USA > Michigan > St Clair County > St. Clair County, Michigan, its history and its people; a narrative account of its historical progress and its principal interests, Vol. I > 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).
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 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57
In 1857 the supreme court was reorganized and made to consist of a chief justice and three associate justices. all elected by the people of the state at large. and the judges of the circuit courts were no longer members of the supreme court. In that year Sanford M. Green was elected judge of the circuit to which St. Clair county belonged. and re- elected in 1863, holding until 1867 when he resigned, his resignation taking effect in April. Judge Green held court in St. Clair county for a longer period than any other judge up to the present time. He came to the state in 1837 at the age of thirty and lived in Shiawassee county six years, and while there held the offices of justice of the peace, prose- enting attorney, and senator. In 1843 he moved to Pontiac, and in 1844 was selected to prepare a revision of the laws of the state which was adopted by the legislature of 1846. In 1848 he was appointed judge of the supreme court. holding until 1851. In that year he was a can- didate for the nomination of circuit judge in the sixth district, which fneluded St. Clair county, but was defeated by Judge Copeland. Judge John S. Goodrich was elected judge of the seventh district, but died before his term began, and Judge Green was asked to take the nomina- tion of judge for that district. He consented and was elected, and it was during that term that he acted for Judge Copeland and held much of the court in the sixth as well as the seventh districts. In 1857 he was elected in the sixth district.
When Judge Green came to this county he found court officers lax and careless. the jurors inattentive to their duties, and the attorneys in- appreciative of the proper dignity of court proceedings, but his prompt firm and tactful handling of the situation soon brought all parties to a realization and appreciation of their duties. The jurors had been in the habit of arriving at court at whatever time suited them. A few fines. accompanied with an explanation of the delay and expense caused by their remissness. cured that trouble. The lawyers quickly saw that in
200
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Judge Green they had a man learned in the law, just and honest, and realized that this circuit was fortunate in having one of the ablest judges who ever sat upon the circuit bench of this state.
Judge Green wrote a book upon "Practice in the courts of the state." which earned the most favorable consideration from practising lawyers and has lately been issued in a third edition. After ceasing to hold court in this circuit. Judge Green moved to Bay City. practised law and also was elected judge for an adjoining circuit, and died August 13. 1901. at the age of 94 years, after a life of unusual service to the public.
James S. Dewey. of Pontiac. was elected in 1867 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Judge Green and he held the position for two years. At the end of that time the legislature, by act approved March 18. 1869, changed the judicial districts and put St. Clair county. to- gether with Macomb, Sanilac and Huron counties, into the sixteenth district, thus excluding Judge Dewey from St. Clair county. He, how- ever, was re-elected for a full term in the district in which Oakland county was located, but resigned in 1873 and removed to Detroit to en- gage in the practice of law.
Our county thus had but a short experience with Judge Dewey. who was but thirty-six years old when first elected. He was born in Browne county, New York, in 1831. and came to Lapeer county with his parents in 1838. After graduating from Miami University in 1858, he taught school and studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1860. While on the bench he was chosen by the legislature to make the compilation of the laws of the state, known as the Compiled Laws of 1871.
William T. Mitchell. of Port Huron, was elected judge of the 16th circuit in November. 1869. and served until July, 1872. when he re- signed and Edward W. Harris was appointed in his place. and in No- vember. 1875, he was elected for the full six year term.
OTHER JUDGES
In 1881 the judicial district in which St. Clair county was included was reduced to St. Clair and Macomb counties. In November, 1881. Herman W. Stevens of Port Huron, was elected judge, holding the office for one term, and was followed by Arthur L. Canfield of Mt. Clemens, who was elected in 1887 and also held for one term. By act of April 16, 1891, the county of St. Clair was made the thirty-first judi- cial district, and William T. Mitchell was appointed by the governor to hold the position of judge from the third Monday of May. 1892, until January 1, 1894.
At the election of 1893. Samuel W. Vance of Port Huron, was elected judge and re-elected in 1899. In that year the legislature passed an act providing for an additional judge in this circuit. and the gov- ernor appointed O'Brien J. Atkinson to fill the position until January 1, 1901.
Judge Vance died April 3. 1900. and the governor appointed Frank Whipple to fill the vacancy. This caused the election of two judges in November. 1900, to fill the unexpired terms. and Judge Whipple was
201
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
elected to succeed himself and Nahum E. Thomas to succeed JJudge Atkinson.
