Village of Millbrook Big Rapids Current March 10, 1870

Millbrook Village, situated in the north-east corner of the Township of Millbrook, is one of the thriving little towns of this county. Like all of the villages in this part of the State, it has sprung up within a few years. Nine years ago, Dr. O.N. Earle and Hazen and Leonard Aldrich made the first settlement in the township; and three years later, the Aldrich brothers built a dam across Pine river, and erected a saw mill where the village now stands, and in 1867, built a grist mill, which were the first mills of their kind in that part of the country. In 1865, Walter S. Howd opened a small store, which has grown to be one of considerable magnitude, and is the largest in the town. The village ws platted three years ago, by Dr. Earle and Hazen Aldrich. Millbrook Post Office was established in 1867. Dr. Earle being the first Post Master. They receive a mail once a week from Stanton, the county seat of Montcalm county and since the establishment of mail services between Big /rapids and Millbrook, they have a mail twice a week. W.S. Hoiwd, Esq., if the present P.M. Millbrook contains at present, two general stores, one furniture store, one grist mill, one steam and one water power saw mill, two hotels, two shoe shops, and one blacksmith shop, also a large frame school house which would be an ornament to any village. The "Millbrook House" is kept by N.G. Capen and he knows how to keep a hotel. Although his house is small and inconvenient, yet it is so well conducted that it is an admirable place for the weary traveler to find rest and refreshment. The sick of that region of country are cared for by Dr. Hugh T. Hubbard, who saw service in the army during the late rebellion, and is every inch a gentleman. He not only knows how to peddle pills, but he can tell a good story. The legal profession is represented by L.W. King, who is said to be a shining light in the Justice courts of that vicinity. The prospects of Millbrook are by no means discouraging. It is surrounded by a good farming country, will probably be a point on the Owosso & Big Rapids Railroad and bids fair to become the most important town on the line of the road.

Big Rapids Current - January 10, 1883 Millbrook is an old and substantial town located just outside of the pine belt, some three miles directly north of Blanchard on the Old State Road. It is backed and suported mainly by a rich farming country reaching out many mikes in a northerly and southerly direction. Time has failed to make many changes in the place, either for better or worse, during the past three years. The business men are apparantly solid, and they keep straight on year in and year out just as though nothing had happened. The village contains one hotel, one large dry goods house, two drug stores, one hardware store, and an unusual number, for a sized place of work-shops-harness, shoe, wagon, blacksmith, etc.

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