the place full as well as I expected I should, or better, we have some fine folks here in the woods. "There is meeting every sabbath of some kind at the school house, which is one mile from us-a house full, I know not where they come from-out of the woods I suppose. I guess you would think so if you should see some of them. "Augusta says that if she had known what kind of a place she was coming to she would have stayed with Grand Ma, but I

742 PIONE'ER IIISTORY OF tNGI11AMI COUNTY guess she will feel better when summer comes and she can get out in the bushes. Yours Jane." Then is added a few lines from Levi Chapin "To Our Folks." "I have just come from meeting. A short time after I returned Morris came from the woods where he had been browsing his cattle, dragging after him a fine buck which he had just killed. "Tomorrow we are going to town meeting and hunting deer which are plenty here in the woods as well as turkeys, coons, and lots of other game. Levi." As a farther insight into the " Wildness" of this vicinity 80 years ago I will read an extract from a paper prepared and read by my sister, Rev. Augusta J. Chapin (the Augusta mentioned in my mother's letter) at Mason June 9, 1885, before the Ingham County Pioneer Society, giving an incident of their arrival "in the land of the woods." She says: "I looked upon those times as a little child, and in trying to recall them I find that the details of everyday life and of common things are lost to me, but certain pictures remain as vividly before my minds eye as though the actual scene was before me, among them is that of one of the pioneers-Cyrus Austin. He was a stalwart backwoodsman in his day and if he were not a mighty hunter it is such that my imagination has always portrayed him. It was in the late afternoon of the last day but one in that remembered December, 1842. We had left the old home in New York and had been traveling for weeks toward a new home that we were to make in this wilderness. We had been directed to the then famous 'Rolfe Settlement,' where the long pilgrimage was to end. We were tired and hungry. We had surely come far enough to have reached the settlement, and there was as yet no sign of human habitation near, only unbroken forest before, behind, and on every side of us. The snow was deep and only half trodden road wound in and out among the great trees of the primeval wilderness. We had not seen a human being except those of our own party for hours. Those who were driving the teams began to think we had lost our way when, suddenly, just where the road made a sharp turn to avoid a huge sycamore that stood in the way, there appeared a man who had already stepped out upon the snow to wait for us to pass. TIe looked as though he were himself a part of the wild scene. An ample cap of raccoon skin almost hid his face, and he wore a great tunic

VEVAY TOWNSI11H AND ITS HISTORY 743 shaped coat of the same. He carried a gun over one shoulder, and over the other, trailed in the snow behind him, the carcass of a deer he had just shot. IHe was asked to direct us to the 'Rolfe Settlement.' His keen eyes at once took in the whole situation. He scanned the worn teams, the battered covers of the heavily loaded sleighs, the anxious faces of the elders of the party, and the scared looks of the children. He saw that we were newcomers, withl no idea of what life in the backwoods must be, and before he could speak lie broke into a loud, ringing laugh that echoed and re-echoed through the woods as though twenty men were laughing, and then le caught lis breath and said, with a sweeping gesture towards the woods all around, 'the'Rolfe Settlement? Why, it's right here.' Sure enlough, within a f:w rods we found shelter in the hospitable home of Ira Rolfe." I do not know when tle first school house was built in this district, but my father in his letter says that Charlotte is to teach school in this district, but my mother says the school house was a mile away, so I take it that they both refer to the Rolfe school. I have no information Las to just when a school house was built in this district, only a fact that there was a school here in 1847. I have a composition written by my sister Augusta, upon which is written, "Miss Wheeler was teacher Summer 1847." The composition was "On Teaching School," and I think I will reproduce it here for your edification. "What a pleasent life leads the school teacher, nothing to do but walk around the school room from morning till night, asking questions, hearing lesson,, correcting the mischievous, rewarding the diligent, with a look of approbation, and scolding if they feel like scolding. O how I wish I were a school teacher and then I should not be obliged to write compositions, the worst of all tasks, when I do not feel like writing, and when I did not feel like learning my lessons I should be at liberty to defer them untill some other time. '0, the life of a teacher, How pleasant it is, They have nothing to do, But eat, work and live.'" (I will note that four years from this essay she was granted a

744 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY license to teach school in Vevay Township by the Inspectors of Primary Schools for the township. The inspectors were Anson Jackson, J. B. Chapin, A. E. Steele. (Jonathan B. Chapin lived in the Rolfe district, was a physician, he moved to Battle Creek, where he practiced the rest of his life; he died in 1891.) When I first attended school the school house was located where it is now (1865), but I have a very vivid recollection of having been informed that the first "red school house" was just up the hill from the "corners" opposite of where Almon Chapin now lives. When my people moved to Michigan there came with them John Bliss, a cousin, whom many of you may remember as being blind and living at Carlos Holdens about 20 or 25 years ago. He went to California in 1852 with others from this vicinity, among them Arnold Walker, of Leslie, and about the same time James Chase. I note in one of his letters that he and James Chase were rooming together in San Francisco (1853). I have several letters which Mr. Bliss wrote back to Eden, and he comments on news items which had been written to him from Eden and indirectly we get some Vevay news-for instance, some of us younger generation may think that prohibition is of recent origin-say 40 years or so back, perhaps when the Red Ribbon crusade was the craze, but note what was going on in Eden 70 years ago, he writes, "at once I am transported back to my adopted home, taking part in the spelling schools, debates, sham lawsuits and all. You say King Alcohol has been tried for murder; if he has not been sentenced to the penitentiary it would be a good idea to have the criminal code amended in this instance that he might be publicly executed. This reminds me of the Eden division of the Sons of Temperance, is it still in existence and does its good effects begin to tell on the Edenites? If my worthy brothers in the cause are not conducting themselves as they ought to, send me word." Another item in this letter (March 31, 1853), "A singing school at Hubbardville, who is the teacher,-Obid I think for I do not know of anyone else there who has a musical talent, and if he has one he must have ten." In another letter August, 1853, he says, "I think your school mam has a queer name, she is a daughter of General Jackson I suppose, look out she don't hit you." Another item in his March 31st letter, commenting upon not

VEVAY TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 745 hearing from Eden, which was getting to be one of the seven wonders, "and so it was nothing but a ball at Mason, the wonderful influence of which was to attract so many fair daughters and self-duped gentlemen who are so kind and obliging just before New Years." In this letter he also comments, "What is it that has driven so many of the Edenites in the marriage halter of late?-O, I suppose because all the deceiving ones have gone to California and left the true ones a clear field for their efforts." In his August, 1853, letter he has this to say about Michigan winters: "By this time you have harvested your wheat, drawn it into the barn, and are now mowing hay to have it in readiness for the hungry cattle when the snow lies deep on the frozen ground and the wind, howling in the wilderness, drives chilling blasts through the crevices of some rude log cabin causing its inmates to heap more logs on blazing fire and hitch up nearer to its warming influence. I am glad I have escaped one winter of snow and hope to escape more." While he was not in California for his health it is interesting to note his appreciation of its climate for a winter sojourn as so many people now find it convenient to spend their winters in California to escape the rigid weather. In March, 1854, he writes to my sister Augusta, "Really I think the idea of your studying for the ministry a good one for in my opinion women are the only true reformers." He says, "Go on with the good cause and let your name be heralded throughout the earth as a champion in the field of the downtrodden and oppressed." You will note that in Eden 70 years ago was a woman asserting herself to the right to be a minister, which was unusual in those days, as to be a woman minister was to assert woman's rights, which she was always ready to champion during her long ministerial career of 46 years, having preached her first sermon May, 1859. In connection with the admonition in the letter quoted "go on with the good cause," I would say that 40 years afterwards, June June 21, 1893, there was conferred upon her by Lombard University, Galesburg, Ill., the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity. This was the first time that any college or university had ever conferred this degree upon a woman. Since this time other colleges and universities have conferred this degree upon women,

746 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY notable among the eminent women who has had this honor was Madam, Curie, the French scientist, the discovery of radium, upon her recent visit to this country. Thus it would appear that District No. 4, Vevay Township, Ingham county, Michigan, has the distinction of having furnished the subject for the first woman D. D. in the world. I think I must bring my long informal remarks to a close by adding a few DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN observations which are having quite a run now in one of our Toledo papers. Do you remember when Mr. Sanderson had a shoe shop on the corner where Ed. Rolfe's store is now? He used to make Red, Yellow and Green topped boots for the "dandies." Do you remember when Geo. Curry was the leader of the leading dance orchestra for the country around? Do you remember when there was a tavern at Horton's Corners run by a family named Briggs? (It burned down between 1865 and 1870.) Do you remember when there was five board capped and battened, sheep and hog proof fence on the east side of the railroad along the Chapin right-of-way? (Many of us boys and girls do, for it was a stunt to see who could walk the fartherest without falling off-the cap was on about a 30 degree pitch and to be successful one must be barefooted.) Do you remember the first depot and warehouse with living quarters upstairs. A. J. Archer was the agent and postmaster at one time? (Do you remember the building was never painted?) Do you remember how you could hear the freight trains puffing for miles when they were trying to make the grade from the Harris road to Eden? Do you remember when Mr. and Mrs. Harris rode for nothing on the railroad as long as they lived, which was the price of the right-of-way diagonally across their farm? Do you remember when the town meetings were held over the store at Eden after Mason became a city? Do you remember the first cider mill in tle vicinity of Eden? It was on the Marshall farm. M. W. CIIAPIN, Toledo.

VEVAY TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 747 THE FULLER ACADEMY. By OTIS FULLER, Mason. Read at Eden April 26, 1922. In 1856 James Fuller settled with his family of nine children in Vevay Township, two miles southeast of Mason, in what is known as the Hawley school district. The oldest daughter, Emma Jane Fuller, had been favored with the advantages of a seminary and collegiate education in New York, and in 1857 she taught a select school in Mason. Her health becoming impaired, she quit teaching for several years, except a few l)rivate pupils. In 1865 she established an academic school upon the Fuller farm, which continued for ten years. In addition to the branches usually taught in the smaller high schools were French and German, and the courses in botany, chemistry, rhetoric, literature and the higher mathematics, were much more extended and thorough than in any of the high schools of that day. The primary object of the school was to afford better educational advantages for the five younger children of the family than the district or Mason schools afforded. Residents of Mason and Vevay were quick to solicit the advantages of the school and between fifty and sixty pupils were enrolled at different times from the immediate vicinity, while several came from outside counties and states. During the closing years of the school it specialized as a teachers finishing school, and many third and second grade teachers came to study for second and first grade certificates. I was told by the superintendent of the county that during one year more than half of the first grade certificates issued in Ingham county went to students of the Fuller Academy. I have no complete list of the students of this seminary, but we know that about twenty-five of them have passed to the Great Beyond. Among those living are the following: Miss Jennie Adams, Lakeview, Mich. Orlando F. Barnes, Lansing.

748 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Mrs. Nettie Barnes Knight, Columbus, Ohio. Oscar Bush, Mason. Mrs. Marie Steele Busenbark, Akron, Ohio. Mrs. Idella Steele Arnold, Akron, Ohio. Morris (Bob) Chapin, Toledo, Ohio. Mrs. Carrie Lyon Chapin, Eden. Mrs. Laura Homer Crittenden, Vevay. Mrs. Octavia Bush Dresser, New Orleans, La. Misses Mary and Louise Housel. Otis Fuller, Mason. Haven S. Fuller, Portland, Oregon. Mrs. Alice Fuller Seely, Mason. Mrs. Leora Gilpin Greene, Stockbridge. Jesse F. Gray, Jackson. Mrs. Nellie Gray Hall, Mason. Miss Kate Henderson, Mason. Willis Horton, Seattle, Wash. Mrs. Lucy Dresser Holden Breed, Lansing. Mrs. Jennie Ives Parker, Lansing. Charles Lyon, North Star. Mrs. Mary Barker Ladd, Vevay. Will Northrop, Pomona, Calif. Mrs. Annie Hawley Preston, Grass Lake. Mrs. Kate Stevens Salter, Ontario, Calif. Mrs. Clara Hawley Schurtz, Grand Rapids. Mrs. Mary Sayers Stafford, Mason. Mrs. Bell McRobert Tefft, Detroit. Mrs. Alma Clough Windiate, Holly. HUBBARD SCHOOL, VEVAY, MEETING, APRIL 26, 1922, AT EDEN. By MRS. LUCY HOLDEN BREED, Lansing. My first personal knowledge of the people in the Hubbard neighborhood of southeast Vevay was when I was called upon to take charge of the school as teacher in 1858. I went from house to house for board and lodging, as the teach

VEVAY TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 749 ers did at that time. I became acquainted with all of the pioneers who resided there, and gained a little information concerning their pioneer life. I found a choir organized, composed of Charles Holden, Elizabeth and Octavia Hubbard, Mary and Jennette Olds, and I will say, as Edgar A. Guest did in his poem, "The Choir at Pixley," only with a little variation: "The choir we had at Hubbard's was fine for looks and styles, And today if I could hear it I would walk a hundred miles." The old pioneers were Mr. Franklin Olds, Amadon Holden, Ira Iubbard, Edwin II. Hubbard, Alfred (Gallup, Mr. Burt, John Royston, C. C. Royston, Willett family and Deacon Olds. Most of the pioneers came from the state of New York, and, as in all stages of life, some were independent financially, but the majority were pIoor and had to struggle in all ways to )prepare a home and furnish food and clothing for their flamilies. Mainy times the pioneers were o(bliged to live withl some kind neighbor, while they cut down trees to procure the logs to build their houses. It required a good carpenter to put up a first-class log house. Very often the pioneers were crowded for room, but the essence of good cheer filled their hearts, as they toiled day by day. I understand that Mr. John Royston (father of Ellery Royston) blazed trees for a number of miles to prepare for roads made by the early settlers later. Many times the roads became impassable. Often a yoke of oxen hitched to a wagon would get so fastened in the mud that it required two yokes of oxen to draw them out. The neighbors kept in close touch with each other and were always willing to help in case of emergency. For water they often depended upon a neighbor who had dug a well, unless they could find a spring of clear running water near by. They made a yoke of wood to be placed over their shoulders, and suspended a pail of water from each end, carrying them very conveniently. In bringing water to the surface of the well a rope would be fastened to a pail with which to draw it up, then after a while came "The old oaken bucket, The iron-bound bucket, The moss-covered bucket, That hung in the well."

750 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM 'COUNTY A lady told me she did not have a stove for a long time. They heated the house with a built-in fireplace made of stone. A crane hung at one side with iron hooks on which to hang the iron teakettle and other kettles used in cooking vegetables and meat. When they wished to bake they would place a tin oven before the fire, and would often roast potatoes in the hot ashes. They were obliged to buy all of their fruit until their orchards began to bear. For winter use they prepared it nicely, and dried, pickled and preserved in thick syrup. In drying pumpkin, after other preparation, they would cut it around in rings then hang on small poles in the house to dry. The system of canning was not known at that time. Candles furnished the light. It was quite a pleasure in those (lays to prepare candle wicks on slender rods across small poles, then dip them in melted tallow and see them grow. Tin candle molds came next, after that kerosene oil. The changes became pleasant to the pioneer, but nothing like pressing the button now and flooding the room with electricity. Indians camped in the surrounding woods, and would occasionally appear at the door and ask for something to eat. Chief Okemos was sometimes a visitor. He was a very remarkable old Indian. Bears would sometimes be seen, and wolves would howl and often become troublesome, but the men were on guard, and they never had a death from that source. Deer were quite plentiful. The first school house in the Hubbard district was a log one, located north of Deacon Olds farm near the large willow trees. In 1852 the frame one, which now stands, was built by Deacon Olds, and many now living have spent happy and interesting hours within its walls. The first post office within reach was in Mason. Every letter received cost twenty-five cents. The one who sent the letter did not pay for it, but the one who received it did. Envelopes were not known then. The written letter was covered with white paper, doubled and fastened with sealing wax. One lady told me she gave her son, a lad of eight or nine years, twenty-five cents to get a letter she heard was in the post office. He had to walk nearly six miles, as the only team they had were oxen; he arrived in Mason, spent the money for raisins which he

VEVAY TOWNSLIl1 AND) ITS HISTORY 751 gave to some little girls of his acquaintance, and ate of them himself. Upon his return he had neither money, letter or raisins. Singing schools and spelling schools opened a way for enjoyment and were also a means of education. Sometimes it caused much merriment in spelling school to see those considered most competent fall out of line. The one who remained standing was considered a hero or heroine, for the time being. Often the teacher would appeal to Webster to help them to a seat. In 1858 church services were held in the Housel neighborhood, but later in 1865 a Sunday school was organized in the Hubbard, with Mr. Ives as superintendent. He was competent and energetic, and soon it was in a flourishing condition. A few years later the Hubbard united with the Eden, Mr. Ives remaining superintendent for some time. After his resignation George Smith of Eden continued the work, and it was through his efforts that the Eden church was built. In early autumn 1891 the Ladies' Aid was organized with six charter members. It grew rapidly and became a religious, social and financial factor in the little Eden church. We are here today to talk over old times and to bring to mind the heroic deeds of the pioneers. May we ever cherish their memory. WILSON SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 9. Some of Its Early History, the Notes for Which Were Mostly Furnished by B. B. NOYES. The very earliest remembrance of white settlers in the vicinity of what is now known as the Wilson District is of a man named Fair who had a tract of land of 900 acres and who sold off smaller tracts to various persons, which divisions now constitute the Whipple, Brooks, Deyo, Aseltine and Garrison farms, and perhaps some others. It seems to have been the ambition of Mr. Fair to have the county seat located on his tract, a log building being erected

752 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY thereon for the purpose of holding court, but for some cause no court sessions seem to have been held there; sometimes they held a justice's court at Hiram Parker's, but these were later held in Mason in a building used for a hotel until the Mason court house was built. The Wilson school was so named because F. L. Wilson owned and operated a saw mill near the place where the school house was erected, and also because Mr. Wilson was the contractor who built it. The first school meeting was held some time in 1868 in a rude shanty put up by B. B. Noyes on his place as a temporary dwelling, and at this meeting a committee was appointed consisting of Elijah Brooks, F. L. Wilson and B. B. Noyes to select and provide a site and build a school house. Tie land was finally purchased of Luke Aseltine for $50, a bond for this amount drawing 10 per cent interest, being given him as late as January 16, 1872, signed by F. L. Wilson, director, Christopher Johnson, assessor, and William H. Ames, moderator. This bond was sold to John Rayner February 13, 1872, and is still in possession of the district. The first school was taught in the dwelling house of B. B. Noyes (where the meeting had been held) by Mrs. Henry Hawks, for 12 shillings per week-instead of $105 per month-and Mrs. Hawks boarded herself at that! Several terlrs of four months each were taught by her, there being an average attendance of something like 20 children. Mr. and Mrs. Hawks owned the 80 adjoining the Noyes farm on the west, so she had but a short distance to go, as the Noyes "shanty" stood under a big maple, which is still there, only a few rods east of where their present home is now located. The first settlers in the Wilson District were L. S. Bates and B. B. Noyes and their wives, who came in 1865. The next year there followed a number of families-Elijah Brooks', John Diamond's, George and Aaron Garrison's, Fred Sipley's, Joseph Worden's, Andrew McCormick's, John Strope's, Peter and Luke Aseltine's, Dennis Wright's, Christopher JohnsoIn's and Wilson B. Hicks', all of whom took up their abode in this wilderness, there being over 3,000 acres of land with the timber so thick on it that the only direction anyone could look and see any distance was straight up!

VEVAY TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 753 When these early settlers went anywhere they traveled in groups over blazed trails by sound rather than sight, as those going on ahead would "halloo" to those in the rear so they would not get lost. Wild deer and various other wild animals and fowl were quite abundant, the champion hunter of them all in those days being Luke Aseltine, who kept the settlers fairly well supplied with all sorts of game, wild honey and wild turkeys, bringing in as many as six wild turkeys at a time. One day as B. B. Noyes was looking for cowslip greens he put his hands on a large tree limb which was bent almost to the ground, intending to jump over it, when a big black bear jumped out from somewhere beneath it, gave a sniff and a "woof" and "loped" off to the east, while Mr. Noyes gave a snort and a 3yell and "loped" off to the west! Mud Creek was full of fur-bearing animals such as mink, muskrat, otter and coon, these being trapped by the hundreds by John Buzzell, who lived in a frame house where the brick now stands on the Dudley farm. Good mink skins then brought as high as $10 apiece; otter, too, sold high, but muskrat skins sold for 30 cents, and coon skins were not very valuable. This land cost in those days but $6.25 per acre, while now it is worth from $100 to $125 per acre. William Barker, who with his wife came to the settlement shortly after those already mentioned, probably cleared off more of this land than any one man. One incident of which I have heard Mother Diamond speak was that when she and other women would go across the "flats" they often had to take off their shoes and stockings and wade through the water, wiping dry afterward, then resume their footwear that they might look presentable. The men were saved this bother as they wore boots and waded right through. Mother Diamond also told of the long distance which they had to go for water, their supply being carried from a spring on the Hurd farm, which was a good half mile from their home. The water was carried two buckets at a time, a balancing pole being placed across the shoulders with a pail suspended from each end. Another item of interest was this: One day Mr. Noyes plowed up some arrow heads and a piece of Indian pottery. A little later he met Chief Okemos, who, with his braves was camped,

754 P'IONEER HISTORY OF' IN.GIIAtM COUNTY as was their custom, on a knoll in the Rayner marsh, and telling Okemos about his find was told by the Indian that he had hunted all over the land for miles around here as long as 75 years before that. The only settlers of this district who now survive are: B. B. Noyes, who still lives on his farm; Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Wilson, in Detroit; Mr. and Mrs. Wilson B. Hicks, in South Dakota; Mrs. Luke Aseltine, living with her son Charley, and Mrs. L. S. Bates, who is living at the Masonic Home in Alma, Mich. Several factories had their day, followilg the saw mill period, namely, hoop, cheese box and wash board, but the most interesting of these (I might also add the most useful, perhaps) was the wash board, as some were made of glass as well as wood. This factory was finally Imoved to Saginaw, where it proved very successful. Those now living who were interested in that are Henry Williams, of Mason; Aleck Bush, of Ann Arbor, and F. L. Wilson, whom, as I have stated before, lives in Detroit. It was amidst the surroundings already described that the lives and education of Louise, Carrie and George Sipley, George and Bertie Hawks, Everett and Florence Ames, Rosie, Alfred and Lucy Aseltine, Emmett and Walter Ellison, Lula Noyes, Huldah and Melissa I-Iawkins, Icy Johnson, Em1ily Camr, Robbie Almon, Carl and Allie Wilson, Freddie Searl, Elina Palmer, Elmer Stroup and Emma, Ella, Cassie amd Lelia Worden began, all of whose names appear, as here given, uplon the first school register which has been preserved, its date being 1872, The names of the teachers who followed Mrs. Hawks according to this register were: Dora Davis, IL. Jennie Ryan, Eva C, Bremer, Eliza Bolles, Kate E. Phillips, Mame Norton, J. L. Fuller, Nellie Olds and A. E. Williams. Many exciting tales could doubtless be told of those early days in the Wilson district school had we but have had them all handed down to us, but meager as arc the facts hereinl delineated they serve to show us at what cost and effort and with what wisdom and forethought the fathers and mothers of that day went about their duties to their children; and we of this generation should never allow their efforts to be made light of nor the work of our schools to be belittled since the public school is an institution second only to home in its possibilities for good.