A fatality seemed to be pursuing the judges of the county, as Judge Whipple died in August, 1901, and Judge Thomas April 8, 1902. To fill these vacancies Eugene F. Law was appointed by the governor in August, 1901, to succeed Judge Whipple, and Harvey Tappan was ap- pointed to succeed Judge Thomas. Both Judges Law and Tappan were elected in November, 1902. to fill the unexpired terms, and were re- elected in 1905 and 1911.
PROBATE COURTS
Prior to January 19. 1811, the power of acting upon estates of de- ceased persons for the purpose of seeing that debts were paid and the property distributed to the persons rightfully entitled thereto. seems to have been in the district court, but upon that date an act was adopted by the governor and judges providing for the appointment by the governor of a register of probate, who was required to be of "honesty, ability and sound mind." The duties of the register were to receive proof of wills, issue letters to executors or administrators, and perform most of the duties now done by our judges of probate. On November 4, 1815, the duties of the register were extended to include the recording of deeds and conveyances.
It was not until July 7, 1818, that a court of probate was estab- lished; at that date the governor and judges passed an act that a court of probate should be held in each county in the territory and the gov- ernor should appoint some able and learned person within the county to take the probate of wills and grant administration. The same law provided for the appointment by the governor of a register of probate and that an appeal would lie from the judges of probate in the respective counties to the supreme court of the territory. The recording of ordinary instruments was left with the register of probate until. by an act adopted January 29, 1835, a provision was made for a register of deeds in each county, and the office of register of probate abolished.
When the territory became a state. the new constitution provided that a court of probate should be established in each organized county and that the judges of probate should be elected and hold office four years, and from time to time since that date additional duties have been imposed upon the judges of probate with regard to dependents, insane people, minors and delinquent children until in many eases the addi- tional duties equal in extent and importance the original ones properly relating to a court of probate.
In pursuanee of the law in force when the county of St. Clair was established, Governor Cass. August 7. 1821, appointed as the first judge of probate of the new county, Z. W. Bunce, and John Thorn the first register of probate. Thorn continued to act in that capacity until April 14, 1827, having been reappointed in 1825. December 18, 1824. George A. O'Keefe was appointed judge of probate. holding the position until April 14, 1827, when a change was made in the offices, both of judge and register, Mark Hopkins being appointed judge and Reuben
202
IHISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Hamilton register. These officials held but for one year, as on May 3, 1828. the governor appointed Jolm K. Smith judge of probate. and John Thorn register, and they continued to hold their positions by re- appointment until Michigan became a state and the judges elective, except that the office of register of probate was abolished in 1835.
The new state constitution was adopted in 1836, and at the first elec- tion thereafter John K. Smith was elected to hold the office of judge of probate for the term of four years. In 1840 Benj. C. Cox was elected and re-elected for a second term in 1844. John MeNeil of Port Huron, had the same experience of two terms, being elected in 1848 and 1852. In 1856 Marcus H. Miles of St. Clair, was elected. holding one term, and in 1860 James J. Scarritt. who had established the Port Huron Press in 1858. was elected. He held the position but a short time, however. as he took part in the organization of the Tenth Michigan Infantry. and was elected as its major in November. 1861. He therefore resigned his official position and entered the army. dying of disease at Nashville. Tenn., in November, 1863. To fill the vacancy, Edward W. Harris of Port Huron, was appointed, and held the balance of the term. In 1864 Dewitt C. Walker from Capac, received the election and performed the duties of the office for four years. In 1868 Judge Harris was elected for a full term and was followed in 1872 by Nahum E. Thomas of Port Huron, who was re-elected in 1876. In 1880 Joseph W. Avery of Port Huron. was elected and served two terms. followed by John L. Black, who likewise served two terms. In 1896 Frank T. Wolcott was elected and served one term, followed in 1900 by Harvey Tappan of Yale, who held the office until 1902. when he resigned to take the position of circuit judge to which he had been appointed. and Stephen A. Graham was appointed in his place and in 1904 was elected and in 1908 re-elected to the position.
St. Clair county has always been favored in the character and ability of its judicial officers and its judges of probate have uniformly been men of integrity and high standing.
