USA > Michigan > Alpena County > Centennial history of Alpena County, Michigan > Part 5
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
Auditor General's Office, Lansing, Nov. 13th, 1857.
D. D. OLIVER, EsQ.
DEAR SIR :- I have just received your letter of the 11th inst.
I I am not conscious of any neglect in answering your letters. received your letter of July 10th, with statement of the Board of Supervisors of Alpena county, and certain transcripts from the records of Cheboygan county. I answered you at once, stating that I had not the power to help your county, referring you to Sec. 99 of the Tax Laws of 1848, as giving the Auditor such, and all the power he has to concel the sale of lands. You wrote me again on the 21st August, which was attended to by repeating the answer made to yours of July 10th. I under. stand a letter was received, in my absence, a few days since, and which has been mislaid, but from what I learn of its con- tents, I could have answered only as heretofore, that I have not the power to do what you wanted me to do.
I am, very respectfully, &c., Signed,
WHITNEY JONES, Aud. Gen'l.
54
ORGANIZATION.
This letter from the Auditor General explains the inward- ness of the whole matter, and closed up the tax business be- tween Cheboygan and Alpena counties. The next business be- fore the Board of Supervisors, was the organization of the town of Fremont, but the board could not act without a petition, and as there was not freeholders enough to sign the petition, the organization of the township was tabled, to wait for the further growth of the place. The next care of the board, was to pro- vide suitable books for the county records, and to obtain the statutes from the Secretary of State, and other matters, as the following letter from the writer to G. N. Fletcher, Esq., will show:
Detroit, Nov. 18th, 1857.
G. N. FLETCHER.
DEAR SIR :- A small craft, chartered by Craig & Bro., left for Sugar Island, the night I arrived down. I told them you wished to send something up, but could not tell how much, or what it was. I shall leave for the upper country in a few days, and would like to meet you before I go. I learn by some per- sons from the shore, that the vessel arrived there safely, and that it brought but little, and took most of the folks away with her. I have written to the Governor, to appoint a Notary Pub- lic, and also written to the Secretary of State, for some books. I hope to get returns in two or three days. What is to be done about the county books? If they go up this fall, they must go up soon. I think you had better come down and see what can be done, for I cannot get them. I am using my time and money in doing the county business, and that is all I feel able to do.
Yours respectfully,
Signed,
D. D. OLIVER.
To be a supervisor then, was to work without pay and pay your own expenses; and it wore the seat from many a pair of supervisor's pants before the board became smooth enough to
อ้อ
ORGANIZATION.
afford four dollars for six hours' work, and step over to a full treasury and get your money.
In August of 1857, the schooner John Minor came into Thunder Bay river, bringing Mr. Addison F. Fletcher, who came in the interest of G. N. Fletcher, Esq., and who superin- tended the structure of a rough board store, which was located on Water street, at or near its junction with Second street, the schooner having brought the lumber for that purpose. He- A. F. F .- took an active part in the early affairs of the town and county, being the first clerk of both. He assisted the writer in designing the seal of the Circuit Court, and suggest- ed that, "If we have the river, we should have the pine trees." He, at one time, owned the best property and residence in the village of Alpena; but he never had much faith in the large growth of the place, and has, up to 1876, persisted in remain- ing a noun in the singular number.
In September, 1857, Mr. Joseph K. Miller came to Fremont, and with him came a number of settlers. He was a man be- yond the middle age; was well educated, and experienced in business. He was a theologian of the severe school, and an in- veterate hater of tobacco and whiskey. He was from Boston, "The Hub of the World," and having some fanciful notions of himself and the place he came from, he placed but little value in the people among whom he came to live. He was very scrupulous in doing what he supposed to be right; but he dif- fered with many of his neighbors in what was right. It is evi- dent that man has no standard of right and wrong, for what is right in one part of the world, is wrong in another part. What is right in one nation, is wrong in another; what is right among one class of people, is wrong among another class; what is right in the manifestations of religion of one people, would be wrong in the manifestations of religion of another, and what would be right with one person, would be wrong with another. Right and wrong seem to be fictions, invented by parents, so-
56
ORGANIZATION.
cieties and nations, for their guide and government, and a per- son is said to be doing right when obeying those rules or laws, and doing wrong when violating them. Right and wrong with the individual depends upon his phrenological make-up-his education and growth, and his surrounding influences. These form the conscience which the individual is bound to and will obey. In proof of the above remarks, the writer refers to the fifth chapter of Matthew, and the history of the political strug- gle between the northern and southern States, from 1860 to 1865.
