USA > Michigan > Van Buren County > A History of Van Buren County, Michigan: A Narrative Account of Its Historical Progress, Its. > Part 21
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Sirrine; 1870, William R. Sirrine; 1872, John E. Showerman ; 1874, John E. Showerman; 1876, Nathan Thomas; 1878, Nathan Thomas; 1880, Aaron Van Auken; 1882, Aaron Van Auken; 1884, John G. Todd; 1886, John G. Todd; 1888, Hulett P. McFarlin; 1890, Na- than Thomas; 1892, Nathan Thomas; 1894, Charles A. Lamberson ; 1896, Charles A. Lamberson; 1898, Wesley J. Thomas; 1900, Wes- ley J. Thomas; 1902, John H. Britton; 1904, John H. Britton; 1906, Charles C. Chappell; 1908, Charles C. Chappell, and 1910, Byron L. Sowle, the present incumbent. Of the before named gen- tlemen Messrs. Sirrine, Nathan Thomas, Van Auken, Todd, Lam- berson, Wesley J. Thomas, Britton, Chappell and Sowle are living.
County clerks : 1837, Nathan B. Starkweather; 1838, Edward Shultz; 1840, Jeremiah H. Simmons; 1842, Joseph Gilman; 1844, James B. Crane; 1846, Lyman Fitch ; 1848, S. Tallmadge Conway ; 1850, S. Tallmadge Conway; 1852, Franklin M. Manning; 1854, Stillman F. Breed; 1856, Stillman F. Breed; 1858, S. Tallmadge Conway; 1860, Martin Ruggles; 1862, Martin Ruggles, resigned ; 1864, Ashbel H. Herron, to fill vacancy ; 1864, Ashbel H. Herron; 1866, Ashbel H. Herron; 1868, Oran W. Rowland; 1870, Oran W. Rowland; 1872, Samuel Holmes; 1874, Samuel Holmes; 1876, Henry S. Williams; 1878, Henry S. Williams; 1880, Charles E. Heath ; 1882, Charles E. Heath; 1884, George W. Myers; 1886, George W. Myers; 1888, A. Throop Anderson ; 1890, A. Throop An- derson ; 1892, Harley E. Squier; 1894, Harley E. Squier; 1896, Jo- seph S. Buck; 1898, Joseph S. Buck; 1900, Frank N. Wakeman; 1902, Frank N. Wakeman; 1904, William C. Mosier ; 1906, William C. Mosier ; 1908, William C. Mosier ; 1910, Harry A. Cross, the pres- ent incumbent. Of the aforesaid county clerks, Messrs. Rowland, Myers, Anderson, Squier, Buck, Wakeman, Mosier and Cross, at this date are living.
Registers of deeds : 1837, Jeremiah H. Simmons; 1838, Jeremiah H. Simmons; 1840, Fitz H. Stevens; 1842, Fitz H. Stevens; 1844, Emory O. Briggs; 1846, Elisha C. Cox; 1847, John Smolk, Jr., va- cancy ; 1848, Joseph Cox, Jr .; 1850, William H. Hurlbut; 1852, Eu- sebius Mather ; 1854, Edwin A. Thompson; 1856, Samuel H. Black- man ; 1858, Thomas B. Irwin ; 1860, Thomas B. Irwin ; 1862, Steph- en W. Duncombe; 1864, Stephen W. Duncombe; 1866, E. Parker Hill; 1868, Don C. Rogers; 1870, Milan U. Richardson; 1872, Kirk W. Noyes; 1874, Kirk W. Noyes; 1876, Samuel Ellis; 1878, Samuel Ellis ; 1880, Samuel Ellis; 1882, Samuel P. Wilson; 1884, Samuel P. Wilson ; 1886, Joel D. Monroe; 1888, Joel D. Monroe ; 1890, Thomas C. Tyner; 1892, Thomas C. Tyner ; 1894, Thomas M. Harvey ; 1896, Thomas M. Harvey ; 1898, John F. Taylor; 1900, John F. Taylor ; 1902, Milton L. Decker ; 1904, Milton L. Decker ; 1906, John Mutch- ler; 1908, John Mutchler; 1910, Henry E. Shaefer, the present in-
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cumbent. Of the above named gentlemen Messrs. Noyes, Tyner, Decker, Mutchler and Shaefer are in the land of the living.
