USA > Michigan > Eaton County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 48
USA > Michigan > Ingham County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 48
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195
LANSING TOWNSIIIP.
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. Mrs. Cooley died Feb. 21, 1870.
TIIE JONES FAMILY.
Of the family of Coe G. Jones, which competes with those of Mr. 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, sinee known as " Jones' Lake," which laid partly upon his purchase. Mrs. 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 Mr. Cooley's family arrived after Mr. Jones, there is no doubt but Mr. Cooley himself was then living in the township. Mr. 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. Mr. 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.
The 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 Michigan. 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 see- tion 5, in the northwest corner of the township. He was sot an original owner, but bought from other parties. He semained 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. IIe 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 Michigan, 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. Ile 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 Mr. O. 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, IIenry Lester, Coe G. Jones, Justus Gilkey, Melvin Gilkey, John Shear, J. F. Cooley, Joseph Demerest, J. M. 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 be 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 Clerk."
The officers elected were one supervisor, one town elerk, 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 Aurelins, which included the west half of the county, and was erected on the 11th of March, 1837. The township of Alaiedon was formed from Anrelins, March 15, 1838. The county was attached first to Washte- 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 upou the shoulders of the highway commissioners and overseers. The inspectors cf schools and overseers of the poor proba- bly performed no very onerous duties for at least twelve months, and the duties of justices aud 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 ;} 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, } Nathan Delano ; Inspectors of Schools, Thomas North, James Shear, James Harrington ; Constables, Daniel R. Barnes, Coe G. Jones ; Overseers of the Poor, Justus Gilkey, Joseplı 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 IIarrington, who received nine votes, Justus Gilkey, for assessor, and Daniel Barnes, for constable, were upani- monsly elceted, having received eleven votes each; the others were elected by from six to ten votes each. The offiees 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 ;} Town Clerk, Justus Gilkey, Treasurer, Joseph E. North ;} Justices, Levi Buck, Benja- min Earl, Abram Shear.
1844 .- Supervisor, John W. Burchard ;2 Clerk, Elihu Elwood; Treasurer, Benjamin Earl ; Justices, Alonzo Baker, | Justus Gilkey.11
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, Isaac C. Page; Treasurer, George D. Pease; Justice, Russell P. Everett.
IS48 .- Supervisor, Lawson S. Warner; Clerk, William W. Upton; Treasurer, Charles T. Allen; Justice, Alanson Ward.
1849 .- Supervisor, Lawson S. Warner; Clerk, Henry Gibbs; Treas- urer, Charles T. Allen ; Justiees, Joseph C. Bailey (full term), George I. Parsons (to fill vacancy), Joseph E. North, Sr. (to fill vaeaney).
1850 .- Supervisor, David E. Corbin ;** Clerk, James A. Bascom; Treasurer, Miles Il. Pritchard ; Justices, Joseph E. North, Sr. (full term), J. Palmer Thompson (two years).
1851 .- Supervisor, William II. Chapman; Clerk, James A. Baseom ; Treasurer, Eliphalet S. Touker ;tt Justices, Reuben C. Mad- den (full term), Orange Butler (to fill vacancy).
1852 .- Supervisor, George I. Parsons; Clerk, James A. Baseom ; Treasurer, Jonathan P. Thompson ; ## Justice, Alanson Ward. 1853 .-- Supervisor, Charles A. Hedges ;22 Clerk, James A. Bascom ; Treasurer, James W. Hlohues ; Justice, Orange But!er. 1854 .- Supervisor, Charles W. Butler; Clerk, Abram M. Crawford ; Treasurer, Louis D. Preston ; Justice, Juseph E. North. 1855 .- Supervisor, Joseph C. Bailey; Clerk, James J. Jeffries ; Treas- urer, Louis D. Preston ; Justice, Daniel L. Case.
1856 .-- Supervisor, Joseph C. Bailey ; Clerk, Rollin C. Dart ; Treas- urer, Louis D. Preston ; Justice, Alanson Ward.
1857 .- Supervisor, Allen R. Burr ; Clerk, William Fisher ; Treasurer, John R. Price ; Justice, Champlin Havens.
1858 .- Supervisor, Franklin La Rue; Clerk, Stephen P. Mead ; Treasurer, Benjamin Van Akin ; Justice, Joseph E. North. 1859.||-Supervisor, Ransom Everett ; Clerk, Sylvester G. Scofield ; Treasurer, Eber Crandall ; Justices, Thomas Treat, William Loe, William A. Dryer.
1860 .- Supervisor, William A. Dryer ; Clerk, Sylvester G. Scofield ; Treasurer, Eber Crandall; Justices, Stephen B. Du Bois, Oramel D. Skinner.
IS61 .- Supervisor, William A. Dryer; Clerk, L. S. Ford ; Treasurer, Cyrus Everett ; Justice, Milo Smith.
1862 .- Supervisor, William A. Dryer ; Clerk, S. G. Scofield ; Treas- urer, Cyrus P. Everett ; Justices, Ransom Everett, Lucian Merrill.
