USA > Michigan > Macomb County > History of Macomb County, Michigan > Part 34
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In testimony whereof I have caused the Great Seal of the said Territory to be hereunto affixed, and have signed the same with my hand. Given at Detroit this 15th day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the forty- second.
LEWIS CASS.
By the Governor :
WILLIAM WOODBRIDGE, Secretary of Michigan Territory.
LOCATING THE COUNTY SEAT.
" Whereas William Brown, Henry J. Hunt, and Conrad Ten Eyck, the com- missioners appointed to ascertain the most eligible site for the seat of justice of the County of Macomb, have reported to me, that the Town of Mt. Clemens, recently
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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
laid out upon the farm of Christian Clemens, Esq., in the said county, is the most eligible site for that purpose ; and whereas the said Christian Clemens, Esq., has conveyed for the use of said county, the lot of ground designated by the said com- missioners, and has given to the Treasurer of the said county, his obligation for the money, work, and materials required by them, towards the execution of the public building ; I do, therefore, in consideration of the premises, and by virtue of the authority by law in me vested, establish the seat of justice for the said County of Macomb, at the said Town of Mt. Clemens." This proclamation was signed by Lewis Cass, March 11, 1818.
ORIGINAL TOWNSHIPS.
A proclamation of the Governor issued April 8, 1818, divided Macomb into the following townships, viz : All that portion of the county south of a line drawn due west from the mouth of Swan Creek, to the Indian boundary line, shall form one township, and be known as the township of Huron ; all that portion which lies north of a line drawn due west from the mouth of Swan Creek, shall form one town- ship and be called St. Clair. Under the same proclamation all that portion of the town of Huron (which lies south of the base line) beginning at Forsyth's farm, including the farm, extending along the shore of Lake St. Clair to the River Huron, and west to the United States lands, was attached to the township of Hamtramck, in Wayne County.
Perry Township was established by the Act Jan. 12, 1819. It comprised the western sections of Macomb, all the unorganized territory north to the treaty line, and west to the meridian, north of the boundaries of Oakland.
THE NAME HURON CHANGED TO CLINTON.
An act approved July 17, 1824, declared that confusion, uncertainty, and incon- venience may frequently arise from the variety of rivers and places called Huron, and directed, for that reason, that the northern town of Macomb, which was estab- lished under the name of Huron, Aug. 12, 1818, should be called Clinton ; and the river running through said town into Lake St. Clair, commonly called the Huron, should be named Clinton.
CHANGE OF BOUNDARY.
The boundaries named in the Act establishing this county, Jan. 15, 1818, were changed in September, 1822, as shown in the following description :
" Beginning on the boundary line between the United States and the Province of Upper Canada, where the northern boundary of the county of Wayne intersects the same ; thence with the said northern boundary, west, to the line between the eleventh and twelfth ranges, east of the principal meridian ; thence north to the
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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
line between the townships numbered five and six, north of the base line ; thence east, to the line between the third and fourth sections of the fifth township north of the base line, in the thirteenth range, east of the principal meridian ; thence south to the southern boundary of the said township; thence east, to the line be- tween the fourteenth and fifteenth ranges, east of the principal meridian ; thence south to Lake St. Clair; thence in a direct line to the place of beginning.
Given under my hand, at Detroit, this tenth day of September, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-two, and of the Independence of the United States the forty-seventh. LEW. CASS."
ORGANIC SUMMARY.
