USA > Michigan > Eaton County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 67
USA > Michigan > Ingham County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 67
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F. B. Shellman, a pioneer from Tioga Co., N. Y., was among the earliest settlers in the northeast portion of the township, having purchased of Archelaus Green 100 acres on section 2. He built a shanty of primitive construction, and devoted much of his time at first to labor for others. Ilis progress in clearing and making improvements was therefore slow. Very few settlers had located immediately near. He recalls Isaac Colburn as the nearest. There were no schools in the vicinity, and a tedious journey was necessary to obtain supplies. Mr. Shellman has since improved his land, built a commodious residence, and ren- dered his estate valuable.
William Shellman came also from the same county and State and located on scetion 2, where he remained until his death, in 1862.
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LOCKE.
Dexter Fuller, formerly of New York State, settled upon eighty acres on section 1, where he had secured the im- provement of five acres and the planting of an orchard before his arrival. He still resides upon the land.
Richard Castleline, a pioneer of Pennsylvania extraction, also located on section 2, in 1845, where he erected a log house and began the battle of life in the woods. IIere he remained laboring upon his land until his death, in 1869.
W. T. Wallace came from Steuben Co., N. Y., in 1846, and in June of that year settled upon eighty acres on sec- tion 24, to which he later added forty acres. This was entirely unimproved, with the exception of a small tract that had been previously underbrushed. He remained with David Phelps the first year, and on his marriage removed to a shanty built upon his land. Messrs. Phelps, Board- man, and Brown were near neighbors. Mr. Wallace has greatly improved his land, upon which he still resides.
James Sullivan, a pioneer of 1847, from Ohio, and formerly of Orleans Co., N. Y., purchased and settled upon 160 acres on section 33, formerly owned by Arnold Payne. Twenty-five acres had been chopped and a log house already built upon it, though much labor remained yet to be done. Mr. Sullivan did much to increase the productiveness of the land, and in 1866 erected a new and substantial resi- dence, his present home. Three sons live near him in the township.
Ira D. Perry settled in 1845, on section 10, which was cleared and improved by him. His son now occupies the place, Mr. Perry having died during the present year. Lewis Butler settled in 1848, on section 34, which he pur- chased of Isaac Leary. He subsequently removed to In- diana, and now resides in Williamston.
John Grimes was a pioneer from Broome County, who settled upon eighty acres on section 31, which was un- cleared when he became owner of it. He first under- brushed the road adjoining his farm and then erected a shanty, in which he lived while clearing a portion of the land. Mr. Grimes made rapid progress and added to his possessions until he now has 650 acres. Deer were so abundant on his arrival that a herd of twenty-two were seen feeding with the cattle. They afforded an abundance of fresh meat to the settlers, but were in a few years ex- terminated.
Robert Fisher, formerly of Wayne Co., N. Y., settled in 1850, upon the northeast quarter of section 24, which was, with the exception of five acres, uncleared. He built a shanty and began the labor of improving. Rapid pro- gress was made, and a well-cultivated farm, upon which he now resides, has superseded the former wilderness.
Among other early settlers in the township of Locke may be mentioned Truman Spencer, who came from Wayne County in 1855, and located upon section 13, where he built a saw-mill; D. Burton, who located on section 15; Dyer Cole, of Lockport, N. Y., who settled on section 27, and later on section 16, where he improved a farm and still resides ; William T. Johnson, on section 4; Jefferson Pearce, who had land on sections 10 and 13; Benjamin and Henry Pettengill, on sections 11 and 14, respectively ; A. T. Ten Eyck, on section 21 ; Stephen Scofield, on sec- tion 3; J. C. Townsend, on sections 27 and 28; A. M.
Olds, on section 30; W. W. Irons, on section 10; and Nicholas Fulton, on section 28.
ORGANIZATION.
The township of Locke was formerly, together with the present township of Williamstown, embraced in the town- ship of Phelpstown. By an act of the State Legislature, passed Feb. 16, 1842, it was erected as an independent township, and its present namie bestowed.
CIVIL LIST.
