A History of Van Buren County, Michigan: A Narrative Account of Its Historical Progress, Its., Part 20

Author: Rowland, O. W. (Oran W.), 1839-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 671


USA > Michigan > Van Buren County > A History of Van Buren County, Michigan: A Narrative Account of Its Historical Progress, Its. > Part 20


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63


The constitution of 1850 made the circuit judges elective and provided that for a term of six years, and thereafter until the legislature should otherwise provide, the judges of the circuit courts should constitute the supreme court of the state. In 1857 the legislature enacted a statute creating a supreme court, to con- sist of one chief justice and three associate justices, entirely sep- arate and distinct from the circuit court, the office of justice of such court being made elective. This system still continues, ex- cept that the number of justices has been increased to eight, the one whose term of office soonest expires always filling the position of chief justice.


The circuit courts, as at first constituted consisted of the pre- siding supreme court justice and two associate judges by the voters of each county, but who were more ornamental than useful, for the decisions of the presiding judge were invariably coincided in by his associates on the bench.


The revised statutes of 1846 contain the following provisions : "The several circuit courts of this state shall be courts of chancery within and for their respective counties, the powers of which shall be exercised by the circuit judges thereof."


"The court of chancery as now established by law is hereby abolished."


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COUNTY COURTS


Prior to the adoption of the constitution of 1850, there was also a county court in each county, which was a court of record with limited jurisdiction, being an intermediate court between the jus- tice courts and the circuit courts, but that constitution provided that "The judicial power is vested in one supreme court, in cir- cuit courts, in probate courts and justices of the peace. Municipal courts of civil and criminal jurisdiction may be established by the legislature in cities," and such has continued to be the judicial system of the state. The date when the constitutional provisions concerning the changes made in the judicial system should go into effect was fixed in the schedule of the then new constitution as Jan- uary 1, 1852.


The bar of Van Buren county has always been composed of men who were an honor to their profession and seldom, indeed, has there been any just cause for criticism, either as to ability, probity, or faithfulness to the ethics of the profession.


The men who have sat upon the judicial bench of the county have been men who were learned in the law and who have been an honor to themselves and a credit to their constituents.


FIRST CIRCUIT JUDGE


The first judge to hold a circuit court in Van Buren county was Hon. Epaphroditus Ransom, who was subsequently governor of Michigan, having been elected to that office at the general election in 1848. The first entry made upon the journal of the court was made on the 6th day of June, 1837, and reads as follows :


"State of Michigan, Van Buren County, ss .: Be it remembered that at a session of the circuit court of the state of Michigan, within and for the county of Van Buren, begun and held pursuant to law at the court in La Fay- ette in said county on the first Monday (being the sixth day) of June, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven; present Hon. Epaphroditus Ransom, Cir. Judge, Wolcott H. Keeler and Jay R. Monroe, Esqrs, associate judges.


"The grand jury being called, the following persons appeared and answered to their names, to-wit: Peter Gremps, Jeremiah H. Simmons, Joseph Woodman, Rodney Hinckley, Joshua Bangs, Edwin Barnum, John Reynolds, John D. Free- man, George S. Reynolds, Dexter Gibbs, Joseph Luce, Asa G. Hinckley and Enoch L. Barrett.


"Peter Gremps was appointed by the court as foreman of this grand jury and authorized to issue subpoenas for and to administer oaths to witnesses. The grand jurors having been sworn and having received the charge of the court, retired to consider the business before them.


"The grand jury having been a short time absent, came into court and in- formed the court that they had no business before them and knew of none for


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their consideration; whereupon they were discharged from further attendance at this term of court.


"Rule-Ordered by the court that in all cases now pending in this court and not at issue, declaration shall be filed within forty days from the present term and pleas within forty days from the time limited for filing declaration, and all causes appealed from the judgment of justices of the peace shall be deemed at issue at the first term after the appeal so taken, unless otherwise ordered by the court in particular cases.


"There appearing to be no further business, the court then and there ad- journed without day.


"Read, corrected and signed in open court this sixth day of June, 1837. "EPAPHRO. RANSOM, "Presiding Judge."


