Page 368 of Walter Romig's Michigan Place Names says:
"Milan, Washtenaw County:
the village was first called Tolanville for Henry Tolan (brother-in-law of William Marvin,
son of John Marvin, who became the first settler in the area in 1830), who built a potash factory,
a drug store and a hotel; it was still in Monroe County when Bethuel Hack became its first
postmaster on March 27, 1833, with the office named Farmersville; it was renamed Milan on April 21, 1836;
up to 1859 it was popularly but not officially known as Woodward's Mills for mill-owner
David A. Woodward who became its second postmaster in 1834; incorporated as a village in 1885
[Bulkey; Wing; Pen Phil 14:3 Sept 1964]."
In 1830 John Marvin came to the area and settled on land located near the Saline River
and on the Plank Road that ran from the city of Monroe to the village of Dexter.
Here he built a two story log cabin.
The second floor was used for the family living quarters and the first floor served as a general store.
The site of the log cabin is now a parking lot in the city of Milan.
John Marvin purchased 200 acres in Ypsilanti Township (now York Township), Washtenaw County;
and 80 acres in Summerfield Township (now Milan Township), Monroe County from the Federal Government.
His son William Marvin also purchased 200 acres in Summerfield Township (now Milan Township)
from the Federal Government.
In 1832 Harmon Allen and Bethuel Hack met in Buffalo, New York and traveled to Milan together.
Harmon Allen purchased 80 acres in Summerfield Township (now Milan Township) and
Bethuel Hack purchased 40 acres in Summerfield Township (now London Township).
Bethuel Hack was appointed the first postmaster on March 27, 1833 and the post office was known as Farmersville.
In 1834 David Woodward, a mill owner, became the second postmaster and changed the name of the post office
to Woodward's Mill.
Henry Tolan, an Englishman, who married Elizabeth Marvin, daughter of John Marvin was the next postmaster and changed
the name of the post office to Tolanville. For a time people used all three names for mailing.
On April 21, 1836 the postmaster general of the United States official changed the name to Milan,
after Milan Township (which was named after Milan, Italy).
Last Changed on July 8, 2005 by Ronald R. Morey, Web Master