USA > Michigan > Genesee County > Flint > The book of the golden jubilee of Flint, Michigan 1855-1905. Published under the auspices of the Executive committee of the golden jubilee and old homecoming reunion > Part 4
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FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF FLINT.
she then jumped on him, placed her knees on his chest and held his wrists until help came in response to her screams. He says that the next day the chief came and baring his breast invited death at her hands, saying "Old Chief no good, whipped by white squaw." Mr. Todd says that he saw "Pero," who was of a very jealous disposition, shoot his wife, killing her, that the shooting occurred near where now is the Genesee Mill, that she was buried on the north side of the river in an orchard of plum trees about half way between Garland street M. E. Church and Saginaw street bridge, that a kettle, tobacco, beads, etc., were buried with her and that "nothing was ever done about it." He says the Indians were friendly enough to the whites where the whites were not afraid of them, but if the slightest fear was manifested they at once took advantage of it, and as an instance he mentioned Nathaniel Ladd, one of the earliest settlers, who could not overcome his fear of them and that the Indians made "life a burden to him," so that finally he left for more civilized regions in 1832. Later William S. Patrick, mayor of Flint in 1869-70, was watching a "run-way" for deer near the "Paper Mill," early one morn- ing. An Indian was also watching the same run-way unknown to Mr. Patrick, who, perceiving a movement in the bush, fired and, unfortunately, killed the Chippewa. At first the dead Indian's friends demanded vengeance, but Patrick kept in hiding for a few days until they became convinced that the shooting was accidental. Many years after this the writer was associated with Mr. Patrick in the lumber business at Au Gres river on Saginaw Bay-from 1869 to 1871-and our nearest neighbors were the remnants of a tribe of Chippewas whose chief at that time was "Oc-e-gan-a-be" and they were very fond of him. Indians always give some name to white men with whom they are associated and generally it is an Indian name, but in his case it was always "Good Bill"-and
THE HON. J. W. BEGOLE, Governor of Michigan, 1883-1885.
41
THE DEVELOPMENT OF FLINT.
they had many reasons for it. Mr. Patrick spoke the Chippewa language fluently and he was always a true friend to them.
Edward A. Todd has an excellent memory and he says that Col. E. H. Thomson was in error in saying that Daniel Sullivan was the first school teacher on the Flint. He insists that the first school was kept by a man by the name of Billings, -"a tall, raw-boned, red-headed fellow," whose school was across the road from Todd's Tavern. That Sullivan was the second teacher and that his school was located near Ham- ilton's Dam. He says he went to both schools and his mind is very clear on this point.
The river was wider then than now and John Todd had a ferry immediately in the rear of the tavern, but that soon after the Government built a bridge across the stream. He is not sure, but thinks his father and the late Judge Albert Miller, who had a contract for building a United States road north of the settlement, built this, the first bridge across the river. The date of its construction is unknown, but it was replaced by a new bridge in 1848. At a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors, May 5, 1848, John L. Gage, E. R. Ewing and C. N. Beecher were appointed a committee to superintend the construction of a "free bridge" across the Flint river at the village of Flint, pursuant to an act of the legislature approved February 24, 1848. This committee was authorized to advertise for bids in the Detroit Free Press, Detroit Advertiser, "Genesee Republican" and "Genesee Her- ald." (As the Genesee Herald was removed to Pontiac in 1844, this advertisement was probably printed in the Pontiac paper. There was no Genesee Herald at Flint in 1848.) At the same session a resolution was adopted thanking Hon. E. H. Thomson and His Excellency William M. Fenton, then Lieutenant Governor of the state, for their efficient services in procuring an appropriation of land for this bridge. The
42
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF FLINT.
first bridge was built as already stated by the United States as a part of the thoroughfare from Detroit to Saginaw, but when twelve miles of the road north of Flint had been con- structed, Michigan was admitted as a state and the general Government relinquished its claim to the road already built and discontinued operations. On October 14, 1848, the special committee appointed to superintend the building of the new bridge reported that they had contracted with Messrs. Hazleton and Annis of Flint for its construction, that it had been completed for the payment of which all of the state's appropriation of five thousand acres of land had been applied.
