Alta L. Brotherton Biography, Genesee County, Michigan

This Biography extracted from “Portrait and Biographical Record of 
Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan…”, published be Chapman 
Bros., Chicago (1892), p. 1004-1005


This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.

***********************************************************************
ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any 
format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. 
Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the 
written consent of the contributor or the legal representative of the 
submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this 
consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to 
store the file permanently for free access.

http://www.usgwarchives.net

***********************************************************************



MISS ALTA L. BROTHERTON, teacher of English Literature in the Flint 
High School, has been connected with the schools of this city since 
1876, and since 1881 has been a teacher in the High School. She is a 
native of this county, born in Clayton Township, and the daughter of 
old settlers of Genesee County. Her father, Francis Brotherton, was 
born in Connecticut in 1819, and her grandfather, David Brotherton, 
likewise a native of Conneticut, was a farmer, who in 1835 located in 
Avon Township, Oakland County, this State. He was of French descent.

   Francis Brotherton by occupation was a farmer. He was married in 
Pontiac, in June, 1844, and in October of the following year, located 
in Clayton Township, Genesee County, this State. He cut his way through 
the woods and opened up an eighty-acre farm, which he improved with 
good buildings. The year 1866 witnessed his arrival in this city, and 
during the ensuing year he located on eighty acres adjoining the 
corporate limits of the city. There he resided until 1882. Upon 
retiring from active labor he settled in Flint, where his death took 
place February 5, 1890. In politics he was first a Whig and later a 
Republican, while in religious matters he was in sympathy with the 
doctrines of the Baptist Church, with which he identified himself.

   Ellen (Hilton) Brotherton was born in 1827 in Pontiac and was the 
daughter of Roswell Hilton, a native of New York. In 1826 Mr. Hilton 
came to Michigan, settling in Pontiac, Oakland County, where he aided 
in erecting the first house in the place. The most of his active life 
was devoted to farming in Pontiac Township, whence in 1849 he removed 
to Flint and here died. His wife, Susan (Voorhees) Milton, was 
descended from ancestors who originally came from Holland. She passed 
the closing years of her life with a son in Grand Rapids, and there 
died. Of her six children, three sons enlisted in the late war and 
fought in defense of the Union.

   Miss Brotherton is an only daughter, and her brother, W. Irving, is 
in the wholesale grocery and produce business in Bay City. Our subject 
attended the High School until the fall of 1872, when she was in the 
junior year. The family then removed to Ann Arbor, where they sojourned 
three years, and she in the meantime graduated from the High School in 
1874. Afterward she spent one year in the classical department of the 
University of Michigan. Returning to Flint, in the fall of 1876 she 
engaged as a teacher in the Wood School. Afterward she was in the 
grammar department until 1881, when she became a teacher in the high 
School, and later was appointed Principal of English Literature and 
English reading. One of the most successful teachers in Flint, she is 
known throughout the State as a prominent educator. Her connection with 
the High School extends over a longer period than that of any other 
teacher. Notwithstanding her other arduous duties, she finds time for 
religious work. An active .member of the Baptist Church, she is 
especially interested in Sunday-school work and is now the teacher of 
the Young People's Bible Class, comprising forty scholars. She is a 
strong republican in political sentiments. Her mother owns a fine farm, 
of eighty acres, with good improvements, and from this receives a good 
rental.



j