Judge Ransom's signature being rather unusually long, it was his custom to abbreviate his Christian name to "Epaphro."


The files and records of the court, prior to 1844, are so imperfect and incomplete that it is impossible to ascertain the titles of the first suits that were begun, either law, criminal or chancery.


The first civil case tried in the circuit court was at the Decem- ber term, 1837, and was an appeal from the justice's court (Robert Nesbitt, plaintiff, and George S. Reynolds, defendant), in which the jury rendered a judgment of sixteen dollars and forty-two cents with costs, to be taxed in favor of the plaintiff.


The first criminal case tried was that of the People vs. Nathan Mears, at the same term of court, the respondent being charged with assault and battery. The jury in this case returned a verdiet of "not guilty."


Judge Ransom continued to preside over the circuit court of the county for the first ten years of its existence, his last term be- ing held in April, 1847.


SUCCESSORS OF JUDGE RANSOM


The next term of the circuit court for the county was held in March, 1848, and was presided over by Hon. Sanford M. Green, as- sociate justice of the supreme court of the state. Judge Green is best remembered by the legal profession as the author of "Green's Practice," a work that was of great value in its day to both bench and bar, and which has recently been revised and brought down to date.


Three terms of the court were held during the years 1849 and 1850, at which Judge Charles W. Whipple, circuit judge and as- sociate justice of the supreme court presided. Judge Whipple was the first speaker of the house of representatives of the state after it was admitted into the Union. Very little legal business was transacted, either by Judge Green or Judge Whipple.


In-so-far as the journal shows, there was no session of the circuit


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court during the year 1851, the next entry after the close of Judge Whipple's record, October 3, 1850, being on the second day of March, 1852, when Judge Abner Pratt, another associate justice of the supreme court, began his administration as judge in the Van Buren circuit and continued to officiate in that capacity for the succeeding five years.


Judge Pratt was succeeded on the circuit bench of the county by Judge Benjamin F. Graves, who was elected to office of circuit judge by the electors of the fifth judicial circuit, to which Van Buren was at that date attached. Judge Graves' bold signature, characteristic of the man, adorned the records of the court for the next nine years, he being re-elected in the spring of 1863 for another six years but resigned before the expiration of his term of office. Judge Graves was a man of much more than ordinary ability and the people of the state, recognizing that fact, promoted him to the supreme bench in the spring of 1867, where he became known to fame and to the legal profession throughout the entire country as one of the "big four" of the Michigan supreme court, which was composed of Justices Graves, Cooley, Christiancy and Campbell. Judge Graves was succeeded on the circuit bench by Judge George Woodruff, who was elected at a special election held July 14, 1866, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Judge Graves.


The county of Allegan had been in the fifth circuit with Van Buren and other counties, but the reorganization of the circuits of the state in 1851 placed that county in the ninth circuit, while Van Buren remained in the fifth. In 1867 the ninth circuit was made to consist of the counties of Allegan, Kalamazoo and Van Buren.


JUDGE FLAVIUS J. LITTLEJOHN


By this legislative action Van Buren ceased to be a part of the circuit presided over by Judge Woodruff and came under the jurisdiction of Judge Flavius J. Littlejohn of Allegan county. Judge Littlejohn was the presiding judge of the Van Buren cir- cuit court until 1869. He was a gentleman of the old school, the very personification of dignity when on the bench, genial and companionable when off duty.


It was the good fortune of the writer to serve under this fine old gentleman, learned lawyer and upright judge during a por- tion of his term of office as clerk of the court, and he can see him even now as he ascended the bench and took his seat on the wool- sack at the opening of the court in the morning and hear him say, with all due solemnity, as soon as proclamation of the opening of court had been made "Mr. Clerk, read the journal." Being at


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that time a young man entirely without knowledge or experience in court proceedings or other legal affairs, it was with great dif- fidence that the duties of clerk of the court were assumed by him, and he feels that right here he should acknowledge the great kind- ness and courtesy with which "His Honor" bore with his inex- perience, instructed him in the modus operandi of conducting the proceedings of a court of justice and initiated him into the mys- teries of the law, laying for him the foundations of a profession which he has followed with more or less assiduity for over forty years. No more upright, honorable man than Judge Flavius J. Littlejohn ever graced the judicial bench of Michigan.