Macomb County formed a portion of Wayne, as organized in the days of the Northwest Territory. Old Wayne County comprised not only the Lower Peninsula, but also the strip of land along the western shores of Lake Michigan, and all west of that strip so far as explorers might penetrate. Robert F. Eldredge, in his paper styled "A Brief Outline of the History of Macomb Co.," says: " It was estab- lished as a county in Michigan Territory in 1815. (Terr. Laws, Vol. I, p. 323.) It then included that part of Michigan to which the Indian title Thad been extin- guished. In 1805, the Territory of Michigan was constituted. On the 1st of July, 1805, the government of the Territory was organized at Detroit, by Gen. William Hull, as first governor. The Indian title to the lands of Macomb County was extinguished by the treaty of 1807. At that time the Pottawatomies, the Ottawas, the Wyandots and the Chippewas ceded to the United States a tract of country bounded south by the Maumee Bay and River, north by the principal meridian, and on the northwest by a line running southwest from White Rock, cutting the said meridian at a point where an east and west line from the outlet of Lake Huron intersects the same. By a proclamation made by Lewis Cass, Jan. 15, 1818, all the land thus obtained from the Indians which lies north of the base line was formed into the county of Macomb, and William Brown, Henry J. Hunt and Conrad Ten Eyck were appointed commissioners to ascertain the most eligible site for the seat of justice of such county. The county seat was established at Mt. Clemens by proclamation of March 11, 1818. May 4, following, the Legislative Council of the Territory granted $400 to the new county, to be expended in the erection of a court-house and jail. At this period Macomb comprised all the territory now form- ing the counties of St. Clair, Oakland, Livingstone, Genesee, Lapeer, large por- tions of Shiawassee, Ingham, Sanilac and Tuscola, together with the southeast corner of Huron, and a portion of the townships of Birch Run and Maple Grove, in Saginaw County.
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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
ESTABLISHMENT OF TOWNSHIPS.
The county was divided into townships by executive decree, published April 8, 1818. That portion of the county lying north of a line drawn due west from the mouth of Swan Creek was named St. Clair Township, while the portion south of such a line was called the township of Huron. The township of Harrison was laid off Aug. 12, 1818. The establishment of Oakland County, Jan. 12, 1819, was the first move in reducing the dominion of the settlers of Macomb; yet the act did not come into effect until Jan. 1, 1823, so that, virtually, Macomb ruled Oakland for a term of four years after the establishment of that county.
Perry Township was laid off Jan. 12, 1819. St. Clair County was established March 28, 1820. The township named stretched along the eastern boundary of Oakland, northwards to the Indian treaty line, and westward, south of that line, to the principal meridian, including what forms now the counties of Lapeer, Genesee, Shiawassee, and portions of Sanilac, Tuscola, Saginaw and Shiawassee. St. Clair County was organized May 8, 1820. Sept. 10, 1822, Gov. Cass' proclamation, establishing the boundaries of Macomb, was issued, which proclamation is given in this chapter. The principal river of the county was called the Huron until 1824, when the name was changed to Clinton by the act of July 17, 1824, and the name of Huron Township changed to Clinton Township.
The act, appoved April 12, 1827, laid off the county into five townships, viz :- Harrison, Clinton, Shelby, Washington and Ray. In 1832 the act to extend the bonndaries of Macomb was approved, when town 5 N. of R. 14. E., and the east half of T. 5, N. of R. 13 E., were added to the county and attached for govern- mental purposes to the town of Ray. March 9, 1833, the north half of Washington was formed into a new township to be called Bruce. April 22, 1833, town 5, N. of Ranges 13 and 14 E., were laid off under the name of Armadia. By the Act of March 7, 1834, Macomb Township was established, the boundaries of Ray were extended, and the town line between Clinton and Harrison straightened. March 17, 1835, town 2, N. of R. 12, E. was laid off as the township of Jefferson. Hickory and Grange townships were laid off March 11, 1837; Lenox was established March 20, 1837, and seven days previously the village of Mt. Clemens was incorporated. An Act approved March 6, 1838, authorized the organization of the town of Rich- mond, and under authority of the same act the name Jefferson was abolished, and the town called Sterling. The Act of April 2, 1838, ordered that sections 12, 13, 24, 25 and 36 of town Í N. R. 13 E., be taken from Orange and added to Hickory, and also recognized the change of name from Hickory to Aba. Romeo was incor- porated as a village, March 9, 1838, and on the same date the village of Utica received anthority to organize. The Act of March 26, 1839, changed the name Aba to Warren. On Feb. 16, 1842, the township of Macomb lost its eastern half,
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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
henceforth to be known as Chesterfield ; section 36 of Warren was ceded to Orange, and by an Act, approved March 9, 1843, the name of Orange gave place to that of Erin, by which name that picturesque division of the county continues to be known.
MISCELLANEOUS ACTS.
