iiii'jilliliiiii'.'ii 111 1, j I- Pill' lill If lilllflliliiii \a$&@&&®&G&G>0QG^^ MICHIGAN •yffl ¦ fflkt ' X X" ¦iXXXXXv ¦-,".': iv'-;!-L,:'>;"-ii;'.'- .;-Xv'-- ¦,'"'• v1-'- ¦:X"-,"*": HISTORY OF INGHAM AND EATON COUNTIES MICHIGAN, WITH Illustrations and Biographical Sketches OF THEIR PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS. BY SAMUEL W. DTXR.A.N'T. PHILADELPHIA: D. W. ENSIGN & CO. 188 0. PRESS OF J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., PHILADELPHIA. INTRODUCTORY. After many months of close application and careful research the "History of Ingham and Eaton Counties" is completed and placed in the hands of its patrons. The amount of labor involved has been very great, covering as it does an outline history of the State and every subject of interest pertaining to the immediate region treated in the work. The earnest endeavor has been to produce something worthy of preservation, — something which shall be valuable to coming generations, as well as to the present; and though a perfect work in every par ticular may never be compiled, the hope is indulged that the volume herewith presented will be found quite accurate and complete in its various departments. For the sake of convenient reference the work has been arranged in four parts, which will be found to systematize it in the best possible manner. In the collection of material very little has been accepted upon hearsay or tradition, and all papers and articles upon any subject have been closely criticised and verified before being utilized. All avail able records have been consulted, including those of the various State departments at the capital, and those of the counties, cities, townships, and villages. A large amount of valuable information has also been drawn from the ample historical collections of the State Library. The written records of a great number of religious and secular societies and orders have been examined, and it is confidently believed that no material errors will be found in this direction. Much of the early history of the various townships, cities, and villages, and particularly of the pioneers who settled the wilderness, has been gathered from those of the original settlers who still remain. The recollections of these pioneers do not always correspond, but the utmost pains has been taken to procure reliable information and to so reconcile the discrepancies of many memories as to bring the historic narrative at least within the realm of probability. Many records, and particularly those of townships, schools, and churches, are imperfect, and in some instances have been lost or de stroyed by fire. In such' cases the only resource is the personal knowledge of people still living who were among the first settlers. If any reader should find statements which apparently contravene what may have heretofore been written or published, let such reader search carefully original records and documents before passing unfavorable criticism. Very much of the fragmentary sketches to be found in pamphlets and among newspaper-files and pioneer records has been hastily written, without a care ful consultation of the bottom facts. All such matter has been consulted and verified, and no stone has been left unturned under which there was promise of reliable information. Differences of opinion regarding the earliest settlements in given neighborhoods, the first births, deaths, and marriages exist among the old settlers. These are honest differences, and at times it is next to impossible to reconcile them. Where this has been the case the statements of the various parties have been given, and from these the public must draw its conclusions. The field, although so recently occupied by a civilized race, is by no means meagre in the harvest yielded to the patient and industrious historian ; for the American people possess the faculty of making interesting history in a degree second to no people in the world. The gleanings have been ample, and when every subject herein treated is carefully read and understood, it is believed that a generous and discriminating public will find little cause to complain of either a paucity of subjects presented or the aggregate of information furnished. The illustrations throughout the work speak for themselves. 3 INTRODUCTORY. In all our labors we have been uniformly treated with consideration and materially aided by a large number of prominent citizens in both counties, whose names it would be almost impossible to give in detail. To such we hereby tender grateful acknowledgments on behalf of all the writers engaged upon the work. A portion of the names of those who have rendered valuable assistance will be found men tioned at the close of the history of townships; and to the following, who have aided in the compila tion of many of the general chapters and history of Lansing, the principal writer tenders his sincere thanks : John W. Sleeper, Deputy Commissioner of State Land-Office ; Daniel B. Briggs, Deputy Sec retary of State; John Robertson, Adjutant-General; Hubert R. Pratt, Deputy Auditor-General; Mrs. Harriet A. Tenney, State Librarian; Hon. H. G. Wells, of Kalamazoo; Hon. O. M. Barnes, Hon. Daniel L. Case, Hon. William H. Chapman, Hon. William H. Pinckney, Hon. Whitney Jones, Lan sing; President T. ,C. Abbott, of the State Agricultural College; Professor F. M. Howe, State Reform School for Boys ; Henry B. Baker, M.D., Secretary State Board of Health ; George E. Ranney, M.D., Secretary State Medical Society; Allen L. Bours, Superintendent State Capitol and Grounds; W. S. George, James W. King, O. A. Jenison, and others, Republican Office; Col. George P. Sanford, Lan sing Journal; H.. E. Hobbs, Lansing Sentinel; Hon. S. D. Bingham, Postmaster, Lansing; the medical and legal professions; city officers of Lansing, and officers of Ingham and Eaton Counties; the clergy; manufacturers generally; Judge Henry B. McClure; Benjamin B. Baker, Secretary Central Michigan Agricultural Society; C. B. Stebbins, C. W. Butler, James M. Turner, Smith Tooker, E. H. Whitney, George H. Greene, A. F. Weller, William Hinman, Hon. Isaiah H. Corbin, Caledonia, Mich.; Hon. W. W. Upton, Washington, D. C. ; John M. Corbin, Eaton Rapids; Charles Thayer, Clinton, Iowa; Edward A. Foote, Esq., of Charlotte; Ephraim Longyear, and officers of the various banks in Lan sing; D. B. Johnson, John Jordan, J. P. Cowles, Capt. J. R. Price, Martin Hudson, Rev. George Duffield, D.D., for special favors; Deacon S. R. Greene, Horace Angell, Mrs. John W. Longyear, Mrs. D. L. Case, Mrs. James Turner, Mrs. Abram Allen, Mrs. Dr. Burr, Mrs. L. J. Hill, and Mrs. F. Newman, the latter of Jackson, Mich. SAMUEL W. DURANT. Lansing, Mich., October, 1880. CONTENTS. HISTOBIOAL. CHAPTER I.— II.— III.— IV. V. VI.- VII. VIII.— IX. X.— ! XI.—1 XII. IrPJLIE&T FIEST. OUTLINES OF STATE HISTORY. PAGE Physical Features 9 Prehistoric 21 Early Discoveries and Settlements ..... 24 Occupation of Michigan by the French . . . .32 From 16S2 to the Close of the French Dominion . . 42 Under English Rule 44 ¦Under the Republic — Territorial . . . . .53 Indians and Treaties ....... 60 State Organization 68 State Institutions 71 The State Courts 88 Internal Improvements . 92 IF-A-IST SBCOUD. HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY. CHAPTER PAGE I. — Civil Organization 9S II. — The Courts and County Societies 101 III.— The County Legislature 105 IV.— The Professions . . ..* 110 City of Lansing ...... ... 122 Township of Lansing 189 City of Mason 203 Alaiedon 213 Aurelius . 219 Bunker Hill 226 Delhi . . 231 Ingham 244 Leroy 250 Leslie 258 Loeke 269 Meridian ........... 276 Onondaga ........... 291 Stockbridge 296 Vevay ........... 305 Wheatfield 320 White Oak 326 Williamstown 333 IF^VIRT THIED. HISTORY OF EATON COUNTY. CHAPTER PAGE I.— Early Events 349 II. — Civil Organization .353 III.— The County Legislature 356 IV.— The Courts and Civil List 361 V.— County Societies 364 VI.— The Professions 365 City of Charlotte 380 Bellevue . 405 Benton 417 Brookfield 429 Carmel 438 Chester 443 Delta 450 Eaton 456 Eaton Rapids .......... 461 Hamlin 475 Kalamo ........... 485 Oneida 493 Roxand ........... 504 Sunfield 508 Vermontville 516 Walton 527 Windsor 537 MILITARY HISTORY. CHAPTER PAGE I. — History of Organization 546 II. — Sixth Infantry 549 III.— Eighth " 553 IV.— Twelfth " 556 V. — Thirteenth Infantry 559 VI.— Fourteenth " ....... 561 VII.— Twentieth " 564 VIII. — Twenty-sixth Infantry 568 IX. — Second Cavalry . 574 X.— Seventh " 579 BIOGBAPHIOAL. PAGE D. W. Buck between 140, 141 James Turner 181 Orlando M. Barnes 181 George E. Ranney, M.D 182 Henry Cortrite 188 Edwin Bement 188 William A. Dryer 202 Dr. M. McRobert t . . facing 204 R. Tryon between 214, 215 William P. Robbins facing 215 0. B. Stillman 217 Alexander Dobie 218 Reuben R. Bullen 224 John M. French 224 George B.Webb 225 Gariett DuBois 229 A. L. Clark 230 PAGE H. H. North facing 232 Joseph Wilson " 236 Wm. Cook 243 John Thorburn * . . . 244 Albert T. Horton 256 David Gorsline 257 Mahlon Covert 268 James Royston 268 Ogden Edwards 269 George B. Vanatta 287 Alonzo Proctor 288 James N. Smith 289 John Saltmarsh 290 John Harwood 295 David Rogers 303 S. C. Proctor 303 Abram Force • 304 CONTENTS. BIOGEAPHIOAL. PAQE James Fuller facing 308 Enos Northrup "312 George W. Shafer "314 Henry A. Hawley ...... • 315 Almon Morris Chapin ........ 316 Joseph L. Huntington 318 John Rayner • 319 George Beeman 325 Abram Hayner .......... 330 George H. Proctor • 331 Daniel Dutcher 332 E. W. Woodward 333 William Z. Secord 347 RoseellShaw 347 N. C. Branch 347 Reuben Fitzgerald . . 414 Sylvester Day 415 Edwin Osmun 416 George N. Potter 422 Hiram C. French 424 W. Z. Mitchell 425 Bennett J. Claflin 425 William Quantrell 426 William B. Otto 427 Moses Fox 427 Lorenzo Hatch .......... 428 Charles H. Brown 428 Rowland Paine 429 Martin Fox 434 Peter Williams .......... 435 George A. Starkweather ........ 436 Nelson McArthur 437 John Worthington . ' 438 Joseph Mikesell 442 PAGE J. F. Tirrill 442 Asa W. Mitchell 448 Martin Beekman 449 Kelly Bosworth 449 Hiram Hutchins 450 Joseph Bank 455 S. M. Wilkins between 466, 467 Nelson Wood 474 B. F. Mills 475 Harvey L. Boom 481 N. T. Taylor 482 David B. Hale . 483 Calvin Halo . 483 David B. Bradford 484 C. M. Jennings 484 Daniel H. Bateman 484 Israel M. Allyn 485 Daniel B. Bowen .491 Benjamin F. Wells 491 Leander Kent 492 J. L. McPeek 503 Edmund Lamson ......... 503 William A. Wells 512 David Chatfield 513 Mrs. Rachael Welch 514 C. M. Von Houten 515 John Dow ........... 515 Dudley F. Bullock 525 L. C. Sprague ... 526 Martin L. Squier 526 George D. Pray .......... 543 Addison Koon 543 Nathan H. Pray 544 Edmund W. Hunt 545 ILLTJSTBATIOITS. PAGE State Capitol Frontispiece. Maps of Ingham and Eaton Counties . . . facing 8, 9 Geological Map " 12 . Portrait of Okemos .63 Map of Agricultural College Farm .... facing 79 View of Michigan State Agricultural College . between 80, 81 iugham coxrisra?^". Ingham County Court-House facing 98 CITY OF LANSING. Portrait of James Turner facing 126 " E. Bement (steel) "134 View of Buck's Opera-House .... between 140, 141 Residence of 0. M. Barnes facing 181 Portrait of George E. Ranney, M.D. (steel) . . " 182 Portraits of Henry Cortrite and Wife ..... 188 Residence and Works of Henry Cortrite . . . facing 188 LANSING TOWNSHIP. Portrait of William A. Dryer 202 CITY OF MASON. Portraits of Dr. M. McRobert and Wife . . . facing 204 Residence of William H. Rayner .... " 206 ALAIEDON. Portraits of R. Tryon and Wife . . . between 214, 215 Residence of R. Tryon " 214, 215 Portraits of William P. Robbins and Wife . . facing 215 Residence of 0. B. Stillman Portraits of 0. B. Stillman and Wife " Alexander Dobie and Wife Residence of Alexander Dobie . AURELIUS Portraits of R. J. Bullen and Wife . Residence of R. J. Bullen " James T. Bullen . Portrait of R. R. Bullen . Portraits of John M. French and Wife Portrait of Geo. B. Webb . BUNKER HILL. PAGE facing 217 . 217 . 218 facing 218 between 220, 221 " 220, 221 facing 222 . 224 . 225 . 225 Portraits of Garrett DuBois and Wife " A. L. Clark and Wife . 230230 DELHI. Portraits of H. H. North and Wife . " Joseph Wilson and Wife . " Wm. Cook and Wife Residence of Wm. Cook Portraits of John Thorburn and Wife Residence of John Thorburn LEROY. Residence of Albert T. Horton . Portraits of David Gorsline aud Wife facing 232 236 . 243 facing 243 . 244 facing 244 facing 256 . 257 CONTENTS. ILLTJSTE/ATIOITS. LESLIE. Portraits of Mahlon Covert and Wife Residence of L. A. Royston Portraits of James Royston and Wife " Ogden Edwards and Wife PAGE . 268 facing 268 " 268 " 269 MERIDIAN. Residence of George B. Vanatta .... facing 288 Portraits of George B. Vanatta and Wife 288 " Alonzo Proctor and Wife 288 Portrait of James N. Smith 289 Portraits of John Saltmarsh and Wife 290 ONONDAGA. Portrait of John Harwood 295 STOCKBRIDGE. Portraits of David Rogers and Wife 303 " S. C. Proctor and Wife 304 Residence of A. H. Force facing 304 VEVAY. Portraits of James Fuller and Wife . " Enos Northrup and Wife " Col. George W. Shafer and Wife Residence of H. A. Hawley Portraits of H. A. Hawley and Wife . Portrait of Joseph L. Huntington " John Rayner .... " Mrs. John Rayner . WHEATFIELD. Residence of George Beeman, with Portraits facing 308 " 312314 " 315 . 315 . 318 between 318, 319 " 318, 319 facing 324 WHITE OAK. Residence of George H. Proctor,, with Portraits . facing 331 Portraits of Abram Hayner and Wife ..... 331 " Daniel Dutcher and Wife 332 Residence of E. W. Woodward facing 332 WILLIAMSTOWN. Residence of Roseell Shaw facing 346 " W. Z. Secord "346 Eaton County Jail facing 349 CITY OF CHARLOTTE. Residence of Edward A. Foote .... faoing 380 BELLEVUE. Residence of Sylvester Day, with Portrait . . faoing 414 Portrait of Reuben Fitzgerald 414 Residence of Edwin Osmun facing 416 BENTON. Residence of George N. Potter .... between 422, 423 Portraits of George N. Potter and Wife 423 Portrait of Mrs. George N. Potter (deceased) .... 423 PortraitB of Hiram C. French and Wife 424 " W. Z. Mitchell and Wife 424 Residence of Hiram C. French .... between 424, 425 PAGE Residence of W. Z. Mitchell .... between 424, 425 Portraits of Bennett J. Claflin and Wife 425 " William Quantrell and Wife 426 " William B. Otto and Wife 426 Residence of William Quantrell . . . between 426, 427 " William B. Otto . . • . " 426, 427 " Moses Fox facing 427 Portraits of Moses Fox and Wife 427 Portrait of Lorenzo Hatch 428 " Charles H. Brown 428 Residence of R. Paine facing 429 Portraits of R. Paine and Wife 429 BROOKFIELD. Residence of John Worthington, with Portraits . facing 430 " G. A. Starkweather .... "432 Portraits of Martin Fox and Wife 435 " Peter Williams and Wife 436 " Nelson McArthur and Wife 437 CARMEL. Residence of J. F. Tirrill facing 440 " Joseph Mikesell " 442 CHESTER. Portraits of Asa W. Mitchell and Wife 448 Residence of Asa W. Mitchell facing 448 " Kelly Bosworth " 449 Portraits of Kelly Bosworth and Wife ... "449 " Martin Beekman and Wife 449 Portrait of Hiram Hutohins « 450 Residence of Hiram Hutchins facing 450 DELTA. Residence of Joseph Bank ..... facing 454 EATON RAPIDS. Portrait of S. M. Wilkins, M.D. Residence of S. M. Wilkins, M.D. Portraits of Nelson Wood and Wife Residence of B. F. Mills . Portraits of B. F. Mills and Wife between 466, 467 " 466, 467 . 474 facing 475 " 475 HAMLIN. Portraits of John Montgomery and Wife . . . facing 476 Residence of the late Harvey L. Boorn, with Portraits " 481 Portraits of N. T. Taylor and Wife 482 Residence of N. T. Taylor facing 482 " David B. Hale .... between 482, 483 " Calvin Hale " 482, 483 Portrait of David B. Bradford 484 Residence of C. Marion Jennings .... facing 484 " Israel M. Allyn, with Portraits . . " 485 Portrait of Daniel H. Bateman 485 KALAMO. Portraits of Daniel B. Bowen and Wife 491 Portrait of Benjamin F. Wells 492 " Leander Kent 492 ONEIDA. Residence of Edmund Lamson facing 498 Portraits of Edmund Lamson and Wife ... " 498 Island. House and Summer Resort, S. M. Hewings . " 500 Portrait of J. L. McPeek 503 CONTENTS. ILLUSTRATIOITS. SUNFIELD, PAGE Portraits of Wm. A. Wells and Wife 512 Residence of Wm. A. Wells facing 512 Portraits of David Chatfield and Wife 513 Portrait of Willis Barnum 514 Portraits of John W. Welch and Wife 514 Residence of Mrs. Rachael Welch .... faoing 514 Portraits of C. M. Van Houten and Wife 515 Portrait of John Dow ........ 515 VERMONTVILLE. Portrait of Dudley F. Bullock 525 Portraits of L. C. Sprague and Wife ...... 526 PAGE Portraits of M. L. Squier and Wife .... facing 526 Residence of M. L. Squier " 526 WALTON. Olivet College facing 530 / WINDSOR. Residence of George D. Pray facing 543 Portraits of George D, Pray and Wife 543 " Addison Koon and Wife 544 " Nathan H. Pray and Wife 544 Residence of Addison Koon facing 544 Portraits of E. W. Hunt and Wife 545 I 0 N I OutlineMLp ®f EATON CO.MICH. CO. C L I N W_D^. C °- Outline }/{a*p of M ICH S Ei \E HISTORY OF INGHAM AND EATON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN. BY SAMUEL W. DURANT. :f^-:r,t i. OUTLINES OF STATE HISTORY. CHAPTER I. PHYSICAL FEATURES. Geography — Geology — Topography — Soils — Climatology, etc. GEOGRAPHY. The State of Michigan has a peculiar geographical situ ation. It is composed of two great peninsulas and their ad jacent islands, bounded in large part by the three upper lakes, and has all the characteristics of a maritime region, except that the water of its encompassing seas is fresh as the springs of a mountain land, and their bosoms are not disturbed by the tides of the ocean, or at most not to any considerable degree.* The three upper lakes of this grand inland water system — Superior, Michigan, and Huron — cover an area, including their numerous bays and islands, of about 76,000 square miles,— viz., Superior, 32,000; Michigan, 22,000; and Huron, 22,000. • The average depth of the three does not vary materially from 1000 feet, while in the deepest places nearly 2000 feet has been found. Each has its system of bays, inlets, peninsulas, and islands, and each its tributary streams. The principal bays in the American waters of Lake Superior are the large one, at its western extremity, on which the city of Duluth is situated ; Chegoimegon, or La Pointe Bay, Keweenaw Bay, and Tequamenon, or "White Pish Bay, at its eastern extremity. Its principal islands on the American side of the boundary are Isle Royale, which is about fifty miles in length and having an average width of some six miles, with an area of about 300 square miles ; the Apostle Islands, near its southwestern extremity, be longing to Wisconsin ; and Grand Island, belonging to & Careful experiments for a series of years are said to establish the existence of .appreciable tides on the three upper lakes, each showing a disturbance of a few inches. 2 Schoolcraft County, containing about thirty square miles. Its most noted peninsula is the one known as Keweenaw Point, which projects in a northeasterly direction into its broad-spreading waters a distance of more than fifty miles, with a breadth varying from five to twenty miles. The back bone of this peninsula is the celebrated copper-bearing trap formation, the richest in the world. The principal tributary streams of this lake on the Ameri can side are the St. Louis, Ontonagon, Sturgeon, and Te quamenon Pavers. The most remarkable objects along the southern coast of this great body of water are the Pictured Rocks and the immense sand dunes which the storms of uncounted ages have accumulated, until in places they approach the dignity of mountains.f At the foot of this lake was made, in 1668, the first per manent settlement in Michigan. Lake Michigan, about two-thirds of which lies within the limits of the State, is another vast body of water, which bounds the peninsula along its entire western side, and, with its principal arm, forms also a portion of the southern boun dary of the upper peninsula. Its principal bays are Green Bay, with its lesser arms, Big and Little Bays de Noquet, covering an area of at least 1200 square miles; and Grand and Little Traverse Bays, all situated near the northern ex tremity of the lake. Its principal islands are the Beaver and Manitou groups and the islands lying at the entrance to Green Bay. The southern 200 miles of this body of water are remarkably freesfrom islands. Its largest island, Big Beaver, contains about sixty square miles, and the North Manitou perhaps about thirty. The principal penin sulas of this lake are the one lying between the main lake and Green Bay, forming Door County, in Wisconsin ; the two formed by the Big and Little Bays de Noquet, Leelenaw f Their height is said to be 400 feet in places. 10 HISTORY OP INGHAM AND EATON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN. Point and Mission Point, the latter dividing Grand Traverse Bay nearly in the centre for a distance of twenty miles. Lake Michigan receives the greatest number of large tributary streams of any of the lakes of the system. On the west side, beginning near its northern extremity, we find the Manistique, Escanaba, Ford, Menominee, Peshtigo, Oconto, and Fox Rivers, all large streams, and several of them navigable. South of Green Bay the watershed of the lake is quite narrow, and there are no important streams, though the Two Rivers, the Sheboygan, the Milwaukee, the Chicago, and the Calumet Rivers are worthy of note. On the eastern shore we find the St. Joseph (the Miamis of La Salle), at the mouth of which was made the first attempt at establishing a post in the lower peninsula ; the Kalamazoo, Grand, Muskegon, Marquette, and Manistee, all important rivers, some of them navigable for many miles, and all draining extensive tracts of country. Grand River is the longest stream in the State, and drains the largest area, with the possible exception of the Saginaw and its branches. Lake Michigan drains about four-sevenths of the lower peninsula. Its entire watershed, including its own surface, approximates 70,000 square miles. Two remarkable features of this body of water are worthy . of notice, — the curious system or " string" of lakelets lying along its eastern margin, generally a few miles inland, and the great sand dunes which line the same coast in a greater or lesser degree from Sleeping Bear Point to its southern extremity. The lakelets, before spoken of, lie mostly or wholly behind these sand hills, and nearly all of them are accessible to vessels of every description from the waters of the main lake. Lake Huron, which bounds the lower peninsula on its northeastern side for 200 miles, has, including its great * bays, Georgian and Saginaw, about the same surface area as Lake Michigan. Its most remarkable feature is the immense number of its islands, which vary in extent from a few acres to a thousand square miles, the Grand Manitoulin having about the latter amount. On this great island are second ary lakelets covering areas of more than twenty square miles each. Cockburn, Drummond, and St. Joseph's Islands cover areas varying from 75 to 150 square miles. The islands and islets in the Georgian Bay, or Lake Pene- tanguishine, as it is sometimes called, are almost number less, many of them being i'ormed of the crystalline rocks of the Laurentian system. The two most prominent bays of this lake are the Georgian,* having an area of more than 5000 square miles, and Saginaw Bay, covering about 1000 square miles. Thunder and St. Martin's Bays are of much smaller magnitude, but important for the safe shelter they alford to shipping. The deepest water in Lake Huron is found off Saginaw Bay, and here, also, the heaviest seas are encountered in stormy weather. The width of the lake across, and including Saginaw Bay, is fully 150 miles, not including the Georgian Bay. The principal streams tributary to this lake on the American side are the Cheboygan, Thunder Bay, Au Sa ble, and Saginaw Rivers. * This bay lies wholly in British territory. Forming the boundary along the southeastern side of the peninsula are the river St. Clair (the outlet of Lake Hu ron), Lake St. Clair, the Detroit River or Strait, and the western end of Lake Erie, completing the circuit of the water boundary. Into these last-named straits and lakes flow quite a number of rivers and smaller streams, chief among which are Black, Belle, Clinton, Ecorse, Huron, and Raisin Rivers, which drain altogether about one-sev enth of the lower peninsula, leaving the remaining two-sev enths as the drainage of Lake Huron. A small area (pos sibly 400 square miles), in the counties of Hillsdale and Lenawee, is drained into Lake Erie by the Ottawa, Tiffin, and St. Joseph Rivers, the latter two being branches of the Maumee. The interior of both the upper and lower peninsulas abounds in small lakes. The number in the last-named division has been estimated at 5000. Oakland County alone contains 450 by a careful enumeration. South of Saginaw Bay there are none having an area exceeding 2500 acres. In the northern portion of the lower peninsula are sev eral of greater dimensions, the principal of which are Houghton and Higgins Lakes, in Roscommon County ; Torch Lake, in Antrim County ; Pine Lake, in Charlevoix County ; Mullett's, Cheboygan, and Burt's Lakes, in Che boygan County ; and Crystal Lake, in Benzie County. Of these Houghton and Torch Lakes have about an equal area, covering not far from thirty square miles each ; the others are of somewhat lesser dimensions, having areas varying from fifteen to twenty-five square miles. Hough ton Lake is the proper source of the Muskegon River. Otsego Lake, in Otsego County, is said to be the highest body of water in the lower peninsula, being elevated about 1000 feet above Lake Michigan. INGHAM AND EATON COUNTIES. GEOGRAPHY. These two important subdivisions of the State are situ ated in the southern central portion of the lower peninsula, the State capital, Lansing, being about fifty miles south of the geographical centre. They are bounded on the north by the counties of Ionia, Clinton, and Shiawassee; on the south by the counties of Calhoun and Jackson ; on the east by Livingston ; and on the west by Barry County. Their area includes townships 1 and 2 east, and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 west, of the principal meridian,! which bisects Ingham County nearly in the centre, and townships 1, 2, 3, and 4 north of the base-line ofthe State survey system, which forms their southern boundary. Theoretically, this description covers a region twenty-four miles north and south by forty-eight miles east and west, and includes thirty-two congressional townships, covering 1152 square miles, or 737,280 square acres. Owing, however, to the convergence ofthe range-lines and imperfect surveying, the real quanti ties vary considerably from those above given. By reason of this convergence there is nearly a whole tier of sections f The longitude of the meridian is stated in the State ntlas to be 84° 37' west from Greenwich. PHYSICAL FEATURES. 11 lacking along the east side of the meridian in the townships of Williamstown, Wheatfield, Ingham, and Bunker Hill, or, to be more accurate, rather more than a mile in width in Williamstown, and rather less in the other three town ships. The shortage at the southwest corner of Bunker Hill is a little more than a half-mile, and at the northwest corner of Williamstown, on the county-line, it is about one mile and a quarter according to the latest map of the county (1874). These counties lie approximately between 42° 24' and 42° 54' north latitude, and between 7° 10' and 8° 5' longi tude west from Washington. HYDROGRAPHY. The counties of Ingham and Eaton are mostly drained by Grand River and its branches, — Cedar and Thorn-apple Rivers. Battle Creek, the principal affluent of the Kala mazoo River, drains the equivalent of about three townships in the south part of Eaton County, and Turtle Creek, a branch of the Huron River, drains about twelve sections in the eastern part of Stockbridge township, in Ingham County. The main Grand River drains the southwestern portion of Ingham County, and the northern and eastern portions of Eaton County ; the Cedar River drains the northeastern parts of Ingham County ; the Thornapple River drains the central and western parts of Eaton County ; and the Sycamore Creek, a tributary of the Cedar River, drains the central western portions of Ingham. A fraction of the southwest part of the township of Stockbridge is drained by a branch of Portage River, which latter unites with Grand River a few miles north of the city of Jackson. The southeastern part of Ingham County lies on the watershed or dividing ridge between the streams which flow in opposite directions to Lakes Erie and Michigan. The deepest-worn valley is, of course, that of Grand River ; but the terraces of the Champlain Epoch are not as well defined in either of these counties as in the broader and deeper valleys which lie along the lower course of Grand River and the other principal streams of the State. The width of this stream varies from 100 to 400 feet in its course through the two counties. It is, generally speaking, a comparatively quick-flowing stream, and carries a large volume of water. The Cedar River is a considerable stream. At its junc tion with Grand River, in the south part of the city of Lansing, its volume forms about one-third of the total, and its waters have the same peculiar amber color which is characteristic of Grand River and many of the streams of Michigan. This color is produced, most probably, by oxides in the soil of the region through which they flow, and by the vegetable deposits of swamps and marshes. With the exception of the Saginaw River, Grand River has theflargest number of important branches of any stream in the State. Beginning at Lansing, and following it to wards Lake Michigan, we find the Cedar, Looking- Glass, Maple, Flat, Thornapple, and Rouge Rivers, all important streams, furnishing a large amount of water-power for vari ous hydraulic purposes, and each having thriving towns upon its banks. The lesser lakes, so abundant in many parts of the State, are not numerous in these counties, though there are a suf ficient number to remind the traveler that he is still in Michigan. The three principal ones are Lowe and Pine Lakes, in Ingham, and a similar one in the southwest part of Walton township, in Eaton County. Pine Lake, the largest of these, covers nearly 400 acres. It discharges by a small creek into the Cedar River a mile below Okemos village. TOPOGRAPHY. The surface of the two counties is what may be called, in a general sense, an undulating plain, traversed by the valleys of many streams cut into the surface in proportion to their magnitude. In some sections there are long ridges composed of the sand and coarse gravel of the drift period, rising fifty or sixty feet above the surrounding country. The most prominent of these elevations is the long ridge famil iarly known as the " Hog's Back," which lies diagonally, northwest and southeast, across the whole or portions of the townships of Delhi, Alaiedon, Vevay, Leslie, and Bunker Hill, in Ingham County. It is composed for the most part of sand and gravel drift, made up of pebbles and fragments of the northern rocks, among which may be found many specimens of coral and other marine fossils. In other localities, as near West Windsor, there are iso lated groups of conical elevations forming low hills, com posed mostly of sand and gravel, but in some instances of clay and marl. SOILS. The soil is for the most part a sandy or clayey loam, varied here and there by oak-opening lands, as in the southern portion of Ingham County, iu which also, in the townships of Onondaga and Aurelius, are the well-known "Montgomery Plains." The site of the city of Charlotte, in Eaton County, was originally a small prairie destitute of timber, with a sandy loam soil, highly productive and easily cultivated. Originally there was quite an extensive area of marshy land in the two counties, which, as the country is cleared of its timber and improved by systematic drainage, will become valuable for purposes of agriculture, the soil being a rich, deep, black, vegetable mould, resting generally upon a compact body of marl. TIMBER. The surface, with the exceptions of the marsh- and prairie-lands, was covered when first settled by a heavy growth of the varieties of deciduous forest trees usually found in Central Michigan, — oak of various kinds, elm, maple, ash, beech, linn or basswood, hickory, black-walnut, sycamore, pepperidge or sour gum, white-wood or tulip- tree ; with tamarack or American larch in swampy places, together with a great variety of shrubbery or undergrowth, the latter of which has increased since the fires were shut out. There are still large bodies of timber, but it is being rapidly cut away. There was no pine in this region, with the exception of a small tract on the eastern margin of Pine Lake, in Meridian township. Clay of a superior quality, for the manufacture of brick and drain tile, is 12 HISTORY OF INGHAM AND EATON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN. abundant, and there have been attempts to manufacture stone ware and ordinary pottery in some localities. MINERAL SPRINGS. These abound in many localities, and there are artesian borings at Lansing, Grand Ledge, Mason, Leslie, Eaton Rapids, and perhaps other points, which bring to the sur face an abundant flow of waters impregnated with various chemical substances. Both hard and soft water springs are found, according as they are affected by limestone and gravel-beds. GEOLOGICAL DIAGRAM. The diagram given below, constructed expressly for this work, shows the important formations of the State according to the recent report by Professor C. Rominger, State geolo gist. GEOLOGY. % This interesting subject, in order to be well understood, involves the study of the entire State. It cannot be con fined to the limits of one or two counties, any more than a description of the Mississippi River can be confined to Minnesota or Louisiana. 0 Red shale 150 Lime-rock with shaly seams 300 Salt-bearing sand-rock 50 Gypsum bods and limestone 195 It will be observed that the salt-bearing rock is much less in thickness than that in the eastern part of the State. At Hillsdale two artesian wells of 1350 and 1550 feet, respectively, corroborate the results in Huron County. The mineral well at Lansing reaches a depth of 1400 feet, and also passes through the brine-bearing stratum.* In the Hillsdale borings, at a depth of about 1200 feet, a white limestone, fifty feet in thickness, was found, and below this a soft calcareous rock. At this point evidently the black shales are wanting, and the Waverly would seem to rest immediately upon the Helderberg lime stone. The Waverly formations are supposed to be thickest in their northern and central portions. The upper division is generally a sand-rock, mixed with inferior beds of shale to a depth of 300 or 350 feet. The lower strata are mostly com posed of shales, and are more abundant in fossils than the upper measures. They are permeated, more or less, through out, with brine, but it is generally stronger in the lower beds, though this order is sometimes reversed, as at Sagi naw, where the upper portions afford the strongest article. This formation would probably be found, in its upper portions, in the vicinity of Lansing, at a depth of 500 feet, the drift and the Carboniferous and Sub-Carboniferous formations lying above it. Overlying the Waverly formation next in place is the Carboniferous, with its various divisions and variety of formations. The lower measures are designated as Sub- Carboniferous, and consist of various descriptions of limestone containing, in several localities, imtuense beds of gypsum or, as it is more familiarly known, plaster. This formation is developed in a narrow marginal band around tho Carboniferous system proper, and is exposed about Jackson and at Grand Rapids, where the most celebrated gypsum-quarries in the United States are situated. There are also extensive deposits of gypsum about Saginaw Bay, at Alabaster City, and other points. At Bay City and Kawkawlin it is found at depths varying from 400 to 700 feet below the surface. The Grand River beds, iu Kent County, cover an area of seven or eight square miles, and are extensively worked. Gypsum consists of sulphuric acid, lime, and water, iu the proportions, respectively, of .40. 51, 32.56, and 20.93. An analysis of the non-fossiliferous rock of this forma tion at Grand Rapids gives the following result : Carbonate of lime ^g Carbonate of magnesia ' ' o- llydrate of iron, oxide, and alumina ' 4 Argillaceous residue ]y; '•" For further account of this well and an analysis of the water sco farther on. PHYSICAL FEATURES. 17 Analyses in other localities give the following : Carbonate of lime 96. Carbonate of magnesia 1. Hydrate of iron oxide 0.5 Insoluble residue 1.5 99. Carbonate of lime 56. Carbonate of magnesia 23. Iron oxide, hydrate, and alumina 5.5 Siliceous residue 9. 93.5 These show a great variation in chemical qualities. The total thickness of the Sub-Carboniferous measures is found by borings to be 1 60 feet. Overlying the Sub-Carboniferous and constituting the latest rock formation of the State is the true Carbonifer ous, which contains the coal measures. This complex for mation, made up of shales and sandstones and intermediate seams of coal, clay, etc., comprehends a total thickness of more than 300 feet, and covers an area generally estimated at about 8000 square miles, though what proportion con tains workable coal veins is not satisfactorily determined. It belongs probably to the upper system of the great coal measures of the country, lying west of the Appalachian Mountains, though it may be an independent or isolated field, having a different epoch for its formation. LOCAL GEOLOGY. The following paragraphs relating to the local geology of Eaton and Ingham Counties are compiled from Pro fessor Rominger's report upon the geology of the lower peninsula. We have in most instances employed the lan guage of the report, omitting the more unimportant por tions. At Bellevue, in Eaton County, the Carboniferous lime stone outcrops, or is covered only by a shallow drift, over a space of six square miles. In a railway-cutting near the place the lowest beds expose a greenish-white sand-rock of tolerably fine grain, partly soft and friable, partly hard, and sometimes firmly cemented by abundance of sparry calcareous material. Its constitutional elements are, quartz, sixty-nine per cent. ; carbonate of lime, thirty per cent. The composition of the higher beds is nearly pure lime stone, as the appended analysis shows : Carbonate of lima 96. Carbonate of magnesia 1. Hydrate of iron oxide 0.5 Insoluble residue 1.5 The formation is sometimes in a brecciated condition, and shows abundant fossils. The higher strata are of a purer, light-colored stone breaking with a conchoidal fracture, in beds of variable thickness interlaminated with concretionary seams of limestone. Fossils are not generally abundant in these beds, but certain seams abound with them. Above these lighter-colored beds is a stratum of brown ferruginous dolomite, or magnesian limestone, about two feet in thick ness, and next above is a bed of light-colored limestone, three to four feet thick, and identical with some of the lower beds. Above this again is a belt of brown, ferru ginous dolomite, a foot in thickness, either in continuous 3 layers, wedge-shaped at both ends, or in seams of irregu larly-shaped septaria surrounded by calcareous shale. The uppermost layers are thin-bedded, light-colored limestone. The composition of the brown dolomite is, — Carbonate of lime 56. Carbonate of magnesia 23. Iron oxide hydrate, with alumina 5.5 Siliceous residue 9. The total thickness of rock at Bellevue is stated by Pro fessor Rominger at from fifty to sixty feet. The trend of the formation is to the southeast. In both Eaton and Ingham Counties coal has been found by artesian boring, as at Mason, but not of sufficient thick ness to pay for working. One mile south of Mason a thin seam is exposed in the creek channel. When boring the well in the court-house square at Mason, the drill pene trated the same seam. A mass of coal surrounded by and mixed with shales and sandstones, and standing in a vertical position, was found some years since four miles to the north of Mason. It was firmly believed by inexperienced people that this was the outcropping of a valuable vein of coal, and one enthusiastic individual purchased the land, but soon came to a realizing sense of his error when he found it was only a mass of drift. It is said that he suddenly left the vicinity, forgetting to call on several friends who were also pecuniarily interested. At Eaton Rapids, Mr. Frost's well penetrates a thin coal seam at the depth of 120 feet. In the banks of Grand River, two miles above Eaton Rapids, are rock cliffs, twelve to fifteen feet in height, composed of darkish-blue colored shale and sand-rock, interstratified. A mile and a half above Lansing, on the river, the upper coal sandstone comes near the surface, and has been quarried on a small scale. In a boring at Charlotte of 730 feet, a thin sand-rock of the coal measures was penetrated at a depth of fifty feet under drift, and immediately below thin seams of coal were found. In the township of Chester, Eaton Co., a seam three feet in thickness outcrops on Little Thornapple Creek under black shale beds. The coal in this locality is close to the surface, and has been eroded and swept off by drift action. Record of boring in Chester : Drift, eight feet ; hard, black shales, slate-like, and inclosing thin seams of coal, six to eight feet ; whitish, fine-grained sand-rock, containing fossil coal-plants, seven feet ; whitish, plastic fire clay, thirty feet;* black shales with pyrites, thirty feet ; white fire-clay, with hard ferruginous bands at bottom of bore. GRAND LEDGE.f " The most instructive natural section through the coal formations which we have in the State is seen at Grand Ledge, in the valley of Grand River, ten miles below Lansing. The river has carved its bed to the depth of about sixty feet below the general surface-level ofthe country. The upper part of the hills bordering the valley is formed of drift; the lower presents a section throughthe rock-beds of the coal measures. The village of Grand Ledge is located in the centre of the outcrop, which continues up and down the river for about a ¦» This statement is probably an error in type, as the fire-clay is seldom over four feet in thickness in this region. -f Undoubtedly named from the lofty sandstone cliffs that line the river-bank for a mile or more, and presenting some of the finest rock scenery to be found in the lower peninsula. HISTORY OF INGHAM AND EATON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN. mile. The strata rise and sink in undulations, which bring the higher and lower beds to repeated outcrops on the same level. . . . " The upper part of the formation is a coarse-grained sand-rock from twenty-five to thirty feet in thickness. . . . The sand-rock ledges form a compact body, with only insignificant intermediate seams of shale or an occasional coal seam of a few inches' thickness wedged in. Calamites and other vegetable imprints, besides concretions of kidney ore and seams of iron pyrites and conglomerate, are usually found inclosed within the rock mass. In grain and hardness it fully re sembles the upper sandstones of Jackson ; its color, however, is a somewhat darker yellowish shade. A part of the brown rock is coarsely conglomerate. "Next below this sand-rock, which overlies the river in vertical cliffs for nearly a mile, we find blue shales of arenaceous character inter- laminated with other layers of sand-rock, all amounting to a thick ness of about fifteen or twenty feet. Under these is a coal seam two and one-half feet in thickness, and of a very good bituminous quality. It wedges out in places or changes into a black, carbonaceous shale. This seam is worked at times by single workmen as a temporary oc cupation when they have little else to do. The coal seam rests on a gray, argillaceous, laminated sand-rock, with softer, shaly seams which inclose a large quantity of coaly vegetable remains. The thickness of the beds is about five feet. "Lower comes a fine-grained, whitish sand-rock, in even, compact beds eight fret in thickness. Directly under this sand-rock is a fifteen- inch bed of good bituminous coal. Lowest in the outcrop are about twenty-five feet of additional strata, principally sand-rock ledges, with some intermediate shale seams. In the bed of the river at this spot large, hard, sand-rock slabs of very even bedding, and from two to three inches in thickness, are laid open, which would make excel lent flagstones for walks. "The aggregate thickness of the given section is about ninety feet. It begins with the centre of the synclinal depression, and is followed downward with the stream. Up-stream a rise of the strata is seen, but the next lower strata to the upper sand-rock deposits are not un covered as plainly as at the lower end of the depression. After pass ing a covered interval of about sixty steps in going up-stream, the following descending section is observed : Feet. Drift up to the plateau of the hillsides 30 Blue, soft shales with kidney ore 15 Sand-rock with stigmaria 2 Thin, laminated sand-rock 4 Black, carbonaceous shale, or coal 1 Sand-rock with stigmaria 1-2 Blue, arenaceous shales containing kidney ore.... 7 Black shale, or coal, several inches. Sand-rock with stigmaria 2 Blue shale 2 White, ripple-marked sand-rock 4 Nodular sand-rock 20 Fire-clay 5 White sand-rock 40 Coal 1£ Carbonaceous shale 3-4 Light-colored shale 12 " At eighty feet below the surface a conglomerate sand-rock is struck from which a copious stream of water rises to the surface. The sand-rock continues to the depth of 105 feet, where another water stream is struck. This water has an agreeable mineral taste. "A good section through this formation can be observed in the ravines of a creek entering Grand River from the south a short dis tance west of the village (Grand Ledge), and another in the cliffs just below it. Highest in tbe latter, under a few feet of drift, are fifteen feet of arenaceous shales with nodular seams of sand-rock and kidney ore concretions, and a band of carbonaceous shale with seams of coal. Beneath follow eight feet of fine-grained, greenish-white sandstone in thick, even beds, identical with the sand-rock found in the first section intermediate between the two coal seams. "This rock is quarried and worked into cut stone and window- and door-sills. It is of fine quality,— better than any of the coal measure rocks I had seen before. The beds at one end of the quarry are much thicker than at the other, and seem to wedge out. Under the quarry stone a foot or two of arenaceous shales, laminated by black, coaly scams, follows, and then a coal bed fifteen inches thick. The coal is of very good quality, even for blacksmiths' use, and is occasionally obtained by working tho quarry for the sand-rock. "The coal seam rests on bluish, arenaceous shales, and, lower, beds of sand-rock form the base of the bluff and the bed of the river. " In Ingham County, shale beds, inclosing a coal seam, come to the surface on Cedar River, near Williamston. Not far from this exposure a shaft has been sunk, and for several years past a mine has been in operation which produces a good quality of bituminous coal.* The shaft commences in a drift mass fifteen feet thick; right under the drift a. coal seam of twenty inches is found, and, following, comes fire clay, with seams of I'eet. Sand rock 12 Black shale 3 White, soft, fire-clay ) 3 Kidney ore 01 Black, slate-like shales, with fossils 2 Coal from 3-3 1 Fire clay 4 Gray shales 12 "A seam of pyrites is generally connected with the eoal, but can be easily separated. Fossils are common in the pyritous seam. Be sides the vertical shaft a sloping gallery is driven to tbe bottom of the mine, in which the sequence of the rock strata can be studied most commodiously."f At a boring four miles west of Williamston, near Cedar River, the following analysis was taken : Feet. Drift 18 Black slate 4 Coal 21 Fire-clay 6 Black shale 12 Shaly sandstone 10 Half a mile south of this locality borings of sixty feet did not penetrate through the drift. Borings at and near Williamston : AT THE DEPOT. ' Feet. Drift 16 Soft, white sandstone 12 Coal 01 Light shale 6 Dark shale 8 Coal 3 Fire-clay 3 Black shale 2 Fire clay 4 Black shale 4 Fire-clay 4 Black shale 13 Light shale 7 Black shale 5 Fire-clay 3 Shale 14 104 Half a mile southwest of depot : Feet. Drift 28 Sandstone 6 Light, gray shale 10 Dark shale 6 Black shale 7 Coal 1 Fire-clay M 4 Shale 3 Whito sand-rock 20 (To bottom of boring.) Another boring, 200 yards north of coal shaft, gave: , Feet. Drift 4 Sandstone ]3 Dark-gray shale 1 Coal 3 with fire clay and shales below. North of this last : Foot. Drift 18 Coal 7(?) Fire-clay 6 succeeded by light and black shales to a depth of sixty feet. » ' Not now in operation. f Geological survey. PHYSICAL FEATURES. 19 The borings show a tolerably uniform distribution of about three feet of coal over the Williamston district. THE LANSING WELL. The famous Lansing Mineral Well, located at the con fluence of the Grand and Cedar Rivers, in the city of Lansing, which penetrates the earth to the depth of over 1400 feet, ending in the Waverly group of sandstones con taining the salt brines of Michigan, pours forth a copious stream of mineral water equal to a flow of one barrel per minute. This well was bored by a stock company in 1863 for the purpose of obtaining salt water, and was partially successful, but the stronger brines of the Saginaw region soon distanced all competition. The Lansing well was finally utilized for medicinal purposes. In 1873, Messrs. Woodhouse & Butler erected a large hotel known as the " Mineral Well House," and an extensive bath-house, at an expense of more than $12,000. Mr. C. W. Butler sold out his interest, and the company sold in 1873 to Messrs. C. Y. & D. Edwards. In 1874 they made extensive additions at an expense of about $4000. The hotel was destroyed by fire Feb. 5, 1876, and has not been rebuilt. The property is now owned by Isaac Owen, who has recently been to large ex pense in clearing and putting in new tubing, and the flow of water is now equal to the amount at any time since the well was sunk. It has an extensive reputation as one of the most noted flowing wells in the world, and the cures wrought by the use of the water are something re markable ; among them well-established cases of Bright's dis ease of the kidneys. The water is pronounced by experts to be superior to the most famous waters of the German spas. The following analysis of this water, together with that of the celebrated Congress Spring water of Saratoga, giv ing the solid contents in grains of chemical ingredients held in solution in an imperial gallon, will be of interest : Lansing Congress Well. Spring. Grains. Grains. Chloride of sodium 320.224 385.000 Bicarbonate of lime 107.590 98.098 Bicarbonate of soda 112.081 8.982 Bicarbonate of magnesia 23.027 95.788 Bicarbonate of iron 1.882 5.075 Sulphate of potassa 14.940 none. Phosphate of soda 30.065 none. Sulphate of lime none. none. Silica 3.996 1.500 Silicate of lime none. none. Phosphate of lime a trace. none. Iodide of sodium a trace. 3.500 Lithia a trace. none. Sulphuretted hydrogen a trace. none. Solid contents of imperial gallon 615.430 586.000 Total carbonic acid 235.550 311.000 By Augustus F. Jennings, M.D., Analytical Chemist, Detroit. The well at the Lansing House is 740 feet in depth, but brings up none of the valuable mineral waters which are characteristic of the other ; neither did the borings pene trate any valuable seams of coal. The well bored at the State Reform School for Boys, in the eastern part of the city, gives the following analysis, which was carefully kept at the time of boring : Feet. Drift — clay, sand, gravel, and bowlders 101 Soft sand-rock 3 Hard fire-clay 4 Soft, white sand-rock 13 Soft, sandy fire-clay 15 Hard sand-rock 119 Hard fire-clay, alternating with beds of whitish and 46 bluish sand-rock Cherty lime 1 Gray lime 4 Sandy fire-clay and scams of hard rock 51 Soft sand-rock 37 Hard gray limestone 2 Soft white sand-rock 15 Blue limestone 1 White fire-clay 1 Sand-rock 4 Fire-clay with iron pyrites 50 Soft sand-roek 5 Blue limestone 161 Total 5061 THE QUATERNARY AGE. Between the Carboniferous and the Quaternary ages the formations, as before remarked, are all wanting in Michigan. These include the reptilian age of Mesozoic time, and the tertiary period of Cenozoic time. The glacial, Champlain, and terrace periods are subdivisions of the Quaternary age. It is generally supposed that man appeared upon the earth in some one of these periods, though there is some evidence that his advent dates still farther back to the terti ary age. But admitting that ho existed at that early period would not make him an inhabitant of Michigan, for lack of something to stand upon would make it impossible. The lower peninsula was then, probably, under water. The drift deposits of the glacial and post-glacial days cover the peninsula to depths varying from a few inches to many hundred feet. In a few localities fixed rock appears upon the surface, but nearly the whole region is buried under the accumulated bowlders, sands, and clays of the ice period. The materials of these accumulations have been produced by erosions of the early rocks, and the masses heaped and strewn over the lower peninsula of Michigan have been deposited by some irresistible force moving in a direction nearly south. Were this drift removed, the entire rock surface, except where modified from recent causes, would probably exhibit astonishing effects produced by this enor mous force. It would appear as if planed down by some gigantic instrument, and in places would be deeply grooved and scored as if by an immense plow or gouge. In Now England and New York these scorings and groovings are plainly to be seen even on some of the higher mountains, as Mansfield, Kearsage, and the hard granite of Ascutney ; and the massive and obdurate trap of the Con.- necticut Valley bears evidence of some enormous force passing over it during a long period of time. There may have been similar or many glacial periods, since the earth's crust became solid ; but, at any rate, there, can be but little doubt that there has been one compara tively recent geological period, when a large share pf the. North American continent lying north of the fortieth, parallel and east of the one hundredth meridian was plowed, and ground oyer by a vast accumulation of semi-solid ice, which tore the rocks of the north from their ancient beds, and carried th.em far to the southward, grinding them into 20 HISTORY OF INGHAM AND EATON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN. bowlders, gravel, and sand by the way, and leaving the wreck, when the glacier melted, strewn as we now behold, except that it has been greatly modified by the tremendous rush of waters succeeding the ice period, and considerably changed by the action of rains and snows and the streams of later days. The causes of this glaciated condition of the earth's sur face we shall not discuss in this connection. They have been ably handled by various writers, and Dana gives an elaborate paper in his " Manual of Geology," which seems to be exhaustive of the subject. To this enormous power, continued, it may be, for a hundred thousand years or more, is attributed by some the formation of several of the great American lakes, notably Michigan and Huron, with their peculiar bays. Lake Superior, lying in an immense synclinal, among the earlier formations, is considered to be of volcanic origin. The level of Lakes Michigan and Huron has varied materially in the lapse of ages. At one time both these bodies of water and also Lake Erie drained southward into the Ohio and Mississippi, via the Wabash and Illinois Rivers. The Champlain period,* which succeeded the glacial, was the grand distributing era of the Quaternary age. The melting of the continental glacier left great deposits of bowlders, gravel, sand, and clay, unevenly distributed in vast heaps and moraines over the surface of the peninsula. The powerful streams, set free by this melting process, swept with irresistible force in all directions from the centre towards the basins of the lakes, in their courses greatly modifying these deposits and distributing them more evenly over the surface. During this period the channels of the principal streams were probably marked out, and their steadily diminishing waters have been cutting them deeper and deeper to the present time. The Champlain period may be properly divided into two subdivisions,- — the Diluvial and the Alluvial, — or one of depositions from the melting glacier, and the other of de posits by swollen streams upon overflowed lands, as we wit ness in these days along the valleys of the Mississippi and other rivers. These late deposits are more or less plainly stratified. The terrace period includes the time during which the clearly defined terraces of the larger streams have been forming. The principal streams of Michigan exhibit the terrace formations to a considerable degree, though not to the extent observable in the valleys of rivers running through older and more hilly regions. They are quite noticeable along the Grand, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and other large watercourses. The terraces mark the different levels at which the waters have stood, for longer or shorter periods, since they began cutting through the drift toward the underlying rock, which has been reached in compara tively few places in the lower peninsula. All the streams, great and small, show a wonderful dimi nution from their volume in the post-glacial days. The Mississippi, which we are wont to consider of vast propor- * So named from the occurrence of finely developed beds of tho period in the neighborhood of Lake Champlain. It was the period of formation of immenso fresh-water basins and of great rivers. tions, once had an average width of nearly a hundred miles below the mouth of the Ohio ; and while the rivers of Michigan may not have changed in an equal ratio, they are no doubt vastly inferior to their former magnitude. The appearance of forest trees upon the surface of Michigan is of comparatively recent date. In all proba bility many ages elapsed after the disappearance of the glacier before the heaped up sands and clays were fully covered with vegetation, and the region must have been a vast desert interspersed everywhere with lakes and marshes, and totally unfit for the habitation of man. In this respect it has been improving for an unknown period, and will con tinue to do so for long years to come. The day will prob ably at length arrive when most of the inferior lakes and marshes will be drained, and their beds become dry and cultivatable land. GENERAL TOPOGRAPHY. The lower peninsula of Michigan may be described as a comparatively level plateau, embossed with low hills and ridges, and everywhere eroded and seamed by a vast num ber of watercourses, which flow from the highlands in di rections east, west, north, and southeast toward the basins of the great lakes. The principal height of lands, which separates the water sheds drained respectively by Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Erie, can be traced from the Indiana line in Branch County through the counties of Hillsdale, Jackson, Washtenaw, Livingston, Shiawassee, Gratiot, Montcalm, Mecosta, Isa bella, Clare, Roscommon, Crawford, Otsego, and Charlevoix. A secondary but quite lofty " divide" separates the waters which flow into Lakes Erie and St. Clair, and the Straits of St. Clair and Detroit from those which flow into Saginaw Bay. This ridge passes through the northeastern part of Livingston County, the northwestern part of Oak land, the southeastern part of Lapeer, and the central por tions of Sanilac. Subordinate elevations separate the water sheds of the various streams. The peninsula is nowhere mountainous, and only moderately hilly. The higher eleva tions, taken mostly from railway surveys, and measured from the mean level of Lake Michigan at Chicago, which is stated at 580 feet 0 inches above the sea level, are as fol lows, according to Prof. Winchell : Above Lake Above Michigan. Sea. Feet. Feet. Height of lands id Otsego County 1200 17S01 Summit in Roscommon County 820 1400 " " Clare County 750 1330 " " Hillsdale County 613 1193 " " Oakland County 529 1109 " " Jackson County 411 91JI " " Washtenaw County 394 1)74 " " southeastern part of Ingliam County.... 391 971 " " north part of Eaton County .* 250 S30 This last location in Eaton County is designated as " Grand Ledge Summit." Houghton Lake, at the head of the Muskegon River, is elevated 589 feet above Lake Michigan, and 1169 feet above the sea. Between the valleys of the Saginaw and Grand Rivers there is a natural depression which in tho lowest place is only elevated seventy-two feet above the lakes. PREHISTORIC. 21 CLIMATOLOGY. The State of Michigan lies between the parallels of 41° 30' and 48° 20' north latitude. Its longest axis, measur ing from the southwest corner of Hillsdale County to the Straits of Mackinaw, and thence northwest to the Minne sota and Canadian boundary between Isle Royale and the mainland, is not far from 550 miles. Its greatest breadth, including its water area across the lower peninsula at the south line of Saginaw Bay, is about 265 miles. Over such an extensive region there is necessarily great diversity of climate. Isle Royale and the northern por tions of the upper peninsula have an almost Arctic winter season, while the southern portions of the lower peninsula experience the climate of New York and Philadelphia. The great bodies of water almost surrounding the lower peninsula produce a most remarkable effect upon its climate both in summer and winter. The summers are neither so hot nor the winters so cold as in the same latitude east of Lakes Huron and west of Lake Michigan. The influence of these lakes is greatest in their immedi ate neighborhood, though the central parts of the peninsula feel it more or less. But within twenty miles of the eastern shore of Lake Michigan the effect is most marked, and from this cause it is one of the finest regions for the growth of the fruits and berries of the temperate latitudes to be found in the world. It is well known that peaches are almost a certain crop (except the trees are diseased) from St. Joseph to Grand Traverse Bay. The deflection of the isothermal lines, in summer to the south and in winter to the north, caused by the even temperature of Lake Michi gan is something remarkable, and in this respect perhaps no country on the globe is so peculiarly situated. The ex- tremest cold of winter at Traverse City, in latitude forty- five north, does not exceed that of St. Louis, Mo., which is situated six degrees farther to the south, equivalent to 400 miles, and instances* are known where the peach has been destroyed by the cold at the latter place, while a fair crop has been secured at, the former. The extreme heats of summer are much modified by the same cause, and the western lake ports may be sweltering with heat, while those on the eastern shore are enjoying almost a perpetual spring. It may be asked why both shores of the lake are not affected equally. The answer is that a large proportion of the winds of this region blow from a direction west of a north and south line, thus carry ing the moisture and temperature of the lake over the Michigan peninsula. The mean summer and mean winter temperature of the lake vary only about eight degrees, so that its waters are uniform in their temperature to a re markable degree. In the central portions of the State this influence is considerably less, and the temperature in sum mer is considerably higher and in winter correspondingly lower than in the nearer vicinity of the lake ; still it affects the entire peninsula to a greater or less extent. In the matter of precipitation it is also probable that the proximity of these great bodies of water has more or less effect upon the amount year after year, equalizing the rain fall, and rendering excessive droughts less liable to occur. The atmosphere is consequently somewhat more humid than in Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. The average amount of precipitation, rain and snow, annually for the lower peninsula is thirty-two inches. At Lansing, which is in latitude 42° 43' 53", and at an eleva tion of 270 feet above Lake Michigan, or 850 above sea level, the average annual precipitation, as determined by observations continued through seven years, is 30.31 inches. The prevailing winds at this point, which is near the centre of the peninsula, east and west, for the same period were southwest, west, and northeast, much the greater part of the time southwest. The climate and soil of Michigan seem peculiarly adapted to the maximum production of wheat, vegetables, and fruit. The yield per acre of winter wheat sometimes exceeds fifty bushels, and its superior quality is well known. Its fruits are distinguished for their size, flavor, remarkable sound ness, and freedom from injury by insects. Apples, pears, cherries, grapes, and berries flourish in all parts of the lower peninsula, while the peculiar home of the peach is within a belt of several miles in width bordering Lake Michigan. CHAPTER II. FKEHISTOKIC. Evidences of a Semi-Civilized Occupation — The Mound-Builders— Traditions of the Indians — -Indian Nations. In compiling a history of the counties of Ingham and Eaton, it has seemed to the writer necessary and proper to give a brief outline of the early history of the two penin sulas now comprising the State of Michigan. Though sit uated 1500 miles from the mouth of the river St. 'Law rence, which drains every square mile of the State,* almost surrounded by vast inland seas, covered with dense forests, and inhabited by savage nations, its territory was among the earliest to be explored, and settlements were founded and missions and trading-stations established within its borders before the English and Dutch colonies had pene trated 100 miles from the Atlantic coast. Could a full and accurate history of its first European discoverers, and of its early explorers, voyageurs, coureurs de bois, fur traders, and missionaries be given, the "plain, unvarnished tale" would exceed the wildest imaginings of romance. Along its stormy seas, amid its thousand inland lakes, and through its tangled forests and gloomy mo rasses, the daring and greedy trader ventured for worldly gain ; while the black-robed missionary, bearing the em blems of his holy calling, risked, and often lost, his life in the thankless and almost vain attempt to change its barba rian hordes into civilized and Christian people. There is no portion of the American continent around which cluster more of the elements of daring adventure, of unselfish religious zeal, and of wild romance than the great lake region of the Northwest. The writings of '* With the possible exception of a fow square miles at the heads of the Wisconsin and Chippewa Rivers. Lake Vicux Desert is repre sented as lying across the line between Wisconsin and Michigan, and as draining into tho Wisconsin River. A few small lakes may also drain into the Chippewa River. 22 HISTORY OF INGHAM AND EATON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN. Charlevoix, La Hontan, Schoolcraft, Parkman, De Smet, and many more, constitute an inexhaustible fund of most interesting information from which future writers may draw without stint when treating of this wonderful region. The published histories of Michigan, while of great value and creditable to their compilers, are mostly fragmentary, and come far short of a comprehensive treatment of the subject. The grand .history of the State is yet to be writ ten, and there is certainly no more inviting field for the com petent historian than this. Materials are abundant, but they are to be made available only by a thorough research among the colonial records of Prance and England, the writ ings of the Jesuits, the archives of the American govern ment, and, we may properly add, the records of the great fur companies. Whoever shall undertake the task, with all these appliances at command, and bring to the work an en thusiastic love of the subject, coupled with ability and in dustry, will furnish a rare and enchanting work ; one that will live like the writings of Herodotus. ANCIENT OCCUPATION. The evidences of a long-continued and semi-civilized oc cupation of the great valleys of the Mississippi aud St. Lawrence Rivers in the far off and shadowy past are abundant on every hand. The vast mounds and compli cated system of fortification found throughout the valley of the Mississippi, the Obio, and other important streams, the wonderful and gigantic mining operations in the upper peninsula of Michigan, and on Isle Royale,* in Lake Supe rior, and the curious, extensive, and inexplicable '' garden- beds" of Michigan and Wisconsin, are proof positive that ages ago throughout all the vast region there dwelt a ho mogeneous and powerful race, which, some catastrophe swept from the face of the country, leaving nothing save gigantic and silent ruins to testify of its existence. Speculation as to the origin and movements of this an cient people has been abundant, and the subject has been voluminously treated from every possible stand-point. Prom inent writers have contended that the home— the original habitat of the human race — was in that mythical region known to the earliest writers as "The Lost Atlantis," which is said to have occupied the region now covered by the rolling billows of the Central Atlantic Ocean. The words Atlas and Atlantic are undoubtedly of ancient American origin, for we find no root in any of the lan guages of the Eastern continent akin to them. All was a common prefix to many words in the language spoken by the Aztecs, and other inhabitants of Central America and Mexico, and to this source we must trace its origin. Geology teaches us through the " testimony of°the rocks" that the American, and particularly the North American, continent is of much greater age than most portions ofthe eastern congeries of continents. The vast desert regions of Asia and Africa indicate that their emergence from be neath the waters of the sea took place at a comparatively recent date. The extensive regions occupied by the Ar chaean, or granitic, formations of America are considered * This great island was named by the Jesuit Father Dablon, who first visited it about 1671, Isle Minong. the oldest upon the globe. These facts would teach that most probably the Western continent was the home of the first forms of life upon the earth, — vegetable and animal, — and by a consequent process of reasoning, in all probability, the human family, or its earliest branch, was here first de veloped. Such a theory is certainly opposed to early teachings and traditions, but this statement has also been true of nearly every new theory in the history of the human race. The logic of the law of gradual development is attracting a vast amount of attention in these days of great dis coveries, and current theories and beliefs are as liable to radical changes as they have been in the past. There is positive evidence, deducible from the " lake dwellings" of Switzerland, the remains found in the caverns of France and England, and from indications of early human exist ence in the United States, that the long cherished belief that the human race dates back less than 6000 years is a mistaken one. Recent explorations in the caverns of Kent, England, are considered by the English archaeologists as indicating an existence of 600,000 years ; and the dis covery of human bones in the auriferous gravel of Cali fornia, buried beneath successive deposits of lava, carries the race still farther back to ante-glacial days. The history of the ancient inhabitants of Mexico and the Central American States has been carefully studied by eminent scholars, so far as materials could be found, and the conclusion arrived at is that the civilization of that reo-ion dates as far back as 2500 years before the Christian era. One proposition seems to be conclusively established, — viz., that the farther we trace the human race back through the corridors of time, the nearer it approaches a state of bar barism. In other words, there appears to have been a gradual advance in an intellectual direction, a steady pro gression in the mental faculties of the race. This is strictly in keeping with the law of nature, which has been con stantly improving the various forms of life preceding man, and the latter can be no exception to the rule. We find the history of mankind divided into periods, or ages, which serve as milestones to indicate radical changes in the condition or amount of intelligence at various stages of his existence. These periods have been divided by archaeologists and antiquarians into a Stone Age, a Bronze Age, an Iron Age, etc. There may also have been a Wooden Age preceding the Stone Age, wherein men used only clubs and sticks as weapons of offense and defense. These periods have not followed each other in regular suc cession throughout the globe ; on the contrary, several of them have frequently existed contemporaneously, and the fact is well known that at the present time there are nations and fragmentary peoples on several of the continents who have not advanced beyond the development of the Stone Age. This is eminently true of the continents of Africa, America, and Australia. So fur as known there are abundant evidences that the age of stone has at one time or other existed on all the continents. There is apparently scarce an acre of all the vast Mississippi basin over which are not strewn the stone implements of this period. An age of bronze evidently existed on the American PREHISTORIC. 23 continent, though its relics are comparatively few ; but this may be accounted for by supposing so long a period to have elapsed that most of the implements and utensils have be come oxydized and restored to original elements. Copper implements are still quite abundantly found in connection with mounds and earthworks. Both stone and copper im plements were also in use at the same time. The name of this lost race which has left such remark able works in many parts of the continent will probably never be known. There are theories innumerable regard ing them. Some suppose them to have been an entirely different race from the brown or copper-colored tribes found inhabiting the Atlantic slope and the great interior basin of the present United States of America, whose an cestors, like the fabled inhabitants of the Eastern conti nent, had come from some central point where they first sprang into being. This original home of the race they believe to have been in Central America, from whence came the Toltecs, the Chicimecs, the Colhuas, the Tezcocans, the Aztecs, and the Mexicans. From some one or more of these last-named races it is supposed were derived the earliest inhabitants of the region now constituting the United States. On the other hand it is claimed by prominent writers that the earliest inhabitants of Mexico and Yucatan had traditions that their ancestors came from a country lying to the north of the Mexican Gulf, from whence they were driven by the terrible Chicimecs thousands of years ago. These Chicimecs are said to have come from the north and west and to have swarmed over every portion of the Missis sippi Valley. Again the Iroquois and Delaware nations of Indians — the ancient Mengwe and Lenni Lenape — have traditions that their progenitors came originally from the western parts of the Northern continent, by the gradual process of steady colonization, and in course of time reached the great river Mississippi.* On the eastern banks of this stream they found a powerful people, living in great cities, whom they called Alleghewi. A dreadful war ensued, in which the leagued nations of the Lenape and the Mengwe, after many years of bloody conflict, finally prevailed, drove out the inhabitants, and divided their country between them, the Lenape choosing the valley of the Ohio River and the Mengwe occupying the region of the Great Lakes. These traditions would indicate the possibility that the ancestors of the Delaware and Iroquois nations and the Chicimecs of Central American tradition were identical ; and also that the Mound- Builders and the Alleghewi were one and the same people. But at present, as was said by the Greek philosophers, " All we know is, nothing can be known," at least nothing satisfactory, as to who the lost races were, or whence they came. Regarding the occupation of Michigan by this ancient race there is not as much evidence as is found in the valley of the Ohio ; but the scattering mounds found at intervals, the numerous garden-bedsf once covering a large area in * This name ia variously written Messipi, Nama Sepee, Michi- sepi, etc. -\ It has been suggested by Henry Gilman, of Detroit, that these garden-beds were the places where was produced the grain required the valleys of the St. Joseph, Kalamazoo, and Grand Rivers, and the extensive working of the copper deposits of Lake Superior, are sufficient evidence that both the upper and lower peninsulas were occupied by a race ante rior to the advent of the Indians. The presence of vast numbers of stone implements is also indicative of such occupation, though some writers, and among them Henry R. Schoolcraft, are of the opinion that these last belong mostly to the modern Indian. The mounds and tumuli are more frequently found along the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers, but are also quite plen tiful on the Kalamazoo and Grand River valleys, and in some other localities. The Ojibwa, Ottawa, and Pottawat tamie Indians, according to George Copway, Peter Jones,J and others, have a tradition that a people whom they called Mus-co-dians, Mus-co-dain-sug, or Little Prairie Indians, formerly occupied the lower peninsula of Michigan until driven out by the Ojibwa nation; and they believe that these people were the people who cultivated the famous garden-beds of Southwestern Michigan. They were at first driven into the valley of the Wash-ko-tang or Grand River, but subsequently forced entirely beyond the limits of the State.§ There are not many indications of the occupation of the counties of Ingham and Eaton by the prehistoric people. INDIAN NATIONS. The Indian nations found occupying the territory of the present State of Michigan at the advent of the earliest French explorers were quite numerous. Throughout the northern peninsula were the great nation of the Ojibwas, and its subdivisions, the Ottawas and Pottawattamies. The former were mostly located in the vicinity of Lake Huron, while the Pottawattamies were centrally located in the vicinity of Green Bay. Branches of the Ojibwas were also living on the south side of the Straits of Mackinac. The Salteurs, so named by the French from their location at the Sault Ste. Marie, were a branch of this nation. About the beginning of the eighteenth century the Pottawattamies had by gradual removal occupied the country from about the north line of Illinois, around the head of Lake Michi gan as far as the Grand River Valley. When Joliet and Marquette first visited the region of the Fox River of Wis consin, lying south of Lake Winnebago, they found the Miamis nation in that region, which at a later date, but preceding the migration ofthe Pottawattamies, removed to Southwestern Michigan, where La Salle found them in 1679. They subsequently occupied Northwestern Ohio and North ern Indiana. In the vicinity of the Detroit River and Lake Erie were the Wyandots, the ancient Hurons, who were expelled from Canada by the Iroquois about 1650. When the country of the Saginaw Valley was first set- to feed the ancient miners on Keweenaw Point and Isle Royale, Lake Superior. % Two native Ojibways, who bocame Christian missionaries to their people. $ Schoolcraft thinks the date of the abandonment of the garden- beds was about 1500 or 1502. He refers their origin to the Mound- Builders. 24 HISTORY OF INGHAM AND EATON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN. tied by the whites there were bands of the Chippewa or Ojibwa nation dwelling on its numerous rivers, and known as Saginaw Chippewas, Shiawassees, etc. The tribes or bands had a tradition that at an early date there dwelt in the valleys of the Saginaw and its converging branches two kindred tribes, which they called Sauks,* or Saukies, and Onottowas. These tribes, the Ojibwas claimed, were finally extermi nated by the combined forces of the Ottawas and Ojibwas, who came upon them from different directions, and, after several fierce battles, completely destroyed them, or forced the feeble remnant out of the country, which sought a new home in the wilderness of Wisconsin. This tradition corresponds closely with that of the more northern Ojibwas concerning the Mus-co-dain-sugs, and both traditions may refer to the same people.")" FEENCH OCCUPATION. CHAPTER III. EAELY DISCOVERIES AETD SETTLEMENTS. Verrazzano — Cartier — Roberval — Champlain — The Franciscans and Jesuits. Who first among Europeans discovered the continent of America is not certainly known. Scandinavian writers put forth plausible claims to the honor for their countrymen as early as the tenth century, showing that they effected settle ments in New England, and perhaps in Labrador; and it is well established that they had visited Greenland at a still earlier date. French writers claim that as early as 1488 one Cousin, of Dieppe, was driven from the African to the American coast, and it is suspected that even Columbus derived a share of his enthusiasm for discoveries in the Western ocean from reports brought back by adventurers who had caught glimpses of the main land or its outlying islands. His subsequent voyages, and those of Vespucius, the Cabots, and others, aroused a wonderful interest in " the lands beyond the sea," and many expeditions were fitted out in the ports of Spain, Portugal, France, and England for voyages of discovery. It is very probable that the hardy seamen of Normandy and Brittany, in France, and of the Basque provinces of France and Spain, knew of and were frequent visitors to the shores and banks of Newfoundland and the adjacent coasts, where they came to fish for the cod, as early as 1500 ; and these fisheries were certainly in a prosperous condition in 1504. ^ The whole American continent, from Labrador to the river La Plata, was looked upon as an El Dorado which only needed exploration to develop untold riches, and in the latter part of the sixteenth and beginning of the seven- * The word Saginaw is a corruption ofthe name Baukigon, or place ot the Sauks. L t See histories of Genessee and Livingston Counties. teenth century the maritime nations of Europe vied with each other in exploring and settling the newly-discovered regions. Spain took the lead and overran the rich kingdoms of Mexico and Peru, destroying their cities and monuments of art, robbing their people, and killing their rulers in the name of religion. She also occupied the southern portions of the United States, and the famous expeditions of Ponce de LeonJ and De Soto were organized and made attempts to explore the interior before the middle of the sixteenth cen tury. St. Augustine, in Florida, was founded by the Span iards in 1565. The French were early in the field, and in 1506 one Denis, of Honfleur,§ a private individual, explored the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and was followed in 1508 by Aubert, of Dieppe. In 1518 the Baron de Lery founded a settlement on Sable Island. The English also, under John and Sebastian Cabot, ex plored a large portion of the North American coast in the closing years of the fifteenth and the opening ones of the sixteenth century, though they made no permanent settle ment until 1607. In 1524, John Verazzano, a Florentine navigator and ad venturer, under the patronage of Francis I., of France, made the first well-authenticated voyage along the American coast north of the Carolinas. He first saw land on the coast of North Carolina, which he described as " a newe land, never before seen of any man, either ancient or mod- erne," though the country was swarming with natives who thronged the beach to meet the strangers. From thence he sailed northward along the coast, visiting and exploring and remaining in each of the harbors of New York and Newport, R. I., for a number of days. He examined the coast of New England, which remained unsettled by Europeans for nearly a hundred years after wards. He left the continent in latitude 50° north, and returned to France. This is the last that we positively know of him, though some writers affirm that he entered the service of Henry VIII., of England, and was killed by savages on a subsequent voyage. As matters shaped themselves the Spaniards took pos session of the southern portion of the North American continent, the English of the central portions, lying be tween Nova Scotia (or New Scotland) and Florida," and the French of the region lying between the southern point of Nova Scotia and Labrador, including Newfoundland, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the valley of the great river stretching 2000 miles to the westward. At the first glance it would seem that this was the only choice left for the latter, but a careful examination will show that there was " method in their madness" of trying to explore and colonize a region so inhospitable, which was locked in the icy embrace of an almost arctic winter during one-half the year. ThePrench had planted a colony in Florida and battled t Ponce de Leon was killed in Florida by the. Indians in 1537, aud De Soto died on the Mississippi in 1541. I The names Jltmjtcnr and Harfleur arc frequently confounded. They are two seaports lying opposite to each other near the mouth of the river Seine, in Franco. EARLY DISCOVERIES AND SETTLEMENTS. 