1868: Judge of probate; Curtis Fowler; sheriff, W. W. Bartlett; clerk and register, Jesse Cram; treasurer, H. E. Steward; prosecuting attorney, Frederick Brown.

1870: Judge of probate, Curtis Fowler; sheriff, Birney J. Morgan; clerk and register, Jesse Cram; treasurer, Henry E. Steward; prosecuting attorney, Edwin S. Pratt.

1872: Judge of probate, Charles T. Scofield; sheriff, Birney J. Morgan; clerk and register, Jesse Cram; treasurer, Henry E. Steward; prosecuting attorney, Lovell H. Gage.

1874: Sheriff, Samuel K. Northam; clerk and register, J. B. Haviland; treasurer, John T. Beadle; prosecuting attorney, L. H. Gage.

1876: Judge of probate, Charles T. Scofield; clerk and register, Joseph B. Haviland; treasurer, John T. Beadle; sheriff Birney J. Morgan; prosecuting attorney, L. H. Gage.

1878: Sheriff, Birney J. Morgan; clerk and register, Joseph B. Haviland; treasurer, John T. Beadle; prosecuting attorney, Seth C. Moffat. Highest number of votes, 1,288.

1880. Judge of probate, Henry D. Campbell; sheriff, John Veily; clerk and register, Joseph B. Haviland; treasurer, Malcolm Winnie; prosecuting attorney, Lorin Roberts. Highest number of votes, 1,848.

1882: Sheriff, John J. Dunn; clerk and register, Oscar P. Carver; treasurer, Malcolm Winnie; prosecuting attorney, Lorin, P. Roberts; surveyor, Geo. E. Steele.

ACTS OF SUPERVISORS.

The first meeting of the board of supervisors was held Wednesday, July 27, 1853. It was a special meeting and was held at the store of Cowles & Campbell, in the town of Peninsula, by request of Robert Campbell, of Peninsula, John S. Barker, Antrim and S. G. Rice, Leelanaw. At this meeting, the following supervisors were present: Robert Campbell, Peninsula; John S. Barker, Antrim: William McKillip, Traverse. On motion of John S. Barker, William McKillip was made chairman of the board, and in the absence of the clerk, Robert Campbell was elected clerk pro tem. At this point in the proceedings the board appears to have become exhausted, and immediately adjourned to meet at the store of Hannah, Lay & Co., in Traverse City, on the following day. At the next meeting the number of members was reinforced by the presence of Samuel G. Rice, of Leelanaw, but still the board did not feel equal to the transaction of business, and adjourned to the following day. The third attempt was more successful, and a resounding resolution was adopted to the effect that there being a vacancy in the office of circuit court commissioner, the governor of the state would promote the general welfare by appointing Robert McClelland to said office. A petition requesting the board to legislate against the practice of throwing saw dust in the bay, was promptly tabled. Orlin P. Hughson having escaped from the custody of the sheriff while under arrest, a reward for his apprehension was authorized by the board.

A proposition was received from Hannah, Lay & Co., offering to donate ground to the county for the use of county buildings, which was accepted and placed on file. Another proposition from the same firm to advance $600 for the erection of a court-house and jail was also accepted.

It was voted to expend the $600 in the construction of a court

house and jail, and Robert Campbell, Wm. McKillip and Thomas Cutler were appointed a building committee.

A special meeting was held March 7, 1854, at the store of Cowles & Campbell, in the town of Peninsula. It was voted that Samuel G. Rice being a non-resident of Leelanaw, was not legally authorized to represent that town on the board. More money being needed to complete the county buildings the board accepted a prop ̄ osition from Hannah, Lay & Co., to advance $300 in addition to the 600 already advanced, and the said amount was appropriated to the completion of the buildings.

At a meeting held in June, 1854, Joseph Dame represented the town of Leelanaw, as successor to Samuel G. Rice.

At the annual meeting in October, 1854, the total liabilities of the county were stated to be $1,865.85. The equalized valuation of real and personal property was determined as follows: Antrim: real estate, $38,925.38; personal, $6,948.00. Total, $45,873.38.

