James Collett, b. 1850, came to the area c. 1875 to practice the joiner and carpenter trade. How much his selection of site had to do with his being born near Brighton, England, can only be surmised. That he succeeded is clear. He was the contractor who built the Old Town Hall, 1879, 202 W. […]
The long relationship of the Rider family and the Fishbeck family in Holland was maintained as they sailed the Atlantic to New York in the late 17th century. Joseph Rider, Sr. was a child when Washington was inaugurated as president. His parents died when he was very young; his only education was as a shoemaker. […]
Residing in Wayne County, Truman (or Freeman) B. Worden purchased 80 acres in Brighton Township, Section 31, June 1, 1835. ( E. of Grand River, both sides of Spencer Rd.) Living in Brighton by January 25, 1837, 80 acres, was purchased in Section 30. January 21, 1837 and April 5, 1837, two 40 acres pieces […]
March 10, 1871, C.T. Hyne sold land north of Franklin, south of Walnut, east of 7th and west of Ore Creek in Brighton Village to Hiram Smith and Edward and William McPherson, Jr. The portion north of Main Street had been originally purchased from the Federal government by Elizabeth Cushing May 8, 1835; that south […]
C. 1865, Henry Ratz moved his family (three sons and a daughter) from Canada to Michigan coming to Brighton shortly after. Henry, a blacksmith, worked in the Henry Herbst Blacksmith shop. (south side of W. Main, one block east of Hyne St.) In 1874 Henry purchased land from Jacob Euler in Section 14 of Genoa […]
Thomas Woulds was an early land owner in Brighton Township; however not among the first. With his older brother, John, 240 acres in Section 15 (E ½ NW ¼, W ½ NE ¼ and E ½ SE ¼) were purchased in 1855 from John Jackson, son of Cyrus, a land speculator of New York. Before […]
It is given that early settlers in Livingston County were an adventurous, hardy lot. (Of course, those that returned to their former homes in the east are rarely noted in local history resources. This life did not agree with him, is the statement made.) Among them is found the John C. & Eliza Winans family […]
Early censuses record a number of settlers to Michigan Territory by the name of Boylan. Several came from Pennsylvania, including Moses M. Boylan. Born November 30, 1805, Moses brought his family to the Territory at an early date. He must have bought a substantial number of acres in Washtenaw County. It is believed he donated […]
As was true of many early purchasers of land in Michigan, Elijah and Betsey Marsh, born 1802 and 1806 respectively in Massachusetts, bought acreage in Brighton and surrounding townships, even before coming to Michigan. Research shows much land speculation occurring at that time. Two hundred eighty acres were bought and sold in Brighton Township before […]
Henry W. b. 1831 and Elizabeth Buek b. 1833 Pipp were both born in Germany. Henry, an orphan at 16 came to America in 1847. Before his apprenticeship as a wagon maker Henry worked in a brick yard. Their shop was on the south side of Fitch (E. Main) between East Street and Grand River; […]
