Jefferson City MI
Located 3 1/2 miles north of Mason MI - Jefferson City was located
near the intersection of Hagadorn and Lamb Rd intersection.
Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/vbUb9BjkAaL2
Jefferson City was named after Thomas Jefferson, by Stevens T. Mason.
1836: MI Governer: Stevens T Mason, George Howe and J Payne together platted on section 22 the village of Jefferson. This was done with the intent that the county seat would be located in Jefferson.
1837 - Wm and Nicols Lewis built a saw mill in Jefferson. First school house was built on section 27. Teacher: Mary Ann Rolfe (summer of 1837) - First settler child born: Mary Strickland (July 19 1837). Mary later married Rev. A Clough. - First person to die in the township: wife of James Phillips (died June 1837)
Appointed in 1839: First Postmaster - Wm Lewis
Do you know about the defunct village of Jefferson City? When non-Native American settlers first started settling the area in and around Mason in the mid-1830s, a village at one time bigger and with more likelihood to succeed than Mason was blooming 3 1/2 miles north. The center of the village was located near what is now the intersection of Hagadorn and Lamb. In those days, it was vital for a village to have a water source to generate power for commerce and the building of structures. Mud Creek provided this power source for Jefferson City, where a sawmill was built on its banks in or around the spring of 1837. It was around this time that the village was originally platted.
The diary of a traveler from Stockbridge, Silas Beebe, details his thoughts about his experience in Jefferson City in February of 1838: "Upon arriving at the end of the Jefferson City Road was Jefferson City. There were six log houses, a school and 10 to 15 acres of woods all cut away ready for clearing with only an Indian trail going north. Jefferson City will undoubtedly be a place of great importance someday, being almost the center of the county." Mr. Beebe also stated that there is a place about 3 ½ miles south of Jefferson City of about equal claims called Mason. “A frozen up saw mill, a few houses and surrounding forests are all Mason can boast of." Concluding that Mason would never amount to much.
At the time, partially due to its proximity to the center of the state, and to the county, there were some that had great hopes of seeing the state capital -- or at least the county seat -- located in Jefferson City.
At the beginnings of Alaiedon Township's organization, Jefferson City was at the center of local government, the first township government having been set forth from the school house in the village. That first election took place in the spring of 1838, and 15 total votes were cast to fill 7 positions.
In 1840, the small village north of Mason consisted of 13 houses, with 26 students attending the school.
In the summer of 1847, shortly after the thriving village hosted a 4th of July parade, it was discovered that the original plat drawn up was never recorded. As a result, current residents could not obtain a deed to their homes or property. Shortly thereafter, everyone moved away, and Jefferson City became no more.
The only footprints in time left by Jefferson City include some old stone foundations along Mud Creek and the Jefferson City road, today called Jefferson Street in downtown Mason.
** Visit the Alaiedon Twp History page and other links for
additional details regarding the Jefferson City, MI
Alaiedon Twp Link: http://alaiedontwp.com/history.htm
Alaiedon Twp History Link: http://alaiedontwp.com/history.htm
Michigan Roots: Alaiedon Township Early Settlement, Ingham County
Link: http://www.mi-roots.org/index.php/counties/ingham-county/212-alaiedon-township-ingham-county/155-alaiedon-township-early-settlement-ingham-county
Copyright Statement Copyright 2011 Michigan Roots
HIDDEN MICHIGAN: ALAIEDON, THE INGHAM COUNTY TOWN THAT NEVER EXISTED
All credit to: by: JOHN ROBINSON May 31, 2017 via 99.1WFMK
Excerpt from the Ingham County News circa 1960 about the lost Jefferson City, located near Hagadorn and Lamb roads just north of Mason. It’s a very interesting article about a community that once rivaled Mason in industry. The writer speaks of my great-grandfather Henry Kinney and my grandfather Lyle Kinney and the big white farm house. My 92-year-old grandmother Margaret still lives there. I took this very photo while visiting her this past weekend and she told me about the lost town of Jefferson City.
My grandparents, great-grandpa Henry and my father lived in the little stone house next door when he was a small child. My grandfather’s sister and her family and lived in the big white house. The 2 houses were situation in my great-grandpa Henry’s, and ultimately my grandpa and great aunt’s, farm.
My grandparents and my great aunt ended up swapping homes because they had 6 more children after my father. My great aunt only had 1 and my grandparents needed the space.
Interesting that it used to be the center of an old community.
