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1855.
The first entry in the Journal of the board of supervisors bears date June 1, 1855, when the board organized by appointing Alex. S. Anderson, chairman, and after fixing the treasurer's bond at $1,000, and directing the clerk and register of deeds to procure suitable books, adjourned, to meet on October 8 of the same year. Harvey Tower was clerk. The county commenced with three towns, Claybanks, Stony Creek and Pentwater, which then extended from the lake shore to the eastern line of the county. The three supervisors were E.R. Cobb, from Pentwater, A.S. Anderson, from Claybanks, and William Gardner, from Stony Creek.
At the meeting in October 1855, $300 was ordered to be raised for county expenses, and the county seat was fixed, as far as a resolution of the board could fix it, on the southwest quarter of southeast quarter of Section 8 of Claybanks, at what was popularly known as Whisky Creek. A log jail was erected and used until the county seat was removed to Hart, in 1864. The frame dwelling of Anderson & Rosevelt, which was used as a hotel, was also used as a court room and for county offices. The plat for the county seat was 20x40 rods, commencing on the shore of Lake Michigan, at a point twenty rods southward from the outlet of the creek, on said lot, near Anderson & Rosevelt's dwelling house, thence east forty rods, thence south twenty rods, and thence west to the lake shore, and thence north to the place of beginning.
1856.
The next meeting of supervisors was on June 9, 1856, at Campbell & Wheeler's store, Stony Creek. Nut E.R. Cobb of Pentwater, being absent, the board adjourned until June 18, when A.S. Anderson was absent. Although specially summoned, he had refused to attend. E.R. Cobb was chosen chairman. In 1855, 25 per cent was aded to the assessment of Claybanks, and twenty per cent to Pentwater, while Benona seems to have been left unchanged. At the meeting in June, 1856, Claybanks was raised fifty per cent, and the others were left unchanged.
In October it was resolved to unite the offices of county clerk and register of deeds; $600 were voted for county purposes. Among the bills allowed at this session was one to the Sloop Rainbow, for conveying books from Grand Haven; also to W. Weston, N. Glover, Johnson Dexter and S. B. Hopkins for killing wolves. It was customary in those days to bring the scalp of the wolf, and after taking testimony it was burned, and a certificate on the county given by a justice of the peace, for $8.
James Blower, S.B. Hopkins and A. S. Anderson were appointed a board of commissioners to survey a wagon road from Pentwater River to Carleton's sawmill, up White River. The road was built to Montague, and formed the first road out to the front; before this the route had been by the lake beach. The county treasurer; A. R. Wheeler, and the county clerk, Harvey Tower, were each voted $250, as salary for eighteen months, ending January 1, 1857. In December, the treasurer's bond was fixed at $2,000.
1857.
E. R. Cobb was elected chairman, and Malcolm Campbell, Clerk, and the assessed valuation of the towns was unaltered, and was as follows: Claybanks $142,635, Benona $239,547.70, Pentwater $79,180.39; $1,000 was voted for county purposes. The state tax for the county was $128.18. Wolf certificates were allowed to A.C. Randall and George M. Boyce.
On November 2, the board again met, A.S. Anderson, of Claybanks, and L.D. Eaton, of Benona, being present; Mr. Eaton was made chairman. Campbell, Wheeler & Co. were paid $12 for county seal; Moses S. Hinds was paid $8 for wolf certificate. The debits on the treasurer's books was found to be $739.26, the credits $633.18, leaving a balance fo $106.08. The annual salary of the treasurer was made $300, and the clerk $225.
On November 24, the board met at Benona, E.R. Cobb still absent. The county organization seems to have become rather shaky from the resignation or removal of officials, and a special election was ordered for the 29th of December following, for sheriff, in place of C.A. Rosevelt removed; for county clerk, in place of M. Campbell, resigned; county treasurer, in place of A.R. Wheeler, resigned; also county surveyor, and two coroners.
On December 28, the board met with all present.
A new township, Greenwood, was ordered to be organized on petition of twelve rate payers. This town consisted of Towns 13 and 14 north, Range 15 west, forming what is now Newfield and Greenwood. This was done by taking what is now Newfield from Benona, and Greenwood from Claybanks. The first meeting was appointed for the first Monday in April, 1858, at the house of William B. Wilson, and Oliver Swain, C.B. Moe and Nelson Wright were appointed inspectors of election.
On December 28, on petition of twelve freeholders, the whole upper tier of towns forming Benona, which consisted at this time of eight whole towns and two fractional towns, was ordered to be organized under the name of Elbridge, on the first Monday of April, 1858, at the house of S.G. Rollins, and H.H. Fuller, George W. Light and Ira Jenks were appointed inspectors of election. Elbridge, therefore, at first consisted of Towns 15 north, in Ranges 15, 16, 17, 18, and a fraction of 19 west.
1858.
A special meeting was held May 4, ot arrange for procuring from the United States Land Office a full and accurate abstract of the lands in the county.
the following supervisors were present: Benona, L.D. Eaton; Claybanks, A.S. Anderson; Greenwood, Oliver Swain; Pentwater, D.G. Wenre; Elbridge, S.G. Rollins. A.S. Anderson was chosen chairman. Several wolf certificates were granted. The valuation of the several townships was, Benona, $149,949.77; Pentwater, $109,890; Elbridge, $50,625.42; Greenwood, $76,000. Total, near $500,000.
Two thousand five hundred dollars was voted for county purposes, and the state tax for the county was $128.13. The petition of H.C. Flagg and others for a ferry across the Pentwater River was granted, and the bond of Charles Mears for keeping the same was accepted, and the rates fixed as follows: Single person, five cents; man and horse, ten cents; team and wagon, twenty-five cents; sheep and hogs, two cents each.
The deed of land for a courthouse square, from C. A. Rosevelt and A. S. Anderson, and a contract with the same persons to build a jail, was accepted.
A special meeting was called for November 10, in sonsequence of an error having been discovered in the assesment of Pentwater, which, was altered from $109,880 to $95,609.
Anderson and Rosevelt are allowed $25 a year for the use of the southwest room in their hotel. The chairman was authorized to provide desks and book cases for the county officers, and to notify them that a room had been provided for them.
On December 28, the bond of Estes Rich, as county treasurer for two years, from January 1, 1859, was accepted and a committee was appointed to settle with Harvey Tower, the former Treasurer.
On application of James Hanlon, Elmer H. Lord, Halvar H. Brady, A. Brady, T. Brady, Carl Schenck, H. Hendrickson, I. E. Gordon, E. Brich, P. Bentson, L.D. Easton. L. N. Cirtiss, Jacob Fisher and Martin Tyson, to set off from Benona, Sections 1,2,3,4,5 and 6, of Town 13 north, Range 18 west, to the town of Claybanks, the board voted to comply with the request. After dinner the board, after expressing regret that they had annexed Sectin 6, proceed to re-annex it to Benona. A. S. Anderson voted alone against this last proposition, which is the first instance of a recorded division in the minutes. The taxes assessed upon the sections detached off to Claybanks were retained by Benona.
W.T. Howell, prosecuting attorney, is allowed $90 for his services for 1858. The jail was accepted, and an order drawn for $100.