County treasurers : 1837, Daniel O. Dodge; 1838, Joshua Bangs; 1840, Frederick Lord; 1842, John McKinney; 1844, John McKin- ney ; 1846, Theodore E. Phelps; 1848, Emory O. Briggs; 1850, Em- ory O. Briggs ; 1852, Emory O. Briggs ; 1854, Alexander H. Phelps; 1856, John M. Ridlon ; 1858, John M. Ridlon; 1860, Aaron S. Dyck- man; 1862, Aaron S. Dyckman; 1864, Samuel H. Blackman; 1866, Edwin Barnum; 1868, Edwin Barnum ; 1870, Edwin Barnum ; 1872, Stephen W. Duncombe; 1874, Stephen W. Duncombe; 1876, Han- nibal M. Marshall, resigned; 1878, Stephen W. Duncombe; 1880, Samuel H. Blackman; 1882, John C. McLain; 1884, John C. Mc- Lain; 1886, Charles H. Butler; 1888, Charles H. Butler; 1890, Hi- ram K. Wells; 1892, Hiram K. Wells; 1894, Gilbert Mitchell; 1896, Gilbert Mitchell; 1898, John Marshall ; 1900, John Marshall; 1902, Daniel M. Allen; 1904, Daniel M. Allen; 1906, Frank H. Fuller ; 1908, Frank H. Fuller; 1910, Warner M. Stoughton, the present incumbent. Of the above named gentlemen the following are yet living : Ridlon (aged 93 years), H. M. Marshall, McLain, John Mar- shall, Allen, Fuller and Stoughton.
Prosecuting attorneys : * 1850, Frederick Lord; 1852, William N. Pardee; 1854, Frederick Lord; 1856, Nathan H. Bitely; 1858, Chandler Richards; 1860, Chandler Richards; 1862, Hiram Cole; 1864, Hiram Cole; 1866, John B. Upton; 1868, John B. Upton; 1870, John B. Upton ; 1872, Darius E. Comstock; 1874, Benjamin F. Heckert; 1876, Benjamin F. Heckert; 1878, Benjamin F. Heckert ; 1880, Oran W. Rowland; 1882, Alonzo H. Chandler; 1884, Alonzo H. Chandler ; 1886, Alonzo H. Chandler ; 1888, John I. Breck ; 1890, Oliver A. Goss (died in office) ; 1891, Edward R. Annable (ap- pointed to fill vacancy) ; 1892, Lincoln H. Titus; 1894, Lincoln H. Titus; 1896, James E. Chandler; 1898, James E. Chandler; 1900, David Anderson; 1902, David Anderson; 1904, Russell M. Chase ; 1906, Russell M. Chase; 1908, Glenn E. Warner; 1910, Glenn E. Warner, the present incumbent. Eight of the above named gentle- men are living-Messrs. Rowland, A. H. Chandler, Breck, Titus, J. E. Chandler, Anderson, Chase and Warner.
Circuit Court Commissioners : 1852, John R. Baker; 1854, Nathan H. Bitely ; 1856, Nathan H. Bitely; 1858, Samuel H. Blackman ; 1860, Hiram Cole; 1862, John B. Upton; 1864, Joseph W. Huston ; 1866, George W. Lawton; 1868, Ashbel H. Herron; 1870, William H. Tucker and John Knowles; 1872, Benjamin F. Heckert and John J. Sherman; 1874, Oran W. Rowland and John J. Sherman; 1876,
*This office did not become elective until the adoption of the constitution of 1850.
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Albert Jackson and James Manry; 1878, John Knowles and John J. Sherman; 1880, James H. Johnson and John J. Sherman; 1882, James H. Johnson and John J. Sherman; 1884, Arthur L. Moulton and Samuel Holmes; 1886, John I. Breck and Samuel Holmes ; 1888, Oran W. Rowland and John I. Beck; 1890, James E. Chandler and Lincoln H. Titus; 1892, James E. Chandler and Stephen B. Mon- roe; 1894, Oran W. Rowland and Stephen B. Monroe; 1896, Guy J. Wicksall and Oran W. Rowland; 1898, David Anderson and Guy J. Wicksall ; 1900, Oran W. Rowland and Russell M. Chase; 1902, Fred C. Cogshall and Oran W. Rowland; 1904, Fred C. Cogshall and Oran W. Rowland; 1906, Fred C. Cogshall and Oran W. Rowland; 1908, L. Myrl Phelps and Oran W. Rowland; 1910, L. Myrl Phelps and Oran W. Rowland, the present incumbents. Of the gentlemen who have filled this office Messrs. Knowles, Rowland, Johnson, Moul- ton, Breck, Chandler, Titus, Monroe, Anderson, Chase, Cogshall and Phelps are still living.
