History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan, Part 26

Author: Durant, Samuel W. cn
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : D.W. Ensign & Co.
Number of Pages: 772

USA > Michigan > Eaton County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 26
USA > Michigan > Ingham County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 26

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).

These names do not by any means include all the early settlers, as the society was not organized until after many had passed away ; and there are others still living, probably, who have never enrolled their names. Peter Lowe, Esq., has been the secretary since the organization of the society, and has accumulated a considerable fund of written and printed matter relating to the early settlement of the county. The annual meetings were held for a number of years on the second Tuesday in May, but the time was subsequently changed to the second Tuesday in June.

The annual meetings are generally well attended and are very enjoyable occasions. The exercises consist in music, speeches, addresses, the reading of pioneer papers, anecdotes, and a general comparison of early recollections.

CHAPTER III.

THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE.

Courts of Quarter Sessions-County Commissioners-Supervisors- County Buildings-Poor Farm.

THE first civil body having jurisdiction of county business was the old Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, which was established by an act of the Territorial Legis- lature or Council, approved Nov. 25, 1817. This court was constituted of the justices of the County Court and justices of the peace. The clerk was appointed by the Governor of the Territory. It was made a board of audit for all county business, including the management of assess- ment and taxation. Its sessions were held on the first Mondays of March, June, September, and December.

The law of 1817 was repealed May 30, 1818, and in the place of this court a board of three county commissioners was established, the members to be appointed by the Gov- ernor, and to be allowed thirty dollars each per annum. The county elerk was made clerk of this board, and received a salary not exceeding fifty dollars per annum.

The board of county commissioners was continued until April 12, 1827, when an act was approved abolishing it and establishing a board of supervisors, to be elected from the several towns of the county, and to appoint their own clerk. Their regular meetings were to be held on the third Mon- days of January, April, July, and October of each year ; and they were to meet at such other times as they might deem necessary, not exceeding eight days additional. The board of supervisors was abolished and the board of county commissioners established in 1838, which system was con- tinued until 1842, when the board of supervisors was again restored, and has beeu continued without interruption since.

The fiscal affairs of Ingham County were first managed by a board of supervisors, and their first meeting appears to have been held at Mason, Oct. 2, 1838. The couuty of Ingham was laid out in 1829, and organized by an act ap- proved April 5, 1838. The county-seat was located by the proper commissioners at the " City of Ingham," situated on sections No. 1 and No. 12, in the township of Vevay, in March, 1836, but no county buildings were ever erected, or any public business ever transacted there, and by an act approved March 6, 1840, the seat of justice was removed to the village of Mason, where it has since remained.t

At the date of the first meeting of the board of super- visors there were seven townships organized in the county, as follows : Stockbridge, Aurelius, Ingham, Leslie, Onon- daga, Vevay, and Alaiedon. It is not stated in what building the board met, but it was most probably in the school-house, for there were then no public buildings in the place. The board was composed of the following persons : Peter Linderman, Benjamin Davis, John Barns, Henry Lee, Orriu Gregory, Amos E. Steele, William Lewis. Henry Lee, Chairman, and Minos McRobert, Clerk. Amos E. Steele not being present, Josephus Tuttle was admitted in his place.

Minos McRobert presented a bill for transcribing the records from Jackson County, amounting to $190.50, which was allowed.

The town of Aurelius originally included the west half of the county, but it had then been cut into five townships, and a resolution was passed " that the supervisors west of the meridian be a committee to settle the accounts with the old town of Aurelius."

In those days the depredations of wolves formed a prom- inent subject of legislation. The State was then paying a bounty of eight dollars per head, and the supervisors of the county passed a resolution to pay two dollars and fifty cents per head additional. Twenty-four dollars State

# Deccased.

t See Chapter I. of County History. An attempt was made in 1877 to remove the county-seat to Lansing, but it failed for want of a two- thirds majority of the board of supervisors in favor of submitting it to the people.

106

HISTORY OF INGIIAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

bounty was allowed for three wolves, recently killed. This was the last meeting of the supervisors until 1842.

A board of county commissioners was elected in the fall of 1838, and it held its first meeting at Mason, on the 20th of November of that year. The board was com- posed of Jacob Loomis, Henry Lee, and Peter Linderman, and they drew for their respective terms, as follows : Loomis for three years, Lee for two years, and Linderman for one year. Mr. Linderman was chosen chairman of the board.