Peninsula: Personal, $15,315.00. No real estate. Traverse: Real estate, $40,641.62; personal, $315.00. Total, $40,956.62.

Leelanaw Real estate, Real estate, $8,411.47; personal, $14,704.00. Total, $23,115.47.

Manistee Real estate, $64,670.01.

The amount of tax to be raised in the several towns was determined as follows: Traverse, $327.65; Peninsula, $121.64; Manistee, $517.36; Leelanaw, $184.92; Antrim, $366.99. Total, $1,518.66.

The total equalized valuation of property in the county in 1883 was distributed as follows: Blair, $115,420; East Bay, $231,780; Fife Lake, $242,877; Long Lake, $164,480; Green Lake, $104,500; Mayfield, $150,070; Garfield, $255,535; Paradise, $197,520; Peninsula, $234,035; Traverse, $1,267,735; Whitewater, $227,210; Grant, $209,333. Total, $3,395,493.

The first county buildings erected in 1854 were destroyed by fire about eight years afterward and rooms were rented by the county. For a good many years the county offices were located in the Leach building. In 1882 the question of erecting a new building or buildings, which had been agitated upon for some time, was acted upon. The question of location then came up and a committee was appointed to ascertain the exact location of the county site. The report of that committee gives all the information upon that subject, and is as follows:

"Your committee appointed to ascertain where the county seat of Grand Traverse County is located, and also what title, if any, Grand Traverse County may have in lands supposed to have been designated as a site for the court-house, would respectfully report as follows:

See act 141, session laws of 1851, locating the county seat at Boardman's mills on the east fraction of section No. 3, in Township 27 north, of Range 11 west, until otherwise provided for. Also that Perry Hannah and wife, Albert Tracy Lay, James Morgan and William Morgan, conveyed by warranty deed, June 5, 1854, to Grand Traverse County, block No. 10, of the village of Traverse City, conditioned that said county build a jail and courthouse thereon within twelve calendar months, and also that said county occupy same within twelve calendar months after building see liber one of deeds, page 145. Also that Perry Hannahı, Albert Tracy Lay, James Morgan and William Morgan acknowledged the plat of Traverse City as shown by record of said plat on file in the register's office of said county, Aug. 5, 1859. Also that Perry Hannah and wife, Albert Tracy Lay and wife, James Morgan and William Morgan did, on March 7, 1860, by warranty deed, without reservation, convey to Grand Traverse County, block

10 of the village of Traverse City. See liber three of deeds, page 204.

At the October session in 1882, the board of supervisors adopted a resolution providing for the preliminary steps toward erecting a county building. It was decided to build a jail and sheriff's residence of brick during the year 1883. The work was pushed forward, and at a special meeting of the board in February, the building was accepted, and the jail inspectors made their report, from which the following statements, descriptive of the building, are quoted:

"The building from without, presents a fine appearance. It is male of the best material of brick and stone, and finished in one of the finest styles of modern architecture. Its location on the west end of court-house square, on the highest ground in the village, makes it a conspicuous object in a view of the town from from all points. If the common jail is a silent monitor to warn evil doers that the law has provided a place for the punishment of offenders,' then this site is aptly chosen.

“The building, including the basement, is three stories high. The front is 46x32 feet, and the rear 32x32 feet. The front is designed and finished for a sheriff's residence and office. The basement in this department is devoted to heating apparatus, fuel room, store room, wash room and cellar. The first floor to sheriff's office, hall and stairs, kitchen, living room and sitting room. The second floor to bedrooms and closets. The foundation and basement walls for the whole structure, are made from quarry stone from Washington Island, and are twenty inches thick and cut to a face on the inside and out. The structure above the basement is The structure above the basement is built of cream-colored Traverse brick, with sand stone window sills and caps and water tables from the Ionia quarries. The outside brick are double pressed and of superior quality and finish. The cornice, casings, jamb facings, etc., are of galvanized iron, and the roof is of slate, so that the whole building is fire-proof from without as the jail is from within.

