Research is continuing on a list of farms, copied from a c. 1900 newspaper clipping.  Attempts are being made to find where they were located, why they have the name assigned and some information about the owners.  This issue deals with the Henry J. Crawford Farm, Meadow Brook on Pleasant Valley Road in Brighton Towship.

Research of the 1859 Brighton Township Atlas shows Aaron Beach’s name on this piece, E ½ SE ¼ of Section 22, 80 acres.  A building is also indicated on the property.  By 1875, Milo Beach, Aaron’s son, (who had married neighbor Mary Conely in 1867) is recorded.  This was a gently rolling piece through which Mann Creek flows from Bindernagle Heights (General Motors Proving Ground site) near the Oakland County border.  (This creek connects with Woodruff Creek and then flows into the Huron River.)

Henry J. Crawford worked for Milo.  Henry and Anna, Milo’s daughter, married in 1892.  By 1915, Henry is recorded as owner of 80 acres located just northwest of Milo’s.  This was a hilly piece, good for grazing sheep and cattle.  It is interesting to note that when Henry and Anna married, Milo and Mary moved part of their house several hundred feet north from them.  This house still stands, with many additions and alterations having been made.

Two sons were born- one died at the age of 13, the other, Earle, married Franc Dunning in 1917.  (Franc was 101 on her last birthday.) Earle and Franc farmed, raising hogs, steer and dairy cows.  That fall the barn, full of crops for winter, burned to the ground.  Altho’ the animals were saved difficult times lay ahead.  A barn had to be built and milk had to be shipped.  Earle raised wheat and hay, did custom farming and hay baling and worked in a machine shop.  Franc taught school and conducted a camp for children during the summer to help with expenses.

Today Milo and Henry’s farms are part of the Lake Moraine development.  A dam has been built on Mann Creek. 

Compiled from Milt Charboneau’s collections of obituaries, 1880 History of Livingston County, Atlases and the assistance of Elizabeth Crawford Herbst.