The first business was the presentation by Mr. Loomis of the certificate and affidavit of Wo-non-quit, au Indian, to prove that he had killed one wolf within the county. The board thereupon magnanimously allowed him the State bounty of eight dollars, but paid him no county bounty. At the same time Mr. William W. Dewey pre- sented his certifieates and affidavit showing that he had taken five wolf sealps, and the board at once allowed him both State and county bounty, amounting in the aggregate to fifty-two dollars and fifty cents; but then possibly the Indian never knew the difference. The discrimination was a very delicate one.

In the absence of one of the commissioners Valorous Meeker, judge of Probate, took the required oath and served in his place .*

The account of William Dallas for constructing maps for assessment purposes, amounting to twenty dollars, was pre- sented, but not allowed.

Among those to whom wolf bounties were paid in 1839 were Philetus Scovel, David Fuller, and William W. Dewey. Peter Lowe was clerk of this board.

The valuation of townships in 1839 was as follows :

State tax.

Alaiedon

$180,611

$432.74

Anrelius ...

49,946

119.67

Bunker Hill

45,392

108.76

Brutust.

113,929

272.96

Ingham

61,034

146.24

Leslie

51,565

123.56

Onondaga

61,292

146.85

Phelpstown

115,729

272.29

Stockbridge,

78,497

188.08

Vevay

52,956

126.88

White Oak

56,751

135.97

Totals.

$867,702

$2074.00

The county tax for 1839 was $2600.02. penses for 1839 :

Alaiedon.

$245.02

Aurelius .

179.75

Bunker Hill.

69.28

Brutus

121.79

Ingbain

77.99

Leslie ..

320.10

Onondaga

156.88

Phelpstown.

550.00

Stockbridge

172.73

Vevay.

212.73

White Oak

135.00

H. H. Smith served as clerk pro tem., and George W. Shafer was deputy clerk.

At the meeting of the commissioners held April 9, 1840, William A. Dryer appears as a member of the board. The other new members of the board were Caleb Carr and George Matthews.

A settlement was effected between Ingham and Jackson Counties on the 24th of March, 1840, at Jackson, at which the county of Ingham agreed to pay the county of Jackson $120 in full of all demands. The last meeting of the com- missioners was held March 28, 1842.

COUNTY BUILDINGS.

COUNTY OFFICES.

After the removal of the county-seat to Mason, the county commissioners, oo the 11th of April, 1840, pro- ceeded to select the lots for the use of the county, and chose twelve lots in block No. 22, of the original town plat of Mason ; the south half and lots 3 and 4 of block No. 17; lots Nos. 9 and 10 in block 8; lots 5 and 6 in block 18; and lot 10 in block 16 ; containing in all twenty- five lots, equal to about five acres of land. These lots were conveyed to the county commissioners in pursuance of the aet removing the seat of justice.

At the meeting held April 9-11, 1840, it was resolved to construet a county clerk's and register's office, to be completed on or before the 15th of September following. William A. Dryer voted against this resolution.

A proposal was received from Emmons White to ereet the building for the sum of $325, and accept county orders in payment. Mr. White also agreed to clear the timber from block No. 22, and the south half of block No. 17, for a warranty deed of lot No. 7, in block 22, which was agreed to by the county commissioners. The commis- sioners also hired F. Wilson to elear off the remainder of the county lots and the streets surrounding them, for which they agreed to deed him in payment two lots, he paying as a balance the sum of fifteen dollars.

The first building for county offices was built by Emmons White in 1840, at the price above stated, on the ground now occupied by the sheriff's dwelling. It was a one-story frame building about sixteen by twenty-four feet in dimensions, and is still standing east of the jail, occupied as a dwelling.

E. B. Danforth built a platform and set up steps for the new offices at a cost of six dollars, making the total cost $331. The building appears not to have been fully com- pleted until the spring of 1841.

The new board of supervisors, to succeed the county commissioners, were elected in the spring of 1842, and their first meeting was held at Mason on the 2d day of May following. Joseph E. North was moderator at this meet- ing. The names of the members who assembled at the meeting held at Mason, July 4, 1842, were as follows : Minos MeRobert, Benjamin Davis, Joseph Gale, Joseph E. North, llenry H. North, IIenry Wood, George Ma- thews, John R. Bowdish, Wm. A. Dryer, Peter Linder- man, Samuel Skadan, Win. Tompkins, Lewis Lounsbury, David Phelps, Orrin Dana, Isaae Finch. Minos McRobert, Chairman.

COURT-HOUSE.

At a meeting of the board held Oct. 6, 1842, Minos McRobert, Joseph Gale, and George Mathews were ap- pointed a committee to procure a suitable place for the holding of the Circuit Court for the November term of 1842. On the 8th of October, at the same session, it was

· Whether it was a legal proceeding or not, it seems to have been of quite frequent occurrence to substitute a new mun for any officer who might be absent at a public meeting.