VEVAY TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 755 THE CHIAPIN FAMILY, EDEN, VEVAY TOWNSHIP, MICH. Compiled by F. L. A. The Chapin family and its part in the history of the conuty is one that is deserving' of more than passing notice, and that it had its part in the earlier history of the United States is shown by the following brief story: Deacon Samuel Chapin and eight sons settled in Chicopee, Mass., about the middle of the seventeenth century. Levi Chapin, one of these sons, was born in Chicopee, April 3, 1787, where he grew to manhood and became a prominent factor in the growth of the business interests in his own and adjoining states. He built the first cotton factory in Chicope)c, and conlstructed tlhe upper ten locks on the 1Blackstone canal, between Worcester, Mass. and Providence, R. I. In 818 lie went to Onondaga county, N. Y., as contractor for publ})ic works in tlhat state and in Canada. In the fall of 1814 he canme to Vevay Township in Ingham county, snd settled on the farm since owned by W. H. Horton, and ran a hotel on the Jackson-Lansing road. He died January 10, 1867. Almon Morris Chapin, eliest son of Levi, was born at Chicopee, November 28, 1810. I-le graduated from the Oniondaga Academy and the Skaneateles Seminary, and later studied medicine. After clerking for a while in Rochester, N. Y., lie went into business at Lakeville, Livingston county. On July 8, 1835. he married Jane Pease, of Livonia, N. Y. In Decelmber, 184e, he came to Michigan and settled on the farm in Vevay TownIship, which the family still owns. HI-e sen:t his tools and goods b)y water to Detroit, while lie and his wife and four small children, his brother Levi, Jr., and sister Charlotte, later MNrs. Carlos Rolfe, drove through being eighteen days on the journey. They came in a large covered wagon equipped with both wheels and runners, as the chances were that they would need one as much as the other before the trip was ended. They came through Buffalo, Erie, Cleveland, Toledo, Blissfield, Adrian and Jackson to the Rolfe settlement. They stayed with

756 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAMI COUNTY Ira Rolfe the first night, then moved into an empty log house next to their farm. They had just got in and built a fire when the top logs slid off and the roof fell in, and Charlotte had a narrow escape from death. The neighbors rallied and helped repair the house and had a new roof on in two days. Several old letters are in possession of the family, and in one mention is made of a new house to be built. This became a veritable fact the coming summer, and the family moved into it that fall. The same building is now a part of the house where the succeeding generations of the Chapin family have since lived. Mr. Chapin was never a strong robust man, and was entirely unused to manual labor, but his perseverance behind tie pioneer spirit with which he was endowed enabled him to become a successful home builder. He loved trees and flowers, and made home a pleasant and comfortable place for his children. IIe was distinguished for his mental endowments and culture. Was a wide reader, had taught at times and instructed his children in language and mathematics. He held various offices in the township, also in the Ingham County Pioneer Society, the Ingham County Agricultural Society, the Farmers' Club, and was for some time secretary of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company of Ingham county. To Mr. and Mrs. Chapin were born eleven children. He was a member of the Universalist church, and when he died in 1878 Rev. Stocking, of Lansing, conducted the funeral services. Charlotte, of whom mention has been made, first married Carlos Rolfe, and after his death became the second wife of Henry Hawley, one of Ingham county's most prominent pioneers. Augusta M. Chapin, mentioned in the pioneer letters given, gained a name of renown both in this country and in Europe. She came from New York to Michigan with her parents when a child, and her recollections of her life in the wilderness are told in an address she gave before the Ingham County Pioneer Society and which appears in full in the reports of the annual meetings. She grew to womanhood in the little hamlet of Eden, Vevay Township, on the Chapin homestead. Her death occurred in New York city in 1905, just a few hours before the time she was to sail for Europe as a conductor for a

VEVAY TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 757 touring party, a branch of work she had been engaged in for some years. Her obituary as found in the records of the Pioneer Society of Ingham county tells best of her life and the various activities in which she was engaged. Rev. Augusta Chapin, D. D., died of pneumonia at St. Luke's Hospital, New York city, June 30, 1905, after a short illness of one week. Her brother, M. W. Chapin, of Toledo, Ohio, was with her at the time of her death. The remains were brought to the Chapin homestead at Eden, where funeral services were conducted by Dr. Stocking, of the Universalist church of Lansing, and interment made in Maple Grove Cemetery in Mason. Miss Chapin was a descendent, in the eighth generation, from Deacon Samuel Chapin, who emigrated from Wales and settled in Springfield, Mass., about 1625. From this faraway ancestor, who sought a home in what was then almost a wilderness, she may have inherited some of the strength of purpose that made her what she was. She was born in Lakeville, Livingston county, N. Y., July 16, 1836. At the age of six she moved with her father, the late Almon M. Chapin, and family to what is now known as Eden, which she has ever since called home. She was a student of Olivet College and of the University of Michigan, from which last named institution she received the degree of Master of Arts. Dr. Chapin began preaching in 1859, was regularly fellowshipped as a minister of the Universalist church in 1861, and was ordained in Lansing in 1863. Since her ordination she has been engaged in missionary and pastoral work. Her principal settlements have been Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Chicago, San Francisco, Iowa City, New York and Lansing. Before beginning her ministerial work she was principal of the North Lansing Union School for one year. Dr. Chapin held the honorable position of chairman of the woman's general committee on religious congresses in the congress auxiliary of the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, and gave to this work many months of devoted attention. Her chief service consisted in securing competent women to take part in the great Parliament of Religions, in promoting the congresses of the various Christian denominations, and of many important

758 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM ICOUNTY religious societies of women. She also officiated as chairman of the woman's committee in her own church. In recognition of her attainments and work, Lombard University, in June, 1892, conferred upon her the degree of Doctor of Divinity, the first woman in the world to receive this title. Dr. Chapin's services have been much sought for in the lecture field, in which her topics were chiefly English literature and art. She held the appointment of extension lecturer on English literature for the University of Chicago, and non-resident lecturer on literature and art for Lombard University, Galesburg, Ill. She was a member of many societies of women, among which may be mentioned the Sorosis of New York city, King's Daughters, the Chicago Woman's Club, and the Women's Christian Temperance Union. Dr. Chapin very freely shared with her old friends and acquaintances the experiences of her life, and her addresses before the Ingham County Pioneer Society, the Inghanm County Farmers' Club and other organizations were always listened to with great pleasure. The Chapin farm became well known throughout the country because of the fact that J. W. Chapin, a son of Almon Chapin, developed on it the largest sugar bush in the state of Michigan. It is a far cry from the charmingly primitive "sugar bush" of fiction to the business-like proposition of modern farm life. but it is safe to say that not even the most advanced agriculturist elsewhere has a trolley line and telephone connection from his residence to his sugar bush, as has J. W. Chapin of Eden (1912). Eden is a little hamlet four miles south of Mason, and the Chapin estate of 360 acres, which has been in the family for many years, is the largest farm for many miles around. The Lansing-Jackson branch of the Michigan United Railway runs through the farm, passing close to the house and also the sugar bush one-half mile away. A private telephone line runs from the sugar house to the residence, and a switch here gives connections with all the neighboring towns. The Jackson-Saginaw branch of the Michigan Central Railroad is only a few rods away on the opposite side of the house from the M. U. R. Mr. Chapin now taps 2,200 trees every season, producing from 6,000 to 9,000 pounds of syrup and sugar each year. This is

VEVAY TOWNSLSII' AND ITS HISTORY 759 shipped to private parties all over the country, most of whom have standing orders for their year's supply. As proof of the quality of his products Mr. Chapin shows medals won by his exhibit at the St. Louis Exposition and a diploma received at the Pan-American. The sugar orchard comprises 80 acres of a 140 acre wood lot, and besides the service they have given the Chapin family for seventy years there is proof that they yielded their sweetness for the benefit of the Indians long before the advent of the white men. The remains of bark troughs and wooden spiles, with the added evidence of the scars to be found on the mammoth great trees, go to show that the red man had knowledge of this valuable asset and made use of it. It is said that the Indians made pilgrimages to this part of the county every spring, where they camped through the maple sugar season and "milked" the numerous sugar bushes in this vicinity. The crude methods they employed in manufacturing the sugar, which was said to be black and full of leaves and twigs, were of course the best they knew, and it makes one wonder what their sensations would have been could they have taken a peep into Mr. Chapin's modern and model sap house and watched the work done there. Let us see how this plant was conducted in 1913. The work began early in the winter when the men commnenced to fill the huge shed at the sugar camp with wood ready to feed the furnaces. Then the first warm day that promised spring began the work of tapping the trees. Iron spouts were driven into holes previously bored in the trees about three feet from the ground. On these were hung tin sap pails, with wooden covers so adjusted as to exclude everything but the pure, limpid sap. The larger trees carry two or three pails. Two teams are kept busy gathering sap, each drawing a steel tank holding several barrels of the fluid, and three men work with each outfit. The tanks are mounted on runners, as they are more practical for use in snow and mud than wheels. Deep snow often makes the work of gathering sap very difficult. The sugar house contains two 20-foot evaporators, with 25-foot smokestacks, and to attend to the fires and watch the boiling sap keeps one man busy. The teams bring the sap to an elevation beside the sugar camp, where it is emptied through a hose into big 50-foot barrel tanks.

760 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM 'COUNTY From this supply a constant stream flows into the shallow pans of the evaporator. These pans are about 2 x 5 feet in size, and are connected with each other by tubing at the ends, so that the boiling sap is kept constantly circulating. After making the circuit of the first evaporator it is piped to the other. The furnace man's chief anxiety is to boil down the sap as soon as possible after it is brought in, as the making of the finest qualities of syrup demands that the sap be gathered once a day or oftener, and used immediately. Openings in the roof of the sugar house allow clouds of steam from the boiling pans to escape. When the syrup reaches the proper consistency it is strained and allowed to settle. It is then carried to the house where its density is determined by the hydrometer, after which it is sealed in gallon and half gallon tin cans, each bearing the makers name and certified as to its purity. For sugar the syrup is boiled again then molded into five pound cakes. The output depends on the length of the season, which is never two years alike. Extremely cold weather changing rapidly to warm spring weather oftentimes starts the buds on the trees and makes a very short season. Work in the sugar bush does not stop when the sap ceases to run, as then the thousands of pails and spouts, together with the tanks and evaporating pans must be overhauled and scalded, then packed away to await the next season's run. Five years later sees this all changed. In 1914 Mr. Chapin was working with a hay fork in his barn when the machine fell and struck him, and death followed instantaneously. Mr. Chapin, in addition to conducting this sugar bush mentioned, worked about 200 acres of farm land in a superior manner, and was considered an authority on all matters of an agricultural nature. After his death Mrs. Chapin and the son who remained home found the farm land all they could attend to, and when the fuel shortage struck the county in 1918 the City of Lansing bought the wood lot, which included the sugar bush, to supply its municipal wood yard, and this wonderful landmark containing trees centuries old went up in smoke. This was a blow to the maple sugar industry in Ingham county, which was augmented by the sale of several other good-sized, well-known sugar orchards in this vicinity which went for the same purpose, among them the

VEVAY TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 761 one of the Fuller farm, which was also known to the Indians, and had yielded annual sugar crops for as long a time as the one on the Chapin farm. Mrs. Chapin's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Asher Lyon, came to Vevay in an early day from Geneva, N. Y. Mr. Lyon died some years ago in Gratiot county, where he had lived for some years, but Mrs. Lyon and their eleven children are still living, and recently held a family reunion at the Chapin home in Eden, beneath the original forest trees that surround the old homestead. Since the death of Mr. Chapin in 1914 Mrs. Chapin has conducted the large farm very successfully, and last spring was elected justice of the peace for Vevay, on the Republican ticket, over her oldest son who ran against her. Like his father, J. W. Chapin was active in the work of the Ingham County Agricultural Society, the Farmers' Club and the County Pioneer and Historical Society; in the latter societies Mrs. Chapin has held offices several times. Besides his widow, Mr. Chapin was survived by six children: Almon M., named for his grandfather, owns a farm adjoining the old homestead; Alice, who graduated fron the State Normal College at Ypsilanti and the University of Pennsylvania, later taking post graduate courses at Columbia and Harvard Universities. She has taught for a number of years, a part of the time being in charge of the physically deficient children in the Detroit schools and in those of Minneapolis, Minn. She is now superintendent of an extensive Settlement House in Minneapolis which is supported by the wealthy people of that city. Julius, a graduate of M. A. C., for some years county agricultural agent in various parts of the state, but now engaged in business for himself in Traverse City, Mich. Ethel, for many years a teacher in St. Johns, now taking a course in a Nurses Training School in Chicago University. Warren, employed in Detroit. Martha, a graduate of Ypsilanti Normal and Olivet College, now teaching. The Chapin family was one of the first in this section to establish a state game refuge on their land, which is kept up in strict accordance with the law.

762 PIONEER HISTORY OF ING IIAM COUNTY MASON IN 1863. MICHIGAN STATE GAZETTEER. Mason is a flourishing incorporated village of Ingham county, of which it is the seat of justice, beautifully situated in the center of a rich farming district, on the Jackson and Lansing stage route, 13 miles south from Lansing, 25 north from Jackson, and 95 west from Detroit. Fare $3.75. The village enjoys a thriving trade, and is steadily increasing, the present population being 500. It las a weekly paper, the "Ingham County News," published every Thursday by by I). B. Harrington, at $1.00 per year; one church, Methodist Episcopal, and one Masonic lodge. The village also contains twelve stores, two hotels, a steam flour mill, one steam and one water saw mill, an iron foundry and manufactory of potash. Goods are shipped from Detroit to Mason by the Michigan Central Railroad via Jackson. A daily mail is received. Postmaster, Peter Linderman. LIST OF PROFESSIONS, TRADES, ETC. Barnes, Orlando M.-lawyer. Beech, J. & Co. (Jesse and Ira TI. Beech)-iron foundry. Chase, Oscar F., Rev.-Methodist. Darling, C. C.-cabinet maker. Davis, R. H.-physician. Donnelly, Henry J.-hotel. Dunsback & Co. (John Dunsback and William VanVrankin)general store. Griffin, Almira-milliner. Guy, G. E. & Co. (George E. Guy and John Coatsworth)general store. Hall, Robert-cabinet maker. Halstead, David W.-physician. Handy, Alfred, Rev.-Baptist. Harrington, David B.-editor and proprietor "News." Helms, Luke H.-ashery. Henderson, Henry L.-lawyer.

\ \YEVAY TOWNSIhIP AND ITS IISTORY 763 Henderson, Perry-flouring mill and distillery. Horton, Isaac-livery stable. Hughes, Phoebe —milliner. Huntington, Collins D.-boots and shoes. Huntington, George M.-lawyer. Kent, Reuben-druggist. Kittridge, Hosea, Rev.-Presbyterian. Linderman, Peter-general store. Northrup, Thomas-justice of the peace. O'Toole, Patrick W.-physician. Parker, Levi C.-blacksmith. Peck, David-mason. Peck, Erastus-lawyer. Peck, P. R.-carpenter. Phelps, John W.-physicialn. Phelps, J. W. & Co. (John W. 'Phelps and Peter Low)-druggist and hardware. Polar, George W.-boot and shoe dealer. Rogers, Hiram D.-hotel. Sackridge, Charles H.-physician. Spencer, John E.-saw mill. Stanton, Edwin-lumber dealer. Steele, Amos E.-justice of the peace. Sweet, Martin A.-grocer. Teal, W. A. & Co. (Whitfield A. Teal and William H. Smith)carriage makers. True, M. D.-carpenter. Tubbs, Andrew-carpenter. Tubbs, William-cooper. Tubbs, William C.-cooper. Tyler, Jesse J.-physician. Tyler, John M.-blacksmith. Wheeler, J. L. & Co. (Jerome L. Wheeler and Egbert E. Keeler)-general store. Willett, Jacob, saw mill. Worden, S. H.-saloon. Wright, William-carriage maker. Pratt, Horatio-lawyer. Rea, Charles H.-harness maker. Rhodes, Philip-boot and shoe maker and dealer.

764 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY MASON NOTE. July 17, 1873-Ingham County News, Mason, Mich. S. P. Stroud, of this village, has just completed and put in running order a splendid new hearse, which is a credit to the town. He has built the body of it entirely himself, and estimates the cost at $300, but some say they have seen hearses that cost $500 that were not as handsome and well built. The glass in it cost $67.50; the fringe $7, and the handles and hinges to the doors $6.25. The iron work was very tastily and well done by John Hemans, and the painting by Mr. Hall of the firm of Rhodes and Hall. It is built after the latest style, with large oval windows on the side so that almost the entire coffin can be seen on occasions when it is used. It is so arranged with a roller near the back door and a truck that runs from one end to the other inside the hearse that the heaviest coffin can be put in or taken out easily. The fringe, which hangs a little ways down below the top of the windows on the inside is very heavy and handsome. The hearse can be used with either one or two horses. We feel that we can with perfect truthfulness say that there are very few places in this state outside of the largest cities that afford so elegant a hearse as Mason. Of course we can't hope that Mr. Stroud will have lots of patronage to repay him for the energy and enterprise he shows in getting up such a hearse, but we hope he will receive a due proportion of such patronage as the unfortunate losers of their friends must bestow on someone. VEVAY NOTES, APRIL 14, 1873. By MRS. MARY LINDERMAN HAMMOND. The various articles regarding Ingham county history which have appeared lately have set me to thinking that I might be able to add a little regarding the early settlement of Mason. My father, Peter Linderman, came here in the summer of 1836

VEVAY TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 765 and located land on section 4 of Vevay, the farm north of the village now known as the Russell farm. He cut out the first road leading to that place and built a house, bringing the doors and windows from Ann Arbor. Our nearest neighbor north of us was Mr. Scott, twenty-five miles away. We did not see these neighbors very often, but heard of them frequently, as hardly a night passed but our house was filled with men looking for land. When I first saw Mason there were, I think, twenty acres chopped, two log houses and a saw mill being built. Mr. Lacy and Mr. Blain, with their families, were the only white people living here. Mr. Danforth came soon after and took charge of affairs as agent of the village. During the winter the saw mill was finished, and in the spring of 1837 the school house was built. School commenced, I think, in June. Miss Lucy Rolfe was the first teacher, and received one dollar per week. There were eight pupils. The Indians often came to visit our school and wondered what we were doing. The first night I stayed in Mason there were several hundred Indians encamped near where the court house now stands. The first circuit preacher was a Mr. Jackson, who preached one year. The first Presbyterian church was organized in 1839 by the Rev. Mr. Childs, of Albion. The first settled pastor was Rev. F. P. Emerson, who stayed some three years. Dexter was our nearest post office and store or grocery. I can remember in the spring of 1837 that my father was appointed justice of peace, and he had to go to Jackson to qualify. All the road that then existed was an Indian trail. The county at that time was divided into two or four townships. Settlers came in fast, and Mason soon became a thriving village. I can still pick out the old landmarks and see the changes that are being made for the better. My mother and myself are the only ones living here now that were here when we came.

766 PIONEER HISTORY 01 l1NGIIA S COI NTY PLOWING MATCH ON GRIFFIN FARM IN 1875. Many Old Residents Should Recall This Story. First Premium Went to P. Lundy. Best Work Was Done by Three Horse Team. The questions sent out each month by the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical Society have apparently aroused an interest in the history of the county as much valuable data, with some pictures, books and early day documents have been received by the Secretary of the society. Stories and reports are being put in form for publication as rapidly as possible. In the "Ingham County New-s" for July 1, 1875, is a detailed account of a plowing match held on land owned by Mr. Griffin, lying about one mile outside the city. It is a long story, but those of the present generation may be interested in learning a few of the facts connected with a game in which the farmers of that day entered into with great enthusiasm. The land laid out was grass land, uneven and hilly, a clay loam hard and dry, and plentifully supplied with stones. The lands were laid out 24 feet wide and 25 rods long, enough for 20 furrows. There were 10 entries, one for a three horse team, with a variety of plows, all in charge of a committee from the Ingham County Farmers' Club, under whose auspices the match was conducted. Great stress was laid on the depth of the furrows and the appearance of the finished work. The first premium went to P. Lundy, the second to Jas. Graham, and the third to J. Beck. It was conceded that the best work was done by a three horse team, but this could not be allowed to compete with a two horse team, so no prize was given. Iow many residents of Mason today saw this plowing match, or can tell of others held in this vicinity? An amusing story of early days has been handed down, which relates to the time when this section was an almost unbroken forest. In those days it was nothing unusual for any settler to forage for timber on government lands, should he find any he wanted to use. It is told that one settler had taken up a large territory of government land which it would have been impossible

VEVAY TOWNSHI' AND1) ITS HlISrTORY 767 for him to describe or locate without the assistance of a surveyor. Just at that time there was a growing delnand for black walnut timber, a boon to the settler in possession of walnut trees, and the money they brought was many tines a veritable Godsend. A pIioneer who understood the art of surveying one (lday said to the land owner mentioned, "Say, I kllnow where there are some fine walnut trees a, few nmiles out, and if you will take your ox teamn and help get thlem out we will divide tle p)rocctds." The other pioneer entered into this pla,n. most heartily and thley started. After cutting a road for c long wl y throadugh the lwoods they calme to the li;'ce tree;s the surveyor llad des;cribed, logg'ed them and received al tidly sullln 'o' the lumlber. A f -ew years later the land owner took n. tril) over his l)oss;e.siolls, andlll one d.ay ca(lle to a place that, looked very ifaliliar to hill, so the story goes,,alnd after some ilvestigation camie to thle conclusion that this was where lie and his; neighbor had done their wa-clnut loeging. Ile returned home, sought out the other man, ajnd said, "Say, who owned the land where we cut those trees for which you received half the money?" and the man replied, "Why that was on your land." lie often told the joke tlle surveyor had on himll. EARLY HIISTORY OF VEVAY. By AIvIN ROLFE. In telling of the early dalys of Vevlwy, Alvin Rolfe, in 1873, gave the followincg dlata: If I colld w-ield the pen of a ready wTriter, I should like to nse it in giving a short history of the townslhip of Vevay. Being a pIioneer andc seeing now anld then a piece written by a pioneer, I am induced to tell somle of my recollections. In 1834 my father, Benjamin Rolfe, and family moved from Thetford, Orange county, Vt., to (Genesee ounty, N. Y. They stayed thlere until June, 1836, thenii moved to Michigan. They started from Betlhany on Thursday and reached Detroit Sunday morning, cominig on the boat Thomas Jefferson. It was the tine of the great Junle freshet, which many will remember. Thle country from Detroit to Ann Arbor was covered with w-ater. It took us from Monday nmorning until Friday night

768 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COIUNTY to get to Saline, Washtenaw county, a distance of forty miles, and which can be covered now in two hours. We came from Saline to Jackson, and stopped there until we looked up land, which was in Vevay Township, Ingham county. We went to the land office in Kalamazoo and took up the land, paying $100 for 80 acres. We started from Jlacklson on oMonday morning, cut our way to Vevay, fording Grand river. We built a shanty on the place I now live on. This was the first blow struck in this part of the town, July, 1836. Michigan at that time was a territory. In the winter of 1837 it was admitted as a state. The first time I went to Mason there was a small piece chopped on the section line, where the I)onnelley Houlse now stands, by E. B. Danforth. The next spring he sowed it to turnips, raising the largest I ever saw. Our nearest saw alnd grist mill wias at Jackson. Some would like to know how we got along without lumber to build with. For floors we cut nice basswood and split them into plank, "spotted" them on the under side and laid them down as even as we could, then adzed them off, which made quite passable flooring. For roof we peeled bark. For gable ends we split shakes. The first lumber we had we got in Jackson, to make a coffin for a sister of mine. She died April 7, 1837. I think she was the first person who died in the town. The first marriage was Jasper Wolcott and Harriet Sergeant. She is now the wife of Edwin Hubbard. The first birth in the township was Nelson Wolcott, son of Jasper Wolcott. The first saw mill built in the county was by E. B. Danforth. A man by the name of Lacy took the job in the summer of 1836. The first grist mill was started by Mr. Danforth, who got a pair of mill stones-about 20 inches in diameter-set them in the corner of his saw mill and propelled them by the bull wheel of the mill. Many a bag of corn have I carried on my back from my place to Mason, without any road, to get it ground. The first road we had from my place to Mason was cut in 1837. When Deacon Barnes moved to Aurelius those were times that tried men's souls. It was just after General Jackson vetoed the United States Bank and removed the United States deposits, which caused a panic and many hard times. Good money was not to be found. All the money we had was "wild cat" and was