When it is remembered that the price of all Government and state lands was but $1.25 per acre, it does not appear that the entire appropriation of five thousand acres was so very extravagant as the cash value was but $6,250. The present broad and substantial bridge-the full width of the street- constructed in 1901-2, cost $18,994.
THE FIRST ELECTION.
An account of the early history of the city of Flint can hardly be understood without referring to the act of the legis- lature erecting the county of Genesee. This act of the legis- lative council was approved and became law March 28, 1835. The new county was formed by detaching certain territory from the counties of Shiawassee, Lapeer, and Saginaw and for judicial purposes attaching the, new county to Oakland. Under this act forming the county of Genesee, Grand Blanc was the first township erected and that embraced the present townships of Fenton, Mundy, Flint, Mt. Morris, Genesee, Burton, Atlas and Davison. On March 2, 1836, the township of Flint was erected. It embraced the present townships of Burton, Clayton, Flushing, Mt. Morris, Genesee, Thetford, Vienna, Montrose and the city of Flint.
43
THE DEVELOPMENT OF FLINT.
The first county election was held August 22, 1836, and the board of canvassers were Lyman Stowe, Alonzo Ferris and Clark Dibble. The following officers were declared elected :
Associate Judges, J. R. Smith and Asa Bishop.
Judge of Probate, Samuel Rice.
Sheriff, Lewis Buckingham (the first of three Buckinghams to be sheriff.)
Clerk, Robert B. F. Stage.
Treasurer, Charles D. W. Gibson.
Register of Deeds, Oliver Wesson.
Coroners, Chauncy Chapin and Rufus Stevens.
Surveyor, Ogden Clark.
The first meeting of the board of supervisors was held in a tailor shop kept by Daniel L. Seeley, October 4, 1836, and Lyman Stowe was the supervisor from Flint township, Samuel Rice of Grand Blanc and Samuel W. Patterson of Argentine. The assessment as spread upon the rolls was :
Flint Township-
State tax
$2,039 73
County tax 1,267 43
Town tax 231 52
Grand Blanc and Argentine Townships-
State tax
$1,178 96
County tax 732 57
Town tax 146 30
The collectors were John Todd of Flint and Caleb S. Thompson of Grand Blanc, and every penny of this tax was collected.
The county site was fixed by the Act of the Territorial Legislature, approved August 25, 1835. This act provided, "that the seat of justice for the county of Genesee shall be located on the west side of the Saginaw turnpike, (now South Saginaw street), on lands recently deeded by John Todd to one Wait Beach, known as the Todd farm at Flint river, pro- vided the proprietor or proprietors of said lands shall within six months of the passage of this Act execute to the supervisors a good and sufficient title to two acres of land for a court
44
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF FLINT.
house and public square, one acre for a burial ground and two church and two school house lots of common size." The latter clause covers the present location of the Court street M. E. church. The first court house was built of logs in 1838-9, costing $5,000. A brick addition for county offices was erected subsequently. The old court house and jail, erected in 1839, was destroyed by fire in 1866 and a new court house and jail was completed in 1867 at a total cost of $50,000 and served their purpose until they were replaced by the buildings which were dedicated in June, 1905.
THE CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES.
The first session of the circuit court in Genesee county was held at Flint in February, 1836, and was presided over by Judge Morrell, whose term as justice of the supreme court began in 1832. He was chief justice in 1843. The next supreme court judge to hold court here was Charles W. Whipple, whose term as a justice of the supreme court began in 1838 and expired in 1852. In April, 1851, under the con- stitution of 1850, John S. Goodrich of Goodrichville, Genesee county, was elected a circuit judge but died before he had qualified. Sanford M. Green was elected the next judge of this circuit and resigned in 1857. He was succeeded by Josiah Turner who served twenty-four years. Judge William Newton was his successor and served twelve years, and his successor was Charles H. Wisner, who entered upon his third term as judge of the Genesee circuit on January 1, 1906. Many now living will recall Judge Green, the author of "Green's Practice" and other text books. He was in later years judge of the Bay circuit court and died full of years and honors. Judge Josiah Turner, in his long service of twenty-four years, came to be considered almost as a resident here. He subsequently became United States Consul at Amherstburg, Ontario, and after his retirement from that
45
THE DEVELOPMENT OF FLINT.