+ Now Wheatfield.

Township ex-

107

THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE.

resolved to sound the people upon the project of erecting a court-house at a cost not exceeding $800, and at a meet- ing held in December of the same year a resolution was passed appropriating that sum for the purpose, of which amount $600 was to be paid in State bonds and $200 in real estate. A committee of five was also appointed to serve as a building committee, and to make the necessary contracts for the building. This committee was composed of Minos MeRobert, Peter Linderman, George Mathews, Benjamin Davis, and Samuel Skadan. The contract was finally let to Wm. Hammond & Co. at the terms proposed.

The building was erected in 1843 on lot No. 4, of block No. 17. It was a frame, twenty-eight by thirty-four feet in size, with eighteen-feet posts, and finished in two stories.

The board of supervisors for that year was composed as follows : Lansing, Joseph E. North ; Delhi, Roswell Ever- ett ; Aurelius, Jonathan Snyder ; Onondaga, Joseph Gale ; Leslie, Benjamin Davis ; Vevay, Peter Linderman ; Alai- edon, Edwin D. Tryon ; Meridian, Milzor Turner ; Phelps- town,* J. M. Williams; Wheatfield, Wm. Tompkins; Ingham, Samuel Skadan ; Bunker Hill, Lewis Case; Stockbridge, Joseph IIunt; White Oak, John Clements ; Leroy, Orrin Dana ; Locke, David Phelps.

James Turner was allowed $100 for painting the build- ing and $42 for furnishing stoves and pipe, including the expense of putting them up. A fence was also built around the court-house, and painted yellow with white trimmings ; the cost of the painting, which was done by Hiram H. Smith, was three dollars and seventy-five cents. John Coatsworth was allowed seventy-four cents per rod for building it.

In June, 1843, J. W. Burchard was authorized by the board to sell the lots belonging to the county, excepting two on the north and two on the south of the public square. Mr. Burchard was at that time prosecuting attorney for the county.

When the court-house was completed the vote in the board of supervisors upon the question of accepting it from the contractor stood " 8 to 7,"-eight in favor and seven against. Whether this was a forerunner of the action of the Electoral Commission of 1876 is not known.

NEW COUNTY OFFICES AND JAIL.

In the beginning of 1848 it would appear that the ne- cessity for new county offices and a jail had become ap- parent. Up to this time prisoners and criminals had been transported to Jackson for safekeeping.

On the 6th of January the matter was presented to the board, and a resolution was passed to appropriate $1000, to be raised by tax, and to loan an additional $1000 for the purpose of erecting fireproof offices and jail for the county, and a committee of three was appointed to superintend the work. The committee was composed of Peter Linderman, Joab Page, and John Coatsworth.

The new offices were erected on the ground occupied by the old office-building, which was sold at auction to Edwin Hurlbert for seventy-five dollars, and by him removed a few rods east, where it still stands. The " underpinning"

was sold to Dr. Minos MeRobert, for three dollars and fifty cents. The jail and sheriff's residence were erected on the ground where the Presbyterian church now stands, in rear of the first court-house, on lot No. 10, of block No. 17. The building was constructed of brick, but the cells of the jail were of hewn timber. Mr. C. D. IIuntington, who was a son of the sheriff, Joseph L. Huntington, slept in the jail for some time after its completion, and kept fires through the night to dry the walls.

In October, 1855, the board appropriated $100.to build a barn for the use of the sheriff. It cost, complete, $142.50.

At the January meeting of 1855, the board passed a resolution to submit a proposition to the people to raise by tax $5000,-half in 1855 and half in 1856,-and to loan a further sum, not exceeding $5000, for the purpose of erecting a new and more commodious court-house, the old one after a lapse of twelve years having become inadequate to the wants of the county. This action was reiterated in December following, and at the township elections in April, 1856, the vote stood as follows : For a tax of $5000, 1090; against it, 665. For the loan of $5000, 1088; against it, 652.

Under the authority conferred by this vote, the board of supervisors proceeded to appoint a committee of three per- sons to select a site and procure plans and specifications for a new court-house. This committee was composed of P. R. Peck, William Woodhouse, and J. C. Bailey, who se- lected the centre of the public square as the proper place for the new edifice. Matthew Elder, of Lansing, furnished plans and specifications for the building. The contract for the job was let to Matthew Elder, June 20, 1857, at $11,700. The village of Mason subscribed $1500. The money was presumably raised in the manner specified.