VEVAY TOWNSIIIP AND ITS HISTORY 769 not worth the paper it was printed on. There are some who remember those times. It was all the money we could get in 1836-37. Our neighborhood extended 30 or 40 miles. We often went great distances to raisings. The hardest raising I ever went to was four miles north of Mason. It was a saw mill of Mr. Lewis, father of Nicholas Lewis, our townsman. The place was then called Jefferson. We got the mill up about dark, and got home at two o'clock in the morning. Folks of this day know nothing of hard times. If they had to pay 10 bushels of wheat for one axe, $?25 for a barrel of flour, $40 for a barrel of pork, $2 for oats, 22 cents a pound for fresh pork, and 50 cents for butter, and other things in proportion, with money that would not hold its own over nighlt, they might cry hard times. In 1895 MIr. Rolfe made some additions to the foregoing story that are of enough importance so that it seems wise to add them to the first story written in 1873. He tells that he was born August 31, 1820, and his wife, Lucy Page was born February 22, 1825, and they were married October 26, 1843. As he has already told the family went to Lansing in 1844 to repair a mill which the men of the family run until the Capitol was located there. He says: The first lumber we used was bought in Eaton Rapids and rafted down the river. The first frame house built in that city was on the block where the Franklin House, formerly the Seymour House, now stands. The first Fourth of July celebration was held at lower town in 1845 when the first liberty pole was raised. There were not white men enough to raise the pole so the Indians assisted. There were plenty of Indians in that section at that time. The first white child born within the city limits was W. Marshall Pease, son of George and Orselia Pease, on July 4, 1845. The first white woman who settled in the township of Lansing was a sister of mine. She settled there in 1838, and buried three husbands, J. E. North, Geo. Chapel and Alexander McKibbin. She died in March, 1893. The first death in the city was that of John W. Burchard, who was drowned in Grand river. The first hotel conducted was at North Lansing, and it was the log house so often mentioned in early history. It was a hotel, boarding house, law and justice office. The first election held

770 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY within the city limits was held in this house in 1847. Joab Page was elected supervisor, Isaac C. Page, clerk, Geo. D. Pease, treasurer, Alvin Rolfe, constable, and R. P. Everett, justice of the peace. The first school taught in the city was in May, 1847, by Eliza Powell, now Mrs. John N. Bush. It was kept in a board shanty in lower town, near where the school house now stands. The first sermon preached in the city was by Elder Coburn in the log house previously mentioned. Mr. Coburn was a brother-in-law of Dr. W. II. Haze. The next preacher was Rev. Orrin Whitmore, who preached in the first frame house built in Lansing, which was an addition to the far famed log house. This building was used for a number of purposes, as a dwelling, boarding house, hotel and church. It was also used as an office by the State Commissioners appointed to locate the Capitol and as a court room by Joab Page, who was the first justice of the peace in the city of Lansing. The first postoffice was established in 1847, with George W. Peck as postmaster. The second fatal accident to happen in the city was when a man by the name of Coats went over the dam and was drowned. The next victim was Daniel Clapsadle, who put up a hotel in what was called upper town and known as the National Hotel. While raising his barn a bent fell and killed him. When I came to Michigan and then to Ingham county in 1836 it was a dense forest, and I have lived to see it become one of the grandest counties in the state. The first bridge built over Grand river was on Main street, built by Bush and Thomas. The next was on Franklin street, built by James Seymour in 1847. The first brick building put up in the city was called the Benton House, built by Bush & Thomas. The brick was manufactured in lower town by a man named Beal, in 1847. The first grist mill was built by Alvin Hart, E. B. I)anforth and Hiram TI. Smith, in 1848. Joab Page and his son-in-law helped build it. The first man who settled in Ingham county was David Rogers, of Stockbridge. The first to settle in Aurelius was Reuben R. Bullen; Alaiedon, James Phillips; Bunkerhill, David Fuller; Delhi, Frederick Luther; Ingham, Marcus Beers; Leroy, Ephraim Meech; Leslie, Elijah Woodworth; Locke, David Phelps; Meridian,

V EVAY To()\NSIIP AND ITS HISTORY 771 a man named Marshall; Onondaga, Oliver Booth; Vevay, a man named Rolfe; Wheatfield, David Gorsline; White Oak, Daniel Dutcher; Williamston, Hiram and Joseph Putnam. The first town organized was Stockbridge, March 26, 1836. The second was the west half of Ingham county, called Aurelius, in March, 1837. The first settler in the township of Lansing was Joseph E. North, Jr. He married Miss Emily F. Rolfe, the second daughter of Benjamin Rolfe on July 1, 1838. Hers was the second marriage in the county. They were married by Peter Linderman of Vevay. The first school taught in the county was taught at Mason in the spring of 1837 by Lucy Rolfe, a cousin of mine. The second school was taught in Vevay in the Rolfe settlement in a log house. The first death in the county was that of Fannie W. Rolfe, April 7, 1837. The first white child born in the county was Nelson Wolcott, November 1, 1837. EARLY HISTORY IN MASON. The files of the Ingham County News for 1888 chronicle many events which are right in line with the happenings of today. The subject of electric lighting was first mentioned during the summer of that year, the plan ripening without any fuss or flurry, and, as far as the records show, without much opposition. On October 25 of that year the job of furnishing lights was let to S. A. Paddock, who was to install 25 large arc lights for the streets at a cost of $78 a year for each light. On December 6 the old-fashioned street lamps were abandoned and electric lights took their place. In addition to the 25 lights for the streets there were ten business places that had electricity installed. Those days were a delight to the children, and there were always some of them on hand when the operator lowered the great lights. by aid of ropes and pulleys, as he changed the carbon sticks the children eager to get the remains of the old ones as they were taken out. There was much speculation among the citizens as to the way the lights came on and went off, and it is a positive fact that three women sat up until midnight one night. the time that the power was shut off,

772 PIONEER HISTORY OF IN'GHAM COUNTY and watched the lights to see if there was any peculiar demonstration when the lights went off, they evidently being of the same mind as the newly arrived son of Erin, who when told to listen for the "sunset gun" asked if the sun always went down with a "bang" in this country. To their great amazement nothing more serious happened than that darkness followed light. From that small beginning the lighting system of this city has grown to its present proportions, and the demand for the product discovered by Benjamin Franklin is steadily increasing. It would take too much time to note the many improvements made in the system, but the one now contemplated is the greatest one ever brought before the people since electricty was installed here. Another item of interest recorded in 1888 is in regard to a soldiers' monument. The idea originated in Phil TMcKernan Post, the only post in the city at that time, and the work was placed in the hands of Andrew Mehan and L. J. Ford, members of that order. Much interest was shown in the movement, and in the fall Phil McKernan Woman's Relief Corps, which was organized in January of that year, took hold of the matter with a vim and devoted their energies to raising money for the monument. They gave four entertainments one week, held a fair, gave a concert, had a spelling school and served a public supper, and the entire proceeds was turned over to the managers to be added to the monument fund. In these days there is much speculation in regard to the money thus raised, which has never been accounted for, though many theories regarding it are afloat. About that time a Soldiers' Monument Association was organized in Lansing, with Mrs. Harriet A. Tenney as president, and their work was rapidly pushed to completion. In April of that year we find that J. C. Squiers made an abstract of the cemetery lots and found that the first interment was that of Dearsa, the wife of Hiram Converse, who was buried June 29, 1840. Does anyone know when the land was set aside for cemetery purposes? In 1887 lot 510 was deeded to J. A. Sherwood, in trust, as a burial place for soldiers who had no cemetery lot and whose friends were unable to bear the expense of burying them. That lot is now filled, and later another lot was secured, which is also nearly filled, besides a lot purchased by the Woman's Relief Corps in which soldiers and their wives could be buried side by side.

VEVAY TOWNSHIP ANI ITS HISTORY 773 The Soldiers' Memorial Lot, on the west side of the cemetery, was donated that year, the presentation being made on May 30, and was accepted by L. J. Ford in the name of the soldiers of Mason. That year thirty government head stones were ordered, there being that many soldiers buried in the Mason cemeteries at that date. MICHIGAN STATE GAZETTEER OF 1863. Published When Mason was Less than 30 Years Old. Property of John Squiers of This City. Gives Interesting Description of Ingham County and Its History. From a Michigan State Gazetteer of 1863, the property of John C. Squiers, of this city, have been gleaned the following items which cannot fail to be of interest to readers of the Ingham County News. The book abounds in advertisements, a large share of them exploiting the merits of the various newspapers in the state, and among that number appears the Detroit Free Press, Jackson Patriot and the Jackson Citizen, names which have been familiar to Mason people for considerably more than a half century. Mason was in 1863 less than thirty years old, but she had her newspaper even then, and the Ingham County News was the medium through which the people of this vicinity kept in touch with the outside world. Some of the advertising matter has a strange sound in these days, and the present generation would be at a loss to know what they meant. There were bonnet bleachers and presses, things little known now, many ship chandler advertisements, crinoline and hoop skirts (both names used), two sewing machines (though not the first ones invented), tallow factories, and a variety of other things, showing that merchants even at that early day realized the value of advertising. In the description of Ingham county we find that the county contains 564 square miles. That the surface is undulating in the southern part, level in the northern part, and has extensive marshes. That no county in the state has a greater variety of soil, and for that reason, and because of its central position, it was

774 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY chosen as a suitable site for the Agricultural College. The popu. lation in 1860 was 17,456. The whole number of occupied faims, 1,576; acres improved, 81,295; urimproved, 93,151. There were then 65 qualified male teachers in the county and 183 female. In the description of Mason village we find that it had a "steadily increasing population" which at that time had reached the 500 mark. It puts considerable stress on the one newspaper published every Thursday, by D. B. Harrington, at $1 per year, and known as "The Ingham County News." It had one church edifice, the Methodist, and one Masonic lodge; twelve stores, two hotels, steam flour mill, one steam and one water mill, iron foundry, distillery (who can give a description of that for the Inghami County Historical Society?) and a potash mill. There were listed fifty-two professions and trades, and of those engaged in these, M. True of this city and D. B. Harrington, who lives in Wisconsin, are the only ones living. There were no saloons, no real estate dealers, but we find six physicians, five lawyers, with millwrights, saddlers, coopers, carriage makers, and cabinet makers, besides the usual merchants, hotel keepers, carpenters and blacksmiths. Would it not be interesting to know what the exact number of residences in Mason was at that time, and where they were located? YOUNGSTER RECEIVES SLED USED BY GRANDFATHER IN 1847. John C. Squiers, III, of Ypsilanti, Gets Unusual Gift 1919. John C. Squiers, III, of Ypsilanti, will receive a Christmas gift from his grandfather, John C. Squiers, Sr., of this city, which should be especially cherished by him. The gift is a hand sled that is an old timer. It was made in 1847 and was used to draw Mr. Squiers about the streets of Syracuse, N. Y., when he was a baby. Mr. Squiers is now 72 years old. The sled, which was made of well seasoned hickory, has been broken once or twice, but most of the original sled remains intact and is in a good state of preservation. It has always been in Mr. Squiers' possession and has always been highly prized by him.

VEVAY TOWNSHIPII AND ITS HISTORY 775 PROBATE PROCEDURE CREATES SENSATION. When County Officials Appointed Guardian for Abbey. Case of Sixty Years Ago Unusual and Interesting-53 Acres Sell for $400. The proceedings of the probate court in the estate of Joseph Abbey, of Onondaga Township, a mentally incompetent person, presents a rather unusual and intreesting proceeding as contrasted with the usual probate procedure in the early days. As Joseph Abbey was 70 years old when these proceedings were taken and as more than 60 years have elapsed since the case was started it is certain that there is no danger at this time of causing any embarrassment to his living friends or relatives by publishing an account of the proceedings in his case. This case was undoubtedly something in the nature of the sensational as it involved the action of the county officials to place him under guardianship. On January 10, 1854, Peter Linderman, one of the superintendents of the county poor, filed an application and complaint with Probate Judge Win. II. Chapman asking that a guardian, both of the person and estate, be appointed for the said Joseph Abbey, said complaint alleging among other things that he was of the age of 70 years and that by reason of his extreme old age and because of blindness and because of "idleness, debauchery and wilfulness," he was spending his estate and was likely to become a county charge. Appropriate proceedings were had on this application and Minas McRobert, of M\ason, was appointed his guardian. The guardian gave a $500 bond with William Woodhouse and O. M. Barnes as sureties. The accounts presented against the estate for the care of Joseph Abbey are of lmuch interest. One Hiram Abbey claimed to have furnished him among other things the following: Eight yards cotton flannel for shirts, $1.20; one hat, $1.25; one silk handkerchief, 75 cents; for making two shirts,950,cents; for sugar for victuals, 13 cents; making one pair of pants, 50 cents; one vest, 50 cents; for board for four years and four months, $275. The total claim of Hiram Abbey against his estate was $365.95. On the other hand it appears that it was the position of the

776 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY guardian that Hiram Abbey should account and repay the estate for certain things which had accrued to his benefit, among them being the following: Cash, $3; one heifer, $7; one yoke of cattle, $100; one ox bow, $2; one hand saw, $1; together with a charge for the use of the farm and other incidental items. It is not certain just how these matters were adjusted, but later and on August 21, 1855, Minas McRobert as guardian filed a petition asking for license to sell his real estate alleging that his personal property was all gone and that his support could only be provided by a sale of his land consisting of about 53 acres on section 30 of Onondaga Township. The land was sold to Frederick Abbey for $400. This land lies about one mile west of Onondaga village and is now very valuable land, being owned as near as can be ascertained by George and William Washburn. The legal notices in this estate were published in the "Michigan State Journal." This paper was published in Inghaln county, but the place of publication does not appear. The case of Joseph Abbey, incompetent, presents some questions which are not clear of solution. Just how an old man 70 years old and blind could be guilty of idleness and debauchery is difficult to understand. In any event he was a man of sorrows. Life in his case was not a poetic dream. MASON REFORM CLUB ONCE FLOURISHING ORGANIZATION. According to Old Secretary Book Found by County Clerk. Among some old records and papers at the clerk's office in Lansing, County Clerk Brown recently found the secretary book, belonging to the Mason Reform Club, which at one time was one of the flourishing organizations of this city. Many of the older residents will remember this society which was organized in 1877 with William Woodhouse as its president. The first meeting was held March 21, 1877, at the court house which was packed with people interested in its organization. The following was taken from the minutes of the first meeting

VEVAY TOWNSHIIP AND ITS HISTORY 777 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."

778 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY MASON'S FIRST TELEPHONE. In 1918 J. C. Squiers and C. G. Huntington told the following story of Mason's first telephone. In the spring of 1878 these men read of a telephone that had been installed in an eastern city, and they immediately began to set their wits to work to see what could be done in that line here, and they were very well satisfied with the result of their labor. The "plant" consisted of two cigar boxes, a hog's bladder and quantities of waxed ends. The boxes were put in place of a window pane, the bladder skin stretched over openings made in the boxes, and their houses, about fifteen rods apart, connected by the waxed threads. This was an outfit simple and crude, but it served its purpose, for they could talk in an ordinary tone of voice and be heard over the line from one house to the other, and could even hear the singing of the teakettle over the line. This continued in use for several months, and never ceased to be a curiosity to everyone in the city, but one day a load of hay with a high pole passed under the line and broke it. As the novelty of the instrument had begun to wear off the owners did not repair the line, and the first telephone in Mason ceased to exist. As the first telephone in the country is said to have been installed some time in 1876, the idea was not an old one when Messrs. Squiers and IIulitington utilized it. EARLY LIFE IN MASON. By MRS. MARY MILLER STILLMAN. Mason, Sept. 23, 1913. Mrs. Mary Miller Stilllan, of this city, wlho will be 81 years old on September 25, tells something of her carly life in a paper which she read before the Inglhaln Counllty Pioneer Association in this city sonic years ago. She says: "I came with my father, A. R. Miller, better known as Deacon Miller, from Pittsfield, Lorain county, Ohio, to Ingham county, Mich., in October, 1844, being then twelve years of age. My father's family consisted of my father and mother, seven daugh

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,

780 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY burning fever, followed by a dripping sweat, only to awake the next morning in a normal condition, but with no assurance that it will not be repeated, and no one knows how many times unless some remedy be found to "break it up." Stoves were not in use in those early days, but we had two brick fireplaces, one in the kitchen and one in the parlor, their backs together so that one chimney answered for both. An iron crane was hung by staples in the one in the kitchen by which the kettles were suspended over the fire to do the cooking, and a row could hang from hooks along the whole length of the crane. The spider was of iron with three legs and this was set over coals which were placed on the brick hearth. The baking was done in a tin oven set in front of the fire, or in an iron bake kettle with coals under and on top of it. These primitive kitchen utensils did good work. Indians often spent the night with us, but would never sleep in a bed, instead they would wrap their blankets around them and lie on the floor with their heads to the fire. A number built wigwams about one mile from our house, and we often visited them, much to their delight. The squaws made baskets which they were glad to "swap" for provisions, but they insisted on a basket full of provisions in payment, no matter what the size of the basket might be. Game was plentiful, and my brother would often go hunting with the Indians. One time my brother shot a deer which was passing through our dooryard. Beautiful dappled fawns were often seen, and they were much tamer than the older animals. Spelling schools were about the only evening entertainment, and we enjoyed them very much. We would choose sides, the captain for each side drawing the spellers. I tell you we studied our Elementary spellers in those days. The contest closed by spelling down. It seems to me such contests must be more profitable than whist, euchre or pedro, although I know nothing of the joy found in this later form of amusement. My mother was a weaver, as were most of the housewives of that early day, and we spun and wove all of our flannel wear, both for men and women. For dresses the cloth was made both striped and plaided, very pretty, and the coloring she did herself. She also made shawls, plaid, with beautiful borders and fringe. They were very popular in those days, and we wore them to

VEVAY TOWNSI-III' AND ITS HISTORY 781 church. We also braided palm leaf hats and sold them for prices ranging from twenty-five cents to $1.50. The highest priced ones were woven with a double rim. I have braided many of them and so did my mother and sisters. Some had ornamental braid, and those were worn to church. We often made hats to order, and then we took a measure of the customer's head. When my parents lived in Ohio they were not wealthy, but one thing I always commended them for-they always kept us in school, and therefore raised a family of school teachers. We never applied for a school, we didn't have to. If a stranger came to the house we knew at once he was after a straw hat or a school teacher. In those days there were but two terms taught in a year, summer and winter terms, and wages necessarily low, as most of it was paid by a rate bill, and often the teachers themselves were required to make out this rate tax. I taught the winter I was sixteen for 75 cents per week in the first district north of Mason. I taught six days a week for four months and boarded round, sometimes sleeping with the children, three of us sleeping at the head and one across the foot of the bed. It was a log school house, Dutch fireplace, four-legged benches to sit on, and a desk for writing made by boring holes in the logs, then driving in two long pegs and laying a board across them. When we wrote we faced this desk, but while studying we sat the other way on the benches and used this board for the back to our seats. First boys had recess and then girls, and it was then the writing lesson was usually given. Pens were made of goose quills, and one of the requirements in the examination of teachers was the ability to make good pens. Each teacher was obliged to have a sharp penknife in order to make and mend pens as needed. Examinations were all oral, and the certificates were granted the same day, two years being the limit of time. My brother and six of us seven sisters were teachers, and some of them taught in every district for twenty miles around, several times over. We lived here three years before the State Capitol was moved from Detroit to Lansing, and I well remember the time the change was made. One incident is fresh in my mind, and that is, when at the log

782 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY tavern of Wm. I-opkins, I made a dish of toast for Gen. Lewis Cass. I thought him desperately homely. To finish the day for him, the stage in which he was riding upset and his wig went flying into the mud. The rough, uneven roads was the cause of this mishap. Bears and wolves had become scarce before we came here, and I never saw any of those animals, though I have seen quantities of deer. Children have changed very much in manners since I was young. Then if we met a team the boys removed their hats and made a bow and greeted the people with a courteous "Good morning" or "Good evening," as the case night be, while the girls always made a curtesy. On leaving the school room at night the same decorum was observed. One looks back on those pioneer scenes with delight and pleasure, at the thought of the true neighborly interest all took in those living near them. When one was sick all were nurses and assisted in their care. At funerals all were truly mourners, at a wedding all were invited, at a donation all went. Sympathy was earnest and true, together we rejoiced and together sorrowed. What affected one affected all." The father of A. R. Miller was a Prebsyterian minister, and during the last of the seventeenth century taught in a seminary in Albany, N. Y. He was a fine Greek scholar, and was for fiftyeight years a member of the Presbyterian church. At that time he entered into a discussion with a Baptist friend, expecting to prove to him by the original Greek that there were other modes of baptism sanctioned, but was himself converted to a belief in immersion as the true symbol, and from that time on he was an active worker in that church. When he moved to Mason, as previously told, there was no church building and he was one of those instrumental in the erection of the first Baptist church in this city. Mrs. May, the oldest sister of Mrs. Stillman, donated $50 to help build the church, money she had earned by teaching school at the munificent sum of $1.50 per week. This church was organized in 1839, and not a charter member is now living. It was said of Mrs. May that she had taught in every school house between Lansing and Jackson. It is claimed by her friends that she taught the first select school ever taught in Lansing, and her picture graces

VEVAY TOWNSSI1II AND1 ITS HISTORY 783 the historical room at the State Capitol. (Others claim that Mrs. J. N. Bush was the one entitled to the distinction of being Lansing's first teacher.) When A. R. Miller came from Ohio to Michigan he had a good orchard at his old home, and he brought a grain bag full of young apple trees, cut off near the roots, which he immediately set out on his Vevay farm. They throve nicely and the new shoots were carefully guarded, though one day to his great indignation a boy came along driving an ox team and as he was in need of a goad he broke off the top of one of these trees, not realizing the great value set upon them by the owner. These trees were the first to bear in this part of the country, and great store was set on the fruit they bore. After some years Mr. Miller sold his farm to Frank Robb and moved to a house on the block where Mrs. Stillman now lives. George Shafer kept a tavern where the Lawrence block now stands, and one time a donation for some minister was held there, when John Rayner brought eight bushels of wheat on an ox sled in the summer time. This caused so much merriiment that the incident was firmly fixed in Mrs. Stillnan's mind. Mrs. Stillman's grandfather was a slave owner, like his neighbors, when he lived in New Jersey. When he moved to New York he had freed them all but two, and when he would have given theml their freedom lihe found there was then no law in New York by which he could do so, and when Mrs. Stillman's father and mnother were married these colored people, a man and woman, were given to them, and until laws were passed which enabled them to set free these chattels Mr. and Mrs. Miller had the distinction of being the only slave owners within that commonwealth. The years of the Civil War brought several events of a tragic nature into Mrs. Stillman's life. She had in the meantime married Wm. F. Bowdish, and he responded to his country's call and enlisted in the 27th Michigan Infantry. Besides seeing a lot of hard fighting, he was for a time a prisoner at Salisbury, where he endured great hardships before he was exchanged and allowed to return home. This regiment was later consolidated with the 28th Michigan Infantry. Mr. Bowdish did not live many years after the war. Howard, the only boy in the Miller family, became a Baptist