2.") successfully with the Spaniards for supremacy in that region, and there is little doubt that had they persisted they would have maintained their footing. But unfortunately the re ligious bigotry and intolerance, with the consequent wars of those ages, were transferred from Europe to the shores of America, and these were the principal factors in determin ing the occupation and final settlement of the continent. The French settlers in Florida were Huguenots and Protestants, and as a consequence, though they were the most enterprising of the French people, they received little sympathy and less aid from the Catholic home government, and finally abandoned the attempt to colonize that favored region. The rich trade with Asia, commonly called India, or the Indies, had long been the great desideratum of the mer chants of Europe, and the Venetians and Genoese had managed to monopolize it for many years. It was carried on along two great lines, — a northern one by the Genoese, via the Black and Caspian Seas, and a southern through Syria, Egypt, and the Red Sea, by the Venetians. In the closing years ofthe fifteenth century the doctrines of Pythagoras aud Ptolemy, concerning the planetary sys tems and the spherical form of the earth, began to take root among the maritime nations of Europe, though the " infidel doctrines" were bitterly opposed by the jGhurch of Rome. Coming, as they did, through the medium of the Saracen schools and philosophers, it is not wonderful that the mother church should look upon them as false and he retical. But, notwithstanding this bitter warfare, men kept think ing, aud among others was Christopher Columbus, of Genoa, who was a philosopher as well as navigator. He believed that the Indies could be reached by voyaging westward, and in 1492, with his little squadron of three small ships, the largest of 120 tons, he breasted the stormy billows of the Atlantic, and half solved the problem by the discovery of what proved to be a new world to Europeans. Vasco De Gama. in the employ of the Portuguese govern ment, doubled the Cape of Good Hope in 1497, and Ferdi nand Magellan, under the patronage of the now awakened Spanish monarchy, in 1519-22 settled the vexing question forever by sailing around South America and circumnavigat ing the globe, though he did not live to fully accomplish it in person, the voyage being successfully prosecuted after his death by his worthy lieutenant, Sebastian d'Elcano. The fact that Columbus and others believed he had dis covered the eastern region of the Indies is apparent from the name he gave the islands of the American Archipelago, and the naming of the natives Indians by many subsequent voyagers. When the voyages of Vespucius, Cabot, and Verrazzano had finally demonstrated the existence of a heretofore un known continent in the western ocean, the next idea was that there must be navigable channels connecting the two great oceans through the newly-discovered land, and for many years constant attempts were made to find these im aginary passages. It is no wonder, then, that when Cartier, in 1534, entered the grand estuary of the St. Lawrence, he took it for granted that he had found one of them, and Hen drick Hudson fell into the same error when sailing up the 4 broad and tide-swept river which bears his name. Even so late as 1679, La Salle was so enthusiastic over the idea of discovering this long-looked-for water-way through the great inland seas of the west that he named his settlement on the island of Montreal " La Chine." To-day, if a stranger to the geography of the American continent should stand beside the St. Lawrence, the Niagara, the Detroit, the St. Clair, or even the St. Mary's, he well might deem he was looking upon the connecting waters of two mighty oceans. The great outlet of the Northwestern lakes, in volume, purity, and majestic sweep, has not its peer upon the earth. It pours a volume estimated at 1,000,000 cubic feet per second into the Atlantic, and drains not less than 600,000 square miles of the earth's surface, including nearly 100,000 covered by the five great lakes. This im mense inland channel, then, was the determining cause which concentrated the attention of the French nation upon this vast region. After it had been demonstrated that it was only the outlet of inland fresh-water seas, the early voyagers still believed they should find a line of com munication by way of the lakes and great rivers beyond that would be easily improved, and furnish a vast commer cial highway for emigration and traffic, and hence the re markable and persistent attempts made by Joliet, Marquette, Du Lhut, Perrot, and La Salle to explore the unknown re gion lying around the watershed of the upper lakes and the head-waters of the Mississippi River. Even Champlain believed there was a natural water communication, at least with short portages, between the waters of the St. Lawrence and the northern or western oceans. CARTIER The first navigator who is known to have explored the river St. Lawrence was the famous Breton sailor, Jacques Cartier, a native of the old sea-port town of St. Malo, born in 1494. In the spring of 1534 he was placed in command of a fleet of three little vessels by one Phillippe de Brison-Cha- bot, who was one of the favorites of Francis I. of France. Cartier left his native town on the 20th of April, 1534, and crossing the Atlantic entered the Straits of Belle Isle, examined the Bay des Chaleurs, and sailed up the St. Law rence estuary as far as the great island of Anticosti. The storms of autumn, however, compelled his return without fully accomplishing the objects of the voyage. But the experiment awakened a deeper interest, and in the spring of 1535, Cartier was fitted out with another squadron and sent on a second voyage. His largest vessel was of only 120 tons burden, a craft that would cut a sorry figure even on the western lakes to-day. When we look upon the great steamships of the present day, we little ap» preciate or comprehend the wonderful daring of the early navigators who explored the dangerous American coasts. There are larger vessels now plying upon Lake Winnebago than the flag-ship of the bold French mariner of 1535, High-born gentlemen accompanied him on this second voyage, which began on the 19th of May. On the way the little vessels were separated by a furious storm, but the seamanship of the Breton navigators proved equal to thq emergency, and they were united in the Straits of Belle Jsle, 26 HISTORY OF INGHAM AND EATON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN. Sailing over the waters of the gulf he entered a small bay opposite the island of Anticosti, which Cartier named the Bay of St. Lawrence, a name afterwards extended to the gulf and river. He called the great river the " River of Hochelaga,"* a name borrowed from the natiyes found inhabiting its shores. Cartier explored the river as far as the island of Montreal, which derives its modern name and the name of the fine city located upon it from that of the mountain whose top Cartier visited, and which he named " Mount Royale" from the view which he there obtained. At the date of his visit to this locality, it was occupied by the Hurons or Huron- Iroquois, who had a large palisaded town, surrounded by corn-fields, on the island. This town they also called Hochelaga, and whether we apply the name to the river, the country, or the town, the appellation is correct accord ing to Indian usage. On the site of the modern city of Quebec was an Indian town or village called Stadaeona, or Stadacone, where a famous chief, Don-na-cona, resided. Hochelaga, on the island of Montreal, was the principal Indian town. Nearly the whole of the St. Lawrence Valley from Que bec to the lakes was then occupied by the Huron-Iroquois, a branch of the great Algonquin family, closely allied to the celebrated Five Nations of New York, the Iroquois of the French, by whom the Hurons were more than a cen tury later, about 1649-50, driven from the valley of the Ottawa River towards the west, and a remnant of whom under the modern name of Wyandot still survives in the Indian Territory."]" Thus we see that, under the inspiration of a spirit of dis covery, the French approached towards the peninsula of the great lakes as far as Montreal before the middle of the six teenth century. Returning down the river, Cartier wintered in the mouth of the little river St. Charles (called also St. Croix), and in the spring of 1536 returned to France, taking with him Donnacona and a number of his companions, the most of whom, including the chief, died in France. As yet no attempt had been made to establish a settle ment or even trading-post in Canada; the object thus far had been to explore and examine the country and find out about the great region whence came these oceans of water flowing down so majestically to the sea. In 1541, six years subsequent to his second voyage, a squadron of five ships was fitted out, and a third time Cartier was placed in command. At the head of this enter prise was Jean Francois la Roque, Sieur de Roberval, a Pieard nobleman, upon whom the king, in authorizing him to undertake the expedition, had conferred the high-sound ing but empty titles of " Lord of Norembega, Viceroy and * Cartier says the natives called a region of country lying below Quebec Canada, another lying below that was named Sagueuay, and the region above they designated as Hochelaga. They seem to have applied the last name indiscriminately to river and country, much as the Massachusetts Indians were wont to do, as Agau-am, meaning the valley and county of the Agawam River, and tho river itself. f The progenitors of the Five Nations had formerly lived along the St. Lawrence, in the neighborhood of Montreal, but had migrated to the south side of Lake Ontario as early as about 1500. Lieutenant-General in Canada, Hochelaga, Saguenay, New Foundland, Belle Isle, Carpunt, Labrador, the Great Bay, and Baccalaos."| Of this expedition Cartier was made captain-general, and he set sail from St. Malo with three of the ships on the 23d of May, 1541. Roberval was to follow with the re mainder of the squadron as soon as he could collect the necessary supplies. Cartier reached the St. Lawrence in safety, and commenced a settlement a few miles above where Quebec now stands, near Cap Rouge, which he named Charlesbourg Royal. At this point, in two hastily con structed forts, the little colony passed the winter, which was so long and severe, and their sufferings and hardships were so great, that when at length the welcome spring arrived the disgusted sojourners were glad to go on board their ships and return to their native country. On their way they put into the harbor of St. John, already a great rendezvous for fishing vessels, and there on the 8th of June they were found by Roberval, who had sailed from France on the 16th of April, 1542, with the promised ships and supplies, and having on board 200 colonists to reinforce the settlement of Cartier. Great was the astonishment of Roberval at beholding his lieutenant on his return from the abandoned settlement, and he ordered his immediate return to the St. Lawrence. Whether Cartier had been compelled by the colonists to break up and abandon the settlement, or whether he had become discouraged in the attempt to settle a permanent colony, is not known ; but certain it is that, whatever was the cause, he escaped from the harbor under cover of the night, and returned to France, and henceforth seems to have given up a seafaring life.§ Roberval, however, continued his voyage with the re maining vessels, and after an adventurous sail cast anchor at Cap Rouge. On the ground of Cartier's abandoned settlement, the new comers constructed barracks, workshops, and dwellings, sunk a well, built an oven, and even erected two water-mills, but whether they were saw-mills or other wise is not stated ; it would seem from Parkman's account that they were grain-mills. But this attempt to colonize Canada soon ended in failure ; the place was abandoned, and not until 1608, more than sixty years later, was a permanent settlement effected. CHAMPLAIN. This illustrious man was born at the little sea-port town of Brouage, on the Bay of Biscay, in 1567. He held the rank of captain in the royal navy, and had seen service in the army under St. Luc and Brissac, in Brittany, for which he had been pensioned by Henry IV. Iu later years he had commanded an exploring-ship in the Spanish marine during more than two years in the West Indies, where he acquired a great amount of geographical knowl edge, and brought back to France a curiously illustrated J Norembega included portions of what are now Maine and New Brunswick. Baccnlaos was tho Basque name for codfish or the place were they went to fish for them. § According to Parkman, tbe manor house of Cartier, in the sub urbs of St. Malo, was standing entire in 1865. EARLY DISCOVERIES AND SETTLEMENTS. 27 journal of his travels. Returning to the French court he became acquainted with Aymar de Chastes, commander of the famous order of St. John, and Governor of the port of Dieppe, on the English Channel. This gray-haired veteran had determined to found a colony in Canada, repair thither in person and spend the remainder of his days. He im portuned Champlain, then about thirty-six years of age, to accept a position in his company, which Champlain, with the consent of the king, readily agreed to. The veteran De Chastes finally concluded to dispatch a preliminary ex pedition, at the head of which he placed one Pontgrav6, who had made a previous voyage to the St. Lawrence in 1599. Accoringly in the spring of 1603, Pontgrave' and Cham plain set sail from Honfleur with two small vessels, and in due course of time reached the St. Lawrence, wliich they ascended as far as Montreal, where they found the ancient town of Hochelaga, so populous in Cartier's time sixty- eight years before, abandoned, its people departed, and in their place a miserable village, tenanted by a few wandering Algonquins. Turning their faces eastward, the voyagers descended the river and returned to France. On their arrival at Havre de Grace they learned that De Chastes was dead. In his place was Pierre du Guast, Sieur de Monts, an officer of the king's household and Governor of Pons. This nobleman petitioned the king for permission to colonize Acadie, as the French designated Nova Scotia, where La Roche had met with disastrous failure in at tempting, in 1598, to establish a colony on Sable Island. De Monts was a Calvinist, but in gathering the materials for his projected colony he was forced to allow the Catholic Church a share in the enterprise ; and when on the 7th of April, 1604, he departed from Havre de Grace a motley crowd of Catholic priests, Calvinistic ministers, Franciscan friars, and all the riff-raff of a sea-port accompanied him. The next three years were spent by Champlain, along with many others, in exploring the coasts of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and New England, as far as Nantucket, and in endeavoring to plant colonies, and transplant the feudalism of Europe to thew ilderness shores of America. As might have been foreseen, the incongruous elements as sorted together in the enterprise made success impossible, and, after many years of sufferings and quarrels, soldier and sailor, priest, friar, and minister, abandoned the profitless specula tion. But, notwithstanding these miserable failures, Champlain still clung to the project of establishing the power of France on the St. Lawrence. De Monts shared his views, and fitting out once more a squadron of two ships, he placed them under the command of Pontgrav6 and Champlain with orders to proceed to the St. Lawrence, found a new settlement, and open trade with the natives. In the summer of 1608, Samuel de Champlain founded the city of Quebec, and thus, after a series of spasmodic efforts continued through a period of seventy-three years, was the first permanent settlement established on the spot now covered by a great city, and renowned as one of the world's strongest fortresses. It was the third permanent settlement on the Atlantic coast, those of St. Augustine, by the Spaniards, in 1565, and Jamestown in Virginia, by the English, in 1607, havijig preceded it. Of the three the one planted in the northern wilderness is the only one to day of any importance. Jamestown was long ago a ruin, and St. Augustine is a poor, dilapidated village. The latter may, under the influences of republican institutions, become a place of some importance, but the Jamestown settlement will scarcely be revived. In the following year Champlain explored the long nar row lake lying between the Green Mountains and the Adi- rondacks, which bears his name ; and in the wilderness near the outlet of Lake George with his allies, a band of Algon quin Indians, first encountered and gave battle to that famous people, the Iroquois, which unfortunate occurrence laid the foundation for the long and bloody wars between them and the French, lasting, with intervals of repose, for more than 150 years, and proving one of the principal causes of the ruin of the French dominion in Canada and of its final overthrow in 1760. The terrible consequences of that forest adventure could not have been anticipated by Champlain. He deemed it an easy matter to league the northern Indians with his own people, and wrongfully judged that the combination would overawe and if necessary destroy those fierce warriors of the Ho-den-o-sau-nee. In 1610, Champlain fought another fierce battle with the Iroquois near Montreal, and in 1611 he established a trad ing-post on the site of the modern city. In the latter year he made a voyage up the Ottawa River in canoes as far as the island of Allumette, in a vain effort to discover a water route to Hudson's Bay. A swarm of Indians in their bark canoes followed him on his return to the trading-post at Montreal. In the spring of 1615 he organized another expedition, and penetrated to the borders of Lake Huron by way of the Ottawa River, Lake Nipissing, and the French River. A great concourse of the western Indians, Hurons, Ojibwas, Ottawas, and others, assembled at Montreal early in the sea son, and Champlain held a grand council with them, enter ing into a treaty offensive-defensive, pledging eternal warfare with the Iroquois. On the breaking up of the council the Franciscan friar, Joseph le Caron, aud twelve French soldiers accompanied the Indians into their wilderness home, while Champlain returned to Quebec to prepare for a great expedition. He shortly after followed the Indians in two canoes, accompanied by an interpreter, Etienne Brul6, one other Frenchman, and a half-score of the natives. His journey was over the same route which he had pur sued two years previously, — up the swift-flowing Ottawa, over the portage to Lake Nipissing, and thence down the French River to Georgian Bay, which he named " Mer Douce," — the fresh- water sea of the Hurons. Coasting for a hundred miles along the shores of the Georgian Bay, among its innumerable islands, he at length landed at the little inlet now known as Thunder Bay, a few miles west of the present port of Penetanguishine, between the Matchedash and Nottawassaga Bays. This is about 150 miles from the nearest point of land in Michigan* * It has been claimed by some writers that Champlain explored the waters of Lake Huron and visited portions of Michigan as early as 1610, but there is no evidence corroborating the statement. 28 HISTORY OF INGHAM AND EATON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN. Pushing inland in a southeasterly direction he reached the Indian village of Car-ha-gou-ha, where he found Le Caron and his companions. Here the friar erected a rude altar, and on the 12th of August, 1615, celebrated the first mass in the country of the Hurons. Champlain, with his now fast accumulating followers, reached the Huron metropolis, which was called Ca-hai-gu6, situated in what is now the township of Orilla, about ten miles west of the river Severn, the outlet of Lake Simcoe, on the 17th of August. He found a palisaded town con taining two hundred lodges and swarming with people. At this point, according to agreement, were soon assembled the savage bands who, under the leadership of Champlain, were to march against the Iroquois and teach them a lesson in war amid the smoking ruins of their own villages. On the 8th of September the motley army, consisting, according to Champlain's estimate, of about 2500 men, ¦was ready for the expedition. An agreement had been entered into between the Hurons and another nation, most probably the Eries, living along the southeast shore of Lake Erie, to furnish a contingent of 500 men. At his own request Brule, the interpreter, was allowed to go forward from Lake Simcoe with a band of twelve Indians to hasten the Eries towards the rendezvous on Lake Ontario. Brule met with adventures more strange than the imaginings of romance among the Eries, and while a prisoner to the vengeful Senecas; and it was three years before he suc ceeded in escaping from the savages and rejoining his friends, who had long given him up for dead. According to Parkman he was treacherously murdered in 1632, at Penetanguishine, by the Hurons. The grand army under Champlain and its native chiefs took the route over Lake Simcoe, up the river Talbot, and across the portage to the head lakes of the river Trent, which latter stream they followed in its devious windings to its embouchure into Lake Ontario. The days were warm but the nights were often frosty, and the army frequently stopped by the way to replenish its commissariat with fish and game. At one point 500 of the savages formed in a long, thin line, and drove the game to a wooded point of land which jutted into the stream, and when forced to take the water, the canoe men killed them with arrows and spears. Towards the last of September the great fleet of canoes issued from the Trent upon the broad waters of Lake Ontario,* then first seen by Europeans, and steering near the islands at its northeastern extremity, crossed it in safety and landed, quite probably in one of the many inlets of the Black River Bay, the Niaourha of the Iroquois. Secreting their canoes and leaving a guard, the army took up its march southward along the sandy beach, crossing the Sandy Creeks, and the Salmon and Onondaga (Oswego) Rivers, and, after a march of four days, found itself far advanced in the country of the Iroquois. The host at length reached an Iroquois town, which, according to Champlain's account, belonged to the Seneca nation, or, as he designated them, the Ontouoronons, from » This body of water was called by the Hurons the Lake of the Ontouoronons, a name by which they designated the Seneca nation. which has been derived the word Ontario. There has been much disagreement among prominent writers as to the loca tion of the town attacked by Champlain. Dr. O'Callaghan places it on Lake Canandaigua. Brodhead, Marshall, and Clark locate it on Lake Onondaga, near the present city of Syracuse, or possibly within its limits. It was defended by four concentric rows of palisades, made of trunks of trees, standing thirty feet high and firmly bedded in the ground. They intersected each other at the top, being set in a leaning position, and here was constructed a platform, or gallery, from which the besieged could send their various defensive missiles — arrows, spears, stones, etc.— against the enemy. This gallery was defended by a parapet of heavy timber, and had a long gutter or trough to carry water for the purpose of quenching fire. The water was derived from a small lake near by. To aid in reducing the place Champlain constructed a great movable tower, high enough to overlook the palisade, from which his few arquebusiers could annoy the defenders on the gallery. He also built huge wooden shields, behind which the Indians could work their way close to the town.f When the formidable inventions were completed, 200 of the strongest warriors dragged them forward towards the walls, and the assault began. But Champlain found a vast difference between a horde of naked, undisciplined savages and the trained troops of Europe. They were fitted for bush-fighting and skulking, predatory warfare, but when they were asked to march boldly up in open sight and attack a fortified town, behind whose ramparts was ensconced their most dreaded enemy, they were found utterly useless. Without commissary supplies a lengthy siege was impossible. For three hours, however, they kept up a constant discharge of arrows, ac companied by an infernal din of screeches and yells; but they paid no attention to commands. A few daring ones approached near enough to build a fire at the foot of the palisade, but it was speedily extin guished by torrents of water from above, amid the derisive shouts of the Iroquois. At length, in true Indian fashion, the Hurons became exhausted and tired of the fray, and fell back to a fortified camp which they had constructed, and no efforts or promises of Champlain could persuade them to return to the attack. The furore had been ex pended and the Iroquois were safe. The ardor of the Hurons had also been checked by the loss of seventeen warriors wounded, and even the redoubtable chief of the white men, whom the Indians supposed invulnerable, had received an arrow in his knee, and been carried from the field on the back of one of his allies. In their camp the Hurons waited for their allies, but the Eries failed to appear, and after the lapse of five days the whole army broke camp and^ commenced its return march, bearing the wounded, including Champlain, in huge wicker- baskets. Crossing Lake Ontario, the great war-party divided into hunting-bands and disappeared in the forest, and thus t This tower was perhaps the only thing of the kind ever used in America, certainly the only one ever used against the Indians. It was a common means of 'assaulting fortified places before tho inven tion of firearms. To construct these huge machines Champlain must have carried with him a supply of the necessary tools. EARLY DISCOVERIES AND SETTLEMENTS. 29 ended the most famous Indian expedition probably ever undertaken by the tribes living within the French territory. Champlain had been promised an escort to Quebec on the return of the expedition, but its utter failure had dis couraged the savages and rendered them fearful of reprisals ; their promise was forgotten, and the wounded commander was forced to return with his fickle allies to their wilderness homes on the borders of Lake Huron. His wound does not seem to have been very serious, for we find him engaged in hunting during the winter, and, in company with Le Caron, visiting the various villages of the confederacy. It is quite probable that during these journeyings he may have penetrated near to the borders of Michigan, but he undoubtedly never reached the St. Clair or Detroit Straits, as he makes no mention of such an im portant event. In the spring of 1616, Champlain returned with his French followers to Quebec, where he was welcomed as one from the dead amid great rejoicings. Le Caron had pre ceded him, and also arrived in safety. Champlain had now twice tested the mettle of the Iro quois confederacy, once in the country of the Mohawks, on their extreme eastern flank, and a second time in the region of the Senecas, near the western flank. The first encounter had resulted favorably, the second was an entire failure. These unfortunate aggressions were repaid upon the people of Canada by a century and a half of merciless warfare, during which the daring savages penetrated more than once to the vicinity of Quebec and ravaged nearly all the settlements with fire and tomahawk. A memorable inroad was the one made in 1622 when the Iroquois warriors hovered around Quebec, attacked the convent of the Recollets, and after doing all the damage in their power outside the fortifications decamped as suddenly as they had appeared. Champlain remained at Quebec, its nominal Governor, though the merchants divided with him the control of affairs. The place grew slowly, but in 1628 it was so dis- tressedly poor that it was a serious question whether it had not best be abandoned. Nothing but the indomitable en ergy of its founder kept the frail settlement from extinction.* The stumbling-block which finally ruined the colonies of Ne;w France was religious intolerance and bigotry. The Huguenots were among the best sailors and the most en terprising people in France, and eagerly would have colo nized the Canadas, but they were Protestants, and the bigoted king forbade them an entrance into the country. Had they been allowed to settle along the St. Lawrence a different result would have been witnessed, and to-day New England and a large portion of the Northern States might have been inhabited by the descendants of French pro genitors. In 1628-29 the bigoted treatment extended to the Hu- ' guenots by the French government returned to plague its inventors. The oppressed people took up arms in behalf of their violated rights, and Charles I., of England, es poused their cause, not from love of the principles for which * The total resident population of Quebec in 1628 was only 105 persona. they contended, but through jealousy of the old rival of England. Many Huguenots took service under the British banner, and among these were David, Louis, and Thomas Kirk, Calvinists, of Dieppe, who advised the English king to attack the French colony in Canada. David Kirk was accordingly made admiral of a powerful fleet and sent to the St. Lawrence, where in July, 1628, he captured a num ber of transports laden with supplies for the starving peo ple of Quebec, and, appearing before the latter place, sent a polite notice to Champlain to surrender. But, notwith standing the straits to which he was reduced, the veteran Governor was not frightened, and as politely declined. The losses of the much-needed supplies reduced the inhabitants to the verge of starvation, and when, on the 19th of July, 1629, Louis Kirk, brother of the admiral, appeared with his squadron before the place, Champlain was compelled to accept the alternative, and it passed into the hands of the English. The bitterest reflection fell to the lot of the Jesuits, who beheld themselves and their property the spoil of the hated Calvinists after a short occupation of about four years. This surrender carried with it all the French posts in Canada; but it does not seem that the English valued the conquest very highly, for at the treaty of Suza, in April, 1629, which had been actually concluded previous to the surrender of Champlain, all their possessions were restored to the French, though an English garrison remained in the place until July, 1632, when Emery de Caen appeared be fore it in a French ship and received the keys from the English commander. Caen held the post and its franchises for nearly a twelve month to indemnify him for losses in the war ; and on the 23d of May, 1633, Champlain returned from France, whither he had been sent by Kirk, and resumed the duties of Governor, which he continued until his death, on the 25th of December, 1635, at the age of sixty-eight years. KELIGIOUS ORDERS. With almost every expedition fitted out for discovery in the ports of Christendom went representatives ofthe Church. They accompanied the voyagers to Acadie in 1603, and un derwent all the hardships experienced by the first settlers of the bleak and barren shores. Their first appearance in Canada was in 1615, when the Franciscans led the way under the leadership of Champlain. This order was founded by St. Francis of Assisi, in the thirteenth century, and has upon its records the names of many high officers of the Roman Church. The R6collets, a reformed branch of the order, with the assistance of a generous subscription taken up among the cardinals, bishops, and nobles of the Church, assembled for the States-General, fitted out four friars of their order at the earnest request of Champlain, himself a zealous Catholic, to begin the great work of Christianizing the Indians of America. These four were Denis Jamet, Jean Dolbeau, Joseph le Caron, and Pacifique du Plessis, who embarked at Honfleur in the spring of 1615, and arrived at Quebec in the latter part of May. These, four individuals had come to America for the ex press purpose of dividing up the vast region of Canada 30 HISTORY OF INGHAM AND EATON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN. and evangelizing the whole Indian population. Their first business at Quebec was to construct a convent and decide upon a plan of operations. They finally decided to assign Le Caron to the Hurons and Dolbeau to the Montagnais, whom a French writer aptly named " the paupers of the wilderness." Jamet and Du Plessis were, for a time at least, to remain at Quebec. We have already seen that Le Caron accompanied Cham plain's expedition to the country of the Hurons. He had, between the time of his arrival and departure for the West, repaired to Montreal and diligently studied the In dian languages, the better to prepare himself for his duties as a missionary. He remained nearly a year among the Hurons around the Matchedash Bay, and then returned to Quebec in 1616. It was the wish of both the French government and its commanders and Governors ha Canada to establish a re ligious and political dominion, or rather an ecclesiastical and a feudal despotism. Champlain, who was one of the most far-seeing and liberal men of his time, considered the salvation of a soul of greater consequence than the found ing of an empire, and under his powerful patronage the work of settling the country and Christianizing the savages was slowly carried forward. The cross was planted beside the Golden Lilies, and wherever the government estab lished a post or a trading-station, there arose the little chapel and there toiled the gray-frocked friar. But, like many another enterprise apparently well ar ranged in theory, this herculean undertaking of the Recol- lets proved too mighty for their feeble numbers, and after struggling manfully among the Indians of the lower St. Lawrence until about 1625, they were reluctantly obliged to acknowledge that they were unequal to the work, and were succeeded by the powerful and wealthy order of the Society of Jesus, better known as THE JESUITS. This famous and aggressive order of the Catholic Church was founded by Ignatius Loyola, a soldier who had been badly wounded in previous wars, and, as a consequence, subsequently dedicated himself to the service of the Church. The order assumed the name " Society of Jesus," and was approved by the Pope in 1540. The first of this brotherhood to arrive at Quebec were Charles Lalemant, Enemond Mass6, and Jean de Brebeuf, who came in 1625. They were not well received by Caen and the merchants, but the R6collets generously offered them an asylum in their convent. They were soon rein forced by Fathers Noiret and De la Noue, who brought twenty laborers and speedily made them as comfortable as circumstances would permit. In 1628, Brebeuf, accompanied by Father De la Noue and one of the friars, proceeded to his field of future labors and tragic death among the Hurons on the borders of the Georgian Bay. THE HUNDRED ASSOCIATES. In 1627, Cardinal Richelieu was the champion of abso lutism, which had become supreme in France. Under his powerful patronage the control of Canadian matters was radically changed. A new company was formed, called the " Company of New France," or the " Hundred Associ ates," and the sovereignty of the whole of the French possessions in America placed under its control. It was granted a perpetual monopoly of the fur trade, and a mon opoly of all other commerce for the period of fifteen years, and its entire trade was made free from all duties for the same period. In return for these favors and immunities the company obligated^itself to settle in the colony, previous to the year 1643, 4000 persons, including people of every trade and both sexes, to support them three years, and furnish them cleared lands for subsistence. The colony was to be ex clusively French, and every member must be a Catholic. In 1629, as we have seen, all the possessions of France ;n America fell into the hands of the English, who held them for about three years, when they were restored by a treaty of peace between the two nations. During the English occupation the missionary operations of the Jesuits were broken up, though the conquerors treated the few Recollets who still remained at Quebec with much courtesy. With the return of Caen, in 1632, came also two Jesuits, and from that time on the order continued its operations in the colony. MISSIONS. Between 1634 and 1639 missions were established by the Jesuits at seven localities in the Huron country, — viz., Ste. Marie, St. Louis, St. Ignace * St. Michel, St. Jean Bap- tiste, St. Joseph, and La Conception, all within a radius of twenty miles around the head of Matchedash Bay. In this out-of-the-way region the Jesuit Fathers labored with a zeal and self-denial probably never exceeded in the history of the world for the regeneration of a race who but imperfectly comprehended their benevolence and poorly re ciprocated their good intentions. Whatever may be said of their doctrines and manner of propagation, their peculiar ceremonies, and the curious paraphernalia of their order, we must admit that they were sincere in their professions and labored faithfully, in the face of privations, danger, and death, for the benefit of a savage people, and finally perished in horrible tortures amid the universal ruin of those whom they came to raise from degradation, rather than escape while there was yet time and leave the luckless and doomed Hurons to their fate. Among the names of these remarkable men were those of Brebeuf, Lalemant, Daniel, Jogues, Chatelain, Gamier, Cabanel, Pijart, and La Mercier, most of whom perished in the onslaught of the Iroquois. FIRST VISIT TO MICHIGAN. The first recorded visit of Europeans to the Territory of Michigan was made by Charles Raymbault and Isaac Jogues, two Jesuits, who, in September and October, 1641, made the voyage in a birch canoe up the Ottawa River, through Lake Nipissing, across the Georgian Bay and * This must not be confounded with the St. Ignace of Mackinac established in 1671. EARLY DISCOVERIES AND SETTLEMENTS; 31 Lake Huron, to the Sault Ste. Marie, at the foot of Luke Superior.* In 1642 the permanent settlement of Montreal was ef fected by a colony under Paul de Chomedey, Sieur de Mais- sonneuve, who had been appointed Governor of the post in 1640. The settlement was made by a company resembling that of the Hundred Associates, of fourteen years before, at Quebec, and was designated as " The Forty-five Associates of Montreal." The place had been a trading-post since 1611. Under the new rigime it was named " Ville Marie de Montreal," in honor of the Virgin. DESTRUCTION OP THE HURONS. A condition of chronic war may be said to have continu ally existed among the Indian nations of the American continent. In a few instances, as was the case with the Iroquois nations, the Hurons and Tobacco nation, or Dio- nondadies, as they were named by the French, and the Ojibwas, Ottawas, and Pottawattomies, from two to six na tions or tribes were leagued together, constituting confed eracies of great power for the purposes of savage warfare. The most bitter animosity seems to have existed between the Iroquois and the Hurons, and, except at long-separated intervals of short duration, a desolating war was carried on, the Iroquois, as indeed they generally were, being the ag gressors. This state of things had existed since about the beginning of the sixteenth century, when the Iroquois were driven from the north side of Lake Ontario aud the river St. Lawrence by their kindred, the Algonquins, or Huron Algonquins. In 1649-50 the strife culminated in a series of deter mined attacks by the Iroquois, which resulted in the de struction of all the Huron towns and the death, captivity, or expulsion of the wretched inhabitants, though in the aggregate they vastly outnumbered the entire Iroquois con- federacy.f One after another the missions planted by the Jesuit Fathers and their surrounding Indian villages were at tacked and destroyed, and most ofthe missionaries perished either in the fray or by the most dreadful tortures subse quently. The story of the terrible martyrdom which these men suffered almost on the borders of Michigan is scarcely known among the people of the State. A few men only, who have had access to the records of those days, have read of the horrors of that wilderness and the savage war fare which destroyed a nation. In this connection we cannot forbear making a brief quotation from Francis Parkman's " Jesuits in North America," to show the character of the terrible catastrophe * It is related that one Jean Nicollet, a Frenchman, who had dwelt among the Indians of Lake Nipissing and Allumette Island, and had mastered their language, was sent on a mission to the Win- nebagoes in 1639, during which expedition he crossed over to the Wisconsin and descended to the Mississippi River, and necessarily passed through the Territory of Michigan. The story lacks confir mation. f The Hurons were variously estimated by different writers at from 10,000 to 30,000 souls, while the Iroquois were never placed by the best authorities at above 10,000. A vigorous and systematic plan of warfare would soon have driven the Iroquois from the Huron country. which befell Indians and missionaries alike, and as a sam ple of the Iroquois manner of torturing the latter. The village of St. Ignace, with its Jesuit chapel and native wigwams, was taken and totally destroyed by a large war-party of the Iroquois in March, 1649. Here were stationed Jean de Brebeuf, the earliest of the Jesuits to begin work among the Hurons, and Gabriel Lalemant. Brebeuf was a powerful man, both physically and mentally, but Lalemant was of a slender make and physi cally ill fitted to bear even the ordinary privations of the wilderness. They were both taken prisoners after the Hurons were destroyed, and reserved for torture. We quote from Parkman : "On the afternoon of the 16th (of March), the day when the two priests were captured, Brebeuf was led apart and bound to a stake. He seemed more concerned for his captive converts than for himself, and addressed them in a loud voice, exhorting them to suffer patiently and promising heaven as their reward. The Iroquois, incensed, scorched him from head to foot to silence him; whereupon, in the tone of a master, he threatened them with everlasting flames for per secuting the worshipers of God. As he continued to speak with voice and countenance unchanged, they cut away his lower lip and thrust a red-hot iron down his throat. He still held his tall form- erect and defiant, with no sign or sound of pain ; and they tried another means to overcome him. They led out Lalemant, that Bre beuf might see him tortured. They had tied strips of bark, smeared with pitch, about his naked body. When he saw the condition of his superior, he could not hide his agitation, and called out to him, with a broken voice, in the words of Saint Paul, 'We are made a spec tacle to the world, to angels, and to men.' Then he threw himself at Brebeuf s feet, upon which the Iroquois seized him, made him fast to a stake, and set fire to the bark that enveloped him. As the flames rose he threw his arms upward, with a shriek of supplication, to heaven. Next, they hung around Brebeuf 's neck a collar made of hatchets heated red hot, but the indomitable priest stood like a rock. A Huron in the crowd, who had been a convert of the mission, but was now an Iroquois by adoption, called out, with the malice of a renegade, to pour hot water on their heads, since they had poured so much cold water on those of others. The kettle was accordingly slung, and the water boiled and poured slowly on the heads of the two missionaries. ' We baptize you;' they cried, ' that you may be happy in heaven, for nobody can be saved without a good baptism/ Brebeuf would not flinch, and, in a rage, they cut strips of flesh from his limbs and de voured them before his eyes. Other renegade Hurons called out to him, ' You told us that, tho more one suffers on earth, the happier he is in heaven. We wish to make you happy, we torment you because we love you, and you ought to thank us for it.' After a succession of other revolting tortures they scalped him, when, seeing him nearly dead, they laid open his breast and came in a crowd to drink the blood of so valiant an enemy, thinking to imbibe with it some por tion of his courage. A chief then tore out his heart and devoured it. " Thus died Jean de Brebeuf, the founder of the Huron mission, its truest hero, and its greatest martyr. He came of a noble race, — tho same, it is said, from which sprang the English Earls of Arundel, — but never had the mailed barons of his line confronted a fate so appalling with so prodigious a constancy. To the last he refused to flinch, and his death was the astonishment of his murderers. " Lalemant, physically weak from childhood, and slender almost to emaciation, was constitutionally unequal to a display of fortitude like that of his colleague. When Brebeuf died be was led back to the house whence he had been taken and tortured there all night, until, in tho morning, one of the Iroquois, growing tired of the protracted entertainment, killed him with a hatchet." Fifteen Huron villages were completely destroyed, and those of their people who escaped death or captivity at the hands of the enemy dispersed through the forest, gaining a scanty livelihood by picking up acorns. Their treasured corn and other provisions were all included in the common ruin. 32 HISTORY OF INGHAM AND EATON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN. The missionaries finally abandoned the few posts which remained, and fled, along with their terrified companions, to a little island in the bay variously known by its Huron name, Ahoendoe, Charity or Christian Island, and Isle St. Joseph, which latter name the missionaries bestowed upon it. Here a motley and starving crowd of 7000 or 8000 Indians collected together, but half of them died of starva tion and disease during the winter of 1649, while the bloody and implacable Iroquois infested the adjacent shores even in the depth of winter, watching for their prey. In the spring of 1650 there was a complete breaking up of all the Indian nations of the peninsula bounded by the great lakes Huron, Erie, and Ontario, and a final abandon ment of the whole country by the Jesuit missionaries. Some of the Indians fled northward, settling among the great islands to the northwest of the Georgian Bay ; some fled to the Nipissing country ; some, very likely, found a refuge in Michigan ; a large colony accompanied some of the Fathers who had escaped the general destruction to the vicinity of Quebec ; and some availed themselves of an Indian custom and became incorporated with their deadliest enemies, the Senecas. CHAPTER IV. DISCOVERY AND OCCUPATION OF MICHIGAN, Renewal of the Jesuit Missions — Joliet, Marquette — La Salle — Hen nepin — Tonty — Du Lhut. As before stated, the first authenticated visit to the Ter ritory of Michigan was made by two Jesuits, Charles Raymbault and Isaac Jogues, in 1641. This was previous to the Huron-Iroquois war, which ended with the destruc tion of the former. The first visit to its territory suc ceeding that event was probably made by Father Rene' Mesnard, in the autumn of 1660, when he coasted the southern shore of Lake Superior and attempted to found a mission at the head of Keweenaw Bay, to which he gave the name of Ste. Theresa. He remained at this point during the following winter, and is said to have perished in the following summer while exploring that wild and rugged region. Some writers have supposed he was cap tured by the Sioux, and claim that his cassock and breviary were afterwards found among them. On the 8th of August, 1666, Father Claude Allouez left Three Rivers, accompanied by several hundred Indians, and reached the Sault Ste. Marie in the following month. He also visited Lake Superior, which he named " Lac Tracy aux Superieur," in honor of the Viceroy of Canada. This missionary voyaged along the southern shore of the great lake, and on the first of October landed at Chaqua- megon Bay, which was called by the early voyagers La Poiute Bay. At this place he resided for a period of two years, and. probably visited the spot where Duluth* now * This place probably received its name from Daniel Greysolon du Lhut, a famous leader of the eoureurs de bois, and a native of Lyons France. He was a cousin of the Tontys, and visited tho place in tho autumn of 1679. stands, as he speaks in his journal of visiting Fond du Lac, or the head of the lake, and of meeting there the Sioux, from whom he heard of the vast prairies of the West, where roamed immense herds of buffalo, and also of the great river which the Indians called Messepi, or Nama Sepee. Allouez also visited and labored among the Nipis- sings living to the north of Lake Huron. He speaks of copper as being quite plenty among the savages. There is no evidence that they ever worked the mines, but they possessed the metal in small masses weighing from an ounce to twenty pounds, evidently found among the drift. The earliest map of the Lake Superior region was drawn in 1668, and was no doubt the work of Fathers Allouez and Marquette. Considering that all their knowledge was obtained by coasting in bark canoes and from the verbal descriptions of the Indians, it was remarkably accurate and creditably executed. Allouez visited Quebec in the autumn of 1667, where he procured additional aid and supplies, and again returned to the scene of his early labors. In 1668, Claude Dablon and James Marquette estab lished the first permanent mission and settlement within the bounds of Michigan, at the Sault Ste. Marie. f It remained simply a mission of the Jesuits until 1750, when the Chevalier de Repentigny erected a fort there for the better protection of the traders. In 1669, Father Marquette succeeded Allouez at Cha- quamegon, though whether the mission had been contin uously maintained since its founding in 1666 does not cer tainly appear ; if it had it was an older settlement than that of the Sault Ste. Marie. The mission at Green Bay, of Lake Michigan, was founded in 1670 by Allouez and Dablon. This last was named St. Francis Xavier. An other mission was founded among the Ottawas, on the Grand Manitoulin Island, in Lake Huron, in 1671, by Father Louis Andre, who named it the mission of St. Simon. The mission at Chaquamegon or La Pointe was called St. Esprit. It was broken up the Sioux in 1071, and the fugitive Hurons, who comprised its inhabitants, fled to the islands in Lake Huron, and gathered around the mission of St. Simon. The first recorded visit of Europeans to the site of the city of Detroit was in the spring of 1670, made by two Sulpitian priests, Dollier de Casson and Galin£e, who had joined an expedition fitted out by La Salle in the summer of 1669 for tho purpose of exploring the upper lakes, and, if found practicable, the Mississippi River also. The expedition had been stopped at the head of Lake On tario by the illness of La Salle and the differences of opin ion between the great explorer and the priests, the former desiring to make it purely a voyage of discovery, and the latter wishing to divert it to the establishment of mission posts and the conversion of the Indians to Christianity. The two priests had pushed on to Lake Erie, but, the winter overtaking them, they were compelled to remain at f This name rendored into English literally moans the "leap of Saint Mary." It refers to the leaps or plunges of the water over tho rapids. DISCOVERY AND OCCUPATION OF MICHIGAN. 33 Long Point until the succeeding spring, when they again embarked, and, proceeding up the lake, passed through the strait over Lake St. Clair and on into Lake Huron, and thence to the Sault Ste. Marie, where they arrived on the 25th of May, 1670. This is the first recorded passage of the straits between Lakes Erie and Huron, though there is no doubt that Joliet had made the passage on his way back from an exploring expedition during the preceding year. He had met La Salle and these two priests at the western end of Lake Ontario the previous autumn, on his return. In May, 1671, there was a great gathering of the north western Indians at the Sault Ste. Marie, where M. de Lus- son, who had been sent out by Talon, the intendant, met them and held a grand council, at which, with much pomp and ceremony and many speeches, the country was taken possession of in~ the name of the King of France, and all the Indians of the Northwest were declared to be his sub jects and taken under his protection. Father Claude Al louez was present at this council and delivered a panegyric upon the king, and many presents were made to the na tives. At this council a famous interpreter was present, Nicholas Perrot, a voyageur, who had been in the employ of the Jesuits. He was twenty-six years of age, and un derstood and spoke the Algonquin tongue fluently. De Lusson was accompanied by fifteen Frenchmen, among whom was Louis Joliet. Among the nations present at this remarkable council were the Ojibwas, a band of whom, called by the French Saulteurs, had their village on the council-ground ; Potta wattamies, whose principal abode was then about Green Bay ; Ottawas, from the northern part of the southern peninsula and the Lake Huron region ; Miamis, then living in Southern Wisconsin ; Menominees ; Crees, from beyond Lake Superior ; Nipissings, and many more, representing no less than fourteen prominent nations. The Jesuit Fathers Claude Dablon, superior of the missions of the lakes, Gabriel Druillites, and Louis Andr6 were also present. In 1671, Father Marquette founded the mission of St. Ignace* on the north shore of the strait, opposite the island of Mackinac,! and, in company with Allouez -and Dablon, explored the country lying south of Lake Superior and west of Lake Michigan, penetrating, according to some writers, to the site of the city of Chicago. JOLIET AND MARQUETTE. The French authorities were not satisfied with the mere formality of taking possession of the country. Talon re solved to explore the whole lake region, the country lying around the upper watershed of the Mississippi, and, if found practicable, the great river itself. Louis Joliet was the son of a wagonmaker in the em- * Judge Campbell, in his admirable work, Outlines of the Politi cal History of Michigan, states that a mission was founded on the island of Mackinac in 1668, but removed soon after. t The word Miehilimackinac is said, by Rev. Peter Jones, an Ojibwa, to be derived from an Ojibwa word, Mesh-e-ne-mah-ke- noong, the Great Turtle. Others interpret it to mean tho place of giant fairies. 5 ploy of the Hundred Associates of Canada, and was, born at Quebec in 1645. He was educated by the Jesuits and studied for the priesthood, but when about twenty-two years of age he gave up his clerical vocation and engaged in the fur trade. In 1669, as we have seen, he was sent by the intendant to explore the copper mines of Lake Su perior, but returned without being able to accomplish the undertaking.J Father James (or Jacques) Marquette was born in 1637, at Laon, in the north of France, was also educated by the Jesuits, and subsequently joined the order. In 1666 he was sent to the Canadian mission field, where his first work was to master the language of the Montagnais, that branch of the Algonquin family living around and below Quebec, which a Franciscan writer denominated the " paupers of the wilderness." He probably taught among that people at the trading-port of Tadoussac, situated at the mouth of the Saguenay River, where it unites with the St. Lawrence, beneath its tremendous granite walls, rising to a height of 1500 feet. But at any rate he did not long remain, for in 1668 he was sent to the lakes, where he remained until called by Talon to accompany Joliet upon an exploring ex pedition. He was last stationed at St. Ignace. Count Frontenac§ had been appointed governor-general of New France in 1672, and under his powerful patronage these two remarkable men, Joliet and Marquette, left Mackinac on the 13th of May, 1673. Their outfit was simple, consisting of two birch canoes, a supply of dried meat and Indian corn, and five men as assistants. Making their way over the broad waters of Lake Michigan, || they entered Green Bay and passed to its southern extremity, and thence up the Fox River, which gave them no little trouble with its numerous rapids, and on over Lake Win nebago, and through the devious windings of the river beyond to the portage between the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, which they crossed, and, launching their canoes on the latter, descended it to the Mississippi, the long sought for object of many voyages and explorations. They entered the great river on the 17th of June, 1673, " with a joy," as Marquette wrote, which he could not express. The Indian nations or tribes which they had encountered on their way were the Me-nom-i-nees or Wild Rice Indians, which the French called " Polles Avoines," from the name J In 1675, Joliet married the daughter of a Canadian merchant, who was trading with the Northern Indians. In 1679 his attention was drawn towards Hudson's Bay, and in that year he made a journey thither, via the Saguenay River. In the same year he was granted the Mignon Islands, and in 1680 he received a grant of the great isl and of Anticosti, where, in 1681, he established his residence. He engaged in the fisheries, and made a chart of the river. In 1690 his property was destroyed by the English under Sir William Phips, and his family captured. In 1694 he explored the coast of Labra dor. He was made royal pilot of the St. Lawrence by Count Fron tenac, and royal hydrographer by the French government. He died about 1700, and was buried on one of the Mignon Islands. — Parkman. § The count's full name and titles were Louis de Buade, Count of Palluan and Frontenac. || This lake was called by the French Lac des Illinois, and by the Indians Mitchiganon, or Miehihiganing. Allouez called it Lac St. Joseph, and others Lao Dauphin. Green Bay was named by the French Le Baye de Eaux Puantcs. 31 HISTORY OF INGHAM AND EATON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN. of the plant upon which they fed,* the Mascoutins, the Miamis,| and the Kickapoos. The party descended the Mississippi as far as the mouth of the Arkansas, discovering during the voyage the Des Moines, the Illinois, the Missouri, and the Ohio Rivers.J They returned via the Illinois, Des Plaines, and Chicago Rivers, and this was the first authenticated visit of Euro peans to the site of Chicago. From this point they coasted the western shore of Lake Michigan, and reached Green Bay in the latter part of Sep tember. Marquette, never a rugged man, had been at tacked with dysentery on the Mississippi, and was wellnigh exhausted. The fatal malady which finally ended his life less than two years later also showed itself, and when the party reached Green Bay he was obliged to remain, while Joliet, with the journals and documents of the expedition, descended to Quebec to acquaint the governor-general with the results of their explorations. At the La Chine Rapids, above Montreal, his canoe was upset and all his papers lost in the seething waters, and Joliet narrowly escaped drowning. Two of his companions and an Indian boy were lost. Marquette spent the winter of 1673-74 and the follow ing summer at Green Bay. In the autumn of 1674, his malady having somewhat abated, he resolved to carry out a cherished desire to found a mission on the Mississippi River, which he proposed to call the Mission of the Immac ulate Conception, — a name which he had already given to the great river. Accordingly, on the 25th of October, 1674, accompanied by two Frenchmen, named Pierre and Jacques, and a band of Pottawattomies, in ten canoes, he crossed by an obscure pathway to Lake Michigan, and pro ceeded thence southward to the mouth of the Chicago River, which stream he ascended about two French leagues, and here, in consequence of a severe attack of his old malady, he was obliged to halt and eventually to encamp. Realizing his condition, he told his attendants it would be his last journey, and preparations were made for a per manent camp, his companions still hoping that after a tem porary resting spell he would be able to proceed or to return to the missions. As it resulted, however, they were obliged to remain through the winter. A comfortable log cabin was erected, in which the missionary was placed, and here in the suburbs of what is now a city of half a million inhabitants he re mained until the following spring. The Pottawattomies proved true friends in his hour of need, and managed to procure abundance of game for sustenance. This conduct becomes the more striking when we remember that nearly on the same ground, 137 years later, their descendants per- * The folles avoine, or wild rice. Its Latin name is Zi-ania aquat- iea. It grows in vast fields in all the shallow waters of the northern latitudes. fThe Miamis subsequently, about 1677, migrated to Southern Michigan, and soon after removed into Indiana and Ohio. t The Missouri Marquette called the Pekitanoui. It is also called on old maps Riviere des Osages and Riviere Emissourites The Ohio was named the Ouabouskiaou. The Arkansas they called Akamsea. The name of the Ohio is said to signify " beautiful." The French afterwards called it " La Belle Riviere." petrated one of the most bloody massacres recorded in the annals of the country.§ Marquette survived the winter, and even rallied a little and seemed so much better that he determined to go on and establish the mission ; and in the latter part of March the party crossed the portage to the Des Plaines River, de scended that stream to its junction with the Kankakee, and thence down the Illinois to an Indian town called Kaskas- kia,|| situated some seven miles below the site of the present city of Ottawa, 111. At this place the missionary held a great council, at which more than 2000 warriors were as sembled. The chiefs were anxious that Marquette should remain among them, but he realized that his time was short, and if he would die among his countrymen he must hasten his departure. It was near the end of April when the party started on the return voyage down Lake Michigan, taking their way around its southern margin and along the eastern shore. Slowly they progressed northward, encamping upon the beach at night, until, the 19th of May, 1675, when near a small stream supposed to have been the Betsie, or Aux Bee Scies, Marquette requested them to land ; and here he ex pired soon after being taken ashore. His sorrowing followers dug a shallow grave in the sand, and, burying his emaciated remains, hastened on to Mackinac bearing the sad tidings to his brethren of the missions. It is related by Parkman that in the spring of 1676, a party of Kiskakon Ottawas, who had been hunting in the vicinity during the winter, visited the grave of the mission ary, dug up his body, and, cleaning the bones, placed them in a box of birch bark and bore them to St. Ignace. They were among the Indians who had listened to Marquette when preaching at the mission of St. Esprit at La Pointe. There were thirty canoes, and as they neared St. Ignace they united in singing their funeral hymns, while the shore was thronged with the priests and dwellers at the mission, who gave them a sorrowful welcome. ^j For a long period the last resting-place of the bones of Father Marquette was almost or quite unknown; but within a recent period they are believed to have been dis covered in the ruins of the Jesuit chapel at St. Ignace. Marquette was a prominent figure among the early explorers of Michigan, aud there would be eminent propriety in erect ing a public monument to his memory. It is said that the mission of St. Ignace was abandoned by the priests in 1706, and that the dwellings and chapel were set on fire and destroyed. The missionaries returned to Quebec. If this statement is true the place was no doubt abandoned through fear of the Indians living west of Lake Michigan. The post and mission at St. Ignace I Massacre of tho garrison of Fort Dearborn, Aug. 15, 1812. || This has no reference to the town by tho samo name situated at the mouth of the Kaskaskia River, on the Mississippi. Both were probably villages of the Illinois Indians. If It has been suggested that hero is a subject for an historical paint ing worthy the pencil of a master— the long lino of canoes, filled with their dusky voyageurs, the wild and fantastic garb of the rowers, and the shore lit up with the glare of pine torches and covered with a motley throng of priests, Canadians, half-breeds, and Indians. Nothing could be more weird and picturesque DISCOVERY AND OCCUPATION OF MICHIGAN. 35 were certainly restored about 1713, though, as before stated, not on the ground formerly occupied. An interesting and able paper upon Marquette, prepared by Rev. George Duf field, is in the second volume of the " Michigan Pioneer Collections." LA SALLE. The most famous explorer of the great lakes and the Mississippi River was Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle,* who was born in Rouen, in Normandy, in 1643. His father, Jean Cavelier, and his uncle, Henri, were wealthy merchants living much after the manner of the noblemen of that period, though they could not boast of noble lineage. La Salle was educated at the Jesuit schools, and was probably a member of the order, though, like Louis Joliet, he subsequently threw aside his vestments to become a pioneer in the wilds of Canada, and eventually one of the most celebrated explorers of his time. His elder brother, the abbe Jean Cavelier, was a priest of the order of St. Sulpice, and preceded him to America. This circumstance, quite likely, determined the future course of La Salle. He was so far connected with religious orders that under a law of that day he was cut off from receiving any portion of the family estate ; but a small allowance or annuity of about 400 livresf was settled upon him, and with this pittance he appeared at Montreal in the spring of 1666. He seems at first to have come to Canada with the view of becoming a trader, and we find him arranging with the priests of St. Sulpice, at Montreal, for a large tract of land situated about nine miles above that place, where he built a stockade-fort and began a settlement. Soon he com menced learning the Indian languages, in which he became proficient, and ere long his mind began to grasp and dwell upon the possibilities of the vast continent lying to the westward. The thoughts of great discoveries yet to be made finally took full possession of his mind, and he deter mined to dispose of his newly-acquired domain and give himself to the business of exploring the great West. He proceeded to Quebec, where he laid his plans before Courcelles, the Governor, and Talon, the intendant, and such was the persuasive power of his arguments that he enlisted both in his schemes, and was granted letters-patent authorizing the carrying out of his plans. He returned to Montreal, where he sold back the most of his property and improvements to the superior of the Sulpitians and one Jean Milot, and with the proceeds purchased four canoes and the necessary supplies, and hired fourteen men to assist in his enterprise. At the same time the Sulpitian Seminary was preparing a similar expedition, but for a different purpose. The priests had established three years before (in 1666) a mis sion on the Bay of Quinto, Lake Ontario, and put it in charge of two of their number, F^nelon and De Casson. The latter had passed a winter among the Nipissings, and his account of the tribes living in heathen darkness in the far Northwest had aroused an ardent desire in the priests of • Cavelier was the family name, and La Salle the designation of its estates or seigniories. According to the parish record the great explorer's full name was Rfsne — Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle. f About seventy-five dollars. Montreal to send out an expedition for the purpose of estab lishing missions among them. Under the advice of Courcelles, it was finally arranged that the two expeditions should be united and proceed to gether. For a wonder there was then a brief interval of peace between the French and the Iroquois. In mid-summer the consolidated expeditions, consisting of twenty-four men in seven canoes, started from La Chine for Lake Ontario. They were accompanied by two other canoes carrying a party of Senecas, who had wintered at La Chine. They passed up the St. Lawrence, struggling with its sweeping rapids, and reached Lake Ontario after a toilsome voyage of thirty days, weary and worn and nearly every man partially disabled by sickness. They first visited the principal village of the Senecas, in the valley of the Genesee River, where they expected to procure guides to pilot them on their way. It would ap pear that at this time the expedition was intending to pur sue La Salle's plan of exploring the Ohio River. But the Senecas, instead of furnishing guides and encouraging them in that direction, threw every obstacle in their way and failed to furnish guides. Finally, an Indian from a place called Ganastogue, an Iroquois colony at the head of Lake Ontario, said if they would proceed to that place they would find guides who knew all about the country on the Ohio. They accordingly left the Seneca town, coasted along the south margin of the lake, passed the mouth of the Niagara River, where they heard the distant roar of the great cataract, and a few days later reached Ganastogu6. They found the people friendly and ready to assist them. There was a ShawaneseJ prisoner in the village, who in formed them that they could reach the Ohio in six weeks, and offered to guide them to it. He had been released by the chiefs and presented to La Salle. When on the point of setting forth they were astonished by the appearance of two Frenchmen in the village. One of these proved to be Louis Joliet (before mentioned), who was returning from his expedition to explore the copper mines, upon which he had been sent by Talon. He had failed to accomplish his purpose and had returned by way of Lake Huron, the De troit River, Lake Erie, and the Grand River, a stream which discharges into Lake Erie about thirty miles west from Buffalo. His guide had taken him ove.r this route through fear of the Iroquois around the Niagara portage. This opportune meeting changed all their plans. Joliet showed a map of the upper lakes which he had made, and gave the priests a copy of it. He described the condition of the Pottawattamies and other tribes and nations, and, excited in the priests a lively sense of their needs in a religr ious point of view. They determined to abandon the search for the Ohio River and proceed over the route pointed out by Joliet, who was himself quite a religious enthusiast. The Pottawattomies must be converted to Christianity, and Dollier de Casson and Galin^e resolved to proceed af all hazards to their country. The remonstrances of La Sallp were of no avail. The latter was sick of fever, and to get rid of the priests. { In Drake's Life of Tecumseh t.his word is invariably written Sluuoailoe. It was generally written in French CioijaiiOK. 36 HISTORY OF INGHAM AND EATON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN. he pretended that he was in no condition to go forward, and should be obliged to part with them. They accordingly left him with their own special followers and crossed over to Lake Erie, where, as we have seen, they were forced to remain until the following spring, when they proceeded on their voyage, and in May reached the Sault Ste. Marie. But after spending a few days at the latter point they returned to their home at Montreal, having accomplished little save passing through the famous strait D'etroit* and making a long voyage around the northeastern shores of Lake Huron. They had not been cordially received by the Jesuit Fathers at the Sault, and came back satisfied tha.t there was no encouragement for their order in the West. When they left La Salle their supposition was that he would immediately return to Montreal. There are no reliable data from which to determine the course La Salle pursued during the succeeding two years (1670-71). Some writers affirm that a number of his followers refused to continue with him, and returned to La Chine ; and that out of derision for his schemes of dis covery, and very possibly from some hint dropped by him that there was a water passage westward to China, they bestowed upon the place its name, La Chine. The only information which appears to bear any evidence of authenticity is found in a work entitled " Histoire de Monsieur de la Salle." It purports to be the substance of many conversations with La Salle in Paris, during one of his visits with a petition to the court. The substance of the narrative is that, after leaving the priests, Dollier and Galin6e, he visited the Onondaga nation, where he procured a guide, and then proceeded to Lake Erie, and, crossing from that lake to the Ohio, he descended that river as far as the rapids at Louisville, or, as some affirm, even down to the Mississippi. Here his men refused to proceed farther, and escaped to the English and Dutch, while La Salle, left alone, returned to Canada. It is claimed, and probably with justice, that the Jesuits were inimical to his schemes and placed every possible obstacle in his path. This was certainly true in after-years. This expedition is supposed to have been in the winter and spring of 1669-70. During the year 1671 this same memoir states that La Salle explored Lakes Erie, Huron, and Michigan, including their bays, and crossed over from the southern extremity of Lake Michigan to a river which he followed to its junc tion with another great river flowing from the northwest. It is also claimed that he descended the latter stream, which must have been the Mississippi, to the thirty-sixth parallel of latitude, where, becoming assured that it discharged into the Gulf of Mexico, he returned, with the determination to collect the necessary supplies and men and explore it at a. future day. Talon, the intendant, stated in his dispatches of that year to the home government that he had sent La Salle to the southward and westward on a grand exploring expedi tion ; and La Salle, in a memorial addressed to Count Fron tenac, in 1677, affirms that he had discovered the Ohio and explored it as far as the falls. Joliet also, his rival in explorations, made two maps of the region of the °reat * D'etroit, in French, means the strait, or tho place of the strait. lakes and the Mississippi, on both of which the Ohio River is shown, and with an inscription stating that it was discovered or visited by La Salle. It is generally considered that he did discover the Ohio, but not the Mississippi at the date mentioned. The French Governors of Canada, as a rule, were not wealthy men, and their salary was but a pittance, and under such circumstances it is not to be wondered at that they sometimes became interested in schemes of trade and com merce which promised pecuniary advantages. The fur trade was the great engrossing topic among merchants and traders, and, in 1673, Count Frontenac, either in conse quence of his own observations or by reason of information furnished by La Salle (quite probably the latter), became convinced that the establishment of a fort and trading-post at the outlet of Lake Ontario would be not only advanta geous to the government in a military point of view, but prove a source of valuable revenue to himself. With this idea in his mind he fitted out a strong expedi tion consisting of nearly 400 picked men, besides Indians. He sent La Salle on a mission to the Iroquois to invite them to a grand council on the Bay of Quints, but by La Salle's advice, who showed by a map which he had made that Cataraqui, where Kingston now stands, was a better place, the meeting was changed to the latter. With a numerous staff and retinue, in a fleet of 120 canoes and two large flat-boats gorgeously painted, the Governor proceeded leisurely to Cataraqui, where a large delegation of Iroquois chiefs met him, and a grand council, commencing on the 13th of July and continuing through several days, was held, in which many speeches were made by Frontenac and the Iroquois chiefs, and a great number of presents were distributed among the Indians. Notwithstanding the hereditary hostility of the Indians to any attempt to build military works within their terri tory or on its borders, Frontenac managed the matter so boldly, and yet with such consummate address, that he began the erection of a strong work in the presence of the Indians, and left them in exceeding good humor at the liberality of the great Onontio.f The Governor returned to Mont real in the beginning of August, leaving a garrison to hold his new fortification, which was to be provided with a year's supplies, then on their way, under convoy, up the river. In speaking of the success of his expedition Frontenac, in a letter to the ministry, writes : " Assuredly I may boast of having impressed them (the Iroquois) at once with re spect, fear, and good will." He had entered fully into the plans of La Salle, and adds that the new fort at Cataraqui, with the aid of a vessel now building, will command Lake Ontario, keep the peace with the Iroquois, and cut off the trade with the English ; and that by another fort at the mouth of the Niagara, and another vessel on Lake Erie, we can command all the upper lakes.J In 1674, La Salle visited France with letters from Fron tenac, and was so successful that he obtained a patent of f This was a title which the Indians bestowed upon the French Gov ernors of Canada. According to Parkman, it signifies " great moun tain." J Parkman, Discovery of the Great West. DISCOVERY AND OCCUPATION OF MICHIGAN. 37 nobility in recognition of his discoveries, ^nd a grant of Fort Cataraqui, together with a large tract of land adjacent, including the neighboring islands, and was invested with the command of the fort, subject only to the orders of the governor-general.* For these favors he was to rebuild the fort of stone ; pay back its original cost to the Crown ; main tain a garrison equal to that of Montreal, besides fifteen to twenty laborers ; plant a French colony around it ; build a church whenever the number of inhabitants should reach a hundred ; support one or more R6collet friars ; and, finally, form a settlement of domesticated Indians in the vicinity. He returned to Canada, and proceeded to carry out his agreement. He rebuilt his fort substantially of stone and heavy pickets, and named it, in honor of the gover nor-general, " Fort Frontenac," which name it bore until Canada was transferred to the English in 1760. It would seem that, with all these favorable circum stances surrounding him, La Salle would have been willing to remain quietly in his position, content to enrich himself with trade, which he possessed every facility for pursuing. But it was not his disposition to become merely a success ful merchant ; the insatiable desire to make discoveries in the unknown regions of the West possessed his mind to the exclusion of every other idea. He had become famous, and his relatives now came for ward and supplied him liberally with means to carry on his plans. He went to France in 1677 and succeeded in rais ing large sums of money, with which he purchased supplies and hired men, and in July, 1678, returned again to Can ada, accompanied by thirty followers and abundant supplies of all kinds for the prosecution of his scheme of explo ration. Among those who came with him at this time was Henri de Tonty (or Tonti),"f" an Italian officer who had lost a hand by the explosion of a grenade in the Sicilian wars. His father was a noted man, and the author of the famous Tontine plan of life insurance. On his return to Canada, La Salle was joined by Father Louis Hennepin, who also became famous in after-years as an explorer and writer. He was a priest of the order of St. Francis, and became the historian, or journalist, of La Salle's expedition to the great lakes. He had come to Canada in 1675, and been sent to Fort Frontenac as a missionary. A little sloop or brigantine of about ten tons' burden had been built at Frontenac, and in this frail vessel, on the 18th day of November, 1678, La Motte, Hennepin, and sixteen men pushed out into the tumultuous waters of Ontario and steered towards Niagara. They kept as near the north ern shore as was compatible with safety, and on the 26th of the month, after a boisterous passage, ran into the Bay of Toronto, where they were frozen in and had to cut their way out with axes. On the 6th of December they made the mouth of the Niagara River and landed at the place where afterwards stood Fort Niagara. At this point was a small Seneca * His patent raised him to the rank of the untitled nobles. f The name in Italian is written Tonti, but he seems to have adopted the French manner of writing it. village. From here Hennepin and a few companions ascended the river in a canoe to the foot of the ridge at Lewiston, where they were obliged to leave the canoe and proceed the remaining seven miles to the cataract on foot. Hennepin was probably the first European to gaze upon the wonderful fall of waters which makes the name of Niagara famous throughout the world.| His description of the cataract is in the main correct, though he greatly overestimated its height. His first state ment made it 500 feet, but, not suited with this, he subse quently fixed it at 600. La Salle wrung a reluctant consent from the Senecas to allow him to build a stockaded warehouse at Niagara, but a sad misfortune overtook him. Late in the season of 1678 his little vessel on Lake Ontario was wrecked by the dis obedience of the pilot, at a point west of the mouth of the Niagara River, and her cargo of provisions and merchandise was lost, though the crew saved the anchors and cables de signed for a larger vessel which La Salle intended building on Lake Erie.§ To this task he now bent all his energies. The small eraft which had first reached Niagara was hauled to the foot ofthe rapids and her lading taken out and transported with immense labor over the heights and through the forest to the mouth of Cayuga Creek, on the American side of the Niagara, about six miles above the fall. At this point there is a very good harbor formed by an island in the river, and here, probably in January, 1679, was laid the keel for the first vessel that ever (at least since the days of the Mound- Builders) navigated the great upper lakes. Her construc tion proceeded slowly, for the workmen were few and labored under many and serious disadvantages, not the least of which was the hostility of the Iroquois. By indomitable exertions the vessel was finished by Tonty, who had the management of affairs in the absence of La Salle, in the beginning of spring, and launched amid great rejoicing by her builders ; and even the intractable Iroquois, under the influence of a generous gift of brandy, whooped and danced like madmen as the monster canoe glided out upon the bosom of the Niagara. The ves sel was of about forty-five tons' burden, and was a great astonishment to the Indians. She was towed out into the stream and anchored, and on her decks the entire party took refuge, feeling at last safe from the tomahawks of the savages. She mounted five small swivel-guns, and under her bowsprit was carved a figure of the fabled mon ster whose name she bore. This nondescript beast was also a part of the armorial bearings of Count Frontenac, and in his honor she was christened the " Griffin." She was soon taken up the river and anchored below Block Rock, where her equipment was finished. La Salle, J It is stated by Dr. O'Callaghan, in the Documentary History of New York, that there are thirty-nine ways in which Niagara is writ ten. It was spelled by early writers Onguiaahra and Ongiara. Hennepin wrote it as it is now written. It is said to be of Iroquois origin, and in the Mohawk dialect is pronounced Nyagarah. $ It appears that this was a second vessel which had been built on Lake Ontario, and not the one which brought La Motte and Hennepin first to Niagara. It was apparently a larger craft than that, and a serious loss. 38 HISTORY OF INGHAM AND EATON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN. who had been absent at Montreal, at length returned about the middle of summer, bearing the tidings that his creditors, under the excitement of false rumors, had seized upon all his property in Canada, save only what was centred in the " Griffin." But La Salle never allowed misfortune to impair his energy or damp his ardor, and he prepared to embark upon the long-anticipated voyage of discovery with high hopes and dauntless courage. The " Griffin" was towed up to the entrance of Lake Erie, and on the 7th of August, 1679, all things being ready, the excited company, numbering thirty-four persons, set sail amid the firing of cannon and the music of the Te Deum. At the end of three days they reached the strait between Lake Erie and the little Lake St. Clair, whose shores were alive with a great variety of game, — herds of deer, wild turkeys, bears, and other varieties, — while the stream was crowded with water-fowl. The crew went on shore and came back laden with game, which was hung over the bulwarks of the vessel, including the carcasses of several bears, which latter were greatly praised by Hennepin for their lack of ferocity and the excellence of their flesh". The enthusiastic priest, in speaking of the region, says, " Those who will one day have the happiness to possess this fertile and pleasant strait will be very much obliged to those who have shown them the way." Sailin" north eastward they crossed Lake St. Clair,* and, threading the blue stream towards the north, at length came in si "lit of the great " Huron Sea." Over the waters of this inland ocean they passed on pros perously for a time, still bearing northward ; but as they reached the broad opening of the Saginaw Bay the bosom of the sea was swept by a furious tempest, during which even the stout heart of the commander quailed, and he recommended his followers to commend themselves to Heaven. Every one fell on his knees save what Henne pin calls the godless pilot, who reproached La Salle for bringing him to perish in fresh water. But the storm at length abated, and the gallant craft passed on over the tu multuous waves, where in modern times a gigantic com merce whitens the watery way with the wings of monster ships of fifty times the capacity of the daring " Griffin" of two hundred years ago. She passed the distant Manitoulins and at length came in sight of the wooded shores of Bois Blanc and Michili- mackinac, and cast anchor under the whitewashed walls of the mission of St. Ignace. The " Griffin" fired a salute, and, amid a throng of Ot tawa and Huron Indians yelping with amazement, La Salle and his whole party went on shore, under arms, and pro ceeded to the Jesuit chapel to hear mass. Thus, two hundred and one years ago the present August (1880) came the venturous La Salle, in the first E vessel, over the wide-expanding waters of th oceans, his little vessel the avant-cowier of a great commer cial marine, which in this year of grace reaches thousands of ships and millions in value. Could the intrepid navi- iiuropean rose inland • The original name of this lake was Sainte Claire, of which the present name is a perversion. gator have anticipated the changes of two centuries he would have recked little, in the presence of the inspiring vision, of the difficulties and hardships which confronted him. Before embarking on this voyage La Salle had sent for ward, in the previous autumn, fifteen men in canoes laden with goods to trade with the Indians and accumulate a stock of furs against his arrival. Hearing nothing from them, he had dispatched his lieutenant, Tonty, in a canoe from Niagara to look after them. They had been tampered with, and had traded the goods on their own account. La Salle found four of them at Mackinac, whom he arrested, and sent forward Tonty to the Sault Ste. Marie, who there found and captured two others with their plunder. The remainder were in. the forest, and beyond his reach. In the early part of September, before Tonty had re turned from this expedition, La Salle set sail and proceeded up Lake Michigan to the islands lying at the entrance of Green Bay, where he was heartily welcomed by a Pottawat tamie chief who had been to Fort Frontenac, where he bad met the governor-general and was greatly impressed with him. At this place, also, La Salle found a portion of the men whom he had sent in advance, and who had remained faithful to his interests. They had collected a large store of furs, and the commander determined to load his vessel with them and send her down the lakes, that he might liquidate a portion of his indebtedness and pacify his creditors. On the the 18th day of September the loading was com pleted, and, firing a parting salute, the " Griffin" set sail on her return trip, under charge of the pilot and a part of the crew who had come up in her. But from that day no tidings were ever received from her. Her fate was never known. Whether she foundered in the boisterous seas off Saginaw Bay, went down in the shallower waters of Lake Erie, or was taken and destroyed by the Indians, none can tell. The probabilities favor the first proposition,' for Saginaw Bay almost rivals Cape Hatteras as a region of storms and tempests.f Upon, the departure of the vessel, La Salle, with the fourteen men remaining, embarked in four canoes heavily loaded with a forge, tools, merchandise, and arms, and pro ceeded up the lake along its western shore. Their voyage was interrupted the same day by one of those sudden storms to which this lake is so liable, aud they were compelled to lay up for five days before the water was smooth enough to allow them to proceed. They thought of the " Griffin"" as the foaming surges rolled past the little cove where they had sought shelter, and the ill-fated vessel may have been los't the first night out, before reaching Mackinac. A number of times was the little flotilla of frail canoes driven ashore, and on the 28th of the month they were nearly wrecked and compelled to lay by until they had consumed all their provisions. They purchased corn of the friendly Pottawattomies, but near the head of the lake en countered a band of Outagamies, and through their thieving propensities there was imminent danger of a rupture, but t La Salle believed that she was treacherously scuttled and suuk by the pilot, who fled with her furs and merchandise to the Indians on the upper Mississippi. DISCOVERY AND OCCUPATION OF MICHIGAN. 