Brighton Area Historical Society

Amrod and Catherine Moon, of Niagara Falls, New York, arrived in Hamburg Township c. 1837.  They came with sons Luther (b. 1824), Alfred (b. 1827), Samuel P. (b. 1829), Hiram (b. 1832) and William (b. 1836).

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The “Old Homestead”, owned by S. Bert Appleton, was located in Section 2, Hamburg Township on the south side of Cunningham Lake Road.  Among the very first settlers in the area were Isaac W. and Lydia (Brower) Appleton.  He and brother Daniel, both from Tompkins, N.Y., scouted land in the SE ¼ of Livingston County […]

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Born in Bennington County, Vermont, June 10, 1805, Aaron H. Kelley (or Kelly) headed west to Michigan in 1830.  At the time Chief Black Hawk’s threatening activities were causing serious concerns to area settlers.  That and the spread of the cholera epidemic (brought by the soldiers under orders to bring Black Hawk under control) sent […]

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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.

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Among early arrivals to the area were both Aaron A. and Hiram S. Newman.  By 1859 Aaron owned 200 acres in Section 5, 6 & 7 of Brighton Township.  The 1875 Atlas records 80 acres in Sec. 9 in Hiram’s name.  Hiram was a commissioner in the Howell Lansing Railroad Company, which brought the railroad […]

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Among the very early families’ names recorded in the Village Cemetery records and whose farms were also listed in the c. 1900 Argus, one finds the name of Prosser.  Joining the many who were streaming into Michigan and Brighton Township, in the mid 1830s, where Charles and Elmina Prosser from Genesee County, New York.  Lydia […]

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Maple Lawn Farm, on Pleasant Valley Road just north of Buno Road, in Brighton Township still has maples in the lawn.  A. c.1900 newspaper clipping lists Wm. J. Donaldson as the owner.  In ‘Early Land Owners and Settlers in Livingston County’ one finds several Andrews making land purchases in the Township.  One Abram, from Monroe […]

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Maple Lawn Farm, on Pleasant Valley Road just north of Buno Road, in Brighton Township stillhas maples in the lawn. A. c.1900 newspaper clipping lists Wm. J. Donaldson as the owner.

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The Brighton Argus, c. 1900, listed a number of farms, with a name and the name of the owner.  Research into location, type of farming and a bit of family background is undertaken.  This study is an attempt to provide an understanding of the early days of the area and its residents. 

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