Under the act of Jan. 3, 1818, the inhabitants of that portion of Wayne County, comprehended within the limits of the District of Huron, as established by that act, and subsequently altered, should meet at the house of Christian Clem- ens, under the superintendence of Christian Clemens, Daniel Le Roy and Francois Labadie, to vote on the question of the organization of a General Assembly on the third Monday of February, 1818.
On the 26th Feb. 1818, the Legislative Council decreed, that on the first Mon- day of February and the second Monday of July in every year the County Court for the County of Macomb should be held.
Macomb County Court House. The Act of May 5, 1818, appropriated $400 towards the erection of a Court House and Gaol for Macomb County, to be ex- pended by the Justices of the Court of General Quarter Sessions, and to be paid out of any moneys in the treasury, not otherwise appropriated.
The Act of the Legislative Board, approved Aug. 26, 1819, directed that all wills, inventories of estates, returns of administrators or executors, bonds, decrees, orders, and all documents, etc., connected with Macomb County, should be trans- mitted at once to the County Register from the Register's office of Wayne.
An Act of the Legislative Council was approved Aug. 4, 1824, anthorizing Christian Clemens, Ellis Doty, Justice H. Barker, and those who may associate with them to erect a dam across Clinton River at the village of Mt. Clemens, with certain provisos, one of which was that the water should not be raised higher than three and one-half feet above low water mark.
The county commissioners of Macomb, were authorized, under an Act approved Aug. 4, 1824, to make such addition to the tax roll for that year, as they should deem necessary to meet the expense of completing court house and gaol, such tax not to exceed one-fourth of one per cent. on the valuation of real and personal property.
The construction of a territorial road from Mt. Clemens via] Romeo, Lapeer, and Saginaw to the Sault de Ste. Marie was authorized March 4, 1831.
The road from Detroit to Port Huron was laid off, under legislative authority. The Act approved April 12, 1827, authorized Nathaniel Millard, Jonathan
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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
Kearsley, Levi Cook, Charles Larned, Ellis Doty, John P. Sheldon, Christian Clem- rans, Alfed Ashley, Jacob Tucker, Ignace Morass, Joseph Hayes, and others who may associate with them, a company to remove obstructions from the Clinton River, and render it navigable from the village of Mt. Clemens to Mack's Lower Mill. This company as organized was known as the Clinton River Navigation Company.
Sept. 3, 1827, the counties of Macomb and St. Clair were erected into one dis- trict, and authorized to elect one member of the Legislative Council.
A second territorial road to the Clinton River from Detroit was authorized under the Act of June 23, 1828. This commenced at Detroit, continued by the Old French Church to a point on the Clinton River, betweeen Nathaniel Squire's and Enoch Huntley's farms in Macomb County. William Meldrum and James Connor of Macomb, and William Little of Wayne were appointed commissioners.
The Act of June 23, 1828 decreed that there should be a territorial road estab- lished, beginning at the northeast corner of Oakland County, and running thence south along the division line between Macomb to Oakland to the base line; thence continuing south until it intersects the turnpike leading from Detroit to Pontiac. Francis Cicot of Wayne, Alexander Faeles, of Macomb, and John Todd of Oakland were the commissioners appointed under the Act.
The Clinton Steam Mill Company was organized at Mt. Clemens, under power granted in an Act approved March 2, 1831. This act points out that the capital stock was $20,000 in shares of $25 each. The subscriptions toward this stock were ordered to be opened at Detroit, the first Monday of May, 1831, under the superin- tendence of Lewis Cass, Jonathan Kearsley, James Abbott, Innis S. Wendell, John Palmer, and also at Mt. Clemens, under Christian Clemens, Alfred Ashley, J. M. Cummings, and Job C. Smith.
An Act approved June 18, 1832, provided that within six months, it should be lawful for Antoine Dequindre, Barnabus Campau, Jacque Campau, Gabriel Cheine, Isidore Cheine, Rene Marsac, Isidore Morin, Dominique Reopelle, who feel ag- grieved by laying out the territorial road from the city of Detroit to the river Clin- ton so far as the Old French Church in the township of Hamtramck, to state their complaints to any Circuit or County Judge in writing, when three disinterested freeholders will be appointed to decide and assess damages.