Soon after Mr. Miller arrived in Fremont, he was appointed to fill the vacancy in the Board of Supervisors, made by the moving away of Harvey Harwood, Esq .; and now, the board, being full, was prepared to obey the organic law. Without observing technicalities, the board proceeded to organize the township of Fremont. This township was made to comprise the whole of Alpena county proper, and all the territory attach- ed to it, for judicial and municipal purposes. Mr. Miller, in a letter to George N. Fletcher, Esq., and dated at Fremont, Oct. 23d, 1857, says, in regard to the petition necessary to be pre- sented to the Board of Supervisors: "On examination of the statutes more minutely, I find it requires twelve freeholders to organize a township, as that number must petition the super- visors for organization. We had our petition signed by sixteen electors, but there are only two freeholders among them all- Mr. Oliver and myself-so we must make ten of the others freeholders before the day of election, the first day of Novem- ber." On the 4th day of November, 1857, as provided by the organic law, the first election took place in Alpena county, and the township officers entered upon the duties of their several offices as soon as they could be qualified, there being no per- son in the county who could legally administer the oath of of- fice. Mr. Miller says, in a letter to Mr. Fletcher, dated Nov. 4th, 1857: "We had our county election to-day, and all passed
57
ORGANIZATION.
DANIEL CARTER,
FIRST TREASURER OF ALPENA TOWNSHIP, AND FIRST POSTMASTER OF FREMONT.
off pleasantly and satisfactorily. Addison, County Clerk; my- self County Treasurer and Register of Deeds, &c. Our neigh- bors down the shore came up, and we had quite a respectable turn-out; one boatload from Messrs. Harris' place, at the High- lands, and one from Black River. If Addison has not left to return, tell him he must ascertain where he must go to be qual- ified for County Clerk, by taking the oath of office, and take it before coming up, as his services are wanted immediately."
The official records of the election read as follows: "In pur- suance of notice for the first township election, posted accord- ing to law, in the township of Fremont, in the county of Al- pena, and State of Michigan, held on the fourth day of No- vember, 1857: Present, David D. Oliver, Joseph K. Miller and Daniel Carter, the board of inspectors, appointed by the supervisors, to hold said election. Chose David D. Oliver, chairman of said board, and Joseph K. Miller, secretary, and appointed Addison Fletcher, clerk; also Isaac Wilson to offici- ate as constable for said election. Polls were opened, and the following persous were elected to the several township offices:
.
58
ORGANIZATION.
Supervisor-James S. Irwin.
Township Treasurer-Daniel Carter.
Township Clerk-Addison Fletcher.
Highway Commissioners-Daniel Carter, David D. Oliver, James Thomas.
Justices of the Peace-Russell R. Woodruff, David D. Oliver, Lewis Atkins, Isaac Wilson.
School Inspectors-David D. Oliver, George B. Melville. Constables-James Thomas, Robert Bowman, Willis Roe. Pathmaster-William Sherman.
Signed, DAVID D. OLIVER, Chairman, ADDISON FLETCHER, Clerk, J. K. MILLER, Secretary.
Isaac Wilson was from the Highlands, as the place was then known-now Harrisville; and Willis Roe was from Black River.
The following is a list of the county officers elected at the first election, held on the 4th day of November, 1857:
Sheriff-William R. Bowman.
County Clerk-A. F. Fletcher.
County Treasurer-J. K. Miller.
Register of Deeds-J. K. Miller.
County Surveyor-David D. Oliver.
Circuit Court Commissioner-David Plough.
Coroner-A. F. Fletcher.
It will be observed that in the list of township officers, the clerk is "Addison Fletcher," and the clerk of the board of elec- tion has signed his name "Addison Fletcher," while in the list of county officers his name is written "A. F. Fletcher." This discrepancy can be explained by saying the clerk of the board of election neglected to write his name in full.
