CHAPTER XXXV
THE CITY ADMINISTRATION
The Mayor and Aldermen constitute the Common Council, which is the legislative body of the city of Grand Rapids. To enter into detailed description of the powers and duties of the several officers is unnecessary, inasmuch as the statutes and ordinances are open for the perusal of every citizen. But of the Aldermen it may be remarked that in addition to their duties in Council they are inspectors of registration and election; are conservators of the peace and may order arrests of violators of State or City laws; are not to hold any other office of which fees or salary are paid by the city, and are not to be interested in any city contract. Following are the city official lists from 1850 to 1889.
YEAR
MAYOR
RECORDER
CLERK
TREASURER
1850
Henry R. Williams
Leonard Bement
Aaron B. Turner
Erastus Hall
1851
Ralph W. Cole
Franklin Everett
A. Hosford Smith
Wilder D. Foster
1852
William H. Withey
Leonard Bement
A. Hosford Smith
Wilder D. Foster
1853
Thomas B. Church
John F. Godfroy
Peter R. L. Peirce
Wm. T. Powers
1854
Wilder D. Foster
Eben’r S. Eggleston
Peter R. L. Peirce
Wm. T. Powers
1855
Charles Shepard
Lovell Moore
Peter R. L. Peirce
Edson Fuller
1856
John M. Fox
Stephen G. Champlin
James Blair
Ebenezer Anderson
1857
William T. Powers
Stephen G. Champlin
Chas B. Benedict
Ebenezer Anderson
1858
Gilbert M. McCray
Stephen G. Champlin
Chas. B. Benedict
Francis Vogt
1859
George K. Johnson
Charles P. Calkins
Evert M. Doubleday
Adolphus F. Rau
1860
Martin L. Sweet
Charles P. Calkins
Evert M. Doubleday
Paul Steketee
1861
George H. White
John W. Champlin
Charles W. Eaton
Noah Stevens
1862
George H. White
John W. Champlin
Charles W. Eaton
Noah Stevens
1863
Charles C. Comstock
Charles P. Calkins
William H. Powers
Noah Stevens
1864
Charles C. Comstock
George W. Thayer
J. Frederic Baars
J. Frederic Baars
1865
Wilder D. Foster
John T. Miller
Edwin Baxter
J. Frederic Baars
1866
Wilder D. Foster
John T. Miller
Robert Wilson
J. Frederic Baars
1867
John W. Champlin
Birney Hoyt
Benjamin F. Sliter
J. Frederic Baars
1868
Moses V. Aldrich
Birney Hoyt
Chas. W. Warrell
J. Frederic Baars
1869
Moses V. Aldrich
Birney Hoyt
Chas. W. Warrell
James D. Lyon
1870
Moses V. Aldrich
Birney Hoyt
Chas. W. Warrell
J. Frederic Baars
1871
Leonard H. Randall
G. Chase Godwin
Chas. W. Warrell
J. Frederic Baars
1872
Julius Houseman
G. Chase Godwin
Chas. W. Warrell
J. Frederic Baars
1873
Peter R. L. Peirce
G. Chase Godwin
Chas. W. Warrell
J. Frederic Baars
1874
Julius Houseman
G. Chase Godwin
Chas. W. Warrell
J. Frederic Baars
1875
Peter R. L. Peirce
(Office abolished)
Chas. W. Warrell
Leonard H. Randall
1876
Peter R. L. Peirce
Chas. W. Warrell
Leonard H. Randall
1877
George W. Thayer
Chas. W. Warrell
Leonard H. Randall
1878
Henry S. Smith
Chas. W. Warrell
Crawford Angell
1879
Francis Letellier
Chas. W. Warrell
Wm Sears
1880
Henry S. Smith
Chas. W. Warrell
Edwin Hoyt, Jr.
1881
George G. Steketee
John J. Belknap
Edwin Hoyt, Jr.
1882
Edmund B. Dikeman
John J. Belknap
Homer W. Nash
1883
Crawford Angell
John J. Belknap
Homer W. Nash
1884
Charles E. Belknap
John J. Belknap
Arthur Meigs
1885
John L. Curtiss
John J. Belknap
Arthur Meigs
1886
Edmund B. Dikeman
John J. Belknap
Arthur Meigs
1887
Edmund B. Dikeman
John J. Belknap
Geo. R. Perry
1888
Isaac M. Weston
John J. Belknap
Geo. R. Perry
1889
John Killean
Wm A. Shinkman
Geo. R. Perry
YEAR
MARSHAL
ALDERMEN
1850
Alfred X. Cary
Amos Roberts, Charles W. Taylor, Lovell Moore, Josephy Penney, Isaac Turner
1851
Abram W. Pike
Amos Roberts, Martin L. Sweet, George Kendall, Wm. C. Davidson, Loren M. Page
1852
Wm C. Davidson
David Caswell, Aaron Dikeman, Silas Hall, Jacob Woodard, Wilder D. Foster
1853
Robert I. Shoemaker
Charles Shepard, David Caswell, Noyes L. Avery, Eliphalet H. Turner, Ralph W. Cole
1854
Robert I. Shoemaker
Charles Shepard, Martin L. Sweet, Benjamin B. Church, Eliphalet H. Turner, Philander H. Bowman
1855
Leonard Covell
Alonzo Platt, Alexander McKenzie, Wm N. Cook, Wm K. Wheeler, Philander H. Bowman
1856
Ira S. Hatch
Thompson Sinclair, Harry H. Ives, George W. Allen, James P. Littlefield, Lucius Patterson
1857
D. S. T. Weller
Warren P. Mills, Harry H. Ives, Amos Rathbone, Jonathan F. Chubb, James N. Davis, John Clancy, Robert Hilton, Ransom C. Luce, Leonard Covell, Philander H. Bowman. (The revised charter of 1857 increased the number of Aldermen from one to two in each Ward.)
1858
George C. Evans
John McConnell, John Almy, Noyes L. Avery, John W. Williamson, James N. Davis, John Clancy, Robert Hilton, Ransom C. Luce, Leonard Covell, Philander H. Bowman
1859
Leonard Snyder
John Clancy, Harry H. Ives, Ransom C. Luce, William A. Hyde, Chester S. Morey, John McConnell, John Almy, Noyes L. Avery, John W. Williamson, James N. Davis (Under an amendment to the charter, the term of service of the Aldermen was now changed from one year to two, and only five were elected each year, Clancy, Ives, Luce, Hyde and Morey holding over to constitute with the five newly elected the Council of 1860; and hence from this time it is unnecessary to mention any but those elected each year.)