In the jail no pains or expense has been spared necessary to make it safe from escapes from within and invulnerable attacks from without. The foot walls upon which the basement rests are laid in cement, are twenty-eight inches wide, and laid one foot below the bottom of the basement floor. The basement floor is inade of grouting composed of pounded stone and cement, and is twelve inches in thickness, and carpeted with boiler iron one-fourth of an inch thick. The outer wall of basement is of Washington Island limestone twenty inches thick and lined inside with boiler iron. The walls above the basement are of brick, sixteen inches thick, and in the second story lined with iron as in the first. The window frames and sash are of iron set with half-inch hammered glass protected from without by heavy steel wire netting, and outside of this, framed and anchored into the wall are gratings of chrome steel bars one inch in diameter. These bars are so constructed of hard and soft material, that they can neither be cut nor broken without the greatest difficulty. All the bars and gratings within are composed of this material. The windov s are so arranged that ample ventilation can be given whenever necessary. There are six cells on each floor, 6x8 feet in size, arranged three on each side of a corridor six feet wide and twenty-four feet long, into which the cells open through heavy iron doors so arranged by means of bars and levers that they are opened and closed and securely locked from the sheriff's office. The cells and prisoners' corridors on the first and second floors are lined throughout with boiler iron. The bunks, two in each cell, are also of iron. Wash bowls and water closets are placed in the end of each of the prisoners' corridor with proper appliances for keeping them cleansed and odorless. On entering the jail the prisoner first passes through a doorway which

closes with an iron door. He then enters a revolving steel barred cage which is so constructed, that while open to receive a prisoner from without, it is closed against the prisoner within. On entering the cage, the cage is revolved half round, bringing the opening to the corridor which the prisoner enters.

'Between the cells and the outer wall is a corridor four feet wide, lined on the outside and floor with boiler iron like the cells. This corridor is for the keeper to promenade on his rounds of inspection. In the upper story the cells are not lined with iron, and the prisoners' corridor extends to the outside wall, and is supplied with bath rooms and other hospitable conveniences.

"This floor is designed for minor offenders and for a jail hospital.

"The prisoners are fed by an ingenious device, invented by supervisor H. D. Campbell, which makes an entrance to the prisoner's room for feeding unneccessary. The device consists of an iron table or tray four inches deep and sixteen wide, and in form one-fourth of a circle. This revolves on a half-circle iron tramway from the kitchen to the prisoners' corridor. When revolved either out or in, the passage through the wall is completely and effectually closed and locked by a gravity latch or ratchet. By this device the prisoner can be fed and dishes returned without exposing the attendant to the prisoners. A woman or child can feed one or more without the least danger of harm or escape. The whole business is performed without leaving the kitchen.

"In the matters of warming, ventilating, sewage, healthfulness and security it would be difficult to devise or construct a more perfect or convenient jail.”

The cost of the building was about $20,000.

Until the organization of the county in 1851, the voting was all done at Mackinaw. It frequently happened that the names of the candidates for office were not known until after election. In the summer of 1854, Mr. Pratt, in company with Mr. Wadsworth, was in Mackinaw at the time of holding the convention for the nomination of county officers, and, as the whole Graud Traverse Region was attached to Mackinaw for municipal and judicial purposes, they claimed the right to represent this county, although they had not been appointed delegates, and had not in fact SO much as heard that there was to be any convention. King Strang was there from the Mormon settlement on Beaver Island, and was very anxious to secure the nomination of a Mr. Gregg to the office of county judge. A private conference was held between Messrs. Pratt, Wadsworth and Strang, at which Mr. Pratt, who had ininformation from southern Michigan that, according to the estimates that could be made, O. D. Conger, then candidate for state senator from this district, would probably lack about four hundrea votes of being elected, proposed to Mr. Strang that if they were admitted to seats in the convention, and the latter gentleman would pledge the vote of his island for Conger, they would support Gregg for county judge. Strang inquired how many votes were lacking to elect Conger, and Mr. Pratt informed him that he thought about six hundred and thirty. Strang immediately gave his assent to the proposal. They all went into the convention, and by means of the coalition thus formed, Strang's candidate for judge received the nomination. In the fall when the votes for senators came to be canvassed, the returns from Beaver Island showed just 630 votes for Conger and his election was thus secured. The contract was fulfilled to the letter. King Strang also went to the legislature on the strength of that same vote.

