Brighton in Livingston County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

John McKinney

Brighton's Victorian Silhouettes

Photographed By Joel Seewald, September 23, 2017

1. John McKinney Marker

Inscription. John McKinney arrived in Brighton in the 1850s as an escaped slave who most likely survived the dangers of hidden travel with the families who operated the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad helped Southern slaves escape to the North and to Canada under the cloak of darkness. John supported himself by performing odd jobs within the community. In later years he lived above the B.H. Lawson Bank and acted as a night security guard. The bank was built in 1871 and is today's Yum Yum Tree restaurant. John was about 70 when he died in 1892. His headstone is the first one seen upon entering Brighton's Old Village Cemetery and reads, "Stone erected by his friends in Brighton, whose true servant he was for 40 years."

Original Art by: Pamela Day

Erected 2017 by Brigton Area Historical Society, Brighton Art Guild, Downtown Brighton. (Marker Number 8.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans. A significant historical year for this entry is 1871.

Location. 42° 31.781′ N, 83° 46.899′ W. Marker is in Brighton, Michigan, in Livingston County. Marker is at the intersection of West North Street and West Main Street, on the left when traveling south on West North Street

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. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 140 West Main Street, Brighton MI 48116, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Brighton Hook and Ladder Co. (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Town Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Mill Pond Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Alice Jolly (within shouting distance of this marker); Brighton Area Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); B.T.O. Clark (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Paul's (within shouting distance of this marker); Orson Quackenbush (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brighton.

Also see . . .
1. Who's that? Faces from Brighton's past pop up on city streets. According to this article from the Livingston Daily Press & Argus, Brighton's Victorian Silhouettes will be "left on display for three years, except for during the winter." (Submitted on September 25, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

2. John McKinney. See images of John McKinney's headstone on the Find A Grave website. (Submitted on September 25, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

Photographed By Joel Seewald, September 23, 2017

2. John McKinney Marker

Photographed By Joel Seewald, September 23, 2017

3. John McKinney Marker

View looking towards the east along West Main Street.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 25, 2017. It was originally submitted on September 25, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 428 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 25, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.