The assets of the county December 31, 1858 were:
County tax ................................................$ 2,500.00
Due from the state ........................................$ 1,530.11
In the treasury ...........................................$ 27.00
$ 4,057.11
The liabilities were:
Outstanding order .........................................$ 1,784.61
Wolf certificates .........................................$ 130.00
Due Pentwater .............................................$ 86.12
Benona ....................................................$ 132.35
Clay Banks ................................................$ 208.14
School fund fines .........................................$ 27.00
State tax .................................................$ 128.13
Claims outstanding ........................................$ 100.00
$ 2,506.35
Excess of assets ..........................................$ 1,460.76
1859.
At a special meering March 14, the following supervisors were present: D.G. Weare, of Pentwater; S.G. Rollins, of Elbridge; Harvey Tower, of Benona; James Sprague, of Claybanks; Oliver Swain, of Greenwood. Harvey Tower was chosen chairman. It was resolved that the petition to take Section 6 from Claybanks and attach it to Benona should not be granted. An attempt to divide Elbridge failed.
In October the supervisors were: H.C. Flagg of Pentwater; Josiah Russell, of Elbridge; Samuel E. Knowles, of Benona; Nelson Green, of Claybanks; Oliver Swain, of Greenwood. Nelson Green, chairman. The equalized value of the county was $490,968.68, apportioned as follows: Benona, $138,894; Pentwater, $82,719.65; Greenwood, $66,704; Elbridge, $64,592.87; Claybanks, $188,124.
Two thousand dollars was voted for county purposes.
H.H. Fuller, Ephraim Knapp and C. A. Rosevelt were appointed superintendents of the poor.
A motion to procure a safe for the county prevailed.
On December 27, $200 were allowed for the services of Col. J. H. Standish as prosecuting attorney for one year. Three hundred and fifty dollars were paid to the clerk of the board, A. S. Anderson.
It was resolved to lay out a public highway from Flower Creek running north along the lake shore to the north line of the ocunty near Bass Lake.
The rate of interest on county orders is lowered from 10 to 7 per cent.
1860.
At a special meeting in February, a petition was received from E.J. Reed, B.F. Reed, G.W. Franklin, Orrin Benton, John Barker, Joseph M. Haines, John F. Evans, George F. Shattuck, John W. Gillan, W.F. Barber, A.W. Putney and Andrew Decker, to set apart Towns 13 and 14 north, Range 16 west. The petition was granted and the new town named Otto. The first annual meeting was ordered for the first Monday in April, to be held at the house of George Shattuck, and Samuel Rogers, G. Shattuck and E.J. Reed were appointed inspectors of election. The annual meeting of Benona was appointed to be at Henry Hoffman's, and of Claybanks at John Barr's. The new township of Otto was composed at first of what is now Ferry, taken from Benona, and the present town of Otto taken from Claybanks.
An application was received from JOhn Bean, Jr., Andrew Underhill, W.P. Harding, E.B. Burington, J.S. Brillhart, Harvey Tower, James G. Blowers, Nelson Rogers, William Webb, Sidney Fletcher, Albert Benis, James S. Post and Henry Webb, for the erection of a new town from Pentwater, to be called Weare, consisting of Towns 16 north and Ranges 15, 16, and 17 west. The petition was granted, and Daniel G. Weare, Jr., Myrtle B. High and Norman Rogers were appointed inspectors of election, which was held at Charles Mears' house.
In October, the following supervisors appeared: Greenwood, O. Swain; Claybanks, N. Green; Benona, H. Hoffman; Elbridge, J. Russell; Pentwater, A. J. Underhill; Weare, M.B. High, and E. J. Reed, of Otto. Nelson Green elected chairman. L. D. Eaton was allowed $54 for services as sheriff. The salary of the treasurer was made $00; the clerk $300. The valuation of the towns was: Elbridge, $68,009.21; Benona, $108,338.81; Otto, $52,046.50; Claybanks, $83,177.12; Pentwater, $31,883.42; Weare, $46,084.50; Greenwood, $58,554; making in all about $449,000. Two thousand five hundred dollars was voted for county expenses, and $400 for the poor. Adam Huston, E. R. Cobb and William Weston were appointed superintendents of the poor.
In December the bond of A. S. Anderson as treasurer was accepted. Josiah Russell was authorized to procure the field notes of the town of Oceana, on the best terms he could. Nelson Glover was appointed superintendent of the poor.
An application, signed by Hiram E, Russell and forthy-three others to form a new town to be called Hart, was granted. Hart at first consisted of what is now Hart and Golden, and was taken from the old town of Elbridge, which was now reduced to what is Elbridge and Leavitt. The first election was held at the schoolhouse in Section 17, in April, 1861; Josiah Russell, A. Peck and Ira Jenks inspectors of election. The next annual meeting of the now reduced town of Elbridge was appointed to be at Louis Genereau's, and Seth Robinson, Louis Genereau and Joseph Elliott were appointed inspectors.
Josiah Russell, O. Swain and M. B. High were appointed a committee to locate a county seat and report their decision. Josiah Russell was voted $100 a year as salary as judge of probate. The excess of assets over liability was $2,690.87.
1861.
A special meeting was called in February, O. Green chairman, pro tem. The supervisors the same as before, except C. B. Wilson in place of J. Russell, of Elbridge, Green of Claybanks, absent. A motion of Mr. Underhill, in favor of locating the county seat at the village of "Middlesex," was tabled. Seventy-six inhabitants of Elbridge petitioned to rescind the vote creating the town of Hart. On motion of Mr. Underhill the vote in question was rescinded, on the ground that it was "unjust and would disfranchise the Indians." A motion to take the county seat question from the table was carried, but on pressing the adoption of the resolition it was not carried, the vote being a tie. Edgar D. Richmond was now clerk.
On June 10, the following supervisors appeared: claybanks, Jason Carpenter; Greenwood, O. Swain; Otto, R. J. Reed; Benona, H. Hoffman; Hart, J. Russell; Weare, N.C. Smith; Pentwater, H.C. Flagg; O. Swain, chairman. One hundred and thirty dollars were voted for a bridge at the mouth of Stony Creek. The valuation of the towns was: Claybanks, $80,506.20; Greenwood, $53,828.76; Otto, $47,237.96; Benona, $98,452.59; Hart, $68,347.20; Weare, $46,911; Pentwater, $29,660.24. A. Huston, W. Weston and S.G. Rollins were appointed superintendents of the poor. The salary of E. D. Richmond as clerk was $350; of A.S. Anderson as treasurer, $450; of C.W. Deane as prosecuting attorney, $200. Two thousand seven hundred dollars were voted for county purposes. The excess of assets over liabilities, $7,247.61.
1862.
In January, for the first time on the record, it was voted to extend the time for closing the tax roll for one month.
In February A.J. Underhill appears in place of Flagg, resigned.
The application of H. Hoffman and thirty-two others to form a new town, to be called Leroy, consisting of what is now Benona, was granted, and the first meeting was ordered to be at the schoolhouse in District No. 3; H. Hoffman, H. Hendircksen and S. Merrifield inspectors of election. The next meeting of the now reduced town of Benona (now called Shelby) was ordered to be at school No. 4, and Bird Norton, James McNutt and Wllington Hart were appointed inspectors.