1860
James Cavanaugh
Charles L. Henderson, Elijah D. Waters, Alfred X. Cary, Leonard Covell, Isaac Turner
1861
Leonard Snyder
Wm H. Godfroy, James F. Grove, Henry S. Smith, John T. Elliott, Martinus Keator
1862
Leonard Snyder
Israel L. Crittenden, George M. Huntly, Ransom C. Luce, John R. Long, Newton T. Smith
1863
Francis Boxheimer
Wm H. Godfroy, Robert Davidson, Wm H. Stewart, Alexander Milmine, Thomas Doran
1864
Henry Bremer
Julius Houseman, George C. Fitch, Ransom C. Luce, Lowell Hall, George R. Pierce
1865
Buel H. Babcock
Wm Riordan, David P. Clay, Edward Mohl (to fill vacancy), Simeon L. Baldwin, Franklin B. Day, Isaac Turner (to fill vacancy), Charles G. Brinsmaid, Charles W. Warrell (to fill vacancy)
1866
Buel H. Babcock
Julius Houseman, Burton C. Saunders, Ransom C. Luce, Joseph H. Tompkins, Francillo Hall
1867
Ebenezer Anderson
Dennis W. Bryan, Simeon L. Baldwin, Harry H. Ives, Wm Widdicomb, Adolphus L. Skinner
1868
Miles S. Adams
Julius Houseman, Burton C. Saunders, Ransom C. Luce, Isaac Turner, Chester S. Morey
1869
Allen P. Collar
Thomas Smith, Harry H. Ives, Simeon L. Baldwin, Alexander Milmine, Thomas Doran
1870
Allen P. Collar
John S. Farr, Henry Spring, William Greulich, Adolph Leitelt, Daniel E. Little
1871
Allen P. Collar
John Grady, Thomas Smith, Henry Miller (one year), George G. Steketee, John A. S. Verdier, Peter Granger, John Dale (one year), James R. Lamoreaux (one year), David Lemon, Alexander Milmine, Thomas Doran. (This year the number of wards was increased from five to eight.)
1872
James D. Lyon
Dennis W. Bryan, John Kendall, Simeon L. Baldwin, Adolph Leitelt, Robert B. Woodcock, John French, Samuel O. Dishman, William H. Powers
1873
Thomas Doran
John Grady, Thomas Smith, George G. Steketee, John A. S. Verdier, Ichabod L. Quimby, Frederick T. Little, Alexander Milmine, Peter Weirich
1874
Thomas Doran
Patick J. O’Neil, John Kendall, Wm B. Remington, Frederick Leitelt, Burton C. Saunders, John French, Samuel O. Dishman, Alfred Crawford
1875
Thomas Doran
John Grady, Charles W. Calkins, Lewis W. Heath, Charles A. Hilton, Samuel A. Hogeboom, Isaiah Stewart, Alexander Milmine, Peter Weirich (The office of recorder was abolished in 1875.)
1876
Thomas Doran
Patrick H. O’Neil, Orson A. Ball, George G. Steketee, Frederick Loettgert, Robert B. Woodcock, James Patterson, Henry M. Cadwell, Alfred Crawford
1877
George E. Kenning
John DeGraaf, Charles E. Olney, Philip M. Graff, Adolph Leitelt, Samuel A. Hogeboom, Isaac F. Lamoreaux, S. O. Dishman, Peter Weirich.
1878
Isaac Sigler
John L. Curtiss, Orson A. Ball, John L. Shaw, George Thomson, Joseph N. Fisher, Adelmer D. Plumb, John Lindsey, Thomas Doran
1879
Richard A. Stack
John DeGraff, John Perry, John Benjamin, Adolph Leitelt, Samuel A. Hogeboom, David Winter, Robert Swain, William A. Hayes
1880
Richard A. Stack
John Grady, Nathaniel A. Earle, Daniel F. Thurston, Joseph B. Griswold, Burton C. Saunders, George W. Stanton, Charles E. Belknap, Joseph Schursh
1881
Richard A. Stack
Charles C. Groger, John Perry, John Benjamin, William Cartwright, Thomas Nester, Charles I. Howard, Robert B. Swain, Frank Wurzburg
1882
Amos D. Greene
John Grady, Lyman D. Follett, Erwin J. Herrick, John Killean, S. A. Hogeboom, George W. Stanton, Anthony C. Hydorn, John A. Bovyer
1883
Amos D. Greene
Gerritt H. DeGraff, John P. Creque, John Benjamin, Charles T. Brenner, Samuel A. Hogeboom, George H. Wilmot, Peter Steketee, Heman Palmerlee, Adrian Yates
1884
Amos D. Greene
John Grady, Thomas D. Gilbert, John More, George C. Peirce, John Killean, Thomas Nester, Frederick Saunders, Abraham J. Whitney, James Patterson, Joseph Albright, L. L. Launiere
1885
Thomas Nester
Gerritt H. DeGraff, John P. Creque, Justin M. Stanly, Hugo Thum, Eugene Richmond, Isaiah Stewart, John W. Hayward, George L. Doan
1886
Thomas Nester
Edward Stein, George E. Pantlind, Emmons R. Huntly, Charles T. Brenner, Frederick Saunders, Paul J. Maris, Andrew Doyle, Louis L. Launiere
1887
Charles S. Wilson
Gerritt H. DeGraff, John P. Creque, George H. Davidson, Jacob Eisenhardt, Maurice Shanahan, Isaiah Stewart, John W. Hayward, Joseph A. McKee
1888
Charles S. Wilson
Edward H. Stein, Robert Sproul, Simeon L. Baldwin, Edward O’Donnell, Frederick Saunders, John Hoogerhyde, Frank A. Rodgers, Louis L. Launiere
1889
Charles S. Wilson
Cornelius Stryker, John P. Creque, Albert E. Yerex, Andrew J. Stebbins, Harlan W. Miller, William H. Stokes, Joseph Emmer, Isaac M. Turner (to fill vacancy)
HENRY S. SMITH was long and honorably associated in Grand Rapids, not only with the commercial enterprise and material prosperity of the city, but with humane and charitable works, with the highest aims of citizenship, and broadest sympathies with the afflicted or oppressed. He was a man of untiring energy of purpose, great activity, with a large fund of varied information, and manifested an earnest interest in the perplexing problems and leading questions of the day. His acute perceptions, with freshness of feeling and sweetness of temperament, made him a sociable and charming companion; while his public spirit and conscientious sense of civic duty gave to the community an excellent citizen. Henry S. Smith was born in Litchfield, Herkimer county, New York, November 11, 1820. While he was yet a lad, his father, Solomon Smith, purchased a farm and removed the family to Cassville, Oneida county, N.Y., and there passed the remainder of his life. Henry received only the limited educational advantages afforded by the public school. Here he spent the years of his youth and early manhood, engaging successfully in several small enterprises, and finally became the owned of the homestead farm. For several years Mr. Smith held the office of Justice of the Peace, in which his solid judgment and firm sense of justice established for him an enviable reputation. He was also Captain in the New York State Militia. In 1858 he came to Michigan and settled in Grand Rapids. Here he began a business career in which he became prominent by the purchase of the Bremer ashery, which he managed but a short time, when he engaged in the manufacture of saleratus. The business rapidly increased. A few years later he began the manufacture of wooden ware and agricultural implements, and became an extensive jobber in the products of other manufacturers. In business he was noted for enterprise, boldness, and strict integrity. He was among the first to send out traveling agents from this city for the sale of its wares, and soon his firm and its manufactures became well known throughout the