position he resumed his residence at Owosso and is still living. Judge William Newton had achieved a state reputation as a sound lawyer and had acquired a fortune before he became judge. He has been dead several years. The incumbent, Charles H. Wisner, came from a family distinguished in the history of Michigan, his father was Moses Wisner, governor of the state, 1859-1861, and his third consecutive election as circuit judge is indicative of his very able and satisfactory incumbency of this important office.
THE UNITED STATES LAND OFFICE.
Of course the title to the lands here originally came from the United States. The government land office was the center of interest and the officers were a register who sold the land and the receiver who received the cash. All sales were recorded and reports were made to the commissioner of the general land office at Washington. In due time a patent for the land purchased was sent to the local land office and deliv- ered to the purchaser. These patents were signed by the President. As the tide of immigration turned towards Michi- gan the necessity for a local land office at this point became apparent and by Act of Congress, approved June 15, 1836, the land district of Genesee was created. The commissioner of the general land office under date of November 3, 1905, writes me that the records do not show the location of a land office at Flint, but at Genesee. But the location of the "Gene- see" land office was, nevertheless, at Flint from August 23, 1836, until January 14, 1857, when it was removed to East Saginaw.
The officials of the Genesee land office were commissioned as follows :
Michael Hoffman, Register, July 5, 1836.
Charles C. Hascall, Receiver, July 5, 1836.
John Bartow, Register, August 10, 1838.
Elijah B. Witherbee, Receiver, February 23, 1843.
46
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF FLINT.
Cornelius Roosevelt, Register, May 21, 1849.
Robert J. S. Page, Receiver, October 12, 1844. William M. Fenton, Register, March 25, 1853. Charles C. Hascall, Receiver, March 21, 1845. George M. Dewey, Receiver, March 18, 1849. Russell Bishop, Receiver, March 18, 1853.
When it was decided to remove the land office to Sagi- naw, Moses B. Hess was appointed register and Col. W. L. P. Little was appointed receiver, their commissions being dated March 21, 1857. From that time these offices were held by non-residents of Flint, I think, until 1871, when two "Flint boys," as Hon. F. H. Rankin, Sr., used to call us, were appointed, although both were temporary residents of Bay county at the time the appointments were made. They were Hon. Robert L. Warren, now of Ann Arbor and president of the board of trustees of the Michigan School for Deaf at Flint, and William R. Bates. The latter was register and Mr. Warren was receiver. Mr. Warren resigned in 1873 and the writer in 1877 and returned to Flint to reside. The land office was subsequently consolidated with others and removed from East Saginaw to Grayling and while located there the valuable records, maps, field notes, etc., were destroyed by fire and the office was then consolidated with the Marquette office where it now is.
THE POSTOFFICE.
The postoffice came a couple of years prior to the land office and the first postmaster was Lyman Stowe who was appointed August 5, 1834, the name of the office being Flint River. A number of stories concerning this official have been circulated and recently one of the Detroit papers printed an article concerning Mr. Stowe's silk hat, which, according to this story constituted the only post office. The facts are that even at that early day Mr. Stowe had an abiding place as well as a name for his little office. It was located on the northwest
47
THE DEVELOPMENT OF FLINT.