At the general election, held on the 2nd day of November, 1858, the whole number of votes cast was thirty-five, and were all cast in favor of the general banking law. The county offi- cers were all re-elected; and party politics showed itself, only in
59
ORGANIZATION.
the State ticket. Moses Wisner, Republican, for Governor, re- ceived twenty votes, and Chas. E. Stewart, Democrat, for Gov- ernor, received fifteen votes; the balance of the State ticket run about the same, except for Representative in the State Legis- lature, and for that office, Daniel Carter, received twenty-one votes. At the time Alpena county was organized, all the north- ern counties had been thrown into a Representative District, without any regard to their condition, location, or convenience. The election returns for the district were to be made to Trav- erse City, in Grand Traverse county, that being the largest town in the district. The people of Alpena county, finding it impracticable to make returns of election to Traverse City, in time to be used in the canvass, resolved to have the pleasure of voting for a Representative peculiarly their own, and so gave their first vote for Daniel Carter. In 1860, Alpena having grown to some importance, resolved to send a Representative to the State Legislature, and request a seat for him in that body, not in opposition to the regular candidate for that office, who was a resident of Grand Traverse county, but conjointly with him, as the territory was ample for two districts, with divided interests. Capt. A. E. Persons was nominated for this impor- tant and experimental position, and was elected, receiving near- ly all the votes of Alpena county and its territory, Captain Persons accepted the nomination and election, as complimen- tary, but was not a little surprised when requested by his con- stituents to go to Lansing. He regarded the matter of going to Lansing but little better than a farce, and that, as a matter of course, he would be rejected. But being assured and en- couraged by his friends, who thought differently, and who agreed to fund his expenses, in case he was not seated, he made up his mind to "Try the thing on," and prepared himself with his credentials; went to Lansing; presented himself at the bar of the House of Representatives; was administered the oath of office, and took his seat with as much freedom and matter of
60
ORGANIZATION.
HON. JAMES K. LOCKWOOD.
ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF ALPENA, AND THE FIRST REGULAR REPRESENTA- TIVE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE FROM THIS DISRTICT.
course as if he had been a regularly elected member from the oldest counties. No questions were asked, and he was address- ed as "The member from Alpena." This affair, for boldness of conception and execution, has few, if any, precedents in the annals of legislation. This gave importance and notoriety to Alpena, among her sister towns, and brought to her shore many seeking for labor, settlement, or speculation.
Captain Persons was a man of energy, with good judgment, and kind and obliging manners. He was a faithful friend to his Government during the long struggle with rebellion, and by attending to the wants of his county, he gave pride and sat- isfaction to his friends and constituents.
Subsequently, the district was changed, and in 1867, was composed of the counties of Midland, Isabella, Iosco and Al- pena and their territory. The right of selecting a man for Representative from this new district was claimed by Alpena, and conceded by the other counties; and the Hon. James K. Lock- wood was elected. No better man could have been selected to take care of the scattered interests of this district, the combined
61
ORGANIZATION.
population of which numbered about five thousand. Ten years of experience had made him familiar with the wants of people living in new counties. While he was a member of the Legis- lature, he did what he could for the scattered interests of his district, and gave general satisfaction. He made a strong effort to secure the swamp lands to the exclusive use and benefit of the several counties in which they were located; but he was opposed by the southern districts, which had no swamp lands, and was defeated. He was always a persistent guardian of the interests and well being of Alpena, and ready at all times to encourage and assist in any and every enterprise that had for its object the improvement of the place. When he now looks back over two decades, to the time he was lobbying for the or- ganization of a county with only one resident freeholder in it, in contrast with the present city-1876-and county, with their organizations, improvements and wealth, he can feel a con- scious pride that he was one of those who were instrumental in bringing around these grand results; and the writer thinks he sometimes whispers to himself, "Who thanks me for all this? If I had done more for myself, and less for the county, I would be the better off for it."
In 1874, the Hon. Worthy L. Churchill was elected a Rep- resentative in the State Legislature, ostensibly from Alpena. He was a young man, and mostly a stranger to the people of his district and their wants; had then but little interest in the growth of Alpena, and has the credit of being instrumental in defeating a bill for the appropriation of land to aid in the con- struction of a railroad from Alpena, and to connect with the Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw railway. If this be true, the people of Alpena have reason to say to him, in spirit, as Balak said to Baalim, "I called thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast altogether blest them."
The people becoming dissatisfied with the name of Fremont, petitioned the Legislature to change it to Alpena, and in Feb- ruary, 1859, it was so changed, by the following act:
62
ORGANIZATION.
An Act to change the name of the village of Fremont, in the county of Alpena.