Judge Littlejohn was succeeded by Judge Charles R. Brown, who was elected at the April election in 1869 and who presided over the Van Buren circuit until the summer of 1874, when he re- signed the office and was succeeded by Judge Darius E. Comstock, who was appointed by Governor John J. Bagley to fill the unex- pired term of Judge Brown. There was another vacancy in this office before the expiration of the term caused by the death of Judge Comstock who died on the third day of February, 1875, but a few months after his appointment. Judge Comstock was the first Van Buren county man to occupy the circuit bench. He was succeeded by Judge Josiah L. Hawes, who was elected at the April election of 1875.


Two years prior to this election, Allegan had been taken from the ninth judicial circuit and placed with Ottawa county, form- ing a new circuit and leaving the ninth composed of Kalamazoo and Van Buren. Both these counties were strongly Republican, but owing to a difficulty between the two counties as to which should furnish the Republican candidates, two Republicans were nominated-Judge Geo. W. Lawton of Van Buren, and Hon. Dwight May of Kalamazoo. This so divided the Republican strength that Hon. Josiah L. Hawes of Kalamazoo, the Demo- cratic candidate, won an easy victory. However, the people lost nothing by this, as Judge Hawes was a competent, able and up- right judge. He served his full term of six years and was suc- ceeded by Hon. Alfred J. Mills of Paw Paw, the second Van Buren county man to be honored by a seat on the judicial bench of the circuit court.


Judge Mills was elected in the spring of 1881 by the closest vote ever cast in the circuit and it was not until the official count from every voting precinct had been received that the result was known. The manner in which he discharged the duties of his important office fully justified the choice of the voters, as he was one of the most efficient judges that ever served the county.


Hon. George M. Buck, of Kalamazoo, was elected in the spring


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of 1887 as the successor of Judge Mills. The people of the cir- cuit showed their appreciation of the manner in which he ad- ministered his office, reelecting him to a second six-year term in the spring of 1893.


THIRTY-SIXTH CIRCUIT CREATED


Judge Buck served the people of Van Buren county for a little more than five years of his second term, when a new judicial cir- cuit was formed by detaching the county from the ninth circuit and uniting it with Cass county, thus forming a new circuit, the thirty-sixth, which is still unchanged. There being no judge resident within the boundaries of either county of the new cir- cuit, Hon. Hazen S. Pingree, then governor of Michigan, appointed Hon. Harsen D. Smith of Cassopolis, to the judgeship until such time as the position should be filled by election.


At the first election held in the new circuit on the first Monday of April, 1899, the rival candidates for the office were Hon. Ben- jamin F. Heckert of Van Buren county and Hon. John R. Carr of Cass, the former being a Republican and the latter a member of the Democratic party. Judge Carr was chosen, served for the full term of six years and was a prominent candidate for another term, his opponent being Hon. L. Burget Des Voignes, of Cass county, who was elected to the office at the April election of 1905 and is now serving the last year of the term. That the people are well satisfied with his administration of justice is evinced by the fact that at the April election of 1911 he was chosen for a second term by a nearly unanimous vote, his only opponent being the candidate of the Socialists.


No county in the state, perhaps, has been represented on the ju- dicial bench by a more able, upright and learned judiciary than has our own Van Buren. Those who still survive are Judges Mills, Buck, Carr and Des Voignes.


PROBATE JUDGES


The several probate judges of Van Buren county have been as follows :


Jeremiah Simmons, two terms, 1837 to 1844.


Frederick Lord, one term, 1844 1848.


Elisha Durkee, two terms, 1848 " 1856.


Augustus W. Nash, two terms, 1856 " 1864.


Chandler Richards, one term, 1864 1868.


George W. Lawton, two terms, 1868 ' 1876.


Alfred J. Mills, one term, 1876 1880.