The Romeo and Mt. Clemens Railroad was incorporated under authority given in an Act, approved April 16, 1833, with Gad Chamberlain, Gideon Gates, Asahel Bailey, Lyman W. Gilbert, Azariah W. Sterling, Moses Freeman, Isaac Powell, Noah Webster, Reuben R. Smith, Norman Perry, Anson Bristoll, James C. Allen,
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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
Joel Tucker, Wm. Canfield, Christopher Douglas, and N. T. Taylor. The capital stock was $150,000.
Shelby Liberal Institute .- An Act to incorporate a society under this name was approved April 22, 1833, granting to Daniel W. Phelps, Peleg Ewell, Samuel Ax- ford, Samuel Adair, Samuel Ladd, Lyman T. Jenny, Daniel Hurston, John S. Axford, Joseph Lester, Luther R. Madison, John Stockton, and Calvin Davis, power to establish in the township of Shelby a literary institution, and appointing the men named trustees of such.
Romeo Academy .- Under an Act approved March 21, 1833, Gad. Chamberlin, Nathaniel T. Taylor, Gideon Gates, Norman Perry, Noah Webster, Reuben R. Smith, Hiram Calkins, John S. Axford, Abel Warren, Asahel Bailey, John Ben- nett, James Starkweather, James Thompson, Azariah W. Steel, and William . Abbott of Macomb County were constituted trustees of Romeo Academy, with power to establish such an institution for the education of youth.
The Shelby and Detroit Railroad Company was authorized March 7, 1834, with Eurotas P. Hastings, Levi Cook, Shubael Conant, Gordon A. Leach, Daniel W. Phillips, Lyman T. Jenny, John S. Axford, Jacob A. Summers, and Peleg Ewell, commissioners under the direction of a majority of whom subscriptions to the amount of $100,000 capital stock might be received.
An Act of the Legislative Conncil of the Territory of Michigan, approved March 27, 1835, ordained, that the Supervisors of Macomb County, should, if they deem proper, discontinue all suits, pending in the Circuit Court, against Nathan B. Miller, John Elliott, James Meldrum, and Francis Dequindre, as sureties of William Meldrum, late treasurer of the county, and may release such bondsmen from all liabilities.
Richard Butler for copying returns of the sheriff, containing 6,400 inhabitants at $3.00 per thousand, received $18,02, March 21, 1358.
An Act approved March 27, 1835, anthorized the inhabitants of Harrison and Clinton townships to erect a bridge over the Clinton River at or near the village of Mt. Clemens, under the superintendence of Christian Clemens and Antoine Chortier, and authorizing a tax to be levied on the people of these townships to meet the ex- penses of the work. The conditions imposed were a bridge 14 feet wide, with a draw in the center of not less than 36 feet, and to be considered a free bridge for ever.
The Act to incorporate the Clinton Salt Works Company was approved April 3, 1838, giving authority to Robert S. Parks, Lawson S. Warner, Thomas B. Andrews,
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IIISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
Charles Hubbell, and Calvin C. Parks to form such a company and carry on the business.
An Act for the relief of the township of Shelby was approved March 9, 1838, dealing with the former absconding collector of taxes, and enabling the new collector to receive the sums of money unpaid to the man reported as absconding.
An Act appointing commissioners to establish State Roads was approved Feb. 28, 1838, directing that a State road from Mt. Clemens, by way of Crawford's Settlement in Macomb Tp; Chubb's Settlement in Ray Tp., to Flower's store in Armada, be laid out, and appointing Wm. Canfield, Stewart Taylor, and Azariah Prentiss, commissioners.
COUNTY OFFICERS PAST AND PRESENT.
SHERIFFS.
James Fulton 1818-22
John B. Ellsworth _1856-58
Henry O. Smith 1858-64
James Whiting I864-66
William M. Connor 1866-70
Charles S. Groesbeck 1870-78
William L. Dicken 1878-82
Calvin Davis 1838-40
COUNTY REGISTRARS.
