History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 30

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago [Ill.] : Inter-state Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1166

USA > Michigan > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Michigan > Part 30

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8,528

84,739

Parma

21,99115

69,843

7,910

77,753

Springport

19,064

67,832

5,093

72,930

Concord

21.951

125,540

20,175

145,715

Rives.

21,408

67,022

4,643

71,665

$2,065,720

The object of these statistics was to afford such information to the auditor general as would enable him to impose upon the county a share of the new tax, ordained March 29, 1838.

On June 27 the resignation of Thomas Cotton, one of the super- intendents of the county poor, was accepted, and Chester C. Car- penter, of Napoleon, and Daniel Parkhurst, of Jackson, were appointed to fill the vacancies then existing.

The appeal of Abram F. Bolton and others from a decision ren- dered by the commissioners of highways of the town of Columbia, came before the board for final hearing July 9, 1839. Messrs. Farrand and Higby represented the appellants, and Samuel H. Kimball the respondents. After the examination of 40 witnesses, the board deliberated, and finally rendered the following judgment.

In the matter of appeal of Abram F. Bolton and others from the decision of the road commissioners of the town of Columbia to the county commissioners of the county of Jackson, the said road commissioners having discontinued the follow- ing described road, viz .: The Napoleon and Michigan Center road, so-called, or so much of the same as is within the town of Columbia, commencing on the section line about 50 rods east of the northeast corner of section 36, in T. 3 S., R. 1 E., and running in nearly a northwest direction until it intersects the north line of the town of Columbia.

Now, therefore, we, the commissioners in and for the county of Jackson, having heard the proofs and allegations of the parties, and all the testimony of witnesses offered under oath, and upon due consideration of the whole matter, do hereby adjudge that said road is necessary and for the public convenience, and we hereby reverse the decision of the said commissioners of highways discontinuing said road, and establish the same according to the survey of said road on record.

NICHOLAS TOWNLEY, ALVIN CLARK, Committee.

DRUSUS HODGES, JR. )

July 9, A. D. 1839.

293

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

The annual meeting of the board was held Oct. 7, 1839, with Commissioners Townley, Hodges and Clark present. The audit- ing of. accounts and the consideration of taxes for the years 1839- '40 were proceeded with.

Nov. 18, 1839, Alvin Clark took his seat in the board, having been re-elected to that position, and, on the motion of N. Townley, was chosen chairman.

Dec. 17 the board investigated the public accounts, as kept by ex-Treasurers O. Russ and N. Allen. In the settlement there is a sum of $9 allowed Norman Allen for money he received as treas- urer when current, and failed in his hands.

Dec. 20 the resignation of N. Allen was accepted, and the board appointed John N. Dwight to that position. The closing days of 1839 were given up to much routine business, such as the auditing of accounts and examination of tax records. The Christmas holi- days were unobserved by the members, nor did they adjourn until Saturday, Dec. 28, 1839.

The first meeting for 1840 was important, in so much that the accounts of 1839 were received, and W. R. De Land, County Clerk, ordered to superintend their publication in the columns of a news- paper known as the Sentinel, then printed in the county. This report appeared Jan. 15, 1840, and is said to have afforded much satisfaction to the people.

The meeting of Jan. 16, took up the question of standard weights and measures, and ordered the clerk to apply to the State for them.

Jackson and Ingham Counties .- The commissioners of the two counties, with the county treasurers, assembled at Jackson March 23, 1840, for the adjustment of claims existing between the two corporations since the time they were united for judicial purposes. Messrs. Alvin Clark, Nicholas Townley, Drasus Hodges, Jr., and Treasurer John N. Dwight represented Jackson, with Wm. R. De Land acting as clerk. Messrs. Jacob Loomis, Henry Lee, Wm. A. Dryer and Treasurer H. H. Smith, of Ingham, represented their county.

The afternoon of the 23d was devoted to a resume of the ac- counts of both corporations and in fixing upon a principle which might lead to a friendly adjustment of claims. Much desultory debate ensued, in which all the members of the convention took part. A simultaneous proposition from each board was suggested, but was not a success. After recess Henry Lee, a commissioner from Ingham, took his seat, and a further examination of books and papers was ordered.