39 the good management of La Salle prevented. Getting clear of these dangerous warriors, the voyagers coasted around the southern bend of the lake, and on the first of November reached the mouth of the St. Joseph River, which La Salle named the " Miamis," from the fact that he there found the Miami Indians, who had within a few years migrated from the southern part of Wisconsin. Here he expected to meet Tonty, who was to join him with twenty men from Mackinac, coming up the eastern side of the lake; but no Tonty appeared, and La Salle's companions grumbled and nearly became mutinous. To divert their thoughts he set them at work cutting trees from the forest and building a fort on rising ground near the mouth of the river. This was the first attempt at anything that looked like a settlement within the borders of the lower peninsula ; and the first day of November, 1679, may be set down as the natal day of Southern Mich igan. La Salle had circumnavigated three-fourths of the peninsula, and began a settlement at its extremity farthest from the region occupied by his people. About the 20th of the month Tonty appeared, bringing one-half of his men ; the others were left a hundred miles in the rear to hunt for provisions, for they had eaten the supply with which they started. He brought no word of the " Griffin." She was to have met La Salle at this point, but, though two months had passed since she left Green Bay, there were no tidings of her. A few days later the remainder of Tonty's men (excepting two who had de serted) joined the company at Fort Miamis. Weary with waiting for his lost vessel, La Salle dispatched two men to meet her at Mackinac should she return and bring her to his new fort. He then turned with a heavy heart, and prepared to ascend the river and cross over to the Kankakee on his way towards the south. On the 3d of December the little party, thirty-three in number, in eight canoes, re-embarked and passed up the St. Joseph, whose edges were already beginning to be slightly frozen. After many adventures they reached the waters of the sluggish and swampy Kankakee, paddled down that stream past the present sites of Momence, Kan kakee, and Wilmington, in Illinois, and towards the last of the year reached a great town of the Illinois, contain ing nearly five hundred lodges, but all abandoned. They found plenty of corn in cache's, of which they stood in such need that La Salle took a small supply, expecting to find the owners at some point and pay them for it. On New Year's day, 1680, they went on shore and heard mass. About the 3d of the month they came to an in habited Illinois village, where, after the first alarm was over, they were hospitably received. The party descended the river as far as the site of the present flourishing city of Peoria, and about the middle of January, La Salle, somewhat distrustful of the savages, and perhaps more so of his own men, six of whom had already deserted him, resolved to erect a fort. The spot chosen by him and Hennepin was on a rising ground on the east side of the river, very near where it issues from Lake Peoria, and here he constructed a strong stockade work, surrounded by a ditch and guarded by chevanx-de- frise, with barracks and shops inside. This work, the first erected within the limits of the now populous State of Illinois, and the site of which is not certainly known, La Salle named Fort Crevecoeur (" broken heart"), evidently in consequence of his mental depression. At this point the indefatigable adventurer constructed the hull of another vessel, of forty tons' burden, with which he intended to navigate the Mississippi. As in the case of the " Griffin," the timber was all worked out by hand from the forest ; but, notwithstanding the obstacles in his way and the desertion of his carpenters, he labored with such energy that in six weeks the hull was nearly finished. But the rigging, sails, and materials to complete her for active service were not at hand, and La Salle now resolved to return to Canada on foot, leaving Tonty in command, procure the necessary outfit, and bring it back around the lakes and by way of his route from the mouth of the St. Joseph River. Then, with a new vessel, well manned and armed, he would sail down the Mississippi, and possibly thence to France, bearing the history of his discoveries to his sovereign. Bethinking him that Hennepin might be profitably em ployed in his absence, he requested him to sail down the Illinois River and explore it to its mouth. Accordingly, on the first day of February, Hennepin, accompanied by two companions, Michael Accau, and one Antoine Auguel (com monly called Du Gay), set forth in a canoe, well laden with gifts and trinkets for the Indians. On the second of March, La Salle, accompanied by four Frenchmen and oue Mohegan Indian, who had come with him from the lower lakes, embarked in two canoes on his return trip to Canada. The party traveled sometimes by water and sometimes by land, hauling their canoes after them, and after a most toil some journey, at length, on the twenty-third ofthe month, arrived at Lake Michigan, and, following its eastern shore, reached Fort Miamis on the following day. Here he found the two men whom he had sent in search of the " Griffin" in the autumn before, and, ordering them to join Tonty at Fort Crevecoeur, he constructed a raft, and, crossing the St. Joseph River, took his way overland through Southern Michigan, pursuing a nearly easterly course. His route led him-through the counties of Berrien, Van Buren, Kalamazoo, Calhoun, Jackson, Washtenaw, and Wayne. That this was his route there can be no reason able doubt, for he speaks of passing great meadows and prairies covered with rank grass, which must have been in all probability Prairie Ronde, Climax Prairie, and others. On reaching the Huron River, in Washtenaw County, probably near the present village of Dexter, two of the men being sick, the party constructed a canoe from elm bark, and thence proceeded down the river until stopped by drift wood, when they again took to land and soon after reached the Detroit River. Here La Salle detached two men to proceed to Macki nac, while with the remaining three he crossed the river on a raft, and, striking southeast, reached Lake Erie near Point Pelee. Two more of the party were now taken sick, but by the aid of the only oue remaining in health La Salle constructed a canoe and went thence by water to Niagara. From thence, taking three fresh men, and leav- 40 HISTORY OF INGHAM AND EATON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN. ing his exhausted companions at the fort, he continued his remarkable journey, and after sixty-five days reached Fort Frontenac on the sixth of May. At that time this was cer tainly the most wonderful journey ever performed on the continent. The distance traveled was fully 1200 miles. But though he had reached the end of his journey, he found troubles everywhere thickening around him. A short time after his arrival at Fort Frontenac, two voyageurs came to him bearing a letter from Tonty with the intelli gence that the men at Fort Crevecoeur had mutinied, de stroyed the fort and such stores as they could not carry away, and deserted. Two other messengers soon after con firmed this statement, and brought in addition information that the mutineers had also destroyed the fort on the St. Joseph, plundered La Salle's furs at Mackinac, and were then coasting in two bodies, one of eight and the other of twelve men, along the northern and southern shores of Lake Ontario, the southern band on their way to the Dutch at Albany, and the other coming to Frontenac with the avowed purpose of assassinating La Salle. Choosing nine trusty men, well armed, La Salle proceeded up the lake and intercepted and captured, after a brief fight, the bulk of both parties, and brought them to Fort Frontenac to await the arrival of the governor-general. Hurrying his preparations, La Salle on the 10th of August again set sail for Illinois with a fresh supply of material and twenty-five men of various callings. He took a new route, via the Humber River, Lake Simcoe, the Sev ern River, and Lake Huron, arriving safely at Mackinac. With him on this trip went a new lieutenant, La Forest. At Mackinaw the latter was left to bring up the rear, while La Salle, anxious to succor Tonty, pushed on with twelve men. On the 4th of November he reached his ruined fort at St. Joseph, where he left five of his men with the heavy stores to await tho arrival of La Forest, while with six Frenchmen and an Indian he hurried on towards the Illi nois River. He found the country entirely deserted by its human inhabitants. The Iroquois had been there and left only bleaching bones and blackened ashes. But the prairies were alive with buffaloes, and there was no trouble in securing all the meat the company needed. Pushing on to Fort Crevecoeur, he found it destroyed, but the little vessel on the stocks remained entire except that the Iroquois had found means to extract nearly all the iron bolts with which it was fastened. La Salle descended the Illinois River to its junction with the Mississippi, finding everywhere marks along its banks of the flight of the Illinois and the pursuit of the bloody Iroquois, but nowhere any signs of Tonty and his men. When near the mouth of the Illinois they found the ruins of an Indian village and the mangled bodies of women and children scattered around. It was the last resting-place of the Illinois tribes. The Iroquois had come upon them and nearly destroyed the persecuted nation. Late in the season La Salle returned to his old stopping- place on the St. Joseph. La Forest and his men had restored the work, cleared some ground for planting, and sawed lumber for a new vessel to navigate the lakes. °Here the adventurers remained until the spring of 1681. HENNEPIN. In the mean time Father Hennepin and his two com panions had descended to the Mississippi, and, turning their canoes up-stream, began their voyage of discovery towards its head-waters. They proceeded without any remarkable adventure as far north as the mouth of the Wisconsin River ; but at this point their troubles began, for on the 11th or 12th of April they were taken prisoners by a band of 120 Sioux* warriors. By them they were carried north as far as the Thousand Lakes, near the sources of the modern Rum River. In the early summer they went with a large hunting-party to kill buffalo. Wearying of this mode of life, Hennepin announced that he expected a party of Frenchmen at the mouth of the Wisconsin River, who were coming there to trade with the Indians. There had been considerable quarreling among the cap tors as to the disposition to be made of the prisoners. Some had favored the plan of putting them to death, while a powerful young chief had stood by and protected them. They finally considered that it would be highly advantageous to have the French come among them with goods and weapons for barter ; and after many discussions they at length gave consent for the three Frenchmen to take their canoes and go down the river. They had, on the whole, been very well treated, and fared as well as their captors. It is altogether probable that Hennepin had no reason to expect any of his people would visit that part of the coun try, though he pretended that La Salle had promised to send traders there. At the last moment Accau refused to go with Hennepin, preferring to remain among the savages, and so the friar and Du Gay paddled away together. In due time they reached the great falls of the Mississippi, which Hennepin named after St. Anthony of Padua, — a name which they have borne to the present day. After paddling sixty leagues down the river they resolved to join a large hunting-party of the Sioux, which was going up the Chippewa River, and which Hennepin calls Bull River. Not very long after a story was spread through the Indian camp that a war-party of Sioux, which had gone towards Lake Superior, had met five " spirits," or Europeans, on their way. These spirits soon after met the hunting-party below the falls, and proved to be Daniel Greysolon Du Lhut and four other Frenchmen, all well armed. DU LHUT. This famous leader of the coureurs de bois was a cousin of Tonty, born at Lyons, France. He belonged to the untitled nobles, and was well known to, and, some writers say, connected with, Count Frontenac in the fur trade. He was also a brother-in-law of Louvigny, an officer in the Governor's guard. He had ascended the lakes to the head of Lake Superior, aud from thence come overland to the Mississippi River.f He had left the lake in June, and, * The name Sioux is an abbreviation of tho Ojibwa word Na-doues- sioux, meaning enemies. — Parkman. f Du Lhut was famous in after-years as a fur trader, an explorer and a military loader. About 1683 he built a trading-post on the north side of Lake Superior, near Thunder Bay, whioh was called Can-an-is-ti-goy-an by La Honton. In 1686, under orders from De- nonville, then Governor, ho built a fort at tbe outlet of Lake Huron. DISCOVERY AND OCCUPATION OF MICHIGAN. 41 during his explorations, had heard that there were three Europeans among the Indians. The entire party now fol lowed the Sioux to their villages at the head of Rum River, where they were treated to a grand feast. It was now autumn, and the white men proposed to return home, promising to come back and open trade with the Indians, who, upon this, allowed them to depart peace ably. They descended the Mississippi to the mouth of the Wisconsin, hunting by the way, and, ascending the latter river, crossed the portage, and reached the Jesuit mission at Green Bay, where Hennepin remained until spring, when he descended the lakes via the Detroit River, Lake Erie, and Niagara Falls, which latter he again examined, and finally reached Montreal, where he was cordially welcomed by Count Frontenac. TONTY. La Salle, when he set out on his overland journey to Canada in March, 1680, had left Tonty at Fort Crevecoeur with fifteen men, besides a servant and two friars, Membre and Ribourde. At Fort St. Joseph (or Miamis), La Salle ha'd written a letter to Tonty and sent it to him by two men whom he had found there, with instructions to ex amine and fortify an immense rock on the upper Illinois River. Tonty accordingly took a portion of his men and \set out to examine the position ; and it was while absent on this expedition that the men left at Crevecoeur destroyed that work and fled. Tonty immediately sent word to La Salle, and with what few men were yet faithful was forced to take up his abode among the Illinois Indians. The great town of these In dians was situated near where the modern village of Utica, in the county of La Salle and State of Illinois, now stands. Around this famous locality was at times gathered probably the largest and densest Indian population to be found in any locality in America. Opposite, on the south side of the Illinois River, rose the palisade-like line of sandstone cliffs which marks the border of the river valley, and also the bank of that mighty stream which in prehistoric times drained the surplus waters of the upper lakes into the Mis sissippi. But this far-off Indian paradise was marked by the insa tiable Iroquois for destruction, and the storm fell while Tonty was among them. After vainly trying to negotiate peace between the belligerents, and nearly losing his life in the attempt, he felt compelled to abandon the Illinois In dians and save his little company if possible. On their way up the river towards Lake Michigan, Father Ribourde was waylaid and murdered by a band of Kickapoos. Late in November, Tonty and his half-starved and nearly frozen companions reached the country of the Pottawattomies around Green Bay, where they were warmly welcomed by the chief who had visited Montreal and treated La Salle with such distinguished courtesy. In the latter part of the winter, 1680-81, La Salle vis ited the various Indian nations and fragments of tribes In 1687 he joined Denonvillewith a large war-party against the Iro quois. In 1689 he destroyed a war-party of Iroquois. In 1697 he was in command at Fort Frontenac. He died about 1710. 6 around the head of Lake Michigan and on the Illinois River, consisting of Miamis, Illinois, Shawanoes, and scat tered bands of many New England and New York nations, Mohegans, Narragansetts, Wampanoags, and others, who had followed Philip of Mount Hope, and been compelled by the death of that famous chieftain, in 1676, to flee from their native country. To these he made speeches in which he portrayed the ruin sure to come upon them at the hands of the dreaded Iroquois, unless they listened to his advice, following his addresses with many presents. His plan was to gather the tribes and nations of the West and the frag ments of Eastern nations in the valley of the Illinois River near where he proposed to build a strong fort, and then civilize and Christianize them under the powerful protection of the French. The plan and the accompanying presents suited the In dians, and they urged La Salle to carry out his designs. In order for him to do this he must return to Canada, make arrangements with his clamorous creditors, and procure supplies for his new colony. In May he proceeded down Lake Michigan to Mackinac, where he found Tonty and others lately arrived from Green Bay. The party embarked for Montreal, where on his arrival La Salle found everything in a most discouraging condition. He was heavily in debt and his creditors were impatient for their money. But he quieted them all, and succeeded in once more collecting men and supplies, and with them returned to Fort Miamis, where he arrived in the early autumn. Here he chose out eighteen of his Eastern allies, and, joining them to his own party, found himself at the head of fifty-four persons, — men, women, and children, for the Indians insisted on the latter's accom panying them. This party left Fort Miamis on the 21st of December, 1681, in six canoes, and made their way around the margin of the lake to the mouth of the Chicago* River, which they followed up to the portage, and, crossing to the river Des Plaines, or Aux Plains, followed it down to the Illinois. La Salle had abandoned his original idea of con structing a large vessel for the purpose of navigating the Mississippi River, and did not stop at Fort Crevecoeur, but continued on to the Mississippi, which he reached on the 6th of February, 1682. The expedition reached the mouth of the Mississippi on the 6th of April, following. A column bearing the arms of France was erected, and, amid much ceremony, La Salle took possession, on the 9th of the month, of the whole vast region watered by the great river and its branches, which he named, in honor of Louis XIV., Louisiana. The party returned up the river soon after. On the way La Salle was taken violently ill at Fort Prudhomine, a work which he had erected on one of the Chickasaw bluffs on his way down. Father Membre' remained to take care of him, while the rest of the party proceeded northward tq the region of the great lakes. La Salle recovered slowly, and finally rejoined Tonty at Mackinac in September folT lowing. * On Franquelin's map of La Salle's discoveries, published in 1684, this name is written, Che-ka-go\i. 42 HISTORY OF INGHAM AND EATON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN. In the same year Tonty proceeded once more to the Illinois country and commenced the construction of Fort St. Louis, on the famous rock in La Salle County, 111., now commonly known as " Starved Rock," from a legend that the last of the Illinois nation were there starved and de stroyed by their enemies. La Salle had arranged to pro ceed to France, but, hearing that the Iroquois were about to attack the Illinois, he changed his plans and joined Tonty at Port St. Louis, and superintended its construc tion. In the autumn of 1683 he sailed for France, where he so completely won over the king and nobility that he was fitted out with a powerful expedition for the purpose of making further discoveries in the South, and also of establishing a colony on the Mississippi River. His last appearance in the waters of Michigan was in the fall of 1683, when on his way to Quebec, where he set sail for France. The great discoverer, one of the most remarkable men of any age, was assassinated by some of his followers in Texas on the 19th of March, 1687. Fort St. Louis, on the Illinois, was given by the king to Tonty and La Forest, who occupied it and carried on quite an extensive trade from 1683 to about 1702, when they were sent to other parts of the continent, and Fort St. Louis was, for a time, abandoned. It was, however, again occupied by French traders in 1718, but only for a short time. Charlevoix, passing the spot in 1721, found it deserted. CHAPTER V. FKOM 1682 TO THE END OP THE EBENCH DO MINION. St. Joseph, Mackinac, Detroit— List of French Colonial Governors. As before stated, a fort called Fort St. Joseph was built by Du Lhut at the outlet of Lake Huron in 1686 ; but it was maintained only about two years, when it was aban doned. The fort at the mouth of the St. Joseph River, built by La Salle, and called by him Fort Miamis, was prob ably occupied occasionally, and possibly continuously, from 1680 until the establishment of a Jesuit mission at the place in the early years of the eighteenth century. It has been erroneously stated by some writers that the Jesuit Fathers, Allouez, Dablon, and Marquette, visited this point between 1666 and 1670, but we find nothing to corroborate the statement; and there can be very little doubt that La Salle was the first European to visit it. Judge Campbell states that the fort was afterwards re moved about sixty miles up the St. Joseph River, where Charlevoix visited it in 1721. This would carry it to the spot now occupied by the city of South Bend, Ind. A military post was established at St. Ignace about 1680. The Jesuit mission, as we have seen, was planted in 1671. After the establishment of a fort Du Lhut seems to have beep one of the first commandants. He was sue ceeded by M. Perot in 1686, who continued until 1691 when he was followed by M. de la Porte Louvigny, and the latter by M. de la Motte Cadillac in 1694, who continued until 1099. Michilimackinac, as it long continued to be written, from the time of its settlement as a mission, was an important post, both as an ecclesiastical and a civil and military estab lishment. The Jesuits clung to it tenaciously on account of its favorable location, and for years after the founding of Detroit they tried every means in their power to have the latter discontinued, or, at least, continued as a military post. The first settlement about the Straits of Mack inac was made on the north shore. The island of Mack inac was not permanently occupied until 1780, when the English military authorities took possession and erected a fort thereon. Detroit was first permanently occupied by the French in 1701. In early days it was the site of an Indian village, probably of the Wyandot or Huron nation, and bore the name of Tjugh-sagh-ron-die.* There had long been a desire, not only on the part of the French, but of the English as well, to found a settle ment and establish a fort on the strait, but the Iroquois confederacy had strongly opposed it. In 1700, Cadillac proceeded to France and laid the matter before Count Pontchartrain, minister for the colonies, who at once be came interested in the project, and through his influence the king commissioned Cadillac to carry out the plan. The latter returned to Canada, arriving at Quebec in March, 1701. On the 5th of June, Cadillac left La Chine with fifty soldiers, and a similar number of Canadian merchants and mechanics. Under him, with the rank of captain, was M. Alphonse de Tonty, a brother of M. Henri de Tonty, and two lieutenants. A Jesuit missionary to the Indians, and a Rdcollct priest as chaplain, accompanied the expedition. The command arrived safely at Detroit on the 24th of July, 1701. Cadillac constructed a small stockaded work having two bastions, and inclosing sufficient space to con tain a few log buildings for stores and barracks. Their roofs were thatched with grass. This work Cadillac named in honor of the colonial minister, Fort Pontchartrain.f In the autumn of 1701 what was known as the " Com pany of the Colony of Canada" entered into an agreement to occupy the posts of Frontenac and Detroit, to complete the forts at the latter place and keep the same in repair, and to do various and sundry other things required by the government, for which they were to have a monopoly of the fur trade by paying annually a fixed sum per hundred weight on all furs collected or purchased by them. It would appear from this that the real object of the set tlement and fort was the prosecution of the fur trade, which, it is probable, was the great instrumentality, next to the missions, in the settlement ofthe whole of Canada and the lake region. * Levi Bishop in his interesting legendary poem writes the name Teucbsa-Grondie. In the Ojibwa tongue the place is said to have been called Wa-we-at-e-nong. t This is generally called Ihe first settlement at Detroit, but there is evidence that some kind of a work was erected there at an earlier period. It was most probably a post of the cotneurs de b,,is, who frequently carried on a clandestine trade beyond the reach of tho government. It is referred to in the New York Colonial Documents in 1679, 1689, and 1691. It probably had no regular garrison until FROM 1682 TO THE END OF THE FRENCH DOMINION. 43 It was a cherished plan of Cadillac to gather, like La Salle at Fort St. Louis, a vast collection of the Indians of the lake region at his fort on the Detroit. He and the Jesuits were always antagonistic, and while Cadillac en deavored to break up the mission at Mackinac and concen trate the trade and mission enterprise as much as possible at Detroit,' Father Marest, in charge of the mission at Mackinac, strove by every means in his power to have the post and mission at Detroit broken up and transferred to Mackinac. It would appear that notwithstanding the obstinate op position of the priest Cadillac succeeded in collecting a great number of the Western Indians around his new post. In 1703 there were represented at Detroit the Sauteurs (or Saulteurs),from the Sault Ste. Marie; a band of the Ojibwas; Mississagu^s, from Canada ; Hurons, from the northern part of the peninsula ; and several bands of Miamis, Otta was, and others. M. de Cadillac continued in command at Detroit until 1704, when he was arrested in Montreal for alleged mal feasance in office, and did not return to Detroit until 1706. In the mean time M. Alphonse de Tonty was in command for a season, when, at the request of M. de Cadillac, M. Bourmont was appointed in his place. The Iroquois Indians, the Jesuits, and the English were strongly opposed to the establishment of a post at Detroit. In 1702 war broke out between England, Holland, and France, the consequences of which were felt more or less in America. In the summer of 1703 the English invited the Indians living in the vicinity of the lakes to a grand council at Albany. It appears, however, that no Western nation, excepting the Ottawas, responded to the invitation. These latter were so wrought upon by the English, who made them believe the French intended to destroy them, that they returned home cherishing bitter feelings against the latter, and the attempted destruction of Fort Pontchar- train soon after was directly traceable to them. M. de Cadillac was honorably acquitted and again took command at Detroit in August, 1706, but the hostile feel ing of the savages increased, and in 1707 they killed three Frenchmen near the fort. In consequence of this and other outrages, Cadillac determined to teach the Indians a lesson, and in the same year led a band of 400 men into the country of the Miamis and compelled them to come to terms and furnish hostages for their future good behavior, besides paying heavily for their depredations. In 1711, M. du Buisson succeeded M. de Cadillac in command at Detroit. The war between the French and English involved the Iroquois confederacy, which about this time admitted the Tuscaroras from the South into its league. The Iroquois stirred up some of the Western na tions against the French, among them the Outagamies or Foxes and the Mascoutins, living beyond Lake Michigan, and in May, 1712, a strong force of these latter appeared before Detroit, and, throwing up intrenchments within fifty yards of the fort, sat down to a regular siege. The French garrison was then reduced to about thirty men, and their allies, the Ottawas, Hurons, and others, were absent on their annual hunt. The situation was critical, and the Western Indians, taking advantage of it, made a furious assault on the fort, but were so bravely met by M. du Buisson and his little garrison that they were repulsed and kept at bay until the arrival of their allies. The church and several buildings situated outside the pickets were pulled down by order of the commander, that they might not afford shelter to the enemy. Upon the arrival of the friendly Indians they immedi ately joined the garrison, and the contest was desperately maintained, until at length, overcome by force of numbers, the enemy retreated to a fortification which they had pre viously thrown up, and here they were besieged for nineteen days, when they sued for peace. A parley ensued, but, end ing without any definite result, the fight was renewed. At length, in a dark and rainy night, the baffled enemy evacu ated their works and fled to an island in the Detroit River, whither they were pursued, and after a desperate contest of several days their stronghold was taken, their warriors were nearly all slain, and their women and children taken prisoners* M. du Buisson estimated their whole loss at above a thousand souls. From a letter written by Father Joseph Marest at Mack inac in June, 1712, it would appear that as a military post that place had been abandoned since about 1701. The mis sion, however, had been continued, and constant endeavors were made by the Father to have the garrison restored. The letter contained a renewed request for the re-establish ment of the post, because of the danger from the Sacs, Foxes, and Mascoutins, who were expected to fall upon Mackinac out' of revenge for their defeat at Detroit. De serters and coureurs de bois were at that time in control, and the missionaries prayed earnestly for a military com mandant and garrison. From similar correspondence it appears that a new post was established about 1713 on the south side of the strait, whither the mission and chapel of St. Ignace followed. In 1717, M. de Tonty was again in command at Detroit. Under his administration the fort was substantially rebuilt, the lands adjacent were sold to actual settlers, the colony increased considerably, and for a time peace and prosperity smiled upon the inhabitants. In June, 1721, M. de Tonty held a council with the chiefs of the Hurons, Ottawas, and Pottawattomies, and united them in a league against the tribes living west of Lake Michigan. The veteran governor-general, M. de Vaudreuil, who had presided over the interests of Canada for twenty-one years, died on the 10th day of October, 1725, and was succeeded by Charles Le Moyne, Baron de Longueuil, who continued only about one year, and was followed by Charles, Marquis de Beauharnois. In 1734 the governor-general, Marquis de Beauharnois, introduced a new order of land-tenure into Michigan by making a series of grants upon easy conditions to actual settlers. He was exceedingly anxious to build up a power ful colony, and rightly judged that the proper way to accomplish this object was to encourage tillers of the soil. * It seems hardly probable that they brought their women and children with thom on such an expedition, though such occurrences have been known among the Indians. 44 HISTORY OF INGHAM AND EATON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN. But the vast distance of the settlements from the seaboard, and the uncertain market for field products, operated to dis courage farming, and the business of the people continued, as before, to be confined to the fur trade and the fisheries. The colony increased very slowly, yet there was good so ciety and more or less wealth, cultivation, and even refine ment. There were some good and exceedingly substantial buildings, and the people raised many varieties of fruit and vegetables. The management of all public affairs during the French occupation was chiefly by military commanders, though there were notaries and a few other civil officers. Civil courts were yet in the future ; everything was determined by courts-martial, and punishment was immediate and sum mary, though there was scarce ever complaint of injustice. The early settlers were eminently social in their habits, and probably managed to extract as much enjoyment from every-day life as any people in the world. Social and church gatherings, festivals, various games, horse-racing, and winter sports made up the round of pleasures which the French people, and especially their Canadian descend ants, enjoy in the highest degree. No event of great importance occurred within the terri tory now constituting the State of Michigan from the date of the attack upon Detroit, in 1712, until the surrender of the French possessions in America to the English. The forts and missions were maintained, and occasionally a new one was founded. Detroit, Mackinac, and the Sault Ste. Marie continued to be the principal points of business, the former two increasing slowly in population and commercial importance. The government and the principal merchants were not without considerable enterprise, and the fur trade was prosecuted with a great deal of energy and business tact. It is also said on good authority that in 1749, under the orders of the Count de la Gallissonniere, then governor- general, a military road was opened from Detroit to the Ohio or Wabash River. It crossed the Maumee at the foot of the " Rapids" above Toledo. The first settlements at Vincennes, and other points on the Wabash River, were conducted from Detroit as a base of supplies, and the last-named point was the principal depot for the fur trade south and west of Mackinac. At the close of French rule in Michigan they had posts and missions at Detroit, Mackinac, Sault Ste. Marie, St. Joseph, on Lake Michigan, La Pointe, on Lake Superior, and probably on some of the islands lying in Lakes Huron and Michigan, and perhaps at other points. The only per manent population residing beyond the guns of the various forts was found in the settlements stretching along the De troit and St. Clair Rivers, where each family held an allot ment of ground, consisting of a long and narrow strip, generally running back perpendicular to the river, some times for a mile or more. The total white population in 1760, within the limits of the State, did not probably ex ceed 2000. LIST OF FRENCH COLONIAL GOVERNORS. 1612-29.— Samuel de Champlain. 1632-33.® — Emery de Caen. * The English held possession of Canada from 1629 to 1632. 1633 163516361618. 1651. 1 1657. 1658. 1661. 1663.1663 1665. 1672. 1682. 1685. 1 1699.1703. 1725. 1726. 1747. 1749.1752.1752.1755 -35. — Samuel de Champlain. , — Marc Antoine de Chasteaufort. — Charles Huault de Montmagny. — Louis D'Aillebout de Coulonges. — Jean de Lauson. — Charles de Lauson-Charney. — Chevalier Louis D'Aillebout de Coulonges. — Pierre do Voyer, Viscount D'Argenson. , — Pierre du Bois, Baron D'Avangour. Chevalier Augustin, de Saffrey-Mesey. — Alexandre de Prouville, Marquis de Tracy. — Chevalier Daniel de Remy de Courcelles. — Louis de Buade, Count of Paluan and Frontenac. Antoine Joseph Le Febvre de la Barre. , — Jacques Rene de Brisay, Marquis de Denonville. . — Louis de Buade, Count of Paluan and Frontenac. Chevalier Louis Hector de Callieres. — Phillippe de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil. — Charles Le Moyne, Baron de Longueuil. Charles, Marquis de Beauharnois. — Rolland Michel Barrin, Count de la Gallissonniere. Jacques Pierre de Taffanel, Marquis de la Jonquiere. — Charles Le Moyne, Baron de Longueuil. — The Marquis Duquesne de Mcnneville. 60. — Pierre Francois, Marquis de Vaudreuil Cavagnal. UNDER ENGLISH RULE. CHAPTER VI. STJKKENDEB OF DETROIT TO CAPTAIN ROGEBS. Pontiac's War — The Quebec Act — The American Revolution — Expe ditions. In the spring of 1754 was opened the celebrated war known in America as the " French-and-Indian War," which after many fluctuating campaigns finally ended in September, 1760, in the surrender of all the French-Can adian possessions to the British arms. The war was inaugurated on the 16th of April, 1754, by the seizure of a small unfinished fort at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, in Pennsylvania, held by Ensign Ward with about thirty men, by Capt. Contrecoeur at the head of a strong force of French troops and Indian warriors, who had come down the Allegheny from Presq' Islef to drive the British traders from what they considered the lands of the King of France. The French immediately proceeded to erect a strong compact work on the place occupied by the Ohio company's stockade, which, in honor of the governor-general of Canada, they named Fort Duquesne. The first actual collision and bloodshed between the bel ligerents took place in Westmoreland Co., Pa., between an advance scouting-party of the French and Col. George Washington, commanding a Virginia colonial regiment. In this encounter Jumonville, the French leader, and sev eral of his men were killed, and the remainder taken prisoners. But retribution speedily followed, for Wash ington and his command were besieged at Fort Necessity on the 3d of July following by a strong force under M. de Villars, and on the 4th surrendered at discretion to the ¦j- Now the city of Erie, Pn. SURRENDER OF DETROIT TO CAPTAIN ROGERS. 45 French commander, who paroled them and sent them back to Virginia. War, however, was not actually declared until the fol lowing year (1755), when the famous expedition of Gen. Braddock was put in motion against Fort Duquesne. The terrible defeat and slaughter of that army on the banks of the Monongahela, within ten miles of Fort Duquesne, July 9, 1755, are familiar to every student of history. The French stronghold was at length taken by Gen. John Forbes, at the head of a powerful army, in November, 1758, and the French dominion on the Ohio virtually ended with that event. Washington accompanied both these expeditions. But this war, though carried on upon a large scale in the Eastern colonies and Canada, did not directly disturb the French settlements in Michigan. The Western Indians espoused the cause of the French, and furnished a great number of warriors to their army. It is said that a strong force of them was in the field against Gen. Braddock under the celebrated Pontiac, but this is not sufficiently authen ticated for current history. In 1759, when the gallant Capt. Pouchot was struggling against Sir William Johnson at Niagara, M. D'Aubrey col lected a force of about 1700 French Canadians, coureurs de bois, and Indians of various nationalities, from the posts and settlements of the West, and attempted to raise the siege, but the English force was too strong and well disci plined for his motley and ill-organized army ; he was de feated with considerable loss, and the post surrendered. In the spring of 1760 three powerful English and colo nial armies converged from different directions upon the last of the French strongholds, — Fort Levis, on Oracouenton Island, below Ogdensburg, in the St. Lawrence, and Mont real—and on the 8th of September, 1760, the sceptre de parted from France, which for more than 150 years she had wielded over a large portion of the American continent. On the 12th of September, four days after the surrender of Montreal to Gen. Amherst, that officer dispatched Maj. Robert Rogers, a provincial officer, born in New Hamp shire, and a comrade of Stark and Putnam during the war, with a force of 250 rangers,* to take possession of the posts still held by the French in the West. The major left Montreal on the 13th, with his command, in fifteen bateaux. Slowly toiling over the great rapids of the St. Lawrence at La Chine and the Cedars, they entered Lake Ontario, and, keeping near its northern shore, reached Fort Niagara in rough and stormy weather on the 1st of October. Carrying their bateaux and supplies around the falls, they again launched them on the Niagara River, and pushed on towards Lake Erie. From the foot of Lake Erie, Maj. Rogers, accompanied by a few of his men, made an overland trip to Port Pitt (now Pittsburgh) with dis patches for Gen. Monckton, in command of that post, after which he rejoined his command at Presq' Isle about the last of October. On the 10th of November the major encamped at the * This description of troops was raised among the American set tlements, and was famous in all the wars preceding the Revolution for efficiency against the Indians. mouth of the Cuyahoga River, on the site of the city of Cleveland, Ohio. No body of English troops had before penetrated so far in this direction, and they naturally felt a growing apprehension that they might be on dangerous ground. The season was far advanced, and in the midst of a drizzling rain Rogers determined to encamp and rest his troops until the weather became more favorable. They ac cordingly pitched their tents under the forest-trees on ground now occupied by a city of 150,000 people. PONTIAC. The command had been only a short time in their tem porary abode when a party of Indian warriors made their appearance, coming from the West, and announced them selves as an embassy from the Ottawa chieftain Pontiac, who claimed to be lord over all this wide domain, and for bade any farther advance of the command until he should appear and hold a conference with the commander. Before the day closed Pontiac made his appearance at the head of a strong war-party, and haughtily demanded of Rogers his business and how he dared enter the country without his permission. The major explained that the French had surrendered all their possessions to the English and that he was on his way by order of the British commander to re ceive the surrender of the post of Detroit. Pontiac lis tened attentively until Rogers concluded, when he merely said, "J shall stand in the path until morning,^ and then silently withdrew with his men. The Ottawa chieftain was then about fifty years of age and in the prime of his physical and mental powers. He occupied the position of head-chief of the Ottawas and possessed nearly absolute control over the Ojibwas and Pot tawattomies. The three nations were leagued together in a somewhat loosely-arranged confederation, for purposes offensive and defensive against their red and white enemies. Pontiac also possessed a vast influence over the greater portion of the nations of the Northwest, from the Ohio to the head-waters of the Mississippi. From his youth up he had been the firm friend of the French, who had treated his people with uniform courtesy and respect. He was shrewd and politic, a man of great natural abilities, yet, at the same time, endowed with all the subtlety and ferocity of the Indian race. The news of the overthrow of the French came like a thunder-clap upon him, and he treated it at first as a cunning story invented by the English to gain the ascendency over the Indians. He could not believe that the chivalrous Montcalm, at the head of his veteran though wasted battalions, whom he was accustomed to look upon as wellnigh invincible in war, had been overthrown and compelled to surrender the vast domain of Canada. If it were indeed true, he was intelli gent enough to see that it might be advantageous to his people, and especially to himself, as their great representa tive, to enter into negotiations, and possibly to make a treaty of peace and amity, with the English. His imper turbable Indian character and his extraordinary powers as a diplomat, joined with the proverbial cunning of his race, made him an enigma to the English, and constituted him, whether as a secret or open foe, a most dangerous leader of a treacherous and bloodthirsty race. 40 HISTORY OF INGHAM AND EATON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN. During the night succeeding his appearance, the detach ment under Rogers kept a sharp lookout lest the chief in tended treachery, but the hours passed quietly, and in the early morning Pontiac returned to the English camp and informed Rogers that he was willing to allow the English to remain in the country and to give them the same treat ment bestowed upon the French, provided they showed him proper respect. To these propositions Rogers agreed, and the peace-pipe was smoked in silence by the chiefs and officers of the opposing parties, and harmony reigned be tween them. On the 12th, the weather having cleared, the troops moved forward, and soon after arrived at the head of the lake. Here, notwithstanding the promises of Pontiac, Rogers learned that a force of 400 warriors was lying in wait at the mouth of the Detroit River to cut him off. But the threatened danger was swept aside by the power ful wand of the chieftain, who ordered the path cleared for the English, and the command continued unmolested up the river. In the mean time Lieut. Brehm had been sent forward with a letter to Capt. Bellestre, the French commandant at Detroit, informing him of the conquest of Canada, and that Maj. Rogers was deputed by the English commander to re ceive the surrender of the post. But that officer was highly indignant at the summons, and flatly refused to give up his command. Upon receipt of this intelligence Maj. Rogers sent for ward Capt. Campbell with a copy of the capitulation of Montreal, and a letter from M. Vaudreuil (late governor- general), directing that the place should be given up in ac cordance with the terms made between himself and the English commander-in-chief. This had the desired effect, and Capt. Bellestre' reluctantly hauled down his colors and yielded the place. This event occurred on the 29th of November, 1760, in the presence of a great number of Indians, who had as sembled to witness the change of masters. Their astonish ment at the treatment bestowed upon the French garrison knew no bounds, for they had supposed that they would be massacred by Maj. Rogers' command. The French soldiers were sent down the lakes, and the Canadians were allowed to remain in peaceable possession of their homes and prop erty upon taking an oath of allegiance to the English gov ernment, which they at once proceeded to do. An officer was dispatched to take possession of the posts Vineennes and Ouiatenon, on the Wabash, and Fort Miami, on the Maumee, was also occupied. Rogers took upon himself the duty of proceeding up Lake Huron and taking possession of Mackinac, the second most important place held by the French in the West ; but the lateness of the season and stormy weather compelled his re turn after reaching the outlet of the lake, and Mackinac, Green Bay, Ste. Marie, and St. Joseph remained in their hands until the following year, when a detachment of the Sixtieth Royal American Regiment took possession of them, and only the posts on the Mississippi remained in their possession. By the "Treaty of Paris," signed in February, 1763, between Great Britain and France, the latter ceded all her Canadian possessions to the former, and both the British government and the American colonists fondly hoped, and generally believed, that an era of peace and prosperity would follow the transfer. But these fond anticipations were doomed to disappoint ment. The calm which succeeded the long war was of short duration. The English government failed to under stand the necessity of treating the Indians as original owners of the soil and as deserving of at least courteous attention. The contrast between the French and the English in this respect was marked, and the Indians did not fail to notice it. The former had uniformly treated them as equals, and had paid particular deference to their chiefs and principal men ; while the latter looked upon the red race as vaga bonds and dependants, whom it was the privilege of any English subject to kick out of the way without ceremony. Encroachments were continually made upon their domain by unauthorized agents, through petty chiefs, and by the strong hand of might. Even the Iroquois, or Six Nations, who had been the allies of the Dutch and English since the days of Champlain, began to murmur, and it is well known that they had refused to come to the aid of Braddock in 1755 principally because the expedition was in the interests of the Ohio and other land companies, who were encroach ing upon their ancient domain. Scarcely had the English taken possession of the various French posts when complaints began to be heard among the Indians ; and the French inhabitants of Canada, and on the borders of Michigan, naturally sympathized with them in their grievances. As early as 1761-62 secret plots were laid for the capture of the English garrisons, but they were for the time being frustrated by the vigilance of Capt. Campbell, in command of Detroit. PONTIAC'S WAR. The gathering storm, which had been so long muttering like a summer tempest in the west, at length broke with such fury that nearly everything was swept before it. The leading spirits in this fierce onslaught upon the English were Pontiac in the West and Guyasutha, or Kiasota, the latter a Seneca of the band living upon the Allegheny River. Another prominent actor in the drama was a cele brated "Prophet," who arose among the Delawares, and, like " Peter the Hermit," preached a crusade against the enemies of his race. He claimed to be inspired (like many another impostor before and since his day), and wrought the minds of the savages up to a frenzy of warlike en thusiasm. Pontiac, also, found it convenient to lay ex travagant claims to special communion with the Great Spirit, and proclaimed that he had been commanded to drive the " English dogs" from the face of the earth and re- occupy the land. The French inhabitants of Canada cir culated the report that the King of France had been sleep ing, but was now awake, and his white-coated legions and armed ships were advancing up the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi Rivers to exterminate the English and repossess the country. The plans of Pontiac for the accomplishment of his grand designs were of extraordinary magnitude. He sent his embassies, bearing the great war-belt, to every nation SURRENDER OF DETROIT TO CAPTAIN ROGERS. 47 dwelling between the head of the Mississippi and the Mex ican Gulf. They penetrated the northern wilds around Lake Nipissing and the Ottawa River, and visited the head-springs of the Ohio and Mississippi, urging a general uprising of all the nations. Had the chief possessed the facilities of the commissariat and pay-departments of modern armies, it is more than probable that he would have collected and maintained such an overwhelming force as would have swept the country like a besom of destruction, and forced the English colonists into a narrow belt along the sea-coast. As it was, the result of the great scheme was the band ing together of nearly all the Algonquin nations in a league against the English. By the latter part of the year 1762, Pontiac had visited the nations and fully matured his plans for a simultaneous onslaught upon the posts and frontier settlements extending from Mackinac to the borders of the Carolinas. Various rumors of the great conspiracy had from time to time reached Maj. Gladwyn, in command at Detroit, but, so far as he could understand, there were so few reasons for an outbreak, and the savages kept the matter so nearly a profound secret, and lounged about the posts with so much of their accustomed taciturnity and quiet demeanor, that all suspicion was disarmed, and the major deemed the rumors but the imaginings of some distorted dream. At the outbreak of the Pontiac war the post at Detroit was garrisoned by about 120 regular troops, and there were in addition, available for defense, some forty engage's and fur traders. There were also two armed schooners, the " Beaver" and the " Gladwyn," anchored in the stream, and the fort mounted a few light guns on the bastions. The inclosing stockade was about twenty-five feet in height, and there were within the work about 100 straw- and bark- roofed houses besides the barracks. A wide passage-way, called by the French chemin du ronde, encircled the town next to the stockade. The last grand council, preparatory to the commencement of military operations, was held with the various tribes at the river Ecorces, about ten miles below Detroit, at which Pontiac made a powerful speech that worked his followers up to the highest pitch of enthusiasm. On the evening before the intended attack upon the fort, the war riors held a great war-dance out of sight of the garrison, but sufficiently near to carry the sound of the war-drum to their ears and enable them to see the glare of the council- fire upon the surrounding forest. The night of the 6th of May was a sleepless and anxious one to the English commander, and extraordinary precau tions were taken to prevent a surprise ; but nothing was attempted, and the morning of the next day dawned clear and beautiful. The plan for capturing the fort was well devised, and, but for the warning given Maj. Gladwyn by an Ojibwa maid, would in all probability have been successfully carried out. The plan was that Pontiac, at the head of sixty chiefs and warriors, with rifles shortened by being cut off and carried under their blankets, should ask admission to the fort on pre tense of holding a council with the commander and of renew ing their former friendship. Pontiac was to make a speech, and at a certain point present a wampum belt in a peculiar manner, which was to be the signal for the attack. The chiefs were to fire on the officers and fall on them with the toma hawk, while the warriors, who were to carelessly assemble outside, were to scale the works and massacre the garrison. On the morning of the 7th of May, 1763, Pontiac appeared at the head of a band of sixty stately chiefs and braves, and was readily admitted by Gladwyn, but the haughty chief tain was evidently somewhat disturbed at the warlike ap pearance of the garrison, which was under arms and going through with various manoeuvres, while the officers were all accoutred for instant service. The chief scanned the sur roundings with a vigilant eye, and inquired of the major why so many of his young men were carrying their guns, to which Gladwyn replied that they were taking their usual exercise. The council convened and the chiefs seated themselves on the ground around their leader, while the English offi cers occupied seats opposite. We quote from Parkman's " Conspiracy of Pontiac" the following description of Pon tiac and his band : " All were wrapped to the throat in colored blankets. Some were crested with hawk, eagle, or raven plumes ; others had shaven their heads, leaving only the fluttering scalp-lock on the crown ; while others, again, wore their long black hair flowing loosely at their backs or wildly hanging about their brows like a lion's mane. Their bold yet crafty features, their cheeks besmeared with ochre and ver milion, white lead, and soot, their keen, deep-set eyes gleaming in their sockets like those of rattlesnakes, gave them on aspect grim, uncouth, and horrible. For the most part, they were tall, strong men, and all had a gait and bearing of peculiar stateliness." The council was opened, the business of going through with the farce progressed quietly, but for reasons best known to himself Pontiac failed to give the preconcerted signal. Some writers contend that at one point he raised his arm as if to signal the onslaught, but at a sign from Gladwyn there was a sudden roll of drums and the clash of arms without and the officers half drew their swords. The chief was cowed, and finally sat down evidently greatly perplexed. Gladwyn made a brief reply to Pontiac, assur ing him of the friendship of the English so long as they deserved it, but threatening vengeance upon the first evi dence of treachery. The council broke up and Pontiac and his followers were allowed to depart, the chief making many protestations of friendship and promising to return in a few days with his squaws and children and shake hands with the English. Early on the following morning he appeared with three of his chiefs, bearing in his hand the sacred calumet, or peace-pipe, beautifully carved and ornamented. He offered the pipe to the English officers and protested his friendship, saying that " evil birds had sung lies in their ears." On his departure, as a further pledge of his amicable designs, he presented the pipe to Maj. Campbell. In the same afternoon he invited the young men of all the tribes to a game of ball on the common near the fort which ended in a series of unearthly yells from the victors. The noise was so sudden and appalling that the long roll was beaten and the troops were ordered under arms in ex pectation of an attack. While all these deceptive opera tions were transpiring Pontiac was in close consultation 48 HISTORY OF INGHAM AND EATON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN. with the Pottawattamie and Wyandot chiefs as to the best plans for circumventing the English. He was a most con summate dissembler, and played his game in a manner wor thy of a Talleyrand. But it would not do. Gladwyn had seen too much of Indian character to be duped, and at length Pontiac, finding further subterfuge of no avail, threw off the mask and made open and vigorous war. His last attempt to gain possession ofthe fort by treachery was made on the morning of the 9th of May, when, at the head of a throng of warriors from all the nations pres ent, he presented himself at the gate and demanded ad mittance, to which demand Gladwyn replied that the chief could enter, but his warriors must remain outside. Baffled in every attempt, he turned in a rage and walked towards his followers, who laid flat upon the ground just beyond the range of the musketry of the fort. As he approached they leaped up and ran off, filling the air with whoops and yells. They massacred an Englishwoman and her family living outside the fort, and, paddling to the Isle au Couchon, murdered an English soldier who had been a sergeant in the regular army. The chief took no part in these bloody outrages. When he found his arrangements all circumvented, he walked with hasty strides and in a towering rage towards the river, and, leaping into his canoe, crossed to the Canadian side and ordered the Ottawa village to at once remove to the western shore that his people might be all together. Such was the alacrity with which they obeyed him that at nightfall the squaws had transported the entire village — lodges," pro visions, utensils, and children — to the bank of the stream, ready for the crossing, which was accomplished during the following night. The attack upon the English posts had been well ar ranged, and was nearly simultaneous from Mackinac to Virginia. Port Sandusky was captured on the 16th of May ; Fort St. Joseph, on the St. Joseph River, on the 25th ; Fort Miami, where Maumee City now stands, on the 27th ; Ouiatenon, on the Wabash, a few miles below where Lafayette, Ind., now stands, on the 1st of June; Michilimackinac on the 4th of June ; and Presqu' Isle on the 16th of the same month. Green Bay was evacuated on the 21st of June. Thus, at almost one fell swoop, all the English posts in the West, with the exceptions of Fort Pitt, Niagara, and Detroit, were taken aud destroyed, and their garrisons either massacred or carried away as pris oners. It was by far the most terrible catastrophe that had befallen the colonies since the settlement of the country. Only a single post escaped attack. Niagara was con sidered too strong for assault, but Fort Pitt was surrounded by a powerful body of savages under Guyasutha, and be sieged for weeks until relieved by the gallant Col. Bou quet in August, after a weary march over the mountains, and after fighting one of the most obstinate and bloody battles ever recorded, in the heart of Westmoreland Co., Pa.* When Pontiac sat down to a regular siege of Detroit his armiesgarrison in * The force under Guyasutha was probably composed of Senecas, Delawares, and Shawanoes. force was estimated by intelligent Canadians at about 820 warriors, divided substantially as follows : Ottawas, 250 ; Pottawattomies, under their chief, Ninivay, 150; Wyan dots, under Takee, 50 ; Ojibwas, 200 under Wasson, or Shingobwassin, and 170 under Sekahos. This enumera tion included only those present and under the immediate command of Pontiac. Reinforcements were from time to time added, and it is probable that the whole number which operated against Detroit considerably exceeded 1000. To those accustomed to the formidable numbers of modern these figures seem contemptible ; but to the little that border fortress, hemmed in and cut off from succor, the bloodthirsty sons of the forest tribes were truly a terror, for they well knew that in their hands no mercy need be expected. From this time the siege was pressed more or less vig orously for many months. Never in the history of the Indian race has such persistency been shown. When we consider that they rarely make provision for sustaining their war expeditions beyond what each one may carry upon his person, and that they depend almost wholly upon, the pro ceeds of the chase and the fishery, it is indeed remarkable that Pontiac should have kept a strong force constantly in the field for nearly fifteen months, hemming the garrison of Detroit closely within their fortifications, baffling almost every attempt to succor the place by water, and reducing the English to the last extremity. By bold and skillful leadership, and the exercise of a wonderful military genius, he was enabled to defeat a strong force which foolishly sought him in the field with severe loss, and to drive it back within the defenses. To keep his commissariat supplied he resorted to the ex pedient of issuing his own individual due-bills, or notes of hand, drawn on birch-bark and signed with the figure of an otter, the totem of his tribe. These obligations, according to good authority, he conscientiously discharged to the last farthing. It is the only instance where an Indian poten tate established a system of finance and redeemed his promises. Gladwyn, at the commencement of the siege, thinking perhaps it was only the sudden impulse of passion, and that he might allay the storm by timely offers of redress for any grievances which they might have, resolved to try the effect of negotiation. Pontiac, however, was too cuuning, and, under pretense that he could only treat with a deputa tion of officers, succeeded in persuading the commander to allow Maj. Campbell, for whom the Indians had always professed great respect, and Lieut. McDougal to visit his camp. But when once the veteran Campbell was in his power he again threw off the mask, and detained the offi cers as prisoners. McDougal soon after escaped, but Maj. Campbell was kept closely guarded, until in an unfortunate moment he was treacherously murdered by Wasson, chief of the Ojibwas, in reveuge for the loss of a nephew, killed in a skirmish a few days before. Some accounts say that Pontiac was privy to the murder, while others aver that the Ojibwa chief was obliged to flee for his life. The garrison was supplied for a time with provisions by a friendly Canadian, M. Baby, who served the English at the peril of his own life; but with every effort it was more SURRENDER OF DETROIT TO CAPTAIN ROGERS. 49 than once on the point of abandoning the place and es caping to Niagara. Pontiac tried to persuade the French inhabitants of the region to unite with him against the English ; but through fear of the consequences, respect for the treaty between France and England, or other important reasons, they steadily refused to comply with his wishes. Notwithstand ing this refusal the chief continued to treat them with courtesy, paid them for all the provisions which were taken, and guarded them from the depredations of his young warriors. Gladwyn had sent one of his vessels with a small crew to Niagara for assistance, which managed to escape the sav ages waiting to attack her at the eutrance to Lake Erie, and proceeded safely on her voyage. In answer to the call Lieut. Cuyler had set out from Niagara on the 13th of May, and embarked above the falls with ninety-six men in bateaux, carrying a plentiful supply of provisions and munitions for the beleaguered garrison at Detroit. On the 28th of the month the convoy reached Point Pelee, about thirty miles east of the mouth of the Detroit River, and here they landed, hauled up their bateaux, and proposed to encamp, when, suddenly, they were attacked by a war-party of Wyandots who had been watching them. The men fought desperately for a few moments, when they broke in a panic and fled to their boats ; but the Indians followed them and captured all but two of the boats and more than sixty of the troops. Lieut. Cuyler, wounded, and about thirty of the men, escaped in two boats and returned to Niagara. The Indians, taking their prisoners, proceeded up the river, and on the 30th appeared in sight of the fort. The garrison turned out and thronged to the landing, where they gave three cheers, and a salute was fired, they thinking that supplies and reinforcements were at hand and their long and exhausting vigils at an end. Suddenly they be held the naked forms of the savages standing up in the boats and making frantic gestures, and their hearts sank within them as they realized the catastrophe which had befallen their luckless comrades. The doomed prisoners were taken to the Indian camps and tortured to death, a few at a time, during several successive days. Troops of Pottawattomies passed in sight of the fort bearing scalps held aloft on poles, the horrid trophies of St. Joseph, Sandusky, and other posts, while Ojibwas and Wyandots came with whoops and yells to reinforce the besiegers. Towards the last of June a great commotion was noticed among the Indians, who were thronging southward in large numbers, evidently bent upon some new mischief. Soon word was received from the friendly Canadian, M. Baby, that the schooner sent to Niagara for reinforcements had returned and was endeavoring to come up the river. Upon hearing this two guns were fired to let the people on board know that the fort still held out, and the garrison awaited, with great anxiety, the result. About sixty men were on board the vessel, the most of whom were ordered to keep below the bulwarks, that the Indians might not know their numbers. The breeze died away, and the vessel was obliged to anchor in the narrowest 7 part of the channel, between Fighting Island and the main land. The savages had constructed a breastwork of logs behind the bushes on Turkey Island, and here a great swarm of them laid concealed waiting for the schooner. For a long time after coming to anchor nothing disturbed the stillness of the night, but, at length, the sentinel dis covered dark moving forms gliding over the quiet waters. The Indians were stealthily closing around the .vessel in their canoes, hoping to surprise her. But her officers were alive to the danger of their situation, and the men were or dered to their posts in perfect silence. When the enemy had approached within a few rods the blow of a hammer upon the mast gave the signal, and sudden as a glare of lightning the vessel burst into flame from stem to stern. Cannon and musket did their deadly work ; several of the canoes were cut to pieces, fourteen Indians were killed, many wounded, and those remaining unhurt sought the shore amid yells of rage and consternation. Recovering from the surprise, they commenced firing upon the vessel, when she prudently dropped down into the broader channel below and remained for several days, until at length a favorable wind enabled her to come up to the fort. The two armed vessels wore a source of great annoyance to the Indians. With a favorable breeze they had on sev eral occasions made sail, and, coming abreast of the Indian camps, sent shells and canister among them with damaging 'effect, at one time routing the whole Ottawa population from their huts. To rid themselves of these dangerous customers the Indians constructed a large raft, and, loading it with combustibles, set it on fire and sent the whole down the river. It was not properly directed, and passed harm lessly down the stream. The first attempt was made on the 10th of July, and on the 12th, nothing daunted by their failure, the enemy sent another and larger one down ; but this passed harmlessly between the vessels and the fort, and burned itself out on the river below. A third attempt was made, but Gladwyn managed so skillfully that the Indians became at length discouraged, and gave up the attempt. Some time during the month of July the Wyandots and Pottawattomies, tiring, or pretending to tire, of the war, sent embassies to make terms of peace and exchange pris oners. With the former there was little difficulty in coming to an understanding, but the Pottawattomies were more troublesome. At length a deceptive peace was ar ranged, and the prisoners were exchanged. On the 29th of July, Capt. Dalzell, with a strong re inforcement of 280 men, and abundant supplies of arms and provisions, in twenty-two barges, reached the fort from Niagara. Their arrival was hailed with the greatest joy by the garrison, for they now felt that they were secure from the bloody machinations of the savages. But, unfor tunately, Capt. Dalzell, like Braddock at the head of his disciplined legions, imagined himself strong enough to at tack Pontiac in his camp and raise the siege by driving him from the country. He little understood the man with whom he had to deal. The detachment which Capt. Dalzell commanded consisted of men from the Fifty-fifth and Eightieth Regular British Regiments, with twenty rangers under command of Maj. 50 HISTORY OF INGHAM AND EATON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN. Rogers. Dalzell, as an officer of the regular army, out ranked Rogers, who was a provincial officer. Dalzell had been a companion of Putnam, but recently was attached to the staff of Sir Jeffrey Amherst, then commanding the British forces in America. As soon as he arrived Dalzell insisted that the true course to pursue was to attack Pontiac with a strong force in his camp, and was sanguine that the war might be ended at once. But Gladwyn was cautious from former experience and opposed"the project. At length, at the urgent request of the captain, he gave a reluctant consent, and a strong party of 250 men left the fort about two o'clock on the morning of July 31st, and moved silently towards the Indian camps. But the wary Pontiac, who had evidently suspected some such movement, had removed his camp to a safer position, and at the very moment when Dalzell, and Gray, and Rogers, and Grant, at the head of their gallant commands, were leaving the fort to fall upon the savages, Pontiac, at the head of 600 chosen warriors, was coming to meet them. The result fully justified the fears of Maj. Gladwyn, for at the crossing of " Bloody Run" the detachment met with a most disastrous repulse, and after a desperate battle of six hours' continuance, it retreated to the fort with the heavy loss of sixty men, killed and wounded, among whom were Capts. Dalzell and Gray. The Indians were greatly elated at their victory, and sent runners with tidings to all the nations ; aud soon the rein forcements began to come to the standard of Pontiac. But the fort, notwithstanding the heavy loss at " Bloody Run," still had a well-armed and disciplined garrison of upwards of 300 men, and there was little doubt that they would hold the place. In the beginning of September the schooner " Gladwyn," which had been sent to Niagara with dispatches and letters, returned up the lake with a crew of twelve men all told, besides six Iroquois Indians, ostensibly friendly to the Eng lish. On the night of the 3d she entered the mouth of the Detroit River, and in the morning, at their request, set the six Iroquois ashore, who disappeared in the woods, and very likely went straight to the camp of Pontiac and reported the arrival of the vessel and the small number of her crew. At nightfall the schooner was obliged to anchor, and her crew watched with sleepless anxiety for the approach of dawn. In the mean time 350 Indians in canoes glided quietly down the stream and were close upon her before the crew were aware of their presence. There was only time to fire a single volley among them, when they came swarming over her sides, tomahawk in hand, and holding their scatping- knives in their teeth. They were a hellish-looking set The scanty crew fought with a desperation born of despair, and made terrible havoc among them ; but they were thirty to one, and the contest was hopeless. The master, Horst was killed, and nearly half the crew disabled, when'jacobs' the mate, called in a stentorian voice, " Fire the magazine and blow the red devils all up together !" Amon°g the Wyandots were some who understood English, and helrin"- the desperate order of Jacobs, they called to their comrades" and in an instant the entire band leaped overboard and dis appeared in the darkness. The crew escaped with a loss of six killed and wounded. Of the Indians, seven were killed and above twenty wounded. It was a remarkable and most heroic action, and the survivors were rewarded for their gallantry, each man being presented with a medal by order of Gen. Amherst. Soon after this affair Maj. Wilkins, the commander at Niagara, collected a force of 600 regular troops, and started with a large number of boats, loaded with supplies, to the relief of Detroit. The Indians drove him back once before he reached the foot of Lake Erie, but re-embarking he proceeded on his way, and was rapidly approaching his destination when a violent storm compelled him to return to Niagara. The savages had now kept up the siege of Detroit from the 10th of May until October, and some of them were beginning to grow weary of the work. They had heard of great preparations to send a large force against them, and even Pontiac began to despair of overcoming the difficulties in his way. At length, on the 12th of October, a deputation of the Ojibwas approached the fort bearing the pipe of peace. Their chiefs claimed to represent the Ojibwas, Wyandots, and Pottawattomies, which tribes were all anxious for peace.* Gladwyn pleaded lack of authority for making peace, but said he would consent to a truce, to which the chiefs agreed, and departed for their camps. The armistice was a godsend to the beleaguered garrison, for they were almost destitute of provisions, and Gladwyn hastened to take advantage of it to procure supplies from the Canadians, and succeeded so well that the fort was toler ably well prepared for winter. The Ottawas alone con tinued their hostile demonstrations, and occasionally fired on the English foraging-parties. About the last of October, French messengers arrived at Detroit with a letter from M. Neyon, the commander at Fort Chartres, in Illinois. It was one of a number which the French officer, at the request of Gen. Amherst, had sent to various Indian tribes informing them that they could not expect any help from the French, and that they had best abandon further hostilities. This was a deadly blow to the hopes of Pontiac, and he left Detroit, enraged beyond de scription, and retired to the Maumee River with the design of stirring up the Indians to a renewal of hostilities in the spring. On the 1st of November, Gladwyn received intelligence, by a friendly Wyandot Indian, of the disaster to Maj. Wil kins' expedition, which deprived him of any hope for suc cor before the coming spring. The prospect before the garrison was anything but encouraging, but there was no alternative except to hold out manfully until assistance ar rived. The war as it was waged during the year 1763 had been one of almost uninterrupted misfortune to the English. With the single exception of Col. Bouquet's march to the relief of Fort Pitt, which was almost a disaster, no offen- * The principal chief at tho head of this deputation was Wap com-o-queth, great chief of the Mississaugas, a branch of the Ojib nation living in Canada. o- wa SURRENDER OF DETROIT TO CAPTAIN ROGERS. 51 sive movements had been made, but now the government determined to inflict a heavy chastisement on the savages in their own country. To this end two armies were organ ized, one under Col. Bouquet to operate from Fort Pitt, the other under Col. Bradstreet, which was concentrated at Albany, and moved thence up the Mohawk across Oneida Lake, down the Oswego River to Lake Ontario, and over its waters in boats to Niagara. This force, consisting of about 1200 men, reached Niagara in midsummer and encamped around the fort. Here they found hundreds of Western Indians. They had gathered at the urgent request of Sir William Johnson, who proposed to hold a great feast and council with them with a view to estab lishing a permanent peace. Johnson's messengers had pen etrated as far as Mackinac, where the Ojibwas had as sembled to debate the question whether they should go to the assistance of Pontiac, who had invited them to join him in again besieging Detroit. The embassy changed the determination of the Ojibwas, and after consulting their magicians they resolved to meet Sir William at Niagara. The gathering of Indians at the treaty-ground was a re markable one, including 2000 warriors and many women and children. Among the nations represented were Menomi- nees, Ottawas from Lake Michigan, Ojibwas, Mississaugas, Caughnawagas, Wyandots, Sacs, Foxes, Winnebagoes, and even a band of Osages from beyond the Mississippi. Separate councils were held with each nation, and the conference lasted until the 6th of August, when Sir Wil liam Johnson set out on his return to Oswego. On the 8th of August the army, considerably reinforced by Highlanders, Canadian militia, and various bands of Indians, began its movement towards Detroit. It pulled ashore at Presqu' Isle (now Erie), where a delegation of Delaware and Shawanoe Indians met Col. Bradstreet to ask for peace. But while these cunping savages were negoti ating with him, their congeners were pushing the war to the utmost on the frontiers of Pennsylvania and Virginia. Bradstreet was duped by thom into a preliminary treaty, the Indians agreeing to meet him at Sandusky, where they would bring all their prisoners and conclude a definite treaty. From Presqu' Isle Bradstreet sent a dispatch to Col. Bouquet, informing him that he had made peace with the Shawanoes and Delawares, and that he need not prose cute the war any further. But Bouquet was too old a soldier to be deceived by Indian cunning, and he paid no attention to Bradstreet's information or commands, but kept straight on into the Indian country in Ohio. Bradstreet, having, as he supposed, settled aU difficulties with the Delawares and Shawanoes, continued his voyage to Sandusky, where he was met by deputies from the Wyandots, Ottawas, and Miamis, living near, who protested they were anxious for peace, and promising, if he would not attack them in their villages, that they would meet him at Detroit and conclude a treaty. Again Bradstreet was deceived, and although he had been ordered by Gen. Gage to attack these very Indians, he graciously acceded to their request, and pursued his way leisurely to Detroit, where he arrived on the 28th of August, to the great joy of the garrison, who had been closely pent within the walls of their little fortress for up wards of fifteen months. Upon the arrival of the army they were at once relieved by fresh troops. Pontiac was gone, and most of the Indians were scat tered. The chief had retired to the banks of the Maumee, from whence he sent a defiant letter to the English com mander. A few of the Indians who were peaceably in clined still remained in their villages in the vicinity, poor and broken in spirit, for the fur trade was wholly de stroyed, and they were badly in want of the necessaries of life. A council was held on the 7th of September in the pres ence of the army, which was by far the largest ever seen in that region up to that time. Tho Indians present were fragments of the Ottawas, Ojibwas, Pottawattomies, Mi amis, Sacs, and Wyandots. The principal speaker was Wasson, the Ojibwa chief, who professed great regret for the war waged against the whites, and made a very humble and conciliatory speech. This movement of Bradstreet and the council at Detroit virtually ended the war in the West, and Bouquet soon brought the Eastern Indians to terms ; but the troops, and particularly the Iroquois who accompanied the army, were much dissatisfied with the manner in which Bradstreet had conducted the diplomatic portion of the campaign, and his doings were not fully sanctioned by the British military authorities, who reprimanded him for being duped by the savages, and for trying to check Col. Bouquet's operations. From Detroit, Captain Howard was sent to take posses sion of the upper posts, and soon after the English colors were again flying from the ramparts of Mackinac, Green Bay, and Sault Ste. Marie. An embassy, at the head of which was Captain Morris, which Bradstreet dispatched from San dusky to visit the Illinois Indians, met with such rough treatment on the Maumee, at the hands of the Miamis and Kickapoos, that it was forced to turn back without accom plishing anything, and with the loss of nearly everything except life. Late in the season Bradstreet returned with his army to Oswego, from whence the troops dispersed to their homes. In 1765, George Croghan, the deputy of Sir William Johnson, proceeded West with a deputation, visited most of the Indian and French posts and villages, and concluded treaties with nearly all the Western nations. Near Fort Chartres, on the Mississippi, he met Pontiac, who proceeded with him to Detroit, passing Ouiatenon, on the Wabash, and Fort Miami, on the Maumee. In August he held a great council with the various nations at Detroit, and towards the end of September left for Niagara. While at Detroit he exacted a promise from Pontiac that he would come to Oswego in the following spring and conclude a treaty of peace with Sir William Johnson. True to his promise, the great chieftain met Sir William Johnson at Oswego in July, 1766, and on the last day of that month, speaking for all the Western nations, he signed a treaty of peace, and promised to keep it as long as he lived ; which promise he strictly kept. The council closed with a bountiful distribution of presents to Pontiac and his fol lowers, and he returned to his home in the West, satisfied that his best course was to keep peace with the Epgljsli. 52 HISTORY OF INGHAM AND EATON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN. His dream of the restoration of the French rule, so long cherished, had been dissipated forever. The chief appears no more upon the scene after he re turned home from this treaty until April, 1769, when he visited St. Louis, where he met his old friend St. Ange in command of that post. Pierre Chouteau also saw him at that time and remembered that he wore the full uniform of a French officer which had been presented him by the Marquis of Montcalm, near the end of the French war, as a mark of esteem. He was in St. Louis a number of days, when, hearing that there was a large gathering of various tribes of Indians at Cohokia, on the Illinois side of the river, he went over to visit them and see what was going on. While there he partook freely of whisky, and during his debauch, while retired by himself in the woods, he was killed by a Kaskaskia or some other Illinois Indian, who had been hired by an Englishman named Williamson, a trader, to do the deed for a barrel of liquor. There is no doubt that the English were still jealous of him, and some of them feared he would yet stir up the tribes to another war; and the trader was probably one of this class. The dastardly deed was fearfully avenged upon the Illinois Indians by the nations who had been under the leadership of the great Ottawa ; and it is said that they nearly exterminated the offending tribes. With him per ished the hopes of the confederated natives, and it was not until the great Shawanoe chief, Tecumseh, arose among them that any similar attempt at confederation was made. Tecumseh took Pontiac for his model, but though he had behind him the red-coated legions of England, his great scheme of a powerful Indian confederation, banded together to resist and turn back the tide of white settlers, was a failure. He had one advantage of his great prototype : he fell honorably in battle at the head of his people, while Pontiac met his death by the despicable hand of the treacherous assassin. The paragraphs given to the Pontiac war illustrate the hardships, difficulties, and dangers which met the early settlers of Michigan at every turn. They also show to some extent the wrongs which unprincipled men perpetrated upon the red owners of the soil. We may not be able to fully sympathize with the children of the forest, but when we look over the history of the years from 1615 to 1763, we cannot but be struck with the stubborn tenacity of both parties in their determination, — the one to drive out and dispossess the original owners, the other to retain and de fend the country to the last. The settlement of the whole Union has been one continual struggle between what men are pleased to term barbarism and civilization for the posses sion of a continent which has been occupied in turn by many races of men,— how many we may probably never know. THE QUEBEC ACT. This somewhat noted act, which was passed by the British Parliament in 1774, during the administration of Sir Guy Carleton, governor-general of Canada, among its provisions defined the boundaries of the Canadian provinces, which were made to include the two peninsulas of Michigan, and all the country lying north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi. The following paragraphs with reference to the act are copied from Tuttle's " History of Michigan :" "The act granted to the Catholic inhabitants the free exercise of their religion, the undisturbed possession of their church property, and the right, in all matters of litigation, to demand a trial according to the former laws of the province. But the right was not extended to settlers on land granted by the English Crown. * "The enterprise of the people was not wholly confined to the fur trade. As early as 1773 tho mineral regions of Lake Superior were visited, and a project was formed for working the copper ore dis covered there, and a company in England had obtained a charter for that purpose. A sloop was purchased and the miners commenced operations, but soon found, however, that the expense of blasting and transportation was too great to warrant the prosecution of the enter prise, and it was abandoned. The fur trade was successfully prose cuted. In 1783 a company called the Northwest Fur Company was organized, and store- and trading-houses were erected at many places on the lakes, and agents were located at Detroit, Mackinac, the Sault Ste. Marie, and the Grand Portage, near Lake Superior, who packed the furs and sent them to Montreal for shipment to England." There were no permanent trading-posts or white settle ments established in the interior portions of either the upper or lower peninsula previous to about the year 1817, when a settlement was made at Rochester, Oakland Co., about twenty miles from Lake St. Clair. DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. From 1774 to 1779, when he was captured by Col. George Rogers Clark, at Vincenncs on the Wabash, Lieut.- Gov. Sir Henry Hamilton was in command at Detroit, which was the British headquarters for the West during the period of the Revolution, and, in fact, until 1796, when permanent possession was taken by the United States. The numerous expeditions and forays against the border American settlements in the West were nearly all fitted out from this point. There is strong evidence that the British authorities at Detroit and other places paid their Indian allies a stipulated sum for every American scalp which they brought in, though for the honor of a common humanity we may hope the charge is unsupported by facts. The post at Mackinac was also a very important one. At the beginning of the war the garrison was located on the mainland, but in 1780 the island of Mackinac was strongly fortified, and has since been the principal military post at the straits. Two quite important expeditions, from a British stand point, were fitted out at Detroit against the American set tlements during the Revolution. These were: one under command of Lieut.-Gov. Hamilton, in 1778, against the post at Vincennes on the Wabash ; and another, under Col. Byrd, against what was then called the " Beargrass Settle ment," at the mouth of the Beargrass Creek in Kentucky, now Louisville, in 1780. Vincennes, which had no garri son, was taken possession of by Hamilton, but he was in turn besieged and captured by the gallant Col. Clark, in February, 1779. Hamilton was sent a prisoner of war * Judge Campbell says of this act: "It was delusive everywhere, and the historian Garneau finds a lack of words to express his indig nation at the course pursued under it. By our Declaration of Inde pendence it was denounced as unfavorable to liberty. If the Detroit colonists heard of it, it was but as a distant rumor of something which did not affect them."— Outlines of Political History, p. 152. TERRITORIAL. 53 to Richmond, Va., and his troops, seventy-nine in number, were paroled and allowed to return to Detroit. Col. Byrd's expedition was made up of 600 Canadian militia and Indians, and was accompanied by a battery of six small field-pieces. It left Detroit in the summer of 1780, and made an inroad into Kentucky by way of the Maumee and the Big Miami and Licking Rivers. Quite a number of small stockades and many prisoners were captured, but to the honor of the commander the prisoners were humanely treated. Finding he could not long control the propensity of his Indians for bloodshed, Byrd made some excuse and returned with his forces to Detroit. It had been better in after-years if Proctor had followed his example. When Lieut.-Gov. Hamilton left Detroit with his Wabash expedition, he placed Maj. Lernoult* in command. This officer was succeeded in the following year by Maj. De Peyster. The expedition of Maj. Caldwell, in the summer of 1782, which ended in the bloody battle of the " Blue Licks," was fitted out at Detroit by order of the commander of that post. It comprised a total force of about 400 men, a large proportion of which was m ade up of Indians. ' ' Simon Girty, the renegade," accompanied this expedition. In 1779 the British authorities in Canada began to fear an invasion of their territory by Col. Clark, and Maj. Ler noult constructed a new fort at Detroit. It was much larger and better situated than the old French stockade. It was named, for the commander, Fort Lernoult, which name it retained until after the war of 1812, when it took the name of Fort Shelby, in honor of Hon. Isaac Shelby, the veteran Governor of Kentucky, who at the age of more than sixty years served under Harrison as a volunteer aid in the campaign of 1813. j" ENGLISH GOVERNORS. 1760. — Sir Jeffrey Amherst, Commander-in-Chief. 1765. — Sir James Murray, Governor of Quebec. 1766. — Paulus Emilius Irving, President. 1766. — Sir Guy Carleton, Lieutenant-Governor and Commander-in- Chief. 1770. — Hector Theophilus Cramahe, Commander-in-Chief. 1774. — Sir Guy Carleton, Governor-General. 1778. — Sir Frederick Haldimand, Governor-General. 1784. — Henry Hamilton, Lieutenant-Governor. 1785.— Henry Hope, Lieutenant-Governor. 1786. — Lord Dorchester, Governor-General. 1792. — Col. John Graves Simcoe, Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada. * This name is variously written Lennault, Le Noult, Lenault, etc. f This name, according to some authorities, was bestowed upon the work at an earlier period than here mentioned. UNDER THE REPUBLIC. CHAPTER VII. TERRITORIAL. Treaty of 1783, between Great Britain and tbe United States — The Ordinance of 1787— The Northwest Territory— Gen. St. Clair— Terri torial Subdivisions — Surrender of Detroit to the Americans, 1796 — Wayne County — Indiana Territory — Michigan Territory — War of 1812-15 — First Counties Organized — Land Surveys — Bounty Lands — Miscellaneous — Territorial Governors. Under the treaty of peace between the United States and Great Britain, signed at Paris Sept. 3, 1783, and rati fied by Congress Jan. 14, 1784, Michigan became a part of the American Union ; but for various reasons the British government kept possession of Oswegatchie (now Ogdens- burg), Oswego, Niagara, Presqu' Isle (now Erie), Sanduskyi Detroit, and Michilimackinac, for longer or shorter periods after the treaty was signed. In the spring of 1794 they advanced to the rapids of the Maumee River, and rebuilt and strengthened Fort Miami, originally established by the French, probably soon after the settlement of Detroit. This last act was very near producing a collision between Gen. Wayne's army and the British garrison after the defeat of the Indians by Wayne in August of the same year. ORDINANCE OF 1787. Under the belief that the treaty of 1783 established the boundary between the two nations as it at present exists in the Northwest, the American Congress, on the 13th of July, 1787, passed what has since been known as the " Ordi nance of 1787." Under this act all the territory lying west and north of the Ohio River, and east of the Missis sippi, was organized into what was designated the Northwest Territory, including what now constitutes the States of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin, and probably that portion of Minnesota lying east of the Mississippi and the Red River of the North. In October of the same year, Gen. Arthur St. Clair, a native of Scotland, who had come to America with Gen. Abercrombie in 1758, and a veteran officer of the Revo lution, was appointed Governor of the new territory.