One finds the Hicks name in Livingston County in the 1830s.  This writer has not been able to prove the connection between these Hicks that also came from New York, to those who settled in Brighton Township by 1859.

Azariah Hicks and his wife, Phoebe, are owners of record of 40 acres in Section 20 (corner Hilton/Hunter Rd.) in 1860.  It appears the entire family, including grandchildren, came as a whole to the area at that time.  Upon the death of Azariah, his two sons, Azariah (Jr.) and William Wheaton Hicks, inherit this piece and another 40 acres ¼ mile east.  Both soon sell these properties.

By 1873, Wm. Wheaton Sr’s son, Wm. Wheaton Jr. is recorded as owner of 160 acres, NW ¼ Section 21.  This included both sides of Skeman Rd, just touching the south shore of School Lake.  (By then Jr. is over 50 years old.  He’d been born in New York, 1821 as was Sally Ross whom he’d married in 1843.)  Wheaton and Sally had six children, Eugene, Lois, Ross, Lamartine, Sarah and John Jay.  Several of these married neighbors.

Of Ross and Emily Stretch’s six children, John Carlton (b. 1877, d. 1967) married Edith Skeman, continuing the tendency of neighbor marrying neighbor.  C. 1900, with Maxfield Road dividing it almost in half, John C. and Edith are owners of MEADOW GREEN STOCK FARM; 160 acres in the NW ¼ of Section 3.  By then much of the wooded wilderness had given way to the axe and plow.  As the name implies, John raised fine cattle and the variety of grains and grasses necessary for them to return a profit.  Father Ross had owned much of that in prior years.  John and Edith had four children, two of which died in infancy.  (Research reminds us often of the lack of medical knowledge, which resulted in so many dying at an early age.)

John Carlton, his siblings and descendents of the last quarter of the 19th century, and their spouses, controlled large amounts of land in Brighton Township. This held true as late as 1961.  This prosperous family was well aware of the hard work involved.  All were industrious and participated in the area’s development, its politics and its social life.  Earlier, Grandfather Wm. Wheaton, had served as township supervisor for six years.  John C.’s Uncle Eugene is noted as school inspector during the mid to late 1870s, as supervisor in 1897 and later serving in the state legislature.  The final resting place for many of the Hicks is in Fairview Cemetery.

Compiled by Marieanna Bair from Early Settlers and Land Owner of Livingston County and obituaries copied by Milton Charboneau.  Also early atlases and census records.