1907 History of Allegan County, Michigan Illustrated Compiled under the Editorial Supervison of Dr. Henry F. Thomas Allegan Lewis Publishing Company
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION
As each of the townships was formed, as previously described, township government was instituted. At the first town meeting following the act for organization, there were usually present and active in the proceedings of the particular township, but the men upon whom devolved the civic and industrial responsibilities of the locality during its early years. There is a peculiar fitness therefore in naming so far as possible the first set of officers chosen by the townships at their first town meetings. The personnel of the principal township officials during the subsequent years will be found tabulated elsewhere in the volume, under Civil Lists to which the reader is referred. But the first set of officials gives us acquaintance with men, many of whom are mentioned prominently in connection with other affairs, and many of whose descendants remain in the county to this time.
For this purpose it will be well to describe the organization of the townships with reference to their origin. Plainfield, Otsego, Allegan and Newark, being the four large divisions from which all the twenty four townships, have been formed, the plan will be to describe the organization of Plainfield and then, in order, of each of the towns taken from its original area, and so on with Otsego, Allegan and Newark.
PLAINFIELD
In the various acts creating the townships, among other provisions, the legislature designated the place where the first township meeting should be held. The house of Isaac Aldrich was designated for the holding of the first town meeting in Plainfield. The act dividing the county into four civil townships was approved, it will be remembered, March 23, 1836, and the town meeting was held two weeks later. On April 4, not only the citizens living in the present town of Gun Plain, but all who lived in the other three towns to the north line of the county, were entitled to attend and participate in the meeting. Of course the majority of those present were in the Gun Plain neighborhood, where was then the nucleus of the settlers. In this respect the town meeting was the first one in the civil history of Gun Plains township, and its record usually begins the civil history of that town. But in a minor degree the same record is a part of the civil history of each of the other three towns, which at the time were attached to Plainfield.
The business of this first town meeting by the choice of temporary officers in the persons of John Murphy, moderator; William Forbes, clerk; John Anderson, clerk of election. The first township officers chosen in the meeting were: John Murphy, supervisor; William Forbes, town clerk; William Still, collector; Curtis Brigham, John Anderson, Peter Dumont, John Murphy, justices of the peace; Orlando Weed, Justus B. Sutherland, Chester Wetmore, highway commissioners; Curtis Brigham, John Anderson, William Forbes, school commissioners; Charles Bush, Friend Ives, Elisha B. Seeley, assessors; Peter Dumont, Chester Wetmore, overseers of the poor; Friend Ives, Elisha B. Seeley, Warren Caswell, fence viewers; William Still, Peter Dumont, S.H. Upson, Chester Wetmore, Orrin Orton, Warren Caswell, Leman G. Orton, John H. Adams, constables; Charles Bush, Charles Ives, Elisha Tracy, Elisha B. Seeley, pathmasters.
MARTIN
When Martin was first set off in 1839, with the two townships on the north attached for civil purposes, the first town meeting was held at the house of John H. Adams, mentioned above as constable in the first Plainfield election, on April 13, 1839. The township officers elected by the seventeen voters present were: Cotton M. Kimball, supervisor; Timothy Gregg, town clerk; John H. Adams, treasurer; George W. Barnes, John H. Adams, Mumford Eldred, assessors; Nicholas Shellman, collector; George W. Barnes, John C. White, Cotton M. Kimball, school inspectors; Abraham Shellman, Adam W. Miller, Walter Monteith, highway commissioners; Timothy Gregg, Abraham Shellman, directors of the poor; George W. Barnes, Abraham Shellman, justices of the peace; Nicholas Shellman, Oziel H. Rounds, constables.
WAYLAND
The township of Wayland, with the present Leighton attached, was organized March 9, 1843. The first township meeting was held at the house of Isaac Barnes, April 1, 1844. The township officers elected were: George W. Barnes, who was one of the first of Martin's officials; was elected supervisor; Luther Martin, town clerk; Oziel H. Rounds, treasurer; Steven S. Germond, Solomon Filkins, assessors; Isaac Barnes, George W. Barnes, school inspectors; Nelson Chambers, Joseph Heydenburk, directors of the poor; Isaac Barnes, Oziel H. Rounds, Nelson Chambers, highway commissioners; George W. Barnes, Steven S. Germond, Oziel H. Rounds, Nelson Chambers, justices of the peace; Calvin Lewis, Nelson M. Pollard, constables; Joel Bronson, Samuel E. Lincoln, Solomon Filkins, William S. Hooker, overseers of highways.