^ This extensive territory, covering not less than 240,000 square miles, and containing at this writing nearly 12,000,- 000 people, was then substantially a wilderness, with a few scattered posts here and there, and contained, all told, — per manent inhabitants, soldiers, traders, and trappers (exclusive of Indians), — probably not more than 10,000 people. Its Indian population was perhaps from 30,000 to 50,000. It had been formerly claimed by the original province of Vir ginia, by virtue of English grants, but that commonwealth had ceded the entire region to the United States in 1784. Several other States also claimed proprietary rights in lands lying to the westward of New York and Pennsyl- { St. Clair was one of the leaders of the colony which settled Mari etta, Ohio, in 1788. This was mostly composed of New England people under the lead of Gen. Rufus Putnam, Return J. Meigs, and others. Gen. St. Clair had, previous to the Revolution, lived in Westmoreland Co., Pa. 54 HISTORY OF INGHAM AND EATON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN. vania. Of these New York had ceded her claims to the general government in 1781, Massachusetts in 1785, and Connecticut in 1786. Troubles with the Indians had broken out in open hos tility at various times, and in 1790 occurred the defeat of Gen. Harmer near the site of the present city of Fort Wayne, Ind., followed in November, 1791, by the still more disastrous defeat of Gen. St. Clair on the head- streams of the Wabash, in what is now Mercer Co., Ohio. Subsequently many attempts were made to negotiate a lasting peace with the savages, but the encouragement of the British authorities and traders around the lakes had prevented, and it became apparent that nothing short of a successful and decisive military campaign would bring about the desired result. In 1792, Gen. Anthony Wayne was appointed to the command of the Western forces. He raised a large body of recruits, and went into camp at a point about eighteen miles below Pittsburgh, on the Ohio River, which he named Legionville, from the fact that he organized his army there something upon the plan of the ancient Roman armies, calling it "The Legion." This force was thoroughly disciplined and equipped, and when it took the field against the enemy it demon strated in a very brief, active campaign its superiority over the undisciplined three months' militia, which had brought such disgrace upon the American arms under Harmer and St. Clair. On the 20th of August the army encountered a horde of about 2000 Indians under their ablest leaders, and reinforced by a considerable body of Canadian militia under British officers, strongly intrenched in a position of their own choosing at a place called the " Fallen Timbers," near the rapids of the Maumee, and after a brief but des perate conflict, completely routed them with severe loss, pursuing them to the very walls of the British Fort Miami, and destroying all the corn-fields and growing crops for miles around. This battle brought all the savages in the Northwest to terms, and in December following the various nations sent deputies to Col. Hamtramck, commanding at Fort Wayne, to ask for peace. The British agents, McKee, Elliott, and Girty, used every argument to prevent a treaty, but the Indians were satisfied with fighting, and in June, 1795, the principal chiefs of the Delawares, Ottawas, Pottawattomies, Miamis, Wyandots, Shawanoes, Ojibwas, Kickapoos, and the In dians of the Wabash Valley, met Gen. Wayne in council at Greenville, Ohio, and concluded a treaty with the United States, which remained unbroken until the machinations of the Shawanoe Prophet and his brother, Tecumseh, brought about a collision with the army under Gen. Harrison at Tippecanoe, in November, 1811, a period of more than six teen years. By this treaty the Indians ceded a large terri tory. It was ratified by the United States Senate, Dec. 22, 1795* SURRENDER OE DETROIT. On the 12th of July, 1796, under the provisions of the Jay treaty, Capt. Moses Porter, at the head of a company '' See Chapter VIII., Indian Treaties. of sixty-five American troops, took possession of Detroit, and for the first time unfurled the starry emblem of the Republic from its ramparts. In September of the same year Winthrop Sargent, secretary of the Northwest Terri tory, proceeded to Detroit and organized the county of Wayne, named in honor of Gen. Wayne, which included within its limits all of the lower peninsula and portions of what are now the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin, with Detroit as the capital. The new county was entitled to three members of the Territorial Legisla ture, which held its sessions at Chillicothe. This was the first civil organization within what is now the State of Michigan. Detroit, according to Weld, then contained about 300 houses, and probably 1500 resident inhabitants. Secretary Sargent was succeeded in office, in 1798, by William Henry Harrison, who had been on the staff of Gen. Wayne in the campaign of 1794, and was popular with the Western people. He held the position until Oct. 3, 1799, when he was elected by the Territorial Legislature a delegate to Congress. . INDIANA TERRITORY. On the 7th day of May, 1800, Congress passed an act dividing the Northwest Territory on a line a part of which now constitutes the boundary between Ohio and Indiana, and extending thence north until it intersected the national boundary between Canada and the United States. This line, as may be seen by examining a good map of the State, divided the lower peninsula very nearly in the centre, crossing the Strait of Mackinac and intersecting the na tional boundary in White Fish Bay of Lake Superior. It divided what is now the county of Eaton nearly in the centre, leaving about eight Congressional townships in the old Northwest Territory and the county of Wayne, which latter, as then organized, was also bisected by it, and the remainder, a little more than eight townships, as a part of Indiana Territory. Ingham County was wholly in the Northwest Territory. The capital or seat of justice for the Territory was fixed at St. Vincennes, now Vincennes, Ind., and William Henry Harrison was appointed Governor. Ohio was admitted into the Federal Union as a sov ereign State Nov. 29, 1802, and from that date the whole of Michigan became a part of Indiana Territory, and so re mained until it was erected into a separate Territory. TERRITORY OE MICHIGAN. The act erecting the Territory of Michigan was passed by Congress on the 11th of January, 1805, and took effect from and after Juue 30th of the same year. The Governor and judges were appointed by the President of the United States, and endowed with legislative power. The Territorial officers were nominated by the President on the 26th of February, 1805. Gen. William Hull, an officer of the Revolution, was nominated for Governor, and Hon. A. B. Woodward for presiding judge. The nominations were confirmed by the Senate, and Judge Woodward arrived at Detroit on the 29th of June, and Governor Hull on the first day of July. On the 11th of June, preceding their arrival, the town TERRITORIAL. 55 of Detroit had been totally destroyed by fire, with the ex ception of two buildings. An idea of the little French vil lage may be obtained by reading the following extract from a report made to Congress by the Governor and judges in October following touching the calamity : " The place which bore the appellation of the town of Detroit was a spot of about two acres of ground, com pletely covered with buildings and combustible materials, the narrow intervals of fourteen or fifteen feet, used as streets or lanes, excepted ; and the whole was environed with a very strong and secure defense of tall and solid pickets." * In answer to a petition of the distressed inhabitants, Congress passed an act granting them the old site and 10,000 additional acres lying immediately around it, in cluding the old French " Commons." The town was sub sequently laid out upon a greatly enlarged and improved plan. The Territorial government of Michigan went into active operation on the 2d of July, 1805. It included then only the lower peninsula, the remaining portions being attached to Indiana and Illinois Territories, respectively, until the latter was erected into a State, in 1818, when the region now constituting the State of Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan was attached to Michigan Terri tory ; and in 1834 the territory now constituting the States of Iowa and Minnesota was annexed for temporary purposes. WAR OF 1812-15. The difficulties with the various tribes of Indians inhab iting the States of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, which cul minated in the battle of Tippecanoe in 1811, did not seri ously disturb the people of Michigan. Between the date of the battle of Tippecanoe and the breaking out of the war between the United States and Great Britain in 1812, Tecumseh did not commit any overt acts of hostility, but contented himself with scolding Governor Harrison and fermenting the various tribes of the West. On the 19th of June, 1812, war was declared by the United States against Great Britain. At this time the whole Northwest was in an almost defenseless condition, while the British had a formidable fleet under way on Lake Erie, and possessed a very respectable force of regulars and volunteer militia. Governor Hull, of Michigan, was appointed commander- in-chief of the forces destined to operate in the Northwest, whose numbers were fixed by Gen. Armstrong, Secretary of War, at 2000 men, that number being deemed sufficient for the conquest of Upper Canada. On the 1st of June, preceding the declaration of war, Gen. Hull had taken command of the army in person at Dayton, Ohio, from which place he commenced his march towards the Maumee, with his ultimate destination Detroit, constructing roads, bridges, and block-houses by the way. He was not apprised of the declaration of war until the 2d of July. From the Maumee Rapids he had previously sent forward his own and most of the baggage of the offi- * Annals of the West. The fort at the time of the conflagration was outside the town, and escaped destruction. cers, in a small sloop, under command of Lieut. Goodwin, who had on board about thirty men and several ladies. The vessel was captured at Maiden by the British. The force under Gen. Hull consisted of four regiments, commanded by Cols. McArthur, Findlay, Cass, and Miller. The army arrived at Detroit on the 7th of July, and on the 12th crossed the river and occupied Sandwich. The gen eral issued a proclamation to the Canadians, but he made no offensive or forward movement, though Col. Cass and the other subordinate officers strongly urged him to move at once upon Maiden, which was then comparatively unde fended. He remained inactive for nearly a month, when, learning that the British commanders were gathering a strong force to attack him, he, on the 7th of August, with drew across the river to Detroit. Col. Proctor, commanding the advance of the English forces, arrived at Maiden on the 29th of July, and without delay begun operations for the purpose of cutting Hull's line of communications with Ohio, in order to isolate his army. The English commander-in-chief, Gen. Brock, a most able and active officer, arrived on the 13th of August, and made preparations not only for the defense of Canada, but also for the conquest of Detroit, and the capture or de struction of Hull's army.")" In the mean time, Gen. Henry Dearborn, in order to prevent a concentration of forces against Hull, had been or dered to make a diversion at Niagara ; but instead of obey ing his orders, he did the very thing which enabled the enemy to put all their forces in motion towards Detroit: he concluded an armistice with the British commander for thirty days. Proctor threw a strong force across the river and inter cepted Hull's supply trains and kept him busy until the arrival of Brock, who immediately erected batteries oppo site Detroit without being in the least molested by the American army, whose commander would not fire a gun. Brock had correctly estimated the character of Hull, and boldly pushing across the river demanded the surrender of Detroit, at the same time opening a heavy fire from his batteries at Sandwich. The following paragraphs are from a paper read by Gen. John E. Hunt, of Toledo, Ohio, recently deceased, before the Maumee Valley Pioneer Association at Perrysburg. The general was a brother-in-law of Gen. Cass, and was present at the surrender of Detroit. He was the son of Col. Thomas Hunt, who for a long time commanded the First Regiment United States Infantry. He was born at Fort Wayne, Ind., in 1798, and was consequently at the time of the surrender a boy of fourteen years. In speaking of the armistice, he says : " This gave time for the ' Queen Char lotte' (a British ship of war afterwards captured by Perry) to sail from Maiden to the lower end of Lake Erie and re turn with himself (Brock) and force, which captured De troit. Soon after Hull crossed back (from Canada), Brock moved the ' Queen Charlotte' up the river and anchored her off Sandwich, covering with her guns the crossing to Detroit. While the ship was stationed there, Capt. Snell- f Gen. Brock was killed at the battle of Qucenstown, near the Falls of Niagara, in the following year. 56 HISTORY OF INGHAM AND EATON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN. ing asked Gen. Hull, in my presence, liberty to take two twelve-pounder guns, down to Spring Wells and sink her or start her from her position. Hull said ' No, sir ; you can't do it.' " Gen. Hunt continues : "Brock had built a battery on the Canada side opposite Fort Shelby.* As soon as it was finished, when the sun was about an hour high, he opened fire on us. During the night shells were thrown at ntervals. At the dawn of the next day a heavy fire of bombs and solid shot was opened. I was taking a drink of water at the door of one of the officer's quarters, in company with a boy of my age, who afterwards became Maj. Washington Whistler, United States Army, and died in Russia of cholera many years after. " At the next door to us, and about twelve feet from us, four of our officers were standing together. They were Capt. Hanks, Lieut. Sib ley, Dr. Blood, and Dr. Reynolds, of Columbus. A thirty-two pound shot eame from the enemy's battery, killing Hanks, Sibley, and Rey nolds, and wounding Dr. Blood. They were knocked into aheap in a little narrow entry-way, — a narrow, confined space. Their mangled remains were •-*¦ terrible sight. Capt. Hanks was lying on top, his eyes rolling in his head. Directly came along Gen. Hull, who looked in upon them and turned very pale, the tobacco juice running from the corners of his mouth on to the frills of his shirt. In a short time after the white flag was hoisted. Tbat ball seemed to unman him. "After these men were killed I left the fort to reconnoitre. On the street in front of Maj. Whipple's house, a quarter of a mile in front of Fort Shelby, I found two thirty-two pound guns in position. Capt. Bryson, of the artillery, had placed them there to rake the British column of 1500 men, who had made a landing and were approach ing the city by way of Judge May's long lane. " They had landed at Spring Wells and were marching up the lane to reach a ravine which crossed it, and through which they could file and be protected from any battery we had. "They were marching in close column, in full-dress uniform of scarlet, in perfect order, at a steady, regular pace, without music. As they came on, followed by their Indian allies, and some twenty whites dressed as Indians, my boyish fancy was struck with their appear ance, as I expected every moment to see them torn to pieces by those thirty-two pounders, double charged with canister and grape. "My brother Thomas stood ready at the guns. In his hand a lighted match was held up in the air. He was in the very act of firing when Col. Wallace, the aid of Gen. Hull, came up and said, ' Don't fire; the white flag is up.' At that instant Capt. Hull, who had been across the river with a flag of truce, fell in with us on his return. Col. Wallace said to him, ' It's all up; your father has surrendered.' Capt. Hull exclaimed, 'My God, is it possible?' " Capt. Hull afterwards showed great bravery on the Niagara fron tier, where he was killed. " During the British occupation of Detroit the following incident occurred between the British officers and myself, at the house of Mr. Mcintosh, in Sandwich. " Mcintosh was the agent of the Northwest Fur Company in Canada and my brother had married a sister of his. I had been in the habit of going over to spend Sunday and go to church in Sandwich. "The church was the only Protestant church in that part of the land at that time. There were also some nice young ladies there, the daughters of Mr. Mcintosh. On the Sunday after the surrender I went over with my brother. To my surprise I found Gen. Brock, with his staff officers, dining with Mcintosh. "The host called an all the officers present for toasts, beginning with Gen. Brock. Towards tea-time the old gentleman called on me° putting his hand on my shoulder, and saying in his broad Scotch^ "Coom, me lad, gie us a toast.' I had become much attached to Capt Hull, son of the general. On the trip to Detroit he had shown me much attention on account of my family connections. So I shoved my chair back, stood up, and gave them 'Capt. Hull.' Whereupon Brock slapped his hand on the table, saying, "By George, that's a good one.' 'Well, gentlemen, we will drink to a brave man if he is an enemy.' He had heard the day before of Capt. Hull, in the frigate 'Constitution,' taking the British frigate 'Guerricre.' Tho joke was * The fort was then probably called Fort Lernoult, though it is possible that the name bad been chano-ed. I meant Capt. Hull, ofthe army. They drank the toast to Capt. Hull of the navy. I did not disabuse their minds, because I thought the taking ofthe ' Guerricre' a pretty good offset to our surrender of Detroit. "Mcintosh clapped me on the shoulder and said, ' That's right, my boy ; always stick to your country.' " Hull surrendered on the 16th of August, granting Brock his own terms, which included the whole Territory of Mich igan and 1400 good troops. Brock's force was composed of 300 English regulars, 400 Canadian militia, and a few hundred Indians under Tecumseh. For this cowardly transaction Gen. Hull was tried by court-martial, found guilty of cowardice and neglect of duty, and sentenced to be shot. In consequence of his advanced ace and his services in the war of the Revolution he was pardoned by the President, but his name was ordered to be stricken from the rolls of the army. On the 17th of July, preceding the surrender of Detroit, the garrison of Mackinac, consisting of fifty-seven men, under command of Lieut. Hanks, who had not heard of the declaration of war, was surprised and captured by a mixed force of British, Canadians, and Indians amounting to upwards of 1000 men. Fort Dearborn, at Chicago, erected in 1804, garrisoned by about eighty men under Capt. Robert Heald, was aban doned on the 15th of August by the foolhardy commander, and the entire garrison killed or captured on the same day by the Pottawattomie Indians. The total number massacred was fifty-five. It was the design of the government to organize three ex peditions against the enemy: one under Gen. Winchester, a Revolutionary soldier then living in Tennessee and but little known, to operate towards Fort Wayne ; a second under Gen. Harrison, on the Wabash River ; and a third under Governor Edwards, of Illinois, to operate against the Indians on the Illinois River. But the people anticipated these movements and clam ored loudly for Gen. Harrison, who had been extremely popular since the battle of Tippecanoe in November pre vious, to command the army. He was accordingly ap pointed to command the Kentucky troops, at the head of which he relieved Fort Wayne and made a reconnois- sance of the Maumee Valley in September, returning to Fort Wayne on the 20th of the month. On the 17th of the samo month he was appointed to the chief command of the Western Army, and received notice of his appoint ment on the 24th, after his return to Fort Wayne. On his arrival at Fort Wayne he found there Gen. Win chester with a considerable force of Ohio and Kentucky troops, and supposing Winchester had been appointed to the chief command he decided to retire, and started on his return to Indiana Territory, of which he was then Governor, but was brought back by a messenger, who informed him of his appointment. In the mean time Gen. Winchester had moved down the Maumee as far as Fort Defiance, at the mouth of the Auglaize River. His force amounted to about 2000 men. He remained at this point for some time, during which his numbers were materially diminished by the expiration of the terms of service of many of the men. At the beQ 3J/^30/S3,L/ 8,31/01000 H LANSING TOWNSHIP. 189 tied. In this vicinity Edwin Bement spent his boyhood, serving an apprenticeship as a millwright. In 1837, at the age of twenty-six, he removed to Fremont, where he and his brother Orson erected a grist-mill and an oil-mill. Two years later Mr. Bement married Miss M. Louisa Roberts, and in 1842 they removed to what is now Fostoria, Ohio, where he and his brother built the first grist-mill in that vicinity, and also purchased a small foundry. Here Mr. Bement resided some twenty-six years, six years of which he was engaged in the stove and hardware trade. In 1869 he sold his business in Fostoria and removed to Lansing, erect ing a foundry for the manufacture of agricultural implements, etc. In this enterprise he associated with himself his three sons, Arthur, Willis, and Clarence. This business under taking has been eminently successful, and is to-day one of the most important manufacturing establishments iu Central Michigan. Mr. Bement died Blarch 8, 1880. The sons continue the business established by their father, who was a man of fixed principles and high moral character. Honesty and industry were the essential media of his success. He had a good business education, in his younger days attending the best schools in that portion of Ohio where he lived, and was a successful school-teacher for several winters. At an early age Mr. Bement united with the Congregational Church at Randolph, Ohio, and from that time to the day of his death was an active and consistent member. He was instrumental in forming the First Presbyterian Church in Fostoria, superintending personally the construction of the church edifice aud contributing largely to meet the ex pense. He was an elder in this church from its organiza tion until coming to Lansing, when he became identified with Plymouth Congregational Church as one of its dea cons, and was at one time superintendent of the Sunday- school. Mr. Bement was an outspoken and fearless tem perance worker, and exemplified in his person the principles he advocated. Politically, he was an uncompromising Abolitionist. Hav ing in'him the inherent love of freedom and a natural hatred of oppression, he took strong grounds in favor of emancipa tion, and at a time, too, when public sentiment was largely pro- lavery. LANSING TOWNSHIP/ NATURAL FEATURES. GEOGRAPHY. -The township of Lansing, which is designated in the United States surveys as town 4 north, range 2 west of the principal meridian, is situated in the northwest cor ner of Ingham County. It is bounded on the north by Clinton County, on the south by the township of Delhi, on the east by the township of Bleridian, both in Ingham County, and on the west by the township of Delta, in Eaton County. The township-lines were surveyed by Lucius Lyon in 1825, and the interior lines by Musgrove Evans in 1827. WATERCOURSES AND LAKES. The township is traversed by two principal streams, Grand River and Cedar River. The former enters the township on the northwest quarter of section 30 ; flows northeast through sections 19, 20, and 21 ; thence nearly north through section 16 to the centre of section 9, where it turns northwest and runs thence to near the centre of section 5, when it turns sharply to the southwest and flows through section 7, leaving the township on the northwest quarter. It is naturally a rapid stream, and affords a large amount of water-power, only a portion of which has been utilized. Its average width in the township may be stated at 200 feet, though it varies from 100 to 400. The Cedar River, one of the principal branches of Grand River enters the township from the east, on the southeast * By Samuel W. Durant. quarter of section 13, and flows in a general southwesterly course to the west line of section 23, when it turns towards the northwest and unites with the main stream on the northeast quarter of section 21. This is also a rapid-flow ing stream, and has an average width of about 100 feet in the township. The Sycamore Creek, a considerable mill-stream, enters the township from the south in section 35, and flowing in a general northern direction through sections 34 and 27, unites with Cedar River in the southeastern part of section 22. A considerable branch of this creek flows through sec tions 32, 33, and 27, and unites with it near the south line of section 27, a few rods east of the Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw Railway. A small stream, the outlet of a little lake on the north east quarter of section 35, enters Sycamore Creek near the township-line. Another more considerable creek flows northwest through sections 25 and 24, and enters the Cedar River on the northeast quarter of section 22. The outlet of Jones' Lake, in the northwest part of the township, flows in a devious course through section 5, and unites with Grand River near the southwest corner of that section. These are all the streams of importance. Several inferior brooks are found in various portions of the township. There are two small lakes or ponds within the township. Of these the largest is the one known as Jones' Lake, lying partly in sections 4 and 5, and covering an area of about twenty acres. Its margin is more or less marshy. The other is situated in the centre of the northeast quarter of section 35, and is much smaller in dimensions. 190 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. TOPOGRAPHY. The township is comparatively level, with its surface divided into three principal areas by the two rivers. The lands along Grand River are generally high and rolling, and the river has banks more or less abrupt. In places there are ridges approaching the dignity of hills, but nothing of any remarkable elevation. The valley of the Cedar River is broad, level, and comparatively low, and subject more or less to annual overflow, and there is considerable low-lying land along Sycamore Creek. SOILS. The soil is composed mainly of sandy and clayey loam, with the latter predominating. The lowlands are in places made up of a dark vegetable mould, as may be seen on por tions of the Reform School lands on section 14, and there are some marshy tracts, but probably nearly every acre of the township is susceptible of drainage and cultivation. Originally the township was heavily timbered with oak, elm, maple, beech, ash, sycamore, cherry, and many other deciduous forest-trees, and large areas are still covered with the primitive forest. Excellent brick clay abounds ; marl is present in the low basins ; sand and gravel are abundant, and possibly peat may exist in some of the marshes. The bowlder drift affords stone for ordinary purposes, and in one or two localities, perhaps, the sand-rock overlying the coal formation comes to the surface or near it. The soil when cleared and cultivated is excellent for the growth of the cereals, and all the vegetables of the northern temperate zone, and fruits of various kinds, including apples, peaches, pears, cherries, grapes, and wild fruits, flourish remarkably. The season of 1880 is prolific to a wonderful degree in these luxuries. ORIGINAL LAND-ENTRIES. The following list shows the names of those who orijri- nally entered the lands from government in what is now the township of Lansing. The school section (16) forms a part of the city of Lansing, which was laid out by the State land commissioner in 1847. Section 1. — James C. Allen, Rosalvo F. Griffin, 1837; Joel Iiayford, Ephraim W. Bixby, 1851; Henry Stoel (Stowell), Jacob B. Bennett, 1852; Shepard Bemis, 1854; Stephen W. Downer, 1863. This sec tion is fractional, and contains 629 acres. Section 2. — Fractional, containing 630.46 acres. Richard Lewis, 1836; Benjamin Earle, 1846 ; Isaiah G. Frost, James C. Allen, John C. Ball, James Shaw, 1847 ; Edward Thornberry, 1852. Section 3. — Fractional, 630.24 acres. Nathan H. Delano, Henry Whipple, George Lewis, all in 1836. Section 4.— Fractional, 617.36 acres. William H. Townsend, 1835; William R. Watson, Verdine Ellsworth, Alexander Hutchins, all in 1836; John G. Snider, C. G. Jones, 1837. Section 5. — Fractional, 592.42 acres. William H. Townsend, Isaac N. Hedden, 1835; Horace H. Comstock, John R. Jewett, Samuel G. Bliss, 1836 ; George Smith, Rosanna Bacon, 1837. Section 6. — Fractional, 666.38 acres. Catharine N. Forbes, Thomas Stevens, David Frink, 1835; Gerardus Clark, Samuel Marks, 1837. Section 7.— Fractional, 644.61 acres. David Meeeb, 1835-36; Rich mond Whitemarsh, James Seymour, 1836. Section 8. — Fractional, 632.88 aores. William H. Townsend, 1835 ; Frederick Bushnell, Richmond Whitemarsh, James Seymour, all in 1836. Partly in city of Lansing. Section 9. — Fractional, 600.09 acres. William H. Townsend, 1835 ; Frederick Bushnell, 1836. In city of Lansing. Section 10. — Now in city of Lansing; full, 640 aores. Horace H. Comstock, Leland Green, Robert G. L. Peyster, James Seymour all in 1836. Section 11. — Full, 640 aores. Mortimer B. Martin, Richard Lewis 1836 ; Miles N. Stanley, William Hogle, 1837 ; John C. Ball, George T. Clark, 1847. Section 12. — Full, 640 aeres. Adam L. Roof, Robert Toan, Heze kiah Smith, Daniel Nicholson, 1847 ; Simeon Dearin, 1848; Sherman Bemis, 1853. Section 13. — Fractional, 620.28 acres. Horace H. Comstock, George W. Wright, John F. Lawrence, all in 1836. Section 14. — Fractional, 631.85 acres. Horace H. Comstock, George M. Mills, Mortimer B. Martin, Henry Olmsted, 1836; Gerardus Clark, 1837. Section 15. — Full, 640 acres (in city of Lansing). Oliver Johnson, Thomas Lawrence, James Seymour, 1836; E. J. Penniman, 1837. Section 16. — Fractional, 607.04 acres. Laid out by the State as a part of the town of Michigan, now city of Lansing. Section 17. — Full, 640 acres. Frederick Bushnell, James Seymour, 1836. East half in city of Lansing. Section 18. — Fractional, 676.68 acres. Frederick Bushnell, James Seymour, 1836. Section 19. — Fractional, 646.68 acres. Frederick Bushnell, James Seymour, Horatio J. Lawrence, 1836. Section 20. — Fractional, 607.65 acres. William H. Townsend, 1835. East half in city of Lansing. Section 21. — In city of Lansing. Fractional, 591.96 acres. Wil liam H. Townsend, 1835; Jerry Ford and William Ford, 1836. Section 22. — In city of Lansing. Fractional, 619.36 acres. Horace H. Comstock, H. Morgan and J. Allen, Thomas Lawrence, all in 1836. Section 23. — Fractional, 616.66 acres. A. A. Williams and T. A. H. Edwards, Mortimer E. Martin, 1836; Hampton Rich, 1847. Section 24.— Full, 640 aeres. John F. Lawrence, 1836 ; John R. Jewett, Frederick Hall, 1817 ; Aaron M. Hewes, 1848. Section 25. — Full, 640 acres. Norman Carrier, Frederick Hall, Donald Mclntyre, 1847; Samuel Mosher, 1855. Section 26. — Full, 640 acres. Julius Chamberlain, Jesse Crowell, B. F. Hinman, 1837; Hampton Rich, Benjamin Harter, heirs of Calvin Wheaton, 1847. Section 27. — Full, 640 aeres. H. Morgan and J. Allen, James Crane, Lewis Rayner, Alanson Sumner, 1836 ; Alfred A. Williams, 1837. Section 28. — Full, 640 acres. Oliver Johnson, James Crane, Lewis Rayner, Alanson Sumner, 1836. Section 29. — Full, 640 acres. Oliver Johnson, Joseph W. Brown, 1836; Elihu Elwood, 1844 and 1846; Hampton Rich, 1847. Section 30. — Fractional, 667.81 acres. Horatio J. Lawrence, Joseph W. Brown, 1836; Jacob F. Cooley, 1837; Warren Parsons, 1839. Section 31. — Fractional, 674.76 acres. Daniel Buck, Jacob Van Doren, Abram Van Doren, 1837; Hampton Rich, Julia M. Williams, 1847. Section 32. — Full, 640 acres. Hezekiah Ferguson, 1837. Section 33.— Full, 640 acres. Warren M. Olmsted, 1836; Joseph E. North, 1837-38; Stephen F. Dexter, 1847. Section 34. — Full, 640 acres. George B. Warren, 1836. Section 35. — Full, 640 acres. Albert Anderson, 1836; Gerardus Clark, 1837; Louisa Buck, Marvin Cole, Champlin Havens, 1847; E. H. Whitney, 1853; Samuel S. Coryell, Sylvanus Ludden, 1854. Section 36. — Full, 640 aeres. John R. Jewett, Cassius Smith, Donald Melntyre, 1847; Jacob Stahlmaker, Freeborn Green, 1851. EARLY SETTLEME N. THE NORTH FAMILY. Among the very earliest settlers in Lansing township were the Norths, who were of English origin. Roger North, the progenitor of the family in America, was born in England in 1704. He settled in Pennsylvania probably as early as 1750. Thomas North, the father of Joseph E. North, Sr., was born in Pennsylvania in 1757. He mar ried Naomi Davis, who belonged to a prominent family of Philadelphia, — one of the family having been sheriff of LANSING TOWNSHIP. 191 Philadelphia County about the time of the Revolution. She was acquainted with Washington and Lafayette, and claimed to have taught the latter the English language. Joseph E. North, Sr., was born in the Juniata Valley, Sept. 16, 1791. His father, Thomas North, subsequent to the Revolution, purchased a considerable tract of land in the twelve children, — nine sons and three daughters ; two of these, a son and a daughter, died while young, in New York ; the remainder all settled in Michigan. The first of the family to settle in this State was Joseph E. North, Jr., the eldest son, who, in September, 1836, located land in the township of Ingham before it was or- LANSING TOWNSHIP— TOWN 4 NOETH, RANGE 2 WEST. Plat showing the location of all the actual settlers in the township in August, 1845. Made by James Turner, land-agent. showing the wagon roads then laid out or in use. Also township of Lansing, Tompkins Co, N. Y, it being a part of the military lands set apart for the soldiers of the Revo lution. Thither the family removed from Pennsylvania, and from thence Joseph E. North aud his sons came to Michigan. He married Christiana Teeter, who belonged to a respectable and well-to-do Pennsylvania family, which was probably of German origin, Dec. 18, 1813. He served in the army during the war of 1812-15, and was taken prisoner on the Canadian frontier, and kept in close confine ment at Quebec until the close of the war. When captured he was in the act of carrying a wounded comrade (Bruce Packard) from the field. Mr. North was the father of ganized. In the spring of 1837 he exchanged this land for section 32, in Lansing township, before that township was organized, also. This entire section was entered from gov ernment early in 1837 by Hezekiah Ferguson.* In Sep tember of the same year his next brother, Henry H. North, now of Delhi township, came to Lansing. Joseph E. was then at work for Judge Danforth, of Mason. The next day after Henry's arrival, the two brothers started to visit • On the record at Mason this name is written Forgison, which may be correct, though good authority gives it as written in the text. Ferguson paid as " boot" a gold watch to equalize the trade. 192 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. the land of Joseph E., in Lansing township. He had already erected a temporary shanty for shelter, and they reached this about four p.m. Near by Henry found an abundance of leeks growing wild, and they looked so " per fectly lovely" to the hungry boy that he pulled a quantity of them, and, roasting them, ate heartily of them for sup per ; but, like the soldier who ate too many persimmons in the army, he was awakened by a deathly feeling in the night. A heavy thunder-storm was raging and the rain fell in torrents. It was a bad night for him, and he has never eaten leeks since. Being a stranger to a forest region he very naturally stood in wholesome fear of wild beasts, which certainly then abounded in Michigan. The storm quenched the fire, and he was very apprehensive of an attack from some fierce denizen of the surrounding forest, whose mourn ful cries he could hear coming ominously on the night wind. He finally awoke his brother and told him his fears, and was laughed at for being alarmed by the hooting of an owl. Henry was quieted, but was not sorry when daylight ap peared. He had no appetite for breakfast, however, on account of his leek supper; but his brother told him he would not mind such little things after he had been in the county two or three years. Henry did not like the culinary duties of camp life, and declared that if he came to Blichigan to reside he should bring a wife with him. Joseph E. North, Jr., married Miss Emily F. Rolfe, the second daughter of Benjamin Rolfe, on the 1st of July, 1838.* This marriage is the second one recorded in the county, that of William Coddington and Miss Harriet Wheaton, married by Orrin Gregory, justice of the peace, on the 6th of May in the same year, being the first. In the early parf of September, 1838, Joseph E. North, Jr., settled on section 32 in Lansing, and resided there until his death, in 1851.f He never lost his residence in Ingham County from the time of his settlement in 1836. He probably built the first frame dwelling erected in the town ship of Lansing. Subsequent to his first visit to Michigan, in 1837, Henry H. North returned to New York, where on the 16th of December, 1838, he married Almira Buck, in Tompkins County. Joseph E. North, Sr., according to the records, entered land in Lansing township on section 33, in 1837 and 1838. According to the recollection of his son Joshua, he visited Michigan in the fall before his settlement and purchased the land; and according to the recollection of his son Henry H, he left Lansing, Tompkins Co., N. Y., on the 20th of May, 1839, and reached his land in Lan sing, Mich., on the 2d day of June following. Joshua, the third son, and Thomas, the fifth, came to Lansing in the fall of 1838, and for a time lived with and assisted Joseph E, Jr., in clearing up his land. When their father came, in 1839, they became inmates of his family. The old gen tleman remained on his farm in Lansing until his death. * Mr. North was married by Peter Linderman, justice of the peace. f Mrs. McKibbin, formerly Mrs. North, remembers some of the early preachers, Rev. Henry Lester being about the first. Another, Rev. Levanway, seems to have been an impostor, for he purchased u. horse by the aid of Mr. North and others, soon after which he disap peared and was not heard of afterwards. Two of the brothers, Henry H. and Joshua, now reside in Delhi township, and Jesse D. lives in the city of Lan sing, but owns the old farm in the south part of the town ship. The Norths settled in an excellent country, and the condition of their lands and improvements shows that they are thriving farmers. NAMING THE TOWNSHIP. The following, account of the way Lansing township re ceived its name is given by Henry H. North : "In December, 1841, Roswell Everett, Zalmon S.Holmes, and myself met at the house of my father, by appointment, and framed two petitions to the Legislature for the organization of two townships. But one name was suggested for the first, — that of Lansing, my father saying he wanted it named after our old town of Lansing, in New York. For the second two names were proposed, — Delhi, by Roswell Everett, and Genoa, by myself, not knowing that there was a Genoa in Livingston County at that time.'' THE COOLEY FAMILY. Jacob Frederick Cooley was born in Germany, Feb. 23, 1807. He came of a good family, but with true Ger man thrift and forethought learned the trade of a tailor in his native country. He lived in one of the German capi tals, possibly Stutgard, until he came to America. He settled in the State of New York. His wife was Lucy Barnes, who was born in Hartford, Conn., April 1, 1804. At the time of her marriage her parents were living in Oneida County. She was a woman of the real live Yankee stock, and well fitted for pioneer life, as subsequent events proved. The young couple removed to Leslie, Ingham Co., Mich., arriving there on the 6th of Blay, 1836. They erected a temporary shanty in the wilderness, six miles from any settlers, but being soon after attacked with sickness, which almost every settler was subject to, they became homesick. Wild beasts and snakes troubled them, and one day, leaving their two children in their cabin, they went out to examine their land and got lost in the woods ; but their faithful dog found them, and they followed him home. The dog was afterwards killed by wolves. Blr. Cooley was a stranger to everything connected with woodcraft or farm labor, and the prospect of making a com fortable home in the new country seemed anything but pleasing. Becoming at length sick and disgusted, he re turned with his family to New York in 1837. But there was something enticing in the West after all, and in Novem ber of the same year, leaving his family, he returned to Michigan. At Jacksonburg he made the acquaintance of Jerry and William Ford, or, at least, one of them. These men had, in April, 1836, laid out a village on section 21, in Lansing township, which they named " Biddle City." Learning that Mr. Cooley was looking for a place to settle, and also that he was a tailor and his wife a weaver, the Fords persuaded him that at or near their new town was the place to settle ; that it was sure to be a great city, and that the trades of himself and wife would soon make them comfortable, if not absolutely rich. To this enticing story Mr. Cooley lent a willing ear, and came down to view the country. The nearest government land to " Biddle City" which he could find was on section 30, in the southwest LANSING TOWNSHIP. 193 part of the township, lying'on Grand River, and about two miles southwest of the new city. It proved to be an ex cellent piece of land, and the section now includes some of the best farms in the township. One of the Fords came along with Cooley, but only re mained a short time, and then departed and left him alone in the wilderness. Mr. Cooley knew absolutely nothing of the labor necessary to hew out a home in the woods. He had never handled an axe in his life, and in cutting down a tree he hacked on all sides of it, and when he thought it about nearly to fall, ran out of its reach. He did not even know how to plant his vegetables after he had managed to prepare a small plat of ground, but planted potatoes, corn, beans, and cabbage promiscuously in the same hill. In building his first cabin he managed it by felling a tree, letting the butt rest upon the stump, and then cover ing the trunk with brush and sods. He did not know where the lines of his land were, and employed a Mr. Scott, of De Witt, in Clinton County, to point them out for him, paying him, according to his son's account, fifty dollars for his services. A second time he lost his lines, and had to pay Mr. Scott once more to establish them for him. His land was the southwest fractional quarter of section 30, town 4 north, range 2 west. He purchased deer-skins from the Indians and made himself a full border suit, including a coon-skin cap. His son, J. F. Cooley, Jr., remembers this suit as a great curiosity. Soon after completing his shanty, he followed the river to Jacksonburg, where he purchased supplies for winter, and then, procuring lumber, built a boat to transport them down to his future home. This was in December, 1837. On his way down the river, not being a skilled boatman, he came to grief in the swift water, opposite where now stands the village of Dimondale, where night overtook him. His craft struck a bowlder, and either broke up or stove a hole, so that his provisions got into the stream and his flour and salt were nearly spoiled. He, however, waded around among the ice and slippery stones and saved a portion. Having no means of making a fire, he ran up and down on the bank of the river to keep from freezing. At length the barking of a dog attracted his attention, and following the sound he came to a wigwam, where he found an Indian and his squaw, who took him in, rubbed his half- frozen limbs, and made him as comfortable as circumstances permitted. For food they set before him the best they had, — boiled or roasted hedgehog and muskrat. On the follow ing morning he paid the Indian two dollars to carry him down to his shanty. The Indian soon after abandoned his camping-place, and built his wigwam near Mr. Cooley's. The inexperienced settler now began to clear a spot of ground and build a better cabin of logs. Here he re mained until the spring of 1838, when he wrote his wife to join him with the remainder of the family. Blrs. Cooley accordingly bade good-by to her parents, and, taking her two boys, Jacob F., Jr., and Lansing J., came to Detroit, where she arrived in safety, though it was in the midst of the Canadian " Patriot war." At Detroit she hired a team ster to take her to Jackson, but the sheriff followed him for some misdemeanor, and he fled to the woods, leaving Mrs. Cooley with the team, which she drove to Jackson, where 25 it was taken from her. Nothing daunted by the terrors of the road, she started with her boys on foot for Eaton Rapids. After walking several miles she met a man who told her if she would take a certain trail which he pointed out she would save considerable distance ; but the path was so obscure that after a little time she lost it in the woods. Placing her children on a log, she bade them stay right there until she returned, and then proceeded to find her way out. At length she heard a cock crow, and the sound guided her to a settler's cabin occupied by one Blakeslee, who went with her to find her children, which they suc ceeded in doing after a long search. Mr. Blakeslee then took his team and carried Mrs. Cooley and her children to Eaton Rapids, where she stopped with a Mr. Spicer, who procured an Indian to notify her husband of her arrival. He soon appeared, and building a boat took his family down the river. Night overtook them, and they were obliged to encamp on the bank until the morning, when they proceeded on their way, and before noon on the 15th day of June, 1838, reached the site of their future home. They had no team or domestic animals of any kind, and Blrs. Cooley assisted her husband to clear a small piece of land, which they sowed with wheat, and planted a few vege tables. They kept a record of time by marking it every day on a board or log with charcoal. Their first " Independ ence" day — July 4, 1838 — was celebrated on a flat rock near the river, where Blrs. Cooley sang songs, to the delight of the Indians, while her boys played with their dusky friends under the trees along the river-bank. About the middle of July the entire family were taken sick, and were nearly helpless for several days. A family named Skinner had settled up the river in the township of Windsor, Eaton Co., and Mr. Cooley got an Indian to go and notify them of their troubles. Mr. Skinner came and took them to his house, where they remained for several weeks, and this experience exhausted all the ready money they possessed. Recovering from their sickness, they re turned to their home in the fall and found their crops all safe, their old Indian friend having taken care of them during their absence. They exchanged the products of their land with the Indians for fish and venison, and thus opened the famous " dicker" trade of the early days. In the following winter the family were all again taken sick and lost the day of the month, but a traveler happen ing along in January set them right again. At length all their provisions were consumed and they were forced to live upon the charity of their early Indian friend, who man aged to procure sufficient food to keep them from starving. At one time Mr. Cooley was so low that they all expected he would die, and he finally told his wife to lay his body in • a bark trough, cover it with dirt, and take her children out of the woods. But he at length recovered. In the spring of 1839, Blr. Cooley went to Jackson and worked at his trade, leaving his wife alone with her chil dren. For fourteen months she never saw a white woman. Wild beasts were plenty and exceedingly troublesome. At one time a gang of wolves followed Mr. Cooley, as he was bringing home some meat for his family, for a long dis tance, but he finally reached home in safety. At another 194 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, BIICHIGAN. time, when out blackberrying, he was chased by a bear and escaped with the loss of his hat. Occasionally the family would suffer the fire to go out, and then some one would have to travel perhaps ten miles to procure a supply. Some of the Indians were at times insolent, but they were generally friendly. Their insolence never availed them anything, for Blr. Cooley was resolute and defended his lights. After they began to raise corn he rigged a novel contri vance, though a common one in those days, to pound it. It consisted of a mortar made by burning a hollow in a stump, and rigging a spring-pole, to which was attached a wooden pestle ; and this answered a very good purpose. On the 6th of January, 1840, Mrs. Cooley gave birth to a son, which is said to have been the first male child born in the township. He was named Nathan L. Cooley. A friendiy squaw performed the offices of physician and mid wife, and was the only woman present. In the fall of 1838 they heard of neighbors down the river and to the southeast of them. These were Coe G. Jones, on section 5, and Joseph E. North, Jr., on section 32. The Norths made them a visit. The Fourth of July, 1839, was celebrated at the house of Joseph E. North, Jr. His father had recently moved into the settlement, and the three families celebrated together. Their first threshing was done on the ground, and the first wheat-grist was taken to Eaton Rapids by Blr. Cooley, who was gone three days. The children could hardly wait for the first loaf of bread to bake, but when ready for the table they divided it with the dusky Indian children, who enjoyed it as well as they. The earliest mills near them were at Eaton Rapids and Ingersoll's, now Delta. When they patronized the mill at Ingersoll's they took the grist down the river in a log canoe or " dugout," and then went across the country, through the woods, and hauled the canoe and ground grist back along the narrow path, through mud and water, with an ox-team. The canoe was not a first- class land-carriage, but they managed to haul it by fasten ing a log-chain around its nose, though it required great skill and constant attention to prevent the curious vehicle from often overturning in the rough pathway. Sometimes in the winter when they wanted to cross the river with their oxen and the ice was not strong enough to bear them, Mr. Cooley would cut a channel across and swim them over. When at length they had become the possessors of an ox-team, a cow, a pig, and a few sheep they congratulated themselves upon their improved circumstances ; but their joy was short lived, for a great black bear carried off the pig, and the lean and hungry wolves made short work with the sheep. The hardships and privations of the early .settlers of Michigan, save only in one respect, that of Indian wars and difficulties, were certainly as formidable and discourag ing as were ever encountered by the people of any State in the Union. The country was largely made up of dense and heavy forests, interspersed with swamps, marshes, and lakes ; the earliest roads were more horrible than can be conceived of by the present generation ; and then there was the almost interminable labor of cutting down the timber and clearing it away before anything could be grown for the support of man or beast. In the midst of their labors the deadly malaria fell upon them, and they froze and burned alternately for months and years with the ague and fever. When the first scanty crops were raised, and there was a small surplus, it took weeks sometimes to carry it to an uncertain market, and the cost of trausportation ate up all the proceeds. Wild beasts, dangerous reptiles, and per secuting insects were plenty as snow-flakes in a January storm, and it was literally a struggle between life and death with the chances in favor of the latter alternative. In many instances the earliest comers lived for several years without store or school or church accommodations, and the wonder is that men and women did not degenerate into fierce barbarians and abandon all hope of civilization amid the depressing circumstances which hemmed them in on every side. Nothing but an indomitable will, and a most sanguine looking forward to a better day in the future, an undying faith in the power of human intellect over the forces of nature, ever kept hope alive in the hearts of the .pioneers of Blichigan, and enabled them to work out the mighty problem of reclaiming a most forbidding wilderness and building up a free and prosperous commonwealth. There were a few comparatively sunny places among the " oak-openings" and beautiful miniature prairies of the southern and western portions of the peninsula, but they were only exceptions. By far the greater portion of the State has been won from a state of nature only through almost unparalleled hardships and the most unflinching perseverance. Within a year or two Mr. Cooley built a second and im proved log house. The first one stood near the northwest corner of his quarter section, and a considerable distance from the river near a copious spring, which latter item no doubt had considerable weight in determining the selection of his land. The first dwelling was built by the labor of himself and wife, and was a rude affair. The only windows were small holes left in the logs, covered with greased paper. The roof was constructed of troughs, the first course laid with the convex side down, and the second inverted and lapping over the edges of the others. This plan, provided the troughs were sound, made a very comfortable covering, impervious to water so long as the material did not warp or crack. The second house stood about fifteen rods west of the first, nearer the river. When it was all ready to be put up it took all the able-bodied men in five townships to raise it. It had a roof made of heavy stakes, pinned upon the trans verse timbers with three-quarter-inch ash pins. The im proved building boasted of a better chimney and sash win dows, which latter Mr. Cooley whittled out with a pocket- knife. Blr. Cooley was probably the first settler in Lansing town ship, having arrived, as we have seen, in the autumn of 1837.* There is some uncertainty regarding the arrival of the first family, but the probabilities point to Mr. Cooley's family, who reached their destination on the 15th day of * Joseph E. North, Jr., built a shanty on section 32 in the spring or summer of 1837. See account of the North family. LANSING TOWNSHIP. 195 June, 1838. The deed for his land was dated in 1837, and signed by Martin Van Buren. Mr. Cooley died on his farm June 9, 1865. at the age of fifty-eight years, two months, and sixteen days, at a period when he should have been in the prime of his physical powers. No doubt the hardships of a pioneer life had much to do with his comparatively early demise. He left a wife and five children, — three sons and two daughters, — to each of whom he gave a farm, and saw them settled around him. Blrs. Cooley died Feb. 21, 1870. THE JONES FAMILY. Of the family of Coe G. Jones, which competes with those of Blr. Cooley and Joseph E. North, Jr., for the honor of the first settlement in Lansing township, we have been able to learn comparatively little. Ambrose Jones, the father of C. G. Jones, came from Allegany Co., N. Y., and settled in Delta township, Eaton Co'., in 1845, where he died the following year. According to Mrs. Garret L. Dingman, a sister of Coe G. Jones, the latter settled on his land, the north half of the northwest quarter of section 4, containing 62.77 acres, in the spring or summer of 1838. His land was entered from government in 1837. Perhaps the principal reason for his choice of this locality was the presence of a small lake, since known as " Jones' Lake," which laid partly upon his purchase. Blrs. Dingman claims that when her brother settled there were no neighbors nearer than Ingersoll's, in Eaton County, and De Witt, in Clinton County ; but even if Blr. Cooley's family arrived after Blr. Jones, there is no doubt but Blr. Cooley himself was then living in the township. Blr. Jacob F. Cooley, now living on section 30, thinks that Jones did not come in before 1839. Ambrose Jones had ten children. One of the daugh ters, Eliza, who afterwards married Alonzo Baker, of Delta, came with her brother Coe G. She and her husband are both deceased. When C. G. Jones raised his first log dwelling, his help came from Delta (Ingersoll's) and De Witt. Blr. Jones died upon his farm Jan. 16, 1862. His sister Eleanor married Garret L. Dingman in 1851. She came with her father to Delta in 1845. Mr. Dingman settled on section 4, Lansing township, in 1851. GILKEY. ^Fhe Gilkey family was from the neighborhood of Bur lington, Vt. There were four brothers, Justus, Samuel, William, and Sample, and all, excepting William, came to Blichigan. The three first named removed from Vermont to Hydeville, N. Y., from whence they migrated to Michi gan. William settled in Lyons, Wayne Co., N. Y., where he died. Samuel settled in Flint, Genesee Co., Mich., and Sample removed to Illinois, where he still resides. Justus came from Hydeville, N. Y., to Lansing township probably about 1839 or 1840, and purchased land on sec tion 5 in the northwest corner of the township. He was not an original owner, but bought from other parties. He remained here until about 1849, when he sold and went to Ohio and a few months later removed to California, where he is now living. He was one of the inspectors of election at the first town-meeting held in Lansing, in April, 1842, and was also one of the first justices elected at the same meeting, one of the assessors, and an overseer of highways. He filled the office of justice of the peace probably as long as he remained in the township, as his name appears attached (as justice) to the acknowledgment of the original plats of the town of Blichigan, made on the 2d of June, 1847. He seems to have been quite a popular man, for the record shows that he was unanimously elected to several offices. He raised a large family of boys. According to Mrs. G. L. Dingman's recollection he sold to a man by the name of Barker, but Blr. 0. H. Gilkey, of whom we have received much of this information, thinks he sold to a widow, whose name he does not remember. The following were resident taxpayers in the township of Lansing in 1844 : Benjamin Earl, Archibald Billings, Nathan Delano, Henry Lester, Coe G. Jones, Justus Gilkey, Blelvin Gilkey, John Shear, J. F. Cooley, Joseph Demerest, J. BI. Packard, Levi Buck, Daniel R. Barnes, Elihu Ell wood, Joseph E. North, Jr., Joseph E. North, Sr., Thomas North. CIVIL ORGANIZATION. The act authorizing the organization of the township was passed Feb. 16, 1842. The name was suggested by Joseph E. North, Sr., after the township of Lansing, on the shore of Cayuga Lake, in Tompkins Co., N. Y.* The first town-meeting was held on the 4th day of April in the same year, at the " Shanty" near the Cedar River Bridge, in pursuance of the provisions of the act of the Legislature. Joseph E. North, Sr., was chosen Moderator, James Shear, Clerk, and Justus Gilkey, Abram Shear, James Harrington, and Thomas North, Inspectors of Election. We quote from the record : " Voted, that there be two additional assessors. " Voted, that we have two constables in this town. " Voted, that there be two hundred dollars raised for highways and bridges, to be laid out in the several districts according to the assess ments. " Voted, that there be one hundred and fifty dollars raised to defray town expenses. " Voted, that there be two dollars town bounty for wolf-scalps. " Voted, that hogs he free commoners. " Voted, that all orderly cattle be free commoners. " Joseph E. North, Moderator. "James Harrington, "Abram Shear, " Justus Gilkey, "Thomas North, " Inspectors of the Board, " I certify that the above is a true record. " Thomas North, " Town Cleric." The officers elected were one supervisor, one town clerk, one treasurer, four justices of the peace, two assessors, three commissioners of highways, three inspectors of schools, two overseers of the poor, three overseers of highways, and two constables, — in all twenty^two. The total number of * The township was formed from Alaiedon, which then comprised the four northwest townships of the county. The territory of Lan sing township also formed a part of the original township of Aurelius, which included the west half of the county, and was erected on the 11th of March, 1837. The township of Alaiedon wiis formed from Aurelius, March 15, 1838. The county was attached first to Washter naw and afterwards to Jackson County. 196 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. votes polled was eleven, or exactly one-half as many as there were offices to fill. It is presumed that, although the law required all these officers to be elected, the most of them found very little to do. The weight of responsi bility and hard labor must have fallen largely upon the shoulders of the highway commissioners and overseers. The inspectors of schools and overseers of the poor proba bly performed no very onerous duties for at least twelve months, and the duties of justices and constables were undoubtedly light. The following-named persons were duly elected at this meeting to fill the various offices : Supervisor, Joseph E. North, Sr. ; Town Clerk, Thomas North; Treasurer,* Abram Shear ;f Justices, Joseph E. North, Sr., Justus Gilkey, James Harrington, Thomas North ; Assessors, Joseph E. North, Jr., Justus Gilkey ; Commissioners of Highways, Joseph E. North Jr., James Shear,f Nathan Delano ; Inspectors of Schools, Thomas North, James Shear, James Harrington ; Constables, Daniel R. Barnes, Coe G. Jones ; Overseers of the Poor, Justus Gilkey, Joseph E. North, Sr. ; Overseers of Highways, First District, Henry Lester ; Second District, Justus Gilkey ; Third District, Joseph E. North. The supervisor, town clerk, treasurer, all of the justices except Harrington, who received nine votes, Justus Gilkey, for assessor, and Daniel Barnes, for constable, were unani mously elected, having received eleven votes each ; the others were elected by from six to ten votes each. The offices were well distributed, and none of the candidates had just cause of complaint, for every voter was elected to office, and several of them filled three offices apiece. The following list gives the names of those who were elected to fill the offices of supervisor, town clerk, treasurer, and justice of the peace, from 1843 to 1880. It is made up from the original record : 1843. — Supervisor, Joseph E. North ;J Town Clerk, Justus Gilkey, Treasurer, Joseph E. North ;J Justices, Levi Buck, Benja min Earl, Abram Shear. 1844.— Supervisor, John W. Burchard ;$ Clerk, Elihu Elwood; Treasurer, Benjamin Earl; Justices, Alonzo Baker,|| Justus Gilkey.|| 1845. — Supervisor, Isaac C. Page;^" Clerk, Elihu Elwood; Treasurer, Silas Freeman; Justice, Joab Page. 1846.— Supervisor, Joab Page; Clerk, Elihu Elwood; Treasurer, George D. Pease ; Justice, Joseph E. North, Jr. 1847 — Supervisor, Joab Page; Clerk, Isaao C. Page; Treasurer, George D. Pease; Justice, Russell P. Everett. * It appears from the record that Mr. Shear failed to attend to the duties of his office, which was declared vacant by the town board, and Joseph E. North, Jr., was appointed in his place on the 12th of No vember, 1842. X This name is written Shear on the record. We have been told the correct name was Shearer. X In giving the name of Joseph E. North, it is not always specified whether it was father or son, but the honors were about evenly di vided between them. § Mr. Burchard was drowned at the lower town soon after, and Joseph E. North, Jr., was elected in his place at a special election April 27th. || Baker did not qualify, and Gilkey was elected at a special elec tion, April 27th. % Isaac C. Page removed from the town, and at a special election held Sept. 10, 1845, Joab Page was elected in his stead. 18481849, 1850 1851 1852 1853.1854 1855.1856.1857. 1858.1859. 1860.1861.1862.1863.—I1864. 1865. 1866.1867. 1868, 1869.—! 1870.—! —Supervisor, Lawson S. Warner; Clerk, William W. Upton- Treasurer, Charles T. Allen ; Justice, Alanson Ward. —Supervisor, Lawson S. Warner; Clerk, Henry Gibbs; Treas urer, Charles T. Allen ; Justices, Joseph C. Bailey (full term) George I. Parsons (to fill vacancy), Joseph E. North, Sr. (to fill vacancy). —Supervisor, David E. Corbin;** Clerk, James A. Bascom; Treasurer, Miles H. Pritchard; Justices, Joseph E. North Sr. (full term), J. Palmer Thompson (two years). — Supervisor, William H. Chapman; Clerk, James A. Bascom- Treasurer, Eliphalet S. Tooker ;|f Justices, Reuben C. Mad den (full term), Orange Butler (to fill vacancy). —Supervisor, George I. Parsons; Clerk, James A. Bascom; Treasurer, Jonathan P. Thompson ;XX Justice, Alanson Ward. — Supervisor, Charles A. Hedges ;gg Clerk, James A. Bascom; Treasurer, James W. Holmes ; Justice, Orange Butler. — Supervisor, Charles W. Butler; Clerk, Abram M. Crawford; Treasurer, Louis D. Preston ; Justice, Joseph E. North. — Supervisor, Joseph C. Bailey; Clerk, James J.Jeffries; Treas urer, Louis D. Preston ; Justice, Daniel L. Case. —Supervisor, Joseph C. Bailey; Clerk, Rollin C. Dart; Treas urer, Louis D. Preston ; Justice, Alanson Ward. — Supervisor, Allen R. Burr; Clerk, William Fisher; Treasurer John R. Price; Justice, Champlin Havens. — Supervisor, Franklin La Rue; Clerk, Stephen P. Mead • Treasurer, Benjamin Van Akin ; Justice, Joseph E. North. |||— Supervisor, Ransom Everett; Clerk, Sylvester G. Scofield; Treasurer, Eber Crandall ; Justices, Thomas Treat, William Lee, William A. Dryer. —Supervisor, William A. Dryer; Clerk, Sylvester G. Scofield; Treasurer, Eber Crandall; Justices, Stephen B. Du Bois, Oramel D. Skinner. —Supervisor, William A. Dryer; Clerk, L. S. Ford; Treasurer, Cyrus Everett; Justice, Milo Smith. —Supervisor, William A. Dryer; Clerk, S. G. Scofield; Treas urer, Cyrus P. Everett; Justices, Ransom Everett, Lucian Merrill. Supervisor, William A. Dryer ; Clerk, S. G. Scofield ; Treas- erer, Chauncey Murphy ; Justices, O. D. Skinner, Lucian Merrill. Supervisor, William A. Dryer; Clerk, R. Everett; Treas urer, Chauncey Murphy; Justices, D. D. Hall, William Johnson. Supervisor, William A. Dryer; Clerk, Ransom Everett; Treasurer, A. K. Truman; Justices, William Johnson, Abraham Wheeler. Supervisor, William A. Dryer; Clerk, Josiah W. Dawes; Treasurer, A. K. Truman ; Justice, J. F. Lansing. Supervisor, Chauncey Murphy; Clerk, Clement L. Harrison; Treasurer, Henry C. Everett ; Justices, Oramel D. Skinner, Almon Harrison. Supervisor, Chauncey Murphy; Clerk, C. L. Harrison; Treas urer, Henry C. Everett; Justices, Abraham Wheeler, Dan- iol D. Hall. Supervisor, William A. Dryer; Clerk, Ransom Everett; Treasurer, Daniel D. Hall ; Justices, William W. Minturn, George S. Williams. Supervisor, William A. Dryer; Clerk, William W. Minturn; Treasurer, Daniel D. Hall ; Justices, Adam Foster, Nelson Tenney. ** Mr. Corbin died, and the town board on the 19th of August ap pointed Lawson S. Warner to fill the vacancy. Mr. Warner resigned, and on the 14th of September Joseph C. Bailey was appointed. ft Mr. Tooker was incapacitated by sickness, and Champlin Havens was appointed on the 12th of June. He declined, and J. P. Thomp son was appointed for the remainder of the year. XX Resigned, and Orange Butler was elected at a special election, Nov. 2, 1852. H Mr. Hedges died in office. HI Tho city of Lansing was chartered and separated from the town ship by act of Feb. 15, 1859. By the same act the township was au thorized to hold its town-meetings in the city, and to appoint a resident of the city as deputy township clerk. LANSING TOWNSHIP. 197 1871.— Supervisor, James M. Shearer; Clerk, Colonel D. Johnson; Treasurer, Chauncey Murphy ; Justices, William P. Scarn- mon, George C. Fuller. 1872.— Supervisor, J. M. Shearer; Clerk, Horace Munroe; Treas urer, James Tobias ; Justices, Warren H. Hoskins, Joseph W. Collins. 1873.— Supervisor, James M. Shearer; Clerk, Sanford M. Wait; Treasurer, James Tobias ; Justice, Joseph W. Collins. 1874.— Supervisor, J. M. Shearer; Clerk, John Holbrook; Treasurer, James Tobias ; Justice, Adam Foster. 1875.— Supervisor, S. Horace Preston; Clerk, John Holbrook; Treas urer, Myron Green ; Justice, William P. Scammon. 1876.— Supervisor, S. Horace Preston; Clerk, William H. Foster; Treasurer, Myron Green ; Justice, Morgan B. Hungerford. 1877.— Supervisor, J. M. Shearer; Clerk, 0. H. P. Brailey; Treas urer, Myron Green ; Justice, John J. Hooper. 1878. — Supervisor, J. M. Shearer; Clerk, George W. Parks; Treas urer, Myron Green ; Justice, Nathan L. Cooley. 1879. — Supervisor, S. Horace Preston ; Clerk, Eugene S. Thompson ; Treasurer, Jacob G. Baumgrass; Justices, George L. Wil liams, James Tobias. 1880. — Supervisor, S. H. Preston; Clerk, George W. Parks; Treas urer, Jacob G. Baumgrass : Justice, T. H. Howard. SELECTIONS FROM THE RECORDS. On the 15th of May, 1842, the board of supervisors met to adjust the accounts of the old township of Alaiedon, which had been subdivided into four townships on the 16th of February preceding. The old township had raised $250 for roads and bridges, which was divided among the differ ent townships carved from it by the following resolution : " Resolved, That the division of the $250 raised for roads and bridges shall be as follows, and that the treasurer of the town of Alaiedon shall give the treasurer of the different towns an order on the county treasurer for their proportion according to the following division, and take their receipts for the same : Alaiedon $68.96 Delhi 43.77 Lansing 74.70 Meridian 62.56" " Resolved, That we sell the ballot-boxes. " Sold the same to the township of Delhi for two dollars twenty- seven cents ($2.27)." "Resolved, That the town of Alaiedon pay six dollars for the town books." " Resolved, That the division of the funds in the hands of the over seers ofthe poor shall be as follows: Alaiedon, $12.46; Delhi, $8.05; Lansing, $14.03 ; Meridian, $11.51." " Resolved, That tbe treasurer of the town of Alaiedon shall give to the treasurers of tbe towns of Delhi, Lansing, and Meridian an order on the treasurer of the county to the amount of their respective road taxes for 1841.""* The first meeting of the board of auditors for Lansing was held on the 18th of June, 1842, and bills against the town to the amount of sixty-one dollars and fifty cents were allowed, and orders drawn for the same. The board con sisted of Joseph E. North, Justus Gilkey, James Harring ton, and Thomas North. In October of the same year the board audited bills to the amount of twenty-three dollars and thirty-two cents. The total amounts audited against the town for the year 1842 were $142.15. The total taxes levied in the township for all purposes for the year 1842 were as follows : # Copied from the supervisors' proceedings by Thomas North, town clerk of Lansing. State tax $69.66 County tax 143.43 Town expenses 150.00 Roads and bridges 200.00 Proportion of expenses of old town of Alaiedon for 1841 56.88 Rejected tax for 1838 20.18 Tax for 1838, charged back on land 29.34 Delinquent highway tax, 1842 : District No. 1 $34.69 " " 2 23.85 " « 3 72.70 131.24 Total $800.73 On the 29th of March, 1843, there was a balance in the hands of the town treasurer of two dollars and ninety cents. In 1843 the road districts were increased from three to four, and Nathan Delano, Coe G. Jones, Joseph E. North, and Lansing Barnes were elected overseers by " uplifted hands" in open town-meeting.-!" The town raised $250 for roads and bridges, and $150 for ordinary expenses. The annual town-meeting for 1843 was held at the house of Justus Gilkey, who lived on section 5. " Resolved, That all hogs over six months old be free commoners, and all orderly cattle be free commoners." The total number of votes polled at the election in April, 1843, seems to have been sixteen. The names of the inspectors of election for 1843 were Joseph E. North, Nathan Delano, James M. Packard, and Henry Lester, the last being the first resident Christian minister. He was a Protestant Blethodist. 1 The names of the persons drawn as grand jurors for 1843 were James BI. Packard, Elihu Elwood; as petit jurors, Benjamin Earl, Levi Buck. "June 10, 1843, Justus Gilkey's ear-mark recorded, — half-penny under side of the right ear." At the general State election, held Nov. 6 and 7, 1843, John S. Barry received fourteen votes for Governor, and Zina Pitcher three. The vote on the constitution of 1838 was sixteen in favor of the proposed amendments and one against. The total tax for all purposes levied in 1843 was $747.47. At the annual town-meeting, held at the school-house in District No. 1, there were fourteen votes polled, of which, for supervisor, John W. Burchard received thirteen and John Moffitt one. Mr. Burchard was drowned at the lower town soon after his election, and a special town-meeting was held on the 27th of April for electing another man in his stead, and also to elect a justice of the peace in place of Alonzo Baker, who neglected to qualify. Joseph E. North, Jr., was elected supervisor, and Justus Gilkey justice of the peace. At a meeting of the township board held Sept. 7, 1844, it was " Resolved, That the election (general) shall be held on Monday, the 4th of November, at the Burchard house, on section 9, the 'poles' to be open at nine o'olock a.m. ; and the second day of election shall be held on the 5th of November, at the red school-house in District No. 1 in said town, at which the said election is to close." t The township had probably been subdivided into three road dis tricts while yet a part of Alaiedon. 198 niSTORY OF INGHABI COUNTY, B1ICHIGAN. At the annual town-meeting for 1845 the whole number of votes cast was twenty-three. Joab Page was unani mously elected justice of the peace. Coe G. Jones, who had been elected overseer of highways in District No. 2, resigned on tbe 12th of April, and Justus Gilkey was appointed in his place. At the November election in 1845, the whole number of votes polled for Governor was sixteen, — eleven for Alpheus Felch and five for Stephen Viekery.* The annual town-meeting for 1846 was held at the house of Joab Page, and there were fifteen votes cast. At the general election in November of that year there were sev enteen votes polled. At the annual town-meeting for 1847, held at Page's house, the voters had increased to thirty, and within a few months the influx of new-comers had transformed the little settlement in the woods to a busy village, or rather to three villages, for there was one village situated along Blain Street in the south part of the plat, another had sprung up around the saw-mill at the lower town, and a third began to appear in the clearing around the site of the new State-House.f The location of the capital attracted men from all parts of the State, and new names became so plenty that they soon overshadowed the earlier ones. At a meeting of the town board held June 29, 1847; we find Levi Hunt apply ing for a " license to keep a public-house in the township of Lansing and village of Blichigan, with the privilege of selling ardent spirits," which was denied by the board. Peter I. Weller and William Sweet also applied for license to open groceries and victualing houses, but these also were denied. The board magnanimously " voted to exonerate the petitioners from paying the township board for this session;" which, considering it -was called solely to hear their petitions, was certainly a handsome thing to do. The board was composed of Joab Page, Justus Gilkey, and Isaac C. Page. On the 7th of July following there was another meeting of the board ; the following is a record of the proceedings : "Levi Hunt applied for a license to keep a public-house and retail ardent spirits in the village of Michigan and town of Lansing. Not granted, for the reason that the board could not be satisfied from tes timony before them that Mr. Hunt sustained a good moral char acter. " P. J. Weller and son applied for a license to keep a victualing house and grocery, and retail ardent spirits in the town of Lansing and village of Michigan. Not granted. "Voted that the town board would not grant a license to any gro cery the present year for the retailing of ardent spirits, for the reason that we do not think that the public good will be promoted thereby. ' " William Sweet applied for a license to keep a public-house in the house he now occupies in the village of Michigan and town of Lan sing and retail ardent spirits. Not granted, for the reason that we ha\e no evidence that he sustains a good moral character. " Levi Hunt applied for a license to keep a tavern without the privilege of selling ardent spirits, in the building he now occupies on Main Street, in the village of Michigan and town of Lansing, on lot 16, block 174. Granted. "Voted that Mr. Hunt should pay two dollars license money." The house occupied by Blr. Hunt is still standing, we believe, on the northwest corner of Main and River Streets. It was known as the " Michigan House." * The population of the township in 1845 was eighty-eight souls. t Until within a few years these were designated respectively as " Upper," " Middle," and " Lower" town. At a meeting held Sept. 16, 1847, "Henry Jipson and W. W. Upton}: applied for a license to keep a tavern in the village of Michigan in the building they now occupy near the Capitol. Granted for the remainder of the year. Ordered that the above applicant shall pay five dollars for said license." This last-mentioned hotel was the old " Lansing House " which stood opposite the present house of that name. Evidently the location was considered better than the one on Main Street, for the license was held at a very high figure, equivalent to about twenty dollars per year. At the November election in 1847 there were 193 votes polled for Governor, of which Epaphroditus Ransom, of Kalamazoo, received 109 and James Edmunds 80. "At a meeting of the township board held Nov. 27, 1847, present Joab Page, Justus Gilkey, and I. F. Page, the following business was transacted : " Daniel Clapsaddle applied for a license to keep a tavern in the town of Michigan, in the building he now occupies, being on lot No. 4 and block No. 231, on Seotion Twenty-one in said township, for the remainder of the present year, or license year. " Said petition was granted. "Ordered that said applicant should pay four dollars for said per mit.;) " P. I. Kinney applied for a license to keep a grocery in the town of Michigan, in the building he now occupies, situated on block No. six, on section nine in said township. " Said petition was granted. [| " Ordered that applicant should pay two dollars for said license." At a meeting of the township board held on the 17th of December, 1847, Blilo H. Turner was granted license to keep a tavern on block 13 in the lower town, for which lie was charged five dollars. The total current expenses of the township for the year ending April 5, 1848, were $189.46. The annual town-meeting held April 3, 1848, showed a great increase of population, there being 247 votes cast for town officers. At this election a new man was nominated for supervisor, — Whitney Jones, — but though he made a good run, receiving 110 votes, he was beaten by Lawson S. Warner, who received 120. This meeting was convened at the Capitol, but adjourned from there to the " new log house of Dr. Goucher, a little north of the Capitol." At that time the township was divided into six road districts. Smith Tooker was elected poundmaster. The town voted to raise $250 for township purposes. A bounty of two dollars and fifty cents was authorized for each wolf- scalp taken within the town. At a meeting of the township board, April 29, 1848, the following was passed : " Resolved, That license as retailers of ardent spirits and tavern- keepers be allowed them for the sums set opposite their names re spectively,— viz.: Sylvester Thompson, $7.75; William Sweet, 6.75; William T. Gilkey, $6.25; Ford & Gould, S6.50; E. Firtch, $6.25; Levi Hunt, $7.25; Peter J. Weller & Son, $7.75; Henry Jipson, $7.75. " On motion of Joab Page, Esq., Resolved, That each person receiv ing lycense be required to pay 50 cts. for the use of the township board." On the 10th of June, 1848, license was granted to Daniel X Mr. Upton is now in the Treasury Department at Washington. j) The house kept by Daniel Clapsaddle was called the "National House," and stood on the east side of the river. || Mr. Kinney probably kept the "Seymour House," at the lower town. LANSING TOWNSHIP. 199 McGilvrey and a man named Berry to " keep tavern," at seven dollars and fifty cents each, and a fee to the town clerk of thirty cents. On the 14th of August, in the same year, license was granted to Henry H. Bloss to retail ardent spirits on lot 1, block 227, for the remainder of the year at five dollars. T. B. Faxon was also licensed as a retailer and common victualer on lot 8, block 114, for the sum of eight dollars. The moral scruples of the board seem to have been at length set aside. It would appear that the rivers were greatly obstructed by drifi-wood, for we find in 1849 an account of six dol lars and fifty cents, presented by John Thomas, " for work done on flood-wood above Cedar bridge and Grand River bridge." Liberal allowances were made for- schools, and the taxes raised from year to year were quite large, as the following statement of C. T. Allen, township treasurer, will exhibit : Amount of State and county tax levied in 1848 $1387.42 Amount of highway taxed voted 250.00 Amount of town contingent voted 250.00 Amount of school and library tax voted 112.64 Amount levied in Fractional District No. 2 13.12 Amount levied in District No. 2 90.00 Amount levied in District No. 4 1000.00 Amount of tax of 1 847 reassessed and highway tax levied by commissioner highways 527.76 Four per cent, for collection 145.23 Amount of primary school funds received from county treasurer, 1848 26.69 Amount received from cemetery lots 8.12 $3810.98 At the annual town-meeting, April 2, 1849, the question of license was acted upon, when sixty-one voted in favor, and sixty-six against it. The total vote at this meeting was 251, but on the license question only 127 votes were cast. In this year there appear to have been twelve road districts in the township. A " board of health" was established, a burying-ground purchased and laid out, and the board of health was di rected to appoint a suitable person to take charge of the • same, under its direction. "On motion, it was resolved that fifty cents on the scholar be raised by tax on the Township at large for each child in the Township be tween the ages of four and eighteen years." On the 28th of August, 1850, the circus and museum of E. F. and J. Mabie visited Lansing. The license paid was ten dollars, and this was probably the first circus that ever visited the place. Under the new law of 1850 every dealer in ardent spirits was obliged to give bonds in $2000, with two sureties. The total taxes levied in the township for the year 1851 were as follows : State, county, and township tax ^a!'™ Delinquent highway tax oVaI'^a School tax 3340.14 $6271.80 The following item appears of record under date of Nov. 29, 1851: " On motion, Tho Board agreed to forbid, in writing, under their hands all Tavern-Keepers, Common Victualers, and retailers of Spirituous or intoxicating liquors, of this Township, selling any spir ituous or intoxicating liquors to Joseph Moon and William Balch for the space of one year. (Signed) " Wm. II. Chapman, " A. Ward, "J. Palmer Thompson, "James A. Bascom, " Township Board." In 1852 the road districts were increased to thirteen. At the Presidential election of Nov. 2, 1852, the whole number of votes polled was 239. Of these the electoral ticket headed by John S. Barry received 153. The voting was remarkably uniform, and there were few scratched tickets. The people of the township, whenever an expression was given, seem to have been opposed to the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors. At an election held on the 20th day of June, 1853, on the question of prohibiting the manufacture of intoxicating liquors, the number of votes in favor of such prohibition was 183 ; against it, 48. From the record : " At a meeting of the Township Board, held on the 22d day of October, A.D. 1853. Present, Charles W. Hedges, Supervisor; Joseph E. North, Justice; James A. Bascom, Clerk. The object of said meeting being stated, — viz., Appointing some suitable person to sell intoxicating liquors for Medicinal and Mechanical purposes, in said Township; whereupon the Board organized, and on motion of Joseph E. North proceeded, by written ballot, to the election of a person. Abram M. Crawford receiving all the votes was declared appointed. " The Board adopted the following rules and regulations : "1st. That a duplicate of the Bills bought by said Crawford (of liquors) should be presented to the Township Clerk, and filed in his office. " 2d. That 50 per cent, might be added from the original cost on his sales." The sureties for Mr. Crawford were Charles W. Butler, George W. Peck, and J. C. Bailey. In 1853 or 1854 the number of road districts was in creased to fourteen. It would appear that the town was visited by the small pox in the winter of 1853-54, for we find bills presented by physicians, nurses, and other parties, on account of the disease, amounting to an aggregate of more than $450. The following, taken from the records, reminds one of the quaint old records of the Connecticut Valley : " Come into the enclosure of Frank Foster on or about the 10. day of Nov., One Read Cow about seven years oald, one Broken Horn. " J. J. Jeffres, Depty. Clerk. "Dec. 31st, 1855." At the annual townrmeeting, held at the Lansing House, April 2, 1855, there was a considerable increase in the voters, there being 339 votes polled, or 103 in excess of the number cast in 1854. The road districts were in creased at this meeting to fifteen. J. J. Jeffres, notwith standing his peculiar chirography, was elected town clerk by a handsome majority. The amount of tax levied for 1855 was $10,000.98, of which the school tax for the four districts was $4574.50, and of this last item $3223 was levied in District No. 4. The number of voters had increased in the spring of 1856 to 523, and the town was evidently growing very rapidly, not only in the village, but in the township as well. The road districts were increased this year to twenty. The 200 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. license for shows was fixed at ten dollars for circus and caravans, and at five dollars for all others. At the November election of 1856 the number of votes polled was 605, of which Kinsley S. Bingham, for Governor, received 327, and Alpheus Felch, 278. At a meeting of the township board, held March 26, 1857, the sum of fifty dollars was appropriated for the purpose of pursuing and arresting two desperadoes who seem to have escaped from the hands of the officers of the law. As near as can be made out from the some what obscure wording of the record their names were Henry Bessy and Frank Dutton. At the annual town-meeting in April, 1857, $1000 was voted for the purpose of building a bridge in the upper town, " at or within twenty rods of the old site."