The first circuit court was held at the house of Thomas Cutler on the 27th of July, 1858. Judge George Martin, of the Eighth Circuit, to which this county then belonged, presiding. Ebenezer Gould was appointed prosecuting attorney by the court. A. S

Wadsworth was foreman and Dr. D. C. Goodale clerk of the first grand jury. Benjamin Adsit heads the list on the record, and the familiar names of Samuel K. Northam, Elisha P. Ladd, Henry D. Campbell, Joseph Dame, Thomas Hitchcock and Lewis Miller follow. At that time Robert McLellan, at present a prominent and respected farmer on the peninsula, was admitted to the bar. The first trial by jury of which there is any record, was that of James E. Scott, for murder. It commenced on the 24th of August, 1855, and ended on the following day, the jury finding him guilty. He was sentenced to imprisonment in the state prison for fifteen years. The business of the courts was evidently dispatched with commendable celerity in those days.

BENCH AND BAR.

The first attorney in the county was C. H. Holden, who moved to Traverse City from Northport in the fall of 1858, having been elected prosecuting attorney at the fall election.

Soon afterward C. H. Marsh located here, and in the spring of 1862 J. G. Ramsdell moved from Northport to Traverse City, having located at Northport in the fall of 1861.

political campaign of 1860 he visited various portions of the Traverse Region making political speeches, and had an opportunity to become familiar with the country and its prospects. About this time he went to Manistee to assist his brother, Hon. T. J. Ramsdell, at a term of court. His experience as clerk of the supreme court had afforded him excellent discipline, and while at Manistee he made for himself quite a reputation as a successful lawyer. Thinking that there was a good opening for a lawyer in Grand Traverse County, he came here in the fall of 1860, but being unable to procure a house to live in went to Northport, where he remained during the winter. In the meantime he purchased one hundred acres of land, which is now his fruit farm, and in the spring of 1862 built a house and moved into it. He has been on the bench about thirteen years and his judicial career has been eminently successful. When not serving in that capacity he has been actively engaged in the practice of law, which has taken a wide range. In 1878 he was chosen solicitor for the regents of the state university in the celebrated Rose-Douglass suit, in place of Judge Christianзy and Hon. C. L. Webber. He is one of the old

In the spring of 1865 E. S. Pratt and L. D. Boynton came here and were associated together in practice. Boynton afterward went away, but Pratt is still in practice here, the senior member of the law firm of Pratt, Hatch & Davis. Mr. Pratt is a native of Livingston County, Mich., and had recently graduated from the law department of the Michigan University when he located at Traverse City. He was about twenty-one years of age when he began practice, and is the pioneer practitioner in the county, Judge Ramsdell being on the bench.

L. G. Wilcox, Frederick Brown, and L. H. Gage and Reuben Hatch, Jr., were the next attorneys, the latter in 1871 and the others prior to that time. Then came S. C. Moffatt, H. C. Davis, T. W. Browne, Lorin Roberts and J. R. Adsit.

Others may have been in practice here a short time. Of those mentioned who have since moved away, Marsh is in Colorado, Griswold in Iowa, Tuttle in New York, Boynton in Ohio, Wilcox in Detroit. The residence of Frederick Brown is not known to us.

The bar in 1884 is composed of the following named lawyers, all residents of Traverse City: S. C. Moffatt, Lorin Roberts, E. S. Pratt, R. Hatch, H., C. Davis, L. H. Gage, Thomas W. Browne, James R. Adsit.