THE BAR OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
In the early days of the county there was not enough legal business to support even one lawyer and consequently when courts were held or important legal questions discussed. lawyers from Detroit, or occasionally from Mt. Clemens. were employed. During the years from 1821 to 1827 when the county court was in operation, George A. O'Keefe and B. F. H. Witherell were the prosecuting attorneys. both from Detroit : Mr. O'Keefe has been referred to in another chapter. Mr. Witherell was a son of Judge James Witherell and himself later became a judge of the state supreme court and circuit court. and a popular able and fair minded judge. In 1823 the only lawyers who appeared besides the prosecuting attorney were Andrew G. Whitney, who soon became the attorney general and a prominent politician. and died of the cholera in 1834. and Charles Larned. who was for many years a noted and success- ful lawyer in Detroit and its most popular citizen. Other Detroit law- vers who appeared during the early years were Henry Chipman, who subsequently became judge, A. D. Fraser. Daniel Goodwin, C. W.
203
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Whipple, afterwards supreme court justice, William Woodbridge. later governor. and United States senator, H. H. Emmons, later United States judge, whose sister married John MeNeil, an early lawyer and promi- nent eitizen of the county, R. P. Eldridge and II. D. Terry from Macomb county, also appeared in the early courts, so that there was no dearth of able lawyers.
The earliest resident lawyer was George MeDougall, who after several years of practice at the Wayne county bar came to this county as keeper of the Fort Gratiot light house in 1825, but who practised law to some extent in this county until his death in 1842.
The first lawyer admitted to the bar in the county was Hosea Powers, who had been appointed surveyor of the county in 1830. In the intervals of his duties in that line he perhaps studied law, as on October 19, 1832. after examination by a committee of three Detroit lawyers he was ad- mitted to the bar. ITe located in Port Huron, and continued to prac- tise his original profession, as in 1835 he surveyed out and platted the village of Peru for Edward Petit.
In July. 1834, L. M. Mason and Ira Porter applied for admission. and a committee of examination was appointed, but no report upon Mason appears on the records. but both were certainly admitted. as they practised before the court for years, Mason finally devoting his time entirely to business, and about 1848 Porter moved to Waukegan, Ill.
October 20. 1836. Ebenezer B. Harrington was admitted to the bar. and practised law and organized and edited the Lake Huron Observer for a year or two when he removed to Detroit.
In October, 1837, Daniel B. Cady and True P. Tucker were admitted. both practising law in the county for some time. Tucker was a bril- liant but erratic man and lawyer. He later removed to Alpena, where he died in 1870.
Since that date the following attorneys have either been admitted to the bar here or have been resident practitioners. Their place of resi- dence, unless otherwise named, is Port Huron, and the year is that of their beginning practise in the county :
Adams. Charles W., 1899. Removed to California in 1911.
Adams. Thomas II .. 1882. Port Huron. Removed to Omaha.
Ames, Eugene. 1847. Removed to Minnesota. 1849.
Atkinson, James J., 1874. Removed to Detroit.
Atkinson. John. 1863. Removed to Detroit. Died.
Atkinson, O'Brien J., 1861. Died in 1901.
Atkinson, William F., 1871. Removed to Detroit. Died.
Avery, Alex. R., 1871. Died in 1901.
Avery, Joseph W., 1876. Died in 1903.
Avery. Lincoln. 1885. Port Huron.
Babcock, Henry A., 1895. Removed to Washington, D. C.
Babcock. E. C. Removed to Sanilac county.
Baird, Charles F., 1875. Died.
Baird, William. 1872. Removed to Ann Arbor.
Baird. Henry R .. 1898. St. Clair.
Bancroft. William L., 1851. Died at Hot Springs, Ark.
204
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Bancroft. Dewitt C., 1873. Port Huron. Removed.
Barry, James J .. 1872. Removed to Chicago. Died.
Beach. Wilbur H .. 1899. Removed to Bad Axe.
Bean. Norman J .. 1883. Removed.
Benedict. Chester L., 1899. Port Huron.
Benedict. James W., 1907. Removed to Sioux Falls, S. D. Black, Clare R .. 1899. Port Huron.
Black. Edmund S .. 1899. Marine City.
Black. John L .. 1882. Port Huron.
Brown. Charles R .. 1876. Removed to Marquette. Died.
Brown, Fred B .. 1901. Port Huron.
Brown. George L., 1905. Port Huron.
Burnham. Charles F .. 1899. Disbarred.
Butler. Thomas W .. 1889. Removed to Cuba.
Burch, Byron, 1876. Removed to Midland.
Cady. Almira. 1903. Married Attorney John F. Wilson.
Cady. Burt D .. 1895. Port Huron.
Cady. Daniel B .. 1837. Removed.