* The township taxation for 1857 was as follows : Township tax proper $2767.55 School tax 3507.25 Raised by highway commissioners 688.17 Total $6962.97 The number of road districts was increased to twenty-five. At the last annual town-meeting held before the city of Lansing was chartered, on the 5th of April, 1858, the whole number of votes cast was 649. The vote for supervisor stood : for Franklin La Rue, 333 ; John G. Darling, 305. The erection of the city took away all but about 100 votes from the township, and these were scattered on all sides of the city. When the village was erected into a city it contained at least 600 voters, which would indicate a population of nearly 3000, though the proportion of voters may have been very large. Perhaps no town in the State ever possessed so large a village population without a village organization. For several years after the city was set off from the township the annual elections and town-meetings were held in the city at various places, wherever most convenient. The first meeting held in the township outside the city limits, according to the township record, was in the sprint of 1865, but the place is not specified. In 1866 the meet ing was held at the dwelling of Adam Foster, near tho west line of section 14. The November election in the same year was held at the house of " Blr. Johnson," prob ably William Johnson, on the same section. The first mention of a " town-house" is in connection with the annual town-meeting in April, 1870, since which the township seems to have possessed a building of its own. The building now used for town-meetings and other township purposes, and known as the " town-house," was erected in the summer of 1870 on land leased of Adam Foster, on the west line of section 14, at a cost of $300. The land was leased in 1870 for ten years, and the lease was renewed in 1880 for ten additional years. At a township-meeting held in the city of Lansing, Feb. 25, 1864, it was * This was undoubtedly to replace the one built by Messrs. Bush & Thomas, which had been destroyed or carried away. It was on Main Street, over Grand River. Resolved, That the township of Lansing will subscribe $3300 ofthe stock of the Lansing and Jackson Railroad Company. Blessrs. Wm. A. Dryer, O. D. Skinner, and Wm. John son were appointed a committee, and empowered to sub scribe the stock for the township. At the time of the draft, Jan. 5, 1864, John Nugent was appointed an agent to procure volunteers to fill the quota of the township, and $1900 were paid in bounties. The total tax of the township for that year was about $4800. In 1867 the tax amounted to $7800. Dunn" the war the number of voters in the township varied from seventy to eighty-five. It has since gradually increased, and the present number of voters is something more than 200. For several years previous to 1879 there had been con siderable effort made by the people living in the southwest part of Lansingvand the southeast part of Delta townships to have a new bridge erected over Grand River, on section 30 of Lansing township. There was a warm discussion between the various interests ofthe different sections ofthe township, but an arrangement was finally entered into with Delta township to divide the cost between the two, and a bridge was built in the summer of 1879. The contract was let to Mr. Smith Tooker, of North Lansing, on the 23d of June, and the bridge was completed and opened on the 31st of August following. It is a substantial frame structure, and cost $900. Among those chiefly instru mental in procuring it were Jacob F. Cooley and George W. Parks.f There are two considerable bridges over Sycamore Creek. The one near the cemetery was built by the city and town ship jointly in 1878, and cost $450, or $530 including the approaches. There is one traffic bridge over Cedar River outside the city limits, on section 13. MANUFACTURES. BRICK. The manufacture of brick was begun on the farm of Thomas Foster, on section 14, as early as 1860, by P. Con- nerty, who carried on the business only about one year, when John E. Wood succeeded him for another year, and then removed to North Lansing. Subsequently, in com pany with Benjamin Buck, he made brick near where John Jordan is now located. In 1871, Mr. Wood removed his business to the farm of William Foster, where he has since continued. The brick for the new Lansing House were made by Mr. Wood on Wm. Foster's place. After Wood left the land of Thomas Foster, the latter hired a man from the East, named Bessy, to superintend the work of making brick for a year, which were mostly used in the construction of a new dwelling for Blr. Foster. James Russell and George Smith carried on the business one year, about 1875, when Russell sold to Mr. Welch, and he and Smith have continued the business to the pres ent time. They are employing ten or twelve hands, and making from 800,000 to 1,000,000 brick per annum. Mr. t This is the only bridge over Grand River in the township outside the oity. Within the limits ofthe township and city, and including railway bridges, there are seventeen bridges over the three principal streams, seven within the city being of iron. LANSING TOWNSHIP. 201 Wood, on Mr. Foster's land, is making about 2,000,000 per annum, and employs twenty-five hands. The two firms burn altogether about 3,000,000 annually, and consume about 1200 cords of wood. The amount of capital in vested in the two yards is probably about $6000. Mr. Wood has in use two of the Swoard brick-machines, and Smith & Welch use one of a different manufacture. The clay at these yards is similar to that found on sec tion 22, except that it is claimed to be more even and pure in quality, and as good as has been found in the State. The upper stratum is about three feet in thickness, and burns red in the kiln, while the lower stratum, which is ten to twenty feet in thickness, burns nearly white, and the deeper it is taken out the whiter it is. About one-fourth of the brick produced are red, and the remaining three- fourths white. The market is in Lansing and the country around generally ; but the demand is small in Lansing the present year, and large quantities are being shipped to Battle Creek and other points. The brick for the exten sion of the Bement Agricultural Works were made partly in these yards and partly by Jordan. In the excavations made by taking out the clay on Wm. Foster's land water stands some four or five feet in depth, and fish are taken in considerable numbers, though it is not easy to discover how they get there unless they come through a small tile- drain. The clay in this neighborhood is practically inexhaustible, but the necessary sand is not so plentiful, though it can be procured near by. Water is found in abundance. Steam-power for grinding and moulding is used in both yards. DRAIN-TILE AND BRICK. The Lansing Tile- Works, which are situated on the southeast quarter of section 1 1 , on the old turnpike road from North Lansing to Howell and Detroit, were first put in operation by James Hall and Robert Barker in the spring of 1872. In 1873, Barker purchased Hall's interest, and has since conducted the enterprise in his own name. The land is leased of Albert Anthony. Both brick and tile were manufactured until 1878, since which time only tile have been made. The business is principally confined to the manufacture of drain-tile for farm purposes, and of this all descriptions are made. One pecu liarity of this clay is that glazed tile cannot be made from it, there. being something in the chemical condition which prevents. The clay is the same as that used in the brick yards of Messrs. Jordan, Wood, and Russell & Welch. Both red and white tile are made. A " Tiffany" combined tile- and brick-machine is in use, which is capable of turning out daily about 10,000 pieces of two-inch tile, 3000 pieces of larger size, or 12,000 brick. The bed of clay at this point is forty feet in thick ness, and below this, in a bed of gravel, is abundance of water. Mr. Barker has about $5000 invested, and gives em ployment to about ten hands, though he has employed, when making brick, as many as twenty. The product of his kilns is about 300,000 pieces per annum, equivalent to fifteen kilns of 20,000 each. A steam-engine of fifteen horse-power is employed. About 350 cords of wood are. 26 consumed annually. The tile are marketed mostly in Michigan. • CHEESE-FACTORY. A cheese-factory was built on the Harrison farm, on sec tion 24, and kept in operation for two or three years, about 1870-72 ; but the business not proving profitable was abandoned. CHARCOAL. In the spring of 1880, Messrs. Smith & Brainerd, of the city of Flint, Blich., leased a piece of land of James M. Turner, situated at the Chicago junction of the Grand Trunk and Chicago and Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railways, on the southwest quarter of section No. 24, in Lansing township, and erected eleven patent kilns for the manufacture of charcoal. They are of brick, in the form of ovens, banded with iron, and having a capacity of fifty cords each. The intention is to build another, and run the twelve until the timber in the neighborhood is exhausted. James M. Turner at present furnishes the wood, of which all varieties are used. The capacity of the twelve kilns will be 6000 cords annually, which at forty bushels to the cord will make an aggregate of 240,000 bushels of coal, which is shipped over the two lines of railway crossing at the kilns to Detroit, Chicago, and other points. These are the only manufacturing enterprises carried on in the township. SCHOOLS. Previous to 1845 the township appears to have been in cluded in one district, or at least there had been no sub division made. From information derived from the North family it appears that there was a log school-house erected on the land of Joseph E. North, Sr., on section 33, as early as 1842 or 1843, and this was a few years later superseded by a frame building erected within a half-mile of the first mentioned. Among the early teachers, as remembered by Blrs. Alexander McKibbin, formerly Mrs. Joseph E. North, Jr., were Hannah Jane Young, Adelia Weller, Mary Lob dell, Sarah and Caroline Rice, and Sabina and Caroline Lee. A frame school building was erected on section 5, near the De Witt road and not far from the Grand River road, as early as 1844. It was near the house of Justus Gilkey. Among the first teachers was Mary Ann Shear, daughter of John Shear, who lived on the west side of section 6, near the county-line. On the 3d day of May, 1845, School District No. 2 was formed by the board of school inspectors, composed of Elihu Elwood, Justus Gilkey, and Isaac C. Page. It in cluded the north half of the township, leaving the south half in District No. 1. On the 10th of February, 1846, No. 2 was reduced to sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and the north half of sections 17 and 18* On the 4th of May, 1846, a new district, called Fractional District No. 1, of De Witt and Lansing, was formed, including in Lansing township * Joseph E. North, Sr., is credited with the honor of having pre sented the first petition for the formation of fractional school districts. Living as he did on the township-line, in the midst of a settlement which covered portions of both Lansing and Delhi townships, tho thought very naturally suggested itself to have districts formed to suit the circumstances. 20:: HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. the west half of section 1, sections 2, 3, 10, and 11, and the north half of sections 14 and 15. In De Witt, Clinton Co., it included sections 34 and 35, and the south half of sections 26 and 27. At the same time District No. 2 was made Fractional District No. 2, of De Witt and Lan sing, and considerable additions were made to it iu De Witt. Fractional District No. 1 was to draw books from the De Witt library for 1847, and from the Lansing library for 1848, and to alternate thereafter. Fractional District No. 2 was to draw from the De Witt library every fourth year, commencing with 1847. On the 1st day of May, 1847, a new district was formed, and called District No. 2, of Lansing. It was made to in clude sections 8, 9, the south half of 10, sections 14, 15, 16, and the north half of 21 and 22. District No. 1 was always in the south part of the township. At a meeting of the inspectors, held May 1, 1847, it was ordered that District No. 1 should embrace sections 19, 20, the south half of 21, and sections 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33. On the 18th of May, in the same year, District No. 3 was formed, to include the south half of sections 15, 16, and 17, and sections 20, 21, and 22. On the 3d of March, 1848, District No. 4 was formed, embracing all that part of section No. 16 lying on the west side of Grand River. On the 28th of the same month District No. 5 was formed from the west part of No. 2, comprising all the parts of sections 8 and 9 lying west and south of Grand River. These were the earliest districts. In Blay, 1846, Mary Jane Welch was licensed to teach in District No. 1 , and on the 30th of December, in the same year, Blelinda Wells was granted a certificate to teach in the same district for one year. The city of Lansing forms a single school district, wliich is entirely independent of the township schools. The present number of whole districts in the township is five, and they are numbered 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8, and the fractional ones also number five, named and numbered as follows : Fractional District No. 1, Lansing and De Witt; Frac tional District No. 1, Lansing, De Witt, and Delta; Frac tional District No. 1, Lansing and Delta; Fractional District No. 1, Lansing, Meridian, Alaiedon, and Delhi; Fractional District No. 2, Lansing and Delta. According to the last school report the total number of children in the township (outside the city) between the ages of five and twenty years is 387. The amount of money distributed to the different districts from the State primary school fund, and from fines for the year 1879, was $197.40, of which amount $181.89 was from the primary fund. The total value of school property for 1879-80 was...$4950.00 Number of school-buildings, all frame 9 Total taxes for school purposes $1056.14 Total resources 1849.04 Wages paid to male teachers 581.55 Wages paid to female teachers 711.85 There are no villages, post-offices, churches, or railway stations in the township outside the city except the Chicago junction, at the crossing of the Grand Trunk and Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railways, where there has been a station since 1877. A new station-house was built the present, year (1880), and there are one dwelling and the charcoal works of Messrs. Smith & Brainerd. All trains stop at this station. Thanks for services rendered are tendered to G. W. Parks, town clerk ; Mrs. Alexander McKibben, J. F. Cooley, G. L. Dingman and wife, Benjamin B. Baker, Adam and William Foster, and others. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. WILLIAM ALLEN DRYER. William Allen Dryer was the son of Allen Dryer, who emigrated from Stockbridge Mass., and settled at Cazenovia, N. Y., at an early day, raised a family of thirteen chil dren, who grew to be men and women. He was a leading, WILLIAM ALLEN DRYER. man in that part of the country, and held some important office the greater part of the time he resided there. He died Sept. 10, 1842. William Allen Dryer was born at Cazenovia, N. Y., March 9, 1813. When sixteen years of age he was ap- prefcticed to learn the carriage-making business, which he followed until he was twenty-four years of age. Oct. 21, 1834, he was married to Betsy H. Newell, of Madison Co., N. Y. October, 1836, he moved with his wife and one child to White Oak, Ingham Co., and settled on eighty acres of land he had previously located. That fall he built a log house, and the following winter a small clearing was made, To procure the necossaries of life he was obliged to seek employment in the older-settled portions of the State ; and to show the extremities to which the early pioneers were driven, we State that Mr. Dryer walked twenty-five miles and worked for Henry Warner, of Dexter, seven and CITY OF MASON. 203 a half days in harvest for a hundred pounds of flour, which it took him two days to get home. Mr. Dryer struggled along for nine years, when he moved to Pinckney and en gaged in the carriage business for three years, and removed to Lansing in the fall of 1848. He built the first wagon in Lansing, and was agent for Smith, Turner & Seymour, who built the Howell and Lansing plank-road. After the com pletion of the road, Mr. Dryer engaged in mercantile busi ness, which he continued until 1856, when he purchased one hundred and twenty-five acres near the city of Lansing. This was heavily timbered." Mr. Dryer has had it put under a good state of cultivation and erected a fine brick residence. Mrs. Dryer died in March, 1861, leaving seven children (two having died) : Mary, wife of Joseph E. Warner ; Newell, a physician at Bath, Clinton Co. ; Elbridge, a farmer in Lansing ; Esther, wife of George W. Christopher; Adelaide died August, 1880 ; William F. lives in Lansing ; and Betsy at home. Mr. Dryer was formerly a Free-Soil Democrat, but upon the passage of the fugitive-slave law united with the Re publican party. He has held several offices of trust and honor ; assisted to organize the township of White Oak ; was its first town clerk, and held the office of supervisor for several years ; was elected county commissioner, and held the office until it was abolished ; has been supervisor of Lansing for several years ; has taken a deep interest in educational matters, and given his children ail good advan tages, several of them having been successful teachers. Mr. Dryer was again married, in August, 1861, to Mrs. Sarah Britton. He united with the Blethodist Church when a young man, and has since been an active and con sistent member, and for more than thirty years has held office in the church. His wives were also members of that church. And now, after years of toil and hardship, he is rewarded by the possession of a fiue property and the respect of all. CITY OF MASON.* The city of Mason, the seat of justice for the county of Ingham, occupies a position near the centre thereof, in the township of Vevay, out of which it takes four sections, — viz., 4, 5, 8, and 9. The small stream known as Sycamore Creek flows through the city from south to north, and in days gone by the limited power which it furnished was utilized, but for the better health of the citizens the dam was removed and the mill-pond drained. Bordering the creek on the east is a high gravel ridge, or moraine, which is mentioned elsewhere. From it is obtained a plentiful supply of gravel, for use upon the streets of the city. Many excellent improvements are noted within the limits of this city, and its business buildings rank with those in much larger places in point of architecture and size. Enter prise is nearly everywhere manifest, and the aim of the citizens appears to be to place their home in the front rank among the lesser cities of Michigan. Constant improve ments are being made, which require liberal outlays of the wealth which in forty years has here accumulated. EARLY SETTLEMENT. The first settler at Blason, or in what is now the town ship of Vevay, was Lewis Lacey, who came here in Feb ruary or March, 1836, to build a saw-mill for Noble & Co., of Monroe, and to chop twenty acres on section 8. Upon the completion of the saw-mill, Ephraim B. Danforth, a member of the firm above named, settled at the place and assumed charge of their interests. He located in 1837. The firm owned seven-eighths of the land in the old village plat of Mason. In 1838 they erected the first grist-mill in the county, the saw-mill having also been the first institu tion of the kind in the county. * Compiled by Pliny A. Durant. Mr. Danforth was elected one of the first associate judges for Ingham County in 1838, and was re-elected in 1842. He was twice elected to the State Senate, and in 1848 was appointed by the Governor and Senate a commis sioner to lay out and construct a State road from the village of Mason to Lansing. In 1850 he was a delegate to the convention which framed the present constitution of the State. While a member of the Senate he, together with Hon. Joseph H. Kilbourne, of the House, worked with un tiring zeal to secure the location of the State capital at Lan sing, and, as is well known, their labors were crowned with success. In 1850, Mr. Danforth sold his interest in the village of Mason and removed to Lansing, where he died, Aug. 17, 1853. He was engaged in the milling business in the latter city, and during his residence in the county was one of its most useful and prominent citizens. Chauncey A. Osborn, a native of Attica, N. Y., settled at Mason, Sept. 18, 1838. He purchased lots the same fall and built a house, the location of the latter being on lot 6, block 14, and the sale being made by E. B. Dan forth. Mr. Osborn's wife, who was a native of Madison Co., N. Y., died at Mason in 1872. One son, Andrew, died in Sierra Valley, Cal. Marcus Whitney, from Naples, Ontario Co., N. Y., set tled in the township of Rives, Jackson Co., Mich., July 14, 1835. The nearest mill was then at Ann Arbor, and he speaks of having purchased flour in Detroit, during the first years of his residence in the State, paying for the same as high as twenty-five dollars per barrel. Mr. Whitney removed to Ingham County in March, 1870, and is now residing at Mason. Daniel L. Case was born at Three Rivers, in the province of Upper Canada (now Ontario), in 1811, his parents 204 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. being New England people, who had emigrated to Canada a few years previous to the war of 1812, and who returned to the United States upon the breaking out of the war. In October, 1829, Blr. Case came to the Territory of Mich igan, and in July, 1843, settled at Mason. Oliver Griffin, who died in August, 1874, in the nine tieth year of his age, was a native of Tewksbury, Mass. He learned the trade of a shoemaker in the city of Boston, and afterwards started in business in Washington Co., N. Y. In 1836 he removed to Michigan and settled at Napoleon, Jackson Co., and in 1840 came to Mason.* The following obituary notice of a former prominent citizen of Blason, and an early settler in the county, is preserved in the records of the Pioneer Society : " Amos E. Steele was born at Queensbury, Warren Co., N. Y., June 28, 1806. He was married to Roxana Cranson at Lockport, N. Y., May 1, 1834. They emigrated to Michigan and settled in the town ship of Onondaga, Ingham Co., in the month of August, 1836, and were among the pioneers of the then new county of Ingham. At a special election, held in 1838, Mr. Steele was elected associate judge of the Circuit Court for Ingham County. At the general election in December, 1839, he was elected as representative in the State Legis lature from the representative district composed of the counties of Ingham and Livingston. In 1840 he was appointed United States marshal to take the census that year in Ingham County. At a special election for that purpose, held on the 10th of February, 1846, he was elected to the office of judge of Probate, to fill a vacancy in that office caused by the death of Hon. Henry Fiske. In April, 1844, he removed to Mason, where he continued to reside until his death. During his life of more than forty years in Ingham County he was frequently called upon to fill various offices of responsibility and trust in his township and village, and held the office of justice ofthe peace twenty-seven years. He was widely known and universally respected. His official duties were discharged with fidelity. He was a kind and good neighbor, a devoted husband and father, and as a companion and friend always courteous and genial. During the last eight years of his life he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and maintained a consistent Christian life. He gave liberally for the sup port ofthe gospel and the various claims of charity and benevolence. " His family consisted of seven children, four sons and three daugh ters. His youngest son and the three daughters were spared to bless and assist him in his declining years. His first born died in his youth, at his home in Mason. His next two sons sacrificed their lives for the preservation of the Union in the late war of tho Rebellion. Col. A. E. Steele fell at the battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1863, and Capt. Henry V. Steele in one of the battles of the Wilderness, May 24, 1864. These were the saddest events of his life; but, beinc a man of strong force of character, he was enabled to bear the severe loss with fortitude and becoming resignation. "He died at his residence on the morning of the 15th of March 1878. The funeral service was performed by Rev. William Reilly, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, assisted by Rev. G. W. Barlow of the Presbyterian Church, amid a large circle of sympathizing and mourning friends." William H. Clark, a native of Elba, Genesee Co., N. Y., came to Michigan in November, 1835, with his father, Abijah L. Clark, the family settling at Rollin, Lenawee Co., and removing to Bunker Hill township, Ingham Co., in Blarch, 1843. Abijah L. Clark is now deceased. His son William commenced learning the printer's trade at Mason, in 1845, in the office of the Ingham Herald. He worked several winters at Lansing, and in 1855 went to Illinois, in which State he published a paper until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he enlisted. He served * R. F. Griffin, his son, says winter of 1841-42. three years in the army and was twice wounded. In De cember, 1864, he returned to Mason. One ofthe most prominent citizens of Mason, during its entire history, has been Dr. Minos McRobert, now residing in the place. He came here — a young man — in June, 1837 and continued the practice of medicine, which he had begun in the East. He was formerly a resident of Clinton Co. N. Y. Upon his arrival in Mason he built an office, which was soon recognized as headquarters for nearly all business pertaining to the village or the county. It was used as the county register's office, and from the multiplicity of other uses was almost a court-house. Dr. BIcRbbert has else where been mentioned as the second physician who settled in Ingham County. He early engaged in other business, and since he made Mason his home has devoted his energy and capital towards the furtherance of its interests. George W. Shafer, from Colchester, Delaware Co., N. Y., came when unmarried to Michigan, in June, 1839, and set tled at Mason. He brought a stock of goods with him, and for two years was engaged in mercantile business. He placed his goods in a small building which had previously been used as a grocery by Zaccheus Barnes, now of Mason. Blr. Shafer's store was the first of importance in the place. When Mr. Shafer came the frame of a hotel was up, on the southeast corner of Ash and B Streets, opposite the court-house square. He purchased it the same year (] 839), finished it during the fall and winter, and became its land lord as soon as it was completed. It was known as the " Blason Exchange," and was the first regular hotel in the place. It was a two-story building, and was kept by Mr. Shafer about ten years ; he built an addition to it in 1847. The second proprietor of the house was Isaac Horton. H. J. Donnelly was one of its later proprietors. The building was finally moved to the eastern part of the city, where some one set fire to it and burned it down. The first man who entertained travelers in the place was James Blain, whose log house was an approach to a hos telry. It stood in the middle of the road, about at the ^southwest corner of what is now R. F. Griffin's place, and was a resort for land-lookers and immigrants generally on their way to other localities. It was torn down in the fall of 1842. James Blain and his son David afterwards built and kept as a tavern the house subsequently owned by Amos E. Steele, and now occupied as a dwelling by the widow of the latter. James Blain exchanged his property in Mason for the farm of Blr. Steele, in the township of Onondaga, to which he removed; he and his wife are both now deceased. George W. Shafer was married in 1842 to a sister of Wright Horton, the latter having also married a sister of Blr. Shafer. The Hortons had come to the place in the fall of 1838, and settled on a farm in what is now the northern portion of the city. Mrs. Shafer thinks that there were then three frame buildings in Blason, — viz., Dr. McRobert's office, which was afterwards used as the county treasurer's office, and the dwellings of E. B. Danforth and Nathaniel Blain, — the latter then occupied by Hiram Con verse. Mr. Blain, who was a brother of James Blain, re moved subsequently to Jefferson village, in the township of Alaiedon. Wright Horton, whose wife died here, lived fx5T MRS. MINOS McKOBERT. MINOS MoROBERT, M.D. MINOS McROBERT, M.D. Dr. McRobert may with justice be regarded not only as a pioneer in the settlement of the flourishing city of Mason, but as the advance-guard in that profession of which he has for a long series of years been the able representative in the county. His birth occurred in Springfield, Vt., Feb. 4, 1804, and four years later the family removed to Clinton Co., N. Y., where he resided until his twenty-fifth year. Having been attracted by the prospective advantages offered to settlers in the West, he, in 1 837, departed for Michigan and located at Mason. He was, in 1841, married to Miss Nancy, daughter of William Abbott, of the township of Ingham, whose birth occurred in Wheeloek, Caledonia Co., Vt., in 1813, and whose family emigrated to Michigan in 1839. Dr. McRobert was the second physician in the county, and extensively engaged in practice at a period when long and tedious rides and arduous labor were required in his vocation. Since 1850 he has relinquished his professional duties for active business employments. He is prominently identified with the growth of Mason, and with its present commercial interests. CITY OF MASON. 205 on his farm about thirty years, and is now residing in Kansas. Several of his children also died here. Rosalvo F. Griffin, of Mason, came to the village Oct. 2, 1842, with his father, Oliver Griffin, from Washing ton Co., N. Y. The latter had been here the previous winter. His death occurred in September, 1836. When the family arrived the vicinity of Mason was still covered with the heavy timber which abounded so plentifully in all this region, and the village then, although six years old, had all the characteristics of a pioneer settlement. Perry Henderson, a native of the town of Tully, Onon daga Co., N. Y., came to Michigan with his wife and three children in 1844, and stopped during one summer in Oak land County. In the fall he removed to Ingham County, and settled in the township of Leroy. In 1854, having been elected sheriff of the county, he removed to Blason, where he has since resided, and where he is at present en gaged in the hardware trade. Peter Linderman and William H. Horton, who are men tioned at leugth in the history of Vevay township as having settled respectively in 1836 and 1837, were both within what are now the city limits, having resided on farms north of the then village. John Rayner, from Cayuga Co., N. Y. (a native of Or ange County), visited Michigan about 1837-38, and pur chased a large amount of land in Ingham County. In the spring of 1840, accompanied by his wife, two sons, and a daughter, he settled at Mason, where several of his children are now living. Mr. Rayner engaged at once in farming and speculated in land to a considerable extent. At his death, which occurred in the month of May, 1879, he left a large amount of property. Six of his children are living in the State. The following is a list of the resident taxpayers in the village of Mason in 1844, as shown by the assessment roll for that year : George W. Shafer, William Tweedy, Oliver Griffin, John Rayner, Hiram Converse, Issachar Hammond, Hiram H. Smith, James H. Wells, Raney & Wells, John Coatsworth, John S. Griffin, E. B. Danforth, Oliver S. Osborn, John W. Phelps, Jason B. Packard, Chauncey A. Osborn, James Turner, James Turner & Co., Daniel L. Case, Amos E. Steele, Hiram H. Smith. PLATS AND ADDITIONS. The original plat of Mason, by Charles Noble, was ac knowledged Feb. 6, 1838, and recorded June 23, 1838. The only clew given by the plat to its location is the state ment thereon that " Mason is situated on sections Nos. 8 and 9 of town 2 north, of range No. 1 west." The origi nal town was laid out in thirty-one blocks, the western boundary being near the east side of Sycamore Creek. The " Consolidated Plat of the Village of Mason," in cluding the old plat, Pease & Smith's, McRobert & Sack- rider's, Holt & Steele's, Barnes', Condon's, and Price's additions, was conveyed by Louis D. Preston, and acknowl edged Dec. 26, 1866. Smith & Pease's addition had been laid out April 20, 1865 ; Congdon's addition, by R. D.and Richard Congdon, June 4, 1866 ; Steele & Holt's addition, Sept. 21, 1866. Additions have since been made as follows : Griffin's ad dition, by R. F. Griffin and others, acknowledged Dec. 7, 1869 ; Pratt's addition, by Horatio Pratt and others, Aug. 12, 1871 ; Bush's addition, by Alex. Bush and others, Nov. 10, 1873 ; Darling & Barnett's addition, by Nathan Darling and William S. Barnett, May 2, 1873. MASON POST-OFFICE. A post-office was established at Mason in the summer of 1838, with E. B. Danforth as postmaster. An office had previously (probably in the same year) been established at Leslie, and Mr. Danforth employed William H. Horton to carry the mail from the latter place to Mason, making the trip once a week. Mr. Horton performed that labor for six months, carrying it at first in a handkerchief, and after wards in an old coffee-sack, following the trail between the two places. He received one dollar and twenty-four cents for each trip, making the return journey the same day. In six months the mail had increased in amount to half a bushel, and it was then necessary to use a conveyance. The postmasters have been, since Blr. Danforth, William Hammond, John W. Phelps, Peter Linderman, D. B. Her rington, Frank Sigfried, and F. T. Albright, the latter having held the office since 1867. It is possible that Hi ram Converse was also an early postmaster here, and that the foregoing list may not mention all in their order; but it is from the best recollection of those who should know. VILLAGE AND CITY INCORPOEATION, Etc. The village of Mason was incorporated by act of the Legislature, March 9, 1865, including the southwest quar ter of the southwest quarter of section 4 ; the south half of the southeast quarter of section 5 ; the east half of the southeast quarter of section 8 ; the northeast quarter of section 8 ; the northwest quarter of section 9, and the West half of the southwest quarter of section 9. The charter was amended Feb. 27, 1867, and Blarch 25, 1871. The first village election was held Blarch 27, 1865, — John Dunsback and Perry Henderson, Inspectors, and Henry Linderman, Clerk. Thirty-six votes were cast, and the following officers were elected : President, Minos McRobert ; Trustees (two years), John Dunsback, Orlando BI. Barnes ; Trustees (one year), Peter Lowe, Philetus R. Peck ; Clerk, Rosevelt H. Davis, M.D. ; Assessor, Perry Henderson ; Treasurer, Jesse Beach ; Marshal, Joseph L. Huntington. The officers of the village, from 1866 to 1875, inclusive, were as follows : 1866. — President, Peter Lowe ; Trustees (two years), P. R. Peek, H. L. Henderson; Clerk, G. M. Huntington; Assessor, William H. Van Vranken ; Treasurer, Jesse Beaoh ; Marshal, Chaun cey A. Osborn. 1867. — President, George M. Huntington ;¦ Clerk, Charles S. Lowe; Trustees (two years), Horatio Pratt, George D. Pease; Assessor, John Rogers; Treasurer, John H. Sayers; Mar shal, Levi C. Parker. 1868. — President, Amos E. Steele; Clerk, Henry L. Henderson; Trustees (two years), R. F. Griffin, I. B. Woodhouse; Asses sor, Peter Lowe; Treasurer, Henry L. Henderson ; Marshal, William H. Clark. 1869. — President, Joseph L. Huntington; Clerk, Kendall Kittredge; Trustees (two years), H. L. Henderson, William F. Near; Assessor, John L. Isherwood; Treasurer, Archibald 0. Mills- paugh ; Marshal, George G. Whipple. 206 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 1870.— President, John A. Barnes; Clerk, George W. Bristol; Trus tees (two years), John B. Spencer,* Collins D. Huntington ; Assessor, Lueian Reed ; Treasurer, Andrew D. Kingsbury ; Marshal, George W. Sackrider. 1871. — President, Minos McRobert; Clerk, William H. Francis; Trustees (two years), P. R. Peck, A. Bush, G. D. Pease; (one year), Horatio Pratt; Assessor, George A. Sackrider; Treasurer, Benjamin Leek; Marshal, Josiah J. Tyler. 1872. — President, Mason D. Chatterton; Clerk, William H. Card; Trustees (two years), E. A. Barnes, H. L. Henderson, C. II. Sackrider; Assessor, John A. Barnes; Treasurer, Samuel W. Hammond ; Marshal, Washington S. Sherman. 1873. — President, Samuel J. P. Smead; Clerk, John C. Squiers; Trus tees (two years), John H. Sayers, Lewis C. Webb, Henry H. Parker; Assessor Daniel J. Darrow; Treasurer, S. W. Ham mond; Marshal, Daniel L. Cady. 1874.— President, Rosalvo F. Griffin; Clerk, John C. Squiers; Trus tees (two years), William Spears, Loren W. Lincoln, Ira I. Barber; Assessor, David W. Halstead; Treasurer, Edwin Terwilliger; Marshal, Ellzey Flora. 1875.— President, William Woodhouse; Clerk, N. R. Van V ranken ; Trustees (two years), Daniel Campbell, William W. Merritt, William M. Van Vranken; Trustee (one year), Andrew J. Bartlett; Treasurer, Samuel P. Stroud; Marshal, Andrew Farren; Street Commissioner, Philip Nice; Assessor, Wm. W. Root; Constable, Chauncey A. Osborn. In 1875 the city of Blason was incorporated with two wards, including sections 4, 5, 8, and 9, in the township of Vevay. The first city election was held April 5, 1875, when the following officers were chosen : 1875.— Mayor, Rosalvo F. Griffin ; Marshal, Charles G. Huntington; Clerk, N. R. Van Vranken; Treasurer and Collector, Wm. W. Merritt; Street Commissioner, Philip Nice; School In spectors, D. J. Darrow, H. H. Terwilliger, 0. F. Burnham; Justices of the Peace, Peter Lowe, S. W. Hammond, Harry 0. Call, W. A. Teel; Aldermen at Large, Charles E. Eaton, Nelson A. Dunning. First Ward Officers : Supervisor, John II. Sayers ; Aldermen, Loren W. Lincoln (two years), Henry M. Williams (one year) ; Constable, Francis M. Lyon. Second Ward Officers: Supervisor, Amos E. Steele; Alder men, Daniel Campbell (two years); Jesse Beech (one year); Constable, Alanson K. Potter. 1876.— Mayor, Daniel J. Darrow; Marshal, William Gutehess; Clerk, N. R. Van Vranken; Treasurer and Collector, William W. Merritt; Street Commissioner, Dighton Wait; Justice ofthe Peace, Whitfield A. Teel ; School Inspector, William W. Campbell ; Alderman at Large, Thaddeus Densmore. First Ward : Supervisor, John H. Sayers ; Alderman (two years), Martin W. Tanner; Constable, S. D. Neoley. Second Ward: Supervisor, Henry L. Henderson; Alderman (two years), Jesse Beech ; Constable, Alanson K. Potter. 1877.— Mayor, William Woodhouse; Marshal, Harry 0. Call ; Clerk, Selah H. Worden; Treasurer and Collector, Langdon B. Rice; Street Commissioner, Philip Nice; Justice of the Peace, Milton Ryan ; School Inspector, Theron Van Os- trand ; Alderman at Large, Benjamin F. Rix. First Ward : Supervisor, John H. Sayers; Alderman (two years), Spen cer H. Beeeher; Constable, F. M. Lyon. Second Ward, Supervisor, Seth A. Paddock ; Alderman (two years), Aaron V. Peck; Constable, Andrew Farren. 1878.— Mayor, Elias G, Hunt; Marshal, John T. Mosher; Clerk, Wil liam H. Van Vranken ; Treasurer and Collector, Lansing E. Lincoln ; Street Commissioner, Philander Christian; Justice of the Peace, John W. Day ; School Inspector, Verner J. Tefft; Alderman at Large, Asa I. Barber. First Ward: Supervisor, Nelson A. Dunning; Alderman (two years), George W. Shafer; Constable, Solon D. Neeley. Second * Spencer removed from the village in 1871, and Lucian Reed was appointed to fill vacancy, but did not qualify, and H. L. Henderson was appointed. Ward : Supervisor, S. A. Paddock ; Alderman (two years) A. J. Bartlett; Constable, L. J. Smith. 1879. — Mayor, John H. Sayers; Marshal, Harry 0. Call; Clerk, Wil liam W. Van Vranken; Treasurer and Collector, Philetus R. Peek; Street Commissioner, Philip Nice; Justice ofthe Peace, Samuel W. Hammond; School Inspector, Alexander McLain ; Alderman at Large, Edwin C. Russell. First Ward: Supervisor, N. A. Dunning; Alderman (two years), Micajah Vaughn ; Constable, Marcus D. True. Second Ward : Supervisor, Goorge G. Mead ; Alderman (two years), Aaron V. Peck; Alderman, to fill vacancy, H. J. Wilson: Constable, John Flora. 1880. — Mayor, John H. Sayers ; Marshal, Harry 0. Call ; Clerk, Jo seph P. Presley; Treasurer and Collector, Augustus A. How ard; Street Commissioner, John A. Barnes; Justice of the Peace, John W. Royston ; Alderman at Large, Andrew W. Mehan. First Ward: Supervisor, N. A. Dunning; Alder man (two years), Harper Reed ; Constable, Seneca R. Curry. Second Ward: Supervisor, Lewis C. Webb; Alderman (two years), Smith Williams; Constable, John Flora. Appointed Officers: City Attorney, V. J. Tefft; City Surveyor, A. P. Drake; City Engineer Fire Department, W. W. Root; City Fire Wardens, William Rayner, First Ward ; John A. Barnes Second Ward ; Health Officer, W. W. Root ; Cemetery Trustee, John C. Squiers; Poundmaster, J. A. Monroe; Assessors J. C. Squiers, First Ward; E. Terwilliger, Second Ward; School Inspector, James L. Fuller. PIKE DEPARTMENT. An ordinance providing for organizing a fire department was passed by the village council, July 29, 1867, and a hook-and-ladder company was organized, and wagons and buckets procured. The ordinance was repealed Blarch 21, 1870, after which the company was disbanded, and the implements and appurtenances were ordered into the care of the marshal, to be used in case of fire. The city is now without a regular department. MINERAL WELL. Having secured the consent of the county, the village caused an artesian well to be sunk in the court-house yard, near the west entrance, in 1870-71. This well, which is 676 feet deep, was bored by James A. Stevens, and cost $1200. From it flows a constant stream, which is con ducted (^the waste) into Sycamore Creek through a tile- drain laid in the summer of 1880. The waters from this well are strongly impregnated with iron and other mineral substances, and are beneficial in numerous disorders of the human system. HOTELS. The first hotels in the place have been mentioned else where. The present frame " American Hotel," owned and conducted by F. P. Moody since 1869, was originally built for a private dwelling, and about 1854-55 was converted into a hotel by John S. Griffin, who, if living, is now in California. Numerous others were proprietors of the house afterwards, and before Mr. Moody took charge. The latter, formerly from Batavia, Genesee Co., N. Y., lived in Leslie about nine years before removing to Mason. The " Clark House," also a frame building, was erected by William H. Clark in 1876. He had previously been engaged for some years in the livery business, and built his present barn in 1868. Mr. Clark, who was formerly from Batavia, Genesee Co., N. Y., came to Bunker Hill town ship, Ingham Co., with his parents in 1843, having pre- ••-¦¦¦•. ;,.¦ ¦r XX: CITY OF MASON. 207 viously lived a short time in Lenawee County. His father, Abijah L. Clark, is now deceased ; his mother and others ofthe family yet reside in Bunker Hill. The " Donnelly House," a large brick building, three stories in height, was commenced in 1869 by H. J. Don nelly, and finished Feb. 22, 1870. Mr. Donnelly has since continued as its proprietor. He came to Mason in 1861, and for three years kept the " American House." He was afterwards constable and deputy sheriff, and for some time landlord of the old "Mason House," originally known as the " Mason Exchange." The latter house was the one in which he was last domiciled before building the one he now owns. The " Donnelly" is the principal, as it is the largest, hotel in the city, and enjoys a good patronage. NEWSPAPERS. The following items are from a printed article which ap pears in the records of the Ingham County Pioneer Society : " 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 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 B. Packard, Esq., then late of Jackson, was elected county treasurer. There was a delinquent tax-list to be published in January following, which Mr. Packard ab solutely refused to publish in the Telegraph, but made arrange ments with G. W. Raney and R. S. Cheney, of Jackson, to establish a Democratic paper in Mason, and publish the tax-list ; consequently Mr. Childs moved his establishment to De Witt, Clinton Co. " In due time the Jackson firm sent materia] to Mason and com menced 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 lad .committed an act which rendered him odious to the community, and he returned to Jackson. Then appeared one James H. Wells to do the work on said paper. About the same time the name of Mr. Cheney was withdrawn as one of the proprietors, and probably the name of Mr. Wells ap peared as editor and publisher. The last number of tbe sheet ap peared just before the election in 1844* " At the session of the Legislature in 1844 the control of publishing the taxylists was given to county treasurers, each in his own county. " At the election in 1844, that able man and staunch Whig, the late George Matthews, Esq., universally esteemed for his noble traits of character and many good deeds, was elected treasurer of this county. The election of Mr. Matthews, it was believed, offered a good oppor tunity for the establishment of a Whig paper in the county. J. H. Child and H. P. Stillman purchased of Mr. Raney the printing material in Mason, and in December, 1844, commenced the publi cation of the Ingham 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^ & Cheney, of the Jackson Patriot, immediately packed printing materials for publishing a paper, and started the same for Eaton County, under the charge of , now of Lansing. They found the field already occupied by a party from Marshall. Then 'twas right-about-face. They made up from the columns ofthe Patriot forms for a newspaper, christened it The Ingham Democrat, and took said forms to the village of Leslie and the office of Hon. Henry Fiske, then judge of Probate of this county, and formerly president of the wildcat bank of Kensington, and there with a brush printed off a few copies of the Democrat. Judge Fiske made * Wilbur F. Storey, now of the Chicago Times. affidavit that the paper was printed in Ingham County, and with that affidavit and a copy of said paper, they posted off to Detroit and placed them in the hands of the auditor-general, and that officer, on the 1st day of April, designated the Ingham Democrat to do the tax advertising of this county for that year. " Almost the first intimation the people of Mason had that another paper was about to be published in the county was u, rumor that a jaded span of horses with a wagon freighted with printing materials was coming towards town, 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 material 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 & Cheney to publish the Democrat in their name until the conclusion ofthe advertising, and to purchase the establishment. About one-third of the purchase price was paid down. Whatever amount was realized from publishing the list was to he placed to the credit of Mr. Cheney. After the list was placed in form, ready for publication, Storey & Cheney replevined and re moved 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 created a good deal of ill feeling and excite ment. 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 about town. The proprietors ofthe Democrat sent on other materia] and concluded the advertising. Soon after Mr. Stillman withdrew from the Herald, and, with the assistance of Judge Danforth and Dr. McRobert, purchased the Democrat office and continued the publica tion ofthe 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 the withdrawal of Mr. Stillman.'' That the Ingham Democrat was emphatically a county paper is shown by its advertisements, which came from all parts of the county. A copy of the paper, dated Dec. 28, 1846, being number 31 of volume 2, has been consulted, and among the advertisements it was found to contain were the following : " Amos E. Steele, Notary Public for Ingham County. Office at the Western Hotel, Mason, Mich., where he will at all times be ready to attend to conveyancing, taking acknowledgments of deeds, and all other business in his line.'' " N. Dow Tunnicliff, Attorney and Counselor at Law ; office in the Register's office, north side of the Public Square, Mason, Mich." "Edward Crafts, Indian Botanio Physician and Surgeon ; office at his residence, one mile south of the village of Mason. All calls in his profession promptly attended to.'' Others were those of Silas Beebe, merchant, at Stock- bridge ; Joseph Woodhouse and V. H. Powell, notaries public, at Leslie ; Amaziah Winchell, notary public, town of Ingham ; Stockbridge House, by 0. Williams, at Stock- bridge ; Blason Branch, master in chancery and justice of the peace, at Stockbridge ; John C. Obear, tailor, at Mason ; Minos McBobert and John W. Phelps, physicians and surgeons, at Mason ; H. D. Post & Co., dealers in shingles, at Blason, etc. Several estrays were advertised, and Abijah L. Clark, of Bunker Hill, offered for sale a pair of horses and a harness. A. E. Steele, at the Western Hotel, wanted 100 pounds of live geese feathers. Alfred H. Keyes, of Wheatfield, gave notice that he had given his son, Harrison M. Keyes, his time, and Myron Abbott, of Ingham, warned all persons against harboring or trusting his wife, Blary, on his account, she having left his " bed and board without any just cause or provocation." W. 208 HISTOKY OF INGHAM COUNTY, B1ICHIGAN. Horton, of Mason, advertised a stock of groceries for sale cheap. J. P. Cowles had a farm to let at the village of Jefferson, in the township of Alaiedon. Two shooting- matches were advertised for New Year's day (Jan. 1, 1847), one by C. W. Shafer and 0. Converse, and the other by N. Dow Tunnicliff. The coldest day from December 20th to 28th, as shown by a " weather-table," was Blonday, the 21st, when at six o'clock in the morning the mercury stood 8° above zero. The warmest was the Sunday following, when it rose to 50° above at the same hour, 57° at noon, and fell to 44° at six in the evening. Notice was given that the Ingham County Blusical As sociation would meet at the court-house in Mason on the second Tuesday in January, and the annual meeting of the Lyceum was to be held on the first Saturday in January, whence it will be seen that a taste for musical and literary culture was thus early developed. The marriage of Jerome E. Branch and Miss Livena Wood, of Stockbridge, on the 23d instant, was noticed. A portion of the President's annual message was given, which treated largely of the Mexican war. By the arrival of the " Cambria" at Boston, news " fifteen days later from Eu rope" was received. The usual amount of advertising for patent medicines appeared, and the virtues of " Beekman's Pulmonic Syrup and Vegetable Essential Pills," and " Wis- tar's Balsam of Wild Cherry," were lauded in column puffs, all of which the publishers were doubtless glad to print. The terms of the paper were : " One dollar and fifty cents per annum, in advance ; twenty-five cents will be added to this amount if not paid within six months, and fifty cents if not paid during the year. All kinds of pro duce will be received in payment at the highest price, and town and county orders taken at par." The advertising rates compared favorably with those of the present. In size the paper was twenty by twenty-eight inches, being a five-column folio. This paper finally passed out of existence, and it was a considerable number of years before another Democratic paper was started in Blason. At length, however, on the 2d of June, 1876, the present Ingham County Democrat was established by J. V. Johnson, now of the Charlotte Leader. It was published by him until Oct. 1, 1877, when it was purchased by D. P. Whitmore, the present proprietor. The paper was started as a six-column quarto, but was reduced to a five-column quarto, which is its pres ent size. Its circulation, Sept. 1, 1880, was 1224. The Ingham County News was established in 1858 by D. B. Herrington, and in size was about a seven-column folio, afterwards increased to an eight-column folio, and now a six-column quarto. Mr. Herrington was its proprietor until about 1866, and was succeeded by K. Kittredge, now of the Eaton Rapids Journal. In 1875, Mr. Kittredge sold to W. F. Cornell, who conducted it about one year, and sold out to Otis, Fuller & Co. Blr. Fuller became sole proprietor in 1877, and built up the paper to its present excellent condition. In the summer of 1880 it was sold to V. J. Tefft, the present proprietor. It is Bepublican in politics, and has a circulation of about 1700. K. Kittredge, former publisher of the News, at one time published a literary magazine. D. B. Herrington issued from his office at different times the Western Odd- Fellow and the Baptist Tidings. The place has at present but the two papers, the News and the Democrat, both of which are ably conducted and very creditable sheets. BANKS. Coatsworth, Smith & Co. conducted an exchange bus iness in Mason for a year or more previous to 1866, the firm being composed of Mr. Coatsworth, now of Holland, Ottawa Co.; H. H.Smith, of Jackson; and Dr. Minos McRobert, of Blason. H. L. Henderson came to the village in 1857, from Syracuse, N. Y., and in 1866 founded the private bank of H. L. Henderson & Co., and erected the present building occupied by the First National Bank, which is an outgrowth of the private institution. The First National Bank* was organized Sept. 5, 1870, when stock amounting to $80,000 was subscribed, the stockholders numbering twenty-nine. Among the heaviest were Henry L. Henderson, Minos McRobert, Charles H. Sackrider, Charles E. Eaton, O. BI. Barnes, H. T. Allen, A. Walker, and H. B. Hawley. Articles of association were adopted Oct. 29, 1870. The first board of directors * The following, regarding the founders of this bank, is from an article on the business interests of Mason, published in the Ingham County News in 1875 : MINOS McKOBERT, the oldest resident of this city, and the man who has invested the most capital in the place, was born in Vermont, but at an early age his parents removed to Clinton Co., N. Y. From that place he came to Michigan in 1837, when scarcely a settlement had been made. For the first four years he practiced medicine here, but at the end of that time removed to a farm which he owned, situated near Grand River, eight miles west of Mason. He returned to Mason, however, in 1843, and since that time has continued to be a resident in this city. In 1847, in company with John Coatsworth, he bought the stock of dry- goods owned by Smith & Case, and engaged in the mercantile pursuit for about six years. Again from 1867 to 1870 he was a member of the firm of Sackrider & McRobert in the sale of dry-goods. He was an active physician until 1847, when he sold his instruments and re tired from the practice of his profession. He has assisted with capi tal in the erection of many buildings in the city, among which may be mentioned the Coatsworth store, the Phoenix mills, Stanton's plan ing-mill, the stave-mill, and the handsome brick building occupied by the First National Bank. He was the first president of the village, and was afterwards elected to the same office. Besides this he has held many other positions of dignity and importance. Dr. McRobert has been very successful as a business man, amassing a large fortune and surrounding his home with many luxuries. He has an extensive acquaintance throughout the State, and his geniality, coupled with his dignity, has won the warm friendship of all who know him. H. L. HENDERSON, cashier of tho First National Bank, was born in Sully, Onondaga Co., N. Y., and first came to this State in the fall of 1857. Previously he had read law in the office of Judge Burwell, in Buffalo, and upon his arrival in Mason at once opened a law office in a room over Coats- worth's store. Six months afterwards he transferred his place of business to the court-house, where he established himself in the office of Judge Pinckney. He remained in this place until Nov. 1, 1866, when he engaged in the banking-house of H. L. Henderson & Co. Since its establishment, in 1871, Mr. Henderson has been cashier of the First National Bank, and in that capacity has given the best of satisfaction to all. Mr. Henderson is a gentleman possessing a great deal of culture and general information. His career in Mason has been one of wliich he has no reason to feel ashamed, and which has won for him the approbation and respect of all with whom he has como into contact. CITY OF B1ASON. 209 consisted of Blinos McRobert, Orlando BI. Barnes, John B. Dakin, Arnold Walker, John Dunsback, Charles H. Darrow, Charles H. Sackrider. The first officers elected were: Minos McRobert, President; Orlando M. Barnes, Vice-President; Henry L. Henderson, Cashier. In 1872 the capital stock was increased to $100,000. The present officers are : President, Blinos BIcRobert ; Vice-President, O. BI. Barnes ; Cashier, H. L. Henderson ; Directors, M. BIcRobert, O. BI. Barnes, H. P. Henderson, C. H. Sack rider, C. H. Darrow, H. L. Henderson, John BI. Dresser. A private bank was established in 1869 by Lowe, Near & Co., and in August, 1871, the firm became Lowe, Smead & Co. A tasty bank building has been erected, and a gen eral banking business is transacted. Peter Lowe, the senior member of this firm, is one of the oldest residents of the county, as will be seen by reference to the history of the township of Stockbridge, in which he first settled. He has been a resident of Mason since 1843, and always a prominent citizen. MANUFACTURES. Phoenix Mill.— Perry Henderson, who came to Blason in 1854, afterwards purchased the old grist-mill, which stood on the opposite side of the road from the present structure, and was originally operated by water-power. The dam caused so much adjacent territory to be flooded, and so much sickness was consequent, that it was finally removed and a steam-engine put in the mill. About a year after Blr. Henderson purchased the mill, it was destroyed by fire, together with 1500 bushels of wheat. This mill had been built by Noble, Skinner & Page, the first grist-mill in the place having been a primitive affair, consisting of oue run of stone set up in one corner of the old Danforth saw-mill in 1840. After the old mill was destroyed, Mr. Hender son, in 1858, built the present " Phoenix Mill." It is now the property of George G. Mead, and contains three runs of stone. Two only were at first put in. Steam-power is used. The mill machinery, which was purchased in Buffalo, was brought to Detroit by boat, and from there to Mason by teams. The Mason City Mills were moved here in the fall of 1869, from De Witt, Clinton Co., by Near & Wade. The building, which is frame, contains two runs of stone, the machinery being operated by steam-power. The capital invested is about $8000. Three hands are employed by the present proprietor, O. Crane. This mill has passed through many different hands. Feed and flour are manu factured, the mill having a capacity of about 300 bushels daily. A Stone-Boat Factory, for making Gregg's patent stone boats, was built in 1879, by William Gregg & Co. About $2500 capital is invested in the business, and six men are given employment, the factory still belonging to the same firm. S. A. Paddock & Co., architects and builders, manufac turers of sash, doors, blinds, and building material, are the proprietors of a business which was established in 1872, by Jessup, Stanton & Co., who built the planing-mill. In 1876 the present firm was organized, and has enlarged the buildings and largely increased the business. The estab- 27 lishment had previously changed hands several times. About $12,000 of capital are invested, and the annual business reaches from $10,000 to $20,000. From five to fifteen persons are employed. This firm has erected nearly all the brick business buildings in Mason, aside from its work elsewhere. The shops are located in the north part of the city, near the railroad. The Stave-Factory of A. J. Bailey & Co. was built in 1872, and at present gives employment to ten or fifteen men and boys. About $10,000 are invested in the busi ness, the capital being principally furnished by Dr. Mc Robert, of Mason. The business amounts to $20,000 or $25,000 annually. The firm has its headquarters at Leslie, where it has also a large establishment of the same kind. A Patent Gear- and Carriage- Factory was started in the place in 1872 by B. F. Rix & Co., and is now the prop erty of Griffin & Rogers, who have owned it since 1878. The capital invested, including that in the buildings, etc., is about $15,000. Fifteen to twenty hands are employed. Tbe factory is built of brick. The bent gear which is manufactured is for use in platform-wagons, and was pat ented by B. F. Rix, for whom it is named. The estab lishment finds sale for its products in nearly every State in the Union. R. F. Griffin, one of the proprietors, is mentioned elsewhere as one of the early settlers of the place. Cheese- Factory. — This institution, although not within the corporate limits of the city, is properly one of its enter prises. A frame building was erected in 1871 by a stock company, of which R. F. Griffin was President, Frank White, Treasurer, and Horatio Pratt, Secretary. The building, etc., cost $3200, although but $2500 was ever paid in, the balance coming out of the earnings of the fac tory. The company was broken up in two or three years after its organization, and most of the stock was purchased by Mr. White, who is the present owner and manager. The business for the first two or three years was good, the daily receipts of milk reaching from 4300 to 5000 pounds. There has since been a large falling off. This industry, if rightly handled, might be made to return large profits. Factories in certain regions of the West — notably in North eastern Illinois — receive as high as 35,000 pounds of milk daily during a part of the season, and make the business a decidedly profitable one. Robe-Factory. — An establishment for the manufacture of buffalo- and other robes was opened in 1876 by Bltir- shall, Huntington & Co., and continued until April 13, 1880, when C. D. Huntington, one of the firm, sold his interest. The present firm is Blarshall, Rumsey & Co-, who manufacture buffalo-robes principally. The hides are procured in Montana Territory, formerly coming from Kan sas and Colorado. As many as 5000 have been prepared, for market in a season. From twenty to twenty-five men are employed, the capital invested being about $12,000. A frame building for the use of the company is located in the southern part of the city. Saw-Mill. — A steam saw-mill was built in the south, part of the corporation, in the fall of 1865, by J. L. <^rn r>» 5 ^ I a: AURELIUS. 221 Centre in 1856, where he now resides, and where for a few years he was engaged in the boot and shoe business. Following is a list of resident taxpayers in the township of Aurelius in 1844 : John Barnes, J. G. Bump, L. A. Heath, Ransom Hazleton, D. II. Wightman, B. B. Robinson, L. Pratt, 0. C. Robinson, J. Wil- loughby, William Potter, John Cook, M. Matteson, J. Matteson, William Isham, A. Waggoner, Z. Barnes, J. F. Freeman, J. Rob inson, B. Hazleton, Jr., E. S. Howe, J. E. Hunt, L. Miles, Wil liam L. P. Hazleton, H. H. Freeman, J. H. Hendee, S. Bond, D. Oaks, J. S. Covert, Henry Kennedy, P. Whitford, M. Vaughan, William Witter, John Wright, Joseph Bullen, Dunn & Holly, William Webb, George B. Webb, Winslow Turner, J. Snyder, John Niles, A. Wilson, William Webb, Jr., R. R. Bullen, E. Ran ney, R. G. Hayward, F. Hayward, J. C. Stedman, John M. French, D. Southworth, John Montgomery, Joseph L. Huntington, A. B. Amesbury, John Bunker, John Bunker, Jr., M. McRobert, R. B. Ames, D. M. Irons, T. Strong, William Arthur, George Wilcox, E. Wilcox, L. H. Fowler, Jonathan Fowler. From the records of the Ingham County Pioneer Society are taken the following items : Joseph Wilson, born in Yorkshire, England, came to Michigan, Blay 20, 1837, and in October, 1840, settled in the township of Aurelius. His wife, who accompanied him, was a native of Rutland Co., Vt. John M. French, born in Essex Co., N. J., in 1798, settled on section 31, in the township of Aurelius, April 29, 1838. During the first ten years of their residence in the county Mr. and Blrs. French lost three of their children. Joseph L. Huntington, whose death occurred at Mason, Blarch 19, 1874, was born at Hinesburg, Vt., Nov. 16, 1800. His father, Deacon Jonathan Huntington, died at St. Albans, Vt., in 1856, aged seventy-eight years. Mr. Huntington, who was a tanuer by trade, removed to Lud- lowville, Tompkins Co., N. Y., in 1832, and in the spring of 1838 " he removed to Aurelius, Ingham Co., and en gaged in the business of a tanner, in connection with that of shoemaking, which he followed for about five years, when he entered upon the business of clearing up and im proving a new farm in the same town. In 1846 he was elected to the office of sheriff of this county, and, being re-elected in 1848, he removed to Mason, and became the keeper of the first jail built in the county."* After the location of the capital at Lansing, Mr. Hunt ington was appointed one of three commissioners to ap praise and fix the minimum prices of the lots on section 16, where the city of Lansing had been platted. After re moving to Mason, Mr. Huntington was identified with its business interests for twenty-five years, and was a prominent citizen of the county for thirty-six years. His wife died at Mason in 1862, and he afterwards (1863) married Miss Caroline Royce, who died in 1870. Several of his children are at present residing in Mason.. George M. Huntington is the present judge of the Circuit Court ; Charles G. Hunt ington is engaged in mercantile business ; and Collins D. Huntington has been for years engaged in various manufac turing enterprises. Alfred Parker, a native of Wyoming Co., N. Y., located at Leoni, Jackson Co., Mich., in May, 1837, and the same * Mr. Huntington's son, Collins D. Huntington, now of Mason, slept in the jail for three weeks, in December, 1848, and kept a, fire to dry the walls, in order that the family might sooner move in. year purchased land near the site of Lansing. In May, 1847, he removed to Ingham County, and settled in the township of Aurelius. Some time in the same year his wife made a trip through the woods with an ox-team, via Lansing, to a place in Clinton County, thirty-five miles away. Mr. Parker says : " My first labor in this State was holding a plow drawn by seven yokes of oxen, and camping in the woods nights and building smudges to keep off mos- quitos. Hunted deer and wild turkeys ; also turned out and searched for the lost boy, Ami Filley, in 1837, in the town of Leoni, Jackson Co." AURELIUS CENTRE. The first settler at this place was Enoch Howe, now of Lansing, who lived on the corners which have long bore his name. The locality of " Howe's Corners" is better known to many than " Aurelius Centre," notwithstanding the same place bears both names. Mr. Howe was the first postmaster at the place, the post-office being known as Aurelius. Wil liam Abrams also held the position for some time. The present incumbent is B. W. Stark, who came to tho place in 1860. i In 1856 a dwelling was built at the Centre by Robert Hayward, and was afterwards converted into a store ; it is now occupied by B. W. Stark. A second building was erected for the purpose of a store in 1870 by R. and F. Hayward, and is now owned by the latter. Robert Hay ward erected the greater portion of the buildings at the place. In 1857-58, the large frame hotel now owned by Nelson Isham was built by William Abrams. The Centre now -contains two stores, three blacksmith- shops, a wagon-shop, a hotel, a millinery-shop, and two phy sicians, Drs. G. W. Swartwout and Thomas W. Stitts, the latter formerly of Chicago, having come here from Detroit, in 1878. Aurelius, Lodge, No. 274, I. Q. O. F., was instituted Feb. 8, 1876. Dr. G. W. Swartwout was the first Noble Grand. The lodge-rooms are situated over F. Hayward's store. The present membership of the lodge (Septem ber, 1880) is about forty, and the officers are : William Gil more, Noble Grand ; Z, Dolbee, Vice-Grand ; Cohan King, Rec. Sec. ; Henry Rahn, Per. Sec. ; Theodore Stratton, Treas. TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION. By an act of the Legislature of Michigan, approved Blarch 11, 1837,. the west half of the county of Ingham was set off and organized as a separate township by the name of Aurelius, and the first town-meeting was ordered to be held at the house of Elijah Woodworth, who lived in what is now the township of Leslie. From the territory originally included in Aurelius have since been organized the townships of Onondaga, Leslie, Vevay, Delhi, Alaiedon, Lansing, and Meridian, and Aurelius now includes only township 2 north, in range' 2 west, — a single congres sional township iu place of eight, of which it was at first composed. The first township^meeting was held in the early part of April, 1837, and the following account of it is taken from the township records : 222 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. "At a meeting ofthe electors ofthe town of Aurelius, at the house of Elijah Woodworth, Ezekiel T. Critchett was chosen Moderator, Amos E. Steele, Clerk, pro. tern., and Peter Cranson, Benjamin Davis, and Sidney 0. Russell, Inspectors of Election. "There were given for Benjamin Davis, as Supervisor, 24 votes; and there were 26 votes given for Ezekiel T. Critchett, as Township Clerk ; 24 votes for Peter Cranson, 23 votes for Henry Meeker, 24 votes for Peter Linderman, and 24 votes for James Royston, as Jus tices of the Peace; and 24 votes for A. E. Steele, 24 votes for Ben jamin Rolfe, 20 votes for James Royston, and 10 votes were given for Josephus Tuttle, as Assessors ; and 23 votes for S. 0. Russell, 23 for Orris Cranson, and 23 for Hiram Austin, as Commissioners of High ways; and twelve votes were given for A. E. Steele, 12 for Nathan Rolfe, and 12 for James Royston, as Inspectors of Common Schools; and 20 votes were given for Benjamin Meeker, 19 for Peter Cranson, and 20 for Peter Linderman, as Directors of the Poor; and Jeduthun Fry was elected as Collector; and Jeduthun Fry, Jacob Armstrong, and Pliny Rolfe were elected Constables. "Resolved, That the Justices of the Peace be empowered to appoint Road Masters, and that the said Road Masters be Fenee-Viewers. " Resolved, Seven dollars and fifty cents be the bounty per head for the killing of wolves by actual settlers in the town of Aurelius. "Resolved, That the next annual town-meeting be held at the house of Sidney 0. Russell. " E. T. Critchett, Moderator. "A. E. Steele, Clerk." At a special meeting, held April 24, 1837, Jacob Arm strong was chosen collector, and Stephen Kirby and Henry A. Hawley constables. At another special meeting, held Aug. 19, 1837 (convened at the house of E. B. Danforth, and adjourned to that of James Blain), Jacob Lewis was elected constable. In 1838 it was "Resolved, That five dollars shall be paid for each schetp of the wool/ that is canght and Idled in this town.'' In 1840 it was voted to appropriate $150 towards building a bridge over Grand River, at the county-line, at or near Columbia, provided a like amount should be raised for the purpose in the town or county of Eaton. The bridge was built, and cost the township of Aurelius $145.25. The following have been the principal ofiicers of the township since 1838 : SUPERVISORS. 1838-40, John Barnes; 1841, John M. French; 1842, Minos Mc Robert; 1843, Jonathan Snyder; 1844, Zaccheus Barnes; 1845 -46, John M. French; 1847-48, Reuben R. Bullen; 1849, David Potter; 1850, Charles Jennings; 1851, Orlando M. Barnes; 1852, Charles Jennings; 1853-54, John M. French; 1855, Barney Davis; 1856, Reuben R. Bullen; 1857-60, Barney G. Davis; 1861, J. G. Bump; 1802, Barney G. Davis; 1863, Enos Blanchard; 1864, Barney G. Davis; 1865, Charles Jennings; 1866, Alfred J. Hol ley; 1867, Charles Jennings; 1868, Alfred J. Holley ; 1869, Wilson Davis; 1870, Micajah Vaughn; 1871, Barney G.Davis; 1872, Richard J. Bullen; 1873, Wilson Davis; 1S7J-75, Richard J. Bullen; 1876, Wilson Davis; 1877-79, Richard J. Bullen. TOWNSHIP CLERKS. 1838, Zaccheus Barnes;* 1839-40, Joseph L. Huntington; 1841, Joshua G. Bump; 1842, Joseph L. Huntington; 1843, Zac cheus Barnes; 1844, L. H. Fowler; 1845, Reuben R. Bullen; 1846-47, Zaccheus Barnes; 1848, Charles Jennings; 1849-50, Horace Hobart; 1851, Reuben R. Bullen; 1852, Horace Hobart; 1853-54, Charles Jennings; 1855, Josiah Fowler, Jr.; 1S56-57, George W. Parks; 1858, John A. Barnes; 1859, George H. Wag goner; 1S60-62, Charles M. Jennings ;f 1863, Ransom Sabin, Jr.; 1864, Byron H. Stark; 1865-66, Seth M. Pease; 1867-68, * Removed from town, and S. D. Morse appointed. t Charles Jennings appointed to fill vacancy in March, 1863. George H. Waggoner; 1869, Dudley N. Bateman; 1870, Charles C. Carr; 1871, Benjamin H. Rolfe ; 1872, David J. Potter; 1873, Robert S. Covert; 1874-77, Jackson P. Bond; 1878, George W. Swartwout; 1879, Harrison B. Rolfe. TREASURERS. 1839, Benjamin Hazelton; 1840, John M. French; 1841, Darius Oaks; 1842, John M.French; 1843, John Barnes; 1844, Jona than Snyder; 1845-46, Joseph L. Huntington; 1847, William Isham; 1848-54, Joshua F. Freeman; 1855, Zaccheus BarneB' 1856, Micajah Vaughn; 1857-60, John Wright; 1861, Andrew S. Fowler; 1862, Enos Blanchard; 1863, Andrew S. Fowler' 1864, E. W. Brown ; 1865, Alfred J. Holley; 1866, Stephen Gil lett; 1867, Darius Pratt; 1868, William J. Makley ; 1869-70, Charles B. Fowler; 1871-73, George W.Wilson; 1874, Reuben- Nelson ; 1875, William Fanson ; 1876-78, Silas W. AV right; 1879, William Mix. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 1838, John Barnes, Robert G. Hayward, Sanford D. Morse; 1839 Benjamin Hazelton, William Hogle; 1840, R. R. Bullen, J. G. Bump, Joseph L. Huntington; 1841, John Barnes; 1842, Ran som Hazelton; 1843, Linus H. Fowler; 1844, Minos McRobert; 1845, J. S. Covert, W. Turner; 1816, A.Waggoner; 1847, Linus H. Fowler; 1848, Winslow Turner; 1849, James S. Covert, R. R. Bullen; 1850, Gardner Gates, William Webb; 1851, L. H. Fowler, Asa S. Robinson, Alexander Coles; 1852, John Wright, R. G. Hayward, J. F. Freeman ; 1853, L. A. Heath, Asahel Bald win ; 1854, David Potter; 1855, Robert Hayward; 1856, Enos Blanchard; 1857, Alfred Parke; 1858, James White, Alfred J. Holley; 1859, John A. Barnes; 1860, Alfred J. Holley; 1861, Charles Jennings ; 1862, James White; 1863, B. E. Sawtell, J. A.Barnes; 1864, Joseph P. Jewett ; 1865, William Miller ; 1866, Walter Colton ; 1867, Alfred M. Parks; 1868, Micajah Vaughn, Josiah Hedden, Charles Jennings; 1869, John J. Slaughter; 1870, Jacob Baker, Alfred Parker ; 1871, A. W. Mclntyre, Jacob Baker; 1872, Alonzo Cheney ; 1873, Alfred Parker, Jay W. Free man ; 1874, Jacob Baker; 1S75, David H. Waite; 1876, Alonzo Cheney; 1877, L. A. Fowler, John T. Holley; 1878, John H. Webb ; 1879, L. Hawkins. 1880.— Supervisor, Richard J. Bullen; Township Clerk, Lowell H. Saunders; Treasurer, William H. Mix; Justice of the Peace, John T. Holley; Superintendent of Schools, Charles S. Wil son; School Inspector, William M. Webb; Commissioner of Highways, Charles S. Merrylees; Drain Commissioner, Rob ert S. Covert; Constables, Austin J. Doolittle, Judson P. Converse, Leonard Polhemus, Edgar J. Rorabeck. SCHOOLS. The first meeting of the board of township school in spectors was held May 21, 1837, at the house of E. T. Critchett, but no business was transacted, and they ad journed to meet August 12th, at the house of William Page. The meeting was held at the place and on the day given, when the south half of what is now Leslie township was organized as District No. 1 ; the north half of the same town as District No. 2 ; that portion of what is now Onon daga township lying east of Graud River as District No. 3 ; that portion of the same township west of Grand River as District No. 4 ; the south half of what are now Vevay and Aurelius as District No. 5 ; and the north half of the same township as District No. 6. Nov. 6, 1837, the south west portion of what is now Alaiedon was organized as District No. 7 ; on the same day District No. 8 was formed, including sections 3,4, 5,8, 9, 10,15, 16, and 17, in what is now the township of Vevay. Various other changes were made as the population increased and the township was divided. In 1843 the various districts in Aurelius contained pupils as follows: No. 1, 73; No. 3, 17; No. FIRST HOME IN THE. WOODS, ResidenceofJAS.T BULLEN, Aurelius, Mich. AURELIUS. 223 4, 22; fractional No. 6, 20. A new school-house was built in that year in No. 1, at a cost of $100. In No. 1, seven and a half months of school were taught by John E. Smith, at ten dollars a month, and four and a half months by Julia A. Smith at a dollar per week. In No. 3, Jane Austin taught for a dollar a week, and in Frac tional District No. 6, Daniel Palmer taught four and a half months at thirteen dollars a month, and Elizabeth Noyes four months at a dollar and a quarter per week. Other teachers were employed in the years named, in the various districts, as follows: 181-3, Luther B. Huntoon ; 1844, Martha Smith (certificate given June 22, 1844, for one year), Zaccheus Barnes, Maria S. Howland ; 1845, Matilda L. Montgomery, Hannah Miller, Susan Miller; 1846, Lucretia Cochran, Hannah Converse, Mary Ann Rolfe, Mary Hill, James C. Butts. The first school in the township was taught in the south west corner thereof, in the summer or winter of 1837, in a small log building which stood in the extreme corner of town at the county-line. The name of the teacher is not now recollected. When the family of Joseph L. Hunting ton arrived in the township, in the spring of 1838, they occupied this building until they could prepare a dwelling on their own place, a mile north. In the north part of town a log school-house was built on the farm of George B. Webb in 1844, and a summer term of school was taught in that year by Blartha Smith. That was the first in the neighborhood. Among those who sent children were Reuben R. Bullen, George B. Webb, John and Ezekiel Niles, John Wright, and others. From the report of the township school inspectors, for the year ending Sept. 1, 1879, the following items are taken : Number of districts in township (whole, 6; fractional, 4) 10 " children of school age in township. 510 " " in attendance during year 466 " school-houses (brick, 1 ; frame 8)... 9 " seatings in same 506 Value of school property $4800 Number of teachers employed (males, 7; females, 20) 27 Wages paid same (males, $625 ; females, $632.90) $1257.90 Total expenditures for year. 2281.70 RELIGIOUS. Baptist Church, Aurelius Centre. — From the records of this church is taken the following account of its organiza tion : " Acrelitjs, May 1, 1847. "At a regular notified meeting of baptized persons, for the pur pose of forming a church, proceeded to business. " 1st. Voted, That Elder Grout serve as moderator. "2d. Voted, That E. Smith serve as clerk, pro tern. "3d. Resolved, That we form ourselves into a society known as the First Baptist Conference of Aurelius. " J. Barnes, William Isham, M. A. Barnes, " J. H. Hendee, S. Bond, D. Howe, " C. J. Rolfe, Mrs. C. Rolfe, C. Peek, " B. S. Howe, E. J. Howe. " 5th. Voted, That J. Barnes serve the Conference as Deacon. " 6th. Voted, That C. J. Rolfe serve as clerk of the Conference. " 7th. Resolved, That the Conference have covenant-meetings in four weeks from the above date, at one o'clock p.m., and at the expiration of each four weeks thereafter. " 8th. Resolved, That we adopt, as the summary of our faith and practice, the articles recommended by the Baptist State Convention. " 9th. Resolved, That all members received hereafter into this Con ference shall be by the unanimous vote of the Conference. " 10th. Resolved, That we observe the institution of the Lord's Supper each Sunday following our covenant-meetings. " llth. Resolved, That the Conference authorize the clerk, in be half of the Conference, to give Elder Grout a recommend, setting forth his ministerial character and labors in this vicinity. " 12th. Adjourned four weeks ; one o'clock p.m." Meetings were first held in the school-house. Elders D. Hendee and Freeman preached at different times. A reorganization was effected Jan. 12, 1849, by Elder D. Hendee, with twelve members, and on the 30th of the same month, at a council convened at the Barnes school- house for the purpose, the church was regularly recognized. Elder Hendee continued as- pastor until early in 1850. Elder B. Hill was secured in April, 1850, and remained until April, 1853. The Baptist Churches of Aurelius and Onondaga united Blay 20, 1854, under the name of the " Aurelius and Onondaga Church," with a membership, as consolidated, of thirty-two. Rev S. P. Town was then pastor. He was followed by Elder E. K. Grout, who was in charge from 1855 to early in 1859, and in April of the latter year Elder George Bridge was secured as pastor, his services continuing until February, 1861. Elder H. B. Shepherd became pastor in 1862, and resigned April 18, 1863. In the fall of the same year Elder Samuel P. Town was engaged, and was dismissed by letter Blay 14, 1864. Elder J. B. Allyn was pastor from Sept. 15, 1867, until January, 1869, and Elder John Gundermah from August, 1869, to August, 1870. Succeeding the latter was Elder A. McLearn, from October, 1870, to April 14, 1872.' Elder H. B. Fuller came in the latter part of 1872, and remaiued until May, 1874. Elder BI. J. Dunbar had charge from Aug. 29, 1874, to Aug. 4, 1877, when he re signed. Elder W. W. Smith was called to the pastorate, Nov. 20, 1877, and continued until May, 1879, when he resigned, but remained until November of that year. He is now pastor of the Baptist Church at Kinneyville (Win field), in Onondaga township, and preaches also to the Congregationalists at Onondaga. The present pastor of the church at Aurelius is Elder J. R. Blonroe, who came in December, 1879. The membership of the church, Sept. 14, 1880, was 204, and the Sunday-school has an attend ance of about 100, with William Fanson as superintendent. About 1870 the name of the church was changed to the '' First Baptist Church of Aurelius." The frame house of worship owned by the society was built in 1866-67, and dedicated Oct. 3, 1867, by Elder Portman. In the Bullen and Webb neighborhood, in the north part of town, the first meetings were held by Rev. Mr. Finch, who lived at the Dubois settlement in Alaiedon. He was accustomed to come in every morning from his home on foot, preach once or twice and return the same day, saying he must " get home to attend to the chores." He preached in the log house of William Webb, Sr., soon after 1841, and was a Methodist. The Baptists have also held meet ings in the neighborhood for many years, and as early as 1850-55, Elders Hendee and Fuller, from Mason, preached in the locality. During the present season (1880) a neat frame Union church has been erected on the southeast cor ner of section 4, by the Methodists and Baptists, at a cost 224 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. of about $1800, and the two denominations alternate in holding meetings, the pastors coming from Mason. Meeting-houses have also been erected on the west side of town, one on section 19 and another on section 31, and meetings are now held in tlrem principally by the Meth odists. The church on section 31 is maintained by people of various religious beliefs, and meetings have been held in the neighborhood for a considerable number of years by pastors of different denominations. Both buildings are frame, and the societies or classes are small. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. REUBEN R. BULLEN. This venerable pioneer was born in the town of Charl ton, Worcester Co., Mass., Sept. 14, 1806. His father, also named Reuben, was a native of Pomfret, Conn. He married Tamison Leavens and reared a family of four chil dren, Reuben being the eldest son. In 1824 the elder R. R. BULLEN. Bullen removed with his family to Wayne Co., N. Y. where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1845, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. He was a successful farmer and a valuable citizen, and identified himself promi nently with Wayne County. Reuben remained at home until he attained his twentieth year. He received such an education as was afforded by the district schools of that day, and in 1828 went to Wilkesbarre, Pa. At this time the Pennsylvania Canal was being built, and he obtained a situation as foreman. In 1835 he married Miss Elizabeth Vandenburg, of Pittston, Pa., and the following year (1836) started for Michigan. He arrived in Detroit in October. From Detroit he went to Ann Arbor, where he left his family, and from thence to Aurelius, where he lo cated eighty-three acres of government land on section 4. He returned to Ann Arbor, and in the following year (1837) made a permanent settlement upon his land. The town at this time was a wilderness ; two families only had preceded him, and in what is now Mason, then called Ingham Centre, there were two log houses. The pioneer life of Mr. Bullen was one of hardship and many privations, but a robust constitution and a resolute will overcame all ob stacles. Those living at this day have but a faint concep tion of what the pioneers had to contend with, without roads, mills, or bridges, and for supplies were frequently obliged to go to Ann Arbor, a portion of the distance through an almost unbroken forest, with roads that would now be considered impassable. The following incident is related to show the difference between going to mill in 1836 and in 1880. The first grist taken to mill by Blr. Bullen was thrashed over a barrel, the bundles being bound small for the purpose, and, as there were no conveniences for winnowing the wheat, it was taken in the chaff by a bark canoe to Eaton Rapids, where there was a fanning- mill. lt was then ground, placed in the boat, which was poled up the river to Columbia, from which place Mr. Bullen carried it on his back to his home, a distance of some five miles, through the woods. In the organization of the town in 1838, Blr. Bullen took a prominent part. He was a member of the first town board, and has since occupied many positions of trust and responsibility. He has repre sented Aurelius upon the board of supervisors for a number of terms, and for many years was justice of the peace. To Mr. and Blrs. Bullen were born eight children, — George, Richard J., James T., Phebe A., Susan, Joseph, John E., and Samuel. Of the above, five are now living. Richard J. and James T. reside in Aurelius, the latter upon the old homestead. Both are prominently identified with the best interests of the town, and are successful, enterprising farmers. Richard J. is the most extensive farmer in the town, and for six successive terms has filled the office of supervisor, — a fact which in itself is evidence of integrity and ability. He married Bliss Sarah Blarkham, of Delhi, a lady of much culture and refinement. The elder Bullen is now in his seventy-fourth year, and still retains much of his former vigor and energy. He can look back upon his life with satisfaction, feeliner he has been rewarded for the hardships of early days. JOHN BI. FRENCH. This venerable pioneer, whose name and history are so intimately connected with the city of Lansing and the township of Aurelius, where he was one of the first set tlers, was born in New Brunswick, N. J., July 11, 1798. His father, Robert French, was a native of New Jersey, and followed the avocation of a carpenter. He was a steady, industrious man, of good principles. He married Mrs. Rachel Bend, and reared a family of three children, John M. being the eldest. In 1806 the family removed to Cayuga Co., N. Y., where the elder French purchased a farm, on which he resided until his death. At the age of eighteen John left home to acquire a trade. He apprenticed himself to a tanner and currier, and completed his inden- AURELIUS. 225 JOHN M. FRENCH. MRS. JOHN M. FRENCH. tures about the time he was twenty-one years of age. He then worked as a journeyman in various towns, and in 1820 entered the employ of one Tillman. The following year they formed a copartnership and commenced business in Canandaigua. From Canandaigua he went to Seneca Falls, where, having dissolved partnership with Mr. Tillman, he took charge of his business. After several changes of loca tion he went to Ludlowville, Tompkins Co., N. Y., where he made the acquaintance of Joseph L. Huntington, and between the two a warm friendship sprang up, which con tinued unbroken for over forty years. In 1838 the two resolved to come West. Mr. French had disposed of his property for lands in the towns of Aurelius and Onondaga. They arrived in April, 1838, and Blr. French immediately commenced to prepare for the coming of his family, which he had left behind. He built a log house, cleared and sowed thirty aeres to wheat, and in the autumn of that year returned for his family. The following spring he made a permanent settlement. He resided in Aurelius until his removal to Lansing in 1866, where he has since resided. Mr. French has been prominently identified with Aurelius and its development. He served the town as its supervisor for a number of terms, and also officiated in various minor positions. In 1842 he was elected to the representative branch of the Legislature. In 1823, Mr. French married Miss Sarah Herrington, of Canandaigua, N. Y. She was born in 1804, near Albany, N. Y., and came to Michigan in 1839. She has shared with her husband the privations of the early days, and has been his faithful friend and companion for over fifty-seven years. Her portrait, so full of character, is presented on this page. The life of Mr. French has been comparatively uneventful. His early days were full of trials and toil, but his life has been a success. He has acquired a competency and perfected a valuable record as a citizen. Although he has always shrunk from prominence aud has led a quiet home-life, still, throughout 29 tho length and breadth of Ingham County, he is known as one of its founders, and his name is associated with the best men that the county has produced. GEORGE B. WEBB. The family of Blr. Webb is of British extraction, his parents having been William and Mary Butler Webb, who GEORGE B. WEBB. followed farming pursuits, and numbered in their family circle eight children, — five sons and three daughters. Their 226 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. son, George B., was born in Somersetshire, England, ten miles from the city of Bristol, in April, 1803, and remained under the parental roof until his eighteenth year, when, the life of a sailor presenting superior attractions, he abandoned the farm and made several voyages. In 1830 his wander ings brought him to the shores of America, when, after a brief rest in New York City, he departed for Syracuse and entered the service of a Blr. Brockway as a butcher. In 1834 he was united in marriage with Miss Maria Cately, of Syracuse, and, in the following December, came to Bla son, and was employed to assist in the construction of the first saw-mill in that place. He then proceeded to the labor of chopping, and felled many of the monarchs of the forest which stood where is now the business centre of the township. In 1837 he purchased of government eighty acres where he now resides, and erected a shanty of bark, three of the posts having been maple-trees. Okemos, chief of the wandering tribe of Indians which inhabited the country, had pitched his camp directly opposite. The fam ily were kindly received by the Indians and found them useful in many ways. Mr. Webb was afflicted in June 1848, by the loss of his wife, and in the same year mar ried Miss Lucy Harty. By the first marriage Mr. Webb had four children, — John H., William M., Lucy, and Martha, while one son, Lewis, a child of the present wife is engaged in mercantile pursuits in Mason. All the re maining children, with the exception of Martha, now Blrs. Jacob Nichols, reside in Aurelius. Mr. Webb has by industry and good judgment acquired a competence since first he began life as a pioneer, and he is regarded by all who know him as a man of commanding influence in the township, while his genial character and his many virtues have surrounded him with a circle of sincere friends. BUNKER HILL; NATUEAL FEATURES. GEOGRAPHY, TOPOGRAPHY, Etc. The township of Bunker Hill lies on the southern border of Ingham -County, and is bounded west, north, and east, respectively, by the townships of Leslie, Ingham, and Stock- bridge, and south by Henrietta, Jackson Co. The town ship-lines were surveyed by Joseph Wampler in 1824, and the subdivisions by the same in 1826. Bunker Hill township is so unfortunate as to contain a very large area of swamp and marsh, but these are being gradually drained by county ditches, of which there are in the township not less than fifteen miles. The marshes ex tend in a general north-and-south direction, and appear to be the abode of all the serpents and reptiles which in the fabled days of old were driven by St. Patrick from the " Emerald Isle." The improvements, however, in some portions of town are excellent, and the soil, where cultivated, is very productive. The surface of the township is, as would be inferred, diversified, being level in places and con siderably rolling in others. Fitchburg and Bunker Hill are hamlets in the southeast and central parts of town, both containing post-offices ; the first named is the more important place. LAND ENTEIES. The following is a list of the entries of land in town 1 north, range 1 east, now Bunker Hill, with names, sections, and dates of entry. Section 1.