784 PIONEER HISTORY OF' NGHAM COUNTY minister, and he too served his country, as a chaplain, doing many acts of mercy for the suffering soldiers while at the front. He died on board ship at Cincinnati, while on his way home after the war closed. Susan Miller married John Tyler, who also saw service in the Civil War. Some years after the death of Mr. Bowdish his widow married 0. B. Stillman, of Alaiedon, one of the most influential and best known farmers of that section. He was for many years supervisor of that township, and always lived on the farm which his father bought from the government in 1836. His son, Roy Stillman, has in his possession the deed drawn on parchment and signed by President Andrew Jackson. Henry, a brother of O. B. Stillman, was an editor and saw service in the Mexican War, only living two days after receiving his discharge. MASON FIFTY YEARS AGO. Written by MRS. HARRIET W. CASTERLIN, June 21, 1922. It was fifty years ago, in the pleasant month of May, that a child was born in this, then, small village of Mason; born from the hearts and heads of those who not only could look backward, but with prophetic vision could look forward, and see that the coming generations should not be deprived of first hand knowledge as to how their ancestors conquered the wilderness and made an abiding place for their descendents, with all the benefits they desired them to have. The child born that May day fifty years ago was christened "The Ingham County Pioneer Society;" later, as often happens in the best regulated families, they decided to change its name and that it should henceforth be known as the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical Society, so setting forth more plainly its reason for being. In 1877 we celebrated its coming of age with all the ceremonies proper for the occasion, and today we celebrate the second great milestone in its life, its fiftieth birthday. In common with other children its development has not always

VEVAY TOWNSHIP' AND ITS HISTORY 785 been symmetrical. Some years there has not seemed to be much growth, then again there would come years when it would make great progress, and these last few years have marked the fulfilment of many of the hopes and ambitions of these who have stood sponsors for its career. Unfortunately the early records of the society have been lost, so we have not a list of the charter members, but we do know that the society was organized two years before the State Historical Society and that it is one of the oldest of its class in the state, and we do know the names of the presidents who have presided over its activities. Dr. Minos McRobert was the first president, and we who knew him can visualize the great big man with his kindly face under its thatch of snow white hair, and fringe of white whiskers under his chin, and the tiny woman, his wife, descended from the New England Abbotts, who presided with so much grace over his home, and whom we all greatly admired. The next in the long list was: Rev. E. K. Grout, of Leslie; J. M. Willims illiailliamston; A. M. Chapin, Vevay; W. A. Dryer, Lansing; W. II. Clark, Mason; Samuel Skadan, Ingham; Hon. F. S. Fitch, Bunkerhill; Thad. Densmore, Mason; W.hitney Jones, Mason; Perry Henderson, Mason; Hon. D. L. Case, Lansing; John A. Barnes. Mason; Capt. J. R. Price, Lansing; J. J. Tuttle, Leslie; Dr. R. -I. Davis, Mason; Lawrence Meech, Mason; Col. L. H. Ives, Mason; Rev. E. HI. Brockway, Mason; Robt. Hayward, Onondaga; John N. Bush, Lansing; HIon. L. T. Heinans, Mason; R. J. Bullen, Aurelius, twenty-two in all. Some of these have served more thlan one term and Mr. Ives easily heads the list with a record of fifteen years in service in the presidential chair. Of the secretaries who have kept record of the proceedings, Peter Lowe was first, and Mrs. Stillman and Mrs. Adams are tied for first place in continuous service, each having filled the office eight years. But away far in advance of all the rest is our most faitlful treasurer, W. M. Webb, who for twenty-nine years has administered the financial affairs of the organization, with never a deficit or a scandal to mark a perfect record, and who stands ready still to advance in every way the interests of the society with voice, and pen, and purse. Mason fifty years ago! What was it, and who lived and la

786 PIONEER HIISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY bored here then, making it a good place for the late comers to build their homes within its boundaries and under the glorious nmaple trees these first settlers planted? We know it was the first village in the new county of Ingham, and was founded away back in 1838. That the first grist mill was built in 1840, and that tradition says that at a banquet given w-hen the mill was dedicated a misunderstanding arose, a row followed, and the guests used pumpkin pies for ammunn ition, alnid that probably Charlie Chaplin got his big idea of throwing custard pies from that event. In order that we may more clearly appreciate the place we hold in the sun this year of 18Q2, let us take the backward trail and follow it until we come to 187~, and see what we can find of interest! As we start on our long trip b)ack through the years, we find the pathway strewn with the debris of discarded things, which in this year of 1922 seem indispensable to our comfort in life. First to go into discard will be our radio outfits, which bring the uttermost parts of the earth to our very doors. Then as we slip backward through the pe)riod of the World's War we lose our hold on all the wireless telegraphy. Thle aeroplanes, such a wonder when they first appeared, so coniimoiin now that one scarcely stops to watch them pursuing their trackless way through the air, are going-going-gone. The farm tractors dragging after them a plotw, a (lisker and a drag, fitting the ground for tle seed in one trip, have disappeared. The greatl. machines which reap the lwheat, thresh it, grind it anld bl 1ag the fiour ready for thle btaker, all in one process, are lost to sight, and the horses anJd plow have again taken up the long weary task of plowing, and in turn are yielding to the even slower oxen who are turning over thie virgin soil for our fathers to plant. The motorcycles with their diabolical noises no more rack our ears and nerves. The automobiles, at first such a luxury, afterward a positive necessity to all successful business, are gone, and in their place our streets are filled with the beautiful horses for which Inglham county was so long famous, and we are smiling superciliously over Mother Shiptoln's prophesy that sometime carriages without horses should go, that we should fly through the air and sail under water. In close company with our automobiles have gone our electric 'lights, leaving us to the untender mercies of the kerosene lamps,

Vi,:VAY TowNShIP1 ANI) ITS HISTORY 787 which in spite of all their faults were an improvement on the candles of our grandmothers. But when the electric fixtures left our homes they took with them a long train of comforts. for the stoves, grills, fans, toasters, vacuum cleaners, washing machines and flatirons went also, and there was nothing to do hut bring back the tubs, brooms and dusters. With the going of electricity went also the new power which is eventually destined to move all our railroad trains, as well as the cars we can see crossing the country in every direction. Somewhere along the backward road that leads to "the good old times" we lost our telephones, and we c(anl no longer (1all uI) Central -and ask for long distance to Detroit or Cllicago, or even talk to our next door neighbor, whlen we o 1 not (azre to go out of the house. Furnaces are becoming uinklnown'; tlle city water works are gone and with them all our bathrooms, and the "moss covered bucket" and plumlns are inl general use again. Pavements and good roads are an unknown quantity, and we flounder through spring mud, summer dust and winter snow; even the sidewalks are nearing the vanishing point and are of wood, and narrow. In 1874 we find that the city officials-village it was then-refused to order a sidewalk built on Oak street from B to A street, and on the north side of Ash street from B street to Sycamore Creek. Now we are back fifty years and must hasten and build fences around our premises, for the cattle are using the streets for a pasture, and many of them are wearing bells which make night hideous. A good strong fence is a prime necessity if we would protect our lawns and gardens. Not only the cows but the hens of the neighborhood are working over union hours in their endeavor to dig up and destroy all the gardens in sight, and making a success of the undertaking. The News at that time was published by Kendall Kiltridge (the writer's brother). Those old papers when compared with our present publications look very crude witch their four pages. Later it became Ian eight page paper, with patent insides; the mechanical work is good and clear if it was only a hand press d; it was a clean sheet and carried a great deal of information. The business directory of 1870 makes one dream dreams. The Republican ticket for that year was as follows: Sheriff,

788 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM ICOUNTY Horace Angell; county clerk, D. D. Bolton; county register, HI. J. Haight; county treasurer, Thadeus Densmore; prosecuting attorney, H. B. Carpenter; coroners, B. S. Peets, W. W. Root. Mason village officers: President, John A. Barnes; clerk, Geo. W. Bristol; treasurer, A. D. Kingsbury; assessor, Lucian Reed; marshall, Geo. W. Sackrider; trustees, H. P. Henderson, Wm. F. Near, C. D. Huntington, J. E. Spencer. Our practicing physicians were W. W. Root, C. H. Sackrider, R. TI. Davis, 0. B. Moss, our first homeopathic physician, and Dr. Tyler. Drs. McRobert and Phelps had given up their active work, as had also Drs. Darrow and Hammond. The lawyers were W. I-. Francis, Lucien Reed, M. D. Chatterton, Ed B. Sackrider, Horatio Pratt, then judge of probate, G. W. Bristol and Huntington and Henderson. There were two banks, H. L. Henderson and Company, and Lowe, Near and Company, afterward Lowe, Smead and Company. Elzey Flora advertises boots, shoes and gaiters. G. W. Polar and Charles Huntington were also among our early shoe men. John Dunsback advertises a big sale of shoes in connection with his dry goods store. Other dry goods men were Day and Burnham, Wm. Spear, who was afterward sheriff, Darrow and Co., Bunnell and Butterfield. The grocers advertising were Smith and Hunt, N. A. Dunning, Swart and Kingsbury, M. A. Sweet, Merritt and Casterlin, Barnaby and Merritt and Vandercook Brothers. A. P. VanDeusen was the dentist and one whom many can still remember for his exceilent work. The druggists were HI. M. Williams, IIalstead and Smith, afterward 0. W. Halstead. Elias Culver carried a stock of jewelry. S. P. Stroud was the undertaker then, and at his death carried remarkable record of having conducted 2,200 funerals. A little later M. C. Bowdish opened a furniture store and advertised "My hearse is free without fee To all who buy coffins of me In the limits of Mason City," but he was never able to compete successfully with Mr. Stroud, who was one of the cemetery committee.

VEVAY TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 789 George Sackrider also advertised furniture, while other advertisers were R. Terwilliger, harness shop; G. G. Mead, Phoenix Flour Mill; A. D. Kingsbury, agricultural implements; Miss C. M. Bullock, millinery, hair dressing and hair jewelry. I think the Hughs sisters, Phoebe and Nannie, still had their millinery shop about where the city hospital now stands, and we all went there for our headgear. Mrs. M. A. Sweet and Helen Horton were dressmakers. Clark and Marsh had a livery stable and W. H. Clark and W. M. Cline sold monuments and had the marble works. John Rayner, Sr., called attention to his milk route. (Milk in a big can with a long handled dipper for ladeling the milk to his customers who brought out their own dishes when he rang the bell." The American Hotel was conducted by Fred P. Moody and Hank J. Donnelly was mine host at the Donnelly House, and he was the first man in Mason to take a daily paper. Henry Reed was the barber and manufactured hair goods for sale. Seth A. Paddock was architect and builder, and put up several of our best houses. He also owned the lumber yard. Sayer and Phelps were the hardware men and continued the business for a long term of years. The bakery was conducted by J. Greenwood, while Charles Eaton called attention to his sale of hay, grain and clover seed at the elevator. Henry Christmas was photographer, and Win. Claflin had the Mason nursery. VanOstrand and Elmer were in business here fifty years ago, starting in the spring of 1871. The Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw division of the Michigan Central Railroad was our only connection with the outside world, and in 1870 had not ceased to be a novelty, and it was still quite the thing to go down to the station to see the cars come in. The station was on Ash street then near where the water tank now stands, and water was supplied to the engine by means of a wind mill. In 1870 the first school house to be built on the present site began its first school with N. A. Barrett as superintendent, the teachers being Minnie Walker, Augusta Reed and Emma Caster

790 7PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIHAM COUNTY lin, with a fourth not engaged when the notice was printed. The board of education was composed of W. W. Root, W. A. Teel, A. A. Howard, Perry Henderson, Dr. C. H. Darrow and R. F. Griffin. The graduates that year were Vernon J. Tefft and Ella Peck. Do these names mean anything to you? At this time Miss E. J. Fuller was conducting her private school at the Fuller farm east of town. In the same paper was a letter from Rev. Wim. Rice pleading for help in temperance work. He was pastor of the M. E. church at that time, with Rev. Philip Farnham, the Baptist minister, and Rev. G. W. Barlow in the Presbyterian puplit. The Presbyterian church stood then on Oak street, where Mrs. Bement's home now is. Do you remember when the church bells were tolled at the death of anyone in town? When my father, Rev. Iosea Kittridge, died my Iother felt that she could not bear to hear the bell, and the practice was practically discontinued after that. We produced some noted men in those years. Judge Erastus Peck, long on the Jackson circuit, Judge G. M. Huntington, of our own circuit, and H. P. Henderson, Federal Judge of Utah. How many of you remember Marshall Pease with his wonderful baritone voice who sang for us so beautifully? Hie was descended from the Page family, sure enough pioneers in this country, and from the Pease family, noted pioneer musicians. Would it not be a good scheme for this society to get possession of the drop curtain which hung for so many years in the opera house? That would be a relic worth keeping and would remind us of the business firms now only a memory. It is a curiosity in its way and well worth preserving, if only to remind us of the many times we have watched it and waited for its going up. But time would fail me to call the names of all those who lived and loved and labored in Mason fifty years ago, and against the majority of those names has been set the asterisk of death. A. L. Vandercook seems to be the only one who was in business here in 1870 who still has a place among our active business men. What a wonderful fifty years it has been, and what a great advance the world has made in that time! If our fathers who died before that date could have been told of all the things that would

VEVAY TOWNSHIPI) AND ITS HISTORY 791 happen in these years just past they would cheerfully have consigned us to the fate of the Salem witches. If the coming fifty years are as wonderful as the past fifty, who can foretell what may happen? Today, June 21, 1922, Marconi, the wireless wizard, is making special effort to communicate with Mars, and if he does not succeed today who will dare say he may not be successful some future day? And the wildest tales of Jules Verne may prove to be as common place as the auto or the aeroplane. Don't we wish we might live to see what is about to happen? But then if we did live to be as old as Methuselah we might be like little children who beg to "stay up a little longer" to see what will happen in the Universe of God. THE JEWETT FAMILY. By MRS. EVA JEWETT MORSE, Mason, Micl., 1900. Somewhere between the years 1640-50 Joseph Jewett, son of Edward and Mary Jewett, with his family emigrated from his birthplace, Bradford, England, to America, settling in Rowley, Mass., where three generations were born. My forefather, Eleazer Jewett, moved to Norwich, Conn., in 1698, and there my greatgrandfather, Ichabod Jewett, was born on July 5, 1738. In his young manhood he went to Coventry. Conn., where lie married and settled. At the breaking out of the Revolutionary War he enlisted in Buell's company, and soon after became captain, and his name can be found in the official record in the Adjutant General's office. He had two sons in the army with himself, and two other sons acted as scouts. The powder flask which Ichabod Jewett used while in the army has been handed down to a male member of the family through the generations, and is now in the possession of Joseplh Jewett, of this city, a veteran of the Civil War. My own grandfather, Eleazer Jewett, was born at Coventry, Conn., in 1769. He went from there to Langdon, N. H., where he settled, and in 1792 married Submit Porter. Ten children were born to them. My father, Joseph Porter Jewett, was the seventh

792 PIIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY child. He in his early manhood went to New York state. There he taught school winters and worked at the carpenter trade summers. Ile became acquainted with Miss Amanda Freer in Ontario county, N. Y., and they were married in 1831. Her grandfather fought in the Revolution, and her father in the War of 181W. In 1835 my father and his young wife came to Michigan and settled in Washtenaw county. They were veritable pioneers, as they came here when Michigan was a wilderness, inhabited by Indians and wild animals. They experienced many hardships while carving out a home for themselves. Although the Indians were friendly my mother never overcame her fear of them. To my parents eleven children were born, one dying in infancy. In the spring of 1863 my father sold his farm in Washtenaw county and moved to Ingham, leaving the old home on the 15th day of April and stopping in Stockbridge over night, where the accommodations were not what they are today. We reached our new home on the afternoon of the 16th, and what a place! As I look back on it today, I do not wonder that my sister did not want to leave the wagon and enter it. I had never seen but one log house, and that a deserted one, for my years were not many and I had never journeyed so far before, but there were many of them along the road we came. And such a one as we had to call home! Dilapidated and filled with vermin, and all the scrubbing and scouring my mother and sister did could not make it presentable. My father bought what was known as the Storey place, which Mr. Storey's father had taken or bought from the government. It was three and one-half miles west of Mason on the Columbia road. The house was one of the oldest in the neighborhood, and had a chip pile half as high as the back door, which my father soon drew away. The next winter was called the cold winter of 1863-64, and I have never since seen its equal. A fireplace and heating stove in the living room failed to keep us comfortably warm, or even keep our eggs from freezing. Father got out lumber for a new house that winter, for he said we could not live another winter in the old house. It was in war time and help was hard to get. One set of carpenters would enlist and make room for another

VEVAY TOWNSHIPI AND ITS HISTORY 793 set, but we were able to move into the new house in November, 1864. Labor was high, and so was produce. Wheat $3 per bushel and sugar 50 cents per pound, and everything else in proportion. But, as Samantha Allen would say, "We are digressing," and will go back to the time of our arrival. As we reached Mason and knew it was to be our home town, we looked around and found a rather small village. One of the finest houses in town was the Dr. Phelps house, which has lately been torn down to make room, I understand, for a finer, more modern building. The principal stores were kept by Messrs. Coatsworth and Wheeler. As we left town on our way to our home, one-half mile west, we crossed one of the worst causeways or stretch of corduroy road I ever saw. Logs were laid through the swamp, which was grown up to the track on either side with trees and brush, with just a thin layer of dirt over the logs. You could see the water between the logs, and it was so rough we all got out and walked. I think it was that summer or fall that the men made a bee and drew gravel on the road. I hardly think that in those days it would have been safe to run an automobile. Lumber wagons were the principal vehicles, with an occasional democrat buggy; only the wealthy could afford carriages, and many of the farmers had ox teams. The railroad entered Mason from Jackson in the fall of 1865, and was continued through to Lansing the next year. Jackson had always been our trading or market place, farmers having to draw their wheat and wool there. The old stage coach was another feature of those early days, and plied regularly between Jackson and Mason. There was great rejoicing in town and country when we had the privileges brought by the railroad, and today with our state roads, electric cars and automobiles the past seems but a dream, and we wonder if the next fifty years will show as many improvements as there have been seen in the past half century. The military spirit in the Jewett family did not die out in the older generations, for we find besides the five who served in Washington's army and a small boy who carried messages from one camp to another, were five who served in the Civil War and eight in the World War, while in the collateral lines were one Revolu

794 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COITNTY tionary, one 1812, one Mexican, two Civil War and three World War. MILITARY RECORD OF THE JEWETT FAMILY. Ichobod Jewett, Revolutionary soldier. In Buell's company, later promoted to captain. He had two sons in service with him, two other sons who acted as scouts, while another carried messages. Civil War: Brothers: J. Porter Jewett, 17th Michigan Infantry, Stonewall Regt. Lester E. Jewett, 8th Michigan Infantry. Joseph Jewett, 1st Michigan Light Artillery, and 1st Michigan Lancers. John H. Jewett Capt. G. W. Townsend, 5th Michigan Cavalry and Mexican War. World War: Lieut. Ralph Jewett, went overseas. Wilbur Jewett. Licut. Arthur Jewett, Jr. Paul Mixter, in Government Service. All grandsons of Joseph Jewett. Lieut. Maurice Jewett. John Lucas, grandson Capt. Townsend, went overseas. VANDEUSEN FAMILY. Mrs. A. P. VanDeusen has lived over seventy years in Inghiam county, and the greater part of that time in the city of Mason, and has watched both city and county as they emerged from the wilderness. Her father. Cornelius Handy, settled in Aurelius and worked hard to clear his farm. He met a sudden death, when a load of lumber he was taking home from the mill slid onto the horses and so frightened them that they ran away and he was thrown out and killed. Her only brother died from the effect of exposure while helping fight a big fire that swept the business portion of Mason. Her husband, Dr. A. P. VanDeusen, was the first dentist to

VEVAY TOWNSHIPI AND ITS HISTORY 795 locate in the county seat, and he continued his practice here until his death, which occurred in 1911. He was very public-spirited and took great interest in everything which would work for the betterment of the city. His boyhood home was near Palmyra, N. Y., and during the visits the family made to this place at various times, Mrs. VanDeusen became quite familiar with the Mormon history so closely connected with that vicinity. She always visited Mormon Hill, where Joseph Smith claimed to have found the records on which was founded the Mormon Church. This hill lies near the main road which runs from Palmyra to Manchester, and the place on the west side where the golden plates were said to be hidden is now enclosed and is visited by many people each year. Iistory, or tradition, says that "The angel of the Lord, on Scpt. 2, 1827, placed in Smith's hands the wonderful records, engraved on plates nearly eight inches long by seven wide, a little thinner than ordinary tin, and bound together by three rings running through the whole. The volume was about six inches in thickness, a part of it sealed. The letters were beautifully engraved and represented an unknown language. With the records was found a curious instrument, consisting of two transparent stones, set in the rim of a bow fastened to a breastplate. "By means of these stone-spectacles, God enabled him to understand and translate these ancient records, written in an unknown tongue, into such humble English as the 'prophet' (who was said to be a grossly ignorant and depraved specimen of manhood) was able to understand. The records contained the primitive history of America, etc., etc." Mrs. VanDeusen had a personal acquaintance with Maj. John Gilbert, of Palmyra, who set the type and corrected proof for the first Mormon Bible. He was born in 1803 and died in 1896, and he told Mrs. VanDeusen that he was twenty-seven years old when he printed that Bible. The first edition of the Bible was 5,000 copies, costing $3,000. Joseph Smith would bring the copy, a few pages at a time, as fast as he translated it, usually in the morning and take away the printed pages at night. There was not a punctuation mark in the whole thing, and it took Maj. Gilbert seven months to complete the first copy. This old man knew all of the Smith family, and told much

796 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY of their history, ending by showing one of those Bibles which he printed in 1830. Mrs. VanDeusen visited the old gentleman in 1891, and is very proud of the souvenir he gave her that day, his name and age in his own handwriting, a fine, clear hand, "J. H. Gilbert, aged 89." In 1886 Dr. and Mrs. VanDeusen spent the summer at Torch Lake, and while there paid a visit to Beaver Island. While on the island they attended the funeral of an old man they were told was the last of King Strang's band. A Mormon preacher from sixty miles away had come to take charge of the services. A few years ago while visiting her daughter in Shreveport, La., Mrs. VanDeusen went into Greenwood Cemetery, and to her great surprise found there the graves of two Ingham county boys who lost their lives in the Civil War. Their names were Barker and Riggs, one from the township of Alaiedon and the other from White Oak, and they served in a Michigan cavalry. These graves are near an imposing granite monument, the top graced by a life-size Confederate soldier bearing a flag. On one side of the shaft are two Confederate flags crossed, and on two sides of the base, just above the pedestal are inscriptions, one as follows: "This stone is raised as a tribute of love and loyalty to his comrades in arms by Peter Yourree, Capt. commanding Co. 1, Slayback's Regiment, Joe Sibley's Brigade, Missouri Cavalry." Besides the "Blue and the Gray" that found resting places in this cemetery there are others lying not far distant. During the Civil War a line of earthworks was thrown up along Red River just outside the city to Fort Humbug, and this forms a well beaten track along which the negroes from the river bottom reach the city. In the woods which border this path can be seen many graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers, some still bearing the wooden markers on which were written their names. The graves are both in little groups and single, some sunken far below the surface of the ground. Mrs. VanDeusen has in her possession a part of the account book kept by her greatgrandfather, Capt. Benjamin Churchill, of Plymouth, Mass., the entries beginning in 1775. The paper is not as good as that in use today, while the ink is scarcely faded. The handwriting is in the style peculiar to those times, and the

VEVAY TOWNSHIP AND IITS HISTORY 797 quaint entries and original manner of spelling form an interesting document. Ichabod Churchill dettor to me for headings; come to 0-10-8. Sept. 1775. Capt. Churchill, dettor to two Bayrels of Sider and Bayrel of Salt. 1776. To half a day to kill your hogs, 0-1-0. 1785-To my oxen half a day, 0-1-0. To a stick for arms by William Tupper, 0-1-0. To a setting in the pew, 0-2-9. 1784, November, Capt. Cady for fourteen quarters of cole, 0-10-6. 1785, March, To making and caring down your raft, 1-4-0. My boys two days a braking flax, 0-4-8. 1783, a list of men who received their milk and sage money. 1776-This day reckoned with Jonathan Wood and balanced all accounts even. To a days work a drawing your timber, 2-10-0. To a load of bords from your saw mill, 2-0-0. All accounts were reckoned in pounds, shillings and pence, a system but little known by later generations. Mrs. VanDeusen has quite a wonderful collection of valuable curios and relics, among them the following articles: A Bible printed in Old English, published in 1809 and owned by Daniel Jones; he was born in 1760 and his wife in 1780. A "Book of Common Prayer" used by the Church of England, no date, but its style proves its great age. A Methodist Hymn Book of 1813. Grandmother VanDeusen's first set of dishes, as early as 1820. White ground with raised lavender grapes. A cup from the set of dishes given Governor Stevens T. Mason by the people of Michigan. The Ashler (Masonic), Chicago and Detroit, 1860. This was owned by Cornelius Handy, father of Mrs. VanDeusen. Egyptian cameo pin over 100 years old, also an ancient cluster pearl pin and a rose cameo. Handpainted picture taken from front of grandfather's clock that had wooden works.