1863 .- Supervisor, William A. Dryer ; Clerk, S. G. Scofield ; Treas- erer, Chauncey Murphy ; Justices, O. D. Skinner, Lucian Merrill.
1864 .- Supervisor, William A. Dryer ; Clerk, R. Everett ; Treas- urer, Chauncey Murphy ; Justices, D. D. Hall, William Johnson.
1865 .- Supervisor, William A. Dryer; Clerk, Ransom Everett; Treasurer, A. K. Truman; Justices, William Johnson, Abraham Wheeler.
1866 .- Supervisor, William A. Dryer ; Clerk, Josiah W. Dawes ; Treasurer, A. K. Truman ; Justice, J. F. Lansing.
1867 .- Supervisor, Chauneey Murphy ; Clerk, Clement L. Harrison ; Treasurer, IIenry C. Everett ; Justices, Oramel D. Skinner, Almon Harrison.
1868 .- Supervisor, Chauoeey Murphy ; Clerk, C. L. Harrison ; Treas- urer, Henry C. Everett ; Justices, Abraham Wheeler, Dan- iel D. Hall.
1869 .- Supervisor, William A. Dryer; Clerk, Ransom Everett ; Treasurer, Daniel D. Hall ; Justices, William W. Minturn, George S. Williams.
1870 .- Supervisor, William A. Dryer; Clerk, William W. Minturn ; Treasurer, Daniel D. Hall; Justices, Adam Foster, Nelson Tenney.
* It appears from the record that Mr. Shear failed to attend tu 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, 1812.
t This name is written Shear on the record. We have been told the correct name was Shearer.
# In giving the name of Joseph E. North, it is not always specificd 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 beld Sept. 10, 1845, Joab Page was elected in his stead.
** 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.
tt Mr. Tooker was incapacitated by sickness, and Champlin Havens was appointed on the 12th of June. Hle declined, and J. P. Thomp- son was appointed for the remainder of the year.
## Resigned, and Orange Butler was elected at a special election, Nov. 2, 1852.
¿¿ Mr. Iledges died in office.
|||| The 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.
197
LANSING TOWNSHIP.
1871 .- Supervisor, James M. Shearer; Clerk, Colonel D. Johnson ; Treasurer, Chauncey Murphy ; Justices, William P. Scam- 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. Ilorace Preston ; Clerk, John Holbrook ; Treas- urer, Myron Green ; Justice, William P. Scammon.
1876 .- Supervisor, S. Horace Preston; Clerk, William II. Foster; Treasurer, Myron Green ; Justice, Morgan B. Hungerford. 1877 .- Supervisor, J. M. Shearer ; Clerk, O. II. P. Brailey ; Treas- urer, Myron Green; Justice, John J. Ilooper.
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. Presten ; Clerk, George W. Parks; Treas- urer, Jacch 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 Alaicdon, 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.
"Seld the same to the township of Delhi for two dollars twenty- seven cents ($2.27)."
" Resolved, That the town of Ataiedon pay six dollars for the town books."
" Resolved, That the division of the funds in the hands of the over- seers of the poor shall be as follows : Alaiedon, $12.46; Delhi, $8.05; Lansing, $14.03; Meridian, $11.51."
" Resolved, That the treasurer of the town of Alaiedon shall give to the treasurers of the 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. 1
The total taxes levied in the township for all purposes for the year 1842 were as follows :
State tax ...
$69.66
County tax.
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
66
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 Methodist.
The names of the persons drawn as grand jurors for 1843 were James M. 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 eleet 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 bouse, on section 9, the 'poles' to be open at nine o'clock 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.
.
* Copied from the supervisors' proceedings by Thomas North, town clerk of Lansing.
143.43
198
HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
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 the 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,-cleven for Alpheus Felch and five for Stephen Vickery .*
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 Main Street in the south part of the plat, another had sprung up around the saw-mill at the lower town, and a third begau to appear in the elearing around the site of the new State-House.t
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 Funt apply- ing for a " license to keep a public-house in the township of Lansing and village of Michigan, 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- limony before them that Mr. Ilunt sustained a good moral char- acter.
" P. J. Weller and son applied for a license to keep a vietualing 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-bouse 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 have no evidence that be sustains a good moral character.
" Levi IIunt 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. Ilunt should pay two dollars license money."
The house occupied by Mr. Hunt is still standing, we believe, on the northwest corner of Main and River Streets. It was known as the " Michigan House."
At a meeting held Sept. 16, 1847, " HIenry Jipson and W. W. Uptont 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 l'age, Justus Gilkey, and I. F. Page, the following business was transacted :
" Daniel Clapsaddle applied for a license to keep a tavern in Ibe town of Michigan, in the building be now occupies, being on lot No. 4 and block No. 231, on Seetion Twenty-one in said township, for the remainder of the present year, or license year.
"Suid 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 hlock 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, Milo H. Turner was granted license to keep a tavern on block 13 in the lower town, for which he was charged five dollars. The total eurrent 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 mau 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."
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