In October the supervisors are: Jason Carpenter, of Claybanks; O. Swain, of Greenwood; A. R. Wheeler, of Leroy; Bird Norton, of Benona; Josiah Russell, of Hart; H.C. Flagg, of Pentwater; John Bean, Jr., of Elbridge; M.B. High, of Weare, and B. Hill, of Otto. I. Swain, chairman.
One hundred and fifty dollars was voted for support of the poor for ensuing year. Messrs. Rollins, Weston and Huston were appointed overseers of the poor. The treasurer was authorized to borrow $3,400 for military relief fund, payable in county bonds drawing 10 percent interest. The assessed value of the county is determined at $408,452.34, of which Elbridge gave only $820. The treasurer received during the year $3,904.50 and paid out $3,849.74, leaving only $54.76 dues the county. $2,650 is ordered for county purposes. The state tax was $1,016.58. the clerk's salary is $300, treasurer $400, prosecuting attorney $150, and for the ensuing year the clerk's salary is fixed at $150, and treasurer's at $300.
A previous motion that the bonds for volunteer relief fund, drawing ten per cent interest, should not be sold below par, was rescinded and they were allowed to be sold as low as 95 cents on the dollar.
In December the bond of O. Swain, treasurer-elect, was accepted. Two hundred and seventy-seven dollars and eighty seven cents was found in the treasurer's hands. The assets were $13,227.61; the liabilities were $4,549.93; balance due county $8,678.68.
1863.
No meeting is recorded until October, when the following supervisors appeared: O. K. White, of Claybanks; Charles Camp, of Greenwood; H. Hoffman, of Leroy; W. Weston, of Benona; Robert F. Andrus, of Hart; H.C. Flagg, of Pentwater; W. H. Leach, of Elbridge; A.J. Benson, of Weare, and B. Hill of Otto. H.C. Flagg, chairman. The assessed valuation of the county was fixed at $406,434; $2,000 were raised for county purposes, $300 set for the poor, and $2,000 for military relief fund.
A division was taken on a motion to change the county seat, which was carried by six to three, the three nays being Messrs. Hill, White and Camp. The resolution was to locate the county seat either on north half of Section 17, Town 15 north, Range 17 west, or on south half of Section 8 of said town, and further, unless L. B. Corbin give sufficient bons for $1,000 to the county if the county seat is located on northeast quarter of Section 17 of said town, the said resolution is null and void.
The board as a committee of the whole were to meet on the last Thursday in October to select said site.
A special meeting was held on December 7, to consider the necessity of raising a bounty for volunteers, so that they might excape the draft in January following. A motion was carried to appoint a committee of three to make out a statement of facts to the governor of the state, and appeal to him to use his efforts to give proper credit to the county for ninety-four white men and thirty-four Indians, fo whose enlistment the county had received no credit.
After a stirring and patriotic preamble, it was reolved to issue bonds to the amount of $3,300, to be paid those who would volunteer, $150 to each man, bonds to bear 7 per cent interest, payable one-half in February, 1868, and the residue in February, 1869.
1864.
Board met in January; H. Hoffman, chairman, pro tem. The proceedings were ordered to be published in the Oceana Times, which was the first newspaper in the county.
It was resolved to raise the issue of bonds for volunteers bounties to $4,650, and the Hon. Nelson Green, senator from this district, was requested to bring the matter before the senate with a view to have a law passed to have said bonds made a state tax.
The county seat was removed, as far as a vote of the supervisors could do so, to :a lot containing two acres in a square form, 30 rods south of the north line of Section 17, Town 15, north of Range 17 west, and bounded on the east by the now laid out township road," in other words, in Hart, where it is now. Mesrs. Weston, Camp and Hill voted nay, and Messrs. Flagg, Leach, Benson, White, Andrus and Hoffman, yea. It was resolved to submit the county seat question to a vote of the people, at the next annual meeting. The total assets were $16,734.48; liabilities #2,134.95; excess of assets $14,599.48.
In August 1864, a special meeting to raise a county bounty for volunteers was called, the following supervisors present: A. S. Anderson, Claybanks; A. R. Wheeler, of Leroy; S. C. Powers, of Benona; B.F. Reed, of Otto; C. Camp, of Greenwood; J. Russell, of Hart; H. S. Sayles, of Elbridge; A. J. Smith, of Weare; H. C. Flagg of Pentwater. The vote for removal of county seat was found to be as follows:
For Removal AgainstClaybanks........................... 6 53Weare .............................. 39 4Greenwood .......................... 0 29Pentwater .......................... 68 0Otto ............................... 2 45Leroy .............................. 3 51Elbridge ........................... 15 33Hart ............................... 73 6Benona ............................. 23 2 229 223
Showing a majority of six for removal. It was resolved that the clerk notify L. B. Corbin of the removal of the county seat to his place in Hart.
The aggregate valuation of taxable property in Oceana was determined at $460,378.
On the application of E.D. Plumb and fourteen others, it was resolved to create a new town from Hart, to be called Golden, which has still the same boundaries.
The first annual meeting was to be held at Jeremiah Barnhart's, who, with John Fletcher and W. J. Haughey, were appointed inspectors. Some error was made in spelling the name, which Mr. Haughey intended to be "Golding'" his mother's family name, but it was not considered necessary to undo the resolution of the board to have the name spelled correctly.
The liberality of the county towards the volunteers was shown by a resolution to raise bonds to the amount of $8,100, $100 each, bearing 10 per cent interest, and not to be sold below $95, each. The state tax was $988.87.
That the expenses of the county were increasing, is evident from the fact that the board ordered $2,000 to be raised for sinking fund for volunteer relief bonds, $1,100 for interest on the same, $900 for the poor, and $2,500 for contingencies.
It was resolved that the effects of the county be removed from Claybanks to Corbin's mill, in Hart.
W. Weston was made superintendent of the poor for three years; $50 was added to the salaries of the clerk and the treasurer for the past year.
It was found that there was to the credit of the county in the treasurer's hands $1,476.92, excess of assets over liabilities, $14,427.85
1865.
At a special meeting, in February, the salaray of the clerk was made $300, treasurer, $500, prosecuting attorney, $100.
A motion to remove the county seat to the village of Middlesex, (now a portion of Pentwater) was lost by one vote, Claybanks, Leroy, Pentwater and Weare voting yes. Messrs. Russell, Anderson and Camp were appointed a committee to report on the purchase of a county poor farm.
Lyman D. Grove was allowed $200 salary as prosecuting attorney.
The clerk was authorized to draw thirty-one bonds of $100 each to be delivered to the several townships, according to their respective quota of men for the war.
In July the following changes appear in the list of supervisors: J. Barnhart for Golden, Warren Vradenburg for Benona, and N. C. Smith for Weare. H. C. Flagg was chairman.
Thje farm of Orange Ward, southeast of Hart Village, was purchased, with the crops, for $4,960. The farm was 110 acres, and Mr. Ward and family were paid $50 a month for services.