798 PIOINEER IHISTORY OF I.NGlIIHAM COUNTY A platter, a replica of those used at the jubilee dinner given Queen Victoria at Marlborough. Some Honolulu china, very fragile and delicate, to which a pathetic story is attached. The friend lwho gave the china to Mrs. VanDeusen went to the Sandwich Isles on her wedding trip, and one year later, as they passed through tle Golden Gate on their way home, her husband died, leaving her with a three weeks old babe. The return trip was made on a sailing vessel because the husband's condition would not allow him to come on a steamer. She was the only woman on board and lher babe was horn while they were making the four weeks' trip. After a delay of four weeks in San Francisco she came to Chicago, where friends met her, and soon after she gave Mrs. VanDeuscn the dishles mentioned.

CHAPTER XVII. WHIEATFIELD TOWNSHIP. History by Mrs. S. A. Warner; sketch by Ir. F. N. Turner; George Traver, reminiscences. Read at the Annual Meeting of the Ingham County Pioneer and Histori.cal Society, in 1915, by tlhe Writer, Mrs. S. A. Warner. Originally what is now the township of Wheatfield formed part of the township of Ingham, organ.ized oil the 1lth day of March, 1837, and includ.dilg what now constitutes the fourth congressional township of Inghlam, White Oak, W1heatfield and Leroy. The first town meeting was held at the home of Caleb Carr. However, previous to this, township lines were run by Joseph Wampler, and the subdivision lines two years later. On the I2d of March, 1839, the Legislature formed a new townshli) from Ingham called Brutus, a name chosen by Ephraim Meech, the first white settler in Leroy. Brutus included the north half of the old township or what now constitutes Wheatfield and Leroy. On March 19, 1840, tlhe eastern half of Brutus was organized as a separate township under the name of Leroy, which left the present town of Wheatfield a congressional township bearing the name of Brutus. This name not being quite satisfactory, at the suggestion of David Gorsline a petition was drawn up and forwarded to the Legislature, which on March 20, 1841, changed the name to the present one of Wheatfield. This s as roposed by Mr. Gorsline, who emigrated from the township of Wheatfield, Niagara county, N. Y. IIe was the first white settler within the limits of Wheatfield Townsllip. lie entered land on the northeast quarter of section 34 on the 15th day of June, 1836. and settled there with his family in October of the same year. Mr. Gorsline stated before his de(ath that the township of Wheatfield had never had a store, a tavern, church, saloon or practicing physician within its borders. The present church was built in 1900.

800 PIONEER HISTORY OF ING-HAM COUNTY Mr. Gorsline kept travelers occasionally, and Joseph Whitcomb was accustomed to prescribe in mild cases of sickness, though he had no medical education. Mr. Gorsline and family experienced many hardships during their first winter spent in a log cabin, with no neighbors within a radius of six miles. The next settlers were Daniel and Jacob Countryman, who settled in the spring of 1837 on section 13. In November, 1837, Wm. Drown located in the neighborhood, and Mr. Gorsline, assisted by Randolph Whipple and Wm. Carr, of Ingham Township, rolled up a log house for the newcomer. Just thirty years from that day these three men, with Mr. Drown, met at the home of Harvey Hammond and had a pioneer supper. The first death in the township was that of an infant child of Wm. and Betsy Hammond. They came from Niagara county, N. Y., in the fall of 1839 and settled on section 2, Wheatfield. In the fall of 1840 their first born, after a short existence, sickened and died. The nearest physician was twenty miles distant through a trackless wilderness. The occupation of the undertaker was then unknown in this vicinity. J. M. Williams, of an an adjoining town, had a few joiners tools and made for them a coffin. With the assistance of Mrs. Elijah Hammond, a relative, they laid the little one in its narrow bed. The funeral at the house, though few attended, was a sad one. An old gentleman, Sidney King, who settled on section 23 in 1839, headed the lonely procession with a spade on his shoulder; next came Mr. Williams with the coffin, then Mr. and Mrs. Hammond, and lastly Mrs. Elijah Hammond; these five constituted the first funeral procession in the township of Wheatfield. Other early settlers were Elias and Jeremiah Kent, Gardner Fletcher, Stephen Curtis, John Rehle, the Putman family, Wim. Bleekman and George Beeman. The first town meeting for Wheatfield was held in the spring of 1841 at the home of Wm. Tompkins, at what was then, and still is, known as "White Dog Corners." Sanford Olds was the first supervisor, Rufus Carle the first town clerk, and David Gorsline the first treasurer. The first highway laid out in the township was on sections 34-35

WHEATFIELD TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 801 in 1839, and this neighborhood organized the first road district, called No. 1. The first school in the township was kept by Susan Cochran, in a log building on the west half of the northeast quarter of section 34 about 1840. Another early teacher was Saphronia Worden, a niece of Mrs. David Gorsline. The school house in the Whitcomb neighborhood was built in 1841 or 1842. It was a shed roofed log building, the second one in the township. The third was probably built about 1846, in what is now District No. 3. Mahala Blanchard was the first teacher. There had never been a church edifice erected in the township until the present M. E. church, but religious services had been held for many years in various school houses. The religious denominations presented in the township are Methodist Episcopal, Wesleyan Methodist, Baptists, Congregationalists, Catholic, and perhaps others. Many of these attend religious services in Williamston. The first Protestant minister who visited the township is said by the oldest settler to have been Elder Fiero, a prominent Baptist clergyman. WHEATFIELD TOWNSHIP. By DR. F. N. TURNER, North Lansing. The township of Wheatfield was rightly named, for fifty years ago it was one vast field of wheat. It had a virgin fertile soil adapted to growing this grain, and the farmers got good return, for their labors. From 1866 to 1890 wheat was the money crop. During the decade preceding 1890 the great wheat belt of Dakota was opened up and many of the Michigan wheat growers went there. The millers were compelled to put into their mills the roller process, instead of using the old-fashioned mill stones, to grind their hard wheat. Bakers bought the new process flour for it would absorb more water and they could get more loaves from a barrel of flour. The competition that followed lowered the price of winter wheat, and the farmers of Wheatfield were forced to raise other grains. The large wheatfields of the township vanished with the pioneers.

802 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

WTHEATFIEILD TOWNSHIP' AND ITS HISTORY 803 he would scratch at the door and whine. When the door was opened he would sneak under the bed and remain quiet till morning. His dogs' share of the entertainment was over and he would rest from his labors. Mr. Caswell had four sons-Chester, Adelbert, Ira and Charles. They were choppers and later took jobs of felling timber for the settlers that came in. Each man was an expert with an axe. They knew all the good points of that tool as a skillful workman knows his hammer, plane or chisel. The artist was Ira. Many times I have watched him at work on a log swing his five pound ax, saw the flying chips, and timed his cut. How easy the great shoulder and arm muscles worked, the ax was buried in the crackling wood with hair-like accuracy, and the cut was so smooth that it looked as if it was planed. He and his brother Chester in the month of March, 1866, cut thirty acres of heavy timber in twenty-two days. My father let them the job and paid them six dollars per acre. Nicholas Emmer was a hard working farmer, who by his own efforts and frugal German ways accumulated a fortune in a few years. In after years, when he had retired from active work, he told me he did not enjoy himself as he did when he arose at 4 a. m. worked until 10 p. m. and came home so tired that he slept on the hard floor beside his kitchen stove. In his opinion he rested better and was more refreshed than he was when he slept on a spring mattress. Mr. Rehle had two sons. The younger, Charles, was a schoolmate in the Williamston school. I cannot recall among my boyhood friends a young man of more happy disposition or more sterling qualities. That dread disease, appendicitis, claimed him and he "went west" in the pride of his early manhood. Jacob, his brother, still living, has been sheriff of Ingham county. Peter Zimmer was a rival of Nicholas Emmer. For years each tried to get more land or make the most money, and Nick's death was the only thing that stopped this rivalry. I think Pete was lonesome after this, but in the following years he met with a bitter disappointment. His son, that for years he had educated for a priest, chose law instead of theology for his profession, and by so doing nearly broke his father's heart. Two brothers from the state of New York settled in the eastern

804 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY section of the township, Lemuel and Joe Dennis. Lem, the elder, had four sons, while his brother's family were all girls. Lem was a hard worker, a shrewd investor, and left a large estate to his sons. The boys after his death added farm after farm to the original acres until they owned land from Williamston to the brick school house, five miles south. All of them were in the stock, elevator and banking business in Williamston. Two or three of these brothers have passed away, but left behind a good record, a faithful stewardship of their inheritance. On the opposite side of the road lived David Gorsline, another prosperous farmer, who left sons that inherited all their father's sterling qualities. North of the Gorsline farm and adjoining it was the Hammond or Sunnyside farm. H. Hammond was a progressive, prosperous farmer fifty years ago. He had all the comforts and blessings of independence, but in the midst of his prosperity he went to Williamston, engaged in the manufacturing business and lost all his property. After this loss he drifted west in hopes, no doubt, he could start anew and make another fortune. In this he was disappointed and a few years ago he drifted back a disappointed, broken down old man and died in a few eeeks. Jacob Stoffer was the king bee in the western part of the township. He was an ideal farmer, progressive and up-to-date in all his operations and prosperous in all his undertakings. He came from northern Ohio or Indiana and introduced a certain style in his barns. His bank barn, with overshot sills, two double floors, one above the other, created a sensation and was the talk of the neighborhood. It was a Pennsylvania bank farm, such as we would find in Berks county, Pennsylvania. Near White Dog school house, in the center of the township, lived the Cole boys, Henry, John, Jesse and Frank. They came from New York state. In the winter of 1878-9 while teaching at the Westgate school I boarded with Frank. I never met a more happy family. Frank's laugh or his wife's happy disposition could not be duplicated. One year later I visited them and all was changed. Death had entered the home and taken the only son. The father had met with financial losses in building, and I found him gloomy and sorrowful. In a few days the sad tidings came that he had, by his own hand, ended his life. This

WIHEATFIELD TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 805 was an hereditary curse to these men, but we will draw the curtain of Christian charity over their deaths. A short distance from the White Dog school house lived G. Stewart, the florist and botanist. For many years his flowers were admired at the fairs and other places where he exhibited them. In my conversations with him I always found him ready to explain the wonderful structures and various shades of color in plant life. He had that scholarly way and gentle courtesy that was interesting to a student in botany. In a talk with him he told me that Asa Gray, the noted botanist of Harvard University, had engaged him to make a study and collection of the oaks that grew in Michigan. He found and classified twenty-seven different species. Prof. Beal, the botanist of M. A. C., recognized his researches and engaged him to do botanical work in the fields and forests of Michigan. His neighbors were mostly uneducated, hard-fisted farmers that did not recognize the beauties of flowers, ornamental shrubs and fine lawns, so his efforts to educate them met with disappointment and financial loss. In religious belief he was a Spiritualist, and this aroused a dislike among his fanatical orthodox neighbors, and he was ostracized. Like John Muir, the California naturalist, he had only his flowers to talk to and commune with. After his wife's death an adopted daughter was the only one left to cheer his lonely fireside. With his knowledge he could discern or see, as a transcendentalist, the creative spirit in every swelling bud and opening flower. Among his equals he would have been honored and respected, but in this rural community he was scoffed at and called queer. Meeting with financial reverses he sold his farm, moved into Leroy Township, where he died. Besides his flowers and botanical studies, he was a worker in woods, a cabinet maker. He was old-fashioned, but an expert workman. When he knew death was not far off he made his own coffin and was buried in it. It was fashioned from black walnut, for in his opinion no other wood should hold his mouldering body. From his great labors in plant life I think he was worthy, and had earned this his last overcoat. The Spauldings, who lived in the south section of the township, I never became acquainted with, but while teaching in the Westgate district I met the Kent boys, Simeon, Seth and Duane.

806 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIHAM COUNTY Their father, Uncle Jerry Kent, was an old timer, a great bear hunter and rail splitter. Many times I heard the story of his killing a mother bear and two cubs with a knot maul and an ironwood handspike. He was once called as a witness in a law suit about some hogs, and his testimony was unique. After he was sworn he was asked to tell his story. He commenced: "Seth and I were in the woods hunting the cows when Tige treed a bar. I told Tige to sic him and Seth to go home and tote me Old Betsy" (his rifle). At this point he was interrupted by the other lawyer who told him to confine his remarks to hogs and not tell "bar" stories. Uncle Jerry's lawyer objected to this interruption and he was allowed to tell his story his way, but he had to loosen his tongue and warm up with a "bar" story before he shot the hog testimony over the bar of justice. In the Pollok district lived Myron Pollock, the country schoolmaster, justice of the peace, and, on some occasions, preacher. He had to divide his honors as a successful teacher with a Mr. Westgate, but when the latter branched off into medicine Mr. Pollok was without a rival. Mr. Butler, who lived north of White Dog, was an Oxford Englishman. His daughter Minnie I was acquainted with. For a long time she was a teacher in the Williamston schools but married Prof. Burgess, and now resides in East Lansing. Fifty years ago Wheatfield had no churches, post office, stores or blacksmith shop. The people went to Dansville, Mason or Williamston for their mail, to shop or get repairs for tools, etc. Within the last ten years I have noticed that a church has been built near the Westgate school house, but it looked lonely and forsaken. During my terms of school in 1874-1879 religious services were occasionally held in the school house, and two or three families of Spiritualists held seances in their homes. From the farms of this township have come many men and women who have made a success in other walks of life. The business, professional and educational world has been the field they have worked and labored in. The fields and fertile acres have been the nucleus of many fortunes. Under the stimulus of a daily mail and good roads for

WVIIEATF IE'l) TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 807 automobiles we may expect a large emigration of worn out cityites who want to try the beneficial effects of a quiet life. August, 1919. GEORGE TRAVER, SR. George Traver, Sr., who resides in Wheatfield Township, is one of the oldest members of the Ingham County Historical and Pioneer Society, he having celebrated his ninety-first birthday on the 15th of this month. His father, Absalom Traver. was born in New York city in 1800, while his mother, Charlotte M. Miller, was born in Boston, Mass. The father conducted a grocery business on Maiden Lane, in New York, but in the fall of 1831, just a few months after the birth of their sixth child, George, the subject of this sketch, the parents decided to pull up stakes and go out into the wilds of Michigan and build up a new home. When the elder Traver told one of his neighbors what he was about to do, he gave him the following advice: "Now, Absalom, you were born and brought up in the city and know nothing about choosing good land, but if you go to Michigan you will have to buy new land; so let me advise you that if you want a good farm to choose land on which is good thrifty timber and plenty of running water." When Mr. Traver started lie was accompanied by a friend named Hay Stevenson. It was in November, so navigation had not closed, and they took a boat in New York and went to Albany. From there they walked to Buffalo, where they were able to cross into Canada, and then continued their walk to Windsor, where they were ferried across to Detroit and again took up their journey on foot to Ann Arbor, which at that time consisted of two small villages about one-half mile apart. They first stopped at "Uppertown," as it was called, where Mr. Traver inquired for land. He was directed to 160 acres lying about one-half mile east of the village, which could be bought for $5.00 per acre. Remembering the advice of his friend, he looked it over carefully, and found the timber on the scrubby order, and no running water near, so he concluded it would not make a good farm. (This land now forms a part of the campus of the University of Michigan.) He then went to "Lowertown," just across the Huron river on

808 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY the north side, and there bought 160 acres of land from a Mr. Wilcox. From this he platted an addition to the village, then bought another tract nearby, which contained 80 acres. In the meantime his friend Stevenson had bought 320 acres north of the village of Dexter on the shore of North Lake, and began the erection of a house. In the spring of 1832, as soon as navigation opened, the two men moved their families from New York city to their new homes in Washtenaw county. They came all the way by water to Detroit, by way of the Hudson river, the Erie canal and other waterways to Buffalo, then by steamboat to Detroit, where they took the stage to Ann Arbor. On the 160 acres purchased by Mr. Traver was a small creek which traversed his land from north to south. The land was covered with heavy timber, and the call for lumber being great the owner built a small saw mill in 1834, and in 1841, when the first University buildings were erected, he furnished all the lumber. This was what is now the north wing of University Hall. Mr. Traver does not remember the number of the section on which the home was situated, but says the south end of the land his father owned is now covered with a large garden and greenhouse, near the island. Mr. Traver says: "I was the oldest boy living in our family (there were four children born to the Travers' after they came to Michigan), so I was the drudge. If there was anything wanted, why George was the boy called for, so I was always kept busy. My father farmed it for twenty years, but never did a day's work with a team; he never wanted anything to do with a team; depended on hired help for that. So as soon as I got old enough to hold the lines I had to learn to drive, and as soon as I got big enough to walk behind a drag and guide a team I was put into that work, so I never could go to school except for a short time in the winter, and when I was seventeen I had to give up school for good. You know the old saying, 'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,' and that was so in my case. My father organized the first school taught in the lower town in Ann Arbor, just north of the railroad track. He took some slabs from his saw mill and made some rough benches and fitted up a room upstairs in the old farm house, where they had school for a year or two. Then an old neighbor from the east who had just learned the carpenter trade came to Ann Arbor and Mr. Traver had him

WHIEATFIELD TOWNS,'HIP- AND ITS HISTORY 809 build a small school house, which served until the district organized and built a brick house, on Traver street, where was held the first district school in the city. I attended the first school taught there when I was but a small boy, and little did I think when this young man was my teacher," says Mr. Traver, "that I would live to be a member of a school board in Ingham county and hire this same teacher for the school my children attended, the Dennis school in Wheatfield Township, the teacher a well known instructor in the State, John S. Huston." In July, 1855, George Traver and Catherine Ellen Kirk were united in marriage in Ann Arbor by Rev. Andrew Bell, and in 1858 they moved to Ingham county and settled in Alaiedon Township, but in 1861 they moved back to Ann Arbor and Mr. Traver run his father's saw mill for a time, then came again to Ingham county, and bought a farm near Webberville, but in 1865 moved to the farm where he now lives. January 5, 1864, Mr. Traver enlisted in Co. B, 6th Michigan Heavy Artillery. This regiment was in the Department of the Gulf, and was mustered out at New Orleans in August, 1865, and paid off and discharged a month later. Mr. Traver says, "When I enlisted I had a wife and three boys under six years of age, and it was a hard thing to step out and leave them, saying to the Government, 'here is my life, take it if needed.' " Mr. Traver lost his wife some years ago, and he and his daughter live on the old home farm, which the daughter conducts. He is a little hard of hearing, and uses a cane to guide his steps, but has never lost his interest in public affairs, and is always the first one present at the State and County Historical meetings, or at any G. A. R. gathering, ready at any time to tell his experiences. F. L. A.

CHAPTER XVIII. WHITE OAK TOWNSHIP. Early days in White Oak and Stockbridge, by G. K. Stimson; pioneer poem, "Don't Go West"; G. W. Holland's story of White Oak. First White Child Born in Ingham Tells of First Michigan Pioneering-Mrs. Abby Clark, of This City, Has Spinning Wheel Used to Clothe Family. Creaking to a standstill, broken under the terriffic strain to which the continual wrenching of the chaotic floor of Michigan's wilderness had subjected it, the immigrant wagon of Daniel Dutcher came to a halt. Come, my steam-heated friend, leave the contemplation of your obesity and the thought of consternation for your legs, grown defective with too much trust in gasoline and let us journey back into the roadless woods of Ingham county 85 years ago, and watch the proceedings attendant on the coining of the first white folks to our county. Hear the patient oxen, the breath issuing almost resonantly from their tense nostrils. How small and inconsequential the few human voices now raised seem in that silence-clogged wilderness, as they counsel what to do. The breakdown is decisiveand there is little need to talk. Miles on, through the trackless woods, the Dutchers must go. The young mother climbs down from the wagon, and taking one child by the hand and carrying the soon-to-be first white child of Ingham county under her heart, goes forward. The father carries the youngest child. Night is fast closing down, but on, through the dark, the Dutchers make their way. Simple little procession, indeed, to the undiscerning, but tremendous in its import when considered as the beginnings of an empire. FIRST STOPPING PLACE. Persistence on the part of the travelers took them eventually to

W}ITE OAK TOWNSHIPII AND ITS HISTORY 811 the cabin home of Mrs. Dutcher's parents, already established for a year in what is now Unadilla of Washtenaw county. But that was only a stopping place. The wagon was next day repaired and on they went, in a few days, into the forest that one day was to become Ingham county. Eventually Daniel Dutcher and his little family came to a halt on the white oak land, on the southern edge of White Oak Township, just over the line from Stockbridge Township, near Lowe Lake. That was in the fall, and in December, on the 19th to be exact, 1835, Abby Dutcher, now Mrs, Clark, of 116 South Francis street, still living at the home of her son, Will G. Clark, was born. In this domestic event Ingham county had begun to grow. The first white child was born within its boundaries. Hearing today the story of the beginnings of the Dutcher family, in their little clearing made on the government land, claim to which had been taken at "ten shillings an acre," one is forced to believe that they had no more vision of the wonderful country they were building than Moses had of his centuries of coming fame when he tended the flocks of Jethro; but both, in their simplicity, wrought better than they knew. RISKED ALL ON TRIP. As said, Daniel Dutcher and his family arrived on their claim in early fall and they had nothing but fast disappearing supplies in their wagon. These had been purchased at Detroit after coming up the lake from "York state." They had $1,500 when they started, and they were risking it all on their great venture. But it was more-much more-than a gambler's chance. The whole capital was invested in an opportunity of hard work. And so it proved. When Abby was born, in December, the first rude cabin was up. It had no doors and windows, but across one side of the cabin extended a wide fireplace above which rose a chimney of mud and sticks. Before their first candles were made, brush, piled high on the big back log, afforded light for the cabin. Everything was strange and new, but the outstanding circumstance of the pioneer appears to be, from the stories now told of him, that he made circumstances bend to his will instead of bending to circumstances. Pioneer housewives were tenacious,

812 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY almost to a fault, of things their mothers had taught them. It was almost no time at all before white bread was made and somehow or other they very early managed to see to it that a cow came to the frontier. Milk they would have. Mrs. Clark well remembers setting out a huge loaf of bread and a pan of milk for some hungry Indians one day when her parents were away. "We threw the remains of the food away," relates Mrs. Clark, from which one may gather that Indians impressed children, even in those days, as being, as we would say. "insanitary." That the pioneers had it in them not to sink to the level of conditions, as they found them, but were willing to battle for their standards of life is instanced in the fact that they would rather travel back to Detroit for white flour than to sink to the level of the Indian way of living. It deserves to be said in passing that the big round loaves of those days were baked in a "bake kettle," long extinct contrivances that used to be buried in coals raked from the fireplace. The cover had a rim or collar to keep the hot coals atop the kettle. "NORTH TOWN" NOT STARTED. Preceding the Dutcher family, in their new White Oak home, was the Lowe family, of which Heman Lowe was the head; but this did not make it otherwise than that both families were on the actual frontier of Michigan. Mrs. Clark says that, so far as they knew, there were no white people beyond them, so far as the wilderness extended. The beginning of Lansing had not been made. The saw mill at "North Town" was not yet up. One of the terrors of Mrs. Clark's young life was the wolves, and this terror she says was shared by her mother. Nearly every night before the family could find sleep the wolves had to be frightened away with burning brands from the fireplace. The Indians never gave any trouble to mention, except a little thieving, even though quite a good many of them lived nearby. An Indian trail was the only pathway the Dutchers and their neighbors knew. Lowe Lake of today was a popular Indian resort. How strikingly those old timers took to the ways of civil government. Almost before their cabins were built they planned on township and county government. The Dutchers settled just north of Stockbridge Township in 1835 and the next year Stock