corner of the present Saginaw and Kearsley streets, where the First National Bank now is, and later when John Todd was postmaster he occupied the same building. This infor- mation was secured from Edward A. Todd who, as a boy, was an assistant in the postoffice when his father was post- master. He says that this story originated from the fact that when the mail arrived on the Pontiac stage and had been regularly assorted and delivered to all callers, Mr. Stowe would take the remaining letters, place them in his hat, and strolling about would personally deliver them to the citizens, all of whom he knew. He was the first "letter carrier" in this town. The hat thus worn and utilized by Mr. Stowe was for a long time the property of the late Leonard Wesson and is now owned by Frank J. Rutherford of Flint. As stated, the first name of the postoffice was "Flint River," but when Mr. Stowe was appointed in September, 1836, the office was re-named Flint. It was advanced to the presidential grade February 4, 1837. The following is the official list of all postmaster from the beginning and the dates of their several commissions as furnished me by the Honorable Edwin C. Madden, Third Assistant Postmaster General, who is a resi- dent of Detroit :
Lyman Stowe, appointed August 5, 1834. Lyman Stowe, appointed September 1, 1836.
John Todd, appointed October 2, 1837.
William P. Crandall, appointed December 28, 1839.
William Moon, appointed June 16, 1841.
William P. Crandall, appointed October 12, 1844. Alvin T. Crosman, appointed April 28, 1849.
Ephriam S. Williams, appointed May 7, 1853.
Washington O'Donoughue, appointed March 27, 1861. William Tracy, appointed April 21, 1869. John Algoe, appointed July 31, 1874. Washington O'Donoughue, appointed March 26, 1875. Francis H. Rankin, appointed March 3, 1879. William W. Joyner, appointed March 3, 1887. George H. Newall, appointed February 15, 1891. John H. Hicok, appointed February 25, 1895. Blendina Hicok, appointed September 3, 1896. James A. Button, appointed September 14, 1897.
48
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF FLINT.
FLINT CITY CHARTER.
After much discussion among the very wideawake, pro- gressive residents of the unorganized and non-incorporated village of Flint concerning a possible city charter, public opin- ion seems to have crystalized and on January 18, 1855, a citi- zens' meeting was held at the court house to publicly discuss the proposition. The debate continued for some time and resulted in the appointment of a committee of citizens, consist- ing of Gen. C. C. Hascall, Levi Walker, Charles N. Beecher, Francis H. Rankin, James Birdsell, George M. Dewey and Chauncey S. Payne, for the purpose of formulating a city charter. Levi Walker wrote the charter and it was submitted to the citizens at an adjourned meeting and after having been read and discussed it was adopted and was sent to the Legisla- ture. Exactly fifteen days after the first citizens meeting, the Legislature having passed the law, the charter of the new city of Flint was approved by Governor Bingham, February 3, 1855. The first city election under the new charter was held on April 2, 1855, resulting in the election of Grant Decker, Mayor; Levi Walker, Recorder; Elihu H. Frary, Treasurer ; Charles N. Beecher, Supervisor; Cornelius Roosevelt, Mar- shal; Benjamin Pierson and Henry I. Higgins, Directors of the Poor; Dr. Daniel Clark, School Inspector; and Charles Seymour, Levi Walker, Lewis G. Bickford and Willard Eddy, Justices of the Peace.
The city was divided into three wards and at the first city election the following ward officers were elected :
First Ward: G. M. Dewey and J. W. Armstrong, Alder- men; Ashael Fuller, Assessor; William Moon, Street Com- missioner ; and Cyrus A. Goff, Constable.
Second Ward: Benjamin Pierson and David Mather, Aldermen; William Hamilton, Assessor ; William Eddy, Street Commissioner ; and Erastus K. Carrier, Constable.
1
THE HON. G. H. DURAND, Justice of the Supreme Court of Michigan, 1892.
49
THE DEVELOPMENT OF FLINT.
Third Ward: Wm. M. Fenton and Alvin T. Crosman, Aldermen; David Foote, Assessor; John C. Griswold, Street Commissioner ; and Daniel L. Nash, Constable ..
The voting places were: First Ward, "The Scotch Store," Second Ward, Lyon's Hotel, and Third Ward, The County Clerk's Office.
