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

DELIII TOWNSIP AND ITS IISTORY

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of the Civil War. As soon as the Michigan Central R. R. commenced to carry mail, in 1865 or '66, it was thought best to change
the name from Delhi to Holt, as the mail was often mixed with
that for Delhi Mills. It took some time to bring this about; I
cannot say the exact year when the change took place, but think
it must have been between 1865 and 1870 when it was changed
to Holt in compliment to Postmaster General Holt.
The first mercantile establishment at Holt was opened by
Robert Smith in 1857. Others who have kept general stores are
Mosher and Thompson, Samuel J. Hoffman, Hoffman and Watson, Elmer, Baker and Bond, U. T. Watrous, Henry Lott, James
Wiegman, M. T. Gunn, E. G. Hunt, M. E. Park, Manchester and
Son, Mr. Welch, Sheathelm Bros., Fred B. Phillips, A. E. Hilliard,
A. J. Black, Frank Clapham, Gunn and Freodtert, Albert and
Nickel, Fay and Wrook, Manz Bros., and Wrook and Eifert.
I think that it must have been in the early eighties that Carl
Wohlfahrt opened a harness shop and general leather store. He
did a good business for about twenty-five years.
The first saw mill in the township was built by Lee and Corey
in 1856. In 1864 it was purchased by J. M. Ables.
The first carriage and wagon shop was owned by Addison Stone
at the Five Corners. In 1878 Augustus Gaylord opened a shop
at the Center and made wagons, carriages, wheelbarrows, etc.
Durant's history of Eaton and Ingham counties tells us that the
first blacksmith was Nelson Hilliard, who owned and operated a
shop at the Five Corners, later moving it to section 10. This his
children think is not quite correct, as they believe James Cole
opened a shop before their father did, at any rate they were both
doing business at the same time.
A foundry and repair shop was established about three-fourths
of a mile east of Holt by Edwin Shaw, in 1875. In 1879 Isreal
Wood became interested and the shop made land rollers, plows,
drags and did general repairing.
At one time brick was made on section 13 by Henry Lott and
M. T. Brown. Several years ago Alexander Ferguson did quite a
business making bed springs, but quit it later.
There are three township cemeteries in Delhi. One on section
3, the North Cemetery, purchased in 18492 from Joshua North for
the sum of fifteen dollars.