Orrin N. Hilton, two terms, 1880 " 1888.


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Benj. F. Heckert, two terms, 1888 " 1896. James H. Johnson, two terms, 1896 " 1904. David Anderson, two terms, 1904 " . -.


Judge Anderson is still serving on his second term which will expire on the 31st day of December, 1912. Judges Mills, Hilton, Johnson and Anderson, are the only ones living.


VAN BUREN COUNTY BAR


The bar of the county, for the first twenty years after the ad- mission of the state and prior to 1860, consisted of the following named gentlemen, as nearly as can now be ascertained from the records of the court, which, for those earlier years, is somewhat in- complete : John R. Baker, A. W. Broughton, S. H. Blackman, Na- than H. Bitely, Hiram Cole, Elisha Durkee, S. N. Gantt, J. W. Huston, Frederick Lord, Joseph Miller, Chandler Richards, T. H. Stephenson, J. B. Upton, William N. Pardee. None of these gen- tlemen is now living.


Since 1860, the following named attorneys have been members of the bar of the county. Those marked by a star are still mem- bers and those marked (d) are deceased.


E. R. Annable (d)


David Anderson*


B. F. Chase* Thos. Dorgan


Horace H. Adams*


Andrew Donovan


Isaac E. Barnum (d)


David Dillon


W. Scott Beebe


Cenius H. Engle*


Wm. C. Buchanan


G. M. Eggleston


Geo. E. Breck (d)


Newton Foster (d)


John I. Breck


Oscar Field (d)


Wm. J. Barnard*


Chas. L. Fitch


W. G. Bessey


A. Lynn Free*


Earl L. Burhans*


D. F. Glidden


C. W. Benton*


Oliver A. Goss (d)


D. E. Comstock (d)


Ashbel H. Herron (d)


Edgar A. Crane (d)


T. E. Hendrick (d) Orrin N. Hilton


Calvin Cross (d) Jerome Coleman (d) F. C. Cogshall* J. E. Chandler* Hiram T. Cook* A. H. Chandler*


Harry M. Huff (d)


Benj. F. Heckert (d)


Austin Herrick


Wm. N. Cook (d)


W. W. Holmes*


T. J. Cavanaugh*


Jas. H. Johnson*


R. M. Chase


Albert Jackson


B. H. Cockett


John Knowles


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Samuel Holmes (d) Chas. A. Harrison


HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY 167


Geo. W. Lawton (d)


Chas. Shier


Geo. L. Linder


John J. Sherman


O. C. Lathrop


J. C. Spencer (d)


H. M. Lillie


F. W. Smith


Suaby Lawton


Arthur Stevens


L. J. Lewis*


Jos. L. Sturr*


Eugene W. Lawton


Wm. H. Tucker (d)


Melancthon Millard


Lincoln H. Titus.


Wm. H. Mason*


Lester A. Tabor (d)


Arthur L. Moulton*


W. P. Traphagen


W. S. Mckinney


Albert H. Tuttle*


Geo. W. Merriman*


W. E. Thresher


Harry L. McNeil*


A. P. Thomas (d)


Chas. J. Monroe*


C. M. Van Riper*


S. B. Monroe*


Guy J. Wicksall (d)


Alfred J. Mills


J. J. Wilder


J. G. Parkhurst (d)


Thos. O. Ward (d)


L. Myrl Phelps*


F. E. Withey


Oran W. Rowland*


Glenn E. Warner*


The foregoing list presents an array of legal talent that would compare favorably with any county in the state.


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CHAPTER VIII


POLITICS OF THE COUNTY


GENERAL ELECTIONS-THE PARTIES IN THE COUNTY-COUNTY OFFICERS-MEMBERS OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE-CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS-OTHER IMPORTANT OFFICIALS FROM VAN BUREN COUNTY-CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS- PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS-VAN BUREN COUNTY AND THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.


