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

DELHI TOWNSIIIIP AND ITS HISTORY

393

RECOLLECTIONS.
A paper read by M. E. Park, Holt, Mich., at the mid-year meeting of the Ingham County Pioneer and Historical Society on December 4, 1919.
I covet the ability to tell the story of the past at this time, for
I am looking into the faces of many this afternoon that have had
some of the same experiences and witnessed many of the things
that I have.
Where my parents settled, and where I was born, on section 11,
Delhi, was one of the most unpromising places you can imagine.
Long stretches of causeway had to be built on both sides of our
home. The hogsback on the west was as steep as anyone could
climb, and was eight rods from the base to the top. On the north
end of our farm was the Sycamore which for years had to be
forded, or passage made on a log laid across the stream. Many
times I crossed with great fear and trembling. One time when I
was carrying a niece of mine to the other side we both fell in.
Later there were built several bridges at different points over the
creek. Some of them had as many as twenty-five bents, and were
covered with planks but no railing. I always walked very close
to the middle when going over.
One-half mile east of our place was what was known as the
"Mason clearing," several acres in extent. There were hardly
any stumps on it, and this might have possibly been the first home
of white people in Ingham county. I was told that two brothers
by the name of Mason, accompanied by a woman, cleared the
land. The woman died and the men went away. I was shown
where the grave was.
The reason for their stopping here might have been that the
timber on considerable land in this vicinity was small and easily
cleared off.
There was always a dispute as to who was the first settler in
Delhi; Fred Luther coming first to what is the Miller farm at
Miller road, where he built a shanty. John Norris came some
time later and built a house on section 3 and moved his family
into it before Mr. Luther's house was occupied, and thus he
claimed the distinction of being the first settler in Delhi.