This (below) is material I'd never seen before on one of the oldest named streets on W.H. - Regards, Michael Reed
Another early settler in the area, is probably even more so important, then the first settler. His name, Robert Inkster. Robert was born March 27, 1828, in Lerwick, Shetland. He was 4 years old when his father passed away, and in 1848, he and his mother took a ship to America. They ported in New York, and spent some time in Ohio and Illinois before coming to Detroit.
In 1853, he received his citizenship from the court in Detroit and in 1855, he bought a steam powered sawmill with a contract to furnish fuel and ties for the railroad. This mill was located on what became Inkster Road, just south of Michigan Avenue.
Robert Inkster had an unusual experience in his early days after arriving in Detroit. In the summer of 1856, while he was traveling from Detroit to the mill site, a wreck occurred on Michigan Central RailRoad. Several people were killed outright. Robert Inkster was removed from the engine area. (one report, from the top of the smokestack) Workmen clearing the wreckage, assuming him to be dead, moved him to a row of corpses. Shortley thereafter, Charles H. White, the superintendent of repairs, inspecting the damage, noticed a movement in one of the "corpses" and ordered him removed to a nearby farmhouse. White visited daily, and later invited Inkster to recuperate in his home. The daughter of Charles White cared for him until he was fully recovered. On December 31, 1856, Robert Inkster and Cordelia White, married.
The Post Office, established in 1857, under the name "Moulin Rouge" (meaning red mill) was renamed in 1963, "Inkster". From 1866 - 1868, he served as postmaster.
He is also named as Secretary of the Building Committe of the Nankin-Dearborn Townline Methodist Episcopal Church.
Robert Inkster engaged heavily and widely in real estate, selling his land in Highland Park, to Henry Ford. He had dealings in Ohio , Illinois, Nebraska and Montana. As late as 1881, he was buying land on Jim Daly Road (now BeechDaly Road). In 1869 there was a Robert Inkster Dry Good Store at 97 Woodward Avenue.
When he moved his family to Kalamazoo in 1875, he had every variety of tree that could be grown in Michigan. His fruit trees were selected for special uses. His vegetable gardens yielded abundantly. He was a firm supporter of the First Presbyterian Church, Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Of the 7 children Robert and Cordelia Inkster bore, 3 died in infancy, an three lived beyond the age of 80.
Robert Inkster died in Kalamazoo on September 7, 1914, and his wife, Cordelia had died in 1904.
http://www.geocities.com/michhist/inkster.html