West. In earlier years Mr. Smith was adverse to mingling in political struggles as a politician; yet during the war was an earnest Republican and Unionist, and a stanch supporter of the same party for many years. His interest in the poor, the untaught, the wronged and the toiler was great and humane. It was natural that many such should seek him as the exponent and defender of their cause. In the spring of 1878, as the candidate of the National Greenback party, he was elected Mayor, and was again elected in 1880. In this responsible and honorable position he was a studious, painstaking officer; faithful in spirit to his constituents, and performing its duties with scrupulous and conscientious fidelity. In 1878 he was also the candidate of the same party for Governor, and though defeated, ran well with his ticket, receiving 73,313 votes. Individually popular, unselfish and pure-minded in character, desiring "the greatest good to the greatest number", and demanding for all men justice and equality, Mr. Smith in these political contests showed a personal strength beyond this party. The conditions of a thoroughly successful business life are exacting and severe. Intense application, close and assiduous attention to details, early and late watchfulness and labor, tenacity of will, hard sense, shrewd observation of facts and chances – these are requisite to win and keep the prizes of such a career. The ability and success of Mr. Smith as a business man show the strong, plain qualities of clear-headedness and will which formed the grit and granite of his nature. Nor does the possession of such qualities of business strength imply a narrow heart – the contrary is exemplified in Mr. Smith’s life. His open hand was not less manifest than his strong and careful grasp. He lived to give. His bestowments were constant and without noise. He was essentially domestic, and his greatest happiness was that of home. By the hearthstone he was the tenderest of fathers, the kind sympathetic husband and brother, the true friend. Those who enjoyed his generous hospitality do not forget his cheerful, kindly ways and conversation, spiced with a dry humor which was irresistible, making him a delightful host. Mr. Smith married his first wife, Lucia Burchard, at Cassville, N.Y. She died March 29, 1865. May 3, 1867, he married Hannah M. Symmes of Grand Rapids, who died January 11, 1873. He again married, September 24, 1879, at Evanston, Illinois, Helen Griffith, who survives him, as also do two daughters, children of his second wife. Religiously, according to the creeds, Mr. Smith was a Congregationalist, but with him the beatitudes of a Christ-life outshone all sectarianism. Though he had not for several years enjoyed robust health, his final illness was brief, and his death was, like his life, calm, cheerful, brave and full of hope. He died December 11, 1881. His last resting place with many of his kindred is in the beautiful cemetery near his early home at Cassville, NY. The funeral services, conducted by the late Rev. J. Morgan Smith, were held at the Park Congregational Church of this city. The funeral oration, the memorial resolutions adopted by the Common Council, the adjournment of the Circuit Court in respect to his memory, although he was not a member of the bar, together with many personal tributes of esteem, marked the universal feeling of sorrow among all classes at the loss of so good a man. In his last moments Mr. Smith said he had tried to do his best in the world. This motive ennobles life, and therein he has left an example of great encouragement for all.
JOHN L. CURTISS was born in the village of Brooklyn, Windham county, Connecticut, August u, 1835. His parents were Chauncey and Polly (Adams) Curtiss, natives of that state. His father died at a very great age, in this city. When John L. was eleven years of age, the family removed to Ontario county, New York. He attended Lima College, where he graduated in 1854. A portion of several winters he spent in school teaching. At the beginning of the War of the Rebellion he enlisted in the Thirty-ninth New York Infantry Regiment; but was rejected on account of a crippled hand, when he immediately came west and resided in Milwaukee five years, engaged in a store. There he married, November 1, 1865, Martha J. Johnson. In 1871 he settled in Grand Rapids, and engaged in the wholesale paper and oil trade, and has been connected with similar trade ever since. Politically, previous to 1876, Mr. Curtiss was a Democrat, but in that year became a pronounced Greenbacker, and has held steadfastly to that faith up to the present time. He has had some experience in official life. In 1878 he was chosen to represent his Ward as Alderman in the Common Council, and served two years. In the fall of 1884 he was elected to the State Senate, and in the following spring was elected Mayor of the city of Grand Rapids. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity. Mr. Curtiss is a bustling, busy man; cheerful and companionable, and one who shows much interest in general affairs and city growth and progress. During his service as Alderman, by faithful attention and strenuous effort, he contributed largely to the prosperity of the First Ward, and its advancement from a relatively minor position to be the peer of any other ward in the city. The administration of the city during his term as Mayor compares favorably with that of any other term. A notable act of that period, showing his Yankee grit, was his veto of an ordinance passed by the Common Council for the adoption of the tower system of electric lights; which received 13 out of 16 votes, and was again passed over the veto by 12 votes, but was carried to the Supreme Court, where the position of the Mayor was sustained. This act saved the city an expense of over $26,000. The City Hall building was begun and the corner-stone laid with appropriate ceremonies during his term as Mayor. In the State Senate (session of 1885) he served upon committees on Reform School, on Canals and River and Harbor Improvements, and on Insurance. At that session he strenuously opposed a resolution introduced by a member from the Upper Peninsula, favoring the purchase by the General Government of the Lake Superior and Portage Lake Canal. The resolution passed, but concerning it he says: "Although it nearly cost me my head, I have the satisfaction of knowing that the scheme failed, and that the United States has not purchased the canal." Mr. Curtiss is still busily engaged in mercantile life.
