Thomas S. Hilton, born in England in 1822 came to the U.S. in 1849; settling the Brighton Township shortly after.  By 1852 he and Adeline Rogers, neighbors across the road, married.  Adeline, born in 1834 in New Jersey, came with her parents, Amos and Permelia Rogers in 1836.  (The 1859 Atlas shows Rogers owned 50 acres in the SW ¼ of Section 20, south side of Hilton Road, east of Hunter; brought in 1846.)

Thomas and Adeline, by 1859, purchased 120 acres in Section 20 on the north side of Hilton Road.

The 1875 Atlas notes Thomas Hilton’s property increased to 160 acres, bordered by Hunter and Hilton Roads.  (today’s Conerstone Presbyterian Church site.)  This included a portion of Paler (Hope) Lake.  By then Amos Roger’s holdings have increased to 80 acres including a portion of Lyon Lake.  1895 has Mrs. Amos Rogers (Amos died in 1882) as owner of that 80.

During this period Thomas and Adeline raised a family.  Josephine Isabell died as an infant. (It seems as if every family lost infants in those days.)  John W. married Nellie Wesley, a neighbor northeast of School Lake.  William Herbert became a minister but suffered from a bad heart dying at 45 years.  Amos E., the subject whose farm is in the Argus listing as HAZEL DELL, farmed the east 65 acres of his father’s 160.  Perhaps he named it HAZEL DELL for his oldest daughter, Hazel.

Thomas Hilton’s obituary notes that although he had little formal education he was a man of sound judgement and whose influence has always been felt in the right direction.  He remained active almost until the day he died in 1906.

By 1935 Amos Hilton’s name is not on that 65; he was 76 years old by then.  (He died in 1939.)  In 1961 there is still a Hilton descendant’s name on a portion of the 160 acres.  Hope Lake Park Sub is noted there on the Atlas of 1979.

When it became necessary to add road names to maps one can see why Hilton was selected for that road between Old 23 and Grand River.

Amos Hilton’s grandparents Rogers are buried in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery on Pleasant Valley Road.  The Hilton’s are at Fairview on Flint Road.

Compiled by Marieanna Bair from Early Atlases and obituaries compiled by Milton Charboneau.