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

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PIONEER HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY

said if they would buy the stone he would make a frame and hang
it, to which they readily agreed and a stone was soon procured.
In 1859 when John Thorburn moved from Lansing to the farm
on section 24, Delhi, the city people laughed at him and said he
would soon starve out. He replied, "I will give it a five year
trial and if in that time I do not succeed as a farmer I will move
back to the city." Result. The first year the weevil took the
wheat so that only five or six bushels were left, not enough for
seed. The following year the frost killed the wheat and corn, so
that year there was no wheat for bread nor corn for johnny-cake.
Two years of crop failure made it look as though the Lansing people were laughing right, but the laugh soon was turned, for that
fall the farmer sowed wheat and rye. The spring following he
sowed spring wheat, oats, corn, buckwheat, beans, etc., and had
the joy of reaping good and bountiful crops of everything. But
something had to be done to offset the bad years. The farmer had
several fat sheep which he killed, took the carcasses, pelts and tallow, also some whitewood lumber, and drove through to Dexter
and traded these commodities for flour and provisions. Tallow
was high in those days as nearly everyone used tallow candles.
At the end of the five years' probation on the farm things were so
prosperous that father had no desire to return to the city, but continued to farm until 1890, when he practically retired.
It was customary for the cows to run in the woods in the early
days before fences were built, and it often happened that at dark
no cows were in sight, and it would become necessary for father to
listen for the bell that he might be guided to where the cows were.
Some of the bell cows would become so cute that they would stand
perfectly quiet so the bell would not ring, then it was difficult to
locate them. When father first came to the farm the deer would
often show up in the clearing. Often droves of wild turkeys
would cross the farm or live in the cornfield next to the woods.
Wild pigeons were very plentiful in spring and fall. Thus father
and mother, no less, experienced the joys and privations of the
new country and lived to see the wilderness blossom like the rose.
They, together with their brothers and sisters, took a large share
in the making of Delhi Township what it is today.
Having labored, their work is finished and their mantles have
fallen upon the shoulders of their sons and daughters. May they
rest in peace. JOHN BOE THORBURN.