Campbell. Gordon R .. 1893. Removed to Calmet.
Campbell. Robert L .. 1893. Removed to Kalamazoo.
Carleton. Albert A .. 1878. St. Clair. Died.
Carleton. Miles H .. 1865. Engaged in teaching.
Carleton. Moses F .. 1878. Died 1905.
Carleton. William II .. 1876. Removed to North Dakota.
Clarke. George B .. 1894. Marine City. Removed to Detroit.
Clarke. George S .. 1902. Removed to Detroit.
Chadwick. Anson E .. 1855. Died 1907.
Chapman. Albert .J .. 1867. St. Clair. Removed to Detroit.
Coe. James L .. 1874. Port Huron.
Cline, William M., 1875. Drowned in 1896.
Cleaveland. Charles W .. 1874. Removed.
Conger. Omar D., 1852. Died in 1898.
Conger. Chilion P .. 1879. Removed to Washington. D. C.
Copeland. James T .. 1844. Removed to Pontiac.
Currie, John, - Port Huron. Crandall. Clifford W., 1899. Port Huron.
Crandell. John S .. 1882. Removed to Detroit.
Crellin. Jolm S .. 1855. Died.
Cross. Lester, 1856. Columbus. Died.
Collins, George F .. 1862. Removed to Nebraska.
Cowing, Wm. W., 1883. Yale. Removed in 1892 to Detroit.
Crimmins, Patrick H .. 1885. Removed to California. Died.
Dedrick, Charles E .. 1893. Port Huron. Removed.
Devlin, Frank J .. 1877. Removed to Chicago. Donnelly. John C .. 1872. Removed to Detroit.
Drummond, J. Wilfred. 1893. Removed to Detroit.
Dodge, Charles K., 1876. Port Huron. Drake. E. Harvey, 1887. Yale.
Falkenbury. Jolm J .. 1846. Died St. Clair, 1856.
Falkenbury, Smith, 1852. Died St. Clair. 1855.
205
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Farr, Fred A., 1895. Removed to Sanilae county. Farrand, Bethuel C., 1843. Died, Port Huron, 1902.
Farley, John H., 1886. Removed to Sanilae county.
Ferritt, Martin, 1858. Removed.
Finn, D. C., 1861. St. Clair. Removed.
Finn, Matthew, 1888. Removed to Detroit. Finn, R., 1861. St. Clair. Removed.
Fitzgibbons. David, 1892. Port Huron.
Gallagher, John N., 1875. Port Huron. Removed.
George, Fred W., 1906. Port Huron.
George, Thomas H., 1898. Port Huron.
Gilchrist. Charles P., 1877. Removed to Cleveland.
Gillett, William R., 1891. Removed to Chicago. Died, 1911.
Gleason, John M., 1889. Port Huron.
Grace, Edward, 1889. Removed to St. Paul.
Grace, William, 1847. Died, St. Clair, 1888.
Gordon, Frank J., 1902. Removed to New York.
Graham, John C .. 1893. Port Huron.
Graham, Stephen A., 1895. Port Huron.
Groesbeck, Alex. 1892. Removed to Detroit.
Gowan, William. 1885. Died at Yale.
Harnden, Reuben. 1879. Died.
Harrington, Charles F., 1863. Banker. Port Huron.
Harrington, Ebenezer B., 1837. Died at Detroit, 1844.
Harrington, Edmond R., 1896. Banker, Port Huron.
Harris, Edward W., 1854. Port Huron.
Hart, Henry, 1865. Removed to Midland. Died. Hart. Hugh H .. 1898. St. Clair.
Hawley, Thomas, 1872. Removed to Detroit.
Hayden, Merritt U., 1895. Removed to St. Louis.
Hill, J. Ward. 1865. St. Clair. Removed.
Hobin, Michael J., 1904. Port IIuron. Removed to Prince Rupert, Canada.
Hovey, Cyrus A., 1885. Port Huron.
Hudson, Thompson .J., 1865. Removed to Washington. Died.
Hughes, Isaac S., 1909. Port Huron.
Hunt, Charles J .. 1861. Port Huron. Died.
Huntoon, Del C., 1874. Marine City. Removed to Iowa. Hurd, P. A., 1879. Removed.
Hutchins, Harry B .. 1884. Pres. University of Michigan.