John Stockton 1818-28
William Meldrum 1828-32
Rodney O. Cooley 1832-38
Amos Dalby 1838-44
Henry Teats 1844-48
Robert H. Wallace. 1848-52
John J. Traver 1852-56
Norton L. Miller 1856-60
Geo. W. French 1860-62
Thomas L. Sackett
1862-68
Frederick G. Kendrick
1870-74
Alonzo M. Keeler 1868-70
Geo. W. Robinson 1870-72
Alonzo M. Keeler
1872-74
Trangotte Longerhansen 1874-80
Judson S. Farrar 1880-82
CLERKS.
John Stockton 1818-25
Thomas Brandon 1825-26
R. S. Rice 1826-28
R. P. Eldridge
IS28-30
Richard Butler 1830-36
Prescott B. Thurston 1848-60
Isaac B. Gilbert 1860-64
Henry O. Smith 1864-68
Thomas L. Sacket. 1868-76
Theron Cudworth 1850-52
James B. Eldredge 1876-80
James B. Eldredge 1880-84
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William Meldrum 1822-28
N. Nye 1828-30
Addison Chamberlain 1830-32
William Canfield 1832-36
Abraham Freeland 1836-38
Amos B. Cooley I840-44
John G. Dixon 1844-46
Varnum Lutkin 1846-48
Milo Selleck. 1848-50
Walter Porter 1850-52
Thomas Golby 1852-56
Charles C. Lamb
1856-60
Joseph Hubbard 1860-64
Geo. E. Adair 1864-66
Haswell Church 1866-70
Winfield S. Hathaway 1874-78
Louis Groesbeck 1878-80
T. W. Newton
1880-82
JUDGES OF THE PROBATE COURT.
Christian Clemens 1818-36
Prescott B. Thurston 1836-40
Porter Kibbee 1840-48
Amos Dalby 1836-46
Robert Thompson 1846-48
Ira Ston 1848-50
John S. Fletcher 1852-54
Perrin Crawford 1854-56
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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
TREASURERS.
Christian Clemens 1818-27
John S. Axford 1827-32
Iliram Calkins 1832-34
Horace H. Cady 1834-36
Rodney O. Cooley 1836-40
Henry M. Dodge 1840-42
Thomas M. Perry
1842-48
Allen P. Bentley.
I848-52
Joshua B. Dickenson 852-56
Charles B. Matthews 1856-60
Edward C. Gallup
IS60-62
Justus R. Crandall IS62-66
Josiah T. Robinson 1866-68
Joseph Hubbard
1868-70
Oliver Chapaton
1870-78
Charles Tackels 1878-82
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.
Ezra B. Prescott 1818-20
Geo. A. O'Keefe 1820-28
Alex. D. Frazer 1828-32
Robert P. Eldridge 1832-34
Cornelius O'Flynn. 1834-38
Oscar S. Burgess 1864-70
Dewitt C. Walker 1838-40
Geo. E. Adair. IS70-72
John J. Leonard 1840-42
Oscar S. Burgess
1872-74
Harleigh Carter 1842-44
Clarence Stephens 1874-76
George E. Adair 1876-82
SUPERVISOR'S BOARD.
The first record of the Board is given under date July 17, 1827. Henry Taylor, John S. Axford, Joseph Lester, Reuben R. Lester, Job C. Smith, super- visors, were present. One of the resolutions adopted at this meeting was that no bounty should be allowed for wolf or panther scalps in the future, and that $+ be allowed for scalps taken under the law.
In October, 1827, the Board ordered that there should be raised for county purposes one-third of one per cent. upon all taxable property, which equal- ized would entail a tax upon Harrison, $80; on Clinton, $70; on Shelby, $50; Washington, $70; Ray, $28.37.
The first record of the issue of county orders is dated October 15, 1827, and is as follows: "B. W. Freeman, for services rendered the United States versus Garret Vand der Pool, 93 cents ; Moses Freeman, in the same cause, $4; Old David, for wolf scalps, $4; William Olds, for services as constable and crier, $3.50 ; Robert Townsend, for wolf scalps, $4; Isaac Andrews, for services rendered County Com-
Irving D. Ilanscom ISSO-82
[Mr. Hanscom moved to Marquette in June, 1882.]
COUNTY SURVEYORS.