At the first annual meeting of the township of Locke, held at the house of John C. Townsend, in 1842, David Phelps was chosen moderator, A. M. Olds clerk, and David J. Tower, Stephen Avery, and Isaac W. Hutton inspectors of election. The ballots having been cast in accordance with the law, the following officers were declared elected : Supervisor, David Phelps; Township Clerk, A. M. Olds; Justices of the Peace, D. C. Olds, D. J. Tower, Stephen Avery, David Phelps; Assessors, Ste- phen Avery, D. J. Tower; Highway Commissioners, Ben- jamin Barney, Ira Colburn ; Treasurer, A. T. Ten Eyck ; School Inspectors, Stephen Avery, E. B. Hull ; Constables, Joseph Brock, J. C. Townsend.
The following list includes the supervisors, township clerks, treasurers, and justices of the peace from 1843 until the present time :
1843 .- Supervisor, David Phelps; Township Clerk, A. T. Ten Eyck; Treasurer, D. J. Tower ; Justice of the Peace, Levi Rowley. 1844 .- Supervisor, David Phelps; Township Clerk, Jefferson Pearce ; Treasurer, A. T. Ten Eyck; Justice of the Peace, Josiah Nichols.
1845 .- Supervisor, Jefferson Pearce; Township Clerk, Albert M. Olds ; Treasurer, Albert Avery ; Justice of the Peace, David Phelps.
1846 .- Supervisor, D. J. Tower ; Township Clerk, A. M. Olds; Treas- urer, Levi Rowley ; Justice of the Peace, Trowbridge Har- mon.
1847 .- Supervisor, D. J. Tower ; Township Clerk, David Phelps ; Treasurer, Levi Rowley ; Justice of the Peace, J. C. Wat- kins.
1848 .- Supervisor, D. J. Tower; Township Clerk, Lovi Rowley ; Treasurer, David Phelps; Justice of the Peace, J. C. Wat- kins.
1849 .-- Supervisor, E. Hitchcock ; Township Clerk, A. M. Olds ; Treasurer, Levi Rowley ; Justice of the Peace, David Phelps.
1850 .- Supervisor, J. W. Fulton ; Township Clerk, A. M. Olds ; Treasurer, Levi Rowley; Justice of the Peace, N. W. Capin.
1851 .- Supervisor, J. H. Lovejoy ; Township Clerk, A. M. Olds ; Treasurer, Levi Rowley ; Justice of the Peace, --
1852 .- Supervisor, J. II. Lovejoy; Township Clerk, David Phelps; Treasurer, Levi Rowley ; Justice of the Peace, J. C. Wat- kins.
1853 .- Supervisor, Levi Rowley ; Township Clerk, George Shellman ; Treasurer, W. T. Wallace; Justice of the Peace, S. Scofield. 1854 .- Supervisor, Robert Fisher; Township Clerk, G. W. Shellman ; Treasurer, W. T. Wallace; Justice of the Peace, 1. N. Pickard.
1855 .- Supervisor, Levi Rowley ; Township Clerk, Lyman Hill; Treasurer, - - - -; Justice of the Peace, G. W. Shell- man.
1856 .- Supervisor, Levi Rowley; Township Clerk, Lyman Hill; Treasurer, William T. Wallace; Justice of the Peace, James W. Waldo.
1857 .- Supervisor, Truman Spencer; Township Clerk, A. M. Olds ; Treasurer, W. T. Wallace; Justice of the Peace, Dyer Cole.
35
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HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
1858 .- Supervisor, Trumnn Spencer; Township Clerk, A. M. Olds ; Treasurer, O. II. Junes; Justice of the Peace, J. C. Wat- kins.
1859 .- Supervisor, Truman Spencer; Township Clerk, Levi Rowley; Treasurer, O. H. Jones ; Justice uf the Pence, Robt. Fisher. 1860 .- Supervisor, Truman Spencer; Township Clerk, Iliram A. Mixter; Treasurer, Orville M. Jones; Justice of the Peace, Lyman Hill.
1861 .- Supervisor, J. C. Watkins ; Township Clerk, A. M. Olds; Treasurer, O. HI. Jones; Justice of the Peace, Levi Rowley. 1862 .- Supervisor, Levi Rowley; Township Clerk, George Fisher ; Treasurer, George Dunckel; Justice of the Pence, O. L. Brown.