On thousand fifty-nine dollars and one cent was found in the treasurer's hands. There was reported as sold and paid out $5,225 of military bounty bonds. The assesed valuation of the county was $459,390.
The committee on roads and bridges recommended an appropriation of $500 for a bridge over the north branch of the Pentwater River at C. Mear's Rive House in Weare, but after a long discussopn it was voted down.
The state tax on Oceana was $1,351.73.
The superintendents of the poor were directed to procure the services of John Burr and wife for the county farm at $400 a year, and Mr. Ward was allowed to remain until November.
The committee appointed to settle with the former treasurer found that he was indebted to the county $854.48.
On the application of J. J. Kittredge and eleven others to set apart a new town, viz: Town 16 north, of Range 15 and 16 west, to be called Crystal, it was ordered that the petition be granted, and the first annual meeting to be held in April, 1866; Jared H. Gay, J. J. Kittredge and Charles Willett inspectors of election, the election to be held at Jared Gay's. Crystal thus included the present towns of Crystal and Colfax. J. Russell was appointed superintendent of the poor, vie Peck, resigned; $950 was voted to finish a bridge across Chippewa Creek, in Hart.
1866.
On January 9 a lengthy resolution was passed directing the prosecuting attorney to cause Oliver Swain, the late treasurer, to pay the sum of $854.58 alleged to be due to the county.
On January 27 a special meeting was called to consider the efficiency of the treasurer and after an examination into the case he received a recommendation "to adhere more strictly to the duties of his office, and to appoint a deputy to attend to his duties in his absence."
On the 5th of March, on the application of J. W. Sweet and thirteen others for the organization of a new town, Town 14 north of Range 15 west, to be known by the name of Newfield, the petition was granted, and the first annual meeting ordered on the first Monday in April at Joseph W. Sweet's, and J. W. Sweet, H.C. Hawley and Alex. McLaren were made inspectors of election.
A resolution to spend $2,000 on a jail was lost.
In June the following supervisors appeared: Claybanks, A. S. Anderson; Leroy, A. R. Wheeler; Greenwood, C. Camp; Newfield, H. C. Hawley; Otto, B. F. Reed; Benona, W. H. Churchill; Golden, J. Barnhart; Hart, A. W. Peck; Elbridge, H. S. Sayles; Crystal, J. J. Kittredge; Weare, N. C. Smith; Pentwater, H. C. Flagg who was chosen chairman. The assessed valuation of the county as equalized was $610,861.13.
The chairman was authorized to sell the county farm for $3,500, but in October it was resolved to offer it by auction.
It was then resolved to raise $8,000 to build a jail, and take $300 of the money given by Mr. Corbin for that purpose. Flagg, Smith and Anderson were appointed to a jail committee.
Peleg A. Hubbard was chosen superintendent of the poor for full term, and O. C. Perry for the remainder of the term of J. Russell, resigned.
The committee found $1,059.01 due on settlement last year with the treasurer. The amount due on the present year was $3967.57.
The expenses of the county for the following year were to be met as follows:
For county bonds and interest, $4,000; for county expenses, $2,500; for poor, $2,000; total, $8,500. The state tax was $1,822.19; $300 was appointed to be raised for a bridge over the west branch of the Pentwater River.
The salaries were fixed at $700 for treasurer, $250 for clerk, $900 for prosecuting attorney, and $800 for judge of probate. S. G. Rollins resigns as superintendent of the poor.
At the session in December the list of supervisors is the same as before, except that W. March appears for Crystal, and N. Crosby for Hart.
Town 13 north of Range 17 west was organized as Grant, the first meeting to be at Jason Carpenter's in April, 1867, H. W. Turk, Jason Carpenter and O. K. White to be inspectors of election.
Also Town 15 north of Range 15 west was erected into a new town to be called Leavitt. First meeting at the house of Richard R. Sorter; Hazen Leavitt, Dwight M. Croff and Vincent E. Clark, inspectors.
A plan for the jail, presented by Mr. Flagg, was adopted, and N. C. Smith, J. Barnhart and A. S. Anderson were appointed a committee to attend to its construction.
Russell & Gurney were permitted use of the county books for the purpose of making an abstract of the same.
D. R. Gibbard was appointed superintendent of the poor.
1867.
The name of Leroy was changed to Benona, by act of Legislature, March 1, 1867.
In March the list of supervisors is the same, except A. Van Wickle, for Hart. Messrs. Wigton and Gurney offer $100 more for the building of a jail.
It was resolved to raise by taxation $400 required, over and above the $3,000 appropriated for the jail, and that the same be paid to Mr. Flagg, the contractor.
In October many new names appear as supervisors: E. D. Richmond, for Pentwater; A. A. Darling, for Hart; S. J. Sparks, for Golden; H. Hoffman, for Benona; P. R. Cady, for Shelby; John F. Evans, for Otto; O. K. White, for Grant; Vincent E. Clark, for Leavitt. E. D. Richmond was appointed chairman.
The following were appointed superintendents of the poor: O. C. Perry (three years) D. R. Gifford, (two years), O. Deming, (one year).
There was ordered for county purposes, $8,500; for poor, $1,500; bonds and interest, $4,000. The valuation of the county was $740,818; state tax, $2,757.87.
In December, the committee report the jail completed. The salaries for 1868 were fixed at $1,000 for treasurer; $500 for clerk; $400 for prosecuting attorney; $500 for judge of probate.
In accepting the jail, the board unanimously expressed their appreciation of the manner in which Hon. C. Mears had completed the job.
At this meeting the board seems to have repented of its liberality in regard to salaries, and fixrd this time the treasurer's at $800; clerk's $800; prosecuting attorney's, $300; judge of probate's $350.
1868.
The treasurer reported $2,186.13 on hand.
The application of certain freeholders to form a new town to be called "Reed," was tabled.
In October, Hiram Goodrich appears as supervisor for Leavitt, W. M. Pringle for Golden, and H. F. Cushman for Greenwood, and E. D. Richmond was re-elected chairman.
William J. Kennedy and others have petitioned for the erection of a ew township to be called Reed, which included the territory known as North Otto, or Town 14 north of Range 16 west, the petition was granted, and the first election ordered at Reed's schoolhouse, on April 5, 1869. T. Reed, T. Smith and D. N. Gustin inspectors. This town is now known as Ferry.
The next meeting of the now reduced town of Otto was ordered to be at C. Newman's; $4,672.50 was found to be necessary for the payment of bonds in the following year, and it was resolved to raise $5,000 for county expenses, and $2,000 for the poor.
A ferry was established across Pentwater Lake, to be propelled by steam, and it was given to Charles Flood, but as it did not pay, it was not run.
For the purpose of building a bridge across Pentwater Lake, Pentwater was authorized to raise 1,000, Golden, $600, Benona $400, Claybanks and Hart each $200, and Weare, $100. The aggregate value of this county was $758,224.67; state tax, 2,234.96. At the close of the year, $1,295.82 was found in the treasurer's hands.
The Hon. Moses B. Hopkins was voted $100 for his services as circuit judge, in addition to his regular salary of $500, as that was considered too low.
1869.