I(SAAC) M. WESTON, ex-Mayor of Grand Rapids, was born in North Anson, Somerset county, Maine, April 20, 1845. His branch of the Weston family was founded in America by John Weston, who emigrated from Buckinghamshire, England, in 1644, and located at Salem, Massachusetts. Mr. Weston comes from pure Puritan English stock, as his mother is a direct descendant of Stephen Hopkins, who came over on the Mayflower in 1620, and was the intimate friend of Captain Miles Standish. In 1772, Joseph Weston, the great grandfather of I. M. Weston, moved with his wife and children from Concord, Massachusetts, to Somerset county, Maine, being the first family to settle in what is now Skowhegan. He died from exposure received while acting as a Volunteer Air to Gen. Benedict Arnold on his famous expedition up the Kennebec River to Canada, during the Revolutionary War. His son, Deacon Benjamin Weston, born 1765, settled in Madison, Maine, 1786, where he died in 1851. Among his children was Col. William Weston, the father of I. M. Weston, born 1810, educated at the Farmington (ME.) Academy, and died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, November 5, 1882. Upon attaining his majority, he embarked in the mercantile business at North Anson, Maine, and erected a large woolen factory, flouring mill and saw mill, and also engaged extensively in lumbering. He was head Select Man of his town, Captain of the local military company, then regimental Major, and September 11, 1839, was commissioned by Governor Fairfield as Colonel of the Artillery Regiment of the Maine Militia. In 1844 he married Marianne S. Hopkins, who now resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They had three children, I. M. being the eldest, Benjamin F., who lives in Oakland, California and Charles E. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They are all active business men, and devote themselves mainly to banking, manufacturing and real estate investments. In 1860 Col. Weston removed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with his family, and made large investments in Michigan pine lands on the Muskegon, Manistee and White rivers, and also engaged in banking and the manufacture of lumber at Whitehall, Muskegon county, Michigan.
In 1861 I. M. Weston resumed his preparatory studies at the Lawrence University, Appleton, Wisconsin, and in 1863 entered the literary department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he remained two years, and then left for a two years trip on the "Plains".
In 1862, while spending a vacation camping in the wilds of Minnesota, he served as Lieutenant of a volunteer company, raised to repel the Sioux Indians, who arose that year under the leadership of Little Crow, and slaughtered over 400 inhabitants on the Minnesota frontier.
Upon leaving the college in 1865, he accepted a position as traveling correspondent for the Chicago Times, in which capacity he made a trip through Missouri, up the Platte river to Denver, Colorado, and then to Fort Laramie, Dakota, where he joined the command of Gen. P. E. Conner, operating against the Sioux Indians in that region. Later he was appointed Military Storekeeper at Fort Laramie. December 1, 1865, he was ordered to report at Camp Douglas, Salt Lake City, Utah. He immediately started on horseback alone to make the 600 mile trip by the South Pass trail over the Rocky Mountains to his new post. The winter was unusually cold, and the deep snow, severe storms and hostile Indians made the trip exceedingly perilous. The only stopping places were telegraph stations from thirty to seventy miles apart, garrisoned by soldiers for protection from hostile Indians. After crossing the summit his horse became exhausted and had to be abandoned. He finished the journey to the overland stage line at Fort Bridger on foot, where he arrived January 1. He went on to Salt Lake City, and after serving the Government one month, accepted the position of Editor-in-Chief and Business Manager of the Daily Union Vedette, a radical anti-Mormon paper, which Gen. Conner had established about a year previous. In this position, although but twenty years of age, he acquired a national reputation as a bold, strong, aggressive writer in the warfare he urged against the despotic rule of Brigham Young. His paper was the only daily published in the territories of Utah, Idaho, Montana and Arizona, and he trebled its circulation and made a handsome profit for the owner the year he controlled it. His experience was exciting, and included several narrow escapes from death at the hands of the Mormon Danites. The building of a telegraph line to Montana, and the prospect of a daily paper at Virginia City, with four days advantage of the Vedette in its best field, made him advise the proprietor to sell.
Mr. Weston then returned to Milwaukee, and accepted the offer of a partnership with his father in the lumber business, and, excepting a few months service as editorial writer on the Milwaukee News, abandoned newspaper work. For the next ten years he resided in Milwaukee and Michigan, following the lumber business in connection with his father and his brother, B. F., excepting less than a year spent on his stock ranch in Colorado. In 1877 he also became Cashier and manager of the Lumberman’s State Bank of Whitehall, of which his father was president. He reorganized it as the First National Bank, and succeeded his father as President and controlling owner upon the retirement of the latter from active business in 1879. He still holds the same position. January 1, 1881, he removed to Grand Rapids, and took the Cashiership of the Farmers and Mechanics’ Bank, which he reorganized as the Fourth National Bank, with an increased capital. In three years he trebled the business, and resigned to give more time to his outside business, and has since devoted himself to his other banking, real estate and manufacturing investments. He is a stockholder in various Grand Rapids furniture, insurance and other companies, is interested in several Detroit enterprises, and has been for several years a heavy operator in Mississippi and Louisiana pine lands.
In politics, Mr. Weston is a prominent and active Democrat. At an early age he was a poll worker in Milwaukee, and at twenty-two was Secretary of his township committee in Michigan in the Presidential contest of 1868. He continued active on township and county committees until 1880, when he was made member of the State Central Committee, and nominated by his party for State Treasurer. For six years he was a member of the Executive Committee, and Treasurer four years, until 1886, when he was made Chairman, and re-elected for another two years in 1888. He has had the longest consecutive service of any man ever on the State Committee. For six months previous to May 6, 1888, Mr. Weston was also acting member of the Democratic National Committee for Michigan, under a proxy from Postmaster General Dickinson. During the campaign of 1888 he was President of the Democratic Association of the Northwest, which included all the Northwestern State Chairmen. Since 1881 Mr. Weston has served two years as Treasurer of the Grand Rapids Board of Education, and four years on the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners, the last year as President. In 1882 Mr. Weston was a member and Treasurer of the Congressional Committee of the Fifth District, when the Democrats elected their candidate for the first time in twenty-six years. In 1884 the Democratic delegates to the Fifth District, joint Democratic-Greenback Congressional Convention, presented Mr. Weston’s name for the nomination, and under a three-fourths rule he polled over two-thirds of the votes for sixty-five ballots, but his being President of one National Bank and Vice-President of another, created Greenback opposition, and he insisted on his name being dropped. In April, 1888, he was elected Mayor of Grand Rapids. The same year the State Convention of his party elected him First Delegate at Large to the St. Louis National Convention, which renominated President Cleveland. After his intimate personal and political friend, Postmaster General Dickinson, went to Washington, Mr. Weston enjoyed in a marked degree the confidence and friendship of President Cleveland and his Cabinet. One of the last official acts of President Cleveland was the appointment of Mr. Weston as Government Commissioner to examine for acceptance the last section of the Southern Pacific Company’s railroad, between San Francisco and Portland, Oregon.