The records show that the first assessment disclosed a valuation of $450,601, and the amount of taxes collected was $3,320.92, which was apportioned as follows:
State and County tax $1,136.50
School district No. 1
287.16
School district No. 2. 215.96
Military tax
496.79
Highway tax returned 22.21
For city purposes
1,162.30
The population of the new city was about 2,000. The population by the government census of 1900 was 13,103. No effort has ever been made to "boom" the town in the modern acceptation of that term, but it is a safe thing to say that every man, woman and child has made it a business to say good things about Flint. While its growth has been comparatively slow, yet between 1890 and 1900 there was an increase of nearly 5,000 people and at this time it is estimated that the population is at least 16,000, and if this growth continues for the next five years as it has for the last five years, the census of 1910 will show a population of over 20,000.
THE OFFICIALS OF FLINT.
Grant Decker, the first Mayor of Flint, was forty-one years of age when elected Mayor, having been born February 4, 1814, in Deckertown, N. J., where his family located before the war of the Revolution. He came to Flint in 1839 and engaged in the lumbering business. Subsequently he was interested in a flour mill erected by himself and Hon. Artemas Thayer. Later still he was interested in a flour and feed mill
50
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF FLINT.
and Captain Ira H. Wilder was associated with him. Notwith- standing the fact that his various business places were burned eight times in forty years he continued nearly up to the time of his death as one of the active and highly respected business men of Flint. He was one of the founders of St. Paul's Epis- copal Church and was one of its officers at the time of his death. Mr. Decker's large frame mansion was one of the fine old homes of the city, but after his death it made place for the residence of former Mayor William A. Paterson.
Since Mr. Decker's incumbency of the office of Mayor, that position has been filled by forty-four different persons. Of these, Col. William M. Fenton, William Hamilton, Col. Wil- liam B. McCreery, David S. Fox, Judge George H. Durand and A. D. Alvord were re-elected, the others having held the office but one term each.
In appending the names of the Mayors, Recorders and Treasurers of the city from 1855 to and including the year 1905, it is hoped to aid in perpetuating the names of men who aided in building the city and who were intimately and influen- tially connected with its growth and prosperity.
Among the names of the Mayors of Flint occur those of men who had state wide reputations, and they may be men- tioned here without detracting from the excellent records made by the others. William M. Fenton, Mayor for two terms, 1858 and 1859, was a great lawyer, a successful business man, was Colonel of the 8th Michigan Infantry during the War of the Rebellion and was Lieutenant Governor of Michigan. Henry H. Crapo, Mayor in 1860, served the state for two terms as its Governor. William B. McCreery was a Colonel during the Civil War, State Treasurer and United States Consul at Santiago de Chili. George H. Durand, Mayor two terms, 1873 and 1874, was a member of Congress one term, a Justice of the State Supreme Court, appointed by Gov. E. B. Winans to fill
51
THE DEVELOPMENT OF FLINT.
vacancy, and at the time when he was stricken with the illness which resulted in his death, was the Democratic candidate for Governor of the state. Jerome Eddy, Mayor in 1878, Chair- man of the Democratic State Central Committee and United States Consul at Chatham, Ontario. Mr. Eddy died November, 24, 1905. George R. Gold, Mayor in 1898, was Judge of Pro- bate and Trustee of the State Institution for the Feeble Minded at Lapeer. Judge Gold was a model citizen, a delightful com- panion and his death was a distinct loss to this city and state. George E. Taylor, Mayor in 1892, was a State Senator and Judge of Probate. Col. Edward H. Thomson, Mayor in 1877, was a man of culture, the owner of one of the best private Shakespearean libraries in the country, which is now the prop- erty of the University of Michigan, and a man known far and wide as a lecturer on Shakespeare, as a reconteur and a genial gentlemen. His hospitable home, containing also his library, was located where is now the residence of Arthur G. Bishop, on Kearsley street. William A. Atwood, Mayor 1882, has long been known as a conservative and successful business man, and has served as State Senator. The present Mayor, D. D. Aitken, has served two terms as a member of Congress, is a lawyer, manufacturer, banker and a friend to the man who needs a friend. There are few names, if any, among the long list of past and present city officials about whom the writer could not truthfully say complimentary things, did space allow.