Grand Traverse County first belonged to the Ninth Judicial Circuit, and afterward to the Thirteenth, to which it now belongs. The first circuit judge was Hon. Flavius Littlejohn, who was succeeded in 1866 by Hon. J. G. Ramsdell. In 1873 Hon. Reuben Hatch, Jr., was elected to succeed Judge Ramsdell, and served one term, when Judge Ramsdell was again elected and is still on the bench. Following is a brief biographical sketch of Judge

Ramsdell:

Jonathan G. Ramsdell was born in Plymouth, Wayne County, Mich., Jan. 10, 1830. His parents were farmers, and his boyhood was spent at home assisting with the work of the farm. His education was chiefly received at Plymouth Seminary and Albion College. At twenty-one years of age he learned the moulder's trade and worked at it one year. He was then in a wholesale house as book-keeper. He then took up the study of law at Lansing and was admitted to the bar in 1857. He held the office of circuit court commissioner of Ingham County for a time, and was clerk of the supreme court four years. In 1861, by request of the governor he went into the Agricultural College and lectured three months on commercial law and rules of business. During the

farm is delightfully situated upon irregular hillsides overlooking Grand Traverse Bay, and his orchard now consists of 1,000 apple, 1,000 pear, 4,000 peach, 1,200 plum and 1,000 cherry trees. His contributions to agricultural and horticultural literature have been numerous and valuable. The chapter upon soils, climate, topography, etc., in this work, is from his pen.

His marriage was at Lansing, in 1860, to Miss Clarissa Gould, of Livingston County, Mich., formerly of Pennsylvania. They have one adopted daughter, Alice. Mrs. Ramsdell, with merely occasional practice, has come to excel finely in the art of landscape drawing.

ORGANIZATION OF TOWNS.

There are, in the county of Grand Traverse, twelve organized towns embracing seventeen townships of land, including fractional townships, covering an area of 300,000 acres of land. The towns, with the year of their organization, are as follows: Traverse and Peninsula, 1853; Whitewater, 1859; Grant, 1866; Long Lake, Blair, Mayfield and East Bay, 1867; Paradise, 1870; Fife Lake, 1873; Garfield, 1882; Green Lake, 1883.

Traverse and Peninsula were organized at the same time of the county. Peninsula embraced the same territory as at present, and Traverse the remainder of the organized county.

The town of Whitewater was organized by the board of supervisors in October, 1859, and embraced the following described territory: "All of Township 28 north, of Range 9 west, not included in the organization of the town of Milton; all that part of Township 28 north, of Range 10 west, known as the Indian reservation lying east of the east arm of Grand Traverse Bay; Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, of Township 27 north, of Range 10 west. First town meeting was appointed at the house of Henry Blake. William H. Fife was the first supervisor.

The town of Grant, embracing the territory of Township 25 north, of Range 12 west, was organized by the board of supervisors at the October session in 1866. The first election was held at the house of William Ferguson. P. C. Hopkins was the first supervisor.

Mayfield, embracing the territory of Township 25 north, of Ranges 9, 10 and 11 west, and the south one-half of the Township 26 north, of Ranges 9 and 10 west, was organized by the board of supervisors at the November session in 1867. The first town meeting was held November 12, at the school-house in District No. 17.

The town of East Bay was organized by the board of supervisors at the January session in 1867. The territory embraced all of Township 27 north, of Range 10 west, and a part of Whitewater along the east shore of the bay. The petition contained sixty signatures, and asked that more territory be included. The first election was appointed at a house belonging to L. Hoxie, near Hoxie's mill. The first supervisor was J. B. Haviland.

Long Lake was organized at the January session of the board of supervisors in 1867, and embraced the territory of Township 27 north, of Range 12 west. The first town meeting was appointed at the house of Mr. Schenck, on the first Monday of April following. The first supervisor was Benjamin H. Durga.