John B. Hollister 1830-32
William A. Burt IS32-34
Ephraim Calkins. 1834-36
Joel Manley 1836-42
Charles F. Mallory 1842-50
Ludwig Wesolouski 1850-52
Geo. E. Adair. I852-56
Addison P. Brewer IS56-60
Geo. H. Fenner. IS60-62
Ludwig Wesolonski 1862-64
Wm. T. Mitchell 1844-46
Andrew S. Robertson 1846-50
Giles Hubbard 1850-56
Richard Butler. 1856-58
Giles Hubbard 1858-60
Elisha F. Mead 1860-62
Thomas M. Crocker 1862-64
Giles Hubbard 1864-66
Edgar Weeks. I866-70
James B. Eldredge
I870-76
Geo. M. Crocker 1876-80
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GIBBS, ARCHITECT.
MACOMB COUNTY COURT HOUSE , 1881-2.
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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
missioners, $3.50 ; John S. Axford, for duties as late County Commissioner, $5; Asa Huntley, $2; John S. Axford, as Supervisor, $6 ; Joseph Lester, $6 for services as Supervisor; Reuben R. Smith, for similar services, $6; Job C. Smith, $4; Ezekiel Allen, late County Commissioner, $5; Ephraim McCall, as Clerk of Super- visor's Board, $1.50 ; Henry Taylor, $4, as Supervisor ; John S. Axford, for wolf scalps, $4.
What changes have taken place since this record was made ! The old super- visors placed a quietus on the wolf hunters, exercised a false economy in every department of the public business of the county ; yet they were honorable men, and acted only in the spirit of the times. A few years later they were among the first to receive the teachings of the new immigrants from the Eastern States, and since 1835 may be said to equal in public enterprise the supervisors of the counties erected during that year.
In the paper on county organization, prepared in 1868 by Edgar Weeks, the following account of proceedings is given :
The County of Macomb was organized on the 18th day of January, in the year 1818. Prior to that date Macomb County was attached to the Judicial Dis- trict of Huron, and its limits embraced the present counties of Oakland, St. Clair, Lapeer, and several other more northern counties. The county seat was estab- lished at Mt. Clemens, where it has remained to this day. On the organization of the county, the governor, by commissions under the great seal of the territory, appointed the following officers. We give the names of the persons appointed, the dates of the appointments, and the titles of the offices : 1818, Jan. 20- Christian Clemens, Chief Justice ; Daniel Leroy and William Thompson, Associate Justices ; John Stockton Clerk of the Court of General and Quarter Sessions ; Conrad Tucker, Justice of the Peace ; Elisha Harrington, Justice of the Peace ; Ignace Morass, Coroner; John Connor, Constable ; Rufus Hatch, Justice of the Peace ; Feb. 9-Daniel Leroy, Justice of the Peace ; Francis Labadie, Justice of the Peace ; John K. Smith, Justice of the Peace ; June 22-John Connor and John B. Pettit, Commissioners ; Aug. 13-James Robinson, Constable ; Benoit Tremble, Supervisor of Harrison ; Nov. 3-Daniel LeRoy, Judge of Probate ; John Stockton, Register of Probate ; Dec. 12-John Stockton, Justice of the Peace. 1819, Jan. 4-Esra Prescott, Prosecuting Attorney.
Up to the year 1827, the municipal powers of the county were exercised through a Board of County Commissioners, and at that time the county was territorially divided into five townships, named Harrison, Clinton, Shelby, Wash- ington and Ray. These townships were, geographically, made up quite differently from their present boundaries. We will not stop to describe more than our own town of Clinton as it then stood. In the old town of Harrison was then included
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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
a portion of what is now Clinton, and what now constitutes Chesterfield and Lenox. Clinton then comprised what is now Erin, Warren, Macomb and the balance of what is now Clinton, not then included in Harrison.
The first election in this township was held at the Court House, in Mt. Clemens, and Job C. Smith was elected supervisor. The first supervisor of Har- rison was our old townsman, Dr. Henry Taylor, senior. The first session of the Board of Supervisors of this county, was held at Mt. Clemens, and Robert P. Eldredge was chosen as its clerk. The apportionment of the taxes of the year 1827, cast upon this town the burden of raising the sum of $70.00, while Harri- son was compelled to contribute $80.00, Shelby $50.00, Ray $28.37, and Washing- ton $70.00, a total for all purposes in the county of $298.37.
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