In October the first meeting of the year was held, when the following appeared as supervisors:
L. D. Grove for Pentwater; E. P. Gregory, for Weare; J. J. Kittredge, for Crystal; Gilbert E. Benton, for Colfax; H. Goodrich, for Leavitt; D. W. Crosby, for Elbridge; A. A. Darling, for Hart; Caleb Davis, for Golden; A. R. Wheeler, for Benona; P. R. Cady, for Shelby; A. Crosby, for Ferry; J. W. Dunning, for Newfield; C. F. Cushman, for Greenwood; S. B. Potter, for Otto: O. K. White, for Grant; A. S. Anderson, for Claybanks.
The sixteen towns were now organized with the names they retain to this day. P. R. Cady was made chairman. The valuation of the county had now risen to be $1,793,112.86. One per cent was ordered to be raised on all the taxable property f the county, to pay bonds amounting to $9,000, contingencies $7,000, poor orders $1,031, and state tax $1,456.69.
The prosecuting attorney was ordered to prosecute H. C. Flagg, for his indebtedness to the county, unless paid forthwith. This indebtedness arose in the sale of the chattels of the county poor farm. O. E. Perry, O. Denning and E. D. Richmond were appointed superintendents of the poor for three, two and one years respectively.
As showing the prevalence of wolves at this time, the board offered $10 additional bounty on each full-grown wolf killed. The bounty already was $10.
1870.
In January, Messrs. Wheeler, Darling and Kittridge were appointed a committee to furnish a suitable building for county offices.
In October, the following supervisors appear: C. Camp, Greenwood; J. W. Dunning, Newfield; A. C. Gowdy, Leavitt; Calvin Woodward, Colfax; Jacob Williamson, Otto; B. F. Reed, Ferry; D. W. Crosby, Elbridge; G. C. Crouch, Crystal; O. K. White, Grant; Andrew Maples, Shelby; A. A. Darling, Hart; M. B. High, Weare; Alex S. Anderson, Claybanks; H. Hoffman, Benona; Caleb Davis, Golden; F. W. Ratzel, Pentwater. C. Camp was elected chairman.
The privilege of a ferry was granted to Brink & Baker, to ferry between the north and south of Pentwater Lake. E. D. Richmond was appointed superintendent of the poor for three years. The assesed valuation of the county was $1,778,149.13. The receipts of the treasurer were, for the year, $19,108.86, and expenditures, $17,092.87; $6,709.81 was remaining in unpaid bonds.
The committee on county offices reported that they had rented Mr. Leach's store for one year, at $2 a week.
The board having been kindly invited to attend the Sunday-school association meeting, by Brother Amos Dresser, Jr., by resolution, adjourned for the evening, to attend in a body the said meeting.
The tax this year was 7 mills on the dollar, to raise $7,000 for county purposes, $3,000 to pay bonds, and $2,447 for poor.
The salaries were fixed at $1,000 for the treasurer, $900 for clerk, $600 for prosecuting attorney, $400 for judge of probate; county superintendent of schools, $4 a day, while on duty.
Messrs. Anderson, White and Hoffman were appointed a committee to report on the propreity of purchasing a poor farm.
The committee on the matter of Mr. Swain, a former treasurer, report that of the $854.48 found to be due by him, he had paid in April, 1866, $400; in May, 1866, $200; and that there was due for principal and interest, $899.53. In December, C. C. Cochran appears as supervisor for Elbridge. The treasurer gave a penal bond for $20,000. The county printing was offered to the lowest bidder.
1871.
In February, at a special meeting, the prosecuting attorney reported that he had received $411.18, the amount found due from O. Swain, ex-treasurer.
It was resolved to build an addition to the courthouse.
In June, the following new supervisors appeared: Robert Pointer, for Otto; W. J. Tennant, for Elbridge; W. Sprigg, for Hart; G. Tiffany, for Weare, and James Corsaut, for Crystal.
E. J. Reed and Theodore F. Reed were allowed to construct a mill-dam across the north branch of White River, on section 28, Town 14 north of Range 16 west.
About this time, an abortive attempt was made to purchase the farm of John F. Evans, in Ferry, for a county poor farm, as it was considered too far out of the way, and all hills and valleys, with considerable stone on it.
The farm of Jacob Schrumpf, one and a half miles north of Hart village, containing 120 acres, was afterwards purchased for a poor farm for $5,200, which included the chattels. The committee ahd the choice of thirteen sites, and considered this the cheapest, by $1,000. Messrs. Ratzel and Hoffman were the committee.
The number of inmates on the county farm was at this time two females and three males. A vote of thanks is recorded to M. A. Collins and lady, for their hospitality to the board.
The equalized valuation was $1,888,825.47. The highest town in value was Pentwater, $267,947; next Hart, $245,571; and the lowest was Leavitt, $46,158. A. A. Darling, county superintendent of schools, reported 181 1/4 days worked, worth $525. O. Deming was re-elected superintendent of poor, after a number of ballots. The balance in treasurer's hands was found to be $2,551.90; also there was $10,909.81 of unpaid bonds. A steam ferry was authorized between the north and south sides of Pentwater Lake, to be kept by B. W. Rice and W. S. Conley, who filed a bond for $500.
The county tax was 8 mills on the dollar, to raise $8,000 for county purposes, $4,601.60 for paying bonds, and $2,500 for the poor.
The salaries this year were fixed at $1,000 for treasurer, $800 for clerk, $600 for prosecuting attorney, $400 for judge of probate; county superintendent, $4 a day.
"The freedom of the village" having been tendered by the people of Pentwater, the board decided to visit that place. The visit appears to have been an enjoyable one.
1872.
The East shore News and the Oceana Journal appear to have been rivals for county printing, but the contest was decided by giving the printing of the proceedings to both at 80 cents per folio.
Small-pox must have been prevalent at this time in Ferry and Pentwater, as we find bills from these municipalities for $8,666.01 against the county. The bill of Mr. Barber, employed by the board of health at Pentwater, as watchman, amounting to $77.97, was allowed. The small-pox bills of Golden were allowed to the amount of $50, and from Crystal for $10.40; from Ferry, about $150; from Pentwater, $360. A number of the bills not having been properly made out, or being from parties well able to pay themselves, were not passed. The ferry license of Rice and Conley, at Pentwater, was rescinded.
The board seem to have been actuated by a fit of economy, when they cut down a bill of $25 to 10 cents, which order is still undrawn.
In October the supervisors are: Tower of Claybanks; Green, of Grant; Pionter, of Otto; Stevens, of Greenwood; Dunning, of Newfield; Reed, pf Ferry; Maples, of Shelby; Hoffman, of Benona; Davis, of Golden; Sprigg, of Hart; Tennant of Elbridge; Gowdy, of Leavitt; Woodworth of Colfax; Willett, of Crystal, Graham, of Weare; Imus, of Pentwater. Mr. Tennant ws elected chairman.
The question of the purchase of a fire and burglar proof safe, and of erecting suitable county offices, was referred to a committee.
The treasurer reported that he had received during the year past $32,867.06, which included $2,551.90 of balance of previous year, and $15,148.73 from the state. The balance in treasury at this time was $2,163.12, and unpaid bonds, $5,209.81 was paid for two safes.