Sec. 1. The People of the State of Michigan enact, That the name of the village of Fremont, in the county of Alpena, and State of Michigan, be and the same is hereby changed to Al- pena.
Sec. 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Approved February 29th, 1859.
The first township organized after Alpena, was Ossineke, in 1867. Prior to this, Harrisville had been organized into a township, and subsequently was made the county seat of Alcona county. The township of Corles was organized at the same time that Ossineke was, but lived only a brief period, and then returned to the embrace of Alpena. The organic territory of Ossineke consisted of town 29 north, of ranges 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 east. The first meeting was held at the boarding house of D. D. Oliver, on the first Monday in April, 1867, D. D. Oliver, George B. Melville and G. W. Hawkins being inspectors of election, and G. B. Melville to post notices.
The Board of Supervisors was now composed of Daniel Car- ter, of the county; Obed Smith, of Alpena; D. D. Oliver, of Ossineke, and L. R. Dorr, of Harrisville. As soon as these towns were organized, Messrs. Carter and Oliver ceased to be county members of the Board of Supervisors, as by the law or- ganizing the county of Alpena, their terms of office should ex- pire as soon as three towns were organized in the county. They bad been on the board together a full decade. They differed in politics, Carter being a Democrat and Oliver a Republican ; but they made it a standard principle never to allow party poli- tics to interfere with the interests of the county. They had always worked together in harmony, for the benefit of the Thunder Bay region, and especially Alpena; and now, when they retired from the Board of Supervisors, they did so with the consciousness of having performed the duties of their trust
63
ORGANIZATION.
without fear or favor, and at all times to the best of their abil- ities. They left no bonds for the county to provide for, except those given to the brave men who volunteered to help silence the thunders of a southern rebellion, and give freedom to three millions of slaves. Their names are as follows: James J. Pot- ter. Moses Bingham, Arthur Irwin, Denton Sellick, James Whalen, Frank Squires, John Kaufman, Solomon Evans, John Ellsworth, George Plude and John Dawson.
The township of Corles, having failed to keep up its organi- zation, the Board of Supervisors was convened, ou the 19th day of May, 1868, to take some action in regard to the matter. James K. Lockwood, Ira Stout and David D. Oliver were ap- pointed a committee to present the matter to Judge S. M. Green, for his advice. The committee made its report to Judge Green, and the organization was restored to Corles. At this session of the board, a resolution was passed, to purchase a piece of land at Harrisville, on which to erect buildings for a poor house and farm, at a cost of $5,000, to be raised by tax of $1,000 a year, until paid. The board at this session was com- posed of Ira Stout, of Alpena; Lawrence R. Dorr, of Harris- ville, and David D. Oliver, of Ossineke, Oliver having been elected Supervisor of that township.
Some time in 1868, the township of Alcona was organized; and after the spring election of 1869, the Board of Supervisors was composed of the following gentlemen: James K. Lock- wood, of Alpena; L. R. Dorr, of Harrisville; D. Stewart, of Corles; E. R. Haynes, of Alcona, and David D. Oliver, of Os- sineke. On the 20th of May, 1870, the Board of Supervisors was called together, for the purpose of organizing the township of Rogers, in Presque Isle county. Heretofore Alpena had taken the lead of all the towns, in political matters; but now a shadow was stealing over it, calculated to injure, if not to crush it. During the past winter, Alcona county had been organized, taking with it the unorganized county of Oscoda and the or-
1
64
ORGANIZATION.
ganized towns of Harrisville and Alcona; and the township of Corles having failed to keep up its organization, it left only two organized towns in the county of Alpena, the Supervisors of which were Charles W. Richardson, of Alpena township, and George J. Robinson, of Ossineke. The petition for the organ- ization of the township of Rogers was signed by many of the best men in Alpena, they little dreaming that they were fur- nishing means for much annoyance, if not for their own de- struction. A remonstrance had been made, but Supervisor Robinson had it his own way, and wishing to befriend Mr. Molitor, organized the township. Alpena, like the bird after which it was named-partridge-had now grown to good size, and had grown fat and plump, under the fostering care of its old guardians, was now watched by a number of Hawks, who were only waiting for its protectors to be absent, to pounce up- on and gobble it up. One of these Hawks had his nest at Rog- ers City, and another at Ossineke, and a third had a temporary nest in Alpena, but carried all his spoils to a more permanent one, in Canada. After considerable maneuvering, the time came for the descent, when the bird dodged under a city char- ter, and was safe.
