| The Highland
Township Historical Society THE BEACH FAMILY |
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Michael Beach was born in 1790 and grew up in Parma, Monroe County, New York. After serving in the New York militia during the War of 1812, he came to Michigan as early as 1818, settling on what is now Beach Road in Troy, Oakland County. Here he married Lucy Davis, the daughter of Joshua Davis, another early settler in Troy [Note 1]. The Beaches moved to Highland Township in the early 1830's and soon settled on a farm on the north side of West Livingston Road in Section 21 [Note 2]. Their first home was probably a simple log cabin, but this was soon replaced by the story and a half Greek Revival house shown here. Around the same time the family planted five rows of sugar maple trees lining the drives in the front yard, from which the farm became known as "Maple Grove." This photo was taken in the early 1880's and shows Susan Jane (Thomas) Beach, wife of Michael's son, Davis Beach, with their young son, Ulysses S. Beach.
[1] - Reuben Castle Beach, a younger brother of Michael, soon joined him in Troy and married Marietta Davis, another daughter of Joshua Davis. While Michael Beach later removed to Highland, Reuben Castle Beach stayed behind in Troy and is buried there in the old cemetery on Beach Road.
[2] - The date of Michael Beach's removal to Highland is debated. Seeley's History of Oakland County, Michigan, Vol. II, p. 790, says he arrived in 1830, but this seems too early. It is more likely he settled in Highland around the time of his first land purchase here on May 2, 1833.