A report from A. A. Darling, superintendent of schools, states that he labored during the year 118 days, that several fine new schools had been erected during the past Summer, one at New Era, another in Crystal Valley, another in Perry village, and a very fine building in Judge Green's district in Grant was finished last Fall. The teachers are reported as increasing in experience. A successful institute has been held at Hesperia; the next one to be at Pentwater, on October 31, 1872.
The equalized valuation of the county was $2,050,514.52, of which Pentwater made $848,188; Hart, 279,417.20; Shelby, $210,350.70; the lowest in value being Leavitt, $51,769.68.
J. W. Sweet was elected as superintendent of the poor. The county treasurer was authorized to rent the office now occupied by the county, from N. Crosby, for $140.
The salaries were voted at $1,000 for treasurer, $100 for clerk, $400 for judge of probate, $500 for prosecuting attorney.
A tax of one-tenth of a mill on the dollar for the benefit of the Oceana Agricultural Society was ordered.
W. J. Tennant, chairman of the board, was awarded a vote of thanks for the efficient manner in which he had discharged the duties of his office.
At the December session the committee on the small-pox accounts report that they had examined witnesses and found that there had been four patients attended at the public expense in Ferry, for which the township had charged the county $1,014, from which $816.19 had been deducted, leaving a cost of $163.20 for each patient. In Pentwater twenty-one witnesses were sworn, allowing that there were fifty-nine cases of small-pox varioloid in the township in the Winter of 1871, of whom thirty-five were supported at public expense, for which Pentwater claimed $2,930.98, being $68.74 for each patient. Some of these were employed as nurses, and others had the varioloid lightly. But the board of health of Shelby and Pentwater had used prompt measures to suppress the spread of the disease. It was resolved to take the opinion of Col. Standish on the liability of the county for these small-pox claims. The claims were mostly allowed.
The death of a member, Robert Pointer, calls forth an expression of regret.
1873.
vincent E. Clark was made superintendent of the poor in February. It appears that certain of the counties of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit were trying to impeach Judge A. H. Giddings. The board of supervisors for Oceana passed a resolution approving of the manner in which he discharged his duties in their county, affirming that his removal from the judgeship would be "a public calamity." It appears that while Judge Giddings ws a man of the most brilliant talents, he occasionally gave way to intemperance.
The board at the same time sent a remonstrance to the Legislature against the abolition of the office of county superintendent of schools.
In October several new supervisors appear: J. A. chellis for Newfield; L. H. Shaw, for Otto; A. J. Underhill for Pentwater, H. W. Turk for Grant, H. F. Cushman for Greenwood, and J. K. Howe for Golden. Harvey Tower was elected chairman. The Congregational Church of Hart, Rev. Leroy Warren, pastor, were allowed the use of the court-room for services for one year. A vote of thanks to the county superintendent of schools, Seth Edson, was carried, and his address shows that he has held ten examinations and granted twenty-six third-grade certificates, three second-grade, three first-grade, refused ten applicants, and had made forty visits in thirty-two days. Twenty five dollars was the annual rental given by the Congregationals for the use of the courtroom.
The salaries are fixed at $1,000 for treasurer, $100 for clerk, $600 for prosecuting attorney, $400 for probate judge. The balances in the hands of the treasurer is $2,117.90; $205 was given to the Oceana Agricultural Society, and a tax of one-tenth of a mill on the dollar was again allowed. The assessed valuation was now $2,470,446, of which Pentwater represented $512,205, Shelby $310,453, Hart, $267.930, Benona $156,754, Leavitt, $94,594, and Greenwood and Otto, $70,000 each. The report was at the same session amended so as to amount to $2,219,878, the chief reduction being in Pentwater to $994,869. The salaries for the ensuing year were: Treasurer, $1,000; prosecuting attorney, $550; clerk $300; $280 was allowed for the remainder of Pentwater small-pox bills. Messrs. Tennant, Gowdy and Cushman, committee on providing offices, recommend the county to build. The amount to be levied for the ensuing year was: For outstanding bonds, $2,509; small-pox orders, $3,000; poor fund, $2,700; contingencies, $4,200; total, $12,409; one-tenth of a mill on the dollar for Agricultural Society, all of which would require a tax of six mills on the dollar. A vote was carried to build county offices in Hart. A vote of thanks was tendered to Mr. and Mrs. Gale for their management of the poor farm.
Mrssrs. Mears and Odell presented a petition at the December session to remove the county seat to Mears, which was refused on a vote of fifteen nays to one yea - the supervisor of Golden.
T. F. Reed moved that the county seat be moved to the village of Barnett, in Shelby. Mr. Woodward moved an emendment, which was accepted by Mr. Reed, to the effect that Barnett be the county seat, if Shelby gave a bond of $6,000 to erect suitable buildings. Messrs. Reed, Tennant and Johnson, committee on public buildings, gave a full estimate for the same, showing that $6,091.82 would be required. The motion to remove the county seat to Barnett received eight yeas and eight nays, and was therefore lost. It was resolved that the board proceed to erect county buildings, provided that the people of the village of Hart would give $2,500 of the amount. Mr. Mear's offer for the county seat at Mears was a most liberal one, and was to the effect that he would erect fine brock county buildings, with vaults, etc., free of cost, or he would donate $10,000 in cash after the county erected its own buildings.
1874.
The first meeting was in August, and the supervisors were: H. Hoffman, Benona; Martin Baker, Claybanks; Henry Cogill, Crystal; Calvin Woodward, Colfax; T. G. Houk, Elbridge; Reusler Ferris, Ferry; O. K. White, Grant; I. H. Cogswell, Greenwood; J. K. Howe, Golden; David Johnson, Hart; David Scott, Leavitt; J. A. Chellis, Newfield; J. Williamson, Otto; Edwin Nickerson, Pentwater; G. W. Woodward, Shelby; N. C. Smith, Weare; David Johnson, chairman. The committee report that David Benham had completed his contract for county offices.
In October the county superintendent of schools, Mr. Edson, reported 280 days worked, making 232 visits, thirty examinations, holding nine institutes and delivering nine lectures. The annual valuation was equalized at $2,287,758.55, Pentwater, the highest, being $318,106. Messrs Wigton and Bosworth were allowed to construct a dam across the north branch of the Pentwater River in Hart. Salaries for the year: Treasurer, $1,000, clerk, $300, prosecuting attorney and probate judge, each $550; sheriff $1 per day for general care of court-house and jail, and county superintendent of schools $4 a day for 175 days. Cornelius Myers was elected superintendent of the poor. The rent of the court-room to the Congregationalists was remitted and they were allowed the free use of the room until further notice. The treasurer reported as received for the past year $21,131.29, and expended $20,256.88, leaving a balance of $874,91 to the credit of the county.
1875.
In January H. H. Hand appears for Grant, and H. C. Hawley for Newfield. O. K. White, of Grant has been elected sheriff, and J. R. Butler, treasurer, and the latter filed a bond for $40,000. The senator at this time was Hon. E. L. Gray, and the representative was Hon. A. R. Wheeler, who were asked by the board to press for a law taxing non-resident lands. A vote of thanks is recorded to the chairman of the board, D. JOhnson. The clerk at this time was Mr. Gurney.