WHITE OAK TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 813 bridge was organized as a township. Even White Oak itself, only four years after its first settlers came, was made a township. "I tell you, there wasn't a lazy hair in anyone's head in those days," said Mrs. Clark the other day at her son's home, relating how life went with them. "We all worked as hard as we could, and we had some terrible times-yes, indeed we did-but we were all as happy as folks are nowadays and I don't know but happier." HAS SPINNING WHEEL. Mrs. Clark still possesses the spinning wheel which was a prime necessity in her frontier home. She not only learned to spin but she made cloth as well. She remembers with pride how she made her first husband a full suit of clothes of "black satinette." Our men folks looked just as well as they do now, though we made their clothes from the cloth we had made from wool off our sheep's backs, is Mrs. Clark's belief, whether modern tailors agree or not. "How were women's dresses made in those days?" Mrs. Clark was asked. "Well, they 'want' as short as they are now, that's one thing!" She remembers the wedding dress she wore. That was when she was a bride of 19. It was a dark wool delain, with a small white figure. She admits that she and George Wilson (her first husband) did not have much of a wedding. They drove over to Howell in Livingston county, were married there, and then went on for a honeymoon of a week with relatives further over in Livingston. Coming home the snow was so badly drifted they were overturned from their sleigh. Young Wilson and Abby Dutcher met when the young man came to help build the new Dutcher frame home which was considered quite a mansion. And so these young people, trusting the future as implicitly as it has been trusted in all ages, were married, little realizing that the great Civil War was coming on. But come it did, and it took the life of the young abolitionist husband, who declared the slaves ought to be free if it meant war. He also declared, "I would rather enlist and be killed than drafted and escape." CIVIL WAR VET. And death did overtake George Wilson in the service of his country. He was of Company H, 26th Regiment. Its scarred

814 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY battle flag may still be seen in the Capitol rotunda. Those were grave, dark days, and can the reader wonder that tears still well up in the eyes of Mrs. Clark as she remembers? It was in connection with her widow's pension that she made her first trip to Detroit, by stage from Stockbridge to Dexter, where she took the first steam cars she had ever seen. There is a wealth more to tell of Mrs. Clark's experiences, but all cannot be given space here. She came to Lansing to see the first Capitol when it was completed and never came again until fairly recently when she came to live with her son. One circumstance, however, fully characteristic of the times and as marking Mrs. Clark unmistakably as a daughter of Eve, must not be omitted. Hoop skirts came in along about the beginning of the Civil War. The young Mrs. Wilson (then) had to have some too, but thrift was written in big letters in those days. She improvised to meet the style by sewing wild grape vines inside her skirt. Oh, those early pioneers were nothing if not American. After her second marriage, to Elias Clark, they lived for a long time in the village of Stockbridge amd prospered there. Mrs. Clark is the mother of 5 children, grandmother of 19 children and greatgrandmother of 9. Her children were Daniel and Sadie Wilson, the former deceased, the latter Mrs. Burch, of Detroit, and Electra, Will and Lon Clark. Electra is Mrs. Edward Bushnell, of Fowlerville, Lon Clark lives near Unadilla and Will G. in Lansing, is related. The sisters of Mrs. Clark are Mrs. Emery Secord, of Howell, Mrs. Patience Van Buren, of Lansing, and Mrs. Charles Carpentier, of near Stockbridge. Indeed, there seems to be few living today who have so fully and characteristically contributed to the raising of Michigan from a wilderness to what it is today. G. K. STIMSON. A PIONEER POEM' The following was sent to the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical Society by G. W. Holland, of White Oak, and is copied, not so much for its beauty as to show the opinion people had of Michigan in earlier days. This was written in 1849 by a man long since dead, and is now owned in the family of Mr. Holland. It

WHITE OAK TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 815 was found pasted in an old book his father had that was published in 1848. "DON'T GO WEST." "Come, eastern friend, if you'll attend Unto the counsel of a friend, I think it would be your best plan To stay away from Michigan. "The sawmills they are dangerous things, Are running fast and slabs they fling; They kill you or cut off your hand And leave you a beggar in Michigan. "Each Saturday night you want your pay, Expect your money right away, But a written order is put in your hand, That's the way you're paid in Michigan. "The doctors they are young in skill; They do no good, but put in their bill. They tell you they do all they can, And let you die in Michigan. "The people they are getting sad Because their money is all bad; The banks all broke but two or three, And they'll soon die with the 'cholerie.' "The swamps they are all filled with brakes, And are alive with rattlesnakes; They lie and watch; do all they can To bite the folks in Michigan. "There are a few nice boys, 'tis true, But, 0, alas, what can they do? But if one wants a pretty wife She can't be found to save his life.

816 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY "There are nice girls, I'll own 'tis true, But, dear me, what can they do? For if they want a pretty man They have to leave their Michigan." WHITE OAK AND THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET. By G. W. HOLLAND. We would like to take our young readers into our forest home. A large place was cut into the end of the log house and walled up with stones and clay. The bottom was filled with the same material and bent poles were mortised in the logs and overlays, and with split lath and mortar our chimney and fireplace were completed. Large doors were placed in the center of two opposite sides of the house, with windows each side. A heavy plank floor below and inch lumber for the chamber floor, the gable ends being filled in with long shakes and slabs. Logs the right length for the fireplace were drawn up to the house, then rolled into the room through the big doors, and put on the fireplace for a back log. Sometimes two or more were used at once, the andirons were put in place and smaller logs laid on them. At one end of the chimney was an iron staple used to hold the crane. On this was swung the pot or kettle, which could be raised or lowered by aid of the trammel. The bread was baked in a tin oven, and the meat and game were roasted by being tied to a string which was fastened to an overlay next to the chimney, the string being twisted tight. A good fire was then built under the roast, the meat given a start and as the atring slowly twisted and untwisted the meat was kept turning over the fire until it was cooked to nicety. Under the meat was a dish to catch the grease. And the goodness of those primitive roasts has never been excelled by any modern processes. The wool was carded into reels, spun into yarn, then woven into cloth for all the clothing needed by the family. People suffered terribly with fever and ague in early days, because of the impure water they were forced to use. Maple sugar season was one of the pleasantest of the year,

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."

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.

CHAPTER XIX. WILLIAMSITON TOWNSHIP. Williamston in 1863; early events; "Africa" school district; township notes; "Pioneer Life" by W. W. Heald. A township and post village of Ingham county, situated on the Lansing and Howell plank road, 70 miles from Detroit. Fare $3.50. The village contains several general stores, grocers, harness makers, etc. It has six mails per week. Postmaster, Egbert Gratton. TRADES AND PROFESSIONS. Bishly, John-blacksmith. Brown, John F.-insurance agent. Brown, Mrs. John F.-milliner. Carr, Charles S.-justice of the peace. Carr, Charles W.-hotel. Fairbanks, James-boot and shoe maker. Grattan, Crary-grocer. Gratton, Egbert-general store. Hale, Philip-merchant tailor. Hartwe, August-blacksmith. Hartwe, William-blacksmith. Hewson, Thomas-grocer. Horton, Hiram-cooper. Horton, Hiram A.-saloon. King, Israel-boot and shoe maker. Krumbeck, John F.-harness maker. Leasia, James A.-physician. Lindner, John-carriage maker. Loranger, Brown and Co. (Eli P. Loranger, John F. Brown, Nelson Loranger)-general store. Randall, C. L.-physician. Scott, S. James-lawyer. Shuert, Daniel-hotel.

820 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Steele, Joseph H.-iron founder. Taylor, Ira-blacksmith. Taylor, Jonathan B.-flouring mill. Tompkins, Charles W.-carpenter. Wagner, John-carriage maker. Waldo, J. B. and J. W.-general store. White, Clark-carpenter. EARLY EVENTS IN WILLIAMSTON. From Williamston Enterprise, 1914. The township lines of Williamston were run by Joseph Wample in 1824, and the subdivision lines by him in 1826. The township is designated in the survey as town four, north of range one east of the principal meridian. The territory now included in the township was without a white inhabitant until the spring of 1834, when Hiram and Joseph Putnam left their home in Jackson county for the purpose of making a settlement on the banks of the Cedar river. In passing through Stockbridge Township they found David Rogers building the first house in Ingham county. From there the Putnams cut a road some twenty miles, most of the way through heavily timbered land to the Cedar river, on section 35; this track was known for years as the Putnam trail, and now the Putnam road. The Putnams took possession of an Indian plantation ground of some fifteen acres, lying on the north banks of the river, that tract now being in the incorporated limits of the village of Williamston. There the Putnams built a small log shanty, 12x16 feet, and covered it with shakes. This was the second white man's roof in Ingham county. They fenced, plowed and sowed the Indian clearing to oats, meeting with many privations, difficulties, and losses, one of which was the loss of their team, a fine yoke of oxen,which strayed away in the yoke, and when they were found, after many days of search through dense forest, into which they had gone, one was

WILLIAMSTON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 821 dead, and the other was reduced to a mere skeleton in his efforts to drag his mate in search of food. The Putnams also imagined the Indians were quite too numerous, wild and uncivilized to make good neighbors. These difficulties were somewhat magnified by their desire to mingle again with wives, friends and civilization at home, and also being disheartened by the prospects before them, they went back to Jackson county until harvest. They then came back, cut, stacked and fenced their oats and left not to return, leaving the grain to be fed to the Indian ponies and the land lookers' horses. The second improvement in Williamston was made late in the fall of 1839, when Simeon Clay built a log house. He then returned to Dearborn to spend the winter and while he was gone the land formerly owned by the Putnams was purchased by three brothers-O. B., J. M. and H. V. Williams. They built a log house. Neighbors soon came in-Dillicene Stoughton, James Tyler and the Lounsbury's. Okemos was the nearest settlement west, and the nearest house east was eleven miles distant. In the fall of 1840 the Williams brothers had a dam and saw mill in operation on the Cedar river. A dozen or more Indian wigwams could be seen from the mills as the "Tawas Tribe" to the number of 30 to 150 occupied and planted the farms later owned by J. M. Williams. They were considered very friendly and acceptable neighbors, supplying the settlers plentifully with many articles of food, which today would be considered luxuries, such as venison, fish and fowl. It was the custom of the Indians for some years to return to this locality and indulge in a feast at a certain full moon in the spring, not forgetting to give a portion of the food to the departed. In 1842 the Williams brothers erected a grist mill, known as the Red Cedar Mill. Until that time I think the nearest mill was at Dexter. The mill here was afterward operated by Stephen and Hiram Siegfried, later by Mead & Fleming, and others. The first couple married in Williamston, the event occurring in 1840 and the ceremony being performed by Caleb Carr, a justice of the peace, were Simeon Clay and Sophronia Stoughton, daughter of Dillicene Stoughton. The first white child born in the township was Lucy A. Louns

822 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGrIAM COUNTY bury, now Mrs. Leeman Case, her birth at this place occurring in 1841. Some records indicate that Amaziah Stoughton, son of Dillicene and Sophronia Stoughton, was the one to enjoy this distinction, but this is an error as Mrs. Case was born three days prior to the birth of Amaziah Stoughton. The first death was that of Oswald Williams, father of the Williams brothers, who died in 1842, while on a visit from New York. At that time the nearest physician was at Dexter, Washtenaw county, and the nearest post office ten miles away. Goods were packed from Detroit, Ann Arbor or Dexter on the backs of Indian ponies. George B. Fuller came to Williamston from Leoni, Jackson county, December, 1844. No improvements whatever had been made upon his place about two miles north of the Cedar river and there was no traveled road by it. The township of Williamston was originally organized as Phelpstown, March 02, 1839, and included what are now the townships of Williamston and Locke. The first town meeting was held at the house of David Phelps, after whom the town was named, on the 15th day of April, 1839. David Phelps was a resident of that part of the township now constituting the township of Locke. The name of the township was changed to Williamston by the act of the Legislature, February 17, 1857. At that first town meeting Moses Park acted as moderator, and David Phelps as clerk. Caleb Carr, Jefferson Pearce and Moses Park were chosen as inspectors of election. The total number of votes polled were 11, and as there were 22 offices to fill, it follows that the most of the offices were impartially distributed, each person having two. The first ballot box used at the town election in 1840 was a stand drawer covered with a newspaper, which was lifted up and the ballots deposited underneath. There was no ballot box stuffing in those days. At the general election in the fall of 1840 the box used was one made by David J. Tower, from split basswood and divided into five compartments for the different votes. This box is still in a good state of preservation and is the property of the Williams family. I will here just mention the names of the supervisors of Williams

WILLIAMSTON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 823 ton from the first election, 1840 to 1880: Caleb Carr, Lewis Lounsbury, J. M. Williams, he was supervisor from 1844 to 1849, and other times afterwards; then Alfred B. Kinne, William Tompkins, Hugh H. Spaulding, D. L. Crossman, Sam W. Taylor, George Porter. Many of these held the office of supervisor a number of different years. There are other items from the early records that perhaps might be interesting, such as the highways, war bounties, railway subscription, etc., but I must hasten on or I shall weary you all. There were two post offices in the town, one at Williamston, bearing its name, and the other in the north part of town, known as the Alverson post office. We will now confine our remarks mostly to the village of Williamston. The original village plat of Williamston was laid out on the southeast quarter of section 35, town 4 north, range 1 east, in 1845, by the Williams brothers, for whom it was named. Additions have since been made by J. B. and J. W. Waldo, in 1866, by Richard W7. Owens, and by Hugh H. Spaulding. These additions were made before 1880. (There have been others.) The village was incorporated April 5, 1871. The charter was amended, conferring additional powers upon the common council April 3, 1873. The officers elected by ballot annually were a president, recorder, five trustees, an assessor and a treasurer. The marshal and other necessary officers are appointed by the council. The first election under the charter was held April 10, 1871, with the following result: President, J. M. Williams; recorder, E. D. Lewis; treasurer, Thomas Horton; assessor, I. H. Spaulding; trustees, George W. Shane, Nathan Leighton, William Simons, Joshua K. Kirkland and D. L. Crossman. I. B. and I. B. Williams removed to other states several years ago. J. M. remained here until his death, which occurred September 18, 1886. His children are well known and are among our worthy citizens. The first fire department was a hook and ladder and bucket company. A calaboose or lockup, and a public pound were constructed in the summer of 1871. A post office was first established at Williamston on the 10th of May, 1842, and J. M. Williams was

824 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY postmaster. He held the office until about 1850, when he was succeeded by Jonathan B. Taylor. The first mails were brought from Detroit once a week on a pony. Letters from a long distance then cost 25 cents. The first daily mail was received by stage over the plank road in 1854. The plank road was built from Detroit to Lansing in 1852. The earliest establishment of a foundry and machine shop was opened by a company of whom Dillicene Stoughton was one, about 1850, but the business was abandoned and J. H. Steele purchased most of the stock and removed it to Fowlerville, where he was located. He came to Williamston in 1860, and carried on a general foundry and repairing business until 1870. In 1867 Grattan, Wilson & Clark started a foundry and repair shop in the east part of town. In 1871 J. H. Crostick commenced business as a general blacksmith, adding thereto the manufacture of a few cutters. In 1879 he erected a two-story shop on the corner of Putnam and High streets. D. F. P. Burnett commenced business on the southeast corner of Grand River and Cedar streets in 1874. In 1875 he moved to a larger building on the northwest corner of the same streets. The business was the manufacture of fine carriages and cutters, etc., and every department of the work was carried on in the shop. An average of eight hands were employed. The first planing mill in the village was built by J. B. and J. W. Waldo, about 1868, at the corner of Putnam and High streets. The mill was in operation about ten years. The second planing mill was erected by Egbert Grattan about 1870, and was operated about two years when he was killed in the mill. Two other men were killed while working around machinery in early Williamston-William HIartwig in the saw mill north of the river, and a man named Davis in the same mill, about 1874. A building on Putnam street near South street was erected by Baldwin, Hooker & Company for a planing mill. A year later Hooker sold his interest to Daniel Miller. Harvey Hammond bought out Baldwin & Green in 1875. Hammond & Miller operated the mill about two years, when Hammond became sole proprietor. The Williamston Stave Company was begun by Henning & Schultz in 1873. The business consisted in the manufacture of staves, heading and packing barrels. From 15 to 25 coopers were

WILLIAMSTON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 825 employed. In 1880 the manufacture of barrels reached 25,000, and the shipment of staves aggregated as many as 6,000,000 in a year. These shipments were mostly sent to Chicago. This firm was also the largest apple buying and shipping one in the state. W. P. Ainsley was superintendent of the works. There were marble works established by C. W. Hill, in 1877, but only lasted a few months and the stock was taken to Jackson. G. T. Davis and G. W. Bliss opened a marble shop here in 1880. I do not know how long that continued. The first banking institution was opened by Hugh Spaulding & Company in 1871. It carried on business until 1876 when it was closed. The Crossman Bank was opened in 1872 by D. L. Crossman and George W. Whipple. The National Block was erected in 1874 by D. L. Crossman, J. B. amd and J. W. Waldo. A loan office was opened by John Dakin in 1879. Mr. Dakin was afterwards instrumental in organizing the Williamston State Bank, which became the first chartered banking institution in town. The first coal mined in the neighborhood of Williamston was taken out by J. M. Williams on the south bank of the Cedar river, in about 1846-1847, for blacksmithing purposes. Mining it for market was begun as early as 1852. The coal mines have been worked quite extensively at different times since 1872. Williamston Lodge, No. 153, F. & A. M., was organized in the spring of 1864, with about ten charter members. Rev. J. TI. Cornalia was the first worshipful master. Williamston Lodge, No. 205, I. O. O. F was instituted by T. E. Doughty, Grand Master, April 28, 1873. The Eastern Star Chapter was organized in the spring of 1880, with about twenty members. The Ancient Order of United Workmen was organized in May, 1879. There was also in early days a flourishing lodge of I. O. G. T. and a Red Ribbon Club. The first newspaper published in Williamston was The Williamston Enterprise, by William S. Humphrey and Company, the first number appearing June 5, 1873. August 8, 1873, Messrs. Campbell & Phelps became the owners and publishers and issued the paper until June 30, 1874, when Bush & Adams became proprietors and continued it until January 20, 1875, when E. S. Andrews purchased the property. His interests were later purchased by H. A. Thompson, the present publisher.

826 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIILAM COUNTY Among the earliest physicians who practiced in Williamston were Dr. Joseph Watkins, Dr. Wells and Dr. Cobb, who lived about one and one-half miles north of the village, none of whom were regularly educated for the profession. They were attempting to practice here when Dr. Leasia located here about 1840. Dr. Gray and Dr. Davis about 1860; there were also some others. Dr. Coad came in 1868 and has been in practice here since that time; Dr. Defendorf came in 1873; Dr. Campbell in 1876. The attorneys that I remember before 1880 were Horatio Pratt, E. D. Lewis, Quincy A. Smith and B. D. York. The first action concerning public schools appears on record in 1840, when it was voted to raise a fund of $150 for their support. The first items entered in the regular school record were in 1844, February 10, when the first school district was formed, District No. 1, to consist of sections 34, 35, 36, the west half of the southeast quarter of 25, the east half of the southeast quarter of 26, the southeast quarter of 27, the southwest quarter of 24, and the southeast quarter of 23, to be called District No. 1 of the township of Phelpstown. At that time Jesse P. Hall, O. B. Williams and L. H. Lounsbury were inspectors of schools. On the 26th of April following District No. 2 was formed. On the 3d of May, 1845, District No. 3 was formed. These took away some of District No. 1. In the spring of 1845 the inspectors purchased 185 volumes of books, established a library, and appointed H. B. Williams librarian. EARLY TEACIHES. On the 8th of April, 1835, the inspectors certify that they have examined Miss Mary Farrand in respect to her moral character, learning and ability to teach a primary school, and consider her well qualified for the discharge of that duty. A certificate was issued her to teach in District No. 1, then comprising the nucleus of the present village of Williamston. Among others who were examined and licensed to teach from 1845 to 1850, we find the names of the following: Gilman Warren, October 15, 1845; Miss Elizabeth L. Alverson, May 1, 1847; Miss M. Demerry, June 19, 1847; Miss Jane Watson. November 19, 1847; Miss Armena Pitts, May 1, 1848; Miss Lovina P. Alverson, June 7, 1848; Miss Sarah Jean Macomber, September 23, 1848;

WVILLIAMSTON TOWNShIP AND ITS HISTORY 827 Jesse P. Hall, December 30, 1848; Cathrine C. Cornwell, May 22, 1849; Edward P. Alverson, November 7, 1849; Alfred B. Kinne, January 28, 1850; Emeline Epley, May 27, 1850; Sarah Ann Fletcher, June 29, 1850; Lodema Tobias, September 16, 1885; Henry Lane, November 2, 1850, and Clorinda J. George, December 27, 1850. In April, 1850, James A. Leasia, Harry Gleason and S. R. V. Church were school inspectors. The first school in what is now the village was taught in a building situated on the land of J. M. Williams and erected by private subscription in 1844. The earliest teachers were the Misses Farrand and Mtunn. The first district school building was also on the north side of the river and erected in 1846 or 1847. Mr. Vanneter attended school in the first little log school house. This was subsequently sold, and a building which had formerly been an addition to the Lombard house purchased and used for several years. It was afterwards used for a dwelling house, then as a wagon shop and other purposes. The Baptist people held meetings there. A fine new building was erected in 1874 at a cost of $15,000. The building burned January 3, 1887. Other buildings were soon erected, but that is not "early Williamston." The lot on which the present school buildings stand was presented to the district by Col. R. W. Owen. The father of Col. Owens was formerly a member of Congress from the state of Georgia, and owned an extensive plantation in Habershan county. He was one of a company which purchased lands in Michigan at an early date and subsequently became owner of the tract at Williamston. The colonel fell heir to this property and visited it occasionally, but his ownership was no advantage to the village, for the land remained vacant and stood as a barrier in the way of improvements. During the War of the Rebellion he was an outspoken rebel, and served with distinction in the Confederate army. This fact was very nearly the cause of the confiscation of all his property in the North. The matter was carried before the United States court at Detroit and after considerable delay was finally dismissed. The Colonel married the daughter of one of Williamston's early settlers, J. B. Taylor. I think his wife died just before the Civil War. The Colonel visited Williamston fre

828 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY quently, and during one of these visits made a present of the land for the school buildings to the district. It is finely situated and the building erected upon it was an honor to the village and a commentary upon the conditions of schools in the state where the Colonel resided. But the apparently generous act of the wealthy Southerner was not without sufficient cause. Parties on the north side of the river had offered to give a site and $200 in money if the buildings were erected on that side, and the prospect of rapid improvement in that direction, and the loss of a corresponding growth on the south side 'tis thought touched a sympathetic chord in the Colonel's bosom and resulted in the gift. RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. The First Baptist Society, which is the oldest in the village, was organized in Wheatfield Township June 4, 1841, with ten members. H. T. Feiro, William Tompkins and Elijah Hammond were appointed to draft articles and covenant. Henry Lee acted as clerk. In the same month Rev. H. T. Feiro was called to the pastoral charge. At a council composed of delegates from churches of Ingham, Mason, Howell, Unadilla and Leslie, held January 26, 1842, the society was received into fellowship, and Rev. H. T. Feiro was ordained over it as pastor. The meetings were held half the time at the Martin school house and half the time at the usual place, and from that time until January, 1848, there appears to have been no settled pastor. At that date a resolution was passed to change the name of the church to First Baptist Church of Williamston; at that time they began to hold their regular meetings in the village, though there was no church edifice until 1867-1868. Meetings were held previous to that time in dwellings, school houses and various places, mostly in school houses. On the 23d of March, 1848, Elder Alfred B. Kinne was ordained pastor. Elder Kinne seems to have continued off and on as pastor until December, 1863, at a very meager salary and donation. Elder William White followed Elder Kinne and in 1867 Elder Kinne was once more engaged as pastor at $200 a year. In 1868 Rev. J. C. Armstrong was hired and paid $204.00. The church building, still occupied was erected in 1867-1868 at a cost of about $3,000, and it was dedicated the 9th of May, 1868.