The revised Statutes of 1846 provided for the appointment of a circuit court commissioner in each organized county of the state, and in 1852, the office, by provision of law, became elective. Each circuit court commissioner is vested with judicial powers, not ex- ceeding the power of a circuit judge at chambers. No person but an attorney of the supreme court of the state is eligible to this of- fice. Since 1868 the county, by virtue of the statute, has been en- titled to two circuit court commissioners.
County Surveyors : 1835, Humphrey P. Barnum; 1838, John D. Compton; 1840, Eleazer Keeler; 1842, Alonzo Crane; 1844, Samuel H. Blackman; 1846, Samuel H. Blackman; 1848, Jeremiah H. Sim- mons; 1850, Jeremiah H. Simmons; 1852, Jeremiah H. Simmons; 1854, William H. Harrison; 1856, Samuel A. Tripp; 1858, Samuel A. Tripp; 1860, Orville S. Abbott; 1862, Peter J. Speicher; 1864, Charles J. Monroe; 1866, Charles D. Lawton; 1868, Almon J. Pierce; 1870, Almon J. Pierce; 1872, Augustus J. Teed; 1874, Al- mon J. Pierce; 1876, Almon J. Pierce; 1878, Almon J. Pierce ; 1880, Charles D. Lawton; 1882, Albert Fosdick; 1884, Albert Fos- dick; 1886, Albert Fosdick; 1888, Albert Fosdick; 1892, F. Percy Lawton; 1894, F. Percy Lawton; 1896, George Mutchler; 1898, George Mutchler; 1900, George Mutchler; 1902, Warren Goss ; 1904, Warren Goss; 1906, Warren Goss; 1908 and 1910, Whit- field V. Ackley, the present incumbent. There are living of the aforesaid gentlemen Messrs. Monroe, Pierce, F. Percy Lawton, Mutchler, Goss and Ackley. Fosdick was murdered and his slayer was never brought to justice.
County Commissioners of Schools: 1893, John A. O'Leary; 1895, John A. O'Leary; 1897, Wells G. Brown; 1899, Wells G.
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Brown; 1901, Elmer A. Aseltine; 1903, Elmer A. Aseltine; 1907 and 1911, Volney A. Hungerford, the present incumbent.
The office of school commissioner was made elective by statute in 1893. By legislative enactment in 1895, the term of this of- fice was extended to four years.
MEMBERS OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE
Representatives : Henry Coleman, Fernando C. Annable, John Andrews, Philotus Haydon, Josiah Andrews, John McKinney, Amos S. Brown, Morgan L. Fitch, Charles P. Sheldon, Joseph Gil- man, Elisha J. House, Fabius Miles, Jonathan J. Woodman (speaker), Buell M. Williams, William H. Hurlbut, Samuel H. Blackman, Alexander B. Copley, Emery H. Simpson, William Thomas, James E. Ferguson, E. Parker Hill, George G. B. Yeck- ley, Harvey H. Howard, Robert L. Warren, John S. Cross, Jona- than G. Parkhurst, Milan Wiggins, Charles S. Eaton, Edwin A. Wildey, Charles C. Phillips, C. Spencer Adams, Nathan F. Simp- son, Benjamin F. Heckert (died in office).
Senators: Philotus Hayden, John Mckinney, Fitz H. Stevens, Lyman A. Fitch, Samuel H. Blackman, Nathan H. Bitely, George Hannahs, David Anderson, Albert Thompson, William O. Packard, Henry Ford, Charles J. Monroe, George W. Merriman, Jason Wood- man and Milan Wiggins, the present incumbent.
The constitution of 1835 provided that the state should be di- vided into not less than four nor more than eight senatorial dis- tricts. In 1838, the legislature placed Van Buren county in the seventh senatorial district, together with the counties of St. Jo- seph, Berrien and Cass, and assigned two senators to the dis- trict. (Laws of Michigan, 1838, pp. 169-170.)
In 1841 a new apportionment was made, Van Buren being placed in the fifth district, along with the counties of St. Joseph, Cass, Berrien, Kalamazoo, Allegan, Barry, Ottawa, Oceana, Kent, Ionia and such other counties as were attached to the counties of Kent, Ionia and Ottawa, and three senators were assigned to the new district. (Laws of Michigan, 1841, p. 147.)