— Silas Holt, Sept. 17, 1835; Peter Perrin, Westlake Haight, May 25, 1836; Henry Wood, Jan. 17, 1836; Lucius M. Page, July 1, 1836; Levi and Stephen S. Rugg, July 11, 1836. Section 2.— Marshal Turner, Nov. 28, 1836 ; Matthew Daley, Deo. 29, 1836; Moses A. McNaughton, July 1, 1857. By Pliny A. Durant. Section 3.— Thomas L. Spafford, May 23, 1836; John D. Reeves, Nov. 17, 1836; Daniel Lebar, June 25, 1848. Section 4.— Benjamin F. Burnett, Sept. 20, 1836; Elisha P. Pickens, Nov. 29, 1836; Daniel H. Mills, Jan. 31, 1837; Sarah Burnett, April 16, 1837; Henry Deigau, April 9, 1847. Section 5.— Thomas J. Litchfield, June 16, 1836; Roswell Lamb, Ebenezer Whittemore, June 28, 1836; Emeline Cravell, Oct. 31, 1836; Benjamin B. Kercheval, Feb. 15, 1837. Section 6.— David H. Richardson, Sept. 20, 1836; Elisha D. Hall, Sept. 21, 1836; Roswell Durand, Dec. 9, 1836; Warren Dunn ing, March 21, 1837. Section 7. — Daniel Peck, entire section, June 6, 1836. Section 8. — Joseph Sternberg, May 16, 1836; William Peabody, May 28, 1836. Section 9.— Thomas S. Spafford, May 23, 1836; William Peabody, May 28, 1836. Section 10.— Reuben Robie, March 21,1837; Charles Stickney, Oct. 1, 1838 ; Peter Hall, Oct. 15, 1838 ; John O'Brien, Patrick Markey, May 18, 1839; John O'Brien, June 17, 1839; James Dancer, July 1, 1839; James Markey, Jr., Oct. 30, 1845; James Markey, March 20, 1849. Section 11.— Uzziel Taylor, May 23, 1836 ; Matthew Daley, Deo. 29, 1836. Section 12. — Matthew Daley, Dec. 9, 1836; Elihu Newbury, no date. Section 13.— Timothy Brown, July 14, 1836 ; Charles T. Day, Jan. 13, 1837; Warren Dunning, Feb. 8, 1837; George F. Shepard, April 24, 1837. Section 14. — Uzziel Taylor, May 23, 1836; Benjamin B. Vanoourt, May 29, 1836. Section 15.— Uzziel Taylor, May 23, 1836; Reuben Robie, March 21, 1837; Horace Chesley, April 24, 1837; Benjamin B. Vancourt, May 29, 1838; Enoch Bouton, Oct. 2, 1838; John D. Camp, Oct. 23, 1838, and Oct. 23, 1848. Section 16.— Norman Felt, W. Dewey and D. Felt, O. Markey, E. H. Angell, Kimball and Jones, T. Chamberlain, J. Philo, C. Smalley, no dates. Section 17. — William Peabody, entire section, no date. Section 18. — Joseph Steinberg, May 16, 1836; Reuben Raze, July 7, 1836. Section 19. — Hosea Reeve, Maroh 29, 1837; Daniel Shannon, Aug. 22, 1838; Lydia W. Moore, May 1, 1840. Section 20.— Parley J. Moore, May 23, 1836, and July 15, 1847 ; Ho sea Reeve, Maroh 20, 1837 ; John B. Moore, July 13, 1838 ; Ezra Culver, May 1, 1848. BUNKER HILL. 227 Section 21. — Henry Harvey, May 6, 1836; Uzziel Taylor, May 23, 1836; William Peabody, May 28, 1836. Section 22. — Henry Harvey, May 6, 1836; George Field, Jan. 28, 1839. Section 23. — Lucius Lord, June 9, 1836 ; Aristarchus Champion, June 18, 1836; Enoch Bonton, Oet. 2, 1838; Benjamin B. Vaneourt, Dec. 20, 1838. Section 24. — John G. Soverhill, June 10, 1836 ; Aristarchus Champion, June 18, 1836; Charles F. Day, Jan. 13, 1837; John Farmer, Jan. 17, 1837; Mrs. A. Gillespie, April 15, 1837; Abel Cutter, Nov. 17, 1837. Section 25. — Edwin Lewis, May 19, 1836; Job Earl, June 4, 1836; John G. Soverhill, June 10, 1836; John R. Bowdish, Feb. 24, 1837; Hannah Little, Feb. 27, 1837. Section 26. — Edwin Lewis, May 19, 1836 ; Henrietta High, June 9, 1836 ; Aristarchus Champion, June 18, 1836 ; George Rider, May 15, 1837 ; John B. McCrary, Nov. 19, 1847. Section 27. — Ira A. Blossom and Elijah D. Efner, Aug. 27, 1835; Henry Harvey, May 6, 1836; Leander Aldrich, May 21, 1836; William Peabody, May 28, 1836. Section 28. — Blossom and Efner, Aug. 27, 1835 ; Henry Harvey, May 6, 1836; William Peabody, May 28, 1836. Section 29. — Jonathan Shearer, May 6, 1836 ; John Odell, May 9, 1836; Jonathan Shearer, May 13, 1836; Charles Wisner, Dec. 13, 1836. Section 30.— Stoddard Culver, May 23, 1836 ; Thomas L. Spafford, May 26, 1836; George Field, Jan. 28, 1839. Section 31. — Charles Whitney, May 23, 1S36 ; Milton B. Adams, June 2, 1836. Section 32. — Aaron Brower, April 6, 1836; James Ganson, April 25, 1836; Thomas Fritts, May 9, 1836. Section 33. — Luther Branch, June 19, 1835; Blossom and Efner, Aug. 27, 1835; Aaron Brower, April 6, 1836 ; John Davidson, June 13, 1836; Noah Clark, June 27, 1836; James Viekery, Jan. 7, 1843; Edward Belknap, Feb. 14, 1843. Section 34. — Elias Thompson, Aug. 27, 1 835 ; Blossom and Efner, Sept. 2, 1835; Martin Allen, Oct. 27, 1835; Henry Harvey, May 6, 1836 ; Moses S. Barber, May 21, 1836. Section 35. — Elias Thompson, Aug. 27, 1835; Solomon Parsons, May 19, 1836; Obed Cravath, Jan. 5 and 19, 1837. Section 36. — Moses D. Wylie, Solomon Parsons, May 19, 1836; Robert Johnson, Job Earl, June 14, 1836. EAELT SETTLEMENT. ¦ The first settler in what is now the township of Bunker Hill was David Fuller, a Baptist deacon, who located in the west part in 1837 or 1838. His son Henry, who came with him, was married in 1841 to Miss Lovina Whitte- more, and his was one ofthe earliest marriages in the town, occurring in January. The second settler was probably a man named Bunker, who located in the northwest portion, and for whom the township is said to have been named. His daughter, Mary Bunker, was the first white child bora in the town, but the date of her birth is not given. Henry Wood, in the northeast corner of town, was the third settler. It is thought that but four persons — males — are now living in the township who were here in 1840— 41, and these are David Dean, George Archer, William Vicary, and Charles Earl (son of Job Earl). Of the pio neer mothers, Mrs. William B. Dean is perhaps the only one left. William B. Dean, a native of Orange Co., N. Y., moved to Michigan from Genesee Co., N. Y., in the fall of 1830, with his family, and settled at Plymouth, Wayne Co. In 1841 he removed to Bunker Hill, arriving on the 6th of January, and settled on the place now owned by his son, David Dean. He was accompanied to the township by his wife, four sons, and two daughters, and he, at the time of his settlement, made the twentieth voter in the township. The land on which he located had been purchased from government by George Rider, but no improvements made until Mr. Dean settled. He died in 1864, and his widow is now residing on the old place with her son, David Dean. Calvin P. Eaton, from Monroe Co., N. Y., settled in the township of Bunker Hill, on section 8, with his family, about November, 1842. The family consisted of himself and wife and six children, of whom none are now left in the township. One son, Edwin G. Eaton, is now in busi ness at Leslie. Their neighbors, when they settled in Bunker Hill, were David Fuller, on an adjoining farm, Charles Warren, Asher Robinson, the Whittemores, Otis Janes, Lewis Case, in this town, and James Harkness and William W. Dewey, near by, in Leslie township. These all resided in one school district. Burtus Hoyt settled in the northeast part of town pre vious to 1842, and a few years afterwards sold his farm to Timothy Birney and removed to Jackson, where three of his sons are now living, one or two of them in the employ of the Michigan Central Railway Company. Abijah Lee Clark, from the north line of the Indian reservation in Genesee Co., N. Y., removed to Michigan in 1835, with his wife and three children, and settled in the " Bean Creek Country," in the township of Rollin, Lena wee Co., where they lived until Blarch, 1813. In that month they removed to Ingham County, and settled in the township of Bunker Hill, where Mr. Clark's widow now resides on the farm first settled. It had been procured of John Evans in trade, and was first occupied and improved by Ebenezer Whittemore, who lived upon it several years. Evans had never occupied it, and the improvements which had been made when Clark came were of little account. Neighbors were already quite plentiful, the nearest being Ira Whittemore, who lived on an adjoining farm. David Fuller and Calvin P. Eaton were a mile or two away. Mrs. Henry Fuller is the only survivor of the community as it existed upon the arrival of Mr. Clark and his family. The latter experienced their greatest hardships while living in Lenawee County, the township of Rollin containing but very few families when they arrived there. Mr. Clark's son, John Lee Clark, now living in Bunker Hill, was the second white child born in the township of Rollin, his birth occurring Aug. 4, 1837. Henry B. Hawley, from the State of New York, was an early settler in the township of Henrietta, Jackson Co., Mich., and in 1850 became a resident of Bunker Hill, lo cating in the southwest part of the town, on a farm which was first improved by Aaron Brower, one of the earliest settlers. William Vicary, another pioneer, located in the same neighborhood. In 1870, Mr. Hawley removed to the village of Leslie, where he at present resides. He is among the prominent citizens of the county, and has held numerous positions of trust, as will appear by reference to the list of township officers. Joab Earl was one of the first settlers in the southeast part of town, and John Ewing and John O'Brien were early in the same locality. Lucius Lord settled early a mile north of Fitchburj*. 228 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. In the north and east portions of the township have set tled large numbers of natives of the land of the shamrock. The first of the nationality who came was James Markey, who arrived with a large family in the neighborhood of 1840, and settled near the Centre. He was a prominent citizen, and several of his sons were afterwards chosen to various township offices. James Birney and numerous others followed, and at present the Irish voters in the town ship number about seventy, almost a controlling power in its political affairs. They have erected a fine frame Catholic church northeast of the centre of town, and its communi cants number 200 or more. This was the third religious organization in the township. FITCHBUEG. Ferris S. Fitch, from Livingston Co., N. Y., settled on the place he now owns in June, 1848, when the nearest neighbor was even then a mile distant. The locality was about midway between the stage-routes from Dexter to Lansing, and from Jackson (via Mason) to Lansing. Blr. Fitch was the first settler at what is now called Fitchburg. His brother, Selah B. Fitch, who was formerly a resident of Stockbridge, moved to the Corners in the fall of 1848, and three or four years afterwards built a steam saw-mill at that place. He is now deceased. About the time the mill was built the father of the Messrs. Fitch, Hubbard Fitch, with his youngest son, Dorastus, located at the place where the latter is now living. Hubbard Fitch is deceased. In 1848 the only post-office in the township — and it was the first — was in the western part, in charge of a man named Tuttle; it was called Bunker Hill. Afterwards an office was established in the northwest part of town, called Felt, with Dorman Felt as postmaster ; he had settled in 1847. About 1855 an office was established at Fitchburg, with Hubbard Fitch as postmaster, and for some time the township contained three post-offices, the name of Bunker Hill post-office having been changed to Bunker Hill Centre. Felt post-office has been discontinued, and those at present in existence are Fitchburg and Bunker Hill. J. S. Sweezey is postmaster at the latter place, having held the position since February, 1879. After the office was established at Fitchburg, it was not until a recent date that a mail-route was established through the place. Mail was brought from the nearest offices, — Stockbridge, Leslie, etc. Selah B. Fitch succeeded his father as postmaster, the next incumbent being William Dowden, who had come to the place and established a store. He removed and was succeeded by John P. Hawley, from Henrietta, Jackson Co., who bought Dowden out. The next, and present, incumbent was Henry Stowell, who has held the office several years. Fitchburg has at present three stores, two blacksmith- shops, a wagon-shop, a shoe-shop, and a Methodist church. BUNKEE HILL, near the centre of the township, contains a small store, a post-office, a blacksmith-shop, and the town-hall. John De Camp, an early settler at the Centre, was long the post master. His father is living in Webster, Washtenaw Co., at an advanced age. TOWNSHIP OEGANIZATION, LIST OE OFFICERS, Etc. An act of the Legislature of Michigan, approved March 21, 1839, provided that town 1 north, of range 1 east should be organized into a separate township by the name of Bunker Hill, and that the first township-meeting should be held at the house of David Fuller. From the township records is taken the following account of the first town- meeting : " 1839. — At the annual meeting held on the first Monday of April in the township of Bunker Hill, the following officers were elected — viz., For supervisor, David Fuller; for township clerk, Uzziel C. Tay lor; for township treasurer, David Fuller; forassessors, Henry Wood Tristram Smith, George Taylor; for collector, Harvey Taylor- for school inspectors, Henry Wood, Tristram Smith, George Taylor; for directors of the poor, Ebenezer Whittemore, Burtus Hoyt; for com missioners of highways, Ebenezer Whittemore, Job Earl, Tristram Smith ; for justices, Henry Wood, Tristram Smith, George Taylor • for constable, Burtus Hoyt; for overseers of highways, Henrj Wood, Uzziel C. Taylor, Tristram Smith. " Voted, Five dollars bounty on all wolves killed in the town by an actual resident of the town.'' The following is a list of the principal officers of the township from 1840 to 1879, inclusive: SUPERVISORS. 1840-42, Henry Wood; 1843, Lewis Case; 1814-45, Henry AVood; 1846, Charles Wood; 1S47, Henry Wood; 1848, John B. Mc- Creery ; 1849, Henry Wood; 1850, Philetus R. Peck; 1851, Jona than Wood; 1852, Ferris S. Fitoh; 1853-54, Henry B. Hawley; 1855-56, Philetus R. Peck ; 1857-60, Henry B. Hawley; 1861, George W. M. Shearer; 1862-63, Ferris S. Fitch; 1864-65, Henry B. Hawley; 1866, Garret DuBois;® 1867-70, James Birney ; 1871- 72, John De Camp; IS73-74, James Birney; 1875-78, William H. Howlett; 1879, Isaac Maggoon. TOWNSHIP CLERKS. 1840, Uzziel C. Taylor; 1S41, Harvey Taylor ;f 1842^5, Charles Wood; 1846, Lewis R. Perkins; 1847-49, Charles Wood; 1850, John B. McCreery; 1851, Charles Wood; 1852-53, Charles B. Dean; 1854-55, Charles Wood; 1856, Henry B. Hawley; 1857- 58, Joseph Duteher; 1859-60, John De Camp; 1861-62, James Markey; 1863, William Dowden; 1864-65, John De Camp; 1866, James Kelly; 1867-70, Peter M. Etehells; 1871, John W. Whallon; 1872, James M. Birney; 1873-74, Peter M. Etehells; 1875-76, Charles De Camp; 1S77, Peter M. Etehells; 1878-79, Charles F. De Camp. TREASURERS. 1840-42, Otis Janes; 1843, David Fuller; 1844-45, Abram A. Wilcox; 1846-49, Jonathan Wood; 1850, Abram A. Wilcox; 1851, John son Post; 1852, Hiram Hodges; 1853, Philip Tinker; 1854, Henry O. Hodges; 1855, Jonathan Wood; 1856-57, James Markey, Jr. ; 1858-59, Alonzo B.Kimball; 1860-61, John Bir ney; 1862-63, Dorastus Fitch; 1864, George W. Cross ;% 1865, Nathaniel Earl; 1866, John Gee, Jr.; 1867, Harry Cross; 1868- 70, John De Camp; 1871, Aaron J. Rayner; 1872-74, Charles F. Do Camp; 1875-77, James M. Birney; 1878-79, John W. Whallon. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 1840, John Ewing, Parley Moore, Uzziel C. Taylor; 1841, reoord miss ing ; 1842, Parley P. Moore; 1843, Henry Wood, Calvin P. Eaton; 1844, Jonathan Wood; 1845, Abijah L. Clark; 1846, Par ley P. Moore; 1847, A. A. Wilcox, Aaron Brower; 1848, William Smith; 1849, Jonathan Wood, F. S. Fitch; 1850, James M. * Resigned, and F. S. Fitch appointed. j" Removed from county, and David II. Fuller appointed. J Removed from the township, and Nathaniel Earl appointed. BUNKER HILL. 229 Shearer, Alba Blake; 1851, Gustavus A. Holt, Ezra Culver; 1852, Henry B. Hawley, James Birney, John B. MoCreery, Dorman Felt; 1853, James Randall, James Birney; 1854, John B. Mc- Creery; 1855, James Birney; 1856, Henry B. Hawley; 1857) James Rundell ; 1858, J. B. McCreery, James Markey, Jr.; 1859, Daniel F. Muscott; 1860, Henry B. Hawley; 1861, Thomas C. Etehells; 1862, John B. MoCreery; 1863, James Markey, James Birney; 1864, Henry B. Hawley; 1865, James Birney, John C. Chase, John De Camp ; 1866, John C. Chase ; 1867, Dan iel C. Potter ; 1868, Luke Perrine, Lot A. Brower, John P. Haw ley; 1869, James Birney; 1870, James M. Whallon, John De Camp, Bernard Winters; 1871, Lot A. Brower; 1872, Bernard Winters; 1873, George Bailey; 1874, E. H. Angell, John De Camp; 1875, James Birney,' P. M. Etehells; 1876, Isaac Mag- goon; 1877, Peter M. Etehells; 1878, William Johnston; 1879, James Birney. 1880.— Supervisor, William H. Howlett; Township Clerk, Henry P. Whipple; Treasurer, James M. Birney ; Justice of the Peace, Isaac Maggoon ; Superintendent of Schools, Isaac Maggoon ; School Inspector, Edwin Grow; Commissioner of Highways, Lewis Morse; Drain Commissioner, Patrick McCary ; Con stables, George McEnder, Daniel De Camp, John G. Knight, Abraham Nichols. The following is a list of the resident taxpayers in the township of Bunker Hill in 1844, according to the assess ment roll for that year : Henry Wood, Silas Holt, Abram A. Wilcox, Burtus Hoyt, Abijah L. Clark, Ahra Whittemore, Ebenezer AVhittemore, Charles Quigley, Dennis Hartey, David Fuller, Calvin P. Eaton, Lewis Case, Luther Smith, Patrick Markey, James Markey, Thomas Markey, Orson 0. Janes, Charles Warren, Sylvester Osborn, Bezaleel A. Hodge, Bezaleel Archer, Parley P. Moore, Charles Wood, Lucius Lord, J«hn Fletcher, John Ewing, Job Earl, William B. Dean, Lyman Culver, Aaron Brower, Ira E. Parker, James Vicary, William Vicary, Philander Peak. Among the early roads laid out in the township were the following, all in 1839 : Fuller road, May 30th and 31st ; Whittemore road, same dates ; Taylor road, May 31st ; Hoyt road and Love road, June 1st ; Wood road, May 15th ; Vicary road, June 3d ; Town-Line road, between Bunker Hill and Stockbridge, July 18th and 19th. The State road, leading from the west line of Ingham County to the Grand River turnpike, near the village of Pinckney, Livings ton Co., was laid out through Bunker Hill township in January, 1840. All these early roads were surveyed by Anson Jackson, county surveyor, who laid out roads also in Eaton County, as the records show. SCHOOLS. April 23, 1840, sections 25, 36, east half of 35, east half of 26, southeast quarter of 23, and south half of 24, of Bunker Hill township, were attached to Fractional District No. 4, of Stockbridge. District No. 1 , of Bunker Hill, was formed May 7, 1840, and included the west half of section 9, sections 17 and 18, west half of 4, sections 5, 6, 7, 8, of Bunker Hill, and 1 and 12, of Leslie. In the summer of 1841, Sarah Dean, daughter of Wil liam B. Dean, taught in District No. 1, being one of the earliest in the district. Tn the fall or winter of 1840 the same school was taught by Miss Lovina Whittemore, who, in January, 1841, became the wife of Henry Fuller. Bliss Elizabeth Jane Clark was granted a certificate, May 16, 1844, to teach in the same district. The school-house used was a small log building, with seats ranged around three sides of the interior, next to the walls. Jacob Young, who lived in Henrietta, Jackson Co., taught here in the winter of 1842-43. The following items are from the report of the township school inspectors for the year ending Sept. 1, 1879 : Number of districts in township (whole, 4; fractional, 3) 7 " school-children in township 409 " in attendance for year 341 " school-houses (brick, 2 ; frame, 5) 7 " seatings in same 374 Value of school property $3350 Number of teachers employed (males, 4; females, 9) 13 Wages of same (males, $337.50; females, $808) $1145.50 Total expenditures for year. 1772.44 EELIGIOUS. The first religious organization in the township was a Baptist society, which was formed early at the house of David Fuller, who was appointed a deacon in tbe church. A Congregational Church was next organized, at Dean's Corners, followed by the Catholic Church, in the north part of town, which latter is the only one of the three now in existence. Blethodist Episcopal and Protestant Methodist Churches were next in order; the latter declined, and from it was finally organized a United Brethren Church, which has, during the present season (1880), erected a church at the south line of the township. A Blethodist Episcopal class was organized in the neighborhood of 1850-55, with a small membership, but all were earnest workers, The present brick church at Fitchburg owned by this society was built iu 1871. The church has a fair membership. Its pastor is Rev. Blr. Bradley, who took charge in the fall of 1879. There is also a Methodist class at the Centre, at which place the Adventists also hold meetings. The Methodists and United Brethren have the only church buildings in the township. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. GARRETT DUBOIS. The parents of G. DuBois, Jacob and Sarah DuBois, were natives of Ulster Co., N. Y., where they resided in 1810, when they removed to Delaware Co., N. Y., rearing a family of twelve children, of whom nine lived to mature age. Iu 1837 two sons, Martin and Jacob, emigrated to Alaie don township, Ingham Co., Mich. Garrett DuBois was the sixth of this family, born at Marble, Ulster Co., N. Y., Feb. 8, 1806, being but four years of age when the family removed to Delaware County. January, 1832, he married Lucy Chapman, also of Delaware, born Jan. 18, 1807. The year following they removed to Wayne Co., Pa., where he was employed until 1839 by Mrs. DuBois' father in his extensive milling interests, when, hearing glowing accounts of Michigan from his brothers already located there, he concluded to join them. Blaking the necessary arrangements, they set out with a horse-team and wagon, performing the journey of seven hundred miles in nineteen days. On his arrival he located six lots on sec tion 35. Here they resided, improving about ninety acres, 230 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. GARKET DUBOIS. until 1855, when they removed to a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Bunker Hill township, on section 8, which he had purchased in 1852. At the date of his purchase in Bunker Hill, not a stick of timber had been cut; but having means at his command he cleared a large tract and put it into wheat, the proceeds of which were laid out in improvements. For a number of years Blr. DuBois de voted a considerable portion of his time to putting his farm and buildings in condition suitable to his taste, and has at the present time one of the finest farms and ap purtenances in the township. MRS. GARRET DUBOIS. Aside from farm interests, Blr. DuBois has some mon eyed interests, — the results of a life's labor guided by sound, practical judgment and ripe experience. He has served his townsmen as supervisor three consecutive terms while a resident of Alaiedon, but of late years has refused, preferring the quiet of private life to the vexation of public affairs. Mrs. DuBois has faithfully performed her allotted por tion in the drama of life, and is honored by her children and held in high esteem by a large circle of friends. Blr. and Mrs. DuBois are the parents of seven children. A. L. CLAKK. MRS. PHEBE A. CLARK. A. L. CLARK. The history of the Clark family dates back to the pioneer times of Genesee Co., N. Y., their location being known at the present time as the Clark settlement. Samuel Clark was among the' early settlers in that region. His wife, Polly (Lee) Clark, was a sister of the father of Robert E. Lee, of Confederate notoriety. Abijah Lee Clark, a son, was born Oct. 22, 1808. His father enlisted in the war of DELHI. 231 1812, and died. Abijah was early put to live with a family known as Friends or Quakers. At fourteen years of age he began work by the month, and at twenty-two had saved a sufficient sum to make a payment upon a farm of eighty acres, which he purchased. April 7, 1830, he married Phebe A., a daughter of George and Sally (Cleveland) Driggs. She was born May 29, 1810, in Bladison Co., N. Y. The young wife was soon installed in the new home, and work went forward with a will for six years, when he was obliged to sell out to meet obligations incurred to ac commodate others, saving but a small amount from a com fortable property. Mr. Clark came to Lenawee Co., Blich., and located one hundred and twenty acres, to which he removed in Septem ber, 1837. A rude log cabin was soon provided. Their worldly effects consisted of a scanty supply of household goods, two pigs, and one dollar and fifty cents. Mr. Clark cleared and put into wheat one acre, and sought work among the new-comers, but failed to find those able to hire. Winter coming on, he was obliged to return as far East as the river Raisin, where resided a Quaker family known to him in the East. Obtaining employment, they remained a year, then returned to their home in the wilderness. Suc cess attended them in the eight years following. They made many improvements. Mr. Clark then sold, taking as part pay twenty acres on section 5, — Bunker Hill, — to which he removed his family, and began again the labors of subduing the wilderness. With the means thus ob tained, and their family grown to an age they could render some assistance, the work was less difficult than when they first came to the West. At the breaking out of the war two sons-in-law entered the service, their wives returning home. Two sons had previously gone to do battle. Yet death came not upon the field, but at their home. Mr. Clark, after a short illness, passed away, Nov. 26, 1863, sincerely lamented by his bereaved family and many friends. Mr. Clark was a man of whom it was often said that his word was as good as a written bond. Mr. and Mrs. Clark were the parents of five children, — William H., born Feb. 26, 1833, proprietor Clark House, Mason; Mrs. Sally Marshall, April 13, 1835, residing in Gratiot County ; Holland, born Blarch 22, 1837, died at two years of age; J. Lee, born Aug. 4, 1838, proprietor homestead ; Mrs. Ada A. Cooper, born Jan. 19, 1843, residing at Grass Lake. Mr. and Mrs. Clark united with the Free-Will Baptist Church in 1835, and have always led a consistent Chris tian life. Mr. Clark, at the advanced age of seventy, in comparative good health, resides at the old homestead, sur rounded by a large circle of old appreciative friends, in the peaceful contemplation of a long life well spent. DELH 17 GEOGEAPHICAL, Etc. This township is situated in the western part of Ingham County, and is bounded by the township of Lansing on the north, by Aurelius on the south, by Alaiedon on the east, and by Windsor, in Eaton County, on the west. Grand River traverses sections 30 and 31 in the south west part, and Sycamore Creek passes through sections 12, 11, and 2 in the northeastern part. Along these streams there is some lowland. On the southeast quarter of section 16 is Mud Lake, which originally covered about thirty acres, but is now reduced to much smaller dimensions by an extensive deep ening of its outlet, which flows south one mile, then east about two and a half miles, then north a mile, and then southeast and east a mile and a half, to its junction with Sycamore Creek, in the township of Alaiedon. A small brook flows from its head, on section 15, through 10, 3, and 2, and unites with Sycamore Creek, on section 2. The township may be generally considered as having a level surface, with sections of gently rolling lands inter spersed with marshes which were at an early day extensive and comparatively valueless, but which, under a system of thorough drainage now being adopted, are gradually be- * Compiled by Samuel W. Durant. coming valuable. These marshes and swamps, once largely covered with a thrifty growth of American larch, or tama rack, covered extensive areas on sections 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 27, 28, and 29. The timber, with the exception of the tamarack, was altogether of hard varieties, the only other exception, so far as now known, being one solitary, natural growing, grand old white pine on the southeast quarter of section 23, on land owned by William Cook. It is still a vigorous tree, about 100 feet high, and unless prostrated by storms, or cut down by some vandal hand, will stand for many years a . solitary specimen of its numerous con geners in the North. All other pines in the township have been transplanted. A most remarkable feature of the topography of the town ship is the well-known '' Hog's Back" ridge which trav erses sections 2, 11, 14, 23, 24, 25, and a corner of 36. It has a somewhat tortuous course, and is broken in places by the valley of the Sycamore Creek, and in some places has lateral spurs or minor ridges, as on the farm of William Cook, on section 23. Ou the farm of Blatthew King it describes almost a semicircle, and its sides are in places very abrupt. The highest elevation of this ridge in Delhi township is probably a short distance southeast of the dwelling of John Thorburn, Esq., on section 25. It is variously composed of clay, sand, and gravel, the two last- 232 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. named ingredients predominating. Its origin undoubtedly dates from the glacial epoch and the Champlain period, when the vast masses of ice which covered the northern half of the North American continent east of the Rocky Mountains were slowly melting away under an increasing temperature. That it belongs to the glacial or drift period is abundantly proven by the presence of bowlders and pebbles belonging to the Laurentian and Huronian rocks of the North, and by various forms of fossils, principally corals, found in the gravel of its composition. It has probably been greatly modified by the action of the ele ments since tho retreat of the great glacier to the North, and very likely much reduced in altitude. It is a curious and interesting feature of Ingham County. Along its slopes, and on its tops, which sometimes rises from sixty to eighty feet above the general level, are grown the finest fruits of this latitude— apples, pears, peaches, grapes, etc. — in remarkable profusion. There are many excellent and finely-improved farms in this township, which ranks among the best in the county in productiveness. The Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw Railway crosses the northeast portion of the township, with a station at Holt, on seotion 14 ; and the Lake Shore and Michigan South ern touches the northwest corner on section 6. Immense quantities of timber of various kinds, princi pally oak, whitewood, and black-walnut, have been cut and marketed from the primeval forests of this township, and there are still large bodies remaining. Trees of seven feet diameter have been found, aud the timber in its original state was generally very heavy. The labor required to clear and improve these lands has been almost inconceiv able, and the person who rides along the excellent roads and notes the improvements of the present day can realize but faintly the trials and hardships of the pioneers who first braved the perils of the wilderness. The township was surveyed in its exterior Hues, the south boundary by John Mullet, in 1825 ; the east and west boundaries by Lucius Lyon, in 1825 ; and the sub division lines by Musgrove Evans, in 1827. The following list shows the original land entries, with section and names of owners : ORIGINAL LAND ENTEIES. Section 1. — Gerardus Clark, June 16, 1837; Lemuel R.Smith, Cor nelius Elvert, 1847. Section 2.— John J. Van Vleek, Nov. 1, 1836. Section 3. — Walter B. Thompson, Samuel Bayless, Nov. 1, 1836 ¦ Ed win T. Maxson, June 3, 1837; Joseph E. North, Nov. 11, 1838. Section 4— Levi S. Case, May 1, 1837; Jacob Vaughn, May 9, 1837; Selim T. Maxson, June 3, 1837; Alfred Parker, June 3, 1837; Henry H. North, June 21, 1839; Henry H. North, July 6, 1841; Russell Everett, Dec. 6, 1843; A. II. Hilliard, no date. Section 5.— Levi S. Case, May 1, 1837 ; Harris Adams, July 6, 1839 ; David A. MUlIer, April 9, 1847; Jonas P. Abby, Nelson Hil liard, Albert Abby, Samuel A. Carrier, Dwight S. Price, no date. Section 6.— Samuel Honger, July 15, 1839; R. P. Abby, 1847; Fred erick Hall, 1847; P. W. Griffith, no date. Section 7.— Leonard Murphy, June 1, 1844; Daniel T. Clark, George Chappel, George L. Gavett, Henry S. Crane, 1847. Section 8.— Julius A. Austin, June 30, 1837; Theodore P. Gavett, John Crane, Abram N. Scudder, Jonas P. Abby, all in 1847; Julius P. Moon, May 19, 1848; Jonas P. Abby, July 29, 1848. Section 9.— Frederick R. Luther, May 4, 1837; E. J. Penniman, May 12, 1837; Julius A. Austin, June 30, 1837; John Crane, no date; C. H. North, November, 1848. Section 10. — James Bayless, Nov. 1, 1836 ; L. W. Morrison, Nov. 3 1836; F. R. Luther, May 4, 1837; Pitt W. Hyde, June 30, 1837,' Alexander B. Morton, July 11, 1840. Section 11. — Gerardus Clark, Jan. 16, 1837. Section 12. — Gerardus Clark, Jan. 16, 1837. Section 13. — Samuel Murray, Isaac B. Towner, Russell Abel, Feb. 8 1837; Jacob Vaughn, May 8, 1837; Jacob E. VanDorn, Dec. 3 1838 ; John Ferguson, Jan. 23, 1841 ; Thomas J. Brown, Oct. 26 1842 ; Josiah Heddin, James J. Brown, Fanny W. Pitcher, 1847. Section 14. — Edmund Welch, Nov. 16, 1837; David Townley, Nov. 1 1838; Zeriah Castle, Nov. 15, 1838; William Long, Sept. 12 1839 ; Matthew King, Dec. 20, 1840 ; Gad Wells, Dec. 18, 1843; John Ferguson, Feb. 27, 1847; Almon D. Aldrich, Feb. 28, 1847; Alexander Clark, Feb. 3, 1848. Section 15.— Faris Reynolds, Nov. 15, 1838; Perry W. Bates, Nov. 19, 1838; Hiram Tobias, Nov. 16, 1839; Anson D. Morton, July 11, 1840 ; Nicholas Waggoner, March 13, 1847; Caleb Thompson, Frederick Hall, Emil A. Philips, 1847; F. R. Luther, James M. Spear, July 25, 1848. Section 16. — School land. Section 17. — George Daniels, Thomas Chapman, Elias H. Mosher, Marshall Griffith, Leland Brown, 1847; Clinton Gillett, Oct. 5, 1848 ; Albert Abby, L. Brown, 1848. Section 18.— Charles Westcott, 1847; Thomas Treat, April 24, 1848. Section 19. — Ebenezer J. Penniman, May 12, 1837 ; Benjamin F. Gro- venburg, May 19, 1842; Jerome Grovenburg, Aug. 1, 1842; John McKeough, May 2, 1847; Champlin Havens, 1847;. William Miller, Oct. 2, 1848. Section 20. — Ira Butterfield, June 7, 1838; George Daniels, Daniel F. Clark, Henry Grovenburg, B. F. Grovenburg, 1847; Champion Haines, June 29 and Nov. 7, 1848. Section 21. — Perry Rooker, May 23, 1844; Thomas R. Mosher, Jona than R. Mosher, Feb. 5, 1847; Daniel Johnson, July 8, 1849; Asa Hart, 1849. Section 22.— Darius Abbott, May 23, 1839; Richard Rayner, June 6, 1839; Caleb Thompson, Sept. 12, 1839; Alonzo Douglass, Nov. 11, 1839; Alexander B. Morton, July 11, 1840; Henry Fishell, Nov. 10, 1848; Caleb Thompson, no date. /Section 23.— George Phillips, Philander Morton, Dec. 13, 1838; John and Richard Rayner, June 6, 1839 ; William Cook, Sept. 18, 1843; Matthew King, June 30, 1848 ; John Thornton, Aug. 19, 1848. Section 24. — Eli Chandler, Leonard Noble, Feb. 8, 1837 (southeast quartor); Joseph E. North, Jr., May 8, 1837; John Pierce, Jan. 16, 1841 ; Harriet Stanton, Jan. 23, 1S41, Dec. 3, 1842 ; William Pierce, March 25, 1843; Don A. Watson, 1847; Matthew King, June 20, 1848; John Thornton, Aug. 19, 1848; Matthew Birdsall, Aug. 30, 1848; John Thorburn, Sept. 1, 1848. Section 25.— John L. Edmunds, Jr., Nov. 1,1836; Charles Dotten, Dec. 14, 1836 ; Charles W. Reeves, April 13, 1837 ; John Rayner, July 14, 1838, and June 6, 1839 ; TJlsi Corbit, June 6, 1839. Section 26. — Howell Reeves, April 15, 1837 ; Alonzo Douglas, Jan. 2, 1844; Isaac M. Douglas, Jan. 2, 1844; Caleb Thompson, Sept. 15, 1854. Section 27.— Cyrus Clark, May 8,1837; Orlando Holly, 1847; Or lando Oliver, 1847. Section 28. — Levi D. Howard, no date. Section 29.— Joseph Hayton, June 29, 1837; Champlin Havens, June 29, 1848; H. W. Grovenburg and S. Richardson, 1848. Section 30.— William Page, April 26 and 27 and May 23, 1836 ; Rob ert McClelland, Sept. 29 and Oct. 1, 1836 ; Nathan Davidson, Jan. 15, 1838. Section 31.— William Page, April 27, 1836; R. MoCIelland, Oot. 1, 1836. Section 32.— Spencer Markham, March 16, 1837, and April 26, 1837; Joseph Hayton, June 29, 1837 ; Andrew J. Townsend, Jan. 5, 1838; S. Richardson, no dute. Section 33.— John T. Perkins, Christopher Perkins, Nov. 1, 1836; Vernon Carr, May 8, 1837; John Norris, Joseph Wilson, May 22, 1837; Champlin Havens, John Temple, no date. Section 34.— O. C. Crittenden, Jr., John Dunn, Dec. 15, 1836 ; Ben jamin Horton, April 13, 1837; Cyrus Clark, May 8, 1837. Section 35. — Lucius Warren, Dec. 13, 1836 ; Howell Reeves, April 13, 1837. MRS. HENRY H. NORTH. HENRY H. NORTH. HENRY H. NORTH. Among the truly representative men, few if any have been more intimately associated with the material develop ment of Delhi than Henry H. North ; he has witnessed the transition of an unbroken forest into a fertile and highly pro ductive region. Mr. North is of English origin, his great grandfather, Roger North, having emigrated to America before the Revolution, and settled at or near Philadelphia. The family lived for many years on the Schuylkill, from which Joseph North, the father of the subject of this sketch, emigrated to the then remote frontier of Tompkins Co., N. Y., and settled at Lansing, in that county, where Henry Harrison North was born Jan. 18, 1816. He was raised on a farm but worked with his father, who was a mason by trade. December 16, 1838, he married Miss Almira Buck, daughter of Daniel Buck, who was an early settler at East Lansing, Tompkins Co., N. Y. He raised a family of twelve children who lived to be men and women. In 1837, Mr. North came to Michigan to visit his brother, who came to Ingham County in 1836. Being favorably im pressed with the country, he returned to Tompkins County for his wife, when it was decided that the North family should emigrate to Michigan. Joseph North, the father) was a man of considerable means and had a large family. He, with his ten children, came to Ingham County, taking up a large tract of land, mostly in the town of Lansing. Henry H. North selecting the land where he now lives took possession of it early in June, 1839. While the land was rich and fertile, it was covered with a heavy growth of timber which required years of labor and great persever ance to remove. At the time Mr. North, Sr., settled in Lansing there were but one or two settlers in the. township. Frederick R. Luther had built a cabin, but was not near enough to Mr. North to be called a neighbor. The North settlement was one of the most important in the early days ofthe county. Mr. North being a man of energy and sufficient means to live until crops could be raised, his forest home soon began to put on the appearance of civili zation. The log house has long since given place to a sub stantial brick residence, which Mr. North laid up with his own hands ; the broad and well-cultivated fields show no trace of the monster trees which formerly darkened the skies and offered such stern resistance to the pioneer ; the roads, which have been laid out and cut through a track less forest since Blr. North came there, are lined with fine farms and residences. Mr. North assisted in the organization of the town, and was its first supervisor. In school affairs he has taken an active part. He has been the father of nine children, seven of whom are now living, all having received a good education. Politically Mr. North has been a Republican since the organization of the party. Three of his sons were in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion. Elmer D. was with Sherman on his " March to the Sea." DELHI. 233 Section 36.— Moses C. Baker, Nov. 1, 1836; Harry W. Rose, Thomas Johnson, George Tabor, Dec. 14, 1836; Howell Reeves, April 13, 1837. EAELY SETTLEMENTS. The earliest settlement in the township is claimed by two parties, — Frederick R. Luther and John Norris. Lu ther entered land on section 9, May 4, 1837, and Norris on the 22d of the same month on section 33. It is stated by Henry H. North that Luther settled, with his family, in January, 1838, and in the same year came in John Norris, William Wood, Joseph Wilson, and Philander Morton. The latter settled on section 23 (some accounts say in 1839), and subsequently moved away. He has since died. George Phillips settled also on section 23 in 1839, and afterwards kept a hotel and the post-office at his place, which was at the Centre. He was a brother-in-law of A. D. Aldrich. Alonzo Douglass settled on section 22 in 1840. David Wait also probably came in 1838. Darius Ab bott settled in 1843, and John L. Davis and Z. L. Holmes were early settlers. The Thorburns came later, about 1848. The North family were early settlers in the county, their first permanent settlement being on section 32, in Lansing township. Joshua North, the third son of Joseph E. North, Sr., one of the earliest settlers in Delhi, came to Blichigan in May, 1838, at the solicitation of his oldest brother, Joseph E. North, Jr., who had exchanged land in Ingham town ship with Hezekiah Ferguson, who had entered section 32, in Lansing township. The brothers worked clearing land on the Lansing property until the fall of the same year, (1838), when Joshua returned to the State of New York. stopping for a few weeks with an uncle who lived in Ohio. Joseph E. North, Sr., visited Blichigan in October, 1838, and entered a large tract of land, he and his son, Joseph E., Jr., having altogether 1280 acres.* While Joshua was absent in New York State his father wrote him to borrow a hundred dollars and come back to Blichigan, which he did in November, 1839, bringing a lumber wagon, a few tools, and some dried fruit. The goods were shipped by canal to Buffalo, and thence by the steamer " Blichigan" to Detroit. This steamer was blown ashore at Buffalo in the great storm "of 1844. From Detroit they shipped their goods by tho Central Railway to Ypsilanti, then the terminus of the road, and from that point to Ingham County by ox-team, which Joseph E. North, Jr., brought from Lansing to meet them. When Joseph E. North, Sr., removed with his family to Michigan, in 1839, he brought a yoke of oxen, purchased in Ohio, and a horse and buggy. At Detroit he hired four two-horse teams to transport his goods to Ingham County. Joshua met him at Mason upon his arrival there. Henry H. North, the second son, had visited Michigan in 1837, and returned to the State of New York in 1838, where, in December of that year, he married Bliss Almira Buck in • According to the tract-book at Mason, Joseph E. North, Sr., had also entered land on section 33 in 1837, but whether he visited- the State in that year is not certain. 30 Tompkins County, and in the spring of 1839 came again to Michigan with his father, and settled permanently in the township of Delhi, south of his father's farm.f He and Joshua married sisters. Henry has had nine children, seven of whom are still living. Several of his sons served in the Union army during the Rebellion. Joshua returned again to New York State in the fall of 1840, and on the 23d of January, 1841, married Miss Louisa Buck, of Lansing, Tompkins Co. In May, 1841, in company with his wife's eldest brother, Levi Buck, and Blonroe Packard, he returned once more to Michigan and settled permanently, in 1841, where he now resides on sec tion 4, Delhi township. On his arrival with his wife and goods at Ann Arbor he found his father there with an ox- team and a load of wheat which he had brought to market. From thence Henry's family and goods made the trip to Lansing in the old gentleman's ox-wagon. Judge Huntington's father and John French had accom panied Joshua North on his second trip to Michigan, in 1839. The judge was then a little boy. French was also accompanied by his family. Both French and Huntington settled near Eaton Rapids. Mr. Huntington was a shoe maker by trade. Daniel Buck, another brother of Mrs. North, settled in Lansing in 1847, where he is still in the furniture business. Henry H. and Joshua North lived for a short time in the same house in the summer of 1841 until the latter could complete a log house. A part of the land now owned by Joshua was a part of the purchase of his father in 1838. The old gentleman, according to the record, pur chased land on section 33, Lansing township, in 1837 and 1838, and on section 3, Delhi township, in November, 1838. Henry H. North purchased on section 4, Delhi, in 1839 and 1841. Joshua has five children, two sons and three daughters ; a son and daughter, both married, are now living in Bloomington, 111. Joseph E. North, Sr., surveyed the present road between Lansing and Mason as early as 1842 ; and he also built the first bridge over the Cedar River, on Cedar Street, at Lan sing, about the same time. These transactions may have been a year or two earlier. Joshua North tells an incident of his early life in Michi gan, which illustrates the wonderful development of the county from a wilderness condition in which it was found, by the settlers of forty years ago. It was on the occasion, of the birth of the first child in the township, a daughter of Henry H. North. The family requiring a little addi tional help at that time, Joshua went on horseback and, procured the services of a young woman living in the vicinity, and was taking her home behind him on the horse in the night, through a blind road which had been partly bushed out. He lost the path and looked for it in vain. The candle in the old-fashioned tin lantern which lie carT ried threatened to become extinguished, and as a last re sort he dismounted and made a fire in the slivered butt of a fallen tree, and leaving the young woman there searched again for the road, but not finding it concluded to make f There is some discrepancy in the recollection of the members of the North family which we cannot reconcile, but the records seem to, corroborate that of Henry II. North substantially. — Ed. 234 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. the best of the situation and stay by the fire until daylight. It was quite cool and the young people huddled close to the fire, while jumping and frisking about in the thick woods the gray wolves made anything but pleasant music to their ears. The girl was sure they were something dan gerous, but young North, knowing the terror they would inspire if she was fully aware of their character, insisted they were only owls, and partially quieted her fears. He knew well enough they would not attack them by their bright fire, for all wild animals have a mortal dread of this element ; and so they sat and listened and watched until the day-dawn sent the unwelcome visitors to their haunts in the depths of the forest, and then went on their way. Mr. North also relates how he and Benjamin Leek, a son of Esquire Leek, of Alaiedon, went through the woods to wit ness the marriage at Pine Lake, in Meridian, in May, 1839, of Henry Jipson and a Miss Davidson. Esquire Leek per formed the ceremony. The two young men went via Oke mos, when, in attempting to cross the Cedar River on a raft of poles and hickory bark, they were precipitated into the swift waters up to their middle, and had to walk four miles farther to the place of rendezvous. Mat thew King, another early settler, was born in Lan arkshire, Scotland, in 1816. He came to America in 1838, and at first stopped for a short time in Long Island, where he worked for a farmer near Jamaica until he could get money enough to go farther, having exhausted all his means in getting to New York. In the same year he came to Plymouth, Wayne Co., Mich., where he remained until fall, when he went to Ann Arbor. When first landed in this country he had never seen either corn or buckwheat growing iu the field, and they were great curiosities to him. He thought corn in the ear was the most beautiful grain he had ever seen. On his departure from Plymouth he forgot his money, and, not liking to beg, went without his supper and break fast. He found work at Ann Arbor getting out railroad ties, which he and an Englishman took a job of doing. Here he worked until winter, when he was attacked by another thing new to him — the Michigan ague. In Janu ary, 1839, he hired to a Blr. Virgil Booth, at Lodi, Wash tenaw Co., where he remained a little more than two years, when he was again taken sick. In 1841 he visited relations living in Canada, and remained nearly a year. In the spring of 1842 he came to the township of Delhi. He had pur chased the southeast quarter of section 14, in December, 1840, at the Ionia land-office, previous to his visit to Canada. The winter of 1842-43 he passed, in company with his brother James,— who afterwards went to Blinnesota and was killed on a steamer about 1855, — in a cavern which he dug in the side of the " hog-back," near where the depot at Holt Station now is. He built a chimney to it and made it quite comfortable. In the fall of 1843, Mr. King erected a log dwelling near where his present residence stands. He was then a single man, and Wm. Cook, also a Scotchman, who had married his sister, lived in his house about a year and he boarded with them. He married Flora Hudson, a daughter of John Hudson, of New York, in 1846. He built several additions to this log house, and about 1865 erected his present substantial and commodious resi dence. It is constructed of lime and sand, or gravel the latter of which is plentiful in the ridge spoken of, on the top of which the dwelling stands. The ridge was formerly very narrow on the top and very precipitous; but Mr. King plowed and leveled it down some twelve or fifteen feet, and made a plateau on which to build his house. He did all the work on his dwelling with his own hands, except the carpenter-work. There is a similar dwelling in the west part of the township, built by a man named Treat. Around his house on all sides Blr. King has covered the ridge with a variety of shade and ornamental trees, inclu ding maple, cedar, pine, locust, etc., and has also a splendid apple orchard on the slope east of his house, and a fine col lection of pear- and peach-trees, and a long arbor, covered the present season with luscious grapes. His fruit is so abundant that it is worth very little except for his own family use. He has also a large barn built in the slope of the hill-side, and altogether a most comfortable and pictur esque group of buildings and improvements. The ridge, or " hog-back," in question is a remarkable locality for the production of fruit. Wherever orchards and vineyards have been planted on its top or sloping escarp ments the yield of fruit is something wonderful, and the , same bountiful crops of apples, pears, peaches, grapes, etc., described on the premises of Blr. King, may be seen in equal perfection on the farm of John Thorburn, Esq., farther south, and in many other localities along its course through the township and county. Caleb Thompson, born in Schoharie Co., N. Y., settled in Lenawee Co , Blich., in 1836. He entered the east half of the northwest quarter of section 22, Sept. 12, 1839, and settled on it in 1842. Smith Thompson, his brother, was in the township for a few years at a later date. Blr. Thomp son has been a prominent citizen of the township for many years. Darius Abbott settled in the spring of 1843 on the west half of the northwest quarter of section 22, adjoining Blr. Thompson. William B. Watson, from Chenango Co., N. Y., pur chased on section 13 in Delhi, and located there in 1845. He changed to his present location on section 23 in 1865. In 1847 he married a daughter of P. W. Welch. Price W. Welch also settled on section 13 in the same year with Mr. Watson, and brought his family in 1846. He died at the Corners in Blay, 1862. after having been for many years a prominent and respected citizen. As an interesting reminiscence of early days in Delhi, it may be stated that on the night of the 3d of Blay, 1837, Henry A. Hawley, now a resident of Vevay township, who, with his brother Calvin, was hunting land, slept on the west slope of the " hog-back," a few rods south of where the road running east from Delhi Corners cuts through the ridge. The night was so cold that ice formed as thick as window-glass. There were no inhabitants then in the township. Harvey Lamoreaux, one of the early settlers, is of French extraction, and was born in Albany, N. Y., in 1819. He removed to Lenawee Co., Mich., in 1835, and from thence to his present location on section 10, Delhi township, in DELHI. 235 November, 1845. He had purchased his land in J844, and did some chopping upon it the same year, but did not move his family until 1845. His land was heavily tim bered when he first settled, but he has cleared it off, and now has an excellent farm with good buildings and other improvements. Among the first ministers who visited and preached in the township was Rev. Mr. Bennett, of the Blethodist Church. The following is a list of the resident taxpayers in the township of Delhi in 1844 : Roswell Everett, Russell P. Everett, Z. L. Holmes, Ransom Everett, J. B. Luther, F. R. Luther, John Chapman, Dexter Phillips, Perry Rooker, Joshua North, Henry H. North, John North, Seth North, David Wait, Othniel Roberts, Henry Grovenburgh, Je rome Grovenburgh, B. F. Grovenburgh, John McKeogh, Thomas J. Brown, Piatt Case, D. H. Stanton, Ansel Priest, J. R.Tremley, Elias Ralph, Amasa Fuller, Matthew King, George Phillips, Wil liam Long, Philander Morton, Lewis Parrish, John Ferguson, William Cook, Josiah Hedden, Lorenzo Davis, John Davis, Miles Morton, A. D. Morton, Hiram Tobias, Lewis Burch, Darius Ab bott, Caleb Thompson, Alexander Morton, Alonzo Douglass, Samuel Dunn, John Dunn, John Norris, Joseph Wilson, Chester Hawley. The records of the Pioneer Society of Ingham County furnish the following facts : Roswell Everett, from Monroe Co., N. Y., settled at Plymouth, Wayne Co., Blich., in May, 1834, and in Feb ruary, 1841, moved to Delhi, Ingham Co., with his family. He and his wife are both now deceased. William E. Everett, who furnished these items to the society, was but a year old when his parents came to Michigan. Josiah Hedden, a native of Lansing, Tompkins Co., N. Y., left that State, with his wife and one child, Sept. 20, 1843, came to Blichigan, and settled on section 13, in the township of Delhi. After cutting an opening and building a log house, Mr. Hedden found the locality in which he had settled was thickly infested with the black rattlesnakes, or " massasaugas," and he speaks of having killed as many as twelve in one day on his place. In 1866, when the " saugers" were probably exterminated, Mr. Hedden sold his farm and removed to the township of Aurelius. His wife, when a small child, was rafted down to Olean, N. Y., with the rest of her father's family, and from there they floated down to the Ohio River, and finally landed in Virginia. Her father soon after died, and her mother moved back with the family to Tompkins Co., N. Y. William Long, a native of Lower Canada, emigrated to Michigan in November, 1837, and settled at Adrian, Len awee Co., Feb. 18, 1842. He located on section 14, in the township of Delhi, Ingham Co., where he yet resides. Almond D. Aldrich was born in Connecticut in 1815, and three years later accompanied his parents to Chenango Co., N. Y. He was married in 1837, and in 1844 moved to Michigan with his family and settled in the township of Delhi, Ingham Co., where he continued to reside until his death, April 11, 1878. " His worldly effects after arriving here were a horse-team and thirty dollars in cash. This small amount of cash he lost the first time he went into the woods to work, but found it after a while. Every cent they ever had was made by their own straightforward in dustry. . . . His religion was the best and highest of morality. No one did or ever could doubt his sincere hon esty. A better neighbor never lived. . . . His principal farm resources were in grain raising. It was A. D. Aldrich who introduced in this section the celebrated Poland hog. No one ever went to his house for a good sociable visit who failed to get it. He took much comfort in hunting coons and foxes. Even in his old age he was always ready with the youngsters for a game of ball." Mr. Aldrich lost his life in consequence of a terrible ac cident, a heavy log having rolled against and upon him and broken his spine. He lived fifty-nine hours after the occurrence, and died on the date given. The first dwelling erected by Mr. Aldrich was a single- roof shanty, which he occupied for a few years, and then built a good split-log house. The fine brick dwelling on the place was erected in 1866. Since his death a son has died, and his widow also died in September, 1880. The big brick house is now untenanted, but a son lives in a frame house on the opposite side of the road. He was a brother of H. J. Aldrich, a resident at the Corners. The Aldrich farm contains 260 acres, and is one of the finest in the township. FIEST MAREIAGE. The first marriage in the township was that of Russell P. Everett and Eliza A., daughter of Joseph E. North, Sr. The first death was that of the wife of William Wood in the summer of 1839. The first marriage celebrated in the township, according to the bride's recollection, was that of William P. Robbins, of Alaiedon, and Lydia BI. Wells, of Delhi, July 6, 1842. Russell Everett and Eliza Ann North were married several months later. CIVIL ORGANIZATION. The township of Delhi was organized from Alaiedon as a congressional township on the 16th of February, 1842, by act of the State Legislature. The name " Delhi" is credited to Roswell Everett, who is said to have inserted it in the petition for a new town ship sent to the Legislature. Whether he took it from the ancient Hindoo city of that name, or from some more modern town, is uncertain. The first town-meeting was held in a log school-house at Delhi Centre, April 4, 1842, which organized by appoint ing David Wait chairman, and Roswell Everett, Caleb Thompson, D. H. Stanton, and Henry H. North inspectors of election. The whole number of votes polled was twenty- two. The following is a complete list of officers chosen : Supervisor. — Henry H. North (16 votes) ; H. H. North (3 votes) ; David Wait (1 vote) ; A. Douglass (1 vote) ; George Phillips (1 vote). Town Clerk. — Caleb Thompson (20 votes) ; John Pierce (1 vote) ; Hiram Tobias (1 vote). Treasurer. — Roswell Everett (20 votes); R. Everett (1 vote) ; D. A. Morton (1 vote). Assessors. — Roswell Everett, Caleb Thompson. Justices. — Roswell Everett (three years) ; Samuel Dunn (four years) ; Alonzo Doug lass (one year) ; Daniel H. Stanton (two years). Commis sioners of Highways. — John Ferguson, Hiram Tobias, 236 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, B1ICHIGAN. John North. School Inspectors. — David Wait, John Fer guson, Caleb Thompson. Directors of the Poor. — John Davis, Hiram Tobias. Constables.— Hiram Tobias, Perry Rooker. The following gives the names of the principal township officers since 1842 : 1843.— Supervisor, Roswell Everett; Town Clerk, John Ferguson; Treasurer, Alonzo Douglass ; Justices, Alexander B. Morton, Henry H. North. 1844.— Supervisor, Russell P. Everett; Town Clerk, Caleb Thomp son ; Treasurer, Josiah Hedden ; Justices, Henry H. North, Thomas J. Brown. 1845.— Supervisor, Russell P. Everett; Town Clerk, Caleb Thompson; Treasurer, Joshua North; Justices, Hiram Tobias, Thomas J. Brown. 1846.— Supervisor, Russell P. Everett; Town Clerk, Darius Abbott; Treasurer, David AVait; Justice, Joseph Wilson. 1847. — Supervisor, David Wait; Clerk, Caleb Thompson; Treasurer, Frederick R. Luther; Justice, Josiah Hedden. 1848. — Supervisor, David Wait; Clerk, Thomas R. Mosher; Treasurer, Caleb Thompson ; Justice, Henry H. North. 1849. — Supervisor, Roswell Everett; Clerk, Thomas J. Brown ; Treas urer, Caleb Thompson ; Justices, Champlin Havens, Theo dore P. Gavett. 1850. — Supervisor, Caleb Thompson; Clerk, Denison H. Hilliard; Treasurer, Frederick R.Luther; Justice, Thomas R. Mosher. 1851. — Supervisor, Caleb Thompson; Clerk, D. II. Hilliard ; Treas urer, Seth North; Justices, Simeon Corbit, Philip J. Price. 1852.— Supervisor, David Wait; Clerk, D. H. Hilliard; Treasurer, Jonathan R. Mosher; Justice, John Staples. 1853. — Supervisor, D. H. Hilliard; Clerk, Caleb Thompson; Treas urer, Jonathan R. Mosher ; Justices, Henry H. North, Wil liam B Watson. 1854. — Supervisor, John Ferguson; Clerk, Caleb Thompson; Treas urer, Seth North ; Justice, Thomas J. Brown. 1855. — Supervisor, D. H. Hilliard; Clerk, Caleb Thompson; Treas urer, Thomas R. Mosher; Justice, David Spear. 1856. — Supervisor, John Ferguson; Clerk, D. H. Hilliard; Treasurer, David Wait; Justices, Philip J. Price, Caleb Thompson. 1857. — Supervisor, Denison H. Hilliard; Clerk, Caleb Thompson; Treasurer, John Ferguson; Justices, John Ferguson, Asa Smith. 1858. — Supervisor, Caleb Thompson; Clerk, John Ferguson; Treas urer, Amos H. Hilliard;* Justices, Wm. P. Phillips, D. H. Hilliard. 1859. — Supervisor, Philip J. Price; Clerk, Caleb Thompson ;f Treas urer, D. H. Hilliard; Justice, John Ferguson. 1860. — Supervisor, John Ferguson; Clerk, Casper Lott; Treasurer, Joseph G. Hunt; Justices, Andrew J. Townsend, John D. Cary. 1861.— Supervisor, John Ferguson; Clerk, William Cook; Treasurer, Joseph G. Hunt; Justice, D. H. Hilliard. 1862.— Supervisor, Philip J. Price ;J Clerk, John Ferguson; Treas urer, Henry J. Aldrich; Justice, John Thorburn. 1863.— Supervisor, John Ferguson; Clerk, Caleb Thompson; Treas urer, Henry J. Aldrich; Justice, John Thompson. 1864.— Supervisor, David Wait; Clerk, John Thompson; Treasurer, Dwight S. Price; Justice, John Buck. 1865.— Supervisor, John Ferguson; Clerk, John Thompson; Treas urer, Henry Lott; Justices, D. H. Hilliard, Wm. Cook. 1866.— Supervisor, John Thompson; Clerk, William B. Watson; Treasurer, Henry Lott; Justice, John Thorburn. 1867.— Supervisor, John Thompson; Clerk, William B. Watson; Treasurer, Dwight S. Price ; Justice, John Ferguson. * Amos H. Hilliard died in the winter of 1858-59, and D. H. Hilliard was appointed in his place for the unexpired term, Feb. 21, 1859. f Caleb Thompson resigned the office of township clerk June 11, 1859, and John Ferguson was appointed on the samo day to fill the vacancy. t Mr. Price died while in office, and on the 19th of March, 1863 D. H. Hilliard was appointed supervisor in his stead. 1868. — Supervisor, Dwight S. Price; Clerk, John Thompson; Treas urer, Henry J. Aldrich; Justice, Nelson Hilliard. 1869. — Supervisor, John Ferguson ; Clerk, Philip J. Price; Treasurer Henry J. Aldrich; Justice, Charles L. Smith. 1870. — Supervisor, John Ferguson ; Clerk, AVilliam B. Watson ; Treas urer, John Thompson ; Justice, Dwight S. Price. 1871. — Supervisor, Dwight S. Price; Clerk, William B. AVatson- Treasurer, John Thompson ; Justices, John Ferguson, Philip J. Price. 1872. — Supervisor, John Ferguson ; Clerk, AVilliam B. AVatson ; Treas urer, Nelson Hilliard; Justice, C. Newton Smith. 1873. — Supervisor, John Ferguson; Clerk, William B. Watson; Treasurer, Henry Lott; Justices, Nathaniel W. Hill, Jesse B. Conklin. 1874. — Supervisor, John Ferguson ; Clerk, Caleb Thompson ; Treas urer, Henry Lott; Justice, Jesse B. Conklin. 1875. — Supervisor, William B. Watson; Clerk, Minor E. Park; Treasurer, Henry Lott; Justices, L. R. Chaddock, John Thompson. 1876. — Supervisor, William B. Watson; Clerk, Minor E. Park; Treasurer, Henry Lott; Justice, James M. Abels. 1877. — Supervisor, John Thompson; Clerk, Amos T. Gunn; Treas urer, Henry Lott ; Justice, Nelson Hilliard. 1878. — Supervisor, William B. AVatson; Clerk, Amos T. Gunn; Treas urer, H. J. Bond ; Justice, George Mallory. 1879. — Supervisor, L. R. Chaddock; Clerk, A. B. Pulver ; Treasurer, Henry Lott ; Justice, Dwight S. Price. 1880. — Supervisor, Lyman W. Baker ; Clerk, Minor E. Park ; Treas urer, Henry Lott; Justices, Nelson Hilliard. John Thomp son; Superintendent of Schools, Joel S. Wheeloek; School Inspector, Alonzo Thompson ; Highway Commissioner, Ad dison Stone; Drain Commissioner, Edmund AV. Mooers; Con stables, Miles T. Brown, John D. Thorburn, Eugene Wilcox. EXTEACTS FEOM THE EECORD. At a meeting of the supervisors and directors of the poor for the four townships formerly constituting the township of Alaiedon, May 11, 1842, the public moneys belonging to said old town of Alaiedon were divided as follows : Alaiedon $68.96 Delhi 43.77 Lansing 74.70 Meridian 62.56 S219.99 The ballot-boxes of the old township were sold to the township of Delhi for $2.27. For the old town books Alaiedon was to pay $6, and also, in consideration for delinquent tax bonds, and some Michigan money (wildcat), turned over for its use, was to settle up all outstanding road matters contracted during the years 1840 and 1841. The division of funds in hands of the overseer of the poor was made as follows : To Alaiedon township $12.46 To Delhi " 8.05 To Lansing " 14.03 To Meridian " 11.51 $46.05 After these distributions had been made there was found to be a surplus of $45.54 remaining on hand. The total amount to be raised for the year 1842 was $244.09, from which deducting the amount on hand, left $198.55 to be raised by tax or otherwise, which amount was apportioned among the several townships as follows : Alaiedon, $58.40; Delhi, $35.64 ; Lansing, $56.88 ; Meridian, $47.63. The amount of State, town, and county taxes for 1842 according to the assessment for the old town of Alaiedon was apportioned among the four townships as follows : JOSEPH AVILS0N. MRS. JOSEPH WILSON. JOSEPH "WILSON. Joseph Wilson was born in Yorkshire, England, May 30, 1801, and is the sole survivor of ten chil dren of John Wilson. Joseph Wilson left the paternal home when he was thirteen years of age, and since that time has depended entirely upon his own resources, working at such employment as came in his way. At the age of thirty-one years he came to America. Arriving at New York, his first employment was on Staten Island, from which he. went to Herkimer County. He remained two years, and went to Richmond, Ontario Co., N. Y., where he was married, Oct. 5, 1840, to Maria Skinner, who came from Middletown, Vt., where she was born June 3, 1806. Soon after they were married Mr. Wilson and his wife came to Ingham County, and settled on the land where he now lives (October, 1880). This land (one hundred and twenty acres), he had purchased from the gov ernment some two years previously. When Mr. Wilson moved to Ingham County there were but few settlers in his vicinity ; all new beginners, and as poor as himself. Joining with his neighbor they purchased a pair of oxen together. He soon built a log house, and made a small clearing, but was obliged to work out by the day to procure the ne cessaries of life. From this small beginning he has made steady improvements, adding other lands until he now has two hundred and fifty acres, one-half of which is in a good state of cultivation. The log house has long since given place to a comfortable frame house with pleasant surroundings. And now this pioneer couple, after an industrious life of nearly fourscore years, are in possession of all their faculties, good health, and an ample compe tency. They have been the parents of four children, two of whom are now living. George married Adeline Vroman, and is a farmer in the town of Aurelius ; Harvey married Susan Bullen, and occupies the old homestead with his parents. Mr. Wilson united with the Methodist Church in England, and has since been a consistent member. Mrs. Wilson joined the Baptist Church when a young woman, and has never changed her religious views. Mr. Wilson has lived a quiet and retired life ; is a man of strong common sense and high moral princi ples, and industry and economy have been the cardi nal principles of his life. DELHI. 237 Delhi $308.74 Alaiedon 486.41 Lansing 528.56 Meridian 441.10 $1764.81 The first accounts audited by the town board of Delhi, Oct. 7, 1842, were as follows : Hiram Tobias $8.50 Anson Jackson* 6.50 John North 1.50 Caleb Thompson ' 4.63 Roswell Everett 3.00 H. H. North 2.49 David Wait 75 John Ferguson 10.50 Joseph Hudson 50 D. H. Stanton 1.00 Alonzo Douglass 1.00 Samuel Dunn 1.00 $41.37 The town clerk was directed to draw orders for the same. The first jurors drawn in the township of Delhi was in 1843, and the following is a correct list of their names from the record : Roswell Everett, Hiram Tobias, Alexander B. Morton, Darius Abbott, John Ferguson, Henry H. North, Joseph Wilson, I. R. Trembly, David Wait, Alonzo Doug lass, John Davis, Frederick R. Luther, Thomas J. Brown, John Norris. The petit and grand jurors so drawn first appear in 1844, and the following list shows their names : Grand Jurors. — John North, William Long, Z. L. Holmes. Petit Jurors. — Ransom Everett, Philander Morton, Amasa Fuller. TAVEEN LICENSES. The following are the earliest licenses issued, as shown by the township record : " Know all men by these presents, that we, the undersigned, the township board of the township of Delhi, do grant unto John Fer guson, his heirs and assigns, license to keep an inn, and to retail wine and spirituous and fermented liquors, in the house now occupied by the said John Ferguson, on the east half of the northwest quarter of section No. 23, in the township of Delhi, County of Ingham, State of Michigan, until the first Monday of April, A.D. 1849. "David Wait, \ " Henry H. Nokth, ( » Hiram Tobias, f Township Board. " Thomas R. Mosher, J "Delhi, April 29, 1848." " Know all men by these presents, that we, the undersigned, tho township board of the township of Delhi, do grant unto Price W. Welch, his 'hears' and assigns, 'licence' to keep an inn, and to retail wine, spirituous, and fermented liquors, in the house now occu pied by the said Price W. Welch, on the southeast quarter of south west quarter of section No. 'foreteen,' in the Township of Delhi, County of Ingham, and State of Michigan, until the first Monday of April next. " David AVait, 1 " Henry H. North, V Township Board. " Thomas R. Mosher, j " By Thomas R. Mosher, " T. Clerk. "Dated Delhi, Jan. 6, 1849." "Received of J. Ferguson, April 30, 1848, $7.00 for license. $7.00." "Received of P. W. Welch, January 18th, 1849, $2.50 for license. $2.50." " Know all men by these presents, that ' wee,' the undersigned, the * County surveyor. Township Board of the town of Delhi, unto Price AV. Welch, his 'hears' and Assigns, 'Licence' to keep an inn, and to retail wine, spirituous, and fermented Liquors, in the house now occupied by the said Price W. Welch, on the southeast quarter of southwest quarter of section 14, in the town of Delhi, County of Ingham, and State of Michigan, said Licence to expire on the first Monday of April, a.d. 1850. " David AA'ait, -> "Henry H. North, L Tounship Board." " Thomas R. Mosher, J Hotel business must have been good in those days, or the landlords content with minor transactions, if two " inns" could be supported in a small hamlet at the same time. In 1854 the township board allowed P. W. Welch five dollars for the use of his house " for holding town-meetings and for other town business." SMALLPOX. In July and August, 1852, this dreaded disease visited Delhi and carried off a number of persons. Among those infected were Samuel Ferguson, Sally Morton, John Mor ton, Caroline Morton, the wife and minor children of A. B. Morton, Jeannette and Rachel Anderson, children of David Anderson ; Salem and Angeline Lamoreaux, chil dren of Harvey Lamoreaux ; Malinda Fishel, wife of Henry Fishel ; Lewis C. Burch, Mrs. Burch, and Danforth Burch. The board of health for the township took possession of the dwelling of Lewis C. Burch and made use of it for hos pital purposes for about a month ; and also employed the following persons to take care ofthe patients, — viz., Dr. L. R. Chaddock, physician, and Alonzo Douglass, Mrs. Burch. and Jeannette Anderson, as nurses. For their services they were paid the following sums : L. R. Chaddock $30.00 Alonzo Douglass 43.88 L. C. Burch (for house rent) 30.00 Mrs. L. C. Burch 15.00 Jeannette Anderson 12.00 William Ferguson, as messenger 4.00 Total $134.88 These sums were charged to several individuals as fol lows : Alexander B. Morton $37.50 Samuel Ferguson 13.28 L. C. Burch 35.52 Harvey Lamoreaux 24.50 David Anderson , 16.71 Henry Fishel 7.37 $134.88 WAE BOUNTIES. On the 16th of September, 1864, the electors of the township voted by forty-two against one to raise 82100 to pay volunteers at the rate of $100 each who should enlist from the township in the United States army. On the 6th of October, 1865, the township board resolved to raise the following amounts for the ensuing year : For veteran soldiers' fund $500 To pay a bounty of $150 to volunteers 1325 To pay a bounty of $100 to volunteers 3900 For contingent expenses 300 Total for 1866 $6025 On the 16th of September, 1864, the following orders were issued to volunteers for the army by authority of the township board. Whether the names are all those of sol diers is not stated : 238 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Peter Smith, $100; George Slater, $100; Eli AV. Chandler, $100; Thomas C. Smith, $100; George AV. Brown, SI 00; Frank Blatter, $100; S. S. Swazy, $222.45 ; Henry Chaddock, $150 ; John Doo- little, $55; Judson Cory, SI 50 ; Samuel AVilloughby, $150 ; AVil liam Willoughby, $150 ; D. T. Rowler, $150; H. E. North, $150; Albert Fishel, $150; Franklin Fuller, $100; AVilliam C. Beal, $100; Nathan L. Cooley, $100 ; Joel Dunn, $100; Frank Stone, $100 ; Addison Stone, $100; David Dawson, $100; Joseph Bush, $100; Leonard Murphy, $88; Benjamin Rutta, $150; Timothy L. Hilliard, $1 00 ; James Gorden, $70 ; John Hunt, $105 ; James Tower, $150; Conrad Helwig, $150 ; Robert Fulton, $150 ; John Surrato, $150; John Doolittle, $150; George Fishel, $100. No explanation of the sums other than $100 and $150 is given, but the people of the township may understand the matter. EAIF.WAY SUBSCEIPTION. On the 6th of November, 1866, the electors of the township voted by a large majority to subscribe the sum of $2500 to the stock of the Jaekson, Lansing and Saginaw Railroad Company, provided said company erected a passen ger and freight depot of specified dimensions at the cross ing of the highway leading northeast from Delhi Centre. At the town-meeting in the spring of 1868 a resolution to sell this stock to O. M. Barnes, of Lansing, for twenty- five cents on the dollar, was voted down. At a meeting ofthe township board, held Oct. 10, 1868, it was resolved to raise the sum of $2450 for the following purposes : For the payment of railroad bonds $1250.00 For interest on same 109.37 Balance due on railroad bonds of 1867 250.00 For highways, 1868 435.00 Other indebtedness 87.00 Other contingent expenses 318.63 $2450.00 The bonds were issued and negotiated with private par ties, and the town took $2500 in the stock of the railway company, which was held for a number of years. When there appeared a prospect that the road would be sold on first mortgage, the township by vote authorized the sale of the stock at the best offer which could be obtained, and they were disposed of to Hon. O. M. Barnes for about thirty cents on the dollar. The bonds of the township were paid in full, with the specified interest. The proceeding was sharply criticised by many, but it was probably the best possible disposition that could then have been made, for, had the road been sold, the town would have realized very little. The purchase of these bonds by individuals interested in the road possibly pre vented its sale upon the mortgage. EAELY EOADS.* The first road in the early records of the old township of Alaiedon was established July 3, 1839. It was known as the State road, from Little Rapids, on the Grand River, to Mason, in the township of Vevay, and is described as follows : "Beginning on the east bank of Grand River, 20 rods west of the east line of section 20, town 4 north, range 2 west, running south J * The earliest road in the records, though recorded after a number of others, appears to have been the Luther road, in the northeast part of the township. Laid in May, 1838, by Anson Jackson, sur veyor. west, 2 miles, 161 rods, 14 links, to town-line, 20 rods west of the corners of sections 32 and 33 ; thence easterly on said town-lino 178 rods, 23 links; thence south 30° 6' east, 316 rods, 12 links in town 3 north, of range 2 west, to east line of section 4; thence southerly on said line 30 rods to corners of sections 3, 4, 9, and 10; thence east erly on section-line 160 rods to north quarter-post of section 10' thence south 13° 6' east, 279 rods ; thence south 9° 30' west, 32 rods- thence south 23° 30' east, 58 rods, to corner of sections 10, 11 14 and 15-; thence southerly on section-lines 3 miles, 316 rods; thence south 11° west to town-line. Whole distance through townships 3 and 4, 9 miles, 253 rods, 3 links. " F. R. Luther, "Joshua North, " H. Converse, " Commissioners appointed by the State. " Alaiedon, July 3, 1839." The surveyor's name is not given, but it was probably Anson Jackson. Norris Road. — On the 6th of July, 1839, the commis sioners of Alaiedon and Aurelius established the above- named road on the town-line between the two towns men tioned, and running on the north line of sections 3 and 4 in what is now Aurelius, and sections 33 and 34 in Delhi township, 2 miles and 2 links, intersecting the State road near the comers of sections 2 and 3 in Aurelius and 34 and Sfc'm Delhi. Everett Road. — This was laid Dec. 29, 1840. Begin ning 40 rods west of the corners of sections 3, 4, 9, and 10, and running thence west on section-line 280 rods to the corners of sections 4, 5, 8, and 9. A. Jackson, sur veyor. Morton Road. — Laid Oct. 7, 1839. Commencing at the corners of sections 14, 15, 22, and 23, and running east 204 rods; thence north, 48° east, 26 rods; thence south, 57° east, to the north line of section 24 ; thence east on section-line 284 rods, 20 links ; thence north 76f ° east, 6 rods and 4 links to town-line. This is the road which now runs east from Delhi Centre. Town-Line Road. — On the east Hue of section 1. Tobias Road. — Running west 1 mile from corners of sec tions 14, 15, 22, 23. Laid Dec. 30, 1840. The Ferguson Road. — On section 13. Laid June 4, 1841. Town-Line Road. — On section 6. Laid June 4, 1841. The following field notes regarding highways are under date of June 9, 1843 : "Beginning at the northeast corner of section No. 19, in township No. 3 north, of range 2 west, thence south on the east line of sections Nos. 19, 30, and 31, to tho township-line." This was known as the " Grovenburgh road." At a meeting of the commissioners of highways, held on the 3d of November, 1843, it was resolved that the follow ing field notes should be the centre of a public highway four rods wide, — viz. : " Beginning at the southeast corner of seotion No. 19, in township No. 3 north, of range No. 2 west; thence on the south line of said section, 82 chains and 66 links, to the southwest corner of the sec tion, where it intersects the county-line." Surveyed Nov. 3, 1843, by Thomas J. Brown, Deputy County Surveyor. This was known as the " McKeough road." Cook Road.— Under date of Nov. 25, 1843, is the fol lowing : DELHI. 239 " Beginning at the quarter-post in the west line of section No. 24, in township No. 3 north, of range 2 west; thence north 15' west on said section-line, seven chains; thence north 37° 5' east, five chains; thence north 16° 55' west, ten chains ; thence north 43° 55' west three chains and thirty -eight links; thence north 15' west, on the section-line, twelve chains sixty-two links, to the northwest corner of said section 24; thence on the west lino of section 13 four chains and fifty links, where it intersects the centre of the highway run by true meridian, 3° 5' east." Surveyed by Thomas J. Brown, Nov. 4, 1843. The commissioners of highways at that time were D. H. Stanton and Hiram Tobias. On the 20th of March, 1844, a road was laid from the west quarter-post of section 29, to the centre of the section, and was called the " Blodgett road." The Spring Brook Road was originally laid out March 20, 1844, through the centre of sections No. 8 and 17. The Parish Road was laid out on the 14th day of March, 1844, on the north line of sections 35 and 36. The Burch Road was laid out March 21, 1844, on the west line of section 22. The Town-Line Roadwas laid out Nov. 10, 1845, on the south line of section 32, by the commissioners of highways for the townships of Delhi and Aurelius. B. Dunn, Seth North, Ansel Priest, Commissioners for Delhi ; John Wright, Alexander Waggoner, Commissioners for Aure lius. The earliest subdivision of the townships into road dis tricts appears by the record to have been in 1843, when there were eight. In 1848 there were twelve, in 1860 twenty-two, and in 1880 thirty-seven, road districts, or more than one to each section in the township. HOTELS. The first building used for a tavern at the Centre was erected by Price W. Welch, probably in 1848 ; at any rate, we find by the township record that he was licensed on the 6th of January, 1849, to keep an inn and sell liquors from that date to the 1st of April following, and this must have been in the old tavern stand, as it is de scribed as being on the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 14. The first license to keep a hotel and sell liquors was granted to John Ferguson on the 29th of April, 1848; and, according to the record, his house was located on the east half of the northwest quarter of section 23, which would be on the south side of the east-and-west road pass ing through the Centre, and west of the quarter-section line, which passed a little east of the school-house. Fer guson afterwards erected and kept a tavern at the " Five Corners," where he was subsequently burned out. Among the landlords who have kept the regular hotel at the Centre may be mentioned Joseph Hunt, William Wil- loughby, Frank North, John Decker, and John Ferguson. The present landlord is David Laycock. George Phillips, the first settler at the Centre, opened the first place for the accommodation of the public in his dwelling on the northeast quarter of section 22, some time in the spring of 1847, but the place was not considered a regular hotel. He also had the post-office in bis house when first established at the Centre. POST-OFFICE. The first post-office in the township was kept in the dwelling of George Phillips, the first settler at the Centre, in 1839. The office was established, as near as can be as certained, about 1848. How long Mr. Phillips, who was a farmer, kept the office, is not known, but Price W. Welch, who opened a hotel in 1848, seems to have suc ceeded Mr. Phillips after a short time. Caleb Thompson succeeded Welch in 1858, and held until 1861. Mr. Thompson was then in trade, and the office was kept in his store. Samuel Hoffman, who also was a merchant, succeeded him in 1861, and had the office in his place of business, but he seems to have held it only a short time, and was fol lowed by S. S. Gidney, who officiated for a brief period about 1863, and was followed by Mr. Hoffman. After him came Lyman W. Baker, and he was succeeded by the present incumbent, James Wigman, in March, 1878. The office was known as Delhi Centre until about 1859, when it was named Holt, in compliment to Postmaster-General Holt. The first mails were few and far between, but now the office is in daily communication with the outside world by mail, telegraph, and telephone. MERCHANTS. There was never any village plat laid out at the Centre, all the lots being sold and described by metes and bounds, but it has been the location of nearly all the business in terests of the town. The first mercantile establishment was opened by Robert Smith about 1857. In 1859, Messrs. Mosher & Thompson bought him out, and con tinued until 1862, when Mosher sold his farm and re moved to East Saginaw, selling his interest in the store to Mr. Thompson, who continued the business until 1864. He and Mosher had also carried on the boot and shoe business together. Mosher sold the shoe business to Samuel F. Hoffman, and Thompson took the dry goods. During their continuance together Mr. Thompson was deputy post master for Hoffman. Thompson sold his interest to Hoff man in 1864. Hoffman and Watson were also together in trade for a while. Hoffman sold to Watson. Messrs. Elmer & Baker were also in business together for a time. Several others were probably in trade at different periods. U. T. Watrous was running a mercantile establishment at the old corner in September, 1880, but was on the point of disposing of the business to a new party. The new frame store was erected by Elmer & Baker. The first merchants who kept where the post-office build ing now stands were Messrs. Hoffman & Watson. Others have been Henry Lott, and Lott & Wigman, who were burnt out in the spring of 1879. Mr. James Wigman erected the new brick store in 1879. He had also been previously burnt out on the opposite side of the street. He built the brick store after being burnt out the second time. MANUFACTUEES. The manufacturing establishments of a farming commu nity must necessarily be neither many nor extensive; never theless, they are of sufficient importance to demand notice 240 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. in Delhi township, and we give what information has been obtained concerning them. Steam Saw-Mills. — The first steam saw-mill in the town ship was built by Messrs. Lee & Cory, a firm from Ohio, in 1856. They operated it for a while, and it then changed hands a number of times until about 1864, when Mr. J. M. Abels purchased it and kept in operation for about three years, and sold to John M. Keller, who operated it for several years, and sold to John Krotz, his brother-in-law, who is still the owner. It is an " upright" mill, and is propelled by a thirty horse-power steam-engine. J. M. Abels erected the mill he now owns in the village of Holt in 1870. It is fitted with circular saws, and con structed to do a heavy business. A shingle-mill was added about 1871. Previous to the erection of this mill, Mr. Abels operated a portable mill on the ground for a short time. The new mill did an extensive business for a number of years, until the visible supply of timber began to diminish and the introduction of pine lumber and shingles lessened the demand to a considerable extent for hard-wood lumber, and particularly shingles. In the busiest times employment was furnished to five first-class hands, and lumber to the amount of 1,500,000 feet was manufactured in a single season, working about eight to nine months. The amount produced has some what diminished with the diminishing demand, and the present year — 1880 to 1881 — the number of feet will be about 700,000. The mill has always had a capacity exceed ing the demand. It is run by a sixty horse-power steam- engine. Mr. Abels was formerly in the same business with Mr. Christopher Haag at Windsor, Eaton Co., Mich. He sold out to his partner and removed to Delhi, as before stated, in 1864. He was formerly from Weedsport, Cayuga Co., N. Y., from which place ho removed to Potterville, Eaton Co., Mich., in 1857. Christopher Haag removed the machinery of the Wind sor Mill to section 5, Delhi township, where he erected a new mill in 1864, and has since continued the business. His mill is fitted up with upright saws and run by steam. He does a smaller business than Mr. Abels, but runs nearly continuously the year round. Carriage- and Wagon-Shops. — Addison Stone has been in the carriage business at the " Five Corners" for ten or twelve years. For some years he carried on quite an extensive business, but for a number of years past has been principally engaged in farming. Augustus Julleer opened a shop at the Centre in April, 1878, and is doing most of the business in the carriage line. He manufactures carriages and wagons, wheelbar rows, etc., and does general repairing work. The present blacksmith at the Centre is John West. The first blacksmith at the Centre was probably Nelson Hilliard, who began at the Corners. He now has a shop on section 10. ^ Foundry and Repair- Shops.