In 1798, Attorney Elijah Brush settled in Detroit in what is now known as the Brush Park Historic District. Built in the Victorian style, the three story brick house was a wedding gift from David Whitney, Jr. to his daughter Grace upon her marriage to John Evans in 1872. Grace Whitney-Evans went on to become the first president of the Detroit YWCA and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law degree. The home later became the residence of the J. L. Hudson family. The Hudson/Evans House is listed on both the national and state historic registries. The building now serves as the law offices of VanOverbeke, Michaud & Timmony, P.C. Brush Park is one of Detroit’s most historic neighborhoods. Originally, Brush Park was the farm belonging to the Askin family. In the early to mid 18th Century, settlers of Detroit were given property along the river front. According to the style of all French settlements, property started at the river and extended north for one or two miles. These long, but narrow farms, known as “ribbon farms”, now coincide with streets along their property boundaries and named for farmers such as Beaubien and Chene. In the late 1700’s, the Askin farm was owned by John Askin and his wife Marie Archarge (Barthe). They had one daughter, Adelaide Askin.
Tax Law
