From Michigan County Atlas
The first settler in the area was Colonel Samuel Mapes, in 1831 - in the town itself, Rufus Tenney. The Hartland P.O., named after its township, in 1837. George Griffin opened the first store in 1839, where for many years town meetings took place. Amos Albright built a gristmill, and in 1849 Lyman Bishop opened a foundry. By 1878 the village also included several stores and blacksmith shops, a tavern, shoe shop, harness shop, and a tin shop. The first Congregational Church was constructed in 1858 (later remodeled and opened in 1932 as the Hartland Music Hall).
I included some old postcards of the Waldenwoods Resort here although it is debatable if it is in Hartland or Howell. Downtown Hartland was once twice as long from what I am told, the freeway wiped out some of it.