Mr. Weston never married, and is well known in many club houses of the country. He is a member of the famous old Manhattan Club of New York, the Iroquois of Chicago, and the Detroit and Grosse Pointe of Detroit. He is a charter member of the Peninsular Club of Grand Rapids, and was chairman of the committee which raised the money to build its magnificent club house. He is also a member of the younger Owashtanong Club of Grand Rapids, and has been its President since January 1, 1886. In 1866 he was Commodore of the Northwestern Amateur Rowing Association, President of the Grand Rapids Base Ball Club during the days of the Northwestern League, and the first Exalted Ruler of the Grand Rapids Lodge of Elks. Although raised in the Congregational Church, he has been identified with the Episcopal Church since his college days, and has served several terms as Vestryman and Treasurer in churches of that denomination. In his political and official methods, Mr. Weston is clean, strong and methodical.
He is a representative citizen in the fullest sense, with broad and liberal but well defined views. He is progressive and aggressive, always up with the times, and alive to any enterprise calculated to promote the growth or prosperity of his city. His contributions for charity are liberal, and made without ostentation. As Mayor, Mr. Weston made an ideal head of the city government. His extensive acquaintance and great fund of general information upon all matters pertaining to municipal management, enabled him to give Grand Rapids a strong, intelligent and popular administration, and his formal recommendations to the Council were of a character that received only the hearty approval of thinking citizens. Upon all occasions he showed himself a chief executive who reflected only credit on the city and honor on the office he was so admirably calculated to fill. His prominence in political and business circles has given him a National reputation and acquaintance, and this enabled him to accomplish much in promoting the progress and prosperity of his city.
JOHN KILLEAN was born at Buffalo, New York, November 27, 1831. While he was quite young his father moved out of the city and settled on a farm in the town of Hamburg, Erie county, N.Y. That portion of Western New York was then newly and sparsely settled, with here and there a log school house. Mr. Killean’s early educational privileges were those of attendance at a district school during the winter months until he was sixteen years old. At the age of twenty-three, February 18, 1855, he married, in the city of Buffalo, Mary C. Walsh. He was thereafter mostly engaged in the lumber business until his removal to Grand Rapids, where he soon entered the grocery trade, in which occupation he is still engaged, as senior of the firm of John Killean & Son. He came to this city in October, 1863, and it has since been continuously his place of residence. In the spring of 1882 he was elected Alderman from the Fourth Ward, and re-elected to the same office in the spring of 1884. During his service as Alderman he was for three terms in succession chosen President of the Common Council. As an Alderman he was conspicuous for close and studious attention to the duties of the position and his careful and painstaking attention to the interests of his ward and constituency, as well as to those of the city at large. In the spring of 1886 he was appointed a member of the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners. At the general election in November, 1886, he was elected one of the Representatives from this city to the State Legislature, and was re-elected in 1888. At the charter election in April, 1889, he was elected Mayor of the city of Grand Rapids, which office he now holds. As a representative man and a public spirited citizen, he has won the popular esteem, and is yet in the full vigor of life and a manly career.
CITY CONTROLLERS, 1857 - 1889
YEAR
CONTROLLER
1857-1860
Nelson Robinson
1861-1862
Edward Mohl
1863-1864
Frederick L. Mayer
1865-1866
Hendrikus DeJonge
1867-1870
James Vander Sluis
1871-1874
Fernando Page
1875-1876
John A. S. Verdier
1877-1878
John Van Strien
1879-1882
Henry Bremer
1883-1886
George B. Reiley
1887-1888
Charles N. Armstrong
1889
James Vandenberge
DIRECTORS OF THE POOR
YEAR
DIRECTORS
1850
Benjamin F. Martindale, Leonard Covell
1851
George Coggeshall, James Miller
1852
George Coggeshall, Thompson Sinclair
1853
James Scribner, David S. Leavitt
1854
Leonard Covell, W. B. Renwick
1855
Silas Hall, Luman R. Atwater
1856-1857
Aaron Dikeman, Curtis Porter
1858
Ebenezer Anderson, John Ingraham
1859
Elijah D. Waters, Ebenezer Anderson
1860
Silas Pierce, Ebenezer Anderson
1861
Aaron Dikeman, Ebenezer Anderson
1862
John Gezon, Frederick W. Tusch
1863
John Gezon, Ebenezer Anderson
1864
John Geson, Peter Wurzburg
1865-1866
John Gezon, John Bylsma
1867
John Gezon, Robert W. Love
1868-1869
Leonard Vis, John Bylsma
1870
Leonard Vis, Bernard F. Shinkman
1871
Leonard Vis, John Bylsma
1872
John Steketee, John Bylsma
1873
John Steketee, Isaac Simmons
1874
Ebenezer Anderson
1875-1876
David Lankester
1877
Charles A. Hilton
1878
Plimmon S. Hulbert
1879-1881
David Lankester
1882-1883
Cornelius Fox
1884-1888
Joseph Rupprecht
1889
Hubrecht Wagemaker
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE AND YEARS WHEN CHOSEN
YEAR
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE
1850
Samuel F. Butler, Ezra Reed, James Miller, Lucius Patterson
1851
Hiram Rathbun, Nathaniel P. Roberts
1852
Harvey K. Rose, Lucius Patterson
1853
David S. Leavitt, Thaddeus Foote, Jr.
1854
William Bemis, Leonard Bement
1855
Thompson Sinclair, Arba Chubb
1856
William Ashley, Jr.
