ONEIDA EARLY FORMATION

From "History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan" - 1880

An act of the Michigan Legislature, approved March 6, 1838, reads:
"All that portion of the county of Eaton designated in the United States survey as townships Nos. 3 and 4 north, of ranges 3 and 4 west, be and the same is hereby set off and organized into a separate township by the name of Oneida; and the first township-meeting shall be held at the house of Truman W. Nichols, in said township."

(In the winter of 1836-37, Almeron Newman, William Henry, Lyman Bennett, Abner Hixson, John Bennett, and Peter M. Kent petitioned the Legislature to set off town 4 north, in range 4 west, as a separate township, to be named Friendship; but, as a township existed elsewhere by the same name, that of Oneida was adopted by the Legislature, and the territory organized as stated under that name.)

As will be seen, the original township of Oneida included the four surveyed townships constituting the northeast quarter of Eaton County. Feb. 16, 1842, Oneida was cut in two, and the east half formed into two new townships, named Delta and Windsor. March 9, 1843, its territory was further reduced by the formation, from the south half of the remaining portion, of the township of Tom Benton, afterwards changed to Benton. This left Oneida to include the same as at present size, town 4 north, of range 4 west. The township was not
represented at the first county convention, held March 7, 1838, as it had been organized only the day previous.

The proceedings of the first township election appear as follows on the town record: " Pursuant to an act of the Legislature of the State of Michigan, authorizing townships 3 and 4, in ranges 3 and 4, by the name of Oneida, to hold a township-meeting at the house of Truman W. Nichols, for the election of township officers, the taxable inhabitants of said township assembled on the 2d day of April, 1838, and appointed Erastus Ingersoll moderator, Addison Hayden and Samuel Preston clerks, John Slater and Truman W. Nichols receivers of votes for said meeting.

The following persons was elected for township offices for the ensuing year.:
Supervisor, Addison Hayden; Town Clerk, James H. Nichols; Assessors, Samuel Preston, Jacob Dobbins, Daniel Chadwick; Commissioners of Highways, Addison Hayden, Jason Nichols, Abraham Lewis; Inspectors of Primary Schools, Erastus Ingersoll, Erastus S. Ingersoll, Moses Ingersoll; Justices of the Peace, Addison Hayden, Samuel Preston, Truman W. Nichols, Jacob Dobbins; Collector, Alonzo Baker; Constables, Alonzo Baker, Robert Nixon; Postmasters, T. W. Nichols, E. S. Ingersoll. It was " Voted, That hogs be restrained from running at large;" also, " Voted, That this meeting be adjourned until the first Monday in April next at the house of Truman W.Nichols."

A special meeting was held April 21, 1838. to elect officers to fill vacancies, and the following were chosen: Town Clerk, Erastus S. Ingersoll; Commissioners of Highways, R. C. Sisson, Jason Nichols; Assessors, Samuel Preston, E. S. Ingersoll; School Inspectors, Moses Ingersoll, Erastus Ingersoll, Erastus S. Ingersoll; Overseers of the Poor, T.W. Nichols, Orange Towsley; Justices of the Peace, Oramel D. Skinner, four years; Truman W. Nichols, three years; Addison Hayden, two years; Samuel Preston, one year. At this meeting it was voted to raise thirty dollars with which to purchase stationery for the use of the township, and fifty dollars for the support of the poor.

Jan. 26, 1839, a special meeting of the township board was held, and John Strange was appointed township clerk, and Daniel Chadwick commissioner of highways, to fill vacancies. In 1839 it was voted to raise $500 to build a bridge across Grand River at Ingersoll's mills, also to pay a bounty of two dollars each on all wolves killed by actual settlers of the township. It appears the bridge proposed was not built in 1839, as in 1841 the sum of $250 was voted for the same purpose and at the same place.

In 1842 it was voted to raise $150 towards building a bridge across Grand River on the line between Eaton and Clinton Counties. The bridge was not erected, and the sum was transferred to other purposes the following year. In 1840 the place of holding township-meetings was changed from the house of T. W. Nichols to the school-house in District No. 1.