Brooklyn in Jackson County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Brooklyn's Founder
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, November 15, 2022
1. Brooklyn's Founder Marker
Inscription.
Brooklyn's Founder. . This village was founded by the Rev. Calvin Swain, who filed the first land claim on June 16, 1832. Elder Swain, who had been a chaplain in the War of 18 12, was a Baptist minister and the postmaster in Adamsville, New York, before coming to Michigan at the age of 54. By 1833 he had established a settlement and a sawmill here. The town was called Swainsville until August 5, 1836, when the name of Brooklyn was adopted by a vote of the town meeting. Mr. Swain was the postmaster until 1841. He founded Baptist churches at Brooklyn, Woodstock, and Napoleon. He died in 1856 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Napoleon.
This village was founded by the Rev. Calvin Swain, who filed the first land claim on June 16, 1832. Elder Swain, who had been a chaplain in the War of 1812, was a Baptist minister and the postmaster in Adamsville, New York, before coming to Michigan at the age of 54. By 1833 he had established a settlement and a sawmill here. The town was called Swainsville until August 5, 1836, when the name of Brooklyn was adopted by a vote of the town meeting. Mr. Swain was the postmaster until 1841. He founded Baptist churches at Brooklyn, Woodstock, and Napoleon. He died in 1856 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Napoleon.
Erected by Michigan Historical Commission. (Marker Number L29.)
Location. 42° 6.366′ N, 84° 14.873′ W. Marker is in Brooklyn, Michigan, in Jackson County. Marker is at the intersection of State Highway 50 and Chicago Street, on the left when traveling south on State Highway 50. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Brooklyn MI 49230, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the
Credits. This page was last revised on January 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 2, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 575 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on November 16, 2022, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. 2, 3. submitted on July 2, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
