John Mullett
John Mullett (1786–1862) was a prominent surveyor based in Detroit, Michigan in the early 19th century. Under the Public Land Survey System, he was surveyor-general for the Northwest Territories and as such, assisted or led "in many of the government's original surveys of Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana," and especially in Michigan. Early life. Mullett was born to a large family in Halifax, Vermont on July 11, 1786. In 1807, the family moved to Genesee County, New York and dabbled in farming and the craft of tailoring. Mullett served as an officer in the War of  1812, but only saw action in the Battle of Buffalo. Col. Mullett came to Detroit from Buffalo, New York in 1818, and moved from tailoring to mathematics and surveying. Later life. In 1849, he moved with his family to a farm near Williamston in Ingham County. He had a large family, and his family papers are in the University of Michigan Library. Mullet's Son in Law Frank Hall died in the 1860 PS Lady Elgin disaster.