Upcoming planned changes to the built landscape of Nobles 1837 Plat of Brighton, which includes new construction on both sides of Grand River north of St. Paul Street, encourage a study of previous uses of lots 40-43 on the west side.
Further research will be necessary to determine who built the Western House Hotel, Livery and Carriage Barn in 1873. In 1879, P. D. Skillbeck owned the building and R.M. Filmore was the proprietor. Prior to the arrival of the railroad to Brighton in 1871, travelers had arrived by stage coach on the planked toll road […]
You are invited to hear a presentation by Dr. R.J.Gatling which centers on the major events and people in his life that lead to the creation of his most well know invention and the impact it has made on the weapons of today. The power point presentation will be delivered by “Living Historian” Edward D. […]
Abram Dean and wife Catherine bought the NW ¼, Section 29 and the N ½ NW ¼ section 20 in Brighton Township in 1838. Their son, William Henry Harrison, b. 1836 in New York was with them. As was often the case, they traveled with friends for mutual support. Timothy Warner, Cyrenus Morgan and […]
LeGrand Beach a farmer, (b. Nov. 4, 1810, N.Y.) came to Green Oak Township c. 1845. He purchased government land, 120 acres, in Section 1. East of Kensington Rd., south of the Grand River Trail, north of the Huron River, it is now part of the Island Lake Recreation Area. A house was built and […]
Born July 22, 1819, in Scotland, David Thompson came to America at age 16. He had previously been employed as a foundry man. Upon settling in Brighton in 1840, he established one of the first industries in the Village. He built a foundry at 300 E. Grand River. Census records state his occupation as a […]
Samuel M. Conelys ancestors sailed with Lord Baltimore to find new homes in the new world. His father, Jerimiah, was born c. 1766, in Snow Hill, Maryland, and became a seaman. Sams mother was a Norris, born at the east end of Long Island, New York. Born 9/26/1806, Sam had six siblings: Achseh b. 1797, […]
Beginning in 1835, many with the surname of Power(s) began making the journey from the east, mainly New York, to buy and settle land in Michigan. Among them was Robert D. Power and wife, Aleta. They built and operated the first public house in Brighton on Grand River at the southeast corner of the Trail and […]
Among the flood of Easterners to Michigan following the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825, came several by the name of Bishop, all born in New York. Their relationship has not been established. They may be brothers or cousins.
Several families by the name of Buck are recorded as having purchased land in Livingston County in the first half of the 19th century. All, of course, came from the East. Jasper and Rhoda (Hendricks) were in the Brighton Village area by 1841. Shortly after their arrival, their two oldest children, Willis, seven, and Philena, […]