LEIGHTON
Leighton was organized as a separate township March 9, 1848, and the irst town meeting was held at the Green Lake schoolhouse, April 3, 1848. Township officers elected: George W. Lewis, supervisor; Samuel B. Hooker, clerk; George W. Lewis, treasurer; John Woodward, Jehu Wilson, assesors; Seth A. Lucas, Alfred Mann, school inspectors; Levi S. Bagnall, Samuel E. Lincoln, Jehu Wilson, highway commissioners; Homer Hulett, Seth A. Lucas, Alfred Mann, justices of the peace; William S. Hooker, John Woodward, poormasters; Philetus W. Wood, John Goodspeed, constables; John Woodward, Steven Hartwell, roadmasters.
OTSEGO
Otsego, in its original form, containing the three towns to the north, had its first town meeting at the house of Samuel Foster, April 6, 1833. Township officers chosen: Charles Miles, supervisor; Cyrenius Thompson, town clerk; Martin W. Rowe, collector; Eber Sherwood, Calvin C. White, D.A. Plummer, assesors; Giles Scott, Calvin C. White, overseers of the poor; Turner Aldrich, Norman Davis, Royal Sherwood, highway commissioners; Charles Miles, Samuel Foster, Cyrenius Thompson, school inspectors; Martin W. Rowe, constable; Orlando Weed, Eber Sherwood, U. Baker, Abijah Chichester, overseers of roads.
WATSON
Watson, cutt off from Otsego, with the two towns to the north, and organized February 16, 1842, had its first town meeting at the house of Eli Watson, April 4, 1842. The first town officers were: Amos D. Dunning, supervisor; Eli P> Watson, clerk; Eli Watson, treasurer; Peter Richart, John J. Lardner, assessors; William H. Warner, William S. Miner, Amos D. Dunning, school inspectors; Charles Benson, director of the poor; Jesse D. Stone, Harvey N. Barker, highway commissioners; Erastus Condon, William Allen, justices of the peace; Jesse D. Stone, J. Baker, constables.
DORR
Dorr, also containing the present town of Hopkins, was set off from Martin in 1847, and the first town meeting was held at the school house in district number 3, April 5, 1847. Fourteen votes were cast for the following officers: John Parsons, supervisor; Jonathan O. Round, Clerk; William H. Warner, treasurer; Edward Moore, William H. Warner, school inspectors; Orrin Goodspeed, Erastus Condon, Jonathan Brewer, highway commissioners; William H. Warner, Harvey N. Baker, directors of the poor; William H. Warner, Edward Moore, Harvey N. Baker, justices of the peace; Orrin Goodspeed, John Parsons, Jason Baker, Jonathan O. Round, constables; Jonathan O. Round, Jonathan Brewer, John Parsons, Edward Moore, overseers of highways.
HOPKINS
Hopkins, after obtaining separate organization in December, 1852, held its first town meeting at the log house on section 26 in school district No. 1, in April, 1853, the first officers being: J.O. Round, supervisor; John Parsons, clerk; Erastus Condon, treasurer; Hiram Loomis, William R. Ingerson, highway commissioners; John Truax, Jason Baker, justices of the peace; D.C. Ingerson, M. Vanduzen, school inspectors; Thomas Wilson, T.J. Crampton, directors of the poor; O. Perry, W.R. Ingerson, constables.
ALLEGAN
The original Allegan township, comprising two columns of townships through the center of the county, held its first town meeting following the act of organization in the village of Allegan, in April 1836. The officials chosen were: Alexander L. Ely, supervisor; Nathaniel Livermore, clerk; Joseph Fisk, Elisha Ely, Elisha Moody, Enoch S. Baker, justices of the peace; Elisha Moody, Hiram Abbott, Joseph Fisk, assessors; Elisha Moody, Elisha Ely, Enoch S. Baker, highway commissioners; Lyman Fisk, Elisha Ely, overseers of the poor; Sylvester Aldrich, Benjamin McCoy, Enoch S. Baker, school commissioners; Alexander L. Ely, William C. Jenner, Joseph Allen, school inspectors.