The constitution of 1850 provided that the state should be di- vided into thirty-two senatorial districts, one senator to be chosen from each district. The state was reapportioned in 1851, Van Buren and Allegan being constituted the twenty-ninth district. (Laws of Michigan, 1851, p. 304.)
The county remained districted with Allegan county until 1871 when it became a district by itself and so remained until 1881, when it was again districted with Allegan county where it has
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remained until the present time, the two counties forming the eighth senatorial district.
Prior to 1847 Van Buren and Cass counties constituted a single representative district, after which, and until 1864, the county alone constituted a district. From 1864 to 1892, two representa- tives were apportioned to the county and it was divided into two separate districts. In 1892, under a new legislative apportion- ment, it again became a single district, and so remains at the present time. Since the death of Representative Heckert the of- fice has remained vacant.
CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Prior to the abolishment of the board of county commissioners by the legislature of 1842 and the conferring of the duties of that board on the supervisors, there had been occasional and irregular meetings, but the only organization of such body was by select- ing one of their number to act as clerk for the time being. The statute of 1842 prescribed the dates at which the meetings of the board should be held and the manner of organization (which was by choosing one of their number as chairman of the board), and also provided that the county clerk should be clerk of the board and should perform his duties as such under its control and di- rection.
Following is a list of the several chairmen of the board and the townships they represented: 1842, Benjamin F. Chadwick, Lawrence; 1843, Philotus Haydon, Hamilton; 1844, Isaac S. Bor- den, Antwerp; 1845, John R. Pugsley, La Fayette; 1846, Joshua Bangs, Antwerp; 1847, John Mckinney, Porter; 1848, Henry Bar- num, Almena; 1849, Charles M. Morrill, Pine Grove; 1850, Fer- nando C. Annable, Almena; 1851, John McKinney, Porter; 1852, John Andrews, Lawrence; 1853, John Andrews, Lawrence; 1854, John Mckinney, Porter; 1855, Philotus Haydon, Hamilton; 1856, L. G. Hill, Keeler; 1857, Edwin Barnum, La Fayette; 1858, Edwin Barnum, La Fayette; 1859, Nelson Rowe, Lawrence; 1860, Nelson Rowe, Lawrence; 1861, Nelson Rowe, Lawrence; 1862, Nelson Rowe, Lawrence; 1863, Nelson Rowe, Lawrence; 1864, E. Parker Hill, Decatur; 1865, E. Parker Hill, Decatur; 1866, E. Parker Hill, Decatur; 1867, Silas Breed, Almena; 1868, Charles Dun- combe, Keeler; 1869, John B. Potter, Lawrence; 1870, Kirk W. Noyes, South Haven; 1871, Charles Duncombe, Keeler; 1872, George G. B. Yeckley, Hamilton; 1873, George G. B. Yeckley, Hamilton; 1874, Orsimus Williams, Porter; 1875, Prenett T. Streator, Waverly; 1876, Ransom Nutting, Decatur; 1877, Charles E. Heath, Bangor; 1878, Ransom Nutting, Decatur; 1879, Charles
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Rockwell, Lawrence; 1880, Amasa M. Brown, Columbia; 1881, Samuel P. Wilson, South Haven; 1882, Charles W. Young, Paw Paw; 1883, Warren F. French, Almena; 1884, Jefferson D. Har- ris, Arlington; 1885, Jefferson D. Harris, Arlington; 1886, Wil- liam Killefer, Bloomingdale; 1887, Peter J. Dillman, Bangor; 1888. Gilbert Mitchell, Geneva; 1889, William K. Van Hise, De- catur; 1890, Thomas C. Tyner, Lawrence; 1891, H. E. Dewey, South Haven; 1892, Harlan P. Waters, Antwerp; 1893, Jacob Gunsaul, Covert; 1894, John Marshall, Porter; 1895, John C. McFellin, Pine Grove; 1896, Adolph Danneffel, Keeler; 1897, E. A. Chase, Waverly; 1898, Varnum H. Dilley, Geneva; 1899, C. W. Byers, Hamilton; 1900, David A. Squier, Decatur; 1901, Wil- liam C. Wildey, Paw Paw; 1902, George T. Waber, Pine Grove; 1903, John H. Cornish, Porter; 1904, Kirk W. Noyes, South Ha- ven ; 1905, John C. Kennedy, Almena; 1906, Jerome C. Warner, Paw Paw; 1907, Milan D. Wiggins, Bloomingdale; 1908, George J. Danneffel, Keeler ; 1909, F. G. Cleveland, Arlington ; 1910, John McAlpine, Hartford; 1910, John Gault, Waverly *; and 1911, Shepard H. Shattuck, Covert.