The town of Blair was organized by the board of supervisors at the April session in 1867. The territory embraced was described as follows: "All of Township 26 north, of Ranges 11 and 12 west. The petition was dated Jan. 5, 1867, and signed by the following named persons: William Monroe, Marcus L. Monroe, Peter N. Johnson, R. E. Stetson, W. M. Hess, M. B. Jennings, John D. Hess, T. R. Stevens, Abram Adsit, Theodore Monroe, Lyman H. Luke, Abel Avory, S. A. Lardner, H. E. Wightman, Kendall Bennett, J. W. Monroe, H. W. Clyde, Thomas H. Clyde, Henry Monroe, O. F. Hadley, G. H. Wightman, Jacob Stadelbauer, W. J. Wolfe, E. Rice, W. Saunders. Thomas H. Clyde was the first supervisor. The first election was held at the house of Timothy R. Stevens.

Paradise was organized by the board of supervisors at the April session in 1870. The territory embraced is described as follows: Town 25 north, of Ranges 9 and 10 west, and south half of Township 26 north of Ranges 9 and 10 west. The first town meeting was appointed at the house of Charles Denniston on the first Monday of May, 1870. The first supervisor was T. Wyncoop.

The town of Fife Lake was organized by the legislature in the winter of 1873, and embraced the following described territory: Township 25 north, of Range 9 west, and south half of Township 26 north, of Range 9 west. First election at hall of C. C. Bailey on the first Monday of April, 1873. The first supervisor was J. D. Johnson.

The town of Garfield was organized by the board of supervisors in January, 1882, and embraced the following described territory: The west one-half of Section 4, all of Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8, west one-half of Sections 9, all of Sections 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 of Township 27 north, of Range 11 west; and Sections 1 and 2, east one-half of Section 3, east half of northwest quarter of Section 3, east half of northwest quarter of Section 11, all of Section 12, and the north one-half of Section 13 in Township 26 north, of Range 11 west, and Sections 7, 8, 17 and 18, and the west half and southeast quarter, and south half of northeast quarter, of Section 6, in Township 26 north, of Range 10 west. First annual meeting was appointed at the house of J. G. Ramsdell. The first supervisor was H. E. Steward.

The town of Green Lake was organized by the board of supervisors at the January session in 1883. The territory embraced in the organization is as follows: All of Township 26 north, of Range 12 west. The first town meeting was appointed at the house of Kendall Bennett, on the first Monday of April, 1883.

Various changes have been made in the territory of some of the towns and a glance at the map given on another page will show their present boundaries.

TOWN OFFICERS IN 1884.

The officers of the several towns elected in the spring of 1884, are as follows:

TRAVERSE:-Supervisor, Henry D. Campbell; township clerk,

James G. Johnson; treasurer, S. Charles Depres; justice of the peace, Lovell H. Gage; commissioner of highways, James Lee; school inspector, Lorin Roberts; drain commissioner, Thomas T. Bates; director of the poor, Perry Hannah.

EAST BAY:-Supervisor, John Pulcipher; township clerk, Orlo W. Green; treasurer, Albertus T. Hoxie; highway commissioner, Winfield S. Chandler; justice of the peace, Orlo W. Green; school inspector, Albertus T. Hoxie.

BLAIR:Supervisor, James H. Monroe; township clerk, George W. Clyde; treasurer, Robert Travis; highway commissioner, Charles A. Monroe; justice of the peace, Hugh W. Clyde; school inspector, George W. McWethy.

MAYFIELD-Supervisor, Dewey S. Nickerson; township clerk, Howard Webster; treasurer, Morris N. Sackett; highway commissioner, Levi Congdon; justice of the peace, Allan Widrig; school inspector, Chester E. Couch.

GRANT:--Supervisor, John S. Horton; township clerk, Levi Johnson; treasurer, R. A. Earl; highway commissioner, Albert Barwis; justice of the peace, George H. Canute; school inspector, Robert Dixon.

