The Village That Time Forgot By Jim Wood A Feature of In The Woods
Editor's note:
The following is an account of the history of the "phantom" village of Leonard -- the village originally and officially designated the Mecosta County seat -- as researched by Mecosta County native James Wood. Wood was born in Big Rapids; his family has lived in Michigan for more than 160 years and in this region for more than 140 years.
In 1857, the population of Mecosta County was less than 200 individuals. They resided in a pristine and isolated forest at the big rapids of the Muskegon River. The nearest settlement that had a usuable crossing of the Muskegon was 35 miles away at Newaygo and a round trip to Newaygo with a team and wagon required six to eight days. Mail to the area depended on a volunteer making a strenuous round trip to Croton.
To survive and prosper, the early pioneers required roads to the rest of Michigan, bridges across the Muskegon, legislative representation, home rule and a postoffice. In 1857, the settlers began the process to solve these problems. The story of how they achieved these goals is also the story of the village of Leonard.
On Jan. 24, 1857, the post office department established the Leonard Post Office. The post office was named after Chauncey Ives' friend, business partner and local land owner Frederick B. Leonard. Jesse Shaw was the postmaster and the post office was located in Ives' Old Red Mill on Mitchell Creek.
Big Rapids was the lumbermen's name for the small settlement along the banks of the Muskego River. Most mail sent to the Leonard Post Office was addressed to Big Rapids, and in fact, only the post office department and a few residents even knew that the post office was named Leonard.
In 1859 Charles Shafer and several residents petitioned the post office deppartment to change the name of the post office to Big Rapids. On Sept. 29. 1859, the U.S. Post Office responded favorably to the petition.
At the time, since Mecosta County did not have any incorporated villages or cities, the state legislature was unable to authorize the organization of the county. Instead, the legislature attached Mecosta County to Newaygo County for municipal and judicial purposes. The residents has access to the nearest court and were provided with limited protection by the Newaygo County sheriff's opffice. By petitioning the Newaygo County Supervisors they could organize townships within Mecosta County. The legislature also created a special commission to locate a seat of justice for Mecosta County.
The next step to obtaining home rule was to organize townships within the county. In February 1858, the Newaygo County Supervisors approved the organization of Green abd Leonard townships. The residents now had access to a local justice of the peace. Law enforcement was provided by the township constable. They could establish township school districts, and were entitled to state-allocated money. They could also enact municipal ordinances, and raise money for township projects.
The special commission authorized by the legislature recommended that the village of Leonard be established as the Mecosta County seat of justice. The Governor concurred and in 1859 the legislature agreed with the Governor's recommendation and established the village of Leonard as the seat of justice for Mecosta County.
By state law the village was located at the intersection of Linden and Stewart streets in present day Big Rapids. This legal fiction allowed the legislature to authorize the organization of Mecosta County. Leonard had no dimensions, no population and no elected officials.
On Nov. 3, 1859, Ives and George Warren platted the village of Big Rapids, a real estate development which was not incorporated. Leonard was surrounded by the plat and, in fect, was located in the center of court house square.
The first session of the circuit court was presided over by Judge Flavius J. Littlejohn, and according to court records, was held in the village of Big Rapids. When the city of Big Rapids was incorporated in 1869, circuit court sessions were held in the city.
The state law that incorporated the city did not designate Big Rapids as the county seat of justice, however, and did not vacate the village of Leonard.
An examination of the minutes of the county board of supervisors adds to the confusion. According to the minutes, the first meeting of the supervisors was held on Jan. 5, 1860, in Leonard. The supervisors continued to meet in Leonard until early 1861. On March 14, they met in "Mecosta County." On June 10, they met in Big Rapids, and by 1865, the supervisors were consistently meeting in the unincorporated village.
By 1860, the population of Mecosta County had increased to approximately 1,000 residents and only a very few pioneers knew about the village of Leonard. It never occurred to the residents that Big Rapids was not the county seat. The Big Rapids City Charter was amended in 1871,1873, 1875, and 1877, and none of these amendments vacated Leonard or designated Big Rapids as the county seat.Because the village of Leonard never helkd an election or filed a report or raised taxes or enacted ordinances, the State of Michigan was unaware the village existed. In an early history of the county, one pioneer stated, "We simply ignored Leonard and began using Big Rapids."
For over 130 years now the residents of the county have considered Big Rapids to be the county seat; therefore in reality, Big Rapids is the present seat of justice for Mecosta County.
But the next time you drive the intersection of Elm and Stewart, remember that you have just passed through the invisible and original seat of justice for Mecosta County, the village of Leonard.
The research for the story of Leonard was completed in late 1998. In November of 1998, I visited the Office of the Great Seal of the State of Michigan.
I related the proceeding tale to a clerk of the Great Seal and visitor. They were impressed and amused, and I was spontaneously nominated mayor of Leonard (a village with no residents and no real existance apart from paper). In my "official" capacity as maypr, I have issued a proclamation designating Feb. 11, 1999, as the 140th anniversary of the village of Leonard and the organization of Mecosta County and have appointed seven county residents to serve as village officials: Maxine Sofoulis, high sheriff; James Sofoulis, municipal judge; Ruth Hess, recorder; Marian Beadle, treasurer, Joanne Brown, village solicitor, Mary Weber, preceptoress, and Larry Martin, town crier.