The Board of Supervisors again met on the 20th of Septem- ler, 1870, and there were then present, Chas. W. Richardson, of Alpena; George J. Robinson, of Ossineke, and Albert Mol- itor, of Rogers City, and the Clerk. At this session commenc- ed a series of aggressions by the majority of the board, which was so continued that it compelled the people to seek relief in a city organization. In a speech made by Hon. Seth L. Car- penter, at a caucus held in the Evergreen Hall, March 29th, 1871, where the people threw aside party politics to put in nomination the best men from both parties to fill the first offices of the new city, and at which caucus he, who was nominated for the first Mayor, said: "So far the organization of the city of Alpena has been a necessity, urged upon us by the aggres-
65
ORGANIZATION.
sive majority of our Board of Supervisors, whom we charitably believe misrepresented the small minority of the inhabitants of the county. But their aggressions have been of such a charac- ter as to drive our citizens en masse, without regard to party politics, to seek relief by a city organization."
Among the aggressive acts of the Board of Supervisors, passed at this session, and subsequently, before the 20th of January, 1871, were resolutions giving the Sheriff the illegal salary of $1,000 per year; to the County Clerk the large salary of $1,200 per year; to the County Treasurer $1,000, and the Prosecuting Attorney $1,000 per year. They detached large territory from Alpena, and attached the same to the townships of Ossineke and Rogers. They considered favorably a peti- tion of J. B. Tuttle and S. E. Hitchcock, for locating a site for a court house on lands belonging to Hitchcock, and for raising money for building the same. They also passed a res- olution, making S. L. Carpenter, George J. Robinson and Al- bert Molitor a board of commissioners of immigration ; and, also, "It shall be the duty of said board to encourage immigration, by such measures as they may, in their discretion, deem proper." Supervisor Robinson offered a resolution to purchase a tract of land at Ossineke, for the poor farm. After these aggressions had been continued for some time, the citizens of Alpena be- came alarmed, and held several meetings, to determine what course to pursue. They finally held a meeting on the Sth day of February, 1871, "To take into consideration the propriety of having a city corporation. At this meeting, William Jenney, Esq., was called to the chair, and P. M. Johnson was made sec- retary. The meeting passed a resolution, requesting the Board of Supervisors "To take no action for the purpose of incorpor- ating the village of Alpena." A committee was appointed by the chair, to draft a charter for the city, to be presented to the people of Alpena, for their consideration. Messrs. S. L. Car- penter, J. H. Stevens, J. A. Case, A. W. Comstock, D. McRae,
66
ORGANIZATION.
J. D. Holmes and A. Hopper were appointed such committee. They were instructed to present such charter to the adjourned meeting. "The deficiencies of our present township govern- ment" were the cause which led to these proceedings. Soon after the committee report was made, a petition was signed by one hundred and twenty-one citizens of Alpena, and forwarded to Lansing, asking the State Legislature for a city corporation. A remonstrance was also sent, signed by forty-nine persons; and Mr. Bostwick and five others who signed the petition, also signed the remonstrance, saying, "They did not know the char- acter of the petition when they signed it." An efficient corps of lobbyists accompanied the petition, and it was not long be- fore the attention of the Legislature was given to the pressing demands of the citizens of Alpena, and a charter was granted them, the first section of which reads as follows: "That so much of the township of Alpena, in the county of Alpena, as is included in the following described territory: The southwest quarter of section 13, the south half of sections 14, 15 and 16, the whole of sectons 21, 22 and 28, the west fractional half of section 24, and fractional sections 23, 26 and 27, in town 31 north, of range 8 east, in the State of Michigan, be and the same is hereby set off from said township of Alpena, and de- clared to be a city, by the name of the City of Alpena, by which name it shall hereafter be known; and by that name may sue, and be sued, implede and be impleded, complain and defend in any court of competent jurisdiction. May have a common seal, and alter it at pleasure, and may take, hold, purchase, lease, convey and dispose of any real, personal and mixed estate, for the use of said corporation." The law provided also, that there should be three wards in the city, and so giving it three Super- visors. The city charter provided, also, that the annual elec- tion of city officers shall be held on the first Monday of April of each year. The Mayor, Comptroller and Treasurer were to be elected annually ; the Recorder every two years, and the full
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.