Irving, George, 1891. Removed to Alaska. Ivers, Oliver A., 1885. Died at Los Angeles. Jamieson, Samuel. 1858. Removed. Jenks, Jerry W., 1881. Professor at Cornell University. Jenks, William L., 1879. Port Huron. Jones, John R .. 1882. Removed to Detroit.
Jenney. II. P., 1886. Capae. Removed to Maine.
Kane, John M .. 1887. Died, 1911. Kimball, ITiram, 1880. Removed.
Kirkbride. John F., 1905. Removed to Regina, Can.
206
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Ladd, Sanford W., 1902. Removed to Detroit.
Lambert, Stanley W .. 1907. Died. 1911.
Law, Eugene F .. 1892. Circuit judge.
Lee, Ada. 1882. Married W. E. Springer. Lee. Edward M., 1863. Removed.
Leonard, William E., 1882. Died 1904. Look. Henry M., 1874. Removed to Pontiac. Died. Lehr, C. F. Port Huron.
Marsh. Milo E .. 1874. Removed to Lansing.
Marx, Arthur P .. 1908. Removed to Tacoma, Wash.
Mason, Lorenzo M .. 1834. Removed to Detroit. Died.
Merriam. Seward L .. 1886. Removed to Detroit.
Merrill, Joseph F .. 1856. Died, Chicago, 1873.
Merrill, William H .. 1895. Removed.
Miles, Cyrus, 1852. Died, 1877.
Miles, Marcus H., 1852. Died, 1877.
Miller. Norman I .. 1904. Removed to Atlanta, Ga.
Miller, William J .. 1879. Died. 1879.
Millis, Frank. 1889. Died. 1893.
Mitchell, William T .. 1847. Port Huron.
Moore. Alex. 1892. Port Huron.
Moore, George G .. 1897. Removed to Detroit.
Mugan, Michael N., 1879. Removed to Detroit. Died.
Mulford, John II., 1863. Removed.
Murphy, Thomas H., 1885. Removed to Toledo.
Muir, James A., 1889. Port Huron.
McNeil, John. 1841. Died. 1880.
MeAlpin, Harvey, 1856. Died. 1860.
McCall. Albert. 1876. Removed to Los Angeles.
McDonald. J. S .. 1890. Removed to Sanilac county.
Mellwain. James B .. 1879. Port Huron.
MeLaren. Alex A .. 1903. Died. 1906.
MeNamara, Edward, 1882. Removed to Detroit.
McSweeney. Thomas J .. 1876. Removed to Elmira. N. Y.
Northrup. Charles S., 1889. Removed to Toledo.
O'Dea, Frank P .. 1871. Removed.
O'Donnell. O'Brien. 1890. Removed to Toledo.
O'Sullivan. James, Jr .. 1903. Removed to Ophrida. Wash.
Owen, Tubal C .. 1858. Removed to Detroit. 1871. Died.
Packard, Peter N .. 1875. Marine City. Removed to St. Ignace. Died.
Parker. Frank S., 1887. Marine City.
Parsons. James I .. 1871. Removed to New Hampshire.
Pepper, Samuel D .. 1906. Removed to Lansing.
Phillips. Patrick H .. 1878. Port Huron.
Porter. Ira. 1836. Removed to Waukegan. Ill.
Potter. William. 1872. Removed to Bad Axe. Died.
Powers. Hosea. 1832. Died.
Rapley. Jesse A .. 1888. Yale. Removed to North Branch, Mich.
207
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Ripley, Volney A., 1849. Removed to Bay City. Left practice, went into lumber business.
Robbins, H. G., 1864. Removed to Bay City, 1867.
Robertson, William, 1890. Port Huron.
Robeson, Henry J., 1888. Removed to Joplin, Mo. Sampson, Guy C., 1861. Removed.
Sayles, Alex, 1910. Yale.
Saph, Valentine A., 1869. Died, 1903.
Sawher, Thomas, 1906. St. Clair.
Schell, Frank R., 1898. Port Huron.
Scott, Will R .. 1890. Died.
Sibbett, Samuel D., 1854. Removed.
Solis, Edwin T., 1868. St. Clair. Died, 1910.
Sparling. Harvey H., 1885. Removed to Los Angeles.
Spinks, John J., 1890. Died, Marine City, 1895.
Springer, William E., 1890. Removed to Detroit.
Stapleton, Michael, 1873. Drowned, 1877. Stevens. Harmon L., 1902. Port Huron. Stevens, Herman W., 1868. Died, 1907. Stevens, Walter R., 1903. Port Huron.
