milan village was platted by ebenezer merry in 1817 on the site of a previously abandoned moravian indian mission village, named "petquotting", (1805-1809). merry dammed the huron river below the village and established "merrys mills", a gristmill and sawmill in the river valley. milan village, originally named 'beatty', was incorporated as 'milan' in 1833, in large measure to finance the construction of the milan canal. it was also well known for its cat houses, that locals say, he'd return every three months to visit his step sister and cousin there.