1863 .- Supervisor, Levi Rowley ; Township Clerk, George Fisher ; Treasurer, William T. Wallace; Justice of the Peace, George W. Shellmnn.
1864 .- Supervisor, T. Spencer; Township Clerk, Albert N. Olds; Treasurer, William T. Wallnce; Justice of the Peace, Thomas T. Brown.
1865 .- Supervisor, Truman Spencer; Township Clerk, A. M. Olds ; Treasurer, George Dunckel; Justice uf the Peace, Daniel II. Truman.
IS66 .- Supervisor, J. C. Martin ; Township Clerk, Oliver S. Smith ; Treusurer, George Dunckel; Justice of the Peace, O. G. Dunckel.
1867 .- Supervisor, J. C. Martin ; Township Clerk, D. B. Phelps; Trensurer. P. Pettengill ; Justice of the Pence, George C. Wood.
1868 .- Supervisor, D. B. Phelps; Township Clerk, R. G. C. Knight; Treasurer, George Dunckel ; Justice of the Peace, John D. Bullock.
1869 .- Supervisor, D. B. Phelps; Township Clerk, R. G. C. Knight ; Treasurer, George Dunckel ; Justice of the Peace, Daniel HI. Truman.
1870 .- Supervisor, D. B. Phelps; Township Clerk, George C. Wood ; Treasurer, Oliver S. Smith; Justice of the Peace, O. G. Dunckel.
1871 .- Supervisor, O. S. Smith; Township Clerk, George C. Wood ; Treasurer, R. G. C. Knight; Justice of the Peace, H. J. Lovejoy.
1872 .- Supervisor, Oliver S. Smith ; Township Clerk, Charles E. Spencer ; Treasurer, R. G. C. Knight; Just ce of the Peace, Jefferson Pearce.
1873 .- Supervisor, W. T. Wallace ; Township Clerk, George D. Spen- cer ; Treasurer, George Harper ; Justice of the Peace, Moses Hill.
1874 .- Supervisor, W. T. Wallace; Township Clerk, William T. Tan- ner; Treasurer, George Harper ; Justice of the Peace, Ilu- bert F. Miller.
1875 .- Supervisor, W. T. Wallace; Township Clerk, Nicholas Cra- han ; Treasurer, George Harper ; Justice of the Peace, Wil- hur ChamberInin.
1876 .- Supervisor, R. G. C. Knight; Township Clerk, Daniel L. Boardman; Treasurer, O. S. Smith ; Justice of the Peace, O. G. Dunckel.
1877 .- Supervisor, R. G. C. Knight ; Township Clerk, Daniel L. Boardman; Treasurer, O. S. Smith ; Justice of the Peace, Judson Dowd.
1878 .- Supervisor, W. T. Wallace ; Township Clerk, D. L. Boardman ; Treasurer, George Ilarper; Justice of the Peace, II. F. Miller.
1879 .- Supervisor, W. T. Wallace; Township Clerk, E. Williams ; Treasurer, George Ilarper ; Justice uf the Peace, II. J. Lovejoy.
1880 .- Supervisor, R. G. C. Knight; Township Clerk, Asa W. Spen- cer ; Treasurer, George Dunekel ; Justice of the l'ence, Levi Parker ; Superintendent of Schools, O. S. Smith ; Schuul In- spector, Frank E. Liverance; Highway Commisioner, Frank Price; Drain Commissioner, Gerritt A. Tuttle; Constables, David Dunckel, Mareine Dunckel, Charles Lovejoy, Henry Arnold.
EARLY HIGHWAYS.
No definite or satisfactory information r. obtainable re- garding the carly highways of the township, and the rec-
ords contain no information of value on the subject. The earliest road ran from east to west through the township, and was recorded Feb. 1, 1840, by Stephen Avery, Caleb Carr, and Watson I. Boardman, then highway commis- sioners. It was known as the " Cedar River Trail road," having followed the Indian trail, and was surveyed by Anson Jackson, county surveyor, and D. Carroll, deputy. A portion of this road was not cleared and underbrushed until 1850, and the trail was simply a guide to the sur- veyor, who found it impracticable to follow the devious paths the Indians pursued. Other roads were soon opened on the east border of the township, surveys having speedily followed the presence of settlers, whose needs were responded to by the highway commissioners.