In the earlier years of the history of Van Buren county, and prior to the organization of the Republican party in 1854, under the historic oaks in the city of Jackson, Michigan, the political parties, Democratic and Whig, were rather evenly divided, the Democrats being slightly in the lead and gaining on their oppo- nents as the population of the county increased. Since that event the county has invariably cast its vote in favor of the Republican candidates. So strongly intrenched has been that party that, with only two exceptions, no county official has been chosen from any other organization, and it long ago passed into an axiom that a nomination on the Republican ticket in Van Buren county was equivalent to an election.


GENERAL ELECTIONS


It will, perhaps, be a matter of interest to note the total vote cast at each general election, a fair indication of the growth of the county.


1837


90


1847


868


1838


256


1848


979


1839


320


1849


897


1840


433


1850


954


1841


402


1851


716


1842


438


1852


1476


1843


454


1854


1542


1844


669


1856


2776


1845


569


1858


2744


1846


814


1860


3478


168


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169


1862


3151


1886


7170


1864


3640


1888


8247


1866


3880


1890


6245


1868


5930


1892


7045


1870


4501


1894


5859


1872


5654


1896


8724


1874


4832


1898


7067


1876


7155


1900


8443


1878


6253


1902


6241


1880


7287


1904


7246


1882


6627


1906


4519


1884


7609


1908


7228


1910


4626


THE PARTIES IN THE COUNTY


Prior to the adoption of the constitution of 1850, there was an annual general election held in November; subsequently the elec- tions were biennial. The principal partisan political contests in the county since 1854 have been between the Republicans and the Democrats, with the former constantly in the ascendency, but it has not always been a majority party. At two general elections, 1878 and 1890, the candidates of the Republicans had only a plur- ality of the votes cast, not a majority. This was occasioned by the great political upheaval over the whole country over the currency question, greenbackism and free silver. In 1876 and 1878 the Greenback party was at its zenith and in the latter year actually became the second party in the county in point of numbers, polling double the number of votes that were cast for the Democratic can- didates.


In 1890 the Republican party again cast only a minority of the entire vote, its candidates being elected, but only by a plurality. A new organization, under the name of the Industrial party, appeared on the scene of action and polled nearly a thousand votes in the county.


The Prohibition party made its appearance as a political factor in 1882, polling about a hundred votes. In 1890 this party cast 542 votes, since which date its vote has been gradually decreasing until at the last general election, in 1910, it was less than one hun- dred.


The Democratic People's Union Silver party as a successor of the Greenback party, became an important factor in the politics of the county, and in 1896 polled 3,976 presidential votes, reducing the regular Democratic vote to less than 100, and practically supplant-


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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY


ing that party for the time being, but the course of events has again narrowed the contest to a fight between the former political foes, Republicans and Democrats, although there have been a number of other political organizations seeking the support and the votes of the people. Besides the parties already mentioned there are now, or have heretofore been, the Socialist party, Peoples' party, Na- tional party, Social Democrat party, Independent party and the So- cial Labor party, but none of these has, as yet, attained sufficient prominence to exercise any appreciable influence on the political situation in Van Buren county.


PRESIDENTIAL VOTE IN THE COUNTY


1840-Harrison, Whig, 182; Van Buren, Democrat, 251.


1844-Clay, Whig, 275; Polk, Democrat, 350.


1848-Taylor, Whig, 353; Cass, Democrat, 508.


1852-Scott, Whig, 683; Pierce, Democrat, 771.


1856-Fremont, Republican, 1710; Buchanan, Democrat, 1031. 1860-Lincoln, Republican, 2175; Douglas, Democrat, 1274; Bell Const. Union, 26.


1864-Lincoln, Republican, 1985; MeClellan, Democrat, 1400 (a).


1868-Grant, Republican, 3662; Seymour, Democrat, 2256 (b).


1872-Grant, Republican, 3549; Greeley, Liberal Democrat, 1805; O'Connor, straight Democrat, 162.


1876-Hayes, Republican, 4046; Tilden, Democrat, 2599 ; Cooper, G. B., 509; Smith, Prohibition, 2.


1880-Garfield, Republican, 4131; Hancock, Democrat, 2004; Weaver, Greenback, 1062; Dow, Prohibition, 10.