1857
Thompson Sinclair, Christopher W. Leffingwell
1858
James Van Buren
1859
Arba Chubb
1860
William E. Grove
1861
Thompson Sinclair, John D. Bennett, Christopher W. Leffingwell
1862
Benjamin A. Harlan
1863
William P. Barker, Adolphus L. Skinner
1864
George H. White
1865
Thompson Sinclair, Leonard Bement, A. L. Skinner
1866
Leonard Bement
1867
John D. Bennett
1868
Henry H. Slauson
1869
Thompson Sinclair, Edmond J. Shinkman
1870
Alfred Putnam
1871
Emory Wheelock, Clauson O. Buddington, Burton C. Saunders, Daniel B. Arnold, John B. Bennett
1873
Thompson Sinclair, Edmond J. Shinkman
1874
Malcolm M. Moore
1875
Emory Wheelock, Leonard Bement, William G. Saunders, James R. Lamoreaux, George G. Whitworth
1877
Thompson Sinclair, Edmont J. Shinkman
1878
Malcolm M. Moore, John W. Holcomb
1879
Charles J. Potter, James D. Robinson, Freeman Lathrop, William G. Saunders, John W. Holcomb
1880
Byron F. Lockwood
1881
Robert H. Vickers
1882
Thompson Sinclair
1883
William O. Westfall, David G. Fletcher
1884
Henry Brouwer, William G. Saunders
1885
Harvey P. Yale, William G. Saunders
1886
Thomas Walsh
1887
William O. Westfall
1888
Henry Brouwer
1889
Henry A. Hydorn, David D. Hughes
ASSESSORS, 1850 - 1856
WARD
YEAR
ASSESSOR
First Ward
1850
William J. Welles
First Ward
1851
Lewis Porter
First Ward
1852
David S. Leavitt
First Ward
1853
John King
First Ward
1854
David S. Leavitt
First Ward
1855
William H. Withey
First Ward
1856
Harry Eaton
Second Ward
1850
James M. Haldane
Second Ward
1851
Harvey K. Rose
Second Ward
1852-1855
John W. Peirce
Second Ward
1856
Robert Hilton
Third Ward
1850-1851
Ezra T. Nelson
Third Ward
1852
Abram W. Pike
Third Ward
1853
Harry Dean
Third Ward
1854
George J. Barker
Third Ward
1855
Ezra T. Nelson
Third Ward
1856
James D. Lyon
Fourth Ward
1850-1852
Baker Borden
Fourth Ward
1853-1854
Elihu N. Faxon
Fourth Ward
1855
Baker Borden
Fourth Ward
1856
Ebenezer Anderson
Fifth Ward
1850
Loren M. Page
Fifth Ward
1851
Willard Sibley
Fifth Ward
1852
Loren M. Page
Fifth Ward
1853-1855
Nathaniel P. Roberts
Fifth Ward
1856
Christopher P. Leffingwell
CONSTABLES, 1850-1889
YEAR
CONSTABLES, 1850-1856
1850
Robert N. Garratt, Leonard Snyder, Abram W. Pike, Wilson Jones, Joseph J. Baxter
1851
Robert N. Garratt, Wilson Jones, Jonathan H. Gray, William A. Brown, Timothy Calahan
1852
Robert M. Collins, James D. Lyon, Timothy Calahan, John Furlong, Winthrop R. Cady
1853
Winthrop R. Cady, Henry G. Stone, Isaac M. Watson, Duncan Stocking
1854
Thomas R. Renwick, Daniel S. T. Weller, Ezekiel Welch
1855
Sebra Rathbone, Franklin C. Stone, Nelson Davis, C. L. Norris, Charles Stone
1856
William H. Godfroy, Charles B. Dean, Isaac Gibson, Gideon Colton, Charles W. Warrell
From this time the constables, being elected by wards, are so classified.
WARD
YEAR
CONSTABLES
First
1857
Bernard Boyle
First
1858
Henry W. Granger
First
1859-1861
James Shields
First
1862-1863
John Duris
First
1864
William Dole
First
1865-1867
William H. Godfroy
First
1868-1869
Henry DeVries
First
1870-1871
Robert Audrain
First
1872
John Quinn
First
1873-1877
Thomas Connors
First
1878
Timothy Crowley
First
1879-1880
Edwin F. Doty
First
1881-1882
Nathaniel U. Weeks
First
1883
Orin McCurdy
First
1884-1885
Nathaniel U. Weeks
First
1886
John Quinn
First
1887-1889
Joseph C. Pitkin
Second
1857
Paris G. Clark
Second
1858-1859
Ebenezer H. Cady
Second
1860-1861
Joseph Wyckoff
Second
1862-1869
Isaiah Peak
Second
1870
Nelson Hamblin
Second
1871
William P. H. Ferris
Second
1873-1885
Adolphus N. Bacon
Second
1886-1887
Randall S. Parkman
Second
1888
Peter Reynders
Second
1889
Randall S. Parkman
Third
1857
Michael Connolly
Third
1858
John R. Stewart
Third
1859-1860
Peter A. Bogardus
Third
1861
Amos L. Wheeler
Third
1862-1870
William P. H. Ferris
Third
1871-1872
Miles S. Adams
Third
1873-1875
Sylvester J. Bailey
Third
1876-1882
Survetus S. Chamberlain
Third
1883
John Quartel
Third
1884-1887
William W. Thomas
Third
1888
Klaas Vander Wall
Third
1889
John H. Harris
Fourth
1857
George F. Porter
Fourth
1858
Charles B. Dean
Fourth
1859
Peter C. Shickell
Fourth
1860-1865
Noadiah C. Wright
Fourth
1866
Adelbert Devendorf
Fourth
1867-1870
James R. Lamoreaux
Fourth
1871
Nelson Hamblin
Fourth
1872
Paris G. Clark
Fourth
1873
William P. H. Ferris
Fourth
1874
Paris G. Clark
Fourth
1875-1878
Peter Martin
Fourth
1879
George W. Bentham
Fourth
1880
Henry Pulver
Fourth
1881
Ebenezer H. Cady
Fourth
1882
Isaac Greenbaum
Fourth
1883
John DeJonge
Fourth
1884
Ebenezer H. Cady
Fourth
1885-1887
Darius L. Arnold
Fourth
1888-1889
Malcolm B. Palmer
Fifth
1857-1858
Charles W. Warrell
Fifth
1859-1860
George W. Dodge
Fifth
1861-1862
Francis Boxheimer
Fifth
1863-1864
John Hyland
Fifth
1865
William Haynes
Fifth
1866
Mason C. Kidder
Fifth
1867
Andrew Thompson, Jr.
Fifth
1868
George Pearl
Fifth
1869
George Stang
Fifth
1870
Joseph S. Bailey
Fifth
1871-1872
Isaiah Peak
Fifth
1873
James E. Davis
Fifth
1874
Bernard McCaghery
Fifth
1875
Michael Finn
Fifth
1876-1880
Levi L. Phillips
Fifth
1881
James P. Hayes
Fifth
1882-1884
Trafton H. Pond
Fifth
1885
Josiah H. Case
Fifth
1886
Michael McCuen
Fifth
1887-1889
Trafton H. Pond
Sixth
1871-1872
Adelbert Devendorf
Sixth
1873
Horace Austin
Sixth
1874-1875
Joseph Karr
Sixth
1876
Josiah A. Brown
Sixth
1877-1878
Hollis R. Hills
Sixth
1879-1881
Isaiah Stewart
Sixth
1882
James Smith
Sixth
1883
William McCullum
Sixth
1884
Sebastian Green
Sixth
1885-1887
Timothy Haan
Sixth
1888
Joseph W. Lindsay
Sixth
1889
John Miedema
Seventh
1871-1872
Orlin M. W. Cleaveland
Seventh
1872
Washington L. Stinson
Seventh
1874
George Dole
Seventh
1875
Henry French
Seventh
1876
Redmond Walsh
Seventh
1877-1878
Cornelius Mastenbrook
Seventh
1879
Arthur C. Prince
Seventh
1880
Cornelius Mastenbrook
Seventh
1881
John B. Hudson
Seventh
1882-1885
Cornelius Mastenbrook
Seventh
1886
Henry O. Schermerhorn
Seventh
1887-1889
Cornelius Mastenbrook
Eighth
1871-1875
Joseph S. Bailey, Jr.