The sitting of March 24th was more conciliatory. After a short deliberation the following paper was drafted and signed :-

The commissioners of the county of Ingham, in pursuance of powers vested in them by law, agree to pay to the county of Jackson the sum of $120; said sum to be paid out of moneys collected on the unpaid non-resident taxes on lauds in the said county of Ingham returned, and now in the office of the treasurer of Jackson, levied in the year 1837; and provided said sum of $120 should not be realized from collections on said tax within six months from this date, the commissioners of the county of Ingham agree to pay it over from other funds. And it is further under-

294

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

stood that this settlement is to extend to all claims prior to this date, that have been audited and allowed hy the Board of Supervisors or Commissioners of the County of Jackson. And whatever claims may arise hereafter growing out of the judicial connection of the two counties shall be a matter of future adjustment. And the commissioners of the county of Jackson hereby agree to relinquish for the benefit and use of said county of Ingham, all claim which the said county of Jackson may have had to the balance of the above mentioned non-resident unpaid tax, amounting to about $517.00, and permit the same to be collected by the treasurer of the county of Jackson,-the said county of Ingham paying all extra expenses which may arise from collecting the same.

[Signed.]

ALVIN CLARK,

NICHOLAS TOWNLEY, Commissioners of Jackson County.

DRUSUS HODGES, JR. )

JACOB LOOMIS,

HENRY LEE, Commissioners of Ingham

WM. A. DRYER. County.

WM. R. DE LAND, Clerk of the Board of Commissioners of Jackson County.

The united wisdom of two counties dispersed, and the fact is thus set forth in the annals of that important and amicable trans- action. "Having no further business, on motion the two boards, adjourned sine die."

Miscellaneous .- So late as March, 1840, there were sums paid out to wolf-scalpers.

PECULIAR STATISTICS.

In the annual abstract furnished to the Auditor General, the total value of real and personal property, pertaining to the county, is set down at $1,661,318, which, compared with the exhibit made June, 1839, viz .: $2,065,720, shows a depreciation in value, equaling $404,402. This exhibit was completed June 29, 1840. A few days later, the same board approved a corrected assessment roll, show- ing a further reduction in total value of real and personal property of $158,954, or a total depreciation within the years 1838-'40 of $563,356, or over a half million dollars.

A resolution of July 10 orders "That Daniel Parkhurst, the present district attorney for this county, be allowed the sum of $450, and the use of the room he now occupies in court-house, known on the Journal of the Commissioners as room No. 1 (reserv- ing said room for the use of the grand jury at each term of the Circuit Court), as his salary for one year, the year to commence from the time of his appointment to said office." Many accounts were authorized to be paid, some routine business transacted and the board adjourned.

Nicholas Townley, of Tompkins, Alvin Clark, of Grass Lake, and John Belden, of Spring Arbor, with Fairchild Farrand, ex- officio clerk of the board, met January 4, 1841, and organized by electing Alvin Clark chairman for the ensuing year. The first action of the board was the appointment of superintendents of the poor for one year from January 4. They were John Daniels, Drusus Hodges, Jr., and Daniel Parkhurst.

295

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

Nicholas Townley's motion, to have the court-house insured for $4,000 and the poor-house for $300, in the office of the Jackson Mutual Fire Insurance Company, was carried.

At a special meeting held Feb. 8, 1841, the commissioners re- solved:

That said county of Jackson shall and will prepare, construct and furnish for the use of the Legislature of said State, a good, suitable and convenient building at the village of Jackson, in said county, for all sessions of said Legislature, and equally as suitable and convenient in all respects as the building now occupied by said Leg- islature, in the city of Detroit, without any charge for the same or expense to the said State, at all times from and after the first day of September next, until such time as the seat of government of said State may and shall be permanently fixed and located by law; provided, that the seat of government of said State of Michigan shall be temporarily fixed and located at the said village of Jackson by law.

ALVIN CLARK, Chairman Board Commissioners. F. FARRAND, Clerk.

The commissioners assembled on the 10th to consider the ques- tion of the collection of delinquent taxes. After some considera- tion the board resolved, "That Alvin Clark be and is hereby authorized to bid off all the lands that are not sold to private in- dividuals for taxes remaining unpaid, as agent, for the benefit of the county, and that the treasurer be requested to make such cer- tificates, as required by law, to said Alvin Clark, agent."

The June session was mainly occupied in the preparation of the annual report for the Auditor General of State.

A county surveyor was appointed Nov. 8, 1841, to serve until the election of county officers, the first Monday in January, 1843; James A. Knight was chosen to fill the position.

The following day George Byrne, Registar of the county, was authorized to compile a general index to the record books of his office.