WILLIAMSTON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 829 In 1880 a chapel was built in the rear of the church edifice. The M. E. church has a large membership and supports a flourishing Sunday School. The first churdh was built in 1867 -1868 at a probable cost of $2,000. St. Mary's Catholic church was erected in 1869, upon a lot on High street, donated by the Waldo brothers. After the fire a new building was erected and extensive improvements have been made to the church building within the past few years. The first Congregational church was organized in October, 1878, the church building, a fine brick edifice, was erected in 1880. SUMMIT CEMETERY. This ground belongs to a company incorporated under a state law of 1855. Among the incorporators were J. M. Williams, Nelson Loranger, J. B. Taylor, George B. Fuller, Horatio Pratt and John S. Vanneter. The incorporators organized February 7, 1860, and on the first day of May of that year purchased of Webster Harvey and wife a little over three acres of land(a few years ago more land was purchased from the same party). The lot is eligibly situated on rolling ground, with a soil composed mainly of sand and gravel, and admirably adapted for burial purposes. Hundreds of dollars have been expended in laying out ornamenting and improving it and it is kept in good condition. There was another burial ground situated on Church street southeast of Williams' Corners, that was used before the incorporation of the Summit Cemetery Association. Only a limited number of burials were made there, and they were removed to Summit Cemetery. This was also true of a small burial place just on the west end of town. I have spoken little of the pioneer men, women, their trails and their triumphs. No pioneer people can escape the trials and loneliness of a pioneer life. There are many here at present that are called pioneers, but they came when times were more prosperous and roads were built and railroads had found a way here, and although the country was compartively new it was not like the first few who broke their way into the forest. My parents came here and settled in 1854. They came with a

830 I-PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIHAM COUNTY family of children. The country was new and there was a plenty of Indians, but it was not like when the pioneers of 1840 came. There is just one little item and I will close. Who planted the beautiful lilies in Cedar river? So far as I know, my father did, Nathan Leighton, Sr. In the fall of 1876 he and my stepmother visited at our old home in the state of New York. They went to Great Sodus Bay, about three miles from Lake Ontario. While there my father gathered about a dozen plants of the water lily and brought them home and planted them in Cedar river, part of them just back of where he then lived, east on High street, and the rest up somewhere on the flats. Now I wonder if the lilies are not of that planting in the fall of 1876? MRS. ABBIE J. VANNETER. WILLIAMSTON NOTES. J. M. Williams, of Williamston, a pioneer of that township, has sent some interesting documents to the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical Society which show some of the business methods of early days. The first is a letter from Detroit to O. B. Williams, of Williamston, concerning materials for the first grist mill in Williamston, and is as follows: Detroit, July 31, 1843. Mr. O. B. Williams Bot. of John Webster 1 spindle 1 step and Cap and crop tree................ $19.00 1 Bash......................................... 2.00 $21.00 0. B. Williams, Dear Sir, Your letter of 28' came to hand yesterday (Sunday) and this morning sent by Central rail road the articles, as in the above bill marked 0. B. Williams, Dexter, and requested the agent to keep them in the Rail Road Ware House until you called for them. Your farther orders will be promptly attended to. Your Humble Serv't, John Webster. Detroit, July 31, 1843.

WILLIAMSTON TOWNS\1111 ANI) ITS HISTORY 831 The next is a list of lands in the town of Phelpstown, Ingham county, for sale by J. L. Whiting and Adams, Land Agents of Detroit, and dated January 10, 1846. The following is the most curious of all. In the upper left hand corner is the picture of a stage coach with four prancing horses, the driver sitting in front of the enclosed part of the coach, and the boot for baggage at the hack. In line with this picture are these words: Way-bill, from Howell to Michigan, August 23, 1847. Beneath this is the following schedule: Passenger's Number Extra Where Where Doll's By whom Doll's Names of seats IBagrgage from to Cents Received Cents M. Forden 1 Iowell - Michigan, $1.50 Jobe Page $1.50 Collector Lansing was at that time called "Michigan." AFRICA — WILLIAMSTON TOWNSHIP. Written by DR. F. N. TURNER, North Lansing. This is not the continent in the Eastern Hemisphere, but a school district in the township of Williamston. The inhabitants told me that during the Civil War most of the people or voters in this district were "black Abolitionists," so they named the district Africa. It is located on the north bank of the Red Cedar river, one and one-half miles north and east of Red Bridge. It stands in an open plat of ground without shade trees and faces the south. The building is of the usual type and built of wood. West of the school house is the Branch Cemetery, where most of the pioneers of fifty years ago are buried. When this school house was built and who was the first teacher, I have been unable to find out. I remember a Miss Pyper from OkeInos taught the summer term in 1866, and at the end of the term married George Wells, a young farmer in that neighborhood. Frank Kedzie, now president of M. A. C., in the winter of 1876-7 commenced a term, but did not finish it and the writer of this succeeded him. It was a large unruly school, but I finished it with

832 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHIAM COUNTY only one knockdown. The scholars that attended school are all gone, some dead and those that are alive are scattered. I cannot recall any of the thirty-five that are today living on their father's farms or tilling the parental acres. The numerous families that settled in the district and around the school house we will divide into groups. The largest group was the Webb family, consisting of the brothers John, James, George and William, and one sister, Mrs. Winslow. These brothers came from Washtenaw county, Michigan, and two other brothers that came into Ingham county were doctors and located in Dansville. They practiced medicine there for a number of years. These brothers were thrifty, prosperous, up-to-date farmers. but with the exception of John and Mrs. Winslow had no children. Their children, Wm. Webb and Ira Winslow, of Williamston, attended my school. The next group were the Branch and Mead families, M. N. Mead being a brother-in-law of Mr. Branch. They came from Ohio and settled here, cleared up the forest and had fine farms. Mr. Mead lived just west of the school house and Mr. Branch's house and farm was the first one east. Both had large families, but death entered Mr. Branch's home during the early sixties, and out of eight children only three were left to grow up, one to manhood and two to womanhood. I can remember how the sorrowing parents related this sad event. An epidemic of blood dysentery swept them away in forty-eight hours. The grandmother died of shock the next day, and one funeral with six coffins took place in this stricken household. I can see Mr. Branch as I am writing today, a short, thick-set man with whiskers, sharp black eyes that always looked into yours with an honest, fearless gaze. His movements were quick and he made no false motions. IIe was a good up-to-date farmer, always took a great interest in his farm and stock, especially his horses. His weakness for fine horses led to his financial downfall. A sonin-law persuaded him to breed and raise trotting horses. In a short time his grain fields were made into pastures and meadows, a half-mile racing track was built, and his stables turned into loose boxes for brood mares, etc. The social aspects of the home were changed. Instead of the farmers and their wives, horsemen from

WILLIAMSTON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 833 Kentucky, breeders of trotters, track touts, and the general riff-raff of the breeding and training stables predominated. All this cost money, and in order to save himself from total ruin Mr. Branch and his son-in-law dissolved partnership, and the younger man moved away. The old track is left as a reminder that the dust from behind a fast trotter is not golden, but hides a bad dream and financial ruin. His love for a good horse and his delight in driving one finally led to his death. His favorite horse ran away with him and he was killed by a passing train on a crossing near the county farm. I will always remember Mrs. Branch as a mother to the whole district. Her domestic sorrows and trails never seemed to mar her cheerful disposition or shatter her Christian fortitude. She was always ready to nurse the sick, cheer the sorrowing, help in every social and church meeting, or write an article for the newspapers to explain the good qualities of every new social or moral uplift. Her influence for good was widespread and left a lasting impression. Mr. Mead had a large family. Five stalwart boys. Nathan, Charles, Edward, Newton and Myron. Three fine girls, Emma, Alma and Lois. His farm was large, 320 acres, and in working this his sons were a great help. Three of his sons were farmers and followed his occupation for a livelihood. Edward entered the service of the government and was for years an inspector in the Detroit Custom House. Newton, who had literary tastes, graduated from the Normal College at Ypsilanti, and is now a teacher and professor in the Detroit schools. North and west of the school house were two men who were quite prominent in pioneer times, the Hall and Stone families. They were enemies and were always fighting each other. The milk of human kindness was soured by the thunder and lightning of legal battles over a line fence. They never met but each gave, or tried to give, the other a lick with the rough side of the tongue. Mr. Stone, "Little Jake Stone," as he was best known, was a short, sawed-off Dutchman. He was a good faimer. He had to work hard and save to pay for his forty acre farm and raise his large family, and is one of those who should be commended, though some of his habits overshadowed energy and thrift. He was quick-tempered, liked his beer too well, and was a tyrant in his family. He always used oxen on his farm, and his symbol of

834 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY authority and rod of punishment was his ox whip. When under the influence of beer he would always take occasion to correct some of the family and say, "Jake be boss." This Kaiser rule led to his downfall. His eldest son, upon advice of a neighbor, one day snatched the whip and gave his father a severe chastisemwnt. When he stopped his howling he found his whip, made a polite bow as he handed it over to his son, saying, "You be boss, Jaky be boss no more." His Kaiser rule was gone never to return. Of the many boys that attended my school there is one who I have watched with interest. I noticed him the first week. His figure and appearance made me think of "Shocky" in the Hoosier Schoolmaster. He was tall for his age, very slender, light-haired, quiet in his ways, studious, drawled his words when he talked, never got angry when jostled by the stronger boys, nor was boisterous in his games. His early manhood was a struggle, but patience and an earnest endeavor always won. He married, and he and his wife were appointed superintendent and matron of our county farm. This was a trying position for a young couple, but patience, perseverance and hard work has won fame for them, and they stand before the public today as peers or experts in this kind of social reform and charitable work. Many a poor wreck in the financial and social battle of life has been encouraged by them to renew the fight and take up the battle again. Scores have been cared for and their last days made easier and happier by the kind administrations of these good people. Without any exploiting he and his wife have done a great work for the poor and unfortunate of Ingham county. Although done on a small scale his work will compare favorably with some of the great social reformers in our large cities. Many bless the day when Elmer Fuller looked after their wants and administered to their ailments, and he was the rock on which others leaned before they crossed the dark waters. North Lansing, August 12, 1919.

WILLIAMSTON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 835 WILLIAMSTON TOWNSHIP. By DR. F. N. TURNER, 1919. My first acquaintance, or first visit to this village, was in April, 1866. The earlier history of this settlement and its pioneer days before 1866 has been written by members and friends of the Williams family, the founders of the village. My father was repairing his farm house, and for shingles he had to cut shingle bolts, draw them to Williamston to be cut into shingles. My first visit was with my father to get a load of shingles at Wm. Steele's shingle mill. The mill was situated in the west part of the village on the ground now occupied by Frank Glasier's residence. Mr. Steele had a small foundry in connection with his shingle mill, where he cast plows and their accessories for the surrounding farming country. We approached the village by a turn in the plank road half a mile west, crossing a small creek east of the J. B. Haynes farm. On both sides of the road were woods, with the exception of one or two small clearings on the north side, until we got to Deer Creek bridge. The road angled, as it does today, toward the east; we crossed the bridge and continued for a distance on a plank causeway until we reached the higher ground near the mill and foundry. This long causeway was built on piles across the flats of the Cedar river and Deer Creek. In after years this low ground was filled with earth, the road today being on that embankment. The older inhabitants said they could tell by the sound of the vehicles crossing this causeway whether it was the stage, a loaded wagon or a fellow out for a lark. East of the mill was the old Western Hotel. This building was a long two-storied building, its side to the street and its gables pointing east and west. Across the street was the hotel barn built so its gables pointed north and south. In the eastern part of the village was another hotel, the Lombard House, with a long two-storied porch extending across the entire front. In the rear was the barn on the banks of the river. Beyond this hotel the plank road angled southward and you left the village and entered the country to the east. The length of the village in those days

836 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY was from Bill Steele's mill to the Lombard Hotel. South one block on Putnam street was a long two-storied building that faced the east. It stood flush with the street, had no ground surrounding it except a small plat in the rear. It was painted brown, looked like a factory, and a visitor glancing at it would say it was a furniture or chair shop, but instead it was a temple of learning, the Williamston public school. In those days it was also used for a church. Williamston had no church building in 1866. I remember a Unitarian minister, Rev. Olds, residing in Lansing, held services there once or twice a month. His wife was a sister of Charles Lewis-M. Quad, of the Detroit Free Press. My father and mother were acquainted with Rev. Olds, and they used to visit us in their journeys to and from Lansing. He had a small congregation, but his pastoral work was too hard, his health failed and he stopped preaching in Williamston. On the south side of Grand River street was a large two-story wooden building with an imposing cornice, the Waldo Brothers' store, while on the north side of the street was the store of Mr. Horton. Mr. Horton was a retired farmer and started in the mercantile business with his son-in-law, Charles Beardsley, who succeeded him in after years. In Waldo's store I remember a good-looking young man, a relative of the proprietor, named Shuble Olmstead. On the bank of the mill pond north and west of the Lombard House stood the grist mill-it is there now-where the farmers had their flour and feed ground. My first impressions of the streets of the village were that the buildings were stuck in the mud on the flats of the river. The streets were always muddy in wet weather and dusty in a dry time. This condition of the streets and buildings was not changed until they built additions on the higher ground east and west, north and south. I think from what I can remember of the original village, for convenience to hotels and mills it was built in a hollow, on a mud flat on the low south bank of the river. On the east, west and southwest during ordinary times, in the fall and winter, the flats were covered with water. When the railroad was built in 1871, the volume of traffic and travel changed from the old plank road to the higher ground south near the station, and business commenced to get away from the mud and dust.

WILLIAMSTON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 837 Of the many people I became acquainted with, the lasting friendships I have made during the past fifty-three years, I have a keen remembrance. I regret that I cannot mention them all. I can only sketch from memory a few that I think are the most striking, made the greatest impression on me, and left, or will leave, good results on the entire village. I will divide the people I came in contact with into two clans, and in that way describe them. The largest clan in the sixties was the Waldo, Beeman, Taylor clan. These families were rich and influential, had endured all the privations and hardships of pioneer days until they had money enough to enjoy the pleasures of life. And they did enjoy themselves. Their life was purely social, and the sober, serious things were cast in the background. No churches, no schools or debating societies entered into their scheme of enjoyment. The convivial habits of pioneer days were not forgotten. nor were they carried to excess. No socials, dances, political meetings or Fourth of July celebrations were complete without them, as they put the pep into these gatherings. Their sway continued until 1871, when the building of the railroad brought the Crossmans, Dakins, Healds, Whipples and Jessopps from Dansville. Another clan was formed by the newcomers, who believed in schools, churches, newspapers, etc., in their scheme of enjoyment. So the old clan was broken up and its members scattered. The next clan was the Williams' and Cases. Their leader was Miles Williams, one of the founders of the village, who looked after the credit and financial growth of their infant city. This clan formed the granite foundation which financial storms never disturbed. Many a business man went to them for counsel and aid, and if deserving always received it. During the later development period, 1871 to 1885, they gave freely for the building of churches, schools, etc., and were glad of the opportunity to invest their money in something that would lift the village out from the entanglement of social life and pleasure into the solid and more lasting things. The clan that led the musical talent was the Loranger family. Every member was a musician and for years, or until the death of Eli, the oldest, the Loranger band furnished the instrumental music for all the dances and entertainments. I can see Eli with

838 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY his violin tucked under his chin, his rapt countenance, eyes looking far away into the dream land of chords and cadences producing sweet harmony from his drawing bow. Capt. John A. Elder, in his own estimation, was a clan by himself. He taught the school and tried to drill his rough pupils with a rod instead of a musket. Some of his pupils informed me that Mr. Hilliard, who succeeded him, took the shine off the Captain's reputation in regard to government and discipline. When the new school building was completed a young man who had worked on a farm for John B. Haynes was hired to as principal. It was my good fortune to become acquainted with and receive instruction from George B. Warren. He was an ideal teacher, a self-made man and loyal friend. He told me some of the trials and hardships of his early life. His father was English, born in Canada, a ship carpenter by trade, and his mother was Scotch-Irish. She died in his infancy, but an older sister brought up the family. He was forced to work on a farm when very young to help furnish funds for the family expenses. His father was uneducated but had taught himself to figure accurately so that no problem in arithmetic frightened him or prevented him from giving the correct solution. George was ambitious and determined to get an education, and the lack of funds did not stop him. There was one time in his college life that his funds got so low that he was forced to board himself, and all he had to eat for three weeks was potatoes. His health failed before he left Williamston and he went to California. When I was finishing my senior year at Ypsilanti in 1881 he unexpectedly returned to Williamston and we renewed our friendship. This continued until he returned to California in 1883. He again visited Williamston in 1893. The first church built in Williamston was St. Mary's. There were a few Catholics in and around Williamston, who, under the leadership of Father Driss of Lansing parish, got together and built the church. This thought comes to me as I write, did the Catholics lead in church building in pioneer times? History reveals the fact that in all their explorations and pioneer home building the church was the first thing built. There was a man who made Williamston his summer residence and Georgia his winter home for a number of years, in fact until he died. He excited my boyish curiosity and attention. He had

WILLIAMSTON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 839 been a colonel in the Confederate army, but did not lose all his property when he surrendered his sword. He had a large tract of land bordering on the south side of the old plat of Williamston and extending into Wheatfield. He always boarded with Uncle Dan Stuart, landlord of the Western Hotel. He was convivial in his habits, a keen sportsman, loved a good horse and fox hound. In appearance he was short and smooth-faced, wore his hair long, never wore a vest or suspender, and with his soft collar and Byronic cravat and slouch hat was a typical Southerner in appearance. He was very polite and well educated. I recall a conversation between him and a merchant when he was buying some writing paper. He remarked that his son in college had written him about attending chapel. IHis son thought chapel encroached upon his hours of recreation and pleasure, but his father had written him to observe the rules, for in collage as in the army discipline must be maintained. He did not love the Stars and Stripes, and on one occasion when the Republican club raised a flag pole in the village the top splice broke and the flag could only be raised to the break, he remarked that it was a signal of distress, as it was only at halfmast. His friend and boon companion was Dr. Leasia. They were always together. I think from the enjoyment they took in each other's society that it was a play of French wit against Southern satire, French politeness against Southern chivalry. I recall a conversation I had with Dr. Leasia once when home on vacation. I was in the store and he was questioning me about my work in college, when in his abrupt French way he said, "Did you know Col. Owen?" I was slightly acquainted with him, I replied. "Did you know he was a well educated man?" "No, I did not," I answered. "Well, he is, and I found it out in this way. Some time ago when I was reading the works of Telemac in the original French he came along, stopped and chatted with me. Noticing the book, he asked, 'Doctor, what are you reading?' I told him. He asked for the book, and I gave it to him and he read aloud the English translation better than I could the French. I asked him, 'Colonel, where were you educated?' 'Paris,' he answered. To think, the doctor continued, that old drunken Owen was educated in Paris!" I think Dr. Leasia wanted to impress on me that all collegiate learning must be completed by a

840 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY knowledge of French, and to obtain it I must go to Paris. I was too poor in pocket to take this advice seriously, however. Another story the doctor told about the Colonel. I had been living in the Saginaw Valley, and the doctor was asking me about the drinking water there. He remarked that he and the Colonel were visiting Saginaw and the Colonel early in the morning took a drink from the water pitcher instead of his pocket flask. The doctor looked at him in astonishment and said, "Colonel, it is not dangerous to drink that water full of germs of disease?" The Colonel promptly replied that he could drink enough whiskey before night to drown or kill all the germs. The doctor wanted to impress on me the fact that alcohol was a great germicide, but I have found that you must use it on germs outside the body to be effectual. Dr. Leasia was a Frenchman, the only son in a large family, a graduate of Oberlin College, who came to Williamston after graduation, married and built up a large practice in pioneer days. He had the happy faculty of adapting himself and his language to all classes of society. Ile was original in expressing himself and possessed a satire characteristic of the French people. He hated an inquisitive person and his replies to their questions were original. A patient of his in Leroy Township was sick with pneumonia. On a visit he was questioned by the neighborhood gossip and the following conversation took place: "Doctor, that man is awful sick." "Yes," the doctor replied. "Do you think you can pull him through?" "Hope so," the doctor answered. '<Well, if you do it will be a feather in your cap." "Feather, feather," the doctor repeated, then, looking the woman in the eye, he said, "Madam, I want you to understand I am doctoring this man for cash not feathers. Good night." He was a great stickler for politeness, and none of his rough acquaintances dared to take liberties with him, a fact of which I was witness on one occasion. A slightly intoxicated person came by, locked arms with the doctor, who was standing in front of his office, and said, "Doctor, come with me to the hotel and have some supper." The doctor gave him a stern look as he said, "I always eat my supper at home. If I should be seen eating with you I would be under obligations to ask you to dine with me, and that I will never do."

WILLIAMSTON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 841 Daniel Crossman was clerk in the State Legislature when he moved from Dansville to Williamston, and he continued in that office until his health failed and he was forced to resign. He and his relatives took an active part in the business life of the village. He started the Exchange Bank, built a brick grist mill east of the station and a fine residence near the new school buildings. Wm. Heald came from Dansville with the Crossmans. He had been in the manufacturing business, but bought a farm and started a store, changing his occupation to merchant and farmer. He has written several articles for the Lansing State Journal and other papers about his early pioneer life in Dansville. Besides Dr. Leasia there is another medical man who came to Williamston in the sixties and is living now. For over fifty years he has looked after the sick in Williamston and the surrounding country. Many doctors have come, stayed awhile, and drifted away during his professional life. My acquaintance of half a century gives me the liberty of writing a few sentences about his work and its influence on the social and intellectual life of Williamston. Mathias Coad was born in Massachusetts, and graduated from the old Berkshire Medical College. Just before, or just after, graduation he enlisted as assistant surgeon in the army during the Civil War. He was stationed for a short time in Louisiana as surgeon of a colored regiment. After the close of the war he married and came to Williamston, where he has since remained. In the practice of medicine he made a success, for he was a reader, a student who was up-to-date in every great advancement or new discovery. A sure diagnostician he was always called as counsel in difficult cases by his fellow practitioners, a careful surgeon who for years did all that kind of work for Williamston and adjoining communities. Many young practitioners have had the benefit of his experience and counsel, which was always cheerfully and courteously given. Besides his work in medicine he has done a great work in music. He was always ready to sing and help with his beautiful tenor in social and church circles. Outside of the two things already mentioned, his greatest interest, his hobby, was education. He was always a member of the school board. Williamston school and school buildings are a lasting memorial to his untiring work for years. The high grade they have attained is due to his lifelong efforts.