TROWBRIDGE
Trowbridge, set off from Allegan in 1842, embracing also the area of the present Cheshire, had its first town election at the Prouty school house, district No. 1, in April, 1842. Those elected: John Weare, supervisor; Sidney Smith, clerk; John Billings, Sr., treasurer; J.H. Blackman, John Weare, Walter H. Rood, Leander S. Prouty, justices of the peace; William Porter, William Granger, John Orr, highway commissioners; H.B. Seymour, John Billings, John G. Colbuen, school inspectors; Richard Weare, Riley Granger, Leander P. Ross, Benjamin Colburn, constables.
CHESHIRE
Cheshire, as set off from Trowbridge and separately otganized held its first town meeting in April, 1852. Officers: James G. Lindsley, supervisor; Harvey Munger, clerk; Marcus Lane, treasurer; Marcus Lane, C.W. Lindsley, S. Strong, Dustin Murch, justices of the peace; Marcus Lane, Dustin Murch, S. Strong, highway commissioners; C. Lindsley, S. Strong, school inspectors; Calbe Ward, A.B. Eaton, directors of poor; Ezra Whaley, A.B. Eaton, constables.
MONTEREY
Monterey, as organized from Allegan in 1847, had its citizens in the present Salem and Overisel as well as in its own proper area. The first town meeting was held April 19, 1847, and those elected were: JOhn Chase, supervisor; Noah Briggs, clerk; Frederick Day, treasurer; James M. McAlpine, Horace Wilson, N.H. Brown, Gil Blas Wilcox, justices of the peace; Gil Blas Wilcon, James M. McAlpine, George W. Kibby, highway commissioners; JOhn Chase, Henry Wilson, schol inspectors; Thurum Ross, Joseph Tanner, directors of the poor; George M. Kibby, Silas Reed, Harvey Kenyon, Horace Dexter, constables.
SALEM
Salem, as set off from MOnterey, October 10, 1855, with its present boundaries, held its first town election at the house of James Burnip, April 7, 1856, with the following results: L.P. Brown, supervisor; Henry Bear, clerk; James Burnip, treasurer; Henry Wilson, John Schwagert, justices of the peace; A.A. Goodman, Robert Pettingail, Aaron Bassett, highway commissioners; A.A. Goodman, Isaiah Mannes, school inspectors; Thomas Henton, director of the poor; Florida Henton, A.A. Goodman, Abner Hunt, Jacob Brandigan, constables.
HEATH
Heath, set off from Allegan in March, 1851, held its first town meeting in April, 1851, with the following results: James M. Heath, supervisor; John M. Heath, clerk; George P. Heath, treasurer; Simon Howe, Samule Bigsby, James Albro, James M. Heath, justices of the peace; Simon Howe, school inspector; L.P. Ross, Harvey Howe, directors of the poor; Daniel Rhodabaugh, Charles Howe, L.P. Ross, Henry Ammerman, constables.
PINE PLAINS
Pine Plains, as organized in 1850, had the present Lee and Clyde attached to its territory, and even then had a very limited population, as may be inferred from the fact that at the first town meeting held April 1, 1850, only two officers were chosen, namely: Timothy Coates, supervisor; Eli Hathaway, clerk.
NEWARK
Of the original township of Newark, comprising two columns of townships, none of the township records remain, and only the first supervisor, Daniel A. Plummer, can be named.
MANLIUS
Manlius, which was set off by itself, in 1838, held its first town meeting at the house of R.R. Mann, April 1, 1839, with the following persons elected as officers: John Allen, supervisor; James A. Poage, clerk; Samuel Town, Orrin Ball, John Allen, assessors; R.R. Mann, John Allen, Truman D. Autin, commissioners of highways; Orrin Ball, constable and collector; Samuel Town, Paul Shepard, Isaac Vredenburg, school inspectors; Paul Shepard, treasurer; R.R. Mann, Samule Town, James A. Poage, J.W. Palmer, justices of the peace; R.R. Mann, Isaac Vredenburg, directors of the poor; John Allen, James McCormick, overseers of highways; Truman D. Austin, poundmaster; Only ten voters were in the town at the time.