In December the' board voted a sum of $500 to Treasurer John M. Dwight in compensation for his services from Jan. 1, 1841, to Jan. 1, 1842.

The commissioners held their last regular session, as recorded, Jan. 3, 4 and 5, 1842. A number of accounts were ordered to be paid, and a sum of $200 allowed Phineas Farrand for his services as prosecuting attorney during the year 1841.

Norman Allen's name with that of John Belden appear as signers and commissioners, on the last record.

Revival of Popular Government, July 4, 1842 .- The rule of supervisors was re-established, and though few complaints were lodged against the oligarchy who for a few years ruled over the county, the change to the government of many was hailed with delight.

The supervisors assembled at the meeting of July 4, were: Nicholas Townley, Tompkins; Benj. Davis, Napoleon; A. R. Morrison, Parma; Abram Van De, Liberty; H. G. Cornell, Spring Arbor; Charles Woodworth, Concord; A. H. De Lamater, Co- lumbia; Wm. J. Moody, Jackson; David Porter, Hanover; Stephen B. Crawford, Springport; C. M. Chapel, Sandstone; Ben. Seidle,

296

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

Grass Lake; Russell Ford, Leoni; A. T. Gorton, East Portage; G. Coolbaugh, Henrietta; Alvin True, Rives; Elijah Dixon, Pulaski.

The new board having appointed committees, adjourned to the 5th, when it took up the subject of claims against the county, and the equalization of the assessment roll. The table showing the result of their deliberations in the second instance gives the fol- lowing totals: No. of acres, 399,866; value of real estate, $1,355, -- 213 ; value of personal property, $82,701 ; total value, $1, 437, 914.

The session of October, 1842, opened on the 10th. The super- visors ordered a sum of $2,875.83 to be levied for the purpose of paying State tax ; and $8,500 as county tax for 1842. This was duly apportioned to the township.

Messrs. Jonathan Wood, Marcus Wakeman and Oliver Russ, were elected by the board superintendents of the poor for one year.

During the December sessions the supervisors manifested a de- sire to increase the salaries of the county treasurer and district attorney. Consequently a motion was carried granting the for- mer, J. N. Dwight, $450 for services rendered during the year 1842, and $470, together with the use of two rooms in the court- house, for the latter, Phineas Farrand, for services from April, 1842, to April, 1843.

At this time the question of leasing the court room to the Methodist society created much discussion, both within and with- out the board, so that when the motion granting the lease was placed before the meeting, it required the casting vote of Chair- man Cornell to pass it.

From the table of equalized valnation the total worth of real and personal property is set down at $1,412,160, and the number of acres in the county at $410,880. The supervisors ordered that a sum of $10,591.25, including $2,824.24 State tax, be levied offthe county for 1843.

The election of the superintendents ofthe poor, held by the board Oct. 24, resulted in the re-election of Messrs. Wood, Wakeman aud Russ.

In December, 1843, the tenants, repairs and decoration of the county court building occupied the attention of the board, and if resolutions of such bodies ever resulted in trouble to outside par- ties, a few of those characterizing that meeting promised anything but peace to an old citizen.

Oct. 19 was given up to the examination of 112 claims against the county, and also to the equalization of value of county prop- erty for 1844. The entire value of real estate was set down at $1,245,556, and that of personal property at $178,080, with an acreage of 402, 797.

The name of David Johnson appears as prosecuting attorney in 1844. Oct. 31, that year, the board voted him a salary of $500 per year for his services from April 10, such salary to be paid quarterly.

297

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

By some happy advance in the knowledge of orthography, the word " moneys" is spelled correctly for the first time in the pages of the records Jan. 1, 1845. The corrected word is contained in a resolution affecting the poor-farm, carried that day by the Board.

The second day of the January session, 1845, was occupied in the auditing of 79 accounts against the county.

At the annual meeting in October, the supervisors having an- swered to their names, proceeded to organization. Superintendent Townley's motion, "That Marcus Wakeman be chairman of the Board for ensuing year," was carried, when the call of townships was again made.

The business brought before the October session was of a varied and important character, though not exceeding in subject the ordinary routine.

At the meeting held Dec. 19, 1845, the supervisors resolved " that Hiram Thompson be authorized to procure the binding of the entry books in the register's office ; also to procure an abstract at the land office of the original entries of lands in Jackson county." From this it appears that the county did not possess any records of the first land purchases until 1846 ; and it does ap- pear strange that a number of supervisors and commissioners, who bestowed so very much attention on the county, should overlook a subject so interesting and valuable, and remain without such im- portant knowledge from 1833 to 1845.