PARADISE-Supervisor, James L. Gibbs; township clerk, David E. Wynkoop; treasurer, Frank Dean; highway commissioner, Edward A. Wall; drain commissioner, William Sparling; justice. of the peace, Joseph Sparling; school inspector, Emma L. Moses; health officer, George L. Fenton.

FIFE LAKE:-Supervisor, James Monteith; township clerk, Edward T. Woodruff; township treasurer, John S. Olson; justice of the peace, Erastus B. Potter; justice of the peace to fill vacancy, Nathan W. Smith; highway commissioner, Dan Kent; school inspector, Olin V. Adams; drain commissioner, Burrett J. Smith.

PENINSULA:Supervisor, George Parmelee; town clerk, F. E. Brown; treasurer, George W. Lardie; justices of the peace, George L. Roberts, A. K. Montague; highway commissioner, William Buchan; school inspector, E. P. Ladd.

WHITEWATER: ----Supervisor, James O. Bloodgood; township clerk, Theron E. Carpenter; treasurer, David Vinton, Jr.; highway commissioner, Michael Gay; justice of the peace, John Carns; school inspector, John L. White; drain commissioner, Almond Young.

GARFIELD-Supervisor, Henry E. Steward; township clerk, Samuel E. West; township treasurer, William Rennie; school inspector; Thomas A. Hitchcock; highway commissioner, James K. Gunton; justice of the peace, Dominick Dunn; justice of the peace to fill vacancy three years, Nelson Hammond; justice of the peace to fill vacancy two years, Anthony J. Wilhelm.

LONG LAKE:-Supervisor, Egbert F. Ferris; township clerk, James D. Gitchel; township treasurer, Jeremiah M. Thomas; highway commissioner, Eugene V. Davis; school inspector, John Cook; justice of the peace, Josiah Pennington; justice of the peace to fill vacancy, Henry D. Howard.

Green Lake: —Supervisor, George H. Wightman; township clerk, Willis Wightman; treasurer, William H. H. Brownson; highway commissioner, Chester O. Morrell; justice of the peace, William M. Hess; school inspector, Richard J. Forrest.

Census enumerators for 1884: Paradise, J. L. Gibbs; Blair, H. W. Clyde; Green Lake, G. H. Wightman; Grant, A. Barwis; Long Lake, E. F. Ferris; Traverse, H. D. Campbell; Fife Lake, E. T. Woodruff; Mayfield, Howard Webster; East Bay, John Pulcipher; Whitewater, T. E. Carpenter; Garfield, T. A. Hitchcock; Peninsula, town board failed to appoint and the appointment must be made by the governor.

During the spring and summer of 1868 the Grand Traverse Herald repeatedly urged the formation of an agricultural society.

Considerable interest was awakened, and June 12 of that year a call was published for a meeting at the county clerk's office on the 8th of July. The Herald continued to discuss the proposition, and the meeting was well attended. Morgan Bates acted as chairman and R. Hatch, Jr., as secretary. A constitution was adopted, officers elected and a society fully organized. The name chosen was Grand Traverse Union Agricultural Society. The officers elected were as follows: President, A. B. Dunlop; secretary, R. Hatch, Jr.; treasurer, D. C. Leach; vice-presidents, E. P. Ladd, H. D. Campbell, J. K. Gunton, J. Dean, J. Lee, G. N. Smith, R. Knight, L. R. Smith, J. S. Dixon.

The first fair was held October 14 and 15, and was successful beyond expectation. There were 251 entries for premiums. The address was delivered by A. B. Dunlop, president of the society. The officers elected for the second year were as follows: Presiident, E. P. Ladd; secretary, R. Hatch, Jr.; treasurer, D. C. Leach; vice-presidents, C. Fowler, Sr., H. D. Campbell, J. K. Gunton, R. Johnson, W. S. Hubbell, H. Monroe, G. N. Smith, J. Lee, A. B. Dunlop, George Thompson, J. E. Fisher, L. R. Smith, R. Knight, J. P. Brand, G. C. Lull, J. S. Dixon, A. D. Brady.