Eighth
1876-1877
Daniel Sullivan
Eighth
1878
Alvin D. Connor
Eighth
1879
Daniel Sullivan
Eighth
1880
Alvin D. Connor
Eighth
1881-1882
John C. Hannett
Eighth
1883
Thomas Keefe
Eighth
1884
William K. Adams
Eighth
1885
John C. Hannett
Eighth
1886
Cornelius Mastenbrook
Eighth
1887
Alphonso Button
Eighth
1888-1889
Daniel Moyland
COLLECTORS, 1859 – 1889
WARD
YEAR
COLLECTOR
First
1859-1861
John King
First
1862
Silas Pierce
First
1863-1871
Patrick Grady
First
1872
William Riordan
First
1873-1874
Patrick Grady
First
1875-1877
James Shields
First
1878
Berend DeGraaf
First
1879
Cornelius Sonke
First
1880
Berend DeGraaf
First
1881
Peter Otte
First
1882-1883
Manney J. Lewis
First
1884
Gysbert W. Dommerlin
First
1885-1888
Henry Hoeksema
First
1889
Martin DeJaeger
Second
1859
Daniel Alcumbrack, Ezekiel W. Davis
Second
1860
Adolph Leitelt
Second
1861
George M. Huntly
Second
1862-1864
John DeRuyter
Second
1865-1869
August Schmidt
Second
1870
John DeRuyter
Second
1871-1886
James Muir
Second
1887
Dirk J. Doornink
Second
1888
Luman R. Atwater
Second
1889
Dirk J. Doornink
Third
1859
Danford M. Crosby
Third
1860-1861
George G. Steketee
Third
1862
William N. Cook
Third
1863
John Benjamin
Third
1864-1866
William Verburg
Third
1867
Miles S. Adams
Third
1868-1870
James Muir
Third
1871
William Verburg
Third
1872
Adrian DeYoung
Third
1873-1874
Henry Jewett
Third
1875-1879
Timothy Haan
Third
1880-1885
Henry Jewett
Third
1886
Gerrit Van Dam
Third
1887-1889
Burt Ema
Fourth
1859
Samuel O. Dishman
Fourth
1860
John D. Bennett
Fourth
1861
Joseph S. Hampton
Fourth
1862
Frederick W. Cordes
Fourth
1863-1864
John Bylsma
Fourth
1865
James G. Scott
Fourth
1866
Moses DeLong
Fourth
1867-1870
Joseph H. Bennett
Fourth
1871-1872
John DeRuyter
Fourth
1873-1874
William G. Beckwith
Fourth
1875-1877
Theodore S. Tompkins
Fourth
1878-1880
John B. Vander Heyden
Fourth
1881-1889
Charles A. Robinson
Fifth
1859
Charles W. Warrell
Fifth
1860
Harm Luton
Fifth
1861-1862
Frank Frederick
Fifth
1863
Frank Arnold
Fifth
1864-1865
John Hake
Fifth
1866
William H. Stinson, Jr.
Fifth
1867-1870
John Hake
Fifth
1871-1873
John E. Tooher
Fifth
1874-1876
Patrick Gill
Fifth
1877
Martin Hendricks
Fifth
1878
Fernando Page
Fifth
1879-1880
Abraham DeBruyn
Fifth
1881-1882
Fred Saunders
Fifth
1883
James Stoutjesdyk
Fifth
1884
Leonard Garlow
Fifth
1885
John Sparks
Fifth
1886
Daniel Viergever
Fifth
1887
George H. Schnabel
Fifth
1888
William A. Dunn
Fifth
1889
Albert Reitberg
Sixth
1871
Joel G. Scoby
Sixth
1872-1874
John Johnson
Sixth
1875
Richard A. Stack
Sixth
1876-1877
James Sullivan
Sixth
1878
Richard A. Stack
Sixth
1879
John DeKruif
Sixth
1880
James C. Shaw
Sixth
1881
Gerrit Meinardi
Sixth
1882
James C. Shaw
Sixth
1883
Joseph W. Karr
Sixth
1884
Bartel Jonker
Sixth
1885
Klaas Mulder
Sixth
1886-1889
John Hoogerhyde
Seventh
1871-1873
Henry M. Cadwell
Seventh
1874
Charles Pettersch
Seventh
1875
Henry M. Cadwell
Seventh
1876
Charles Pettersch
Seventh
1877
William D. Hembling
Seventh
1878-1879
Charles Pettersch
Seventh
1880
George A. Thomas
Seventh
1881-1882
Baker Borden
Seventh
1883
Albert S. Damskey
Seventh
1884-1885
John A. Lemon
Seventh
1886-1887
John Cullen
Seventh
1888
Hans H. Fitting
Seventh
1889
John Cullen
Eighth
1871
William Worbes
Eighth
1872-1873
John Hake
Eighth
1874
Charles Bissonette
Eighth
1875
John Hake
Eighth
1876
William A. Shinkman
Eighth
1877
Thomas Walsh
Eighth
1878
William Koch, Sr.
Eighth
1879
Thomas Walsh
Eighth
1880-1881
John A. Smith
Eighth
1882-1887
Robert Blumrich
Eighth
1888-1889
Thomas O’Keefe
CITY SURVEYORS, 1850 – 1889
YEAR
CITY SURVEYORS
1850
Wright L. Coffinberry
1851
William Slawson
1852
John Almy
1853
James Lyman
1854-1855
Wright L. Coffinberry
1856
John Almy
1857
William Burke
1858-1859
Henry Yates
1860-1861
Wright L. Coffinberry
1862-1863
John Almy
1864-1868
Wright L. Coffinberry
1869-1870
Emory W. Muenscher
1871
Wright L. Coffinberry
1872-1876
Emory W. Muenscher
1877-1882
Alfred C. Sekell
1883-1889
Homer A. Collar
STREET COMMISSIONERS, 1850 – 1854
Louis Moran, Samuel F. Butler, Daniel Beebe, Leonard Covell, Willard Sibley, Philander Tracy, James Bentham, George W. Daniels, Thomas Sargeant, Daniel F. Tower, Nelson Davis, Edward P. Camp, Martin L. Sweet, Benjamin F. Gouldsbury, Duncan T. Stocking, Edmund Carrier.