One portion of the loan was negotiated with John Camp- bell, of Dutchess Co., N. Y., who loaned the commissioner, Ferris S. Fitch, $2800 on $3000 of Ingham County bonds, at ten per cent. per annum.

The court-house was completed in the spring of 1858, and the board of supervisors accepted it from the contractor by a resolution passed on the 19th of April.

The total cost of the building, according to the record, was as below :

Contract with M. Elder $11,700.00

Extra work by him 383.19

Extra work by T. R. Ege .. 25.00

Pay of building committee 121.00

$12,229.19

The building is still in use, but the wants of the county will before many years necessitate a more commodious one.

In December, 1858, a committee was appointed to lay out and ornament the court-house grounds, build water- closets, etc., the expense of which was defrayed by sub- scriptions taken in Mason Village.

NEW JAIL AND SHERIFF'S RESIDENCE.

In January, 1867; the board of supervisors passed a resolution to build a new jail and sheriff's residence, and appointed a committee to superintend the work. The build- ing was erected on the ground occupied by the old county offices, which were torn away for the purpose in 1868, and

# Name changed to Williamstown in 1857.

108

HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

cost, according to the books of the county treasurer, $8000. The structure comprises a large two-story dwelling in front for the sheriff, and the jail attached in the rear, also of two stories. The building is of brick, and presents a good ap- pearanee. It was constructed after plans furnished by Mr. Gillett.

The criminals, insane persons, and others of the county are distributed in various directions,-some to the State prison at Jackson, State House of Correction, at Ionia, Re- form School for Boys, at Lansing, and to the Asylums for the Insane, at Kalamazoo and Pontiac. A considerable number were formerly sent to the Detroit Ilouse of Correction.

COUNTY POOR FARM AND BUILDINGS.

The first recorded action by the county board regarding the poor was on the 19th day of June, 1843, when the supervisors appropriated fifty dollars for their support. The first land for a county farm was purchased of Horace Havens and wife, by the superintendents of the poor, under date of Jan. 9, 1844, and described as the east half of the northwest quarter of section 21, town 3 north, range 1 west (Alaiedon), 80 acres; consideration, $400. A second purchase was made under deed dated Feb. 3, 1869, of Peleg G. Thomas, covering the east half of the west half of the southwest quarter, and the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 16, town and range as above, 80 acres, and on April 30, 1869, a further pur- chase from the same parties of the west half of the west half of the southwest quarter of the same section, 40 aeres, making 120 acres in the two last-named purchases, for the sum of $3458.72, making the total cost of the land in the original eounty farm $3858.72, covering an aggre- gate of 200 acres.

The total amount expended for the first year (1843-44) appears to have been $434.48. In January, 1844, the superintendent was authorized to draw for the support of the poor $250, and in May of the same year $200 addi- tional appears to have been appropriated.

In October, 1844, the board made an appropriation of $150 for an addition to the poor-house, and appointed Daniel P. Stillman a committee to superintend its erection. The addition was twenty-two by eighteen feet, with twelve-feet posts. At the same session $400 was appropriated for the maintenance of the poor.

In 1861 the sum of $1000 was appropriated for the erection of suitable buildings on the farm, and in the same year it was voted to raise 87416.13 for the support of the families of those who had enlisted in the army. The num- ber of these families relieved in the county in that year was ninety-nine, and the amount paid them on county orders $2165.07.

In January, 1862, began the long discussion with refer- ence to the sale or exchange of the old farm and the pur- chase of some more eligible location for a permanent county farm. A resolution was passed to purchase the farm of Megsrs. Pease and Smith if satisfactory arrangements could be made, and the superintendents were authorized to erect a wood building on the farm for the use of the poor at an expense not exceeding 8500. This building was erected in that year.

WAR FUNDS AND BOUNTIES.

In October, 1862, the board voted to raise $12,000 for the relief of soldiers' families.

The following statement compiled from the records shows the total amounts raised by tax and loan for the volunteer relief fund during the war of the Rebellion :

1861, raised by tax.

$4,009

IS62

12,000

IS63 4€

loan ..

20,000

1864

tax

32,000

1865

7,000

Interest paid on loans.

5,000

Amount paid for disbursing.

7,690

printing, ete.

2,310

Total $90,000

This large sum was distributed among the various towns and cities as follows :

Alaiedon. $4,324.19

Aurelius

4,548.44

Bunker Hill.

4,164.05

Delhi

5,028.98

Ingham

5,925.91

Leslie

5,925.91

Leroy

3,587.40

Locke ..