. BELLE OAK.
The hamlet of Belle Oak was begun upon land owned by James L. Nichols, who entered it May 23, 1842, hav- ing paid seventy-five dollars in State scrip for a tract em- bracing forty acres. He improved a portion, then sold to Albert Avery, who occupied it for a period of twelve years. The first house in the immediate neighborhood was erected by Nichols. Other lands were owned by Oren Lawson and Andrew Kirk. Mrs. Pitts, afterwards Mrs. Solomon Pet- tengill, was also one of the original proprietors. Truman Spencer made his advent in 1855, and, in connection with Pitts and Fisher, purchased ten acres of the Pitts estate for a mill site. Upon this a saw-mill was erected in 1855, which was consumed by fire in 1867, and rebuilt by Spencer & Fisher. The present proprietors are Waterman & Hovey. It has a forty horse-power engine, with a capacity of 1000 feet per hour of hard lumber. The estate of Oren Lawson sold to Truman Spencer, and Andrew Kirk disposed of his interest to Clark Pierce, who conveyed to Delos A. Smith, by whom the property was divided into lots and sold.
Mr. Spencer, in 1863, erected a small store, and Rogers & Cole, in 1872, built a stave-mill, which was sold the following spring to William Goldey, who remained for four years a resident of the place, and during that time also opened a store. A wagou-shop was started by Robert Fisher, who subsequently sold to William O. Fisher. There arc at present two blacksmith-shops, kept by Dunckel & Castleline, and a store owned by llovey & Waterman. The hamlet boasts two physicians, Drs. Ilarmon A. Atkins and George D. Spencer. There is also a public school, with sixty five scholars, taught by Alta Benjamin. O. G. Dunckel is the popular postmaster.
CHURCHES.
First Wesleyan Methodist Church .- The First Wesleyan Methodist Church was organized under the auspices of Rev. Harvey Hodskiss, Jan. 18, 1856, with the following as the first officers : Rev. Harvey Hodskiss, pastor; Elijah B. Wheeler, class-leader; Simon G. Wright, steward. The constituent members of the church were Elijah B. Wheeler, Alonzo Hill, Simon G. Wright, Mary Wright, Hannah Hill, Nancy A. Sullivan, Martha Truman, HI. Hodskiss, Mary Leary, Nancy P'ratt, Abram Wright. The earliest meetings were held at the Rowley school-house, on section 33, and
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LOCKE.
for a succession of years it was the scene of most of the religious convocations of the organization. In 1880 a church edifice was erected at a cost of $1400, which was dedicated with impressive ceremonies Sept. 29, 1880. A commodious parsonage was erected the year previous. The pastors in succession have been : Revs. H. Hodskiss, Ama- ziah Curtis, Samuel Boyls, H. Ilodskiss, Abram Cassidy, B. H. Brundage, Hiram Johnson, J. C. Martin, Hiram Johnson, Levi McGee, Robert L. Cope, William Ekins, William T. Williams, J. C. Martin, Orin H. Johnson, Erving W. Bruce. Since the organization of the church the names of 160 members have been placed upon its roll. Its present membership is 72. A flourishing Sun- day-school exists, with an average attendance of forty, of which Gilbert Rowley is superintendent. Elmer Gear is the present class-leader and James Sullivan steward.
Free Methodist Church .- A class of the denomination of Free Methodists was organized in 1872 under Rev. Golden, who conducted religious services in the various school-houses of the township. He was followed by Elder Mudge, who visited the point during his regular circuit duties. Elders Carrier and Witham succeeded, and at the present writing, the Conference of the Free Methodist Church being in session, the appointment for the succecd- ing year has not been announced. Meetings are still held at the school-houses, no house of worship having been erected. A ยท Sunday-school has been organized, which is now under the superintendence of Tompkins Towner.