HIGHWAY COMMISSIONERS-APPOINTIVE, 1873 – 1889
DISTRICT
YEAR
HIGHWAY COMMISSIONERS
First
1873-1874
Patrick Coade
First
1875-1877
John W. Gorham
First
1878-1879
Patrick H. O’Neil
First
1880-1881
Hubrecht Wagemaker
First
1882
Thomas Martin
First
1883
Richard Walsh
First
1884-1885
Hubrecht Wagemaker
First
1886
Richard Walsh
First
1887
William Walsh
First
1888-1889
Martin Van Overeen
Second
1873
Henry S. Smith
Second
1874-1876
Moses DeLong
Second
1877-1879
Frederick Platte
Second
1880-1881
Moses DeLong
Second
1882-1883
Edward Hydorn
Second
1884
Moses DeLong
Second
1885-1888
William E. Bloxton
Second
1889
John Berles
Third
1888
William Walsh
Third
1889
William Fitzpatrick
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
The Board of Public Works was established by Act of the Legislature, March 22, 1873, which has been amended several times. The Board has general superintendence of public buildings, works and improvements in the city, including the water works, and the bridges across Grand River. It also lets contracts for such works; and is in a measure the financial executive arm of the city. But it acts under direction and control of the Common Council in so far as providing funds and the assent of that body are concerned – in these essential preliminaries the action of the Board is only advisory. Its members are appointed by the Common Council upon nomination by the Mayor, the term being three years. Following is the list, with dates of appointments:
YEAR
ADVISORY BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
May, 1873
John B. Colton, Thomas D. Gilbert, William T. Powers, Wellington Hibbard, Lewis C. Davidson
May, 1874
John L. Shaw
May, 1875
Thomas D. Gilbert, William T. Powers
May, 1876
Franklin B. Day, John S. Farr
May, 1877
James Miller
September, 1877
Lemuel D. Putnam (to fill vacancy)
May, 1878
William P. Innes, Thomas Farmer
May, 1879
George W. Thayer, William Hovey
December, 1879
Lewis H. Withey (to fill vacancy)
May, 1880
Charles C. Comstock
May, 1881
Orson A. Ball, Wilder D. Stevens, Adelmer D. Plumb, Francis B. Gilbert
December, 1881
Orville L. Howard (to fill vacancy)
May, 1882
George W. Thayer, David E. Emery
May, 1883
Adelmer D. Plumb
May, 1884
Wilder D. Stevens, Francis B. Gilbert
August, 1884
George G. Briggs (to fill vacancy), reappointed in May, 1885
May, 1885
George W. Thayer, David E. Emery
May, 1886
Edmund B. Dikeman (Mayor, ex-officio), James N. Davis
May, 1887
Wilder D. Stevens, George G. Briggs
May, 1888
Isaac M. Weston (Mayor, ex-officio), Freeman Godfrey, William R. Shelby
September, 1888
John S. Farr (to fill vacancy)
May 6, 1889
James N. Davis, John Killean (Mayor, ex-officio)
PRESIDENTS OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS:
April, 1873 to May, 1878 – Thomas D. Gilbert
May, 1878 to November, 1879 – James Miller
December, 1879 to May, 1888 – George W. Thayer
Since May, 1888 - George G. Briggs
SECRETARIES:
April, 1873 to August, 1875 – Arthur M. Warrell
August, 1875 to February, 1878 – A. B. Farnsworth
Since February, 1878 - Fred A. Twamley
ENGINEERS:
April, 1873 to May, 1877 – E. W. Muenscher
May, 1877 to May, 1883 – A. C. Sekell
Since May, 1883 - Homer A. Collar
BOARD OF REVIEW AND EQUALIZATION
This Board was constituted by a provision in the Revised Charter of 1877. The most prominent among its duties are, to receive and review the annual assessment rolls, and to examine and equalize them between the several wards of the city as in its judgment shall be deemed just and equitable in the relative valuations. Its members are commissioners to make assessments for local improvements. They are also member of the County Board of Supervisors. The following is the list:
YEAR
MEMBERS OF BOARD OF REVIEW AND EQUALIZATION
1877
James W. Brown, John W. Williamson, James Gallup
1878
John W. Williamson, James Galllup, Henry R. Naysmith
1879
Henry R. Naysmith, James W. Brown, John J. Belknap
1880
James W. Brown, Henry R. Naysmith, John J. Belknap
1881
James W. Brown, Charles W. Warrell, William N. Cook
1882
James W. Brown, William N. Cook, Hiram Gumaer
1883
William N. Cook, Hiram Gumaer, James W. Brown
1884
Hiram Gumaer, James W. Brown, James B. Gulliford
1885
James W. Brown, James B. Gulliford, Charles L. Shattuck
1886
James B. Gulliford, Charles L. Shattuck, Adolphus L. Skinner
1887
Charles L. Shattuck, Adolphus L. Skinner, James B. Gulliford
1888
Adolph L. Skinner, James B. Gulliford, Charles L. Shattuck
1889
Adolphus L. Skinner, Charles L. Shattuck, James B. Gulliford
BOARD OF POLICE AND FIRE COMMISSIONERS
The powers and duties connected with and incident to the government and discipline of the Police and Fire Departments of the City of Grand Rapids, are by act of the Legislature, May 24, 1881, devolved upon a board of five commissioners known as the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners, the members of which are appointed by the Common Council, on nomination by the Mayor. The first five members were designated in the act constituting the Board. The term for which each is appointed is five years, and the terms expire in rotation, one each year. The Board was organized June 7, 1881, and the following is the list of appointments:
DATE
POLICE AND FIRE COMMISSIONERS
June 6, 1881
George G. Briggs for the term of one year.
George W. Gay for two years
Lewis H. Withey for three years
William H. Powers for four years
Israel C. Smith for five years
May 1, 1882
George G. Briggs was renominated for a full term, but not confirmed, and no successor being appointed he held over for one year, acting as President of the Board.
July 2, 1883
Isaac M. Weston to serve four years in place of George G. Briggs
Andrew J. Rose for five years to succeed George W. Gay
Alfred D. Rathbone in place of Israel C. Smith who resigned.
May 5, 1884
Lewis H. Withey
May 4, 1885
William H. Powers
March 16, 1886
A. J. Rose resigned, and March 22 – I. S. Dygert was appointed to fill vacancy.
May 3, 1886
John Killean
November 15, 1886
Lewis E. Hawkins in place of John Killean, who resigned.
May 31, 1887
John E. More
May 7, 1888
Adolph Leitelt
May 6, 1889
Frederick Loettgert
T
hese were for full terms except where otherwise noted. Under a rule of the Board, the Commissioner whose term will soonest expire is designated President of the Board, holding the office for the term of one year; provided, that no commissioner is eligible to the position of President unless he had served the full year next preceding. June 10, 1881, Alpha Child was appointed Secretary of the Board and served until August 22, 1881, when he resigned and Alfred A. Tracy was appointed. Mr. Tracy served until April 27, 1881, when he resigned and Benjamin F. McReynolds, the present Secretary, was appointed, and has since served continuously. William H. Powers is now (1889) President of the Board.