— An establishment of this kind was put in operation on section 24, about half a mile southeast from Holt Station, by Edwin Shaw in the spring of 1875. Israel Wood became interested in the fall of 1879. The business includes the manufacture of land-rollers plows, drags, cultivators, and general repairing. Power is furnished by a steam-engine. The firm is now Shaw & Wood. The location is not favorable for prosperous busi ness, and the intention is to eventually remove to a better business point. Brick. — Messrs. Henry Lott and M. T. Brown opened a brickyard on the southwest quarter of section 13, and have manufactured brick during the two seasons of 1879 and 1880. There are also three cider-mills in the township. E. W. Mooers has quite an extensive establishment run by steam on the southeast quarter of section 9. At the Centre are two shoemakers, Charles Goldwood and Adam Finkbin- der, and one harness-maker, Lewis Rupert. VILLAGES. The two clusters of buildings known as the Centre (or Holt) and Five Corners contain three churches, one hotel, two general stores, one post-office, three physicians (one a mile west), two wagon-shops, a fine school building, a steam saw-mill, a harness-shop, two blacksmiths, and about thirty-two dwellings, among the most conspicuous of the latter being those of Dr. Chaddock and H. J. Aldrich, the latter of brick. A village called " Delhi" was laid out originally at the railroad station known as Holt by Matthew King, who was proprietor of the land ; but failing to place his plat on record, after selling a number of lots, he joined the several owners and perfected the legal title by recording the plat and proprietors' names. The names of these, as they appear on the record at the register's office in Mason, are Minor E. Park, Matthew King, J. M. Abels, Stephen Cronkite, and George Mauk, and the date of platting July 24, 1877. Within the limits of this plat, which probably covers some sixty acres, there are the passenger station, a grain elevator and freight depot combined, the steam-mill of J. M. Abels, and about a dozen dwellings. A telephone connects the station with Holt post-office, and there is an express and telegraph office also. CEMETEEIES. There are two cemeteries in the township, one on the southwest quarter of section 3, containing an acre, pur chased of Joshua North about 1842, which cost the town ship fifteen dollars, and one at the Five Corners, on section 14, probably purchased about 1853, aud containing also about an acre. In that year the sum of $100 was ex pended in surveying and platting the last-mentioned one. Both are situated upon sandy or gravelly knolls, and are in good condition. PHYSICIANS. Leverett R. Chaddock was born in Alexander, Gen esee Co., N. Y., Aug. 7, 1824. His early education was obtained at the seminaries of Alexander and Bethany, in Genesee County. In 1845 he removed to Lapeer Co., Mich., and subsequently to Ionia County. He read medi cine with Dr. Cornell, of Ionia, and attended medical colleges at Cleveland and Chicago. In 1850 he settled in Delhi, where he has since practiced his profession and won DELHI. 241 a good reputation as a professional gentleman and citizen. He belongs to the regular school. Dr. William Matthaei, a graduate of Ann Arbor, and a student of medical schools in Germany, removed to Delhi from Lansing, where he had been in practice, about 1868, and has since practiced there. He resides about one mile and a half west from the Centre, and is a member of the homoeopathie school. Dr. Joel S. Wheelock was born in Lockport, Niagara Co., N. Y. He was educated at the Michigan University, where he graduated June 27, 1878. He also attended the college at Battle Creek, Mich., and resided in that city and in Midland County for a number of years previous to at tending the university. He located and commenced practice in Delhi (at the Centre) in the fall of 1878, and from small beginnings has built up quite an extensive and lucrative practice, and has won a fine reputation. He is a disciple of Hahnemann. SECULAE OEDEES. Delhi Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, No. 322, was organized in March, 1874. The charter bears date at Washington, D. O, July 8, 1874. The charter members numbered about thirty, and the paying membership is now about forty-five. The grange meets in a hall over the store of Wyman & Bond. The Worthy Masters have been John Ferguson, Dan H. Rice, Benjamin Ohlinger, William Cook, and George D. Green. INDEPENDENT ORDER OF GOOD TEMPLARS. A lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars was organized in March, 1879, with nineteen members. The charter bears date March 3, 1879. The Worthy Chiefs have been V. D. Green, M. T. Brown, John West, 0. D. Wright, H. J. Bond. The present membership is about sixty-five. A Red Ribbon Club was organized in 1877, and the membership has been as high as 200. The present presi dent is M. W. Hill. SCHOOLS. The first record touching school districts in the township bears date March 2, 1843, at which time the boundaries of school district No. 1 are described as follows : Sections Nos. 15, 22, west half of 23, and 14. Though this is the first action, it appears farther along in the record that District No. 2 was organized as a school district on the 6th of December, 1842, and was composed of sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. The school inspec tors were then David Wait and Caleb Thompson. District No. 3 is described, under date of March 2, 1843, as being comprised of sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 24, 25, and the east half of 14, 23, 26. At a meeting of the inspectors, held May 6, 1843, Thomas J. Brown was appointed " to visit and examine the several schools that may be taught in the Township, and to give such advise to both teachers and scholars as he may think propper." Fractional District No. 4, of Delhi and Alaiedon, was formed March 22, 1844, to include sections 25 and 36 in 31 Delhi, and sections 30, 31, and part of 32, and the west half of the southeast quarter of section 29 in Alaiedon. District No. 5 was formed April 23, 1853. Among the early school inspectors were Thomas J. Brown, Israel R. Trembly, David Wait, R. P. Everett, Don A. Watson, H. H. North, James Joles, Manning Curry, L. R. Chaddock, and John D. Cory. All previous to 1860. In the list of early teachers examined and licensed we find the following : x Elizabeth Everett, licensed to teach in District No. 2, Sept. 28, 1843 ; Thomas J. Brown, in District No. 1 , same date ; Randolph Strickland, examined and granted cer tificate to teach in District No. 1, Dec. 21, 1844; F. M. Cowles, Dec. 6, 1845 ; Rebecca Wells, May 2, 1846 ; John Ferguson, Dee. 5, 1846 ; Orpha Matteson, May 3, 1847 ; Eunice C. Hilliard, May 25, 1847 ; Don A. Watson, Nov. 11, 1847; Louisa G. Joslyn, Dec. 22, 1847; David W. Sanford, George McEwen, Dec. 11, 1848; Mary Jane Ferguson, April 24, 1849 ; Adelia Monroe, May 15, 1849 ; Mary Jane Amesbury, July 4, 1849 ; Elihu Elwood, Nov. 3, 1849 ; Charles S. Davis, Dec. 15, 1849 ; Betsy J. How ard, April 13, 1850. LIBRARY. Provision was made for a library on the 1st of February, 1845, at which time the inspectors drew up a long and ex ceedingly judicious list of books which were to be pur chased, comprising about fifty choice volumes. Amount of primary school money divided among the several districts in 1850 : " " 2.... " " 5 " 8 amor Children. 67 43 . , 22 18 g the severa Amount. $28.23 18.11 9.267.5S The amount divided was as below : District No. 1 $63.18 districts in 1856 $53.53 " " 2 " " 3 15.37 " " 4 " " 5 9.54 " " 6 " 8 1859: 18.55 Amount divided in " " 2 $154.23 " " 3 " " 4 " " 5 42.39 " " 6 40.00 Fractional District No. 1 .. " " " 8.. 10.25 $394.96 For 1867 it was as follows : District No. 1 $50.40 " 2 28.35 " 3 20.25 " 4 14.40 " 5 14.85 " 6 17.10 ractional District No. 1 17.55 " " " 8 29.25 $192.15 The fines money for the same year amounted to $9.57. 242 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. The total amount distributed for 1874 was $234.50, and of fines money $20.70 ; total, $255.20. EARLY SCHOOLS. The first school in the township was taught in the cabin of George Phillips, in 1840, by his sister-in-law, Miss Lydia M. Wells, now Mrs. William P. Robbins, of Alaiedon. She also taught the first two terms in the log school-house at the Centre. Thomas North was among the early teachers, and taught iu District No. 2 as early (his brothers think) as 1841. There was probably a school in District No. 1 as early as 1840. The first school taught in No. 2 was in a shanty on the farm of Roswell Everett, by Miss Buck. The first school building at the Centre was of logs, on the ground near where now stands the present fine brick build ing, and according to the best information was erected as early as 1840. It served a very good purpose until about 1852, when a larger frame building was erected where the log oue stood. This did duty until 1875, when the present building was erected at a cost, exclusive of furniture, of about $1800. The furniture cost $500. The old building was moved a few rods to give place to the new one, and is still standing. The. new one has a fine cupola and bell. It is divided into two large rooms, and has accommodations for 100 scholars. The present school is divided into two departments, primary and intermediate, and employs two teachers. It is the largest school in the township. The next largest is the Maple Grove School No. 5, fractional with Windsor township, in Eaton County. The number of school districts in 1880 is eleven, of which seven are whole districts and four fractional. Number of school buildings (brick, 2; wood, 8) 10 Value of school property $6550.00 Total expenses for year 2357.91 Total number of school-children between the ages of live and twenty years 481 CHUECHES. First Presbyterian. — This church was organized April 5, 1865, principally through the instrumentality of Rev. Alfred Bryant. Rev. Horace Kittredge was also a valuable assistant in the enterprise. The original members were as follows : James Thorburn, Sr. (since dead), William Som- merville, Mrs. Jane Sommerville (since dead), Mrs. Mary Hedden, Susan Thompson, Mrs. Harriet Stanton, Mrs. Fanny Harkness, Church Wilber, Mrs. Hannah Wilber, James Thorburn, Jr., Marion Thorburn, Casper Lott, Cath erine Lott, Mrs. Maria L. Mallory (since dead), Miss Alice M. Mallory, now Mrs. Pixley; Miss Hattie Stanton, now Mrs. Bristol ; Mrs. Arrena Gunn, now Widow Strickland ; William Irwin ; Mrs. Lane Thorburn, now Mrs. G. W. Mallory. Mr. G. W. Mallory joined at a later date. The first minister was Rev. Alfred Bryant, as stated supply, who remained three years, when he removed to North Lansing. Rev. Hosea Kittredge succeeded as stated supply May 9, 1869, and continued until April, 1871. Following him in September, 1872, came Rev. J. E. Weed, who officiated until April, 1877. Rev. J. E. Bucher, from New York, then preached for about four months in the summer of 1877, and was followed by Rev. Alfred Bryant a second time, who filled the desk from the fall of 1877 to June, 1880, when he retired on account 6f ad vancing age and ill health, removing to 'Lansing, where he has a home. At present (September, 1880) the society is without a settled pastor. The church edifice at the Centre was erected in 1869 at a cost of about $2000, of which sum $500 was contributed by the general church erection board. It was dedicated Oct. 3, 1869. It has a tower and bell. The bell weighsi 500 pounds, and was purchased in Cincinnati, Ohio, at a cost of $150. The church is also furnished with a cabinet organ, which cost about $200. The present membership is about eighty. A Sabbath- school was organized near the time the church was com pleted. It was at first a mission school of the Methodists and Presbyterians, but has been a Presbyterian school since about 1870. It has an average attendance of some 100 scholars, with five officers and eleven teachers. The present ruling elders are Casper Lott and G. W. Mallory. The board of trustees is composed of Casper Lott, James Thorburn, William Cook, W. H. Churchill, L. W. Baker, and William Long; Clerk, G. W. Mallory. Methodist Episcopal. — There were a few Methodists living in Delhi at an early date, probably at the first settle ment of the township ; and Rev. Bennett preached occa sionally in the dwellings of the settlers or in the early school buildings. Among the early ones were Mrs. Isabella Abbott, Mrs. George Phillips (the latter since dead), Mrs. Dr. Chaddock, Mrs. Alonzo Douglass (since dead), and possibly others. William Mayer, a native of England, who settled in Ohio in 1850, and removed to Delhi in 1854, and Albert Me- Ewen, from Ohio, were early members. About 1854, Mr. McEwen organized a class. At first meetings were held in the old school building at the Coiners, and at a later date in the German Methodist church at the " Five Corners," the Germans and others using the building alternately. This arrangement continued for about five years. The individuals of this society assisted in the building of the German church. The new Methodist Episcopal church at the Centre was erected in 1876, at a cost of about $1500. It is furnished with a bell and cabinet organ. Among the earlier preachers were Revs. Clump, Kellogg, Dodge, and Crittenden. The first who preached in the new edifice was Rev. Jason Cadwell, and following him came Rev. B. W. Smith. The ministers who have officiated at Delhi have for a number of years resided at Okemos, in Meridian township, where there is an older society. The Delhi society formerly belonged to the Mason Cir cuit. The present circuit comprises Okemos, Delhi, Alaie don, and perhaps other points. The present membership of the Delhi society is about sixty, divided into three classes. A Sabbath-school, with about fifty scholars and five teachers, is sustained. German Blethodist Episcopal. — This church was organ ized in 1873, and in the same year a building for public worship was erected at what is known as the " Five Cor ners," — half a mile from the Centre, or Holt post-office, — at a cost of $2000. The parsonage at the Corners is val ued at $800. Property of Wm.CQOK, Delh i , Michigan DELHI. 243 The pastors of this society, who reside here, have been Revs. G. A. Reuter, G. H. Fiedler, A. Mayer, and the present incumbent, Daniel Volz. The original members were A. Helmker, local preacher ; A. Wiegman, J. Schroitzgaebel, G. Diehl, L. Diehl, G. Roth, Ernest Diehl, G. Ahrend. The congregation of the church at present numbers 118 full members and 10 pro bationers. The church sustains a flourishing Sabbath-school, with 70 scholars, and 20 officers and teachers, and has a very good library of 150 volumes. The pastor of this church also holds services at Okemos, where there is a small society of German Methodists. Obligations are tendered to Joshua North, Caleb Thomp son, Matthew King, Minor E. Park, J. M. Abels, Dr. L. R. Chaddock, G. W. Mallory, William Mayer, Rev. D. Volz, and others, who rendered valuable assistance in com piling the history of Delhi. BIOGEAPHIOAL SKETCHES. WILLIAM COOK. WILLIAM COOK was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, Feb. 20, 1818. His father, John Cook, was a cooper, and William worked with him until he was fifteen years of age, when he left home and worked as a farm-hand for several years, contributing to the support of his father's family. May 28, 1841, he married Jeannette, daughter of William King, of the parish of Lesmahagow, Scotland, where she was born Nov. 28, 1824. In July, 1843, William Cook and his wife came to America and settled in Delhi, having just sufficient money to purchase forty acres of land from the government. He worked at such employment as offered for a year or more, when he built a log house, into which they moved in January, 1845. His land was situated in a dense forest of heavy timber. With little or no means, the improvements were made with the greatest difficulty. Dur ing the first two years some ten acres of land cleared was all that could be done ; and so on, year by year, the im provements have been made, and other lands added, until the original forty acres have expanded to a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres. The small clearing has grown to broad and well-cultivated fields ; the log house has long since been superseded by a commodious brick res- MRS. WILLIAM COOK. idence. While the farm has been enlarged, the family have kept pace; nine children have been born, six of whom are now living, five sons and one daughter, and all of whom have received liberal educations. Two of the sons, William G. and James D., are lawyers, and settled at Texarkana, Ark. ; John B., M. J., and Geo. W. remain at the old homestead ; the daughter, Sarah Ann, married John C. Gunn, a farmer in Delhi. Mr. Cook, wishing to be relieved from the cares of so large a farm, has built a residence near the former one, where the pioneer couple are handsomely situated, to enjoy their ample competency, leaving the care of the farm to the sons. Mr. Cook's habits of industry, early formed, have never deserted him. Being public-spirited and enterprising and decidedly in favor of educating the masses, he is a valuable man in the community, and has aided largely in estab lishing and improving the schools of the district. Mr. and Mrs. Cook were members of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland; -they affiliated with that organiza tion in the United States, and contribute liberally to its support. Politically, Mr. Cook is a Democrat, and has held several offices of trust and honor in the town. 244 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. MRS. JOHN THORBURN. JOHN THORBURN. John Thorburn was born in the parish of Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, March 29, 1824. At the age of twenty-three he had served four years as an apprentice to the blacksmith's trade, and worked six years as a journey man. He emigrated to America in 1848, in company with his younger brother, Robert, his father and mother fol lowing the next year. He worked a short time at his trade in Pittsburgh, Pa., but came to Michigan the same year and located one hundred and twenty acres of land in Delhi, which is a part of the farm he now owns. He chopped five or six aeres of woodland and built a log house, which his father occupied the next spring. He then worked four years in Ypsilanti, Mich., and from there went to Lansing JOHN TtlORBUBN. in 1852 and commenced blacksmithing in North Lan sing. Two years later he married Miss Hannah J. Olds, who was born in Prattsburg, N. Y., in 1829, and came to Michigan in 1832. He worked five years and did a suc cessful business ; but his health failing he moved to his present home in Delhi, and turned his attention to the management of the farm and to stock-raising. He has now over eight hundred acres of land in a high state of cultivation, with good buildings and fences, and a large part of it tile-drained. He owns a very fine herd of short horn cattle, and sheep and swine of the most improved breeds. He has three sons,— James B., who is superin tending the farm ; William Warren, who is also a farmer; and Robert Clark, who is at home with his parents. INGHAM. NATURAL FEATURES. GEOGRAPHY, TOPOGRAPHY, Etc. The township of Ingham occupies a position immediately southeast of the centre of the county of the same name, and is bounded north by Wheatfield, east by White Oak, south by Bunker Hill, and west by Vevay. The west line of the township is the principal meridian of the State, and the tier of sections lying next it are fractional, being less than half-size, caused by the variation of the surveys on the east side of the meridian. Both the township-lines and the subdivisions were surveyed by Joseph Wampler, the former in 1824, and the latter in 1826. Ingham township is watered by Deer and Doan Creeks, both of which flow in a northerly direction into the Cedar River. Deer Creek takes its rise in the township, as does also one branch of Doan Creek. The surface of the town is much diversified, hill, dale, and plain, with occasional swamps, being found. In some portions it resembles the more level portions of New England, and the fine beech and maple woods can nowhere be surpassed. In the southern portion are two small lakes, which drain south into Bunker Hill. Dansville is a thriving village of 440 inhabitants, situated at the centre of the township. " Meadville" is a locality in the southeast part of town. LAND ENTEIES. The tract book at the office of the county register shows the following entries of land in town 2 north, range 1 east, (now Ingham) : ¦hoiw d£iH73(j'NyngyOHl NHOr^o son^a/ssy uyvj TtVA3&aid„ INGHAM. 245 Section 1. — Caleb Carr, May 26, 1836 ; Jeremiah Newton, June 6, 1836; Simeon Oaks, June 6, 1836; William Reid, Jr., July 8, 1836; William E. Burton, Aug. 6, 1838; Samuel Mulholland, Sam uel Mulholland, Jr., and William Mulholland, Nov. 26, 1836. Section 2.— Caleb Carr, June 3, 1836 ; Oswell Willard, July 11, 1836; Caleb Carr, Sept. 21, 1836. Section 3. — Russell Winchell, Cornelius R. Foster, Juue 8, 1836 ; Elijah S. M. Steves, Seth P. Benson, June 20, 1836; Aretus Dunn, March 13, 1837. Section 4. — Benjamin Worden, June 15, 1836 ; Seth P. Benson, June 25, 1836; Lyman Betts, Nov. 14, 1836; Isaac F. Dunn, Feb. 25, 1837. Section 5. — Lansing B. Mizner and Richard Clark, July 7, 1836 ; Josiah Snow, Aug. 4, 1836; Ebenezer Learned, Oct. 27, 1836; Daniel H. Mills, Stephen Mills, Jan. 13, 1837; Benjamin B. Kercheval, Feb. 3, 1837; Isaac F. Dunn, March 13, 1837. Section 6. — Charles Thayer, Feb. 5, 1836 ; Sylvanus P. Jermain, April 7, 1836 ; Jacob M. Howard, June 4, 1836. Section 7.— Charles H. and William T. Carroll, Juno 22, 1836; John B. Banter, June 23, 1836. Section 8. — Mizner and Robinson, July 7, 1836 ; Benjamin F. Burnett, Sept. 21, 1836; Seth Spencer, Sept. 23, 1836; Phebe L. Branson, Oct. 31, 1836; Benjamin B. Kercheval, Nov. 26, 1836; William Bothwell, March 13, 1837. Section 9. — George W. Wait, June 10, 1836 ; Oliver Ranney, June 11, 1836; Randolph W. Whipple, June 25, 1836; Isaac F.Dunn, Feb. 25, 1837 ; John A. Torrey, Feb. 7, 1844. Section 10 James Bond, Elijah S. M. Steves, Henry Harmon, Seth P. Benson, B. B. Kercheval, no dates. Section 11. — Horace Warner, April 21, 1836, Lucius Wilson, Susan T. Leach, May 18,1836; Samuel Ward, May 19, 1836; Jesse Dewey, May 28, 1836; John Whiting, Nov. 30, 1836; Eliphas F. Daggett, Jan. 19, 1839. Section, 12. — Joel Dunn, March 23, 1836; Erastus Hickley, May 23, 1836; Cargill Wheeler, Kirtland Wheeler, May 24, 1836; Wil liam Carr, May 26, 1836; Horace W. Brown, June 30,1836; James H. Wood, July 15, 1836; David S. Kates, Aug. 5, 1836. Section 13. — Joshua Doan, Amaziah Winchell, March 8, 1836; Marcus Beers, March 23, 1836; Jabez W. Brown, April 5, 1836; William Parks, April 8, 1836 ; Healey and Kercheval, May 31, 1836. Section 14.' — Asa Crosman, Samuel Crosman, May 28, 1836 ; Healy and Kercheval, May 31, 1836. Section 15.— Isaac Phillips, April 9,1836; Asa Crosman, Samuel Crosman, Rachel P. Hitchcock, May 28, 1836. Section 16. — J. W. Post, J. M. Edwards, no dates. Section 17. — Robert F. Palmer, June 6, 1836; Benjamin F. Burnett, Sept. 21, 1836 ; Seth Spencer, Sept. 23, 1836 ; Joseph E. Beebe, Jan. 10, 1856. Section 18. — Thomas Clough, entire section, Feb. 20, 1837. Section 19. — Joseph S. Wilson, entire section, May 31, 1836. Section 20.— Elisha R. Searl, Joseph C. Wilson, Daniel Lattiner, May 31, 1836. Section 21.— Joseph S. Hendee, June 28 and Nov. 15, 1836; Hale Judkins, Dec. 13, 1836. Section 22.— Isaac Phillips, April 9, 1836; Joseph E. North, Jr., May 20, 1836 ; Daniel Sheldon (1st and 2d), May 28, 1836; Orson Sey mour, Dec. 16, 1836. Section 23.— Marvin Geer, May 30, 1836 ; Healy and Kercheval, May 31, 1836; Benjamin P. Avery, June 1, 1836; Stephen V. R. Bo- gert, Aug. 4, 1836 ; David S. Skates, Aug. 5, 1836. Section 24.— John D. Doan, Jan. 20, 1836; Jedediah Bennett, Maroh 8, 1836; Lydia Wilson, May 18, 1836; Erastus Hinckley, May 23, 1836 ; Zenas Atwood, May 26, 1836 ; Marvin Geer, May 30, 1836; William A. Bronson, June 27, 1836; David S. Skates, Aug. 15, 1836. Section 25.— Erastus Blanchard, March 10, 1836; John H. Bennett, April 13, 1836; Gedra Phillips, May 14, 1836; John Dakin, May 21, 1836; Caleb Carr, June 3, 1836; Bowen Hicks, June 14, 1836; Thomas Hunter, July 5, 1836; Jacob Dakin, Nov. 14, 1836; B. B. Kercheval, Feb. 4, 1837. Section 26.— Joseph E. North, April 23, 1836 ; John Dakin, May 21, 1836; Samuel B. Wessels, June 7, 1836; Stephen V. R. Bogert, Aug. 4, 1836. Section 27.— J. E. North, Jr., April 23, 1836; Daniel Peck, June 6, 1836 ; Lindsley Ward, Mark A. Squior, June 7, 1836. Section 28. — Hiram K. Smith, June 6, 1836; Don Carlos Smith, Oct. 29, 1836; Oliver M. Smith, Jr., Aug. 2, 1837.' Section 29. — Solomon A. Clark, Daniel Peck, June 6, 1836; Benjamin F. Burnett, Sept. 20 and 21, 1836; Peter Hartman, Sept. 23, 1836; Abner Potter, Nov. 4, 1836; Ezekiel Wilson, March 28, 1837. Section 30. — Benjamin F. Burnett, Sept. 20,1836; Ezekiel Wilson, March 18, 1837. Section 31. — Albert Hosmer, June 22, 1836; Reuben Robie, March 21, 1837. Section 32. — Thomas Smith, June 20, 1836 ; Peter Hartman, Sept. 23, 1836 ; John Burnett, Mary W. Fisk, April 24, 1837 ; Joseph E. Beebe, Jan. 10, 1856. Section 33.— Don Carlos Smith, Oct. 29, 1836; Joseph L. Hendee, Nov. 15, 1836; Amos Crosman, June 8, 1837. Section 34.— John D. Reeves, Nov. 17, 1836 ; Henry Smith, Nov. 18, 1836; Blois Hurd, July 10, 1837; Jacob Countryman, Sept. 11, 1849; Charles Arnold, Nov. 29, 1850. Section 35. — Joshua North, May 24, 1836; John D. Reeves, Nov. 17, 1836; William C. Harris, March 5, 1838; Jacob Countryman, Oct. 27, 1847. Section 36. — Silos Holt, Sept. 17, 1835 ; Governeur Kimble, March 19, 1836; John H. Bennett, April 13, 1836; Zephaniah Hicks, June 1&, 1836 ; Stephen V. R. Bogert, Aug. 4, 1836 ; John D. Reeves, Nov. 17, 1836. EARLY SETTLEMENT. Amaziah Winchell, a native of Plattsburgh, Essex Co., N. Y., wrote as follows in 1875 : "My first remembrance is the burning of the barracks and arsenal at Plattsburgh. Soon after my father moved to Ticonderoga, and in 1816 to Shoreham, Addison Co., Vt. In August, 1833, 1 was married to Rhoda Arvilla Abbott and came to Michigan; landed at Detroit, Sept. 8, 1833 ; settled in the town of Lima, Washtenaw Co. ; resided there until November, 1835, then moved to Pinckney, Livingston Co. Located my present home in Ingham County in 1836, it being the southeast quarter of section 13, town 2 north, of range 1 east. I have five children, — three sons and two daughters, — all living. I have never bad over nine months* schooling. The first pair of shoes I had was in the winter of 1824. I was one of ten children in my father's family, — four boys and six girls. My first hat cost me one bushel of wheat, which I picked up or gleaned after the reapers. I have voted at every election and town-meeting, except one, since I have resided in the State. I was orderly sergeant in the Washtenaw regiment dur ing the Toledo war ; have been sheriff of Ingham County four years ; superintendent of the county poor five years ; member of the Legisla ture one year, and held several of the town offices. Am now (1875) drain commissioner for Ingham County. I was the first barber in Ingham County that cut hair after the fashion of the country." Thomas Clough came from the State of New York in 1836, and settled at Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich., on the 14th of July in that year. December 2d, following, a son, Albert B. Clough, was born. Mr. Clough removed with his family to Ingham County, and settled in the town ship of Ingham, March 20, 1842. The family then con sisted of himself, his wife, and three children. They lived in a log house, with a clay hearth and stick chimney, and bears, wolves, and other wild animals were daily and nightly visitors. Mr. Clough died Aug. 29, 1878. Marcus Beers, a native of Darby, New Hav«n Co., Conn., settled at Ann Arbor, Mich., in September, 1833. About the last of May, 1836, he settled on section 13, in the town ship of Ingham, Ingham Co. He writes : " I hired two teams to move to my new home, and got to our cabin the third day about noon, all right and in good spirits. When I moved in Ingham there were but three families in the four townships, and our first organized town contained what are now Ingham, Wheatfield, White Oak, and Leroy." 246 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Mr. Beers' wife, Mrs. Lucinda Beers, who was a native of Dryden, Tompkins Co., N. Y., died in 1879. Abner Potter, from the State of New York, settled in this town with his family in 1839. He is now deceased. Several of his sons are residents of the county, — Allen, living iu Aurelius, Edmund in Leslie, and Elijah in Bunker Hill. Daniel, who also lived in the latter town, died Sept. 26, 1880. William, who settled in Gratiot County, is also deceased. The family came to Ingham County in very des titute circumstances, but its members who are living are now all independent. Reuben Torrey, who was born Jan. 7, 1789, in Guilford, Windham Co., Vt, settled in Lenawee Co.. Mich., May 23, 1837, and removed to and became a resident of Ingham township, Jan. 15, 1841. He died Oct. 31, 1875, at his residence in Ingham, in tbe eighty-seventh year of his age ; his wife's death occurred Dec. 29, 1861, when she was seventy-eight years old. Martin A. Sweet, a native of Slippery Rock, Mercer (now Lawrence) Co., Pa., came to this township and set tled in May, 1844; removed afterwards to Mason. Andrew Hunt, a native of Naples, Ontario Co., N. Y., settled in Ingham township in May, 1846, and says the first time he went to Mason he found but one mud-hole, and that extended the entire distance from Henry A. Hawley's to the village. John Potter, from Saratoga Co., N. Y., settled in the county in the fall of 1837, his parents having located in the township of Ingham, on section 29, where his father died in 1842, and his mother about 1850. Mr. Potter re moved to the township of Alaiedon about 1853. Bowen Hicks, a native of Homer, Cortland Co., N. Y., emigrated to Michigan in the spring of 1836, and settled in the town of Sharon, Washtenaw Co., where he lived until 1840, when he removed to Ingham County, and set tled in the township of Ingham on eighty acres of land he had purchased in the summer of 1836. Mr. Hicks died April 1, 1876, aged nearly sixty-nine years. Jabez W. Brown, who was born at Norfolk, England, came to America in 1827, and in 1836 became one of the first settlers in the township of Ingham, Ingham Co., Mich. His death occurred April 22, 1838, of heart dis ease, while visiting a sick brother in Oakland County. Joshua Doan and his son, John D. Doan, in company with Amaziah Winchell and Jedediah Bennett, came to what is now the township of Ingham in the winter of 1835-36, and purchased land on sections 13 and 24. Mr. Winchell employed a man to assist him, and early in the season of 1836 built on his place the first shanty erected in the township, remaining in it for several weeks, while the two chopped perhaps ten acres. Bennett also built a shanty at nearly the same time. He removed, after ten or twelve years, to Kalamazoo County, or some other locality in the western part of the State. The first of the men named to bring his family to the township was Joshua Doan, who came from Franklin Co., N. Y., about 1831, and settled at Dexter, Washtenaw Co., Mich., whence they came to Ingham in March, 1836. Snow lay quite deep on the ground, and Mrs. Doan was at the time suffering with the ague. Her illness necessitated a stop for rest and recuperation while on the way from Dexter. Mrs. Doan was the first white woman who came into the wilderness of Ingham to locate. Her death was caused by an acci dent about 1860-62; Mr. Doan died about 1848. A small shanty was built for the accommodation of the family after their arrival in the township, and on the place was cut some of the first timber felled by settlers in town. Tbe old farm is now occupied by Mr. Doan's son, Joshua Doan, Jr. Alonzo Doan, another son of the above, was a young man when his parents moved to this county. He visited them here in 1837, and about 1841 returned to Franklin Co., N. Y., where he remained ten years. During that time he was married, and in 1851 came back with his family to Michigan, and settled in the township of Wheatfield, where he at present resides. His brother, John D. Doan, is now a resident of Dexter. Benjamin Avery, from the town of Palmyra, Wayne Co., N. Y., settled with his family in Ingham about 1836-37, immediately south of Dansville, and is now living in the village, at the age of nearly eighty years. His son, Syl vester Avery, is one of the firm of Doan & Avery, fruit- dryers, at Dansville. In the southeast part of town is a locality known as " Meadville," which at one time was filled with the hope of some day becoming a metropolis. A man named Mead, from Milan (Unadilla), Livingston Co., built and conducted a hotel for several years, but finally, as his schemes were realized to be hopeless, he left the place, and it now con tains only a small store. Marvin Geer, from Lyons, Wayne Co., N. Y., settled in 1837, on section 24, near his present location, and the town ship has been his home most of the time since. His wife, a son, and a daughter accompanied him here. At that time there were living in the neighborhood, with their families, Marcus Beers, Shubael Waldo, Caleb Carr, and a man named Davidson ; Waldo and Davidson are now deceased. Davidson lived on the farm now owned by Henry Walker. Hubbard Dakin, from Allegany Co., N. Y., came to this county and settled at Dansville about 1843^44. Daniel Lebar, from the same locality, settled in the township in 1849. His son, Charles Lebar, is now a resident of the township of Bunker Hill.. Ephraim Walker, from Broome Co., N. Y., came to Ing ham Co., in April, 1842, and settled on a farm north of Dansville. He at present resides in the village, and at the age of seventy-eight years appears as young as many men of fifty. Zenas Atwood came with his family from Cayuga Co., N. Y., in October, 1836, and settled on the west half of the northeast quarter of section 24, in Ingham, having pur chased the land the previous spring. The family consisted of Mr. Atwood and his wife, four sons, and two daughters, two other daughters having remained in New York. Mr. Atwood died in October, 1850. His son, Marcus M. Atwood, who has practiced law for thirty years in the township, is now living at Dansville, where he located in September, 1858. Elias J. Smith, Esq., now of Dansville, came to Michi gan with his parents, in 1829, from Genesee Co., N. Y., and INGHAM. 247 settled in Washtenaw County. In 1836 he purchased land in Stockbridge, Ingham Co., to which town he removed in 1848.' Has lived in Dansville since November, 1862. Henry L. Strong, from Senate, Cayuga Co., N. Y., settled on a farm at what is now Dansville, in May, 1842, with his wife, who is a daughter of Samuel Crosman, at which time there were but four log houses on the site of the village, and possibly only three of them were occupied. The following resident taxpayers appear on the assess ment-roll for the township of Ingham in 1844 : William Reid, Jr., William Parks, Isaac Asseltine, Gaylord H. Hatch, Perry Crippen, Paul Otis, Caleb Carr, Hiram Fletcher, John Hutchinson, Josiah Camp, James Titus, Jr., Joseph T. Crandell, Hampton D. Granger, Romanzo J. Munn, Gardnor Fletcher, Stephen Curtis, Ephraim Walker, Elias S. Clark, Aaron M. Fitch, Jonathan Garrison, Julius Ranney, Cornelius N. Bevins, Henry Asseltine, Randolph W. Whipple, Allen H. Whipple, Benjamin E. Crandell, Samuel B. Gnrrison, Eli A. Pettit, Lyman Hobert, Benjamin F. Sawyer, Benjamin P. Avery, Ebenezer II. Cross- man, Robert Chappell. William Carr, William V. Corwin, James Huffman, Samuel Skadan, Amaziah Winchell, Jabez W. Brown, Joshua Doan, Andrew J. Townsend, Marcus Beers, Jesse P. Smith, Henry L. Strong. Thomas Clough, Amasa Clough, John Swan, Thomas Field, Esek Field, Hiram N. Gray, John M. Torrey, Reuben Torrey, Henry Hunt, John M. Ball, Jonah T. Kent, Joseph L. Hendee, Harrison H. Dakin, John Bullen, Heze kiah Ferguson, Edward Eaton, George Drake, Zenas Atwood, Shubael Waldo, Marvin Geer, Jedediah Bennett, John Densmore, Jr., Bowen Hicks, Jacob Dakin, John Dakin, John B. Lobdell, Samuel B. Wessels, Crandall M. Howard, John C. Haynes, Judson Dakin, John Densmore, Henry Densmore, Hiram Smith, Winance Davis, Abram Diamond, John Potter, Timothy Root, William Root, Hinman Hurd, Joseph Hannee, Joseph L. Hendee, William Isham, John D. Reeve, Marshall Z. Hicks. TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION, Etc. The original town of Ingham, as organized by act of the Legislature approved March 11, 1837, included the present townships of Ingham, White Oak, Wheatfield, and Leroy, the latter three having been since set off and organized as separate townships. The act organizing Ing ham provided that the first township-meeting should be held at the house of Caleb Carr, and from the township record is taken the following account of said meeting : "THE FIRST ANNUAL TOWN-MEETING HELD IN THE TOWN OF INGHAM, A.D. 1838: "At the annual town-meeting, held at the house of Caleb Carr, for the purpose of electing town officers, on the 2d day of April, a.d. 1838, the following number of persons received the following number of votes set opposite their several names : For supervisor, Henry Lee, 53; for town clerk, H. Ferguson, 23; Marcus Beers, 30; for justice of the peace, Cyrus Post, 60 ; Caleb Carr, 37 ; Henry Lee, 35 ; James' Huffman, 31; Amaziah Winchell, 24; David Gorsline, 24; II. H, Smith, 20; for constable and collector, John Clements, 24; Jonathan Thomas, 23; for assessors, Ephraim Mecch, 44; James Rathbun, 36; Andrew Stevens, 47; J. L. Hendee, 28; John Dakin, 32; William Carr, 20; William A. Dryer, 26 ; for school inspectors, John Clem ents, 47; Lucius Wilson, 30; William Post, 29; H^ H. Smith, 17; Caleb Carr, 17; for highway commissioners, Daniel Countryman, 61; Lucius Wilson, 59 ; John Clements, 32; Uriel Smith, 29; for direc tors of the poor, Zenas Atwood, 46 ; James Rathbun, 27 ; Jacob Dakin, 17 ; for constables, E. II. Jubb, 46; Thomas Stevens, 47; for town treasurer, J. B. Lobdell, 15," At a special meeting, held Juue 6, 1838, John Clements, Lucius Wilson, and William A. Dryer were elected school inspectors. At the regular election in 1839, Caleb Carr was elected supervisor; William A. Dryer, town clerk; Hezekiah Ferguson, treasurer ; and Cyrus Post, justice of the peace. In March, 1839, the township was divided, and, at a special election, Hezekiah Ferguson and Jacob Olds were elected justices of the peace, and George Q. Watkins town clerk. May 1, 1844, a license was granted to John B. Lobdell to keep a public-house on the east half of the southeast quarter of section 26, and he was author ized to " keep and entertain travelers ; to retail rum, brandy, gin, and other spirituous liquors ; also, ale, cider, beer, and other fermented liquors, and to have and to use all the privileges granted by the laws of the State of Michigan to keepers of public-houses." Following is a list of the principal officers of the town ship since 1840 : SUPERVISORS. 1840, Hezekiah Ferguson; 1841-45, Samuel Skadan; 1846-47, Ran dolph W. Whipple; 1848, Daniel A. Hewes; 1849-50, John S. Crossman; 1851-53, Samuel Crossman; 1854-55, R. W. Whip ple; 1856-57, Samuel Skadan; 1858, Marcus M. Atwood; 1859,, Samuel Skadan; 1860-61, Thaddeus Densmore; 1862, Daniel L. Crossman; 1863, John B. Dakin; 1864-71, Samuel Skadan; 1872, Lemuel Woodhouse; 1873-79, Samuel Skadan. TOWNSHIP CLERKS. 1840-42, Hezekiah Ferguson; 1843, Marvin Geer; 1844, Hezekiah Ferguson; 1845, AVilliam Carr; 1846, Hale W. Granger; 1847- 48, John S. Crossman; 1849, Marcus M. Atwood; 1860, Samuel Crossman; 1851-52, Benjamin F. Robinson; 1853, James M. Royce; 1854-55, Ambrose P. Hicks; 1856, Daniel T. Weston; 1857, A. P. Hieks; 1858, Daniel T. Weston; 1859, Daniel L. Crossman; 1860, Marshall Hawcroft; 1861, Daniel L. Crossman; 1862-63, Marshall Hawcroft; 1864, Daniel T. Weston; 1865-66, D. L. Crossman; 1867, Thaddeus Densmore; 1868, Elias J. Smith; 1869, Theodore Huffman; 1870, Joseph Keene; 1871, Marshall Hawcroft; 1872, J. Edgar St. John; 1873, Joseph Keene;*' 1874, Henry J. Wilcox ;f 1875, William G. Hawcroft; 1876-79, Levi Geer. TREASURERS. 1840, Hezekiah Ferguson; 1841, William Parks; 1842, William Carr; 1843, Amaziah Winchell; 1844^45, John B. Lobdell; 1846, Ama ziah Winchell; 1847, Christopher Avery; 1848, William Carr; 1849, Ambrose P. Hicks; 1850, Marcus Beers; 1851, Hampton D. Granger ; 1852, Abram Diamond ; 1853, John B. Dakin ; 1854, Cornelius N. Bevens; 1855, John Densmore; 1856, Daniel Jes sop ; 1857, Robert Chappell; 1858, Ephraim Hilliard; 1859, Henry L. Strong; 1860, Aaron Parks; 1861, Jonathan Thomas; 1862, Nelson A. Whipple; 1863, David D. Fox; 1864, Isaac H. Briggs; 1865, George Hickox: 1866, Alfred B. Coy; 1867, Lem uel K. Strong; 1S68, Joseph Keene; 1869, Cyrus W. Dean; 1870- 71, Zebina Ransom; 1872, Simon P. Hendrick; 1873, Marshall Hawcroft ;{ 1874-75, Joseph Keene; 1876, Omer R. Whiting; 1877, Lemuel K. Strong ; 1878-79, Joseph Keene. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 1840, Hezekiah Waldo, Marcus Beers; 1841,. Winance Davis; 1842, Caleb Carr; 1843, Randolph W.Whipple; 1844, Bowen Hicks; 1845, John A. Torrey ; 1846, William Carr; 1847, John Hutchin son, S. Crossman; 1848, William Tompkins; 1849, Daniel A. Hewes ; 1850, Lonson Hill ; 1851, John Hutchinson; 1852, M.M. Atwood, Jaoob Rowe; 1853, William Tanner; 1854, John M. Ball; 1855, Simon P. Hendrick; 1856, M. M. Atwood, Jacob Rowe, Andrew Hunt ; 1857, Jacob Rowe, James A. Heald ; 1858, John B. Dakin; 1859, Loren S. Miller, Ira Hatch; 1860, Marcus M. Atwood; 1861, Daniel T. Weston; 1862, Randolph W. Whip- pic; 1863, Charles B. Dean, Elias J. Smith; 1864, Marcus M. Atwood; 1865, Daniel T. Weston; 1866, Elias J. Smith; 1867, *" Resigned, and E. J. Smith appointed. ¦f Removed, and E. J. Smith appointed. f Resigned, and Joseph Keene appointed. 248 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Henry L. Strong; 1868, Marcus M. Atwood; 1869, Ezra C. Walker; 1870, Elias J. Smith; 1871, A. P. Hicks, James M. Royce; 1872, M. M. Atwood, 0. R. Whiting; 1873, David D. Fox; 1874, Loren S. Miller; 1875, Daniel T. Weston; 1876, James M. Royce; 1S77, David D. Fox, August Hahn; 1878, David A. Hewes; 1879, 0. R. Whiting. 1880. — Supervisor, Samuel Skadan; Township Clerk, Levi Geer; Treasurer, Lemuel K. Strong; Justice of the Peace, Romi- ner Holt; Superintendent of Schools, Daniel E. Watts; School Inspector, Joseph W. Brewer; Commissioner of Highways, D. A. Hewes ; Drain Commissioner, C. M. Wil liams ; Constables, Alanson D. Beardsley, George W. Glynn, Darwin S. Hewes, Charles E. Ball. SCHOOLS. No satisfactory account of the earlier schools in the township has been obtained, from the fact that those who were depended upon to furnish items were absent from the township when the writer was at work in it. It is probable, however, that but a short time elapsed after the township was settled before schools were organ ized, for the pioneers had considerable families of children. At Dansville a district was organized in the spring of 1846, and a log school-house was built. The boards used in making the floors and teacher's desk were drawn with oxen from Caleb Carr's saw-mill, in Wheatfield, by Lonson Hill, and four days from the time work was commenced on the building Mr. Hill's oldest daughter, Catherine E. Hill, then only thirteen years of age, began teaching in it, and was employed in that capacity for two years. The log school- house was used for four or five years, and then gave place to a frame building. About 1868-70 the present two- story brick Union school-building was erected, at a cost of $7000. From the report of the township school inspectors, for the year ending Sept. 1, 1879, are taken the following items : Number of districts (whole, 5; fractional 3) 8 " children of sohool age in township 450 " in attendance for year 355 " school-houses (brick, 3; frame, 5) 8 " seatings in same 540 Value of school property $11 440 Number of teachers employed (males, 5; females, 17) "" '22 Wages of same (males, $1360; females, $1541) ,",'."" $2901.00 Total expenditures for the year .' _ 4072 54 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. In 1846 there were no church buildings in the town. A Baptist Church had been organized very early, but had been disbanded on account of some trouble. A Baptist Council was organized in June, 1842, and in the following winter it was recognized as a church. Elder John W. Coe was the first pastor, and the original membership was about twenty. The pastors since have been (perhaps not in the order given) : Elders Babcock, Elijah K. Grout, who came on horseback and preached once in four weeks; A. B. Kinne, H. B. Fuller, A. B. Kinne, a second time ; Ezra Rumery, L. Bath, Henry Tibbitts, J. L. Smith, J. C Lemon, Charles Purrett, C. B. Abbott, Alexander Mc- Learn, James R. Monroe, I. W. Lamb, William A. Kings bury, and the present pastor, J. C. Lemon, filling the pulpit of this church the second time. The frame house of wor ship now in use was built about 1860. The membership of the church, Sept. 18, 1880, was ninety-six, and the Sunday-school had then an average attendance of sixty ¦ H. L. Strong is superintendent of the latter. A Methodist Church has also existed for a number of years at Dansville, but repeated efforts to obtain facts re garding its history have not availed. Tlie Protestant Methodist Church at Dansville has been organized more than thirty years, but the precise date of its formation is not recollected. Elder Kilpatrick was its pastor as early as 1850, when meetings were held in the school- house. The society is at present (September, 1880) build ing a neat and commodious brick church, on the site ofthe old frame school-house, to cost about $3000. The organ ization has not been continuous from the start. Its present pastor is Rev. E. S. Clark. VILLAGE OF DANSVILLE. Samuel Crossman (name originally spelled Crosman), from Cayuga Co., N. Y., purchased 400 aeres of land on sections 14 and 15, iu the town of Ingham, in May, 1836, and his son, John S. Crossman, settled on section 15 in September 1840, and cleared forty acres. He taught school in the winter of 1839-40. He lived on the land until February, 1843, and during the years 1 843-44 was in Jackson County. In the fall of 1845 he returned to Dansville, where he re mained until November, 1852, when he went to California. His wife died at Dansville in June of that year. In 1854 he was married again, in the State of New York. He resided in California and Nevada for twenty-three years, finally settling in Williamston, Ingham Co., Mich., where he is now living, as are also two of his brothers. All are prominent business men. Samuel Crossman settled at Dansville with his family in November, 1845, and remained ten years, finally removing to Ann Arbor, where he now resides, aged eighty-four years. In May, 1842, when Henry L. Strong came to the vicinity, the only persons living at Dansville were John S. Crossman, Samuel Skadan, William B. Everts, and possibly Dennis Robinson, although the latter moved away about that time. Their houses were built of logs, the only frame structure at the place being John S. Crossman's barn. Lonson Hill, from Ontario Co., N. Y., came to Michigan in May, 1846, and located at Dansville, which has since been his home. At the time he came Samuel Crossman had the frame of a new house up and inclosed, but the building was not yet completed. This was the first frame house in the place. Simon P. Hendrick, from Mumfordville, Monroe Co., N. Y., came to Michigan in 1839 or 1810, and located, with his parents, in Hamburg, Livingston Co. In 1851 he removed to Dansville, which is now his home. The first business establishment in the place was a small store, with a general stock, opened by Samuel Crossman about 1847. HOTELS. The first hotel in the village was the present " Union Hotel," which was commenced in the fall of 1856 by David D. Fox, and completed in 1857. Mr. Fox kept it for several years, and sold to a Mr. Harris. The present proprietors of the house are the Owen Brothers. Messrs. Coy and Andrews conducted it at different times. INGHAM. 2-19 The " National Hotel" was built in 1860-61 by Hen drick & Wiggins, and is now the property of William Telford, who has owned it several years. POST-OFFICE. In 1846 a post-office called Ingham was kept in the southeast part of the township by John B. Lobdell, who was postmaster several years. The office was subsequently moved to Haynes' Corners, one and a half miles south of Dansville, and Henry Densmore was postmaster. It was finally moved to Dansville, and the name changed to cor respond. Dr. Daniel T. Weston was the first postmaster at the village, about 1855. The present incumbent is L. K. Strong. VILLAGE PLATS. The original plat of the village of Dansville was laid out May 26, 1857, by Samuel Crossman and Ephraim Hilliard on part of the southeast quarter of section 15 and the northeast quarter of section 22. " Crossman's complete plat," acknowledged Oct. 26, 1866, is on sections 15 and 22, and embraces the original plat, D. L. Crossman's ad dition, and Dakin & Otis' addition. INCORPORATION, Etc. The village of Dansville was incorporated, by act of the Legislature, March 9, 1867, and the charter was amended in 1869. The first charter election was held Monday, May 6, 1867 ; the following officers were chosen : President, Dan iel L. Crossman ; Recorder, Marshall Hawcroft (resigned, and Z. Ransom appointed) ; Treasurer, Lemuel K. Strong ; Trus tees, Henry L. Strong, Martin V. Jessop, Joseph Keene. From 1868 to 1880, inclusive, the officers of the village have been the following : 1868. — President, Marcus M. Atwood; Recorder, D. L. Crossman; Treasurer, Joseph Keene; Trustees, Daniel T. Weston, Henry L. Strong, Thaddeus Densmore. 1869. — President, Marcus M. Atwood; Recorder, D. L. Crossman; Treasurer, Cyrus W. Dean ; Trustees, Henry L. Strong, Thaddeus Densmore, Daniel T. Weston. 1870. — President, Marcus M. Atwood; Recorder, Joseph Keene; Treasurer, Zebina Ransom; Trustees, Daniel L. Crossman, Henry L. Strong, James M. Royce. 1871. — President, Marcus M. Atwood ; Recorder, Daniel L. Crossman . (resigned, and L. Woodhouse appointed) ; Treasurer, Zebina Ransom; Trustees, Henry L. Strong, Philo Otis, Martin V. 1872. — President, Marcus M. Atwood; Recorder, Lemuel Woodhouse; Treasurer, no record; Trustees, M. V. Jessop, H. L. Strong, W. H. Heald. 1873. — President, Marcus M. Atwood; Recorder, Lemuel Woodhouse; Treasurer, Marshall Hawcroft; Trustees, M. V. Jessop, H. L. Strong, E. Rice. 1874. — President, Marcus M. Atwood; Recorder, Lemuel Woodhouse; Treasurer, Joseph Keene; Trustees, Henry L. Strong, M. V. Jessop, H. H. Field. 1875. President, Marcus M. Atwood; Recorder, Martin V. Jessop; Treasurer, Joseph Keene; Trustees, Henry L. Strong, Egbert Rice, Martin S. Atwood. 1876. President, Marcus M. Atwood; Recorder, Charles L. Randall; Treasurer, Morris A. Carpenter; Trustees, Henry L. Strong, Martin S. Atwood, Henry H. Field. ] 877 —President, Marcus M. Atwood; Recorder, Charles L. Randall; Treasurer, Lemuel K. Strong; Trustees, H. L. Strong, Merritt Chappell, David D. Fox. 1878. President, Marcus M. Atwood; Recorder, Charles L. Randall; Treasurer, Joseph Keene; Trustees, Morris A. Carpenter, David D. Fox, Henry L. Strong. 32 1879. — President, Charles L. Randall; Recorder, Levi Geer; Treas urer, Joseph Keene ; Trustees, Daniel R. Jessop, Morris A. Carpenter, Henry H. Field. 1880. — President, Charles L. Randall; Recorder, Levi Geer; Treas urer, Daniel A. Hewes ; Trustees, Morris A. Carpenter, Henry H. Field, Daniel R. Jessop. MANUFACTURES. A steam saw-mill was built about 1864 by Martin V. and Daniel R. Jessop, and some time later a planing, match ing, aud moulding department was added. The establish ment is now owned by Daniel R. and George Jessop. When the mill and shops are running with full force from three to five persons are given employment therein. Ephraim and Elisha Hilliard erected a steam grist-mill about 1855, which is now the property of a man named Hershey, living in the State of New York. It contains three runs of stone, and does only custom work. A twenty horse-power steam-engine is in use, and two men are em ployed. The capital invested is about $3000. A. M. Hall is the present proprietor of a carriage-factory in the village, having purchased it in the spring of 1879, and succeeded W. W. Heald. Four to six men are em ployed, and the annual business amounts to $5000 or $6000. This is the only manufactory of carriages in the place, other shops making repairs alone, which branch of the business Mr. Hall is also engaged in. He has resided in the county since 1860, when he came to the township of White Oak with his father, G. M. Hall. The latter, a native of Vermont, had resided fourteen years in Jackson County before moving to Ingham. In 1877, Messrs. Doan & Avery built a fruit-drying establishment on the Alden plan, and are the present pro prietors. For two years the business has not been very brisk, but during the present year (1880) it has greatly revived, and a large amount of fruit will be dried during the season, which lasts about two months. The daily capacity is about 250 pounds of dried apples. Several persons are given employment. SOCIETIES. Dansville Lodge, No. 160, F. and A. M., has been organ ized nearly twenty years. Its first Master was Marcus M. Atwood, who held the position four years. The present mem bership is about seventy-five, and the officers are Joseph Keene, Worshipful Master ; L. C. Chase, Senior Warden ; W. H. Daniels', Junior Warden; A. M. Hall, Sec; Samuel Skadan, Treas. Dansville Lodge, No. 102, I. O. O. F., was instituted Sept. 21, 1866, with eight or nine charter members. The first Noble Grand was Charles B. Dean. The present mem bership is about fifty, and the officers are D. V. Miller, Noble Grand; Fred L. Miller, Vice-Grand; Elias J. Smith, Rec. and Per. Sec. ; Lemuel K. Strong, Treas. BAND. A cornet band was organized at Dansville, Wednesday night, Sept. 15, 1880, with thirteen pieces, under tlje auspices of the village corporation. Some of its members belonged to a band which formerly existed in the place,' but most of the players are novices. New instruments have been purchased. The teacher and leader is J. W. Lorauger. leeo y: NATURAL FEATURES. The township of Leroy is designated by the United States survey as township No. 3 north, of range No. 2 east, the exterior lines having been run by Joseph Wampler in 1824, and the subdivision lines the year following by the same party. It is bounded on the north by the town ship of Locke, south by White Oak, east by Livingston County, and west by the township of Wheatfield. It was first settled in 1837, and was not rapid in its advancement. For years no village had sprung up within its limits, though a post-office was early established on section 6, known as Phelpstown, and later familiarly spoken of as " Podunk." With the advent of the Detroit, Lansing and Lake Mich igan Railroad in 1871, which passes through the north portion of the township, the village of Webberville, on section 11, was first projected, and has since grown to be a prosperous place. The surface of Leroy is generally even and free from abrupt elevations and sudden declivities. Some portions are gently rolling, and afford a pleasing variety to the land scape, though hills of any considerable altitude are not found. The soil of the township is a composition of clay, loam, sand, gravel, and muck. Clay is found principally in the south, while sand abounds quite generally, though more perceptible in the northeast and northwest portions, as also in the' west. Gravel is also more abundant in the west and northwest. Considerable swampy land is seen, sections 13, 24, 25, 35, and 36 being partially covered by marshes, while sections 11 and 12 also contain a mode rate quantity of lowland. This is, however, being rapidly drained and improved. The land is watered by the Cedar River, which enters on section 1, and nearly follows the northern boundary-line, passing out at section 4 ; by the Dietz Creek, which rises in a marsh in White Oak, and flowing north, then west, empties into Doan Creek ; by the Kalamink Creek, which finds its source in a swamp on section 26, and flowing north pours its waters into the Cedar; and by the Doan Creek, which rises in Wheatfield, and following a northeasterly course joins the Dietz Creek on section 8, and discharges into Cedar River, in Locke township. Most woods, excepting pine and hemlock, flour ish in Leroy, among which are the maple, ash, black-walnut, basswood, beech, and elm. The tamarack is the companion of the marshes here as elsewhere. Fruit abounds and attains unusual size and excellence. Apples during the present season are especially abundant and of a very superior quality. The yield of grain is quite equal to the average of townships throughout the county, the land being well adapted to the raising of wheat and corn. * Compiled by E. 0. Wagner. 250 LAND ENTRIES. The lands of township No. 3 north, of range No. 2 east were entered by the following parties : Section 1. — Matthew C. Patterson, July 12, 1836; James T. Beach April 2, 1836. Section 2.— Charles Batlee, April 2, 1836. Section 3. — William Thompson, April 12, 1836; Ira Ward, June 24 1836; Henry W. Delevan, Sept. 23, 1836. Section 4. — Ebenezer Jessup, Jr., May 31 and June 4, 1836; George Morell, June 7, 1836; Joshua Rayner, July 11, 1836. Section 5.— Henry Whiting, May 21,1833, and May 31,1836; Eben ezer Jessup. Jr., May 31, 1836; Alonzo Bennett, June 21, 1836. Section 6. — John M. Berrien, Jan. 28, 1836; Ebenezer Jessup, Jr., May 30, 1836; George Morell, June 7, 1836; Rufus L. Carrol], May 13, 1837. Section 7.— David Tobias, July 12, 1836; Eliza Chapin, July 16, 1836; Jared Wilson and Albert Lester, July 16, 1836. Section 8.— Peter Westfall, June 28 and July 19, 1836; Volney Brown, July 19, 1836 : Jared Wilson and Albert Lester, July 16, 1836; Hiram Dana, Aug. 4, 1836; Beaufort A. Parsell, Sept. 22, 1836; Edward H. Learned, Oct. 27, 1836. Section 9. — E. Jessup, Jr., May 30, 1836 ; Healy and Kercheval, May 31, 1836; Peter Westfall, June 24, 1836; Hiram Dana, Aug. 4, 1836; William Bradner, Dec. 12, 1836; David B.Wilcox, June, 1836. Section 10. — Ebenezer Jessup, Jr., May 30, 1836; Henry A. Leonard, June 27, 1836; Henry W. Delevan, Sept. 23, 1836; AVilliam Bradner. Section 11. — Ebenezer Jessup, Jr., May 30, 1836; Henry W. Delevan, Sept. 23, 1 836. Section 12.— E. Jessup, Jr., May 31, 1836; Matthew C. Patterson, July 12, 1836; Norman Speller, Sept. 21, 1S36; Miles P. Samp son, Oct. 25, 1836. Section 13.— Flavius J. B. Crane, July 13, 1836; Minard Farley, Sept. 21, 1836 ; Miles P. Sampson, Oct. 25, 1836; D. A. McFar- lan, Nov. 18, 1837. Section 14.— Flavius J. B. Crane, July 13, 1S36; Henry W. Delevan, Sept. 23, 1S36. Section 15. — Flavius J. B. Crane, July 12, 1836; Flavius J. B. Crane, Sept. 20, 1836 ; Hiram Bradner, Dec. 12, 1836 ; Horace A. Noyes, Deo. 12, 1836; John L. Johnson, Dec. 12, 1836; Pardon Brow- nell, Dec. 12, 1836. Section 16. — School section. Section 17. — Peter Westfall, July 9, 1836; Isaac Coleman, July 9, 1836; Harry Meech, July 9, 1836; James Grant, July 16, 1836. Section 18. — Ephraim Meech, July 9, 1836; Henry Meech, July 9, 1836; Henry Meech, July 9, 1836; Thomas P. Sawyer, Aug. 2, 1836 ; Peter Judd, Aug. 2, 1836. Section 19. — Benjamin Moreland, July 9, 1836; James Wadsworth, July 16, 1836. Section 20.— Thomas Mann, July 25, 1836, Peter Westfall, July 9, 1836; John Sayers, July 9, 1836; David Meech, July 9, 1836; Samuel M. Spencer, July 16, 1836. Section 21.— William Van Lcavnn, July 9, 1836; Eliza Chapin, July 16, 1836; Henry Home, Aug. 3, 1836; Miles P.Sampson, Oct. 25, 1836. Section 22.— F. J. B. Crane, July 12, 1836 ; Henry M. Moon, Aug. 6, 1836; M. P. Sampson, Oot. 25, 1836; Hiram Bradner and Eldred Hubbard, Dec. 12, 1836; Cephas Hoyt, Dec. 13, 1836; William Brewer, Doc. 14, 1836. Section 23.— Jane Place, Nov. 28, 1835; Charles Place, Deo. 4, 1835; F. J. B. Crane, July 12, 1836; F. J. B. Crane, Sept. 20, 1836. Section 24.— Moses W. Thompson, Sept. 20, 1836; Aaron Ballard, LEROY. 251 Sept. 20, 1836; Lemuel Drusell, Jr., Sept. 21, 1836; Timothy Lyon, March 1, 1836 ; David A. MeFarlan, March 18, 1836. Section 25.— William Farley, Sept. 24, 1836; Peter Hartman, Sept. 23, 1836; Pardon Barnard, Sept. 24, 1836; Alexander Grant, April 24, 1836. Section 26. — Seth Spencer, Sept. 23, 1836; Henry W. Delevan, Sept. 23,1836; Miles P. Sampson, Oct. 25, 1836; Epaphroditus Graves, Sept. 21, 1836. Section 27. — Samuel M. Spencer, July 16, 1846; James Grant, July 16, 1846 ; Thomas P. Sawyer, Aug. 2, 1846 ; Henry Howe, Aug. 3, 1846. Section 28.-w-Augustus Waters, July 5, 1836; James Quaile, July 6, 1836: James Grant, July 16, 1836; Wilson and Lester, July 16, 1836. Section 29. — Charles II. Hunt, June 30, 1836; Joseph Gale, July 2, 1836; Horton Frost, July 2, 1836; Michael Smith, July 2, 1836. Section 30. — James Huffman, June 15, 1836 ; Benjamin Glimpse, July 9,1836; Cornelius Glimpse, July 9, 1836; Richard Putman, July 15, 1836; Alexander Patterson, Oct. 31, 1836 ; D. A. MeFarlan, March 18, 1837. Section 31. — Jason Beckley, Jr., June 15,1836; John Hester, June 17,1836; JohnB. Hartford, July 16, 1836; B.B. Kercheval, Oct. 29, 1836. Section 32. — Daniel Miller, June 17, 1836; Jacob Helsel, June 17, 1836; Joseph Gale, July 2, 1836; Sylvester Milliman, July 2, 1836 ; Peter Westfall, July 9, 1836. Section 33. — Jacob Helsel, June 1 6, 1836 ; Ira Davenport, June 30, 1836; James Wadsworth, July 16, 1836; John and James Mul holland, Oct. 28, 1836. Section 34. — Benjamin Huger, Aug. 5, 1836; David F. Hass, Sept. 21, 1836; Henry Meech, June 22, 1836. Section 35.— Seth Spencer, Sept. 23, 1836; H. W. Delevan, Sept. 23, 1S36. Section 36.— Peter Hartman, Sept. 23, 1836 ; H. W. Delevan, Sept. 23, 1836; James Hughes, Nov. 14, 1836. RESIDENT TAXPAYERS EOE THE YEAR 1844. Acres. Uriah Smith, section 23 110 Nathan Jones, section 23 50 Alva Jones, section 23 40 Harley Bement, section 24 80 Luther Brown, section 24 80 H. M. Wood, section 23 200 Alonzo Hooker, section 15 80 Joshua Baker, section 22 80 Edmund Alchin, sections 32, 33 240 Daniel C. Wilcox, section 5 107 Oren Dana, sections 8, 9 170 Peter Dietz, sections, 8, 9, 17 320 Alva Smith, sections 3, 17 320 Daniel Tobias, section 7 78 B. K. Geer,seetion 20 10 L. S. Rouse, section 18 27 George Rouse, section 18.. 27 Thomas Medberry, section 18 119 John Murray, sections 6, 7 10(1 Ephraim Meech, section 18 151 James De Forest, section 7 50 Henry Meech, sections 17, 18 160 Isaac Coleman, sections 17, 28 240 Henry Lee, sections 20, 21 160 Richard Putman, section 30 46 James Rosecrance, section 20 160 Thomas Horton, section 29 80 M. Bennett, section 29 80 Jacob Countryman John O'Brien Calvin Wilson, section 24 80 Hiram Rix, section 8 80 EARLY SETTLEMENTS. The earliest settlers in the township of Leroy were Mr. and Mrs. Ephraim Meech, who left Brutus, Cayuga Co., N. Y., in 1832, for Plymouth, Wayne Co., Mich., where they remained one year, and then purchased a farm in Green Oak, Livingston Co., in the oak-openings. Here they re mained until 1836, when land was purchased on section 18, in Leroy township, upon which they removed in Jan uary, 1837. The snow at this time was eighteen inches deep, and for a distance of eight miles through the wilder ness the travelers were obliged to cut and break their way. The cold was intense, and in crossing a creek the ice broke, and the stockings of Mrs. Meech were completely frozen to her feet. The first greeting she received the morning after her arrival was from two Indians, who asked for whisky. The only other inhabitants were wild beasts. Bears were frequent visitors, and made great havoc among the swine. One was shot, just after he had carried away a fine hog, which yielded five gallons of bear's oil. Wolves were constant disturbers of the peace, and would frequently sur round the house and begin their dismal howlings as even ing approached, which they steadily maintained until morning dawned. Mrs. Meech would spread a blanket on the boards which served as a floor for the loft of their dwelling, and lie down for the night, in constant fear lest the marauders should break through the window. She welcomed with great joy the presence of the next settler, for she had not seen the face of a white woman for eight months. Mr. Meech raised the first crop of corn grown in the township. He used frequently to carry grain to the mill for neighbors, which would generally re quire a week to go and return, the time having been much lengthened by the bad roads and swollen streams which had to be forded. Many instances of wolf-trapping and bear-hunting might be mentioned in which Mr. Meech took an active part, the bounty on the former offered by the State having mate rially aided the settlers in their early struggles. Mr. Meech died on the land he entered, in 1876. His wife survives, and resides on the homestead, where she entertains her friends with many interesting tales of pioneer life. The earliest birth in the township occurred at the house of Ephraim Meech, that of Nancy Tobias, daughter of an early settler, and who afterwards became Mrs. Gorton, of Leroy. James Rosecrance, the second settler in the township, arrived in the spring of 1838, and located upon 160 acres, on section 20, which was wholly uncleared. He erected a shanty and began at once the work of underbrushing, the men of the family being their own housekeepers. An ex tensive tract was improved in course of time, which is now occupied by the sons of Mr. Rosecrance. Oren Dana, the first township clerk of Leroy, came from Le Roy, Genesee Co., at nearly the same time, and occupied land previously entered upon section 9, embracing 160 acres. He cleared this tract, and remained upon i$ until his death, in 1879. His son, H. J. Dana, now occu pies the estate. The next in point of arrival was Henry Lee, or " Squire Lee," as he was more generally termed, who had many years before emigrated from Saratoga Co., N. Y., to Illinois, and from there came in 1838 to Leroy, where he purchased 160 acres on sections 20 and 21, of Peter Westfall, who entered it in 1836. With him came his wife and seven children, but two of whom now reside in the township. The family re mained in Wayne County while a log shanty was being built, to which they then removed, cutting the woods 252 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. before them as they advanced. Five weeks were con sumed in making the journey from Illinois to Wayne County. James Rosecrance and Ephraim Meech were already located, the former having been the nearest neighbor. Mr. Lee was formerly a merchant, and having been un fortunate in trade came to Michigan to find a home, and, if possible, recover his lost fortune. Many hardships were endured, and the outlook was at times discouraging. A journey of forty miles to Owosso was frequently made for milling purposes, and the oxen were shod at a cost of twenty-five miles of travel. Often on these journeys Mr. Lee had no boots, and his feet were clothed in rags sewed on tightly. Mrs. Lee was the happy possessor of a bonnet — the only one in the township — - which was loaned over the whole neighborhood, and did duty for many years. It was a most accommodating bon net, and would array itself in sober apparel with black streamers and assume an aspect of deep dejection on funeral occasions, while the various hues of the rainbow were not a circumstance to its bright colors at wedding festivities. The first marriage was performed at the house of Squire Lee (his daughter, Rebecca Jane, having been united to Cyrenus Kinter), to which all the neighbors were invited. The earliest religious services were also held here, Rev. Hiram T. Fero having been the officiating clergyman.* Among other early preachers were Rev. Alfred B. Kinne and Elder Bentley. The earliest physician who practiced in the township was Dr. Whitcomb, of Wheatfield. Dr. McRobert, of Mason, was also summoned in cases requiring additional skill. The first death that occurred was that of a Mrs. Carmer, who settled on section 28, and died in her own log house in 1839. Mrs. Meech kindly nursed her during her illness. A clergyman from Dexter preached the funeral sermon, only six settlers having been present. Daniel Tobias came from Superior, Washtenaw Co., in 1839, and settled on section 7, where he had eighty acres, which he cleared, first having erected a log house and domiciled his family. He was among the most active and energetic ofthe early pioneers, and died in 1860. Peter Judd entered land on section 18 in 1836, upon which Harry Judd settled two years later. He built the accustomed shanty and began labor, but not having been satisfied with his progress, vacated the land the followino- year, when it was purchased by Daniel Wilcox. It em braced forty acres, and was inclosed. Mr. Wilcox improved and copverted the land into a productive farm, subsequently selling to Thomas Medberry. Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox both resided in the township until their deaths. Levi and George Rouse came in 1839, and settled on section 18. They found the land awaiting the axe of the chopper, and, after erecting temporary habitations, devoted themselves to the work of improvement. Both of (.hese early settlers have sipc.e departed, but their wives still survive. * Mrs. Meech recalls Elders Minnus and Breckepridge as having preached at her log house in 1839, who may have been oarlier than those already mentioned. Edmund Alchin, in point of settlement, antedates many of the pioneers. He recalls 1837 as the year of his ad vent, though his presence at that early date is not recol lected by other early settlers. It is possible that Mr. Alchin may have been so remote from others as not to render them conscious of his presence. If he is correct he would cer tainly rank as the second settler. His location was upon section 33, where he cleared fifty acres for parties in New York, receiving for it $5 per acre and what he could raise and having six years in which to perform the work. His father, later, purchased in White Oak, when his son re turned. In 1847 he located upon section 23, on 120 aeres which had been partially cleared, occupying a dilapi dated log school-house until a log dwelling was erected. Mr. Alchin now has a spacious residence upon his land which is cleared and well improved. James Alchin came with his brother and settled upon the same section, but at a later date removed to Shiawassee County. Richard Putman came from Herkimer Co., N. Y., in 1836, to Wayne Co., Mich., and in 1839 settled upon land in Leroy, where he had in 1836 entered a fractional forty acres on section 30. He moved upon this with ox-teams, and soon after began chopping and erected a log abode, to which his family repaired. A few settlers were already in the township, but deer, bear, and wolves were the more numerous inhabitants. The latter were especially annoy ing. On one occasion they congregated in great numbers around his cabin, and made the air dismal with their howls during the whole night. The following day they departed and were never seen or heard of more, their visit having apparently been one of farewell. Mr. Putman resided on the place until his death, in 1856. Three daughters and a son are now residents of Leroy, the latter having 280 acres on section 8. Uriah Smith, formerly of New York, came from White Oak in 1839, and purchased 160 acres on section 23, but later sold fifty of it. He cleared the land and rendered it highly productive, remaining upon it until his death, in 1878. His son resides upon the same section. Isaac Coleman, formerly of New York State, settled upon section 18 in 1840, where he had eighty acres. He im proved this land and erected a house of spacious propor tions, in which he was the landlord of the first and most popular country tavern. At his house the township-meet ings and the Fourth-of-July celebrations were held. The latter were eventful occasions in the little community. Daniel Tobias played the flute, Mr. Coleman beat the drum, and Squire Lee was president of the day. Horace Wilson, of Williamston, was usually the speaker. A bounteous repast followed, at which every one present was abundantly fed. Henry Rix removed from Locke in 1842, though a former resident of New Hampshire, and located on section 8 upon eighty acres, twenty of which had been previously chopped. Many of the early settlers had already made clearings. Mr. Rix found much labor awaiting him, but succeeded in improving his farm and making it valuable land, upon which he still resides. Peter Dietz came from Washtenaw Co., Mich., in 1843, and purchased of Peter Westfall 320 acres of unimproved LEROY 253 land on sections 9 and 10, upon which he erected a log house and cleared ten acres the first year. Hiram Dana was his nearest neighbor. Mr. Dietz effected a considerable improvement upon the farm, after which David Putman became the owner. Oliver Geer came early, and for some time assisted Henry Lee. In 1844 he located upon section 20, where he owned eighty acres, which was by him converted into a fruitful farm. He remained in the township, where his death occurred in 1860, and his son now occupies the estate. Newton Muscott, a former resident of Madison Co., N. Y., settled upon section 19 in 1844, where he owned a large tract of land. This was all unimproved, with the exception of a small clearing, upon which he erected a house of limited dimensions, and resided until his death, which oc curred in 1869. Levi C. Dean came the same year (1844) and found a home upon eighty acres on section 25. He still owns the land, and resides in Webberville. Albert Gunsally removed from Wayne Co., Mich., in 1846, and settled on section 22, where he remained three years and cleared a farm of thirty acres. He then removed to Van Buren -Co., Mich., where he tarried a brief time, and finally returned again to the township, where he settled upon his present farm of eighty acres on section 25. Thirty acres were cleared, to which he speedily added thirty more. He is an industrious and successful farmer. Robert Cole and Nathaniel Pamment each came in 1852, the former having located upon forty acres on section 25, and the latter upon ninety-six acres on section 24. Mr. Pamment settled in White Oak ten years before, but having preferred the land in Leroy, changed his location. He is still a resident of the township, on the land he purchased, as is also Mr. Cole. D. Knapp arrived in 1853, and purchased on section 16. This was uncleared. After erecting a log house he devoted himself to chopping, having been assisted by a neighbor, for whom Mrs. Knapp made a suit of clothes in return. He has since improved this land, and made it among the most productive farms in the township. Alfred F. Horton, who has for years been actively iden tified with the public interests of the township, came from Lake Co., Ohio, in 1854, and settled upon section 16. While erecting a shanty of logs he remained with Daniel Knapp. The 160 acres he purchased were untouched, with the exception of a small tract that had been slashed, and no roads were open in the immediate vicinity. He cleared and planted four acres in corn for fodder, and hired sixteen acres chopped. Indians were numerous, a band being encamped on the creek near by. In 1875, Mr. Horton erected his present spacious residence, one of the finest in the township. Daniel Herrick, a former resident of Washtenaw County, in 1854 settled upon 100 acres on section 24. A log house and a small clearing were found on his arrival. He has greatly improved the land, and in 1870 erected a com fortable dwelling, in which he now resides. Among other early settlers who assisted in rendering the township lands valuable by their labor were Harley Bement, on section 24 ; Joshua Baker, on'section 22 ; H. M. Wood, on section 23 ; Thomas Medberry, on section 18 ; M. Bennett, on section 29 ; Calvin Wilson, on section 24 ; James de Forest, on section 7 ; John Murray, on sec tions 6 and 7 ; Alva Jones and Nathan Jones, on section 23 ; Alonzo Hooker, on section 15 , and Luther Brown, on section 24. ORGANIZATION. The township of Leroy was organized March 19, 1840, as an independent township, having formerly been a por tion of the township of Brutus, now Wheatfield. CIVIL LIST. The first meeting for the purpose of electing officers after township No. 3 north, of range 2 east, had become an independent township, known as Leroy, was held on the 16th day of June, 1840, at the house of Isaac Coleman. The ballots having been cast and counted, the following officers were declared elected : Supervisor, Levi Rowley ; Township Clerk, Oren Dana ; Treasurer, Isaac Coleman ; Justices of the Peace, Oren Dana, Daniel Tobias, Ephraim Meech ; Assessors, Daniel C. Wilcox, Daniel Tobias ; High way Commissioners, Danel C. Wilcox, Isaac Coleman, W. Davis ; School Inspectors, Ephraim Meech, Henry Lee, Levi Rowley ; Directors of Poor, Oren Dana, Henry Lee ; Collector, D. C. Wilcox ; Constables, Daniel C. Wilcox, Levi Rowley. The following is a list of township officers to the year 1880:1841. — Supervisor, Ephraim Meech; Township Clerk, Oren Dana; Treasurer, R. S. Carroll ; Justice of the Peace, Uriah Smith. 1842. — Supervisor, Oren Dana; Township Clerk, Daniel Tobias ; Treas urer, D. C. Wilcox ; Justice of the Peace, Isaac Coleman. 1843. — Supervisor, Oren Dana; Township Clerk, James Rosecrance; Treasurer, Isaac Coleman ; Justice of the Peace, John W. Turner. 1 844. — Supervisor, Ephraim Meech ; Township Clerk, Daniel Tobias ; Treasurer, Isaac Colemiin ; Justice of the Peace, Henry Lee. 1845. — Supervisor, Ephraim Meech; Township Clerk, Daniel Tobias; Treasurer, Isaac Coleman; Justice of the Peace, Uriah Smith. 1846. — Supervisor, Thomas Medberry ; Township Clerk, Newton N. Muscott; Treasurer, Ephraim Meech ; Justice of the Peace, Daniel Tobias. 1847. — Supervisor, Peter Dietz; Township Clerk, Perry Henderson; Treasurer, Henry Dietz ; Justice of the Peace, Oren Dana. 1848. — Supervisor, Ephraim Meech ; Township Clerk, Daniel Tobias ; Treasurer, Newton N. Muscott; Justice of the Peace, Isaac Colemnn. 1849. — Supervisor, Newton N. Muscott ; Township Clerk, Perry Hen derson ; Treasurer, Charles Meeoh ; Justice of the Peace, Uriah Smith. 1850. — Supervisor, Perry Henderson; Township Clerk, Henry Lee; Treasurer, Henry Dietz; Justice of the Peace, Peter Dietz. 1851. — Supervisor, Perry Henderson; Township Clerk, Charles Meech ; Treasurer, E. Meech; Justice of the Peace, M.W. Quacken bush. 1852. — Supervisor, Perry Henderson ; Township Clerk, Henry Dietz; Treasurer, Thomas Medberry ; Justice of the Peace, William Brown. 1853. — Supervisor, N. N. Muscott; Township Clerk, Henry Dietz; Treasurer, Uriah Smith; Justice of the Peace, Ephraim Meech. 1854. — Supervisor, E. Meech ; Township Clerk, Henry Dietz ; Treas urer, William Hopkins; Justice of the Peace, Daniel Free man. 1855. — Supervisor, George W. McCollom; Township Clerk, Henry 254 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 1856. 1857. 1858 1859 1860.1861 1862. 1863.- 1864.1865, 1866.1867186S.. 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876. 1877. 1878.. 1879 1880. Dietz; Treasurer, William Vorcc ; Justice of tho Peace, William P. Hazard. —Supervisor, George W. MoCollom; Township Clerk, Henry Dietz; Treasurer, William Vorce; Justice of the Peace, P. P. Alger. —Supervisor, L. D. Lighthall; Township Clerk, Hiram Rix; Treasurer, M. Bennett; Justice of tho Peace, William Brown. . — Supervisor, L. D. Lighthall; Township Clerk, John Ruby; Treasurer, L. C. Dean; Justice of the Peace, William P. Hopkins. . — Supervisor W. D. Horton; Township Clerk, Henry Dietz; Treasurer, Ira Miller; Justice of the Peace, Thomas Horton. . — Supervisor, N. N. Muscott; Township Clerk, Hiram Rix; Treasurer, H. 0. Monroe; Justice of the Peace, Oren Dana. . — Supervisor, N. N. Muscott; Township Clerk, Henry Lee; Treasurer, Madison Bennett; Justice ofthe Peace, William Brown. — Supervisor, William D. Horton; Township Clerk, Henry Dietz; Treasurer, Madison Bennett; Justice of tho Peace, P. P. Alger. Supervisor, Cornelius Dietz; Township Clerk, Henry Dietz; Treasurer, J. K. Kirkland; Justice of the Peace, James Huston. Supervisor, Cornelius Dietz; Township Clerk, Henry Dietz; Treasurer, J. K. Kirkland ; Justice of the Peace, Oren Dana. , — Supervisor, Alfred B. Kinne ; Township Clerk, Henry Dietz ; Treasurer, James J. Dana ; Justice of the Peace, Uriah Smith. . — Supervisor, Henry Dietz ; Township Clerk, P. P. Alger ; Treas urer, James J. Dana; Justice of the Peace, S. B. Bement. . — Supervisor, J. K. Kirkland; Township Clerk, Albert F. Hor ton; Treasurer, Alexander Doekstader; Justice of the Peace, George H. Galusha. Supervisor, J. K. Kirkland; Township Clerk, Albert F. Hor ton ; Treasurer, Alexander Doekstader; Justice of the Peace, Oren Dana. . — Supervisor, Sidney A. Murray ; Township Clerk, A. F. Horton ; Treasurer, Alexander Doekstader; Justice of the Peace, Hiram Rix. , — Supervisor, A. F. Horton; Township Clerk, Hiram Rix, Jr.; Treasurer, David Putman ; Justice of the Peace, George M. Smith. . — Supervisor, A. F. Horton; Township Clerk, Hiram Rix, Jr.; Treasurer, David Putman; Justice of the Peace, Ralph P. Hall. — Supervisor, J. W. Gifford; Township Clerk, Perry Ostrander; Treasurer, William Woodburn ; Justice of the Peace, John S. Huston. — Supervisor, A. F. Horton; Township Clerk, Perry Ostrander; Treasurer, William Woodburn; Justice of the Peace, G. H. Galusha. — Supervisor, A. F. Horton : Township Clerk, Charles E. Pad dock ; Treasurer, Abram Decker; Justice of tho Peace, Chester Cabott. — Supervisor, S. A. Murray; Township Clerk, 11. S. Hatch; Treasurer, J. 0. Gifford ; Justice of the Peace, John W. Gifford. Supervisor, S. A. Murray; Township Clerk, Henry S. Hatch; Treasurer, C. W. Chapman ; Justice of the Peace, Hiram Rix. Supervisor, A. F. Horton ; Township Clerk, Lafayette Gordon ; Treasurer, Charles W. Chapman ; Justice of the Peace, George H. Galusha. —Supervisor, A. F. Horton; Township Clerk, Lafayette Gor don ; Treasurer, William H. Marsh; Justice of the Peace, Perry Ostrander. Supervisor, Sidney A. Mnrray ; Township Clerk, Franklin S. Horton ; Treasurer, Rufus J. Neal ; Justice of the Peace, Ira Merrill. — Supervisor, John S. Huston ; Township Clerk, Franklin S. Horton; Treasurer, Rufus J. Neal; Justice of the Peace, George M. Smith; Highway Commissioner, Joseph E. Wilcox; Superintendent of Schools, Marcus B. Sweet; School Inspector, Henry M. Silsby ; Drain Commissioner, Morris M. Smith; Constables, Rufus J. Hammond Isaac Adams, Frank Cole, John Frazier. EARLY HIGHWAYS. The following highway, designated as the " Meech road " is copied from the records as having been the earliest re corded : " We, the undersigned commissioners of highways of the town of Ingham, county of Ingham, do certify that we have on this 4th day of September, 1838, laid out and established a road in town 3 north, of range 2 east, of which the following is the survey: "Beginning on the town-line at the corners of sections 18 and 19 running cast on section-line 565 rods, 9 links, to the corners of sec tions 16, 17,20,21; thence south on section-line 960 rods to the town-line at the corners of sections 32, 33 ; thence east on town-line 160 rods to the south quarter-post of section 33. Whole distance five miles, eighty-five rods, seven links. " A. Jackson, " County Surveyor. "John Clements, " Lucius Wilson, " Commissioners of Highways.'' The following highway, known as the " Dana road," was laid out and established on the 27th of September, 1838, by John Clements and Lucius Wilson, commissioners: " Commencing at section corners of sections 16 and 17, in town 3 north, of range 2 east ; thence north on said line to section corners of sections 4 and 5 on the town-line between towns 3 and 4 north, of range 2 east." The above highways were surveyed before Leroy became an independent township, and other roads speedily followed as the population increased. These, however, were not well cleared or improved until some years later, and the axe was at an early date the inevitable companion of the settler on his journey. EARLY SCHOOLS. The first school building in the township was located on section 19 on the township-line very soon after the advent of the earliest settlers. It was taught by Mrs. Ephraim Meech, more familiarly known as Nancy Meech, wife of the earliest settler. Children came a distance of three miles, many of whom had no shoes, and rags sewed about their feet as a protection against the cold were the only substitute. They brought a dinner of johnny-cake with them, which would often freeze in the school-room, so cold was it. The second teacher was a young man named Hazard, from Dexter, who was not successful in his discipline, and abandoned the field, which was resumed by Mrs. Meech, who finished the term. Jane Hazard taught next, and was followed by Miss Loantha Spaulding, now Mrs. Sweet. As the population increased, the patrons of this school were confined to the immediate neighborhood, and other school-houses were built for the convenience of settlers. The school territory of the township is now divided into six whole and three fractional districts, over whom the following board of directors are appointed : A. F. Horton, J. Kirkland, Alexander Darrow, Garrison Starkweather, William Tobias, George M. Smith, C. W. Chapman, C. P. Smith, James Dunn. LEROY. 255 The school property of Leroy is valued at $4075, which includes one log and eight frame school-houses. During the past year 428 scholars received instruction, 23 of whom were non-residents. They were under the immediate care of 4 male and 14 female teachers, who received an aggre gate amount of $1455.80 in salaries. The total resources of the township for educational purposes are $2935.14, of which $237.07 is derived from the primary school fund. WEBBERVILLE. Silas Alger at an early date purchased land on sections 5 and 6, where he located a saw-mill.* Circumstances influenced him to remove to section 10, where he again built a saw-mill, which he conducted for some years, and then removed to Salt Lake. On the death of Mr. Alger, Mr. H. P. Webber, his son-in-law, became administrator of the property, and managed the mill, in addition to which he opened a store. A post-office was located at this point by the government, which was known as Webberville. On the completion of the railroad an effort was made to estab lish a village here, but a stronger influence decided its loca tion at the point where the present village of Webberville now stands, on section 11, where it occupies a portion of the southeast and northeast quarters of that section. The first plat of the village, which is known as " Mc- Pherson's Plat of the Village of Leroy,'' was surveyed by Andrew D. Waddell, and recorded Dec. 18, 1871. It is acknowledged by Wm. M. McPherson, Elizabeth M. Mc- Pherson, Wm. M. McPherson, Jr., Jennie M. McPherson, Alex. McPherson, and Julia C. McPherson. An addition known as " Fisher's Addition to Leroy" is described as "located on section 11, being in the south east corner of the northeast quarter of said section 11, township 3 north, of range 2 east.'' It was surveyed by Louis D. Preston, Dec. 16, 1861. This land was originally entered in 1836 by Ebenezer Jessup, Jr., and Henry W. Delevan for purposes of specu lation, and by them sold to the subsequent owners. Wm. M. McPherson, having platted the village then known as Leroy, erected the first store, which was later burned and rebuilt of brick, and is now under the management of F. E. Lansing. Lots were disposed of and a hotel built by John Wilson, after which a building used both as dwelling and store was erected by George Markell. J. R. Dart built an extensive saw-mill, which was followed the same year by the erection of the flouring-mill and three stores. The railroad having been completed in 1871, the depot was soon after located at the hamlet, with Mr. Munson as station agent, and a strong impulse was thus given to the village. It has since continued to progress. New and commodious Jmildings have been erected, and an increasing business has promoted its vigorous and healthy growth. There are now three stores kept by Frank E. Lansing, Lowe Bros., and J. 0. Hitching ; one hardware store, owned by John Har ris ; two harness-shops, belonging to Chauncey Dolph and Cooper; a drug-store, kept by Dr. G. W. Langford, *This mill, at what is now known as "Podunk,"was erected about 1851, for the purpose of cutting lumber for the plank-road then build ing between Howell and Lansing. who is also postmaster ; two grocery-stores, Frank Fellows and W. M Younglove respectively being proprietors ; two shoe-shops, owned by Thomas Donnelly and Samuel Craig; two markets, two blacksmith-shops, and a flourishing hotel, of which John Kelly is landlord. The health of Webberville is guarded by two physi cians, Drs. R. B. Smith and G. W. Langford. Chaun cey P. Newkirk is the sole representative of the legal fra ternity. The school building of the district was formerly located three-quarters of a mile west, but a new and commodious structure was erected in the village in 1876, which is occu pied as a graded school. Marcus P. Sweet and Miss Lane are the instructors. J. R. DART'S STEAM SAW-MILL AND STAVE- AND BARREL-MANUFACTORY. This enterprise was established in 1872 by its present owner, who erected the mills for the purpose of utilizing the hard- wood of the vicinity. It is provided with an en gine of seventy horse-power, which gives the mill a capacity of 20,000 feet per day, or 6,000,000 feet per year, which is principally shipped to Detroit. In addition, 30,000 bar rels per year are manufactured, for which a ready market is found in Chicago, f CHARCOAL-PITS. The Detroit Furnace Company erected during the present year extensive charcoal-pits, for the manufacture of that com modity, adjacent to the village. Fifty cords of wood per day are transformed into forty-five bushels of charcoal. This is shipped to Detroit and consumed in the company's extensive furnaces. Egbert Keeler is the proprietor of a flouring-mill, which is managed by William Burch. It is conveniently located and devoted principally to custom work. RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. BAPTIST. The earliest services in connectiou with the Baptist de nomination in the township were held at the house of Henry Lee, and were conducted by Elder H. T. Fero, the pioneer preacher of the neighborhood. He at a later date organ ized a church, to which he personally ministered for some years, after which he was succeeded by Elder Colby, who became the stated preacher, services having been held at the houses of Mr. Lee and Edmund Alchin, and in a log school-house on section 23. Rev. Alfred Kinne and his son, Alfred B. Kinne, were later clergymen who preached at regular periods. A season of decline was then experienced, and for years services were abandoned or held at long intervals. A revival occurred with the ministry of Elder Hill, and under the ministrations of Rev. J. W. Henry a church edifice was erected at a cost of $1250 ; the building committee were Messrs. Lloyd, Alchin, Beasan, Pamment, and William f The Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad is now laying a side track to this place, which will facilitate its extensive shipping business. 