OTHER IMPORTANT OFFICIALS FROM VAN BUREN COUNTY
Presidential electors: 1880, Charles Duncombe; 1900, Charles J. Monroe.
Lieutenant governor : 1907 to 1910, Patrick H. Kelley.
Secretary of state: 1855 to 1858, John McKinney.
State treasurer: 1859 to 1860, John Mckinney.
Commissioner of state land office: 1901 to 1904, Edwin A. Wildey.
Superintendent of Public instruction : 1905 to 1906, Patrick H. Kelley.
Members State Board of Education: 1892 (six years), Eugene A. Wilson; 1901, Patrick H. Kelley (a).
Regent of University : 1898 to 1905, Charles D. Lawton.
President pro tem state senate: 1887, Charles J. Monroe. Speakers of house of representatives: 1869 to 1872, Jonathan J. Woodman; 1867, Jonathan J. Woodman pro tem.
Commissioner of insurance: 1911, Marion O. Rowland (b).
Commissioner of mineral statistics: 1885 to 1891, Charles D. Lawton.
*Appointed, vice McAlpine, who died before the expiration of his term of office.
(a) Appointed to fill vacancy; elected 1902; resigned to accept office of superintendent of public instruction.
(b) Appointed by governor to fill vacancy; resigned to accept presidency of Detroit National Fire Insurance Company. Vol. I-12
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Adjutant General: 1893 to 1895, Charles L. Eaton. State salt inspector : 1905 to 1907, Edwin A. Wildey.
Circuit judge, Ninth judicial circuit: 1874, Darius E. Com- stock (c) ; 1882 to 1888, Alfred J. Mills.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS
The first constitution of Michigan was framed by a convention that convened at Detroit, May 11, 1835, and adjourned June 24, 1835. Van Buren county was not represented at this convention, The proposed constitution was ratified by a vote of the people in October, 1835, the vote being 6,299 yeas and 1,350 nays.
In 1836 congress passed the first act for the admission of Michi- gan into the Union. This act required the assent of the state to cutting off the city of Toledo and adjacent territory from the southern boundary of the state, assigning it to the state of Ohio and giving what is now the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in ex- change therefor, and required the assent of the voters of Michi- gan before the act of admission should become effective.
A convention of assent met at Ann Arbor, September 26, 1836, and after remaining in session four days rejected the proposed terms of admission. Van Buren was also unrepresented at this convention.
A second convention of assent assembled at Ann Arbor, Decem- ber 14, 1836, adjourning the next day. This convention ratified the conditions of admission proposed by the act of congress by what appears to have been a unanimous vote. Van Buren's dele- gate to this convention was Hon. Charles B. Avery of Paw Paw.
The next constitutional convention was held at Lansing from June 3 to August 15, 1850. This convention framed a new con- stitution which was adopted by a vote of the people in November of that year and it remained in force, with certain amendments. as the supreme law of the state until 1908. Van Buren was rep- resented in this convention by Hon. Isaac W. Willard of Paw Paw.
In 1867 another constitutional convention was held at Lansing from May 15 to August 22. The constitution proposed by this convention was rejected by a vote of the people at the spring elec- tion of 1868. Hon. Samuel H. Blackman of Paw Paw and Hon. Charles Duncombe of Keeler, were delegates to this convention from Van Buren county.
A constitutional commission consisting of two members from each congressional district of the state, at which Van Buren was unrepresented, assembled at Lansing, August 27, 1873, and ad-
(c) Died in office.
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journed October 16, 1873. This commission submitted a proposed constitution, but the people refused to ratify it when it came be- fore them at the general election held in November, 1874.
On the 27th day of October, 1907, another constitutional con- vention assembled at the capital city and remained in session un- til the 3d day of March, 1908. Van Buren was represented in this convention by Hon. Benjamin F. Heckert of Paw Paw, and Hon. Guy J. Wicksall of South Haven, both of whom are since deceased. The constitution proposed by this convention was ratified at the next general election held November 3, 1908, by a vote of 244,705 to 130,783, and is now the supreme law of the state.
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
A proposed amendment granting equal suffrage to colored per -: sons was submitted to a vote of the people in November, 1850, and rejected by the following vote: For 12,840, against 32,026, Van Buren's vote on this proposition was: Yes, 183; No, 583.