The office of City Recorder was abolished in 1876, since which time the Common Council has elected a City Clerk. A complete list of the city officials follows :
Mayor.
1855-Grant Decker
1856-R. J. S. Page
1857-Henry M. Henderson
1858-William M. Fenton
1859-William M. Fenton
1860-Henry H. Crapo
1861-Ephriam S. Williams
Recorder.
Lewis G. Bickford L. R. Buckingham
Treasurer.
Elihu H. Frary
Levi Walker Charles B. Higgins John G. Griswold George F. Hood
M. L. Higgins Charles Hascall
George F. Hood
Charles Hascall George F. Hood
John A. Kline
John A. Kline
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THE DEVELOPMENT OF FLINT.
Mayor
1862-William Patterson
1863-William Hamilton
1864-William Hamilton
1865-William B. McCreery
1866-William B. McCreery
1867-Austin B. Witherbee 1868-Samuel M. Axford
1869-William S. Patrick 1870-James B. Walker
1871-David S. Fox
1872-David S. Fox
1873-George H. Durand
1874-George H. Durand
1875-Alexander McFarland
1876-William Hamilton
Recorder
J. R. Brousseau Henry R. Lovell
Alvin T. Crosman
Alvin T. Crosman
Alvin T. Crosman
George R. Gold
George R. Gold Anson S. Withee
Anson S. Withee
Chas. E. McAlester F. H. Rankin, Sr. Soloman V. Hakes
F. H. Rankin, Sr. F. H. Rankin, Sr. Clerk. F. H. Rankin, Sr.
Treasurer
John A. Kline Anson S. Withee
Anson S. Withee
Anson S. Withee
William W. Barnes William W. Barnes William W. Barnes
William W. Barnes
William W. Barnes
William W. Barnes William W. Barnes
William W. Barnes
William W. Barnes
William W. Barnes
1877-Edward H. Thomson
1878-Jerome Eddy
1879-James C. Willson
1880-Zacheus Chase
1881-Charles A. Mason
1882-Wm. A. Atwood 1883-Geo. E. Newall
1884-Wm. W. Joyner
1885-Mathew Davison
1885-Geo. T. Warren
1887-John C. Dayton
1888-Oren Stone
1889-F. D. Baker
1890-W. A. Paterson
1891-F. H. Rankin, Jr.
1892-Geo. E. Taylor
1893-Andrew J. Ward
1894-Arthur C. McCall
1895-John Zimmerman 1896-Samuel C. Randall
1897-Milton C. Pettibone
1898-Geo. R. Gold
1899-H. Alex. Crawford
F. H. Rankin, Sr. F. H. Rankin, Sr.
J. B. F. Curtis Albert C. Lyon (to fill vacancy) Albert C. Lyon D. D. Aitken
D. D. Aitken D. D. Aitken
John H. Hicok
John McKercher
John McKercher
Fred'r A. Platt
Fred'r A. Platt
Frank E. Willett
Frank E. Willett
J. Frank Algoe J. Frank Algoe Edwin C. Litchfield Edwin C. Litchfield
Dan'1 E. McKercher
Dan'1 E. McKercher
Fred P. Baker
Fred P. Baker
Fred P. Baker
1900-Chas. A. Cummings 1901-Clark B. Dibble
1902-A. D. Alvord 1903-A. D. Alvord 1904-Bruce J. Macdonald
1905-D. D. Aitken
Fred P. Baker Fred P. Baker A. W. Hall (to fill vacancy) D. E. Newcombe D. E. Newcombe D. E. Newcombe D. E. Newcombe
William W. Barnes Ira H. Wilder (to fill vacancy) Charles C. Beahan Charles C. Beahan
Jared Van Vleet
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