FILLMORE
Fillmore was a part of Malius until 1849, and no doubt from 1841, when its area was attached to Manlius, until 1849, some of its residents served as officers in Manlius and voted at its town meetings. The first town meeting was held in Fillmore as a separate town in April, 1849, at which time Isaac Fairbanks was chosen supervisor; Benjamin Fairbanks, clerk; Anton Schorno, treasurer; Isaac Fairbanks, Anton Schorno, George N. Smith, George Harrington, justices of the peace.
OVERSIEL
Overisel, being attahced to Fillmore in 1850, took part in the town meetings of the latter until its separate organization in 1856 gave it power to hold town meetings of its own. The first town meeting was held at the school house in district No. 1, April 6, 1857, when the following were chosen officers: C.J. Voorhorst, supervisor; Jan Boers, clerk; Hendrick Brouwers, treasurer; Lucas Daugermond, Hendrick Brouwers, school inspectors; Harm Walters, R. Van Dan, Hendrick Bellman, highway commissioners; Gerret J. Wolterink, Barteld Vredeveld, justices of the peace; Egbert Nykerk, Harm Schepers, direcots of the poor; Mannes Hulsman, Albert Woerding, constables.
LEE
Lee, at first a portion of Newark, from 1841 to 1850 a part of Manlius, and then until 1859 a part of Pine Plains, contributed its township activity in various directions. At its first township meeting after organization, held, April 4, 1859, the officers elected were: Thomas Raplee, supervisor, E.H. Heath, clerk; H.B. Rice, treasurer; H.B. Rice, Henry Davidson, Thomas Raplee, John Orr*, justices of the peace; Michael Hoy, David W. Matthews, highway commissioners; Henry Davidson, school inspector; David W. Matthews, Winchester Jenkins, Michael Hoy, constables; H.B. Rice, Winchester Jenkins, Michael Hoy, overseers of highways.
* Subsequently declared an alien
CLYDE
Clyde, detached from Pine Plains in 1859, held its first town election April 2, 1860, there being thriteen voters present, who cast their ballots for: Ralph Parrish, supervisor; George G. Smalley, clerk; E.H. Heath, treasurer; C.T. Billings, justice of the peace.
GANGES
Ganes, taken from Newark in 1847, embracing also the present Casco, held its first town meeting at the house of Orlando Weed, April 5, 1847, with the following results, 27 votes being cast in all: A.H. Hale, supervisor, S.H. Weaver, clerk; Levi Loomis, treasurer; N.D. Plummer, G.F. Hughes, justices of the peace; Daniel Platt, A.H. Hale, school inspectors; J.W. Wadsworth, Nathan Slayton, directors of the poor; J.W. Wadsworth, J.B. Goodeve, assessors; Nathan Slayton, Roswell Daily, J.B. Goodeve, commissioners of highways; John Lutz, Henry Baragar, S.H. Weaver, O.C. Thayer, constables; Henry Baragar, David Updyke, N.D. Plummer, C.O. Hamlin, Timothy McDowell, pathmasters.
CASCO
Casco, taken from Ganges in 1854, completed its civil organization at the first town meeting held in April 1855, when Timothy McDowell was elected supervisor. The records of the meeting and early township affairs were destroyed by fire in 1869.
SAUGATUCK
Saugatuck, really the nucleus of the original Newark, which name it retained until 1861, had a continuous civil history from 1836, but the early records were destroyed.
LAKETOWN
Laketown, set off from all that remained of the original Newark, in October, 1858, held the first town meeting April 4, 1859, when the following officers were elected: John Rouse, supervisor; Gerrit Ruttgers, clerk; A.J. Neerken, treasurer; A.J. Neerken, JOhn Rouse, Harm Rouse, Albert Klomparens, school inspectors; Reinderd Boorenkamp, Gerrit Ruttgers, John Lucas, highway commissioners; A.J. Neerken, H.J. Brinkman, John Ruttgers, Harm Klomparens, justices of the peace; Gerrit Heneveld, B.J. Brinkman, Derk Ten Cate, Hendrick Bakker, constables; G.H. Lubbers, Gabriel Rosbach, Harm Bouws, overseers of highways.