On April 26 the following new supervisors appear: A. S. Anderson for Claybanks; Fayette Walker for Colfax, George Wyckoff for Golden, Enoch T. Mugford for Hart, and G. W. Imus for Pentwater. G. W. Woodward ws elected chairman.
A resolution was offered to give $300 reward for the arrest of Josephus S. Peach, an absconding treasurer of Hart Township, supposed to have defaulted with $8,700; but an amendment prevailed to have the matter referred to a committee. It appears that Peach was never discovered, and as he held some funds he should have paid over to the county, a law suit was resorted to to recover the amount from Hart, which finally, in 1882, was decided in favor of the county, and the town of Hart was required to levy a tax to pay the amount, about $1,330 with about $400 costs.
Peach was indebted to Hart $2,435.51, and to Oceana $1,330, and the former offered $200 reward for his arrest, and the latter $800.
In October the treaurer's receipts were reported at $22,383.45; disbursements at $20,101.87, leaving a balance of $2,231.58.
The estimated value of the county farm was $9,478.
Caleb Davis was elected superintendent of poor.
A discussion arose over the payment of a reward of about $100, offered by Sheriff O. K. White for the apprehension of two men, Taggert and Pegg. The prosecuting attorney gave his opinion that the county wa not primarily liable, but could pay reward if they chose, and recommended that they do so, in accordance with practice in other counties. But the county refused to pay it.
The report of the committee on equalization was adopted, and showed that the county was valued at $1,795,802.62.
The motion to raise one-tenth of a mill as tax for Agricultural Society was lost.
The state tax on Oceana this year was $2,606.16; the county tax $12,860.52.
The salaries were fixed at: Treasurer, $900; clerk, $270; probate judge and prosecuting attorney, each, $500; sheriff, $300.
A reward of $225 was paid for the capture of Uber and Lansdowney, two prisoners who had broken jail, when about six prisoners escaped by cutting a hole in the floor of the jail and burrowing in the earth a tunnel of about fifteen feet long. Several prisoners returned voluntarily, among them an Indian.
1876.
Martin Baker appears as supervisor for Claybanks, F. Walker for Colfax and D. Landon for Ferry. At the first meeting in June J. H. Cogswell was elected chairman. The aggregate valuation of the county this year was lowered to $1,586,848. H. Hoffman was elected representative at state board of equalization. At this session the reward of $125 for the apprehension of Taggart and Pegg was paid to O. K. Whire, sheriff.
the poor farm this year was valued at $10,850. The salaries were fixed at: Treasurer, $800; prosecuting attorney, $400; judge of probate $500; clerk, $150.
The state tax was $2,860.90; county tax, $12,315.06.
1877.
In January the board met, and E. T. Mugford was made chairman in place of H. Hoffman, resigned. The committee on the purchase of an addition to poor farm reported that Nelson Glover would sell forty acres at $40 an acre, or the whole 145 acres at $4,000. The treasurer's bond was fixed at $40,000.
The Hesperian and the Leader are awarded a share of county printing, along with Pentwater News and Hart Journal.
The number of cases commenced in court for the past four years is found to be 398, which $2 each, amounted to $796.
In the matter of the indebtedness of Hart through the absconding of Jospehus S. Peach, the committee reported the state and county tax apportioned to Hart that year was $2,532.02 and that Peach, as the treasurer of Hart, absconded between December 25, 1874, and June 1, 1875, taking with him what money he had collected, leaving a balance of uncollected tax roll more than sufficient to pay said state and county tax; and that F. J. Russell, appointed as next treasurer, paid $1,182.02 into the county treasury, leaving a balance of $1,312.71 due the county, and recommend that that balance be demanded of Hart, which report was accepted.
In September the following new supervisors appeared: J. H. Sammons for Benona, JOhn Fegan for Pentwater, and Harvey Tower for Grant. T. G. Houk was elected chairman.
On a ballot to elect a treasurer in place of H. Hoffman, deceased, John R. Butler was elected. The total indebtedness of the late treasurer was $12,699.46, and his credits $10,934.82, leaving a balance of $1,764.64. A resolution of respect to the memory of Mr. Hoffman was unanimously passed.
The poor farm was valued at $11,165.70, and $2,000 was asked for outside relief, and $1,750 for poor farm. The assessed value of the county was about the same as previous year - $1,588,444.25. There is acknowledged from David Johnson, administrator of the estate of H. Hoffman, the receipt of $1,764.64.
Permission was given W. L. Hunt to build a dam across the north branch of the White River, in Otto, on Section 8, to raise the water five feet.
Salaries this year: sheriff, $100; prosecuting attorney, $450; probate judge, $600; clerk, $250; treasurer, $900.
Caleb Davis was elected superintendent of poor.
The state tax was $4,250.08; county tax, $13,078.25.
1878.
There was no meeting in this year until October, when Milo H. Sweet appeared for Grant. T. T. Jones for Crystal, Oscar E. Fogg for Otto, A. H. Bearss for Shelby. H. C. Hawley, of Newfield, was elected chairman. Smith, Nims and Erwin, of Muskegon, were employed by the county in suit with Hart. The average of paupers in the county farm for the past year was nearly fourteen.
Here occurred a resolution which has provoked much comment. The following was carried by nine to seven votes:
"Whereas, The present law authorizing a tax on dogs is believed to be unconstitutional by all - and,
Whereas, The said tax is oppressive and burdensome on that class of our people least able to bear the same - and,
Whereas, There are but very few sheep in the county to be worried or killed by dogs, and,
Whereas, The protection of sheep seems to be the prime object of said law, now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the board of supervisors of the County of Oceana that the supervisors of the several townships of this county be instructed not to assess the Dogs in their several townships.
J. H. Sammons
T. G. Houk
I. H. Cogswell
Fayette Walker
Committee
The committee on equalization valued the county at $1,603,712.80; $25 was paid for raising bridge across Pentwater River.
Charles McClave was elected superintendent of the poor. Treasurer's receipts for the year, $26,008.52; disbursements $21,699.29; balance on hand, $4,809.28.
The resident and non-resident fishermen of Oceana had long been at war, and a committee to whom the matter had been referred, reported that they had been unable to restrain the non-residents, and had been subjected to repeated insults; that the prosecuting attorney was of opinion that any suits brought should be civil suits, brought by residents, who were unable to pay the charge of maintaining such suits; that the foreigners had encroached nearly the whole length of the lake shore in the county, and that our fishermen would be forced to seek other employment; that the committee had been twice, the last Summer, to Grand Haven, to try to enlist sympathy with the tug-boat fishermen with our resident fishermen, but to no avail; and finally, they recommended that no suits be brought in the matter, as it would involve a great expense without any certainty of benefit therefrom.
Proceedings were ordered to be published, at one-fourth legal rates, in the Journal and the Argus, of Hart, the Pentwater News, and the Hesperian, of Hesperia.
A vote of thanks was tendered to L. G. Rutherford, for services in looking up the indebtedness of the state to the county, and the board "unreservedly expressed their confidence in him as a man of honor and a gentleman." This was carried unanimously.
