I am not expressing opinions here; just trying to state the facts. If I get something wrong, please let me know.

Lapeer County, Michigan Territory, lay uninhabited by Europeans, from its formation in 1822 until 1828, when the first white settler, James DENEEN, settled in the southeast corner, in what is now Almont Township. He was the only inhabitant until 1830, when more settlers started to come in. In 1832 there were 6 families in the village of Lapeer, future county site. The county government was finally organized on 2 Feb 1835.

The Governor of Michigan Territory from 6 Jul 1834 to 21 Sep 1835 was Stephens T. MASON, a 22-year-old from an influential Kentucky family. His successor was John S. HORNER, who served as Governor from 21 Sep 1835 to 3 Jul 1836. HORNER was unpopular, his orders were ignored, and he was soon replaced by Stephens T. MASON.

On 28 Mar 1836, Governor HORNER (?) appointed 3 Auctioneers and 2 Notaries Public: Noah H. HART, Oliver P. DAVISON and Philip S. FRISBEE, Auctioneers in and for the county of Lapeer. Samuel MERLIN and James ANDREWS, Notaries Public in and for the county of Lapeer. [Democratic Free Press (Detroit, MI) Wed, April 6, 1836, page 1]

"The first election of county officers was held on the 7th and 8th of November, 1836. There are no records of this election among the county records, but in the records of the township of Hadley, which was organized March 22, 1836, there is a record of it, and William Hemingway and N. H. Hart give the following list of officers elected at that time: Sheriff, Samuel Merlin; clerk, Noah H. Hart; treasurer, Joseph B. Hart; register, Caleb Carpenter; judge of probate, Henry M. Look." [HRP, p. 12].

Michigan became a state in the US on 26 Jan 1837. Stephens T. MASON became the youngest state Governor in US history, at 25. When admitted, the state was recognized as having existed since November, 1835. However, citizens of Michigan never had a chance to vote in the national election of 1836.

The two main parties in 1836 were the Democratics and the Whigs. The Democratic Party was a remnant of the Democratic Republican Party, and was often still called by that name. It was also referred to as Jacksonian. The Whigs sometimes referred to Democrats as Tories. They tended to be liberal and libertarian. The anti-corporate branch of the party was called Locofoco. (The Republican Party was founded by Abolitionists in 1854.) The Whig Party was formed about 1833 by Henry Clay, as a Conservative alternative. Sometimes referred to as Reublican, or Jeffersonian.

In the 1836 presidntial election, a Democrat, Martin VAN BUREN, defeated 4 candiates fielded by the Whig Party. In Michigan, Democrats had a 2-to-1 advantage over the Whigs in 1836-8. Another Democrat, Isaac E. CRARY, was elected as Michigan's representative in Congress, but he could not be seated until Michigan's statehood was established.

In 1837 the Democratic and Whig Parties began to organize in Lapeer county, in preparation for the 1838 national election. The Democratic Party held their convention on 8 Jul 1837 in Lapeer village. The Whig Party held their convention on 7 Oct 1837 in Lapeer village. In these two articles, we have lists of leading citizens in Lapeer county, supporting each party in 1837. (Although it seems that William HART attended both conventions.)

"The first term of the circuit court held in Lapeer County convened on the 17th of October, 1837, Hon. George MORRELL presiding and Hon. Norman DAVISON as associate. N. H. HART was clerk and Samuel MURLIN sheriff." [HRP, p. 21]

First grand jury: Caleb CARPENTER (foreman), Jonathan 0. FREEMAN, John SHAFER, Eichard ARMAS, J. B. MORSE, Jedediah E. HOUGH, Oliver P. DAVISON, Josiah E. ROOD, Timothy WHEELER, William HART, Isaac GOODALE, Ira PECK, Samuel LASON, Oliver B. HART, Isaac EVANS, Josiah BAUGHART, Ezra E. PARSHALL, Stephen SMITH.

Deputy sheriffs to attend the grand jury: George F. BALL and James H. ANDRUS.

First petit jury: Cyrus HUMPHREY (foreman), John S. SMITH, Walter K. HOUGH, Schuyler IRISH, Andrew MATTOON, Aaron ROOD, Luke PERKINS, John BRIGHAM, John THOMPSON, Zachariah OLMSTEAD, Abram TUNISON.

Prosecuting attorney pro tem: Richard BUTLER, of Mt. Clemens, Macomb County.

There were more Democrats than Whigs in Lapeer county, but the list above has more Whigs, because I found an article that named a lot of Whigs at their convention.

Some of the townships of Lapeer county in 1836-7 are no longer in the county, and others are renamed. Townships Grand Blanc, Atlas and Richfield became part of Genesee county in 1843. Township Lomond became Dunham in 1838, then Dryden in 1839. The township of Mia became Bristol in 1834, then Imlay and Almont in 1846.

Main resource: [HRP] History of Lapeer County, Michigan : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers (1884) by H. R. Page pp. 12-3