842 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY I visited him a few weeks ago and noticed his physical weakness. He said he was suffering from the infirmities of old age, but his mind was as strong, his reasoning powers as keen, as ever. In conversing with him about things in medicine I noticed his diagnosis was as logical and analytical as in the years gone by. He does not practice now, but is patiently waiting for the summons to come that will call him home. I can say, his long life has been full of labor, and his efforts were always to make his fellow men better, to enjoy the serious and uplifting things of this life or endure sorrow and trials with fortitude and hopefulness. Although not a pioneer, I must mention another man who I became acquainted with in the last twenty years. He was a Catholic priest and I a Calvinist, but we formed a friendship I will always remember with pleasure. He was broadminded, and had a happy faculty of adapting himself to all walks in life. He was always ready to give his services at every political or social gathering; a true patriot, who preached and lived those great principles that are the foundation of our democracy, viz., "The Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man." This was Father Sharp, the priest of St. Mary's parish. What will be the future of Williamston? For the last ten years the rapidly growing industrial and commercial activities of Lansing has had a depressing influence on Williamston. Workmen, under the stimulus of higher wages, have flocked to the city, and after working some time in the factories have moved their families there. Some of the younger merchants have grown restless, dreamed of a larger and more profitable business and gone with the workmen, only to find in a few years their dream shattered, their profits gone in the war of competition, high rents, ten cent stores and basket groceries. Some of the disappointed ones are now drifting back to their home town to commence anew their mercantile career. A few years ago efforts were made to revive the coal industry, and utilize the fire clay deposits, but the younger men have looked more to the big profits than to the slower development that brings lasting profits. In criticizing their efforts, I would say they are afraid of hard work, have no confidence in their freinds and neighbors, do not possess the foresight and pep of their fathers, the early pioneers. I hope in the future some of the younger men will develop some of

WILLIAMSTON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 843 the idle resources, and in so doing give Williamston, with its fertile farms surrounding it, a revival similar to that of 1871 to 1885. WILLIAMSTON LOCALS. The steam saw mill belonging to Bowerman & Rockwell at White Dog Corners, in Wheatfield, was destroyed by fire on the night of May 24, 1869. Loss $2,500. Believed to be incendiary. INDIAN DANCE. Because of the fact that an Indian village and Indian farms were once located near Williamston, it seems reasonable to think the event described in the following story might have occurred in that vicinity. The article is taken from the Ingham County News for August 5, 1875, and signed "Pioneer," not even the location being named. The representation of an Indian dance in Barnum's show in Lansing on July 5 was quite a tame affair compared with one I witnessed in this county (Ingham) in the fall of 1837. There were about 200 of the redskins present. Our Indians, that is those encamped in our vicinity for the winter, numbering about 50 persons, commenced preparations for a two day feast several days previous to the appointed festive time, by clearing a piece of ground about 40 by 200 feet of every obstruction, cutting the few small trees that grew on the otherwise smooth and level plat of ground, close to the surface of the earth. Then crotched sticks were driven into the ground lengthwise of the cleared plat, leaving them about 15 inches above the ground, and on these poles were placed. White ash wood cut about two feet long and split fine was then placed with one end on the ground and the other leaning against the poles. The meats for the feast had already been prepared. On the day preceding the dance the Indians came in squads from every direction and pitched their tents in a very different manner from that of Barnum's showmen. In the forenoon of the first day of the feast two squaws received all the guns, tomahawks, axes, knives, in fact every implement of any such character, and carried and stacked them up in a tama

844 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY rack swamp close by. These squaws kept themselves aloof from the festivities of the day, About two o'clock the feast commenced and lasted until dark. Then the long line of wood was set on fire and the dance, or hop, jump and whoop began, the Indians chasing one another round and round the fire making as great a variety of sounds expressive of glee as the human tongue can utter. And such antics! I will not attempt a description, for words would fail me. Some that became weak-kneed from the use of too much firewater fell down and were run over by the others until they were able to crawl away. This continued until the fire burned down and out. Those that were able then went to their wigwams. The next morning the two squaws that had taken care of the weapons the previous day delivered them on the dance grounds. Two other squaws removed them to the swamp again, hiding them in a different place, and like their predecessors took no part in the play of that day, which was simply a repetition of the previous one. In a few days the visiting parties returned to their own hunting grounds and the powwow came to an end. Can anyone tell where this feast and dance was held? What did the Indians raise on their farms, and what was their mode of cultivation? Who will tell of some of the social joys of pioneer days? Who can tell a bear or wolf story? Of a deer hunt? Who will describe in detail the building of a log house, kind of logs selected, etc.? It is gratifying to see the interest evinced by the people of Williamston regarding the early history of the county, and the data furnished by them to Mrs. Franc L. Adams, Mason, Secretary of the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical Society, adds greatly to the value of the material already in her hands, and she earnestly solicits replies to the above questions. PIONEER LIFE. In the Williamston Enterprise for January 7, 1920, appeared the following sketch written by W. W. Heald, a Michigan pioneer, who for many years has lived in Ingham county. In a letter to

WILLIAMSTON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 845 the secretary of the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical Society Mr. Heald says that in 1843 he settled just over the line in Jackson county near where the townships of Henrietta and Waterloo in that county and the townships of Stockbridge and Bunkerhill corner on to each other. For sixty-two years Mr. Heald has voted in Ingham county, and while he appears to have some doubt about his being acknowledged as a pioneer of this county in all probability no one else will look at it that way. The sketch referred to above is this: Early history as I remember from hearing my father and mother relate during my early life: My father, an English Yankee, born in Maine, and my mother, pure blood Irish, born four weeks after her folks landed in Maine from the old country. With two children, Frances, three years old, born in Bangor, Me., and Charlotte, one year old, born in Woodstock, Province of New Brunswick, they emigrated from Maine and traveled five weeks on the fastest conveyance known at that time, the Erie canal being a part, and landed in Dexter, Washtenaw county, Michigan, May, 1836. There my father conducted a blacksmith shop. The Michigan Central Railroad did not extend much farther west than Jackson at that time. The rails were wood and strips of iron 3/2 inches wide and one-half inch thick, spiked on top for the wheels to run on. Occasionally the iron would get loose at the end and the wheels run under (car wheels were made very small in those days) and the iron would break through the bottom of the car, and people were frequently hurt. I was born in Dexter, Michigan, May 20, 1837. The first woman I remember, except my mother, was Mrs. Mooney, a kind-hearted Irish woman, whose place joined ours. A. D. Crane, a lawyer, lived the other side of us and had two children, Martin and Harriet. May, 1841, myself then four years old, we moved four miles west to Phelps Corners. My father conducted a blacksmith shop there. I remember the names of some of the people. On the south Uncle Isaiah and Aunt Clara Phelps (as all the children in the neighborhood called them). They had no small children, but two young men, DeForest and Philo. While we were living there DeForest was shot and killed in some feud over a mill dam in Dexter.

846 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY There I received my first schooling in a log house on the south side of the road, Adaline Pearce teacher. They built a new frame school house on the north side of the road while we lived there, and the children of Newman Phelps, Mr. Howell, Mr. Sprague, Enos Carr, Patrick and Michael Lavey all attended school there. I have seen but two of them since that time. Curtis Clark was the first teacher. I also remember two physicians, Dr. Nichols and Dr. Gray. In 1843, myself then six years of age, we moved 16 miles west and settled in the northwestern corner of Waterloo Township, Jackson county. Father preceded the family and built a log house, or rather had the sides rolled up, shake roof on, and rough board floor laid, but no doors, windows or fireplace; no sash and glass for windows or boards for doors, no material for fireplace and chimney, and none to be had, as father wanted brick. Mother hung up blankets for doors and cooked by log heaps, and other outdoor fires, all summer. After some time father got boards for two doors, sash and glass for two windows, and brick for fireplace and chimney, the first and only chimney of the kind in that vicinity. All others were built in primitive, pioneer style, the fire back made of field stone, laid up rough and filled with clay. The chimneys were made of split sticks, laid up with clay between them, plastered with clay on the inside to prevent their catching fire. Sometimes the clay would come off, the sticks catch fire, and the whole family would be on its nerve throwing water; occasionally the fire would be so far up it could not be reached by the water and then the shanty would burn. In this case the neighbors (and that meant all within five miles or more) would come to their relief, house and feed them, and all join in building another house as quickly as possible, by working from daylight till dark, and all free. People had not forgotten the meaning of the word "friendship." Some people had a big squirt gun that would hold a pint or more of water, and this they kept in readiness to be used in case of fire high in the chimney. I do not know as there were any cook stoves at that time. The first one I remember was known as a "rotary." The fire box was long enough to take two kettles, the top was round with three places for kettles. There were cogs on the under side all the way around the edge; these formed a regular wheel with a small cog

WILLIAMSTON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 847 wheel under, which had a crank attached, so when the two kettles over the fire got hot you turned the crank and that brought the cold griddle over the fire, and by changing occasionally one could cook in all three kettles. It had no oven, but the housewife used the outdoor brick oven, or a tin reflector that set before the fireplace for baking. The next cook stove was the elevated oven. We located one mile north of where the village of Munith now stands. The country at that time was a comparative wilderness. Droves of deer, wild turkeys, pigeons, partridge, quail, wild geese, ducks and prairie chickens. The fur bearing animals were otter, mink, muskrat and fox. A few bears and wolves. There was an old beaver dam on the creek, but the beavers were gone. There were thousands of skunks, but their fur was not used at that time. There were wild cats and lynx, an animal of the cat species but much larger, and the most ferocious found in this section. Also porcupine, a harmless animal when not molested, and thousands of squirrels of all kinds. Cyril Adams lived 80 rods east of us in a log house, and the next nearest neighbor was four miles distant, but during the next three years Solomon Dewey, Mr. Preston and Joseph McCloy settled on that line. The roads were not on the lines, but, such as they were, they followed the Indian trails where they had forded streams and crossed swamps. About a mile northeast lived Patrick and Michael Ryan and their families in log shanties. The one Patrick lived in was roofed with bark. One-half mile south was Richard and Benoni Pixley. One in log and the other in a rough board house. Both families had children. One mile west lived L. P. Brown, with two children, Mary and Pat. Mary, nearly as old as myself, called on me a few weeks ago. One mile north was Slocum Sayles, with his wife and seven or eight children, in a shanty just high enough on the low side to clear a man's head when he was standing erect, and this was roofed with troughs. Sometimes they would be made of basswood logs about ten inches in diameter, which were split in the center, hollowed out and laid close together with the hollow side up, and an equal number laid over them with rounding side up and edges in the hollows beneath, then poles laid across and pinned at the ends to hold them in place.

848 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY Doors were made from large basswood logs, split about three inches thick and hewed as smooth as possible with a common axe and pinned to wooden hinges. There was a large wooden latch with a string attached and put through a hole in the door to open the latch from the outside and to secure the door at night the latchstring was drawn to the inside. The floor was of the same material as the doors. In those days the cattle in summer time were turned out with one in each bunch wearing a bell. They roamed at will in the woods and marshes during the day, but were hunted up and yarded over night. It was usually the smaller children that looked after the cattle which would sometimes roam so far away that the bell could not be heard. Then the seeker would look for some elevation of ground and lie down with his ear to the earth and listen for the tones of the bell. One could hear the bell much farther in this way than when standing, though it was often difficult to locate the direction of the sound. In the winter the cattle were all fed on marsh hay, with no grain, and many of them would be so poor and weak when turned out in the spring they would get mired in swampy places and sometimes die. For a month or more in the spring there would not be a day that there was not a call to help someone who had a cow or ox mired, while sometimes they would be missed and not found until summer and the carcass had begun to decay. Sayles folks had two of their boys follow the cattle in the spring to keep them out of the low places. You could buy a cow for $10 and a pair of oxen for $40, but that meant more at that time than $100 for a cow and $400 for a team does at present. The people built a little school house in the fall out of rough boards and had school in the winter. Job Earl lived four miles northwest and had three boys, Oscar, Robert and Charlie, the latter considerably younger than the others, and the older boys carried him to school on their backs when the snow was deep. Now children use carriages and automobiles when living from one to three miles from school and think they are having a hard struggle to get an education. At that time people seemed to think the only way to govern a school was by brute force, consequently every well regulated school had a bundle of blue beech whips in the corner and a ruler

WILLIAMSTON TOWNSIIIP AND ITS HISTORY 849 twenty inches long and two inches wide on the desk, and the main qualification for a teacher was to be an expert in their use. Book knowledge was a secondary consideration. A school year consisted of three months in the winter and three months in the summer. It was seldom that a boy went to school in the summer after he was twelve or thirteen years old; he was expected to work in the summer after that. That is the reason that as a rule girls were better scholars than boys. In those days schools were supported by a rate bill, not by the assessment on property in the district. One of the officers canvassed the district and ascertained the number of scholars each family would send, and the expense of the school prorated. Those sending five paid five times as much as those sending one. Often in very large families it would be impossible for them to send all the children. Many times they would select one boy and one girl and send them and let the rest grow up in total ignorance of books, while in some instances they would be too poor to send any. That is the reason there were so many in those days who could not read or write. I graduated from that school near my home when less than fourteen years old with a slight knowledge of reading, writing, spelling and arithmetic, as far as common fractions. Nothing more, and I have struggled through a life of over eighty-two years of ignorance and regret. You ask me why? In 1851 my father developed the California gold fever. In his imagination he saw flakes in the air and nuggets on the ground, and if he could get there he could gather a nice lot. HIe went and left mother with ten acres of land, a pair of oxen, two cows, a flock of hens and six children, myself the oldest by nearly five years. There was something to be done. Father returned in October, 1854, but in the gold hunt the "other fellow" had preceded him and gathered the nuggets. The first five years we lived there we saw more Indians than whites, as four miles west was the Batteese Lake Indian settlement. I have seen fifty "wigwams" there at one time. Less than twenty years ago there were yet remaining apple trees planted by the Indians. We were on the trail leading from the settlement (and that was a stopping place for all coming from farther west) to Detroit, where all the Indians went to receive their annuity from the government, which consisted of blankets

850 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY and a small amount of money. We often saw bands of from ten to forty, or more, passing single file, and if there was but one pony the largest Indian in the band would be riding, and perhaps his squaw walking and carrying a little papoose in her blanket and a larger papoose strapped to a board and slung on her back. We were never molested but once. Father and mother went away for the day, taking the two younger children with them, leaving my two sisters and myself at home. During the day about a dozen Indians camped a few rods from the house, and one came for something to eat. They seldom came more than one at a time to ask for food. My sister gave food to the Indian that came, and as she opened the cupboard door he looked in and saw that it was well filled with food, and they kept coming until all was gone but a custard pie. She had offered this to them several times but they refused it. At last a squaw came with a blanket over her head and she had doubled one corner of this into the form of a pocket. When my sister threw the pie into this the band moved on. When my parents came home after dark they found the cupboard like "Old Mother Hubbard's," bare, and every "dog" in the house hungry. Mother had to commence at the bottom to get supper. I could have had a barrel full of flint arrows and spear heads, but after they began to cultivate the land where the Indians had their camp they were so plentiful that they ceased to be a curiosity and we did not pick them up. Our first experience in raising wheat. Father girdled seven acres of heavy oak timber and hired a "breaking-up" team (which means six or seven pairs of oxen matched in size) to plow the ground. The grain was harvested by hand with cradle and rake, threshed with an open machine, which means a frame and cylinder that simply shells the grain. Wheat, chaff and straw all came through together, and a man with a hand rake removed the straw leaving the chaff and wheat to be run through a hand fanning mill to separate the wheat. It was a four sweep horsepower, but all the teams we had were two old "crowbait" horses owned by the threshers and our oxen. No more horses were to be had. Our wheat yielded seven bushels to the acre. Father hauled twenty bushels to Dexter with our oxen and was gone two days

WILLIAMSTON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 851 and until midnight the second night. He sold his wheat for fifty cents a bushel and paid twenty-five cents a yard for nine yards of calico for mother a dress. There were nine of us children and we never went to bed hungry or cold, and my good Irish mother comes in right here for a lot of praise, but I have lain in bed in the daytime to have my pants washed and mended, the patch covering nearly the whole front of one leg and of lighter color than the original cloth. I can say truthfully I never had a pair of pants since that I have been as proud of as I was of those. The first coat I ever had, except what my mother made, was when I was about eleven years of age, and I earned the money by driving two pairs of oxen for a man to plow and received twentyfive cents per day and boarded myself. The coat was tweed cloth and cost me $3. After paying for the coat I had a five franc silver piece left, about ninety-four cents in American money, and I gave that for a cotton roll turban cap. When I was a lad my grandmother, on mother's side, came to Michigan and stayed with us about three months. She was a typical Irish grandmother, wore a lace cap, and had the map of Ireland plainly stamped on her face and a brogue so strong that when she spoke it would nearly start the peeling on a "pratie," but I could plainly see where my mother got her goodness. This is the life that came to me up to my seventeenth year, 1854. Since then my life has been variable, yet I have always tried to have a purpose other than frivolity. Some phases were illuminated to a dazzling brilliancy and others darkened almost beyond human endurance, but I have never allowed the dark side to control. Experience and observation have taught me that when we see people passing, with perhaps a handshake and a smile for those they meet, we little know the trouble they are carrying or its causes." An article written by Mr. Heald in 1916 throws still further light on what life meant in Ingham county in early days. "I was married in Dansville, Ingham county, in 1864 (a poor blacksmith) and settled to housekeeping. I paid $9 for 100 pounds of flour, $1.50 for a gallon of kerosene oil, $2 for a pound of Japan tea, 30 cents a pound for coffee and sugar, 44 cents a yard for 40 yards of unbleached cotton, 50 cents a yard for hemp car

852 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY pet, $30 for a four-griddle plain square cook stove, no reservoir, no warming oven or furniture; $1.50 for a dish pan, 12 quart, $9 for a common fall-leaf table, and have it yet as a relic; $10 for a pair of pegged and $14 for a pair of sewed calf boots; $32 for a broadcloth coat (today you can buy two full suits of better cloth and better made for the same amount); print 40 cents; denim 50 cents, and other dry goods accordingly. A neighbor bought 10 yards of common sheeting and crash for two towels and it took a $10 greenback (called "Lincoln skin" by the "copperheads," rabid Democrats of the North,) to pay for them. Meats were no higher and some kinds of vegetables not as high as today. At that time a common mechanics wages were $1.60 to $1.75 per day. Best farm laborers received $18 to $23 per month for seven months in summer. I am often asked how young people got a start in life. Easily answered. There were not so many articles in the schedule of necessities of life as at present. The mothers cooked, washed, sewed and made everything the family needed. They dried corn, lima beans, all kinds of fruit for winter use, also pumpkin for pies, made all kinds of pickles (for we did not buy cucumbers at 25 cents each and strawberries at 40 cents a quart in winter) and taught their girls to do the same. The girls developed into good, strong, robust, red-cheeked young women (no need for complexion beautifiers) and let me say to you, that style of young woman would be mighty nice to look upon today. The boys were taught some useful occupation, and assisted the father in caring for the family, and not many of them laid the foundation for an education that qualified them to fill the highest positions in social and official life. When young people were married they stepped into the "double harnes," pulled tlgether, and stayed married. They went to the grocery, made the their selections and carried the goods home with them, coffee in the green state. which the wives roasted and ground themselves. Spices and pepper were all bought in berry form and prepared at home. Wives also made the rag carpets, nearly every house having its loom. We kept house for seven or eight years before we had better, and no one ever shunned our home because we did not have Brussels or velvet carpets on the floors. Every family raised all the vegetables needed.

WILLIAMSTON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 853 In case of sickness there was no trained nurse at $15 to $25 per week. The neighbors performed that task and did it cheerfully. Those were the days of industry, economy and contentment. This 1916 is in the age of short skirts, high heels, high topped shoes, hats of every conceivable shape, furs in summer and peeka-boo waists in winter. Joy-rides, divorces, white slavery, pegleg pants, cigarettes, forgery, bank defalcations, holdups and penitentiaries. Today we step to the telephone, order our groceries and they are delivered to us at our homes in paper cartons, tin cans and glass bottles, and when we have paid for the containers and delivery we have very little to eat for the money invested, and this is termed progression. I have not been a drone in the hive of industry, but have been active through my 80 years of life and kept reasonably up with the procession, but have never been a fad chaser. I saw the following statement in one of the Detroit papers purporting to have been made by the general manager of one of the leading mercantile houses in that city: "Clothing and shoes highest ever in Detroit." This general manager's birth does not date back far enough or he has a very poor memory. But this statement was passed on from one to another who knew no more about facts than did this general manager, and it had a demoralizing effect." There are very few people in active business today that were old enough in 1864 to realize business conditions at that time. Many of the people of today remind me of the wolves in Michigan. Seventy-five years ago you could sit out in the summer evening and very soon you would hear a lone wolf howl, then one in another direction, and soon every wolf in the woods would be in the howl, and not one of them knew why. It is the get-richquick scheme and reckless extravagance that the people have indulged in, not the high cost of living, but the cost of high living, that has created the present spirit of unrest in America. A home with the earth for foundation, be it ever so humble, is safer than a castle in the air, and the sooner the people awake to a realization of the fact the better for all.

854 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY LOG HOUSE BUILDING. By W. W. HEALD, Williamston. One of the questions sent to the Williamston Enterprise by the Secretary of the Ingham County Historical and Pioneer Society in an endeavor to procure material for a county history was this: "Who can describe in detail the building of a log house? Kind of logs used, etc.?" In reply W. W. Heald, of Williamston, gives the following interesting description. This is a difficult matter, as there were so many different types of log houses, and just as much pride, and more ingenuity displayed (from lack of tools and materials) than there were in building frame houses later. The first consideration was straight logs with smooth bark, as near the same length and uniform size from end to end as possible. When near a tamarack swamp they selected trees from there, as they were quite straight and of more uniform size than other timber. When compelled to use other trees they used almost any kind that would fill requirements. In the early stages of house building they usually rolled these logs up in their natural state and notched the corners so they would come together. There were various ways of notching corners. If the "V" shaped notch were used the logs were all hewed to a three square at the ends, and a notch cut crosswide, deep enough to let the logs come together. That would necessitate logs projecting about one foot at the ends. When dropped together forms a joint and the three square end projects one foot the same as the notched end. If a square notch is used the logs are simply flattened to onehalf their size and the ends cut off even. Some of the first that were built, shanties just high enough for a tall man to stand erect on the low side, were roofed with bark. But usually with shakes that means split out in the form of shingles but not shaved. I saw one shanty in which there was not a nail used, only wooden pins, and the only tools the builder had were a common

WILLIAMSTON TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY 855 axe, a 12 inch, inch and 1/2 inch augers. Where doors and holes used as windows came the ends of the logs were squared, or "butted" as it was termed in those days with a common axe The pieces used for doors and door jams were split about 212 inches thick, from basswood, smoothed with the axe and the door jams pinned to the ends of the logs. The pieces that formed the doors were pinned to heavy wooden hinges. The floor was made of logs split and smoothed on one side. The roof was made of small basswood logs, about ten inches in diameter, split in the center and hollowed out in the form of a trough, laid close together with the round side down, and an equal number laid round side up over the joints, with poles pinned across the top to hold them on. Here is where ingenuity counted. Later when there were more men, more tools and materials they hewed the logs on two sides, inside and out, and still later the fashion was to square the logs before laying them up. As the family increased in size, as it usually did to the number of eight to fifteen, they built the house two stories high, with a ladder in the corner to go up and down on. Now comes the raising and jollification. The ground was the foundation and the first log was laid on that. A man at each corner of the building with an axe fitted the corners of each log as it came to him, and there was always a strife to see who could do his the quickest and best. The logs were rolled up on skids until these were too steep, then there were two tools in use which were made on purpose to put the logs' up. One was used to push and the other to pull. There was an early day name for these tools. There was one each of these at either end of the log. Four men used the one for pushing, and the man up on the wall looped the other over the end of the log and pulled. There was always a strife as to which end would be up first. The men would seemingly get crazy with excitement-with aid of a little "speerits" as the old-timers called it. Sides up: to make it warm they split pieces called "chinks" and drove them between the logs, and then filled all the crevices on the outside with blue clay mortar. Many times they mixed fine, short marsh grass with this mortar to prevent its coming off

856 PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY should it crack. They used this the same as masons do hair in lime mortar. The chimneys were often works of art. First firebacks were made of field stone filled in with clay, then the chimney of split sticks plastered well with clay. Sometimes the chimneys were built inside the house and again on the outside, but the fireplace at its base was always of liberal size, with a stone hearth in front of it. Williamston, Feb., 1920. Aged 83. W. W. HEALD. [THE END.]

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