At the same appears a vote of thanks to the deputy clerk, A. S. White, and an expression of sympathy with the clerk, E. D. Richmond, who had been called away by the sickness of his father.
1879.
A resolution was introduced by Mr. Barnes to have the board of health remove "a certain weed, planted for ornament," in Shelby cemetery, which resolution was adopted.
A resolution asking our state senator and representative to aid in abolishing the dog tax, was adopted.
It appears from a resolution of the board, that the revenues of the county were falling off, to the extent of one-quarter to one-half of what they were formerly, and as the burden fell on the producers, it was moved to reduce the salary of county officers by 25 per cent, and the per diem allowance of the supervisors from $3 to $2. A motion to table the resolution was carried by fifteen to two.
L. G. Rutherford offered, for $90, to take the judgment of Oceana vs. Pentwater, for revision.
In October, the list of supervisors was: For Pentwater, A. Brillhart; Golden, C. B. Ganing; Benona, Joseph H. Sammons; Claybanks, M. Baker; Grant, M. H. Sweet; Shelby, G. W. Woodward; Weare, E. T. Mugford; Crystal, N. C. Smith; Elbridge, T. G. Houk; Ferry, Daniel Landon; Otto, O. F. Fogg; Greenwood, Charles Camp; Newfield, H. C. Hawley; Leavitt, W. F. Palmiter; Colfax, Lafayette Walker. Martin Baker, chairman.
Charles Camp, the appointed supervisor of Greenwood, made a statement in regard to the death of Isaac H. Cogswell, the former supervisor of that town, elected in April, 1879, and presented an affidavit of susan Cogswell, his wife, as to the destruction by fire of the tax roll of said township, and also presented to the board the copy of the assessment, or tax roll, as prepared by the highway commissioners, for the several road districts. G. W. Woodward and H. C. Hawley were appointed to act as a committee, with the prosecuting attorney, to ascertain all the facts in the case. The committee reported the roll lost.
Fifty tax payers of Otto, Ferry, Newfield and Greenwood petition that Seth C. Colgson be paid $50 for arresting the cattle theives, Barber and Fairfield; $25 was allowed on this ground.
C. Camp's affidavit appears upon the minutes, that the rolls of Greenwood had been consumed on June 29, 1879; also, the affidavit of H. C. Hawley, to the effect that he arrived at the fire of Cogswell's house before it was consumed, and that he saw the remains of a human being, supposed to be Cogswell's, that he was informed by those who had arrived earlier that nothing had been saved, except a pocketbook of Mrs. Cogswell, which Cogswell threw out of the burning building."
the committee to prepare a new roll for Greenwood reported that they had finished their labors. The treasurer's statement shows $17,994.18 received, and $17,495.56 paid out; balance, $498.62. the committee on equalization reported $1,652,823 as the equalized value of the county. The amount necessary for state tax $4,575.78; county tax, $1,800; contingencies, $6,948.35; county relief fund, $2,000. Total $15,319.13, for which a tax of 6 1/2 mills on the dollar was necessary.
D. Johnson was then elected superintendent of the poor, for three years. The salaries were: Treasurer, $900; clerk, $250; prosecuting attorney, $400; probate judge, $600; sheriff, $150.
1880.
There was no meeting, this year, until the "regular," in October. George W. Woodward was elected chairman. Treasurer's receipts for the year, $20,445.16; disbursements, $15,218.41. The committee on equalization reported the valuation of the county to be $1,685,498.
About this time there was a contest between I. M. Weston and George Green, of Whitehall, as to putting two dams on the north branch of the White River. Messrs. Nelson & Rutherford were counsel for the opposition, and Delano & Gurney for the petitioners. A motion was carried that the stream was not navigable, and therefore not under their jurisdiction.
Salaries for the ensuing year: Treasurer, $800; clerk, $250; prosecuting attorney, $500; sheriff, $200.
An investigation having been demanded by the superintendent of the poor, David Johnson, a committee was appointed which exonerated him from blame in the matter of purchasing supplies for the poor. His resignation was not accepted.
The state tax this year was $3,193.77; county tax, $8.499.89.
1881.
In January a special sesion was held.
The treasurer's balance on hand on January 1, 1881, was $4,398.87.
Another meeting was held in June, at which the following new supervisors appeared: D. W. Crosby for Elbridge, W. H. Barry for Shelby, B. F. Hermance for Greenwood, J. D. Lindsay for Claybanks, and G. A. Wager for Golden. After a long series of ballots, on the sixteenth trial H. C. Hawley received nine votes to E. T. Mugford's seven, and was elected chairman. The following resolution was adopted: That the prosecuting attornye, sheriff and county clerk are authorized to spend what money they deem necessary in search for the body of Alonzo Irons, who disappeared on Friday, June 8, 1881. This mystery has never been cleared up.
W. J. Sprigg was elected superintendent of the poor, vise D. Johnson, resigned. N. C. Smith was elected representative at state board of equalization. It was resolved to publish the proceedings of the board in the Hart Argus, Oceana Journal, Pentwater News and Shelby Independent at one-fourth of legal rates. A motion to give $200 extra to the treasurer for extra labor was carried, as also to give $100 extra to the prosecuting attorney. The receipts of the treasurer for the past year were $19,064.80; disbursements, $15,612.58.
The superintendent of the poor reported that on September 30, 1880, there were eleven inmates at the poor-house, and thirteen had been received during the year, and six children had been bound out and one adopted. They recommended for the farm $1,800 and $1,000 for building, and $1,500 for outside relief. charles McClave was elected superintendent of the poor for three years.
A motion to allow N. Nelson $59.40 for the arrest of one Kelly, was lost, but another motion to allow $24.40 for the same was carried. An order on the supervisor of Hart to spread $1,801.71 upon his assessment roll was passed, $83.30 for diptheria cases in Greenwood was granted.
The committee recommended that a tax of five mills on the dollar be levied to raise a state tax of $4,232.35, and a county tax of $8,877.97.
The supervisor of Hart was authorized to spread upon his roll $393.39 for an iron bridge across the stream between H. Coll's and T. S. Gurney's.
On October 18 there appears a lengthy declaration of Mr. Mugford, supervisor of Hart, upon the Peach defalcation, in which he claims that the town of Hart is prepared to act honorably in the matter; that the obligation, if any, is a legal one, and they only to know that it exists. The town has been informed by its legal advisors that no liability existed. He reminds the board that in the two previous suits the advisors of the town have proved correct. He asks for a new committee to consult new counsel. The request for a committee was refused by thirteen to one. C. A. Sessions, N. C. Smith and W. H. Barry were appointed a committee to attend to the suit against Hart.
1882.
The next meeting was a special one in March, and the first thing done was to appoint a committee, consisting of Messrs. Smith, Barry and Bogue, to establish and perpetuate section corners throughout the county. They report that many section corners were lost or i danger of being lost. Townships were authorized to spend not to exceed $250 in restoring corners. An addition 20x40 in the rear of the courthouse was ordered. Messrs. Smith, of Weare, and Crosby, of Elbridge, were appointed a committee to superintend this addition.
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