Pioneer history of Ingham County, compiled and arranged by Mrs. Franc L. Adams, secretary of the Ingham County pioneer and historical society.

DELII TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY

their rooms and change their gowns in readiness for supper, and
after the supper would dance until daylight.
We may well be thankful that we do not live under some of the
conditions existing then; it is not that the people were so very bad,
but that social laws differed from those of today.
Delhi Township suffered greatly from the effects of the Civil
War; those pioneers who laid the foundations for the beautiful
farms we now see everywhere were many of them called to the
colors. Some gave their lives on the field of battle, and others
in Andersonville and other Southern prisons, while those who
came home were either maimed or physical wrecks because of the
hardhips they had endured, but with the same spirit they showed
in battle they started anew with their ox teams, ax and hoe, the
general equipment of that day.
They were greatly handicapped by sickness, ague being the
prevailing disease; the theory was if the chills kept growing lighter
every day you would wear it out, but if they grew harder every
day it was likely to get you. Probably it was all caused by the
impure water, all open wells. Some were stoned up and others
were planked inside, and the surface water would seep through
the openings. Once or twice a year they would be cleaned out,
and often dead animals and other objectionable things would be
found.
Pioneers of those days were very punctual in paying their debts.
It was often necessary to run a store account to be paid after
harvest, and that was always the first thing attended to. You
would see a farmer with his ox-team and load of grain start for the
market town, in a hurry to sell and pay his debts. There was no
such thing known as the installment plan. Their motto was,
Courage, Perseverance, and Faith in God.
I have tried to make you live fifty-seven years ago under conditions existing fifty-seven years ago throughout the township.
Now I want you to imagine you have been gone fifty-seven years
and just arrived in Holt, Delhi Center no more.
Notice our homes, churches and schools, then walk out into the
surrounding country and see the productive farms, fine homes, with
all modern conveniences, where lighting, heating, washing and
milking are all done with modern equipment; high powered tractors