Stevenson, Albert E .. 1882. Mgr. I. O. F .. Port Huron.
Stevenson. Elliott G .. 1874. Removed to Detroit.
Stewart, C. Shirley, 1906. Port Huron.
Stockwell, Elmer E., 1900. Port Huron.
Stowell, Asa R., 1885. Died, 1910, at St. Clair.
Solis, Charles E., St. Clair.
Stickney, C. R., 1901. Removed to Detroit.
Sleeper, Arthur L., 1882. Removed to Sanilac county.
Smith, E. D., 1888. Removed to lowa, 1898.
Simpson, William H., 1906. Removed to Hart.
Tappan, Harvey, 1886. Circuit judge.
Thomas, Nahum E., 1870. Died, 1902.
Thompson, Nathan P., 1900. Removed to Winnipeg.
Tucker, True P., 1837. Removed to Alpena. Died, 1870.
Umphrey, William F., 1910. Yale. Removed.
Van Buren. Augustus, 1853. Removed west.
Voorheis, George P., 1875. Removed to Toledo. Died. Vrooman, Harris P., 1854.
Vrooman, Jacob A., 1854.
Removed to St. Louis. Died.
Vance, Samuel W., 1878. Died, Port Huron, 1900.
Waldron, Jabez G., 1869.
Died, Port Huron, 1877.
Walker, Dewitt C., 1857. Died, Capac, 1904. Wallace, Thomas H., 1872. Removed to New Mexico.
Walsh, Joseph, 1889. Port Huron. Walsh, William R., 1906. Port Huron.
Wands, Hazzard P., 1858. Died St. Clair, 1877.
Warn, Charles S., 1890. Removed to Hawaii.
Waterbury, George A., 1872. Removed to Sanilac county.
Watson, Frank R., 1904. Port Huron. Watson, George, 1904. Capac.
Removed to St. Louis. Died.
208
IHISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Wellman, Thomas, 1880. Port Huron.
Whipple, Frank. 1871. Died, Port Huron. 1901.
Wilson, George W .. 1856. St. Clair. Became Episcopal minister.
Wilson, John F .. 1902. Port Huron.
Wilcox. Charles, 1888. Removed to Detroit.
Wilson. Frank G .. 1877. Removed to Philadelphia.
Wilson. Lewis D .. 1877. Removed to New York City. Died.
Willoughby. John L .. 1889. Capac. Removed to Alberta.
Wolcott, Frank T .. 1881. Port Huron.
Wolfstyne. Edward W .. 1904. Removed to Chicago.
Wood. Sheldon A .. 1883. Removed to Detroit.
Wright, John L., 1893. St. Clair. Removed.
Wright, William D .. 1876. Removed to Denver.
Webster, Daniel, 1882. St. Clair. Removed to Colorado.
Whiting. Justin R., 1907. Removed to Jackson.
Williams, E. Y .. 1873. Removed, 1873.
Weymouth, Jay B., 1905. Yale.
Zimmerman, Henry M., 1895. Marine City. Removed to Pontiae.
CHAPTER XIV
LOCATION AND REMOVAL OF COUNTY SEAT
JAMES FULTON GETS ST. CLAIR ACCEPTED-COUNTY OF ST. CLAIR ORGAN- IZED -- PROPOSED REMOVAL FROM ST. CLAIR TOWN-FULTON DEFAULTS ON ERECTION OF COUNTY BUILDINGS-PORT HURON A COUNTY SEAT CANDIDATE-REMOVAL INDORSED BY SUPERVISORS AND PEOPLE-ST. CLAIR SUSTAINED BY SUPREME COURT-"SMITH'S CREEK" SELECTED- SUPERVISORS AND PEOPLE AGAIN DECIDE FOR PORT HURON-ST. CLAIR AGAIN APPEALS TO THE COURTS-SUPREME COURT SUSTAINS PORT HURON-OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATIONS.
The county of St. Clair enjoys the unenviable notoriety of a con- tinuous contention over the location of its county seat for more than fifty years. In 1818 what is now St. Clair county, was included within Macomb county, which was established in that year, and contained all the land lying north of the base line and east of the Indian treaty line of 1807. The entire population was about 800, which was distributed in a narrow fringe along Lake St. Clair and St. Clair river, with a small settlement at Mt. Clemens, which was the county seat. During that year there was some immigration into what is now Oakland county, and in 1819 that county was established.
JAMES FULTON GETS ST. CLAIR ACCEPTED
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.