1884-Blaine, Republican, 4219; Cleveland, Democrat, 2933; But- ler, Greenback, 845; St. John, Prohibition, 361.


1888-Harrison, Republican, 4783; Cleveland, Democrat, 2986; Streeter, Union Labor, 13; Fisk, Prohibition, 458.


1892-Harrison, Republican, 3788; Cleveland, Democrat, 2182; Weaver, People's, 635; Bidwell, Prohibition, 403.


1896-Mckinley, Republican, 4510; Bryan, Silver Democrat, 3982; Palmer, Gold Democrat, 93; Bentley, National, 24; Levering, Prohibition, 73.


1900-Mckinley, Republican, 4892; Bryan, Democrat, 3235; Debs, Social Democrat, 21; Wooley, Prohibition, 151; Maloney, Social Labor, 30; Barker, People's, 2.


(a) Exclusive of Soldiers' vote in the field.


(b) The vote of Van Buren county for this year, 1868, was not included in the official canvass of the state for the reason that it was not returned to the state canvassing board within the time required by law.


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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY


1904-Roosevelt, Republican, 5254; Parker, Democrat, 1634; Debs, Socialist, 71; Swallow, Prohibition, 217; Watson, People's Party, 45; Corrigan, Social Labor, 9.


1908-Taft, Republican, 4531; Bryan, Democrat, 2313; Debs, Socialist, 124; Chafin, Prohibition, 193; Gilhaus, Social Labor, 13; Hisgen, Independent, 36.


COUNTY OFFICERS


Following is a list of the principal county officials chosen by the electors of the county since its organization.


Associate judges of the Circuit Court: 1837, Wolcott H. Keeler and Jay R. Monroe; 1840, Evert B. Dyckman and John R. Haynes; 1842, Henry Coleman; 1844, Wolcott H. Keeler and Daniel Van Antwerp.


County Judges : 1846, Aaron W. Broughton, first judge, John R. Haynes, second judge; 1847, Frederick Lord, second judge; 1850, Jason A. Sheldon, first judge, and Lyman G. Hill, second judge.


County Commissioners-Under the territorial laws of Michigan a board of three county commissioners was appointed by the gover- nor of the territory whose duty it was to have charge of the finan- cial concerns of their respective counties. This system was con- tinued after the admission of Michigan as a state until the duties of such board were conferred upon the board of supervisors and the office of county commissioner was abolished by statute. After the state was admitted this office became elective instead of ap- pointive, and the following named persons were chosen as commis- sioners by the electors of the county: 1838, Wolcott H. Keeler, Peter Gremps and Morgan L. Fitch; 1839, Jay R. Monroe; 1840, Andrew Longstreet ; 1841. Lyman G. Hill.


Probate judges : 1837, Jeremiah H. Simmons; 1840, Jeremiah H. Simmons ; 1844, Frederick Lord; 1848, Elisha Durkee; 1852, Elisha Durkee; 1856, Augustus W. Nash ; 1860, Augustus W. Nash; 1864, Chandler Richards; 1868, George W. Lawton; 1872, George W. Lawton ; 1876, Alfred J. Mills; 1880, Orrin N. Hilton; 1884, Orrin N. Hilton; 1888, Benjamin F. Heckert; 1892, Benjamin F. Heck- ert; 1896, James H. Johnson; 1900, James H. Johnson; 1904 and 1908, David Anderson. Of the before named probate judges Messrs. Mills, Hilton, Johnson and Anderson are living.


Sheriffs: 1837, Samuel Gunton, resigned; 1837, Andrew Long- street (to fill vacancy ) ; 1838, Andrew Longstreet; 1840, John Mc- Kinney ; 1842, William Hill; 1844, John Smolk, Jr .; 1846, William Hill; 1848, Henry C. Clapp; 1850, William Hill; 1852, Henry C. Clapp; 1854, William Hill; 1856, Noble D. Richardson; 1858, John H. Stoddard; 1860, Calvin Durkee; 1862, Calvin Durkee; 1864, Noble D. Richardson; 1866, Edwin R. Farmer; 1868, William R.




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