Methodist Episcopal Church .- Rev. Joseph England organized a class under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church about 1872, preaching having occa- sionally been held on previous occasions in the school- houses of the neighborhood. Elder Edwin Daw, who had a short time previously arrived from England, followed, and after him Revs. Giberson and Nixon. Services are held at the school-house in Belle Oak. Peter V. Fisher is the present class-leader, and a Sabbath-school, under his superintendence, holds its regular meetings at the school- house, the attendance being governed by circumstances.
The Adventists formerly had a very flourishing organi- zation in the township, but it has recently declined.
BURIAL-PLACES.
The cemetery earliest in use in the township was located on section 7, and owned by a settler named Baldwin, it having been a private enterprise. The first interments were made at a period prior to 1850, and the ground was later donated by him to the township, who inclosed it with a substantial fence and maintained it as a township burial- place.
The second is known as the South Locke Cemetery, and was purchased of D. H. Truman, embracing one acre on the northeast quarter of section 33. It was inclosed by the township authorities and rendered attractive, having been adorned with shade-trees and laid out in inviting walks. Many beautiful memorial stones are evidence of the tender memories which cluster round the dead. The earliest burial was that of Mrs. Selbridge.
The Locke Mutual Cemetery Association was organized in March, 1859, with Robert Fisher, President ; John S.
Pitts, Clerk ; George Fisher, Treasurer ; and Truman Spencer, Sexton. It embraced one acre on section 13, to which an addition has recently been made. A substan- tial fence, built by Robert Fisher at a cost of cleven dollars and a half, incloses it, and the labor and watchful care be- stowed upon it by those immediately interested has rendered it one of the most inviting spots in the township.
EARLY SCHOOL STATISTICS.
At the first meeting of the board of common-school inspectors of the town of Phelpstown, held on the 25th of April, 1839, Cornelius Cole was chosen chairman of the board, after which its members proceeded to divide town 4 north, of range 2 east, into districts as follows : Sections 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 comprised the first school district. Sections 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 34, 35, and 36 comprised the second school district. Sections 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33 comprised the third school district. Sections 16, 17, 18, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, and 4 com- prised the fourth school district.
The first public school money of which any record is found was distributed in Locke in 1844 in the following manner, the total amount having been $25.20: School District No. 1, 25 scholars, $9.85 ; School District No. 2, 15 scholars, $5.90 ; School District No. 3, 13 scholars, $5.12; School District No. 4, 11 scholars, $4.33.
The carlicst school was taught in a shanty adjoining the residence of Benjamin Pettengill, but almost immediately after a school-house was erected on the northeast corner of the northwest quarter of section 14, which was familiarly known as the " Brown Eagle." It was a one-story struc- ture built of logs, having been covered with bark laid on poles. The floor was made of split logs, as were also the scats, the desks having been of rough boards.
The chimney was constructed of sticks plastered with clay, which were occasionally found in a blaze from the nature of its combustible material. The boys would then assault it vigorously with snow-balls until the fire was ex- tinguished. The teacher who presided in this primitive domain was David Bush, who remained for two terms, and received nine dollars per month. Messrs. Stephen Avery, Leonard Cole, Cornelius Cole, Joshua Marsh, and Benja- min Pettengill, were the earliest patrons of the school, and the teacher gave such general satisfaction that his wages for the second term were advanced to eleven dollars per month. The boys were generally clothed in the cast-off clothing of their fathers, or in a coarse fabric called " hard times," which also formed the rustic garb of the teacher. The girls' ap- parel was usually made of sheeting, which had been dyed with soft maple-bark and thus rendered brilliant and pictur- esque.
The teacher, Mr. Bush, occasionally recalls for the amusement of his friends the following incident : " On one occasion while boarding with the director, who shall be nameless, I had retired for the night (the sleeping-room, kitchen, and parlor having been identical). The lord of the manor had returned late from a raising at a neighbor's, and being somewhat exhilarated with frequent draughts was in a hilarious mood. His wife endeavored to quiet him, but finding her efforts unavailing suggested that the
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HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
teacher was in the house and had retired. The director, out of patience at being thus reproved, exclaimed, ' Who is the teacher ? Nobody but David Bush. I know him and his father and his mother.'"
Mr. Bush was followed in his duties by Miss Rebecca Macomber, who was the second instructor in the town- ship.