3,523.40

Meridian

4,742.53 5,925.91

Stockbridge

5,285.20

Williamstown

4,538.39

White Oak

3,939.75

Wheatfield

3,587.48

Vevay ..

6,868.87

Lansing township.

4,099.99

Lansing City-First Ward ..

2,626.53

Second Ward.

5,285.22

Third Ward

3,491.35

Fourth Ward

2,562.47

$89,981.97

This does not quite make the $90,000, but the discrep- aney is probably owing to inaccuracy in making the appor- tionment among the towns.

In October, 1873, the superintendents of the poor were instructed to purchase the Holden farm, lying near the county farm and containing 120 acres, if it could be had for sixty dollars per acre. They were likewise authorized to advertise for a farm of 200 acres, provided the Holden farm could not be purchased or exchanged for. On the 6th of February, 1874, the superintendents were author- ized to sell the county farm, then consisting of 200 acres.

In October, 1875, it was resolved to raise $5000, by tax, for the erection of proper buildings on the county farm, provided the Holden farm could not be purchased at sixty dollars per acre. This action was finally rescinded and the amount fixed at $1000. The committee appointed to ex- amine the condition of the poor farm and buildings made a lengthy report, showing very unfavorably both as regarded the condition and the site for new buildings. A change of location was strongly recommended, and an appropriation of $4000 asked for 1876. On the 5th of January, 1876, the committee recommended the bonding of the county for $15,000, to purchase the IIolden farm and erect new build- ings thereon. This report was at first laid on the table, but subsequently taken up, and a resolution passed to sub- mit the matter to the voters at the next annual election. This was amended by resolving to appoint a committee to confer with Mr. Holden and offer him $7200 for his farm, and to pay him ten per cent. until the money could be raised by the county.

Onondaga.

109

THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE.

These conditions were rejected by Mr. IIolden, who de- manded either the bonds of the county, bearing ten per cent., at sixty dollars per acre, or cash for the whole amount, at sixty-five dollars per acre ; whereupon the board withdrew the proposition.

It was then resolved to submit a proposition to the people at the next election to raise $10,000 upon the bonds of the county,-$3000 payable in 1886, $3000 in 1887, and $4000 in 1888,-with interest at seven per cent. It does not appear that this was carried out. In October, 1876, we find the board resolving to authorize the super- intendents to examine locations for a farm containing from 100 to 200 acres. Again, in January, 1877, they were authorized to purchase a new location and exchange the old farm in part payment, provided they could find a satisfac- tory bargain by paying a sum not exceeding $2500 in addition. Under these instructions two of the three super- intendents, Messrs. Hayner and Huntington, proceeded to make a trade with C. HI. Darrow for the west 1423 acres of the north half of section 21 in Vevay township, town 2 north, range 1 west, exchanging eighty acres of the old farm and paying Darrow $2500 cash. To this arrangement James I. Mead, the other superintendent, demurred, and, the matter coming before the board of supervisors, the transaction was ignored, the two obnoxious superintendents removed, and John Craddock and James M. Williams ap- pointed in their stead. The original resolution authorizing the purchase of a farm was reconsidered and rescinded, and a committee of three persons appointed to settle with Mr. Darrow on the best possible terms. The money was evi- dently paid over to him, and the best that could be done was to exchange deeds and allow him to retain $500 as for- feit money. The balance ($2000) was paid back to the county.

An arrangement was finally entered into in January, 1878, with Orrin J. Lewis, for the east 120 acres of the north- east quarter of section 34 in Meridian township, town 4 north, range 1 west. In payment Lewis received the south eighty aeres of the old farm in Alaiedon, east half of the northwest quarter of section 21, and $1500 in money. This land was incumbered by a mortgage of $2700, and Lewis executed a mortgage to the county of $1240 as se- curity. The matter was arranged by Edward Cahill, pros- ecuting-attorney for Ingham County, and closed Feb. 21, 1878.

Immediately following this transaction the board of su- pervisors resolved to raise a loan of $10,000 for the erec- tion of necessary buildings, and the proposition was sub- mitted to the people at the April election in that year, and by them rejected. In the mean time the supervisors had authorized contracts to be entered into for material and work, and when the necessary funds were refused by the voters of the county, they found themselves in an unfortu- nate predicament, and the work of building came to a sudden standstill.

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History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan, Part 26

Author: Durant, Samuel W. cn Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia : D.W. Ensign & Co. Number of Pages: 772

Author: Durant, Samuel W. cn
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : D.W. Ensign & Co.
Number of Pages: 772