In the calculations of the board it appears that the number of acres credited to the people in 1845 was 407,204; the aggregate value of real and personal property, $1,407,369; the State tax, $3,- 518.38 ; the county tax, 88, 796.96, and the rejected tax, 81,158.84.

Sixty-six accounts were passed by the board, and receipts pre- sented by G. T. Godfrey, Prosecuting Attorney, for his salary ; by H. Tisdale for $454.78, for services rendered county in 1845 ; and by L. D. Welling for $1,072.51, for services rendered the county during the years 1843-'5.

At the October meeting of 1846 Supervisor Nicholas Townley was elected chairman of the board for the succeeding 12 months. On the third day of the session the following resolution was adopted : "That Hiram Thompson be authorized to make an ab- stract of all the records of the register's office of Jackson county, affecting the titles of any lands in said county, but at his own costs and charges, reserving the right to the county of Jackson of purchasing the same at the rate of nine cents for each abstract en- try ; the said Thompson to have the use of the books of the office, when not in use by the register or other person or persons, for the above object." Whether Mr. Thompson carried out his patriotic offer remains to be seen.

The board ordered the payment of 111 accounts Oct. 22. On the 23d Marcus Wakeman, Abram Van De Bogart and William Moody were chosen by the board superintendents of the poor for the ensuing year.

298

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

The board began to entertain the idea of erecting new county offices, and among other committees appointed was one composed of Nicholas Townley, F. C. Watkins and John Belden, to ascer- tain whether it would be advisable to remove the register's and county clerk's office from the public square ; if so, upon what terms can a site be procured, and also the terms for erecting a fire-proof building. This committee reported Dec. 30, but a resolu- tion of the board postponed its further consideration indefinitely.

The duplicate for 1846 presented the following totals of township valuation: Number of acres, 406,676; value of real estate, $1,225,- 407; value of personal estate, $195, 409; aggregate value, $1,420,816; State tax, 83,551.08. county tax, $7,812.46. This statement being approved by the board, the public accounts were taken up, and 52 claims ordered to be paid. This closed the labors of the supervi- sors for 1846.

The January session of 1847 was principally occupied in audit- ing and passing accounts. The meeting of Jan. 22, however, entertained a resolution offering to levy upon the county the sum of $50,000 for the erection of a capitol, provided the Legislature would fix the permanent location of the State Government in the village of Jackson. Forty two accounts were ordered to be paid.

At the annual session of 1847, Oct. 11, David Menzie was elected chairman for the year ensuing.

The business transacted during the first three days of the session was of an unimportant character. On the 14th the committee on equalization presented their report, which, summed up, showed. the following totals: Number of acres, 409,350; value of real estate, $1,312,155; equalized value, $1,295,599; value of personal estate. $112,851.50; total, $1,425,006.50.

SCHOOL MATTERS.

A tax of 50 cents per scholar, aggregating $195, was ordered to be levied in Hanover township for the support of primary schools. The supervisors further granted the use of the court-house for the meetings of the teachers' institute.

THE ELECTION

of superintendents of the poor resulted in the choice of Stephen B. Crawford, Caleb M. Chapel and Amos Pickett to fill that posi- tion. The closing meetings of the year 1847 were almost entirely devoted to ordinary routine business.

The annual meeting of 1848 was held Oct. 9. The supervisors elect were duly installed in office, and organized by choosing Alford Hall as chairman for the year 1848-'9.

The committee appointed to examine the assessment roll re- ported as follows, on the third day of the session: Acres of land, 422,788; value of real estate, $1,360,836; value of personal estate, $235,503; equalized valuation, $1,274,201; aggregate valuation, $9,510,904.

299

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

The meeting of the new board was held Oct. 8, 1849, and organ- ized by the election of Michael Shoemaker as chairman.

At the annual meeting Oct. 14, 1850 Supervisor J. B. Eaton, of Jackson, was elected chairman for the ensuing year.

The duplicate was then presented and approved, showing totals of assessed value, $1,334,928; equalized value, $1,141,847; personal property, 8253,651; aggregate value, $1,355,498; State tax, $5,- 478.80; county tax, $8,512.47; total tax, $13,991.17.