The school territory of the township is at present divided into six whole and two fractional districts, over whom pre- side, as a board of directors, the following gentlemen : O. F. Perry, S. P. Suthard, Nicholas Crahan, George Mae-
omber, O. G. Dunckel, Gardner Rice, R. G. C. Knight, J. C. Stoughton.
Three hundred and seventy-two pupils, of whom twenty- four were non-residents, received instruction during the last year. They were under the direction of three male and fifteen female teachers, who received an aggregate annual amount of $1032.81 in salaries.
The value of school property, including one brick and seven frame buildings, is $4100. The total resources of the township for educational purposes are $1618.53, of which $189.29 is derived from the primary school fund.
MERIDIAN.
GEOGRAPHICAL.
THIS township is situated in the northern tier of town- ships of Ingbam County, next west of the meridian-line, from which circumstance it was probably named, and is bounded on the north by the Clinton county-line, on the south by Alaiedon township, on the east by Williamstown, and on the west by Lansing township. It is designated in the United States survey as town 4 north, range 1 west. The eastern boundary was run by Joseph Wampler in 1824, the north, south, and west lines by Lucius Lyon in 1825, and the subdivision lines by Musgrove Evans in 1825.
The principal stream is Cedar River, which enters from the east on section 25 and traverses scetions 25, 36, 35, 26, 27, 28, 21, 20, a corner of 17 and 18, its whole course through the township probably exceeding eight miles. Its average width is from sixty to one hundred feet, and it is generally quite rapid. The only improvement of the water- power is at Okemos village.
The next largest stream is the outlet of Pine Lake, which traverses sections 3, 10, 15, 16, and corners of 17 and 20, and discharges into the Cedar River a mile below Okemos. A branch of this creek rises on section 13, and flowing through sections 14, 23, and 15 unites with the main stream on the southwest quarter of 15. This branch also drains Mud Lake on the northwest quarter of section 14. Herron Creek heads on section 8 in Alaiedon town- ship, and flowing. north through sections 32, 29, and 20 nnites with Cedar River on the northeast quarter of sec- tion 20.
Sloan Creek finds its sources, one branch in Dobie Lake, on sections 10 and 11 in Alaiedon, and another on section 16 in Wheatfield township, which, uniting on section 35 in Meridian, reach the Cedar River in the northeast quarter of the last-mentioned section a mile east of the county farm.
A small creek rises in springs on the farm of Joseph Hl. Kilbourne, and flows southeast into Cedar River on section 25. There is also a small one on section 28, and
another on 21 and 22, which latter discharges into the outlet of Pine Lake ou section 16.
Pine Lake is the most considerable body of water in the county. It covers portions of sections 2, 3, 10, and 11, and has an approximate area of 450 acres, being a little over one mile in length north and south, by nearly a mile in width east and west. It received its name from the fact that there was a considerable body of pine timber on its eastern margin when the country was first settled. It was about the only tract in the county, there being only here and there a scattering tree in other portions.
This lake is nearly triangular in form, with the narrowest portion towards the south. The outlet is at the extreme western angle, near the northern end, and flows southwest. The lake is generally shallow, though there.is considerable deep water in places, and it has a large margin of marshy lands on the south, with somewhat bolder shores on the west, north, and east. The northwest bay about the outlet is shallow for a considerable distance from shore. Along the north end is a beautiful sandy beach, near which are fine pienie grounds fitted up for excursion and boating par- ties. Being the only body of water of any importance in the region, it is a favorite place of resort. The Chicago and Grand Trunk Railroad skirts its southern margin.
Pine Lake exhibits the natural phenomena found about many of the lakes of Michigan, and particularly those of Oakland County, which are the presence of ridges of earth and sand, and, where bowlders abound, of walls of stone. These are the result of the expansion of the ice covering under extreme cold in midwinter; the action maintained through ages gradually pushes up ridges along the margin of the lake, generally a few rods from the water-line, de- pending upon the depth of water near and the slope of the shore. A small ridge of this kind may be observed a short distance southwest of the boat-landing on Pine Lake, and probably in other places along the shore. Mud Lake is a small body of shallow, muddy water on section 14.1
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