256 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Taylor, the latter of whom was awarded the contract for construction. The church was begun in 1879 and dedi cated July 17, 1880, with impressive ceremonies. It is located at Webberville. The present trustees are James Monroe, Nathaniel Pamment, and Edmund Alchin. Rev. J. W. Henry is the pastor. A Union Sabbath-school, under the auspices of the Baptist and Methodist Episcopal denom inations, is held each Sabbath, with Daniel Kingsbury as superintendent. A class of the Methodist Episcopal Church holds its meetings in the school-house at Webberville. They are increasing in strength and numbers at a rate sufficient to warrant the erection of a church edifice at an early day. The minister sent to Webberville by the Conference of 1880 is Rev. L. H. Houghton. CONGREGATIONAL. A society under the auspices of the Congregational Church, and known as the " Congregational Church of Leroy," was organized April 14, 1880, with the following members : Mrs. David Putman, Mrs. Theodore Dietz, Mrs. Oren Corey, Mrs. Wolcott, Mrs. Chester Barber, Mrs. Moore, Miss Barber, Mr. Oren Corey, Mr. Nor man Bement. The church was organized under the ministry of Rev. Casimir B. Ludwig, of Williamston, who is the present pastor. Services are held in the Lee school building, and a flourishing Sabbath-school has been organized with about sixty scholars and a well-selected library of 200 volumes. The society is sufficiently prosperous to warrant the erec tion of an edifice in 1881. BDRIAL-PLACES. The earliest burial-place in use among the inhabitants of the township of Leroy was known as the Meech Cemetery. Though quite generally used by the early settlers in the latter township, it was located in Wheatfield, adjacent to section 18. Mr. Meech assisted in its clearing, and other wise contributed to its improvement, though no especial reason existed for calling it after his name. Mrs. Carmer, the settler whose death occurred in 1839, was interred in this lot, her remains having been removed from the farm of Mr. Meech. It has since been improved and beautified, while many graceful tablets and monuments have added to its attractions. The remains of Mr. Ephraim Meech also slumber here. A lot on section 23, known as the Alchin Cemetery, has been in use for many years as a burial-place, the first in terments having been those of Nathan Jones and the children of Daniel Freeman, whose deaths occurred many years since. In 1873 the township purchased of Edmund Alchin one acre of ground embracing the above spot for the sum of fifty dollars ; it was neatly inclosed, and is now used as a township burial-place. It is under the supervision of a board of trustees embracing Edmund Alchin, William Askell, George Fear. A lot was more recently purchased on section 10 of H. P. Webber, which has been inclosed and devoted to pur poses of burial. It is known as the Webber Cemetery, and is intended for the use more especially of residents of the northeast portion of the township. SOCIETIES AND ORDERS. Belle Oak Lodge, No. 178, I. O. O. F— The lodge of Odd-Fellows now established at Webberville was insti tuted at Belle Oak, Jan. 6, 1872, and was removed to its present location in response to a universal desire of its members, the majority of whom resided in Leroy. Its charter members were B. W. Brown, A. N. Colburn, Hiram R. Carnes, George Fisher, Jr., George F. Casteline, Thomas A. Lowrie, William Casteline. Its first officers were George Fisher, Jr., N. G. ; Benjamin W. Brown, V. G. ; Thomas A. Lowrie, Sec. ; H. R. Carnes, Treas. Its present officers are Ira Merrill, N. G. ; William F. Mead, V. G.; G. H. Galusha, Sec; W. R. Dunlap, Treas.; Charles E. Jones, Per. Sec. A spacious and well-appointed hall is the place of its regular meetings. Edson Lodge, No. 1461, Knights of Honor. — This lodge received its charter Oct. 9, 1879, its first officers having been J. L. Lloyd, Dictator ; William Taylor, Vice- Dictator ; L. B. Smith, Treas. ; G. H. Galusha, Fin. See. ; R. J. Hammond, Rec. Sec. Its present officers are C. W. Chapman, Dictator; R. B. Smith, Vice-Dictator; L. B. Smith, Treas. ; D. D. Kingsbury, Rec. Sec. ; Albert Angel, Fin. Sec. Cedar Lodge, No. 25, Daughters of Rebekah, is an organization of considerable numbers and strength. Its charter was granted Feb. 22, 1879. Leroy Lodge, No. 84, Independent Order of Good Templars, received its charter Nov. 20, 1878, and was at one time flourishing, but has since declined. A flourishing grange exists in Leroy, with a constantly- increasing membership. A commodious hall has been erected, in which their meetings are regularly held. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES ALBERT T. HORTON. Among the many biographies that we append to the history of this county and its townships, no subject is more worthy than the one whose name heads this sketch. He is in the truest sense self-made. Coming to the State in an early day when to exist required a struggle, his only capital energy, willingness, and strength, he has indeed achieved success, and is to-day enjoying the reward of an industrious, well-spent life. He was born in Lake Co., Ohio, July 21, 1828, the second in a family of four children. His father, Franklin S. Horton, was a native of Connecticut, and a blacksmith by trade. His mother was Betsy (Tucker) Horton, a native of the same State, where they were married, and started for Ohio the next day on their wedding-tour with a team and covered wagon in company with his brother and others, who had located land on the Western Reserve, locating in Lake County, where he followed farming combined with the -v ¦%i; „W#ife m - .•^m&zm^ Residence. of ALBERT T. HORTON, Leroy Tp Ingham Co. Michigan, LEROY. 257 manufacture of hay-forks, scythes, and carriage-springs, up to the time of his death. The mother is still living in the old homestead. After the death of her husband, she rented her farm and kept her family together, teach ing them by her example industry, economy, and sociability. Of them and the success of her precepts, she never had cause to complain, as they have all become prosperous and respected citizens. Albert, at the age of fourteen, in com pany ^vith his younger brother, took the farm under his supervision, remaining at home until he was twenty-four, when he hired out by the month to a man who had pre viously worked for him. June 25, 1852, he married Miss Maria L. Bennett, who was born in Ohio Nov. 13, 1832, and the fifth representative of a family of eight, all living. Her parents were both Vermonters, passing the early part of their married life there, afterwards removing to Ohio, where they followed farming until the death of the father, the mother surviving him three years. Mr. Horton continued working by the month until the spring of 1853, when he removed to Michigan, living in Lansing through the summer. In the fall they bought their present home of one hundred and sixty acres on sec tion 16, to which have since been added eighty acres. On their arrival they lived with a neighbor, Knapp, until they could build a comfortable though not spacious log house, moving in in March when it was only chinked on two sides. On their way to their new home their household goods were capsized in a small stream while crossing, deluging everything, more particularly their straw-beds, which they had to spread and dry, straw being more scarce then than now and no more to be had. Mr. and Mrs. Horton were the parents of eleven children, of whom eight are living. The eldest son and daughter are married and settled near home. Politically, Mr. Horton was formerly a Republican, lat terly a Democrat ; has been supervisor of his township for six years, clerk three years. He takes an active interest in schools, having been director twelve years, and knowing from past experience the necessities for an education ; for, though possessing a large amount of practical knowledge, his advantages for education were limited, like those of many of the early pioneers and settlers of the Western States. In religion his views are liberal. &K i¥ i>X >-~^. TAVID GORSLINE. MRS. DAVID QORSHNE. DAVID GORSLINE. This gentleman has nearly reached his fourscore years, ¦which have not been vouchsafed him alone by reason of strength, but because a strong constitution protected by a temperate use of the good things of life, an even tempera ment, and a husbanding of his resources has enabled him to endure the hardships of pioneer experiences and the ex hausting exposures and trials of a frontier life. He was born in New Town, Long Island, May 3, 1802. His father, also a native of the same place, was killed in the battle of Queenstown, in the war of 1812. His mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Wood, was a native of New York, and one of a family of eleven children. After 33 the death of his father, David, being then only ten years of age, took his first lesson in farming in Sullivan Co., N. Y., living there with his grandparents, and pursuing dil igently this avocation until he was sixteen years of age, when he embarked for himself, receiving for his services three dollars and a half per month at the outset. In 1824 he married Miss Clarissa Worden, a native of Sullivan County, where she was born Dec. 5, 1803. Her parents were both natives of Orange Co., N. Y., and the parents of eleven children, Clarissa being the seventh. Her father died there in 1828, and her mother in Ohio, in 1871. After their marriage David labored by the day or worked land on shares as the opportunity afforded in Sullivan and after- 258 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. wards in Niagara County, until 1836, when, with his wife and six children, he turned from all the scenes of his child hood and early years, and friends and relatives, journeyed through the lakes to Detroit, and thence by his own con veyance to Wheatfield township, where he located one hundred and twenty acres on sections 34 and 35, he being the only white man in four townships. In 1837 they re ceived their first neighbor in William Drown, who lived in the house with them. Their first home was a house twelve by sixteen feet. Poles covered with shakes were substi tuted for doors. These he made by lamp-light, and all carpenter-, mason-, and other work was done by himself. To Mr. and Mrs. Gorsline were born ten children, of whom six are living : Elizabeth, born Nov. 7, 1824; Catharine, bom April 24, 1826; Parden E., born Feb. 24, 1829; Richard A., born March 8, 1831 ; David, born Feb. 24 1833 ; Edwin, born Dec. 29, 1840. In 1872 they left their old home, which contained two hundred and forty acres, and which they had transformed from a wilderness to blossoming fields by thirty-six years of hard labor and privation, and moved to Williamston. In 1873 he sold his farm, and the year following moved to Leroy township, where they now live in the enjoyment of ease and comfort. In politics Mr. Gorsline is a Democrat ; has held all the various town offices, including that of supervisor, which he held six years, and has proven himself worthy of the con fidence reposed in him. Mrs. Gorsline is a worthy member of the Baptist Church, Mr. Gorsline being liberal in his religious views. LESLIE. NATURAL FEATURES. GEOGRAPHY, TOPOGRAPHY, Etc. The township of Leslie occupies a position on the south ern border of the county of Ingham, and is bounded west by Onondaga, north by Vevay, east by Bunker Hill, and south by Jackson County. The eastern and southern boundaries were surveyed by Joseph Wampler, in 1824; the northern and western boundaries by John Mullett, in 1824-25 ; and the township was subdivided by Hervey Parke, in 1826. The surface of the township is level or gently rolling, and its soil is capable of yielding largely of the various pro ductions of the region. The principal stream is Huntoon Creek, — named for an early settler, — which flows in a general southerly course nearly across the centre of the township. Its principal sources are in Mud Lake, on sections 3 and 10, and Huntoon Lake, on sections 13 and 14. There is light power on the stream, which was formerly utilized at Leslie village, but the dam was torn away and the mill-pond drained for the promotion of the health of the inhabitants. The power had been used to drive a saw-mill. An outlet by rail is furnished by the Saginaw division of the Michigan Central Railway, which unites at Rives Junction, in Jackson County, five miles south of Leslie, with tbe Grand River Valley road, or Grand Rapids divis ion. The village of Leslie is situated in the southern part of the township, and North Leslie is a hamlet lying north west from the Centre. PREOCCUPATION. The occupants of the territory included in the township of Leslie, when it was first settled by white people, were of the copper-colored race generally known as Indians. Evi- By Pliny A. Durant. dences, however, exist pointing to the occupation — long previous — by a people superior in many respects to the Indians, notably in the art of defense against the attacks of hostile forces. Sidney 0. Russell, of Leslie, while hunting on a certain occasion, in the winter, discovered an embankment on what is now the J. W. Wilcox place, near North Leslie, and when the snow had gone he examined it closely. It was rectangular in form, with entrances at the northern and southern ends, and when discovered by Mr. Russell was about eighteen inches high. Upon it were growing trees which were equal in size to those standing in the surround ing forest, which were very large. In the immediate vicinity of Leslie were discovered other curiosities in the form of small mounds and pits. About half a mile west of the vil lage was a tract of fifteen or twenty acres, from which were plowed up large numbers of human bones, many of which were left exposed. A piece of hardened copper was also found in one locality, and among the bones which were un earthed was a skull, which was so large that not a hat could be found in Leslie large enough to fit it ; a thigh bone which was found to be three inches longer than the thigh of the tallest man in the place, and he was very tall. The Indians had no knowledge of these bones, nor of the works which abounded in the vicinity ; and it can only be concluded that they were relics of that mysterious people whom archaeologists call the " prehistoric race." Rev. W. W. Crane, an early minister of this region, who lived in Eaton County, was an enthusiast in the study of these an tiquities, and familiar with all treatises upon the subject, yet he could only offer a theory as to their probable origin and the time when this portion of the country was occupied by them, for nothing definite could be known of them more than the evident fact of their being a warlike race, and con siderably versed in mechanics. LESLIE. 259 LAND ENTRIES. The following is a list of those who entered land in what is now Leslie township (town 1 north, range 1 west), show ing dates of entry : Section 1. — Dorman Felt, May 25, 1837; Francis Curtis, June 7, 1838; Asher Robinson, Nov. 1, 1839; Nathaniel Searl, 1847; Stephen Verrill, William Potter, no date; Augustus Finney, 1857. Section 2.— William W. Dewey, July 23, 1836; Stephen Kirby, David Lockwood, April 17, 1837; Joshua Odell, May 11, 1837; Isaac Kirby, May 13, 1837; Dorman Felt, Sept. 20, 1848. Section 3. — John Sample, Sept. 13, 1848. Section 4.— Milton B. Adams, May 4, 1836 ; R. Kirby, July 23, 1836 ; William Doty, Nov. 1, 1836. Section 5. — William Page, entire section, July 23, 1846. Section 6. — Henry Finn, Dec. 12, 1836; Runyan Churchward, May 23, 1837; Ira H. Cole, May 24, 1837; William Jones, June 14, 1837; Stephen Edwards, Jan. 15, 1845; Luoretia Davis, no date. Section 7. — Nathaniel B. Kingsland, John Jones, William Page, July 23, 1836 : Ira Hare, Sept. 23, 1836 ; Noah Phelps, May 23, 1837 ; William G. Van Cleef, April 1, 1839; Thomas Dunlap, July 17, 1839. Section 8. — James Royston, May 18, 1836; Benjamin Tuttle, James McCrary, July 14, 1836 ; Thomas Squiers, Bethel S. Farr, July 23, 1836; William W. Andrews, Oct. 29, 1838. Section 9. — Milton B. Adams, May 4, 1836; James Armstrong, July 14, 1836; Jacob Loomis, April 4, 1837. Section 10. — Restecome Kirby, July 23, 1836. Section 11.— Benjamin Tuttle, July 14, 1836; S. W. Reed and Elijah Hunt, June 19, 1837 ; William C. Longyear, July 15, 1837. Section 12.— William W. Dewey, July 15 and 23, 1836 ; Dorman Felt, May 25, 1837. Section 13. — John Penson, June 9, 1837; Hiram and Thomas God frey, Deo. 26, 1837; Thomas Godfrey, Sept. 20, 1838; Samuel H. Kimball, Dec, 21, 1838; John Whiting, March 12, 1842; Henry 0. Hodges, no date. Section 14. — John Davy, Jr., May 23, 1836 ; Prentice J. Miner, July 23, 1836. Section 15. — Benjamin Damoth, April 27, 1836 ; Milton B. Adams, May' 4, 1836 ; Abram Kirby, July 23, 1836 ; William G. Harmon, no date. Section 16. — P. H. Davis, William Doty, Walter H. Cheney, Henry Dennis, Amasa Hall, N. B. Backus, M. N. Armstrong, F. Shaver, no dates. Section 17. — James Royston, May 18, 1836; Benjamin Tuttle, Elijah Woodworth, July 14, 1836. Section 18. — James Royston, May 18, 1836; N. B. Kingsland, no date; Daniel Cook, Sept. 26, 1836. Section 19.— George W. Tower, May 12, 1836; John C. Hempsted, May 13, 1836; David Darrah, May 14, 1836; Sidney 0. Russell, May 18,1836; Daniel Cook, Sept. 26, 1836; William 0. Long- year, July 15, 1837. Section 20.— David Darrah, May 14, 1836; Sidney 0. Russell, May 18, 1836; Benjamin Davis, May 20, 1836; Joshua F. Freeman, David F. Dwight, Zadock Washburn, July 23, 1836. Section 21.— Amos Wortman, March 11, 1836; Ezekiel T. Critchett, March 18, 1836; John N. and D. F. Dwight, March 21, 1836; Milton B. Adams, May 4, 1836; Amos Wortman, July 23, 1836. Section 22.— J. N. and D. F. Dwight, March 21, 1836; Charles Tupper, April 28, 1836; Milton B. Adams, May 4, 1836; Thomas and Dennis McMahon, May 23, 1836; Restecome Kirby, July 23, 1836. Section 23.— Jacob F. Cooley, May 16, 1836; William W. Dewey, July 5, 1836; Prentice J. Miner, July 23, 1836; Enoch Scovell, May 7, 1840; Jacob Straight, May 12, 1841. Sections 24, 25, 26, 27.— John Western, Maroh 30, 1836. Section 28.— Denzil P. Rice, Feb. 23, 1836; Henry Meeker, Feb. 23, 1836; Jacob Loomis, John C. Burnell, April 18, 1836; Hiram Lane, April 28, 1836; Milton B. Adams, May 4, 1836. Section 29.— D. P. Rice, Feb. 23, 1836 ; John C. Burnell, April 18, 1836; Sidney O. Russell, May 18, 1836; George H. Freeman, May 20 and 23, 1836; Joshua F. Freeman, May 23, 1836 ; Zadock Washburn, July 23, 1836; Gilbert II. Valentine, Nov. 1, 1836. Section 30. — James McCray, April 26, 1836; Joseph Compton, April 26 and July 23, 1836; Ingham County, June 2, 1837. Section 31. — Daniel Perry, Jasper S. Wolcott, Joseph Perry, Jan. 21, 1836; Jeduthan Waldo, Maroh 3, 1836; John Eaman, May 6, 1836; Ira Nash, July 13, 1836. Section 32.— William W. Harwood, Nov. 3, 1835 ; Sylvanus P. Jer- main, Feb'. 23, 1836 ; Theodore Clark, Jr., Feb. 1 1, 1836 ; Austin Church and Frederick Clark, Feb. 11, 1836; Austin Church, March 25, 1836 ; Thomas Godfrey, Nov. 17, 1838. Section 33.— William W. Harwood, Nov. 30, 1835; John Western, March 30, 1836. Section 34. — Jeremiah Marvin, Feb. 2, 1836 ; John Western, March 30, 1836. Sections 35 and 36.— John Western, Maroh 30, 1836. From the foregoing it will be seen that the first entries in the township were made by William W. Harwood, Nov. 3, 1835, at which date he purchased the southeast quarter of section 32. On the 30th of the same month he pur chased the west half of the southwest quarter of section 33, the balance of the section being taken by John West ern, a heavy purchaser. EARLY SETTLEMENT. The records of the County Pioneer Society contain the following items of interest regarding some of the settlers of the township of Leslie : Jacob Armstrong, a native of Charlestown, Montgomery Co., N. Y., removed to Michi gan in the fall of 1837, arriving at Detroit September 3d. Mr. Armstrong relates his experience as follows : " I hired a man and team to transport my goods ; arrived at the Freeman bridge, on Grand River, the 9th of September. Found the river impassable on account of heavy rains. The causeway, some thirty rods long between the bridge and the north bank, was afloat. I left my goods on the south side, and my wife and I crossed on the floating logs, jumping from one log to another, and came to Leslie that night, five miles, on foot. Next morning I started with an ox-team for my goods, the river still impassable for a team. By the help of three hired men we loaded in a wagon what we could draw, and drew it across on plank laid on the floating cause way, and by taking two sets of plank we could shift them every length of the wagon, and by working faithfully all day, part of the time up to our waist in water, we got them over, and arrived at our home in Leslie some time after dark." The Freeman bridge mentioned by Mr. Armstrong is well remembered by the pioneers, as it was 'at the place where many of them crossed the river when on their way into Ingham County with their families. Elijah Woodworth,* a native of Mayfield, Montgomery Co., N. Y., and afterwards a resident of Cayuga County, and a soldier of the war of 1812, removed to Michigan from Aurelius, Cayuga Co., in the fall of 1835. His route lay through Canada, and the journey occupied twenty-one days of time. During the winter the family remained in Jack son County, with Mr. Woodworth 's cousin, George Wood- worth. In March, 1836, Elijah Woodworth cut his road part way through to Leslie, aud finally arrived in the latter township. He crossed Grand River on a raft. He says : " My nearest neighbors north were at De Witt, Clinton Co. ; * Mr. Woodworth was the first settler in Leslie township, and is now residing in Wheatfield. 260 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. south, four miles, and east and west none but natives that I knew of. During the summer new-comers in pursuit of homes found my habitation. Each had his name booked as he came to the door, and his turn of choice of land fol lowed his registry. Amos Wortman, Jasper Wolcott, and myself became their guides in the wilderness. Our pro visions were transported some distance and were very dear. I assisted D. F. Dwight to build the first saw-mill in Ing ham County, a water-mill at Leslie, in 1836. The mail was brought from Jacksonville. We had no sawed timbers about our mill. Our land was located at Kalamazoo in the order the applications were made. " Henry Meeker located his land and mill site, and left the same year. When we went out to look land we had to camp in the woods over-night or stay at some Indian lodging. During 1836 among the new settlers were James Royston, S. 0. Russell, and E. T. Critchett, of Seneca Falls, N. Y. Plenty of wild animals then roamed our forests, such as bear, wolves, deer ; cats, rats, and mice we had none." During 1836, before a bridge was built over Grand River, it was crossed by incomers on a log raft. Some time in that year, Mr. Oaks was treed by wolves near the river, on his return from Jackson, and remained all night on his perch, badly frightened. Wolves were quite troublesome until the settlers began trapping them for the bounty of seven dollars per head, and their numbers were soon greatly lessened. Bears were also plenty, and it is related that David Ackley killed one with his rifle, one Sunday morn ing, that was seven feet two inches in length. He and his wife were out taking a walk, and she at first mistook the animal for an Indian pony. The first law-suit in the town of Aurelius was between E. T. Critchett, plaintiff, and Elijah Woodworth, defendant. The first death in Leslie is thought to have been that of a daughter of Stephen Kirby. From 1838 to 1840 the settlers were all sick with bilious fever and the ague, and they were so badly shaken up that many became disheart ened and returned to their former homes. Thales W. Huntoon, a native of Claremont, Cheshire Co., N. H., settled in Leslie, Nov. 12, 1840. His parents also came to the township, where they both died. His father's name was Isaac F. Huntoon. When T. W. Hun toon first came to the township the village of Leslie con tained but few houses, while he expected to find a thrivin<* town. On arriving there and inquiring the distance to the village of Leslie, he was greatly surprised to find that he was then in the midst of it. Benjamin Davis, from Jefferson Co., N. Y., removed to Michigan in October, 1836, and remained in Wayne County until Jan. 1, 1837, when he settled with his family in the township of Leslie, Ingham Co., where he lived for thirty years, and died at the age of seventy. His son, Richard H. Davis, was but ten years old when the family came to Michigan. The wife of R. H. Davis came to Ingham County in 1841 with her parents, Asa and Orvilla Dubois, who settled in the township of Vevay. Sidney 0. Russell, a native of East Bloomfield, N. Y., settled in Leslie in June, 1836, having been preceded but one day by Ezekiel T. Critchett. Wheaton Sanders, who was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y. in 1811, came to Leslie in 1839, and settled on a farm to which no road had been cut out, and on which he died April 22, 1879. He and his wife experienced all the hardships of a pioneer life. The foregoing items concerning the pioneers mentioned are from the Pioneer Society's records ; what follows has been gathered " in the field," among the pioneers. Amos Wortman, who is now residing immediately north of the village of Leslie, on the farm he first located, came to Michigan in September, 1835, from Genesee Co., N. Y., and was then unmarried. He remained in Jackson until the spring of 1836, when he came to what is now Leslie purchased government land, and commenced improving it. He boarded for two years with Elijah Woodworth, who lived at the site of the village, and who built the first house in the place. When Mr. Wortman was looking for land he was accompanied by Jasper Wolcott, a young man from his own neighborhood in New York. They stopped a portion of the time, when night fell, with Oliver Booth, the first settler in the township of Onondaga, who had a section of land where Onondaga village now is. Mr. Wortman assisted Elijah Woodworth in building his shanty at Leslie ; it stood about sixty rods east of what is now the main street, and Mr. Woodworth says it was, beyond dispute, the first one on the site of the village. Mr. Wortman assisted many in looking out their land, as also did Mr. Woodworth and Mr. Wolcott. Mr. Wort man was married in October, 1838, and settled upon his place the following spring, having cleared a small tract and sowed about fifteen acres of wheat. The first wheat sowed in the township was put in by S. 0. Russell and James Royston, who settled in the summer of 1836. Mr. Wort man helped cut the first road in the township of Leslie, and also helped to cut tracks through the woods in other townships while on " land-hunting" trips. Those roads were scarcely better than cow-paths. Sidney O. Russell, previously mentioned, visited this region in 1835, and looked it over with the view of some time settling. In May, 1836, he purchased land in what is now the township of Leslie, and in the following month of June he brought in his family and settled with them on a farm, upon which he resided until 1842, when he removed to the village and entered the mercantile business, in which he has since continued. James Royston, Mr. Russell's brother-in-law, came to the township with the latter and settled in the same locality, and at present occupies the farm he then located. Mr. Russell's wife is a daughter of Mrs. Abby Haynes, who, after the death of her husband, removed to Michigan from the town of Marcellus, Onondaga Co., N. Y., with five children, and settled in the township of White Oak, Ing ham Co. This was in 1838 ; one year later they removed to Onondaga township. Mrs. Russell was the eldest child. Mrs. Haynes, who was a resolute, energetic woman, died in 1871. When the family started from New York they had a team of horses, but while passing through Canada one of the horses was traded for a yoke of oxen, ahead of which the other horse was hitched, and slow progress was made over the extremely bad Canadian roads. From Detroit to Ann Arbor the journey occupied two days' time, and the LESLIE. 261 wagon contained four persons for its load only. Mr. Rus sell, who had come two years before, was four days making the same distance. M. V. Armstrong, now in the undertaking business at Leslie, came to the township in 1845, and purchased the first forty acres of land taken on section 16, upon which he resided a short time. His wife became ill and homesick, and they shortly returned to Batavia, Genesee Co., N. Y., where she died. He came again to Leslie and purchased forty additional aeres of land, returned to New York and was married again, and finally made a permanent settlement here in 1850. Mr. Armstrong's brother, Jacob, in company with Nel son B. Backus, settled in the township in 1836, at Leslie, or " Teaspoon Corners." He sold eighty acres of the land he had purchased to Mr. Backus, who became a prom inent citizen in the township, as did also Mr. Armstrong. These men were the first settlers at North Leslie. Mr. Armstrong, who first purchased on section 9, has resided for several years at Oakley, Saginaw Co., Mich. M. V. Armstrong held the position of commissioner of highways in Leslie about twenty-five years. Mahlon Covert, from Covert, Seneca Co., N. Y., purchased land in the township of Vevay, in June, 1837, and came with his family to the township of Leslie in October fol lowing, intending to proceed at once to his place in Vevay. There was so much water on the way, however, that it would have been almost impossible to get through, and Mr. Covert finally traded his Vevay land to John Royston, for land the latter had purchased in Leslie, and settled upon it and still occupies it. Mrs. Covert's brother, Ira Chandler, came with them. A son of John Royston now occupies a portion of the old farm in Vevay. Mr. Covert's son, Ansel R. L. Covert, was elected county clerk in 1856, and re moved to Mason, where he lived four years, and in 1861 settled in the village of Leslie, where he at present resides. Calvin Edwards, from Cayuga Co., N. Y., came to the township of Leslie in 1837 or 1838, with his wife and six children, and located in the same neighborhood with Mahlon Covert. He died in the township. His son, Ogden Ed wards, resides in Leslie village, and he and his brother Oliver are the only ones of the family now living in the township. Ogden and Stephen Edwards chopped the first tree felled on their father's place, upon which no improve ments had been made, although it was purchased from second hands. Wheaton Sanders, who accompanied Mr. Edwards to the township, was from the same neighborhood in New York.* He is now deceased, but his family occupies the old farm. His brother, Gilbert Sanders, had settled in the same local ity a year previous to the arrival of Wheaton Sanders, and is now living at Albion, Calhoun Co. Arnold Walker, from Seneca Co., N. Y., came to Leslie in 1844, and has since resided in the county, in which he has been and is a prominent and influential citizen. He at present occupies the position of president of the First Na tional Bank of Leslie. He was for some time previous to the Rebellion an officer in the militia of the county, and was * Elsewhere stated that Mr. Sanders came in 1839. captain of the " Curtenius Guards,'' of Mason. That com pany was named in honor of Col. F. W. Curtenius, of Kal amazoo. The militia of the State had been allowed to become of little importance, but finally the State Military Board raised three thousand dollars, a portion of which was appropriated towards prizes for the best-drilled and best- appearing companies in the State. In 1857, Col. Curte nius inspected three companies at Mason, — the " Curtenius Guards," and two companies from Lansing, the " Wil liams Grays" and a German organization. The prize was awarded to the Mason company, and consisted of one hun dred and fifty dollars in money and a brass field-piece. Its officers were each raised one grade in rank, except Capt. Walker, who was promoted to the position of lieutenant- colonel of the regiment (Forty-sixth Michigan). The company armed itself with Minie rifles, and became well known for its efficiency and appearance. When the war broke out the services of the company were tendered as a body to the Governor, and the organization was accepted and assigned to the Seventh Michigan Infantry and sent to the front. Capt. Walker was not at the time a member of the company, but was solicited to accept the position of captain. He declined in favor of Capt. McKernan, but offered to go in any other capacity, — even as a private in the ranks. The position of major of the regiment was tendered him, and would have been accepted but that Mon roe County was without representation among the line officers of the regiment, and Mr. Walker was promised a good position in the near future if he did not take the major's commission. The result was he had no chance to go to the front, though always ready. The " Curtenius Guards'' covered themselves with glory while in the field. Nelson Norton, from Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, came with his wife and one child to Ingham County in June, 1838, and settled on section 33 in Leslie, having purchased land of John Western, of Jackson. Mr. Norton himself made the first improvements upon it, Western being only a speculator, owning several sections in this township. In January, 1875, Mr. Norton removed to the village where he now resides. Rev. Elijah K. Grout, a native of Fairfax, Vt., settled in Leslie in October, 1838, with his wife and three chil dren,— the latter all young. He purchased forty acres inside of the present village corporation, a portion of the traot now being owned by Arnold Walker. This land he after wards sold. In the spring of 1839, Mr. Grout assisted in the organization of a Baptish Church at Leslie, and was himself ordained to the ministry in 1841. He served in the ministerial field of labor for nearly thirty-seven years in various localities, having resided at Marine City, St. Clair Co., from 1847 to 1854, and died at Leslie, Feb. 9, 1878. His loss was sincerely mourned by all who knew him. He was a fine type of the pioneer minister, and knew no man as an enemy. His widow is residing in the village, and several of his children live here and at Bay City. Mrs. Grout is a sister of Henry and Dr. Valorous Meeker, and daughter of Benjamin Meeker, who were among the first settlers in the township of Leslie. Henry Meeker purchased land on section 28 in February, 1836. Henry Meeker, in company with his father, Benjamin Meeker, and 262 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. Denziel P. Rice, came at nearly the same time with Elijah Woodworth, and soon sent for the family of the elder Meeker, who came the same year (1836). Dr. Valorous Meeker arrived in 1837, and was the first physician who settled in Ingham County. Benjamin Meeker and wife both died in this^township. Henry returned to Cortland Co., N. Y., but afterwards removed still farther West, and is now living near Milford, Dickinson Co., Iowa. The Meekers, in many respects, were among the most prominent citizens of Leslie township. Henry Fiske came to Leslie about 1837, and settled on the site of the village. The first township-meeting con vened at his house in April of the following year. His log dwelling stood near the present site of the Allen House. Miss Messinger, who came with him, or at nearly the same time, was an early teacher in the Leslie schools. She became the wife of a man named Hill, also an early settler, and they removed from the locality. Both are now de ceased. James Blackmore, the present postmaster at Leslie, emi grated from Stafford, Genesee Co., N. Y., to Henrietta, Jackson Co., Mich., in 1848, and in 1855 came to Leslie and taught school. He removed here in 1858, and engaged in mercantile business in June, 1859. The resident taxpayers of the township of Leslie in 1844 are included in the following list: Asher Robinson, Moses Curtis, George Higdon, John Barry, William Doty, Clark A. Harlow, S. G. Sanders, Calvin Edwards, William Page, John Tuttle, William Page, Jr., Enoch Hare, Thomas Closson, A. C. Harlow, Wheaton Sanders, William Jones, Homer S. King, Jacob Armstrong, Nelson B. Backus, Amos Wortman, Abram House], James Harkness, William W. Dewey, Chauncey Smith, Isaac F. Huntoon, Sally Miles, Seneca M. Hale, Joshua Whitney, Anthony Ingalls, Washington Scovel, Ephraim Wort man, Truman Wilbur, Whitman Albro, Peter Ward, Mahlon Covert, James Royston, John R. Dunsha, Solomon Woodworth, Sidney 0. Russell, Stephen Weeks, Benjamin Davis, Elizabeth Gardner (administratrix), Samuel T. Rice, Critchet & Dwight, Thomas J. Blake, E. K. Grout, Daniel Ackley, Henry Meeker, Valorous Meeker, E. L. Freeman, Henry Fiske, Barlow, J. R. Cowden, Elijah Woodworth. Silas Kirby, Enoch Scovel, George Huntoon, Barna Filkins, Jacob Straight, Calvin Straight, Widow Mitchell, Hiram Hodges, John Housel, William Huntoon, Sabens, Roxalana Dewey, John R. Hale, Thomas Peach, Joel Scovel, Denzil P Rice, Isaac Demick, Alba Blake, Blako & Rus sell, Clark Graves, Joseph Woodhouse, Jared Reynolds, Hiram Austin, Flavel J. Butler, Meeker k Powell, Josiah Rice, Henry Hazelton, Sarah Loomis, V. II. Powell, Henry Medbury, George Freeman, James McCray, Simeon Polar, Thomas A. Anis, Daniel Jefford, Patrick Brown, Frederick S. Clark, William Barden, Jr., Jotham Morse, William Barden, Nelson Norton, Theodore Clark, Stillman P. Rice, D. & W. Wright, Jonas Nims, Benjamin Norton, Lester Miner, Harlow Norton, Daniel D. Marston, Lyman G. Miner, W. D. Landfair, Joseph Godfrey. TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.— LIST OE OFFICERS. Township No. 1 north, in range No. 1 west, formerly a part of Aurelius, was set off and organized into a separate township by the name of Leslie, Dec. 30, 1837 ; and the first township-meeting was ordered to be held at the house of Henry Fiske. The following account of said meeting is from the township records : "Agreeable to an act of the Legislature of Michigan, organizing the township of Leslie, passed March, 183S, and appointing the first township-meeting to be held at tbe house of Henry Fisko, in said town, — agreeable to the above act, the legal voters of said town of Leslie met on the first Monday in April, a.d. 1838, at the house of Henry Fiske, and organized by choosing Henry Fiske, Moderator' Jacob Loomis and Franklin Elmer, Clerks; James Royston and Vavasor H. Powell, Inspectors, — all of which sworn according to law. " Resolved, That this meeting adjourn to the school-house. " After the votes were duly canvassed, it appeared that the follow ing-named persons were elected for town officers : Benjamin Davis Supervisor; Franklin Elmer, Township Clerk; Sidney 0. Russell Mahlon Covert, and Denzil P. Rice, Commissioners of Highways' William W. Dewey, James Royston, and Franklin Elmer, Assessors' Henry Meeker, James Royston, Vavasor H. Powell, and Jacob Loomis, Justices of the Peace; Thomas Squiers, Collector; Clark Graves, F. J. Butler, and Thomas Squiers, Constables; Henry Fiske, Valorous Meeker, and Vavasor H. Powell, School Inspectors; Ben jamin Davis and Benjamin Meeker, Overseers of the Poor. " I do hereby certify- that the above-named persons were duly elected to the offices set opposite their names. " Henry Fiske, Moderator. " Resolved (by the members of said meeting), That a committee of five persons be appointed to locate a site and purchase what they think fit for a burying-ground, — clear and improve the same as they think fit, — all at the expense of the town. " Resolved, That Henry Fiske, Henry Meeker, Ephraim Wortman, James Royston, and Jacob Loomis be said committee. " Resolved, further, That said committee appoint a sexton. " Voted, That hogs be free commoners. " Voted, That pathmasters be fence-viewers. " Voted, That a bounty of ten dollars be paid to any person, white or Indian, that will kill a wolf in this town; the white man to be a resident of this town. " Voted, That the next annual township-meeting be held at this place. " Voted, That this meeting do now adjourn. (Signed) , " Henry Fiske, Moderator. " Franklih Elmer, Clerk." The following pathmasters were chosen for Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively: Clark Graves, Clark Gardner, Sidney 0. Russell, Jacob Armstrong, William W. Dewey. The records for the years 1839 and 1840 are missing. The following is a list of the principal officers of the town ship from 1841 to 1879, with a few exceptions where the records are also missing : SUPERVISORS. 1841, Jacob Loomis; 1842-43, Benjamin Davis; 1844, Lester Miner; 1845, no record ; 1846-48, Lester Miner; 1849, Benjamin Davis; 1S50-51, Mahlon Covert; 1S52, Ira A. Reynolds; 1853, Lester Miner; 1854, Sidney 0. Russell; 1855, Austin A. Kirby; 1856, Pliny W. Rolfe; 1857, Austin A. Kirby; 1858-65, records miss ing; 1866-68, John D. Woodworth; 1869, Sidney 0. Russell; 1870, William B. Knapp; 1871, J. D. Woodworth; 1872-75, James Blackmore ; 1876, J. D. Woodworth; 1877, James Black- more; 1878, Caleb Angevine; 1879, James Blaokmore. TOWNSHIP CLERKS. 1841, Samuel F.Rico; 1842, Franklin Elmer; 1843-44, Joseph Wood- house; 1845, no record; 1S46, Lemuel Woodhouse; 1847, Alba Blake; 1848, Lemuel Woodhouse; 1849-53, Samuel T. Rice; 1854, James L. Torrey; 1855, Samuel T. Rice; 1856, Hiram Godfrey; 1857, Lemuel Woodhouse; 1858-65, records missing; 1866, John W. Burchard; 1S67-68, John R. Van Velsor; 1869 -72, Edwin G. Eaton; 1873, William H. Rice; 1874, Valorous H. Grout; 1875-76, Frank L. Prindle ; 1877, Edwin G. Eaton; 1878, J. M. Gibbs; 1S79, F. C. Woodworth. TREASURERS. 1841, Lewis Reynolds; 1842, Calvin Edwards; 1843-44, Samuel G. Sanders; 1845, no record; 1846, Nelson B. Barnes; 1S47, Fla vel J. Butler; 1848-49, Ogden Edwards; 1850, Thomas Austin ; LESLIE. 263 1851, 0. H. Parrish ; 1852, N. B. Backus ; 1853, Ogden Edwards ; 1854, George Phinney; 1855, Clark Graves; 1856, James L. Torrey; 1857-65, record missing; 1866-67, Leonard C. Rice; 1868, G. B. Loomis; 1869-70, Clarkson Flansburgh ; 1871-72, George J. Phelps; 1873-74, Edwin Ward; 1875, Hiram Austin; 1876, Allen C. Manly; 1877, William H. Rice; 1878, George J. Phelps; 1879, Levi L. Forbes. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 1841, William H. Dewey, James Royston ; 1842, Alba Blake, W. San ders, Lester Miner; 1843, Lester Miner; 1844, James Harkness; 1845, no record; 1846, Alba Blake; 1847, Lester Miner; 1848, James Hart; 1849, John Housel Wheaton Sanders, Rensselaer Polar; 1850, L. Woodhouse, J. Armstrong; 1851, Nelson Nor ton ; 1852, Jacob Armstrong, James Harkness ; 1853, James Harkness, Hiram Godfrey; 1854, Hiram Godfrey; 1855, John R. Dunsha; 1856, William Burr, J. Armstrong; 1857-65, record missing; 1866, Luther L. Stone, William C. Tompkins, James M. Gould; 1867, S. 0. Russell, J. Armstrong; 1868, Waldo May, Jr., Horace Haynes, Abram J. Bailey ; 1869, Edmund L. Cooper; 1870, William H. Burns; 1871, Henry B. Hawley; 1872, William E. Whitney, Cornelius Calkins, David D. May; 1873, S. 0. Rus sell, W. E.Whitney; 1874, William E. Whitney; 1875, Henry B. Hawley; 1876, George J. Jackson; 1877, Cornelius Calkins; 1878, George W. May; 1879, L. G. Woster, J. J. Tuttle. Officers for 1880 : Supervisor, James Blackmore; Township Clerk, F. C. Woodworth; Treasurer, Levi L. Forbes; Justice of the Peace, George J. Jackson; Superintendent of Schools, C. Green; School In spector, A. R. L. Covert; Commissioner of Highways, M. V. Arm strong; Drain Commissioner, Enoch Haines; Constables, James A. Peacock, Albert A. Lumbard, John Collins, Lewis B. Sanders. SCHOOLS. At a meeting of the school inspectors of the old township of Aurelius, held Aug. 12, 1837, at the house of William Page, the south half of town 1 north, range 1 west (now Leslie), was set off and organized as School District No. 1, and the first district meeting therein was directed to be held at the house of Henry Fiske. The north half of the same township was organized as District No. 2 at the same date, and the first district meeting ordered to be held at the house of William Page. Nathan Rolfe and James Royston were the school inspectors for the township at that time. Dis trict No. 1 was altered Oct. 8, 1838, so as to contain sections 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 32, and 33, and December 22d, same year, District No. 2 was reorganized so as to include sections 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 29, and the northwest quarter and the west half of the northeast quarter of section 20. Other changes were made in years immediately following. July 4, 1842, the money received from the county treas urer for school purposes was $31.08, divided among the several districts as follows : No. 1, with sixty-five pupils $20.84 No. 2, with eighteen pupils 5.76 No. 1 fractional, seven pupils (Leslie and Rives) 2.24 No. 2 fractional, seven pupils (Leslie and Bunker Hill) 2.24 Total $31.08 The first school-house in the township was built at what is now Leslie village, in the fall of 1837, and is now used as a dwelling by S. O. Russell. It is a frame building. The name of the first teacher is not now recollected. The second, in the summer of 1837, was Mrs. F. Butler, sister to Mrs. E. K. Grout, who had come to the township that year with her husband, Flavel J. Butler, at the same time with Dr. Valorous Meeker. Miss Messinger taught, prob ably, next after Mrs. Butler. In 1843, Elizabeth Bugbee taught in District No. 1, and Elizabeth S. Godfrey in No. 4, the latter district having been formed in 1842, in the southwest part of the township. Other early teachers in the township were : 1843. — Loryette Smith, John Smith, Stephen Weeks. 1844. — Sarah Whitman, Salina Whitman, Ada Whittemore, W. R. Harrison, Lois Reynolds, Jane Robinson, Luther B. Hun toon, Phebe Holmes, F. Joshua Whitney, Jane Clark. 1845. — Hannah Miller, Lucy Dewey, Ezra Shearman, Betsy Hurd. 1846. — Mercy Atwood, Joshua Whitney, George Phelps. 1847. — Bradley F. Freeman, Sarah Miller, Sarah Lamb, Laura A. Rice, Richard H. Davis, Elizabeth A. Miller, Sarah J. Brakemao. 1848. — Harriet E. Sanders, Ansel Covert, Martha A. Rolfe, Mrs. Mary J. Housel, Miranda Spaulding, Daniel H. Blake, Elisha Smith, J. B. Freeman, Louisa A. Sprague, Susan Miller. 1849. — Sally Edwards, Sarah L. Searl, Margamine Dubois, Amos Hall, George F. Rice, Loisa Bert.* In 1843 the books in use in District No. 1 were Web ster's Speller, Testament, Hale's History, Smith's and Adams' Arithmetic, Olney's Geography, Kirkham's Gram mar ; in No. 2, the English Reader, Spelling, Geography, and Arithmetic. A school-house was built that year in No. 3, partly by subscription, partly by tax on property. The first building in District No. 1 was used for a time, and gave place to the brick structure which is now used as a chapel by the First Congregational Church. Sept. 9, 1871, this district was organized as a "Union" district, and it was voted to raise $1500 by tax to apply on a new school- building. The contract for building the house, which is a fine structure of brick, was awarded to Woodhouse & Rice for something over $10,000, and it was erected in 1867-68. About five years later a wing was added, on the south side, at an expense of about $3000. The entire cost of the building, including furniture, etc., was $15,000. The old brick edifice had been in use fifteen or twenty years before the new one was built. The school has six departments, in which the teachers for the school year of 1880-81 are: Principal, Henry C. Rankin ; Grammar Department, Miss Delia Hutchings ; First Intermediate, Miss D. Godfrey ; Second Intermediate, Miss Maggie Angevine; First Pri mary, Mrs. Elsie Hall ; Second Primary, Miss May Rice. The school census of the district in the first week of September, 1880, was 376, and the fall term opened with an attendance of about 300. Mr. Rankin, the principal of the school, is a teacher of much experience. He was en gaged four years at Cassopolis, and comes this year to Les lie for the first time. His predecessor, C. A. Cook, held the reigns of government in this school for eight years, and is now at Dexter, Washtenaw Co. From the report of the school inspectors for the year end ing Sept. 1, 1879, are taken the following items : Number of districts in township (whole, 8; frac tional, 1) 9 " of school-children in township 804 " in attendance for year 624 " of school-houses (brick, 1 ; frame, 8) 9 " of whole seatings in same 750 Value of school property $14,750 Number of teachers (male, 9; female, 17) 26 Wages of same (males, $1497.50; females, $1415).... $2912,50 Total expenditures for year 5183.43 • Dr. J. B. Hull, now of the city of Lansing, was alsa an early teacher in Leslie. 264 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. Methodist Episcopal Church, Leslie. — The first Meth odist sermon preached in Leslie was delivered by Rev. E. H. Pilcher, probably in a private house, when the population of the place was exceedingly small. Leslie Circuit was or ganized from Mason Circuit, in 1868, and its pastors since that time have been Revs. B. S. Mills, one year ; A. A. Rolfe, three years ; H. D. Jordan, one year ; J. Gulick, three years ; N. L. Brockway, two years ; and the present pastor, Rev. William J. Swift, two years, or since Septem ber 15, 1878. The present membership of the church is 181, including probationers (Sept. 10, 1880). The Sun day-school has an average attendance of about seventy-five, with Dr. A. C. Manly as superintendent. The present brick church is the only one ever owned by the society, and was built in 1869. Meetings had previously been held in the Baptist church and a public hall. Other appointments on the circuit are at the Phelps school-house in Bunker % Hill, with about thirty in attendance at the Sunday-school ; and at the Baird school-house in Rives township, Jackson Co., where no class has yet been formed, but probably soon will be. A class which held meetings for some time iu the Housel neighborhood, in Leslie township, has been recently closed. The United Brethren have a circuit including North Leslie, the Housel neighborhood, Scovill's Corners, and the Clark school-house in Leslie, and Fitchburg, in Bunker Hill, and during the summer of 1880 they erected a church at the latter place, which is the only one on the circuit. First Baptist Church, Leslie.— The records of this church contain the following account of its organization : "Leslie, April 12, 1839. "A number of baptized believers met in the school-house in the village of Leslie for the purpose of organizing themselves into a society to be denominated and known by the name of the First Baptist Church in Leslie. After prayer, Elder David Hendee was chosen moderator, and E. K. Grout clerk pro tern. "A list of articles of Faith and Practice and Covenant were pre sented, and unanimously adopted as the sentiments of the church. The following brethren and sisters are associated together and pre' sented the letters to the clerk: Mahlon Covert, Sally Covert Lewis Reynolds, Laura Reynolds, Martha J. Ives, Mariah Hazelton, Harriet Barden, and Elijah K. Grout. "Br. M. Covert was appointed deacon, and E. K. Grout clerk of the church. " Voted, Brother E. K. Grout give an expression of his views of a call to the gospel ministry. " Voted, That Brother Grout be licensed to improve his gift in giv ing exposition of Scripture from time to time, as the Spirit may divert his mind. J "Voted, That we try to maintain our church meetings once in four weeks, at one o'clock p.m. " Closed by prayer. " E. K. Grout, Clerk pro tern. " ^^ ^ HE™EE' M"de'^or. Of the persons above named who were the constituent members of this church the only ones now living are Mahlon Covert and wife. Calvin Straight and wife united with the church May 11, 1839, and on the same date it was voted to apply for admission to the River Raisin Baptist Association, and voted also to give Mr. Grout a license to preach. The church was admitted to the association named in the latter part of May, or early in June, 1839. Mr. Grout was ordained as a minister Feb. 16, 1841, and became the pastor of the church. At an association meeting held at Napoleon, Sept. 10, 1842, Mr. Grout presented resolutions denouncing slavery, and providing for work against it in the church also against intemperance in the church. In the spring of 1847, Elder Grout was given a letter of dismissal and rec- ommendation, and removed to St. Clair County, in which he resided ten years. June 15, 1847, a call was voted to Elder F. Freeman, and it was sent and accepted. March 24, 1849, it was voted to call Elder David Hendee to serve the church at Leslie one-fourth of his time. He became the pastor, and labored with the church until April 20 1851. His successor was Elder H. B. Fuller, of Bunker Hill, who was secured in May, 1852, and remained until the spring of 1861, when Elder Grout again commenced preaching here one-fourth of the time ; he continued until Oct. 20, 1866, when he resigned, and was immediately succeeded by Rev. Mr. Vroman as supply. Elders E. Rumsey and Parmenter also held services. In August, 1867, Elder John Dunham was secured as supply for one year. Elders Putnam, William H. Cox, Hamlin, and John B. Kemp preached in 1868, and the latter was secured as pastor on the 1st of November in that year. He resigned Jan. 1, 1870. on account of ill health, and ser vices were then rendered by Elders Rice, Gunn, and Fuller. Elder W. C. Gunn became the pastor, and commenced his work May 1, 1870, continuing until March 26, 1871. Elder H. B. Fuller supplied the pulpit a short time, and in June, 1871, Elder W. C. Archer received and accepted a call, but resigned August 20th following. Rev. U. Gregory. commenced his labors as pastor of this church Sept. 24, 1871, and was installed November 5th following. He was given leave of absence Aug. 4, 1872, to complete his theo logical course at Rochester, N. Y., and Elder H. M. Gal lup became pastor in September, 1872, remaining until Oct. 6, 1877, when he resigned. On the 21st of the same month Elder H. L. Bower became the pastor, and closed his labors in September, 1879. The present pastor, Elder John Heritage, has been in charge since October, 1879. In 1856 it was voted to make an effort to build a meet ing-house, and a frame structure was commenced, which was not completed for several years. It is the one now in use. In 1871 a parsonage was built, at a cost of about $2000. The present membership of the church is about 130, and the Sabbath-school, of which C. E. Pickett is superintendent, has an average attendance of about 90. Free- Will Baptist Church, Leslie.— This church was organized about 1873, with some thirty-five members. The first pastor was Rev. William Gray, to whom the credit of organizing the church is principally due. He served as pastor three years, and was succeeded by Rev. J. S. Man ning, who continued in charge one year. The third pastor was Rev. Milo Coldron, who stayed a year, and the fourth was Rev. J. F. Boiler, also staying a year. The present pastor, Rev. F. R. Randall, is the fifth in charge, and is now serving his second year. He resides in Burlington, Calhoun Co. A frame chapel was built in the summer of LESLIE. 265 1874, costing a little over $1000. The present member ship of the church is about seventy, and the average attend ance at the Sunday-school about forty. The Sunday-school is held every Sunday, while church meetings are held but once in two weeks. Richard Huntoon is the superintendent of the Sunday-school. The chapel erected by this society is a very tasty structure, situated near the site of the old school-house. First Congregational Church of Leslie. — A Congre gational Church was organized in the village of Leslie with eight members, Feb. 12, 1843, by Rev. Marcus Har rison, pastor of the church in Jackson. The members were Benjamin Bingham and wife, Kendrick Leach and wife, Henry Fiske and wife, William Huntoon, and Eliza beth Bugbee. Meetings were held once a month, Mr. Har rison coming for three months and Rev. Thomas E. Em- merson for five months, and at the end of the eight months the organization was dissolved. In the summer of 1861, Rev. Edwin W. Shaw, a member of the Southern Michi gan Association, visited Leslie, and became interested in the vicinity as a suitable place for organizing a Congrega tional Church. He moved herewith his family in October, 1861, and labored until April, 1865. On the 9th of the last-named month — " the day on which the rebel Gen. Lee surrendered to the loyal Gen. Grant," says the record — the following persons were constituted the First Congregational Church of Leslie : Mrs. Elizabeth Barlow, Mrs. Sarah Tufts, Mrs. Mary H. Wheaton, Rev. Edwin W. Shaw, William F. Huntoon, Mrs. Clarissa Huntoon, Mrs. Amanda B. Shaw, Mrs. Phebe Pcrrine, Mrs. Mary Woodworth, Nelson B. Slocum, Edward M. Craig, Mrs. Agnes Slocum. Rev. Thomas Jones, of Olivet, and Rev. Marshall Tingley, of Sioux City, Iowa, assisted at the organization. William F. Huntoon was chosen deacon and E. W. Shaw church clerk. The organization was effected in the school-house at Leslie. Rev. Edwin W. Shaw continued services as minister. In October, 1868, the old brick school-house was purchased by the society, and converted into a chapel. It was dedicated Jan. 3, 1869, by Rev. W. B. Williams, of Charlotte, and is still in use. Mr. Shaw resigned the pastorate Feb. 14, 1869, and was succeeded by Rev. J. W. Allen, who began his labors March 7, 1869, and resigned April 1, 1875. Rev. William Mulder became pastor in the same month, and continued until the spring of 1878. The next pastor, Rev. John Visscher, came the same sea son, and remained one year. Rev. A. E. Ross took charge in August, 1879, and remained less than a year. The church at present (September, 1880) is without a pastor. Its membership is seventy-five ; the Sunday-school is super intended by W. McMath, and has an average attendance of eighty-five. In June, 1869, a parsonage was purchased for the use of pastors of the church, and a permanent or ganization was effected in August of the same year. The church is now in a very good condition. VILLAGE OE LESLIE. tfhe first settlement at the village of Leslie, as well as in the township, has been mentioned as having been made by Elijah Woodworth, in 1836, and his log house was the first one erected where now stands a prosperous village. 34 In the summer of 1836 a saw-mill was built on Hun toon Creek by Woodworth, Dwight & Co., about twenty rods east of what is now Bailey's stave-factory. David F. Dwight, of that firm, was formerly from Boston, and had come when small to Detroit with his father, who there en gaged in business, afterwards removing to Jackson. The Dwights (J. N. and D. F.) purchased lands in Leslie, in cluding the mill-site. David F. Dwight, who is now living in Boston, owns property at Leslie, Jackson, Detroit, Chi cago, and other places. The old mill-dam at Leslie was finally torn away and the mill-pond drained, for the promo tion of health in the locality. A post-office was established at Leslie as early as the fore part of 1838, and Henry Fiske was the first post master. Numerous others have since held the office. Hiram Godfrey was postmaster in 1856; Sidney 0. Rus sell held it afterwards for several years, and was succeeded by James Blackmore, the present incumbent, who was ap pointed March 10, 1865. The first goods brought to Leslie for sale belonged to Alba Blake, who came here from Vermont, and placed them in a small slab shanty. The first regular store in the village was built about 1839-40, by V. H. Powell, of Ann Arbor. S. O. Russell, as elsewhere stated, has been in the mercantile business in the place since 1842. VILLAGE PLAT AND ADDITIONS. Although many lots were sold and a considerable village grew up, no record of a surveyed plat is found until Nov. 12, 1866, when D. F. Dwight, A. T. Ingalls, Levi F. Slaght, James F. Allen, Haywood T. Allen, and forty others, caused a plat to be surveyed by Louis D. Preston, on part of the south half of section 21 and the north half of section 28, to which was given the name of the village of Leslie. Additions have since been made as follows : Rus sell Godfrey's addition, Aug. 6, 1868 ; J. F. Shaw's sub division, Nov. 12, 1868; Halm's addition, by P. R. Hahn and A. J. Blake, March 25, 1871 ; Doty and Kimball's addition, by William Doty and A. B. Kimball, Oct. 4, 1871 ; Armstrong's addition, by W. J. P. Armstrong and others, July 22, 1872 ; Eli B. Sherman's addition, July 25, 1872 ; Walker, Rust, and Grout's addition, by Arnold Walker, Amasa Rust, and Gardner K. Grout, June 30, 1873 ; Coon's addition, by James S. Coon and others, Aug. 10, 1875 ; Woodworth and Dwight's addition, by J. D. Woodworth and D. F. Dwight, Jan. 29, 1876. VILLAGE INCORPORATION, Etc. The village of Leslie was incorporated by act of the Legis lature approved March 30, 1869, the territory included being the south half of section 21, the north half of section 28, and a lot iu the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 28. The charter was amended April 15, 1871, April 18, 1873, and March 14, 1877. The first election for village officers was held Monday, April 12, 1869, when eighty-nine votes were cast, and the following persons elected to the positions named : President, John D. Woodworth ; Recorder, Edwin G. Eaton ; Treasurer, Wil liam Spears ; Trustees, John R. Van Velsor, Alonzo B. Kimball, John R. Burdick. On the nineteenth of the 266 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. same month the council appointed Henry M. Pitts mar. shal, and Ogden Edwards street commissioner. The fol lowing have been the officers of the village from 1870 to the present : 1870. — President, Hay wood T. Allen ; Treasurer, Hiram Austin ; Re corder, Edwin G. Eaton; Trustees, William Spears, Michael J. Graham, A. R. L. Covert. 1871. — President, Henry B. Hawley; Recorder, Edwin G. Eaton; Treasurer, Leonard H. Rice ; Trustees, William Page, Edward Oldman, Henry P. Fry. 1872. — President, James Blackmore; Recorder, Lewis D. Eckler (re signed, and C. Calkins appointed); Treasurer, L. C. Rice; Trustees, John W. Kincaid, Horace Smith, George Holbrook. 1873. — President, George B. Loomis; Recorder, C. Calkins; Treas urer, Stephen L. Ward; Trustees, John D. Woodworth, Al fred Young, Nathan M. Vaughn. 1874.— President, A. R. L. Covert; Recorder, C. Calkins; Treasurer, Stephen L. Ward ; Trustees, Gilbert L. Crumb ; Leonard C. Rice, John R. Burdick. 1875. — President, Alfred Young; Recorder, Frank L. Prindle; Treas urer, Allen C. Manly; Trustees, John D. Woodworth, Mar shall E. Rumsey, Abel J. Bailey. 1876.— No record. 1877.— President, Claude C. Walker; Recorder, Jay Calkins; Treas urer, Allen C. Manly; Trustees, Caleb Angevine, James Blair, Lewis D. Martin, Stephen E. Flansburgh, James Fry, Ogden Edwards. 1878. — President, Andrew Hahn; Recorder, Garry C. Reynolds; Treasurer, George J. Phelps; Trustees, C. Angevine, James W. Cook, Horace Smith, AVilliam F. Drake, James Fry, Edward Oldman. 1879. — President, Allen C. Manly ; Recorder, W. W. Cook ; Treasurer, W. W. Annin; Trustees, J. L. Torry, G. B. Loomis, S. H. Pierce, L. D. Martin, G. W. Davis, James Blackmore. 1880. — President, James W. Bailey ; Recorder, George C. Moody ; Treasurer, William W. Annin ; Trustees, William Hutchings, Edwin G. Eaton (did not qualify), Louis G. Becker, James Blackmore, Ira Winslow, John D. Woodworth. FIRE DEPARTMENT. In 1870 the village purchased several hand fire-extin guishers, and it was resolved, June 21, 1872, to purchase a fire-engine, at an expense not to exceed $1000. It ar rived in the fall of that year, and cost $900. In Ausrust, 1872, a lot for the use of the fire department was purchased of Reed & Allen, on Carney Street, for $245, and an engine- house built upon it. In November, 1873, it was voted to raise $250 to construct two reservoirs for use in case of fire etc. Protection Fire Company, No. 2, was organized June 7, 1875, with twenty-six members. It was afterwards dis banded, and in the summer of 1880 was reorganized under the same name, with thirty members (twenty belongino- to the engine company, and ten to the hose company). The officers of the engine company are : Foreman, John L. Nichols; First Assistant Foreman, John Boyle; Second Assistant Foreman, E. E. Baker ; Secretary, A. A. Lum bard ; Treasurer, Andrew Hahn ; Engineer, H. E. Williams • First Assistant Engineer, C. H. Roberts; Steward, James Finley. Hose company officers : Foreman, W. W. Cook ; Assistant Foreman, B. J. Hahn. MINERAL WELLS. The excitement over the mineral wells at Eaton Rapids and elsewhere caused the citizens of Leslie to experiment in the same direction, and the results were gratifying The first well was sunk by S. O. Russell, in 1872 ; and° James McDaniels, soon after, in the same year, caused one to be drilled at the "Eagle Hotel." Six others were sunk ai nearly the same time. The water is similar to that. in the Eaton Rapids wells, and is beneficial in a class of. diseases which are treated successfully with the mineral ¦¦ trifle stiff from the wetting received the day before. " The following incident will perhaps be relished by those who have a mirthful side to their character. When the county was quite new, Mr. Euos Northrup had a piece of grass that he intended to mow for hay, but as tho grass was light, he proposed to one Conrad Williams (who was a very good mower, but a little weak in some points) that if he would cut it and draw it from the field and put it in the barn he (Northrup) would give him two-thirds of it. When the hay was ready, Williams got my half brother, Manly Gray, to help draw it. Now, if any man in town enjoyed a joke it was Manly. Williams commenced dividing the hay in the cock, when my brother suggested that they should take it clean as they went, and thus save going over the ground the second time, to which Williams readily consented. When they had got about half the second load on, he began to see that they were going to get the whole of the hay and that there would be none left for Northrup. My brother assured him that it would be all right and a good joke on Northrup, so Williams took all the hay. Northrup saw Williams in the evening and inquired why he had taken all tho hay. He replied that there was none for him. 'How is that?' said Northrup. 'Why, you know,' answered he, ' I was to have two-thirds of the hay or two loads to your one, and there was only two-thirds of the whole of it.' Northrup saw the joke and said no more, and Williams, turning to a bystander, said, ' Haven't we come it good V " Enos Northrup, in company with his brother, Cornelius Northrup, oame to Michigan from Medina Co., Ohio, in the spring of 1830, and settled on Gull Prairie, in Kalamazoo County (township of Richland), where they were among the first settlers. Enos Northrup was then a boy, and lived with his brother ; their parents were deceased. Cornelius never came to Ingham County to settle. Enos removed from Gull Prairie to Middlebury, Elkhart Co., Ind., where he remained two or three years, and in March, 1839, came to Vevay with his wife and settled on section 23, where he now lives. For a year or two, while working his place, he lived with Henry A. Hawley. Mr. Northrup's brother Thomas settled in the township about 1841, having lived about a year at Kalamazoo vil lage, and also for a time at Middlebury, Ind. Upon set tling in Vevay he located on the farm next north of his brother. Both of these farms were in the woods when the Northrup brothers arrived, and were covered princi pally with a heavy growth of oak. In the summer of 1831, while living on Gull Prairie, Enos Northrup loaded twenty-two bushels of wheat in his wagon, and started with that and an ox-team to mill, at Constantine, St. Joseph Co., about fifty miles away. There were no roads and no bridges, and it was necessary to ford all the streams. By the second night after leaving home he had arrived within two or three miles of his destination and stopped at a shanty into which a family was just inov' ing. He turned his oxen loose — one wearing a bell— and slept on the ground. In the morning the oxen were miss ing. Two or three days were spent in looking for them an Indian aiding him part of the time. He went to Not- tawa-sepee Prairie and then started back, inquiring every. where for the lost oxen, and finally reached home, but found no cattle there, and could learn nothing about them. He had the same experience three times before finally finding them, spending nine days in the search and traveling 300 miles, besides expending five dollars in money, but at last discovered them within ten miles of home, and in time reached home with his grist, the family having used flour in his absence which was made by grinding wheat in a coffee-mill. The saw-mill mentioned by Mr. Hawley was operated by him about fourteen years. The dam was washed away several times. The frame of the old mill is yet standing, but has been several times repaired and added to. The mill had a capacity for cutting about 200,000 feet per an num, with its one saw. The lumber used in many of the barns of the neighborhood and on the road to Dexter was sawed at this mill. One of these barns is that on the farm of Enos Northrup. On one occasion, having broken the saw in the mill, it was necessary to get a new one. Mr. Hawley did not happen to have sufficient money at the time, but procured the necessary amount of a man who owed him, walked to Jackson, purchased the saw and brought it home on his back, and the mill was running again within forty-eight hours after the old saw was broken. Edwin Hubbard, from Steuben Co., N. Y., came with his parents to Salem, Washtenaw Co., Mich., about 1831, the family being one of the first to locate in that township, Mrs. Hubbard, Sr., died, and her husband went West, but returned to Michigan and died in Ingham County. About 1839, Mr. Hubbard came to Vevay with his brother Ira, and helped the latter build his shanty. Edwin purchased land from second hands, on section 35, and settled upon it about the 1st of January, 1841. No improvements had then been made on the place. Mr. Hubbard was at the time a single man and lived alone a short period on his place, boarding also, while working his place, with Mr. Gallup, who lived north of him. In July, 1843, he was married, and soon after settled on the place he now occupies, where he has since resided, with the exception of two years (1850 to 1852) spent in California. Mrs. Hubbard, whose maiden name was Sargent, had come to the State in 1834 with her brother-in-law, Henry Eifield, from Essex Co., Mass., and located at Jackson. In October, 1836, Mr. Fifield and his family and Miss Sargent came to Ingham County and settled in the town ship of Vevay, south of Mason. Mr. Fifield was therefore one of the first settlers in the township. Their goods had been ferried across Grand River in a small " dug-out," at Freeman's, in Jackson County, and they were two days making the journey to their location in Vevay. After building his house Mr. Fifield had to wait until the river ENOS NORTHRUP. MRS. ENOS NORTHRUP. ENOS NOETHEUP. Enos Northrup, one of the prominent citizens and old settlers of Vevay, was born in the town of Windham, Delaware Co., N. Y., Jan. 13, 1813. He was the youngest in the family of Enos and Elizabeth (Griffin) Northrup, which consisted of ten persons. His boyhood days were spent in the State of New York. At the age of seventeen he came to Michigan in company with an elder brother ; they first settled in the town of Eichland, Kalamazoo Co., where they purchased a new farm, and where they resided until 1837, at which time Enos was married to Miss Belinda Warner. Shortly after his marriage he and his young wife removed to Indiana, where he remained until 1839, when he came to Vevay and settled upon the farm where he now re sides. Three years after his emigration Mrs. Northrup died, leaving two children, Henry J. and Edward. In 1856, Mr. Northrup was again married, to Miss Julia A. Monroe. She was born in Pawlet, But- land Co., Vt., in 1825, and came to Michigan in 1852. The life of Mr. Northrup has been comparatively uneventful. For fifty years he has been a resident of the State. When he came to Michigan, Detroit had hardly reached the distinction of a village. Beneath his observation *the State has been organized and de veloped, and he has witnessed the changes that have culminated in the present stage of advancement, and to such men the State is indebted for its present wealth and prosperity. He has followed to a suc cessful termination the line of life marked out in his youth, and is classed among the successful and enterprising farmers of the county. He has per fected a valuable record, and is in every way worthy of the position he holds among the representative old settlers of Ingham County. VEVAY. 313 froze over before he dared to cross it and go back after lumber to finish with. From October to December, 1836, the family lived in the house without floor or chimney, having no opportunity sooner to procure lumber with which to build them. Jasper Wolcott came about the same time as Mr. Fi field, and settled on section 20. In January, 1837, he was married to Miss Sargent, theirs being the first marriage which occurred in the township. The justice of the peace who married them was Joseph Bailey, of Jackson, afterwards State treasurer and a resident of Lansing, and he came on horseback from Jackson to perform the ceremony, having to remain over-night. Mr. Wolcott died in November, 1837, and was the first male person whose death occurred in the township, a Miss Rolfe having died the previous spring. When Mr. Wolcott died, his wife lay sick in the house, and could not be permitted to see him ; but a son, Nelson Wolcott, born at that time, was given her to take the place of the husband she had lost, and this was the first birth of a white male child in town. The first white child born in the township was Hiram Parker's daughter, Mary, born the same year. Her death occurred about 1850. In July, 1843, Mrs. Wolcott was married to Edwin Hubbard. Ira Hubbard, brother to Edwin, and also from Steuben Co., N. Y., came to Michigan about 1831, and in January, 1839, removed with his wife and one child, a young daughter, to Vevay and settled on the farm he now occupies. Edwin Hubbard came with them and helped build the shanty, but, as stated, did not settle in town until 1841. Another daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Ira Hubbard in Janu ary, 1841. When their shanty was built it was necessary to scrape away the snow in order to lay the lower logs. Ira Hubbard also went to California, and was gone nine months, returning with his brother Edwin to Michigan in 1852. Edwin had made the journey westward overland and Ira by water. Alfred Gallup, from Leroy, Genesee Co., N. Y., settled in Vevay, with his wife and two children, in September, 1840. Rufus Freeman, a young man, accompanied them and purchased forty acres of land in the same locality, but after a short time he sold it to Mr. Gallup and moved away. The latter had purchased his land from second hands before leaving New York ; no improvements had been made upon it. Mr. Gallup's wife died about 1846, and he was afterwards married again. He is now deceased, and his widow occupies the old place. His death occurred in the fall of 1879. His sister, now Mrs. Kendall, came in 1845 and kept house a year for her brother. In 1846 she was married to A. Y. Olds and settled on the place where she now lives. Mr. Olds had located in the township about 1838, and married Miss Gallup after the death of his first wife. He went to California with Ira Hubbard in 1851, and was gone two years. He died in Vevay in October, 1861, and his widow afterwards married Reuben Kendall, who died in 1874. Mrs. Kendall occupies the place she settled upon with Mr. Olds. It had been considerably improved before their mar riage. The log house, with a frame addition, was used until 1870. Benjamin F. Smith, formerly from the State of New York, and for some time a resident of South Lyons, Oak- 40 land Co., Mich, (possibly Salem, Washtenaw Co.), pur chased land in Vevay in the spring of 1837, and settled upon it as soon as possible and commenced im provements. His wife had died before he came here, and some time afterwards he was married to a lady who had lived near his former home. Mr. Smith located on section 26 in Vevay, next north of A. Y. Olds. He lived but a few years after his marriage, and died in 1851. His widow became the wife of Jacob Dubois in 1852, and lived for a number of years in Bunker Hill township. Mr. Dubois had previously resided in Alaiedon, where he was an early settler, and where his first wife died. Ziba Blood, from Springwater, Steuben Co., N. Y., came to Vevay in the spring of 1841, and made the first improvements on land he had purchased from second hands. His wife and five children accompanied him ; one child was born after the family settled. Their home was on section 26, where one son, Marquis A. Blood, now lives. His parents are both deceased, and he is the only one of the family left in the township. Abram Diamond, a native of Wayne Co., N. Y., and for a time a resident of Lancaster Co., Pa., emigrated to Michigan with his wife and two children in 1839, and located in Jackson County. In 1840 he came to Ingham County and purchased land, and in the spring of 1841 settled in what is now Ingham township, near the west line. In the spring of 1854 he removed to Vevay and located on the place now owned by his son, Andrew Diamond, where he and his wife both died, he in 1866 and she about 1869. Andrew Diamond was born in Jackson Co., Mich., about 1840, during the residence of the family there. Almon M. Chapin, a native of Massachusetts, and for some time a resident of Livingston Co., N. Y. (had lived also in Onondaga County), left the latter State with his family in December, 1842, and came with teams through Northern Ohio to Michigan, the trip occupying eighteen days. The household goods had been^sent by water to Detroit. The family arrived in Vevay on or about the 1st of January, 1843, and moved into a log house which had been built by William Austin and was then vacant. The snow lay very deep on the ground, and, soon after they occupied the house and built a fire therein, the melting snow broke down the roof. It was repaired, and the family lived in the house until the following October, when they moved into a frame house, which is now the rear portion of the dwelling occupied by Mr. Chapin's widow and family. The fine grove in front of the house at present consists of natural trees, which were left purposely when the place was first occupied. A burning log-heap in front of the house destroyed a portion of them (the trees being then but saplings), but enough were pre served to make a beautiful grove, which is now the pride of the locality. Mr. Chapin was a model citizen, and one of the most prominent in the township. His death occurred on the 5th of September, 1878, in his home at Chapin's Station, or " Eden." Jonathan B. Chapin, M.D., now of Battle Creek, Cal houn Co., settled in Vevay previous to the arrival of his cousin, A. M. Chapin, and was an early school-teacher in the Rolfe settlement. He had studied medicine in the State of New York. He cleared up a large farm, and lived 314 HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. in the township until about 1855, when he removed to Olivet, Eaton Co., and afterwards to Battle Creek. Dr. Chapin was very prominent in the township, and was an esteemed citizen, as, indeed, was each member of the Chapin family. EDEN POST-OFEICE. was established in the neighborhood of 1844, with William Hopkins as first postmaster, the location being west of what is now the station of the same name. Almon M. Chapin was postmaster for some years after the office was removed to the station, and the present incumbent is S. S. Dewey. EDEN STATION. which is located on sections 28 and 33, near the Chapin homestead, was formerly known as Chapin's. The name Eden is appropriate, however, as tho vicinity is one of great beauty, and here are found some of the finest farms in the township. The place at present contains a store, a post-office, two blacksmith-shops, and a shoe-shop. Con siderable business is also done in the line of grain-buying and shipping, two small elevators having been built for its accommodation. The following appear on the assessment-rolls for 1844, as the resident taxpayers in that year in the township of Vevay : Asa Dubois, Horton & Shafer, Peter Linderman, W. H. Horton, Nelson Hartwick, Huram Bristol, William F. Near, Jason B. Packard, John Rayner, Elisha R. Searl, George Searl, John Coatsworth, Hiram Parker, Isaac Chandler, John Royston, Henry Quarry, Charles Briggs, Caleb T. Briggs, William Kirby, Zebulon Eggleston, Benjamin F. Smith, Ariel Y. Olds, Ira Hubbard, Amadon Holden, Lewis F. Olds, James Rundell, Edwin Hubbard, Alfred F. Gallup, John Hubbard, Enos B. Smith, Edward H. Hurd, Abner Bartlett, Enos Northrup, Charles Gray, Theron W. Searl, Henry A. Hawley, Hawley & Williams, Ira Chandler, John Chandler, Daniel Searl, Asa Hill, Stephen Hare, Charles Connard, Ira Rolfe, Norman Holt, Marshall Walker, Page & Smith, Chauncey Page, Lorenzo Daggett, Almon M. Chapin, Levi Chapin, Sampson Phelps, Ransom Surrarrer, Adna Eggleston k Co., Adna Eggleston, Ebenezer Austin, J. W. Hopkins, Joseph Hopkins, Cyrus Austin, Nathan Rolfe, Lewis Reynolds, Horace Reynolds, Ira Hare, Watson Rolfe, Benjamin Rolfe, Carlos Rolfe, Oramel Rolfe, Orrin Miner, Joseph Miner, Henry Fifield, J. S. Norton, J. B. Chapin Thomas Tolman, Emmons White, E. B. Danforth & Co., Orson Butler! Nil than Rolfe, administrator. TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.— LIST OP OFFICERS. By an act of the Legislature approved March 6, 1 838, that portion of the county of Ingham designated on the United States survey as township No. 2 north, of range No. 1 west, formerly a part of Aurelius, was set off and organized into a separate township by the name of Vevay, and it was directed that the first township meeting be held at the public-house in Mason * The township records con tain the following account of the first town-meetin"- • "At a meeting of tbe inhabitants of the town of Voyay, County of Ingham, State of Michigan, held on tho 2d day of April, 1838, for the purpose of organizing tho aforesaid township, and choosing town ship officers, "Resolved, That Minos McRobert be Moderator; Anson Jackson, » This was probably the house of James Blain, as there was no regular "tavern" in the place until 1839, when George W Shafer completed and opened tho "Mason Exchange." Bluin's house was of necessity a "public-house," and he kept land-lookers and travelers because there was no one else to do so. Clerk ; Hiram Converse, Hiram Parker, B. F. Smith, Inspectors of Election. "Resolved, That there be two Constables, two Fence Viewers tw Pound Masters, and three Assessors. " The following officers were elected by ballot : " Peter Linderman, Supervisor. "Anson Jackson, Township Clerk. "Ira Rolfe, Minos McRobert, A. Bartlett, Assessors. "Peter Linderman, Hiram Converse, Hiram Parker, Benjamin Rolfe, Justices of the Peace. " Henry A. Hawley, Collector. "Hiram Austin, Benjamin F. Smith, Anson Jackson, Commissioners of Highways. "John Daggett, Henry A. Hawley, Constables. " Benjamin Rolfe, George Searl, Directors of the Poor. "Nathan Rolfe, Minos McRobert, W. II. Horton, School Inspectors. "Hinman Hurd, E. R. Searl, Fence Viewers. " E. R. Searl, H. A. Hawley, E. B. Danforth, H. Austin, L. Dag. gett, B. F. Smith, Overseers of Highways. "Resolced, That there be a bounty on wolves of two dollars if killed by a citizen of the township. "Resolved, That a lawful fence be four and a half feet high. " Resolved, That swine shall not be free commoners/* It was also resolved to hold the next election at the school-house in the village of Mason. The following is a list of the principal officers of the township from 1839 to 1879, inclusive : SUPERVISORS. 1839-40, Charles Gray; 1841, Wright Horton; 1842-43, Peter Lin derman; 1844, Hiram Parker: 1845, Peter Linderman; 1846, George W. Shafer; 1847-48, Peter Linderman; 1849, George W. Shafer; 1850, Henry A. Hawley; 1851, Anson Jackson; 1852, Almon M. Chapin; 1853, Amos E. Steele; 1854, Joseph L. Huntington ; 1855, George W. Shafer; 1856, William H. Horton; 1857, George W. Shafer; 1858-59, James Fuller; 1860, William H. Horton ; 1861-62, Rosalvo F. Griffin ; 1863, Peter Lowe; 1864, John Coatsworth ; 1865-67, Perry Henderson; 1868-70, William W. Root; 1871, Rosalvo F. Griffin; 1872-73, William W. Root; 1874, Alexander Bush; 1875, Allen Rowe; 1876, James Fuller; 1877-78, William H. Horton; 1879, Lyman Minar. TOWNSHIP CLERKS. 1839-40, Zaccheus Barnes; 1841-42, George W. Shafer; 1843, Wm. Hammond; 1844-45, George W. Shafer; 1846, John H. Child; 1847-48, John W. Longyear; 1849, Samuel W. Hammond; 1850, George W. Shafer; 1851, Amos E. Steele; 1S52-53, George W. Shafer; 1854-55, William Sweet; 1856, Joseph C. Obeare; 1857 -58, Luther B. Huntoon; 1859, Charles H. Rea; 1860, David W. Halstead ; 1861-62, Henry Linderman ; 1863, William H. Smith; 1864, John H. Sayers; 1865, William Sweet; 1866-67, Andrew D. Tubbs; 1868, Alexander Gunn; 1869, George W. Sackrider; 1870, Henry M. Williams; 1871, Daniel J. Griffin; 1872, Elias Culver; 1873-74, Henry H. Cook; 1875-76, Orville F. Miller; 1877-78, Frank White; 1S79, Julius W. Chapin. TREASURERS. 1839, Peter Linderman; 1840, Freeman Wilson; 1841-42, Hiram Converse; 1843, Joseph Hopkins; 1844-45, James Turner; 1846, Isaac C. Page; 1847, Asa Hill; 1848, Joseph Hopkins; 1849-50, Arnold Walker; 1851, Almon M. Chapin; 1852-53, George Belcher; 1854, George D. Pease; 1855, Ira 0. Darling; 1856, James D. Hulse; 1857, Barney Holmes; 1858, Peter L. Rose; 1859, Ariel Y. Olds; 1860, George D. Pease; 1S61-63, John M. Dresser; 1864-65, David W. Halstead; 1866, Isaao W. Horton; 1867, Frederick P. Moody; 1S68-69, William W. Van Vrankin; 1870, Alonzo S. Nichols; 1871-73, Alexander Bush; 1874-76, John M. Dresser, Sr. ; 1877, S. S. Dewey ; 1878, Simeon N. 'Rolfe; 1879, Robert R. Young. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 1839, John W. Burchard, Nathan Rolfe; 1840, Hiram Parker; 1841, Benjamin F. Smith, Watson Rolfe; 1842, Jason B. Packard; 1843, Isaao Hammond; 1844, Benjamin F.Smith; 1845, Huram COL. GrEO . W. SHAFER, MRS. DEBORAH A. SHAFER. COL. GEORGE W. SHAFER. Col. George W. Shafer, the pioneer merchant of Mason, and whose name is so prominently connected with many of the initial events in its history, was born in the town of Colchester, Delaware Co., N. Y., Sept. 1, 1816. His father, Deacon Henry Shafer, was a native of Dutchess County, from whence he removed to Colchester a short time previous to the birth of our subject. He was a farmer of some prominence in that locality, and wherever known was highly esteemed for his integrity of character. He was a deacon in the Baptist Church, and an ex emplary man in all respects. George remained at home until he attained his twenty-first year. He re ceived such advantages for education as were afforded by the primitive schools of that day, but what he failed to obtain from books was more than compen sated for in the possession of a robust constitution and a strong pair of hands inured to habits of in dustry. In the spring of 1839, in company with his partner, Freeman Wilson, he came to Mason and established the first store in the place. The goods were brought from New York and were a general assort ment of everything needed in a new country. They continued in trade about two years ; during this time they built a hotel which was undoubtedly the first house of entertainment in the county. They took possession in December, 1839, and the opening was celebrated by a grand New Year's ball, which was the first event of the kind in the county. The colo nel was a success as a landlord, and he continued in the business until about 1852, when he commenced the improvement of his farm, which was located by his father in 1836. On this farm he has since re sided. The colonel has always taken an interest in military and political matters, although he has never striven for prominence in either direction. He was commissioned colonel of militia by Governor Barry, and took an active part in the formation of the " Curtenius Guards." In July, 1845, he was married to Deborah A. Horton, of Colchester, Delaware Co., N. Y., where she was born in March, 1813 ; she came to Michi gan in 1837. Both are prominent members of the Baptist Church, and are in every way worthy of the prominent position they hold among the early settlers of Mason. mmbA ¦'¦ '¦-¦ X:;