The superintendents of the poor presented a voluminous report, under date of Oct. 10, 1849, dealing with expenditures for the year ending Oct. 12. The various items are set forth thus: Inci- dental expenses, $9.76; temporary relief, $233.78; justices' orders, $194.34; directors of poor, $81.79; physicians temporary relief, $182.51; justices of the peace, $4.50; keeper of county poor-house, $796.96 repairs on poor-house, $6.19; varnishing poor-house, $27,35; carrying panpers to poor-house, $13.25; total, $1,551.53.

The foregoing may be considered a record of the more important transactions of the supervisors and commissioners, for each year from 1833 to 1850.

1851 .- At the June meeting of the board the following figures were adopted as the totals on which to base the assessment of the county: Number of aeres, 409,025; assessed valuation, $1,304,834; equalized valuation, $1,268,961.01; personal property, 8247,498; aggregate equalized valuation, $1,516,852.

The adoption of the report of the committee on equalization closed the proceedings of the board of supervisors. The ancient record book from which the particulars were taken was devoted to the minutes of their transactions for 19 years, from Oct. 1, 1833, to June 11, 1851. It contains much valuable and interesting mat- ter, and cannot fail to prove instructive, while passing in review, as it were, the men who watched over the well-being of the county from a period extending over 19 years. It is unnecessary to follow · up the proceedings of the supervisors. Their names will suffice to prove the upright character of their transactions as repre- sentative men, and their earnestness in contributing to the pros- perity of their county.

1852-1880. - It is unnecessary to extend an account of the gen- eral transactions of the supervisors through all the years following 1852. With what has been hitherto written on the subject, the reader is enabled to examine into the financial condition of the county almost from its organization, and to mark the years wherein progress was made.

The assessment of real and personal property of the county and city for the year 1880 is $9,255,302, represented as follows :

300

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

Townsbips.

Aggregate value.

Townships.

Aggregate value

Blackman.

$ 355,110

Springport

321,155

Columbia.

406,499

Summit

331,977

Concord.

423,887

Spring Arbor

370,920

Grass Lake

555,326

Tompkins

266,146

Hanover

369,339

Waterloo.

293,492

Henrietta

250,500

First Ward, Jackson

456,435

Leoni

366,991

Second

383,092

Liberty

276,697

Third

166,825

Napoleon

283,597

Fourth

571,797

Norvell

277,695

Fifth

364,649

Parma

377,015

Sixth

268,993

Pulaski

330,919

Seventh

364,617

Rives.

299,420

Eighth

175,979

Sandstone.

346,933

Jackson County Tax Sales .- County Treasurer Townley received from the State treasurer a report of the amount of the tax sales in this county for 1880, together with the amount due the State on old account. The latter officer writes :

"The footings of your sales-book and State-tax-land list have been completed. The amounts sold are ascertained to be as fol lows :

On the sales-book. $ 1,131 71

From the State tax land list 898 64

Total.

$ 2,030 35

"There is due from the county to the State on old account the sum of $4,201.17. This account grows out of interest on returned and rejected taxes. However, sales of the current year aggregat- ing $3,090.85 stand nominally to the credit of the county on the State treasurer's books, but will not be reckoned as such until next year. Could it be so used at the present time it would reduce the old account to $1,110.32."

Under the fostering care of the board of supervisors, the condi- tion of the county finances is flourishing, every department of the public service, under the jurisdiction of the board, is well ordered, and thus a feeling of confidence is engendered in the hearts of the people, while those who administered the government of the county leave a sure record of duty done.

The Court-House-is situated near the Bennett Block, a short distance west of the spot where the first stone building stood, erected at the instance of the county. The present edifice is suf- ficiently extensive for the transaction of county business, but its situation is altogether out of place. Such an institution should form the central figure of a public square, and be a thing of beauty as well as utility.

The importance of Jackson among the counties of the State sug- gests the propriety of having its public buildings made the image of such a situation. The court-house, as erected in 1871, is en- tirely too massive a concern to be hidden away in its present corner.

301

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

THE COUNTY JAIL

is fortunately large enough for the few tenants furnished by the distriet. It is an unpretentious structure, situated in rear of the court-house, with frontage on Jackson street, south of the Bennett Block.

THE COUNTY POOR-HOUSE.

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History of Jackson County, Michigan, Part 30

Author: Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago [Ill.] : Inter-state Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1166

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago [Ill.] : Inter-state Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1166