An amendment providing "that in time of war, insurrection or rebellion, no elector shall be deprived of his right to vote by reason of his service in the army or navy at such time," was pro- posed and adopted in November, 1866, although there were 13,094 Michigan patriots (?) who voted against the proposition. Van Buren county voted as follows: Yes, 2,433; No, 239. The sol- diers of the Civil war, in 1864, had cast their vote in the field, but such was not included in the official canvass of the vote of the state. The soldiers' vote of the state for president cast that year was as follows: For Abraham Lincoln, 9,402; for George B. Mc- Clellan, 2,959.
By an amendment submitted and adopted by a vote of the people at the November election in 1869, the word "white" was stricken from section one of article seven of the constitution pre- scribing the qualifications of electors, thus conferring the right of suffrage on colored citizens under the same rules and restric- tions as upon the white voters. Van Buren county voted as fol- lows on this amendment : Yes, 1,810; No, 1,522.
The question of woman suffrage was submitted to a vote of the people at the November election of 1874. This proposition was, in effect, to substitute the word "person" for the words "male inhabitant" in that article of the constitution prescribing the qualification of electors, thus conferring on the qualified female inhabitants of the state the same right of franchise as enjoyed by men. The proposition met with defeat in the state by the fol- lowing vote : Yes, 40,077; No, 124,034. Van Buren county voted : Yes, 1,166; No, 2,987.
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VAN BUREN COUNTY AND THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC
Van Buren county occupies an unique position in reference to the traffic in intoxicating liquors, having constantly and consist- ently registered its vote in opposition thereto at every offered op- portunity. The first time the voters of the county had occasion to express themselves on this question at the ballot box was in the month of June, 1853, at a special election called for the pur- pose of ascertaining the will of the people in reference to a pro- hibitory amendment to the constitution of the state, which was at that time submitted to them for adoption or rejection. The total vote of the county at that election, as shown by the old records, was 1,112: Yes, 707; No, 412; an affirmative majority of 295.
This same question of a prohibitory amendment to the constitu- tion was submitted to a vote in 1868 and again Van Buren regis- tered an affirmative vote, as follows: Prohibition yes, 2,362; pro- hibition no, 1,982; a prohibition majority of 380. Both of the fore- going proposed amendments met with defeat at the hands of the voters of the state.
The third test of public sentiment on this question was had in November, 1876. A law prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating beverages had been on the statute books of the state since 1855, but it was not so framed and had not been so enforced as to commend itself to the judgment of a majority of the electors of the state. The constitution of the state then contained the fol lowing clause: "The legislature shall not pass any act authorizing grant of license for the sale of ardent spirits or other intoxicating liquors."
The question of striking this clause from the constitution was submitted to the voters of the state at the general election held in November, 1876, the result being that the prohibitory provision was stricken out. The vote of Van Buren county on this occasion was as follows: Yes, 1,044; No, 1,056; a majority of 12 votes in favor of the retention of the prohibitory clause. This was the closest vote ever recorded in the county on the liquor question.
At the April election in 1887 another prohibitory amendment was proposed by the legislature and submitted to the people, and on this amendment Van Buren's vote was as follows: Yes, 5,111; No, 1,549; a majority of 3,562 in favor of the proposition, which failed of adoption only because of the large adverse vote cast in the city of Detroit and Wayne county.
The legislature of 1887 also enacted a local option law, the first of that class of legislation ever attempted in Michigan. Under the provisions of this law, an election was held in Van Buren county as soon as practicable. The vote was as follows: Yes,
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3,607; No, 456; a majority of 3,251 in favor of the new law. Be- fore any attempt was made to enforce its provisions the supreme court of the state declared the law to be in conflict with the consti- tution, thus making it null and void.
Another local option statute which avoided the unconstitutional features of the law of 1887 was enacted by the next legislature in 1889. Under the provisions of this act, an election was held in Van Buren county on the 24th day of February, 1890, which re- sulted in the adoption of the new law by the following vote: Yes, 2,559 ; No, 1,320; a prohibitory majority of 1,279, every precinct voting in favor of the law.
This law, by resolution of the board of supervisors, became operative on the first day of May, 1890, and since that date the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors has been outlawed in Van Buren county, except as sale is permitted by druggists and registered pharmacists for medicinal, mechanical, scientific and sacramental purposes, and since that date such a thing as an open saloon has been unknown in the county.
Two years later, at a special election called for that purpose, the question was again submitted to the electors of the county and the law was sustained by a vote of 2,918 to 2,450; a majority of 468 in favor of the retention of the statute.
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