From Niagara County, N.Y., William Carpenter , at 18, with his father, William, came to Lyon Township, Washtenaw County in 1836. They very likely came by way of the Erie Canal, in the area of their home, and Lake Erie. Here they cleared away the forest and turned the wilderness into a highly cultivated and richly productive estate. The younger WiIliam married the c. 20 year old Catherine Dolph C. 1840.
They had eight children. William, Jr.(who died at 15), Arthur and sister Carrie (who married Arthur Smith, from Green Oak Township, 1878), are the only three of the eight we can identify. Grandfather William lived in Lyon Township the rest of his life as did Arthurs father who farmed until his passing in 1887 at 69. The parents and brother are buried in New Hudson Cemetery.
In 1883, Arthur b. September 30, 1848, had his own farm in Green Oak Township. March 28 of that year he married Addie (Adelgunde) Ryder, born in Livonia, June 25, 1851. Arthur and Addie had no children. Three years later he bought 120 acres in Brighton Township, Section 22; the north east corner of Van Amburg and Buno Roads. . . . his beautiful farm lying on the slope of Pleasant Valley is well adorned and improved by the good buildings which he has placed upon it. (Some structures were already in place.) Daniel O. Van Amburg had bought it from Richard Lyon prior to selling to Carpenter.
In 1904, they moved into Brighton Village and three years later he was elected to village trustee. He also served on a coroners jury, February 23, 1911, determining that the death of a woman having been hit by a train was an accident. Addie died January 5, 1918 (one suspects the flu epidemic) and in 1919 Helen Parker purchased the 120 acre Carpenter farm. Arthur died in 1935. Both he and Addie are buried in Fairview Cemetery.
By 1926, John Henry (Harry) and Bertha Young owned the beautiful farm in Pleasant Valley. It was developed into Pleasant View Hills Subdivision beginning in 1964. The highways I-96 and US 23 make it possible for many to enjoy Arthur Carpenters pleasant view.
Sister Carrie and her husband had three children, one of which died at 10 years of age. Carrie suffered another tragedy in 1918, when Arthur, 61, died in a saw mill accident on the Hyne farm in 1918. A jack-of-all trades, farmer, painter, carpenter, etc., Smith was working as a setter, operating the lever, which sets the log for the saw. Somehow he got onto the saw and died almost instantly. (No protective shields in those days.) Carrie, who died in 1923, Arthur, and little Lola are near her brother and Addie in Fairview Cemetery. Research provides other Carpenter names, who settled in other parts of the county. Can someone help connect them?
Compiled by Marieanna Bair from 1891 Photo/Biographic Album; census records; First Landowners, obituaries copied from the Brighton Argus and cemetery transcriptions by Milton Charboneau.