The second annual fair was held October 6 and 7, 1869. The number of entries was 306. Hon. Sanford Howard delivered the address. The officers elected for the third year were as follows: President, George Parmelee; secretary, R. Hatch, Jr.; treasurer, D. C. Leach; board of directors, Henry Monroe, S. Rushmore, Richard Orr, E. L. Sprague, A. B. Dunlop, C. A. Hannaford, I. N. Carpenter, Rev. J. P. L. Judson, Hugh Miller.

The third annual fair was held October 5 and 6, 1870. Number of entries for premiums was 247. The address was delivered by the president, George Parmelee. Officers elected for the ensuing year: President, Perry Hannah; secretary, R. Hatch, Jr.; treasurer, R. W. Bagot; directors, W. H. Fife, T. Wynkeeper, R. Knight, G. C. Lull, A. B. Dunlop, Rev. G. Thompson, W. S. Hubbell, T. M. Walkley, T. J. Thorp,--Call.

There was no fair held in 1871. The fourth was held October 2 and 3, 1872, and was the most successful one held up to that time. The country had become better developed, and the population had considerably increased. Officers elected for the ensuing year: President, J. G. Ramsdell; secretary, L. H. Gage; treasurer, Perry Hannah; directors, H. W. Curtis, J. Pulcipher, H. H. Noble, R. Knight, G. Thompson, J. Porter, L. W. Case, L. Judsou, Hugh Miller, H. B. Sturtevant, A. T. Kellogg, D. Reeder.

The fair in 1873 was held October 10, 11 and 12, in connection with the October meeting of the State Pomological Society, and far exceeded any previous fair. Officers elected for the ensning year: President, H. W. Curtis; secretary, L. H. Gage; treasurer, T. T. Bates; directors, R. Knight, A. Campbell, L. W. Case, L. P. Judson, J. S. Dixon, A. Buttars, J. K. Gunton, W. W. Bartlett, A. T. Kellogg, H. U. Hill, J. Lee, O. H. White, W. Reeder, J. J. Pollard.

In 1874 the receipts were $559.67. Officers for ensuing year: President, W. W. Tracy; secretary, L. H. Gage; treasurer, T. T. Bates.

The annual fairs continued to increase in interest, but it was felt that a county society should be organized, and this was finally accomplished in 1878. Forty acres of land were purchased about. a mile east of the village, and buildings erected. The first officers of the Grand Traverse County Agricultural Society were as follows: President, H. D. Campbell: secretary, L. H. Gage; treasurer, J. B. Haviland. The first fair was held October 2d, 3d and 4th, and was a decided success.

In 1879, the number of entries exceeded that of any previous year, and the total receipts were $997.81. The officers of 1878

were re-elected except Mr. Haviland, who declined to accept the office of treasurer, and W. Rennie was elected in his stead.

The fair of 1880 was somewhat affected by bad weather. The total entries were 1,307, and the receipts $764.04. The officers of the previous year were re-elected.

In 1881, to escape the stormy weather that had been experienced the three previous years, the time for holding the fair was fixed a week later, but the escape was only partial. The total number of entries this year was 869; the falling off from the year previous being on account of the "off year" for fruit. The total receipts this year were $749.25. Officers elected for the ensuing year: President, H. K. Brinkman; secretary, J. H. Mouroe; treasurer, H. D. Campbell.

In 1882 another change in time was made, and the fair was held in September, and was fully up to the average. The total receipts were $1,304.25. The officers of the previous year were re-elected.

In 1883 it was found that the association was not legally formed, and at a meeting held in April of that year, the organization was perfected. The officers for 1883 were as follows: H. K. Brinkman, president; H. E. Steward, secretary; H. D. Campbell,

treasurer.

TRAVERSE CITY RAILROAD.

For some time prior to 1871, the people of Traverse City and vicinity had felt the necessity of railway communication, but the G. R. & I. Road had not come through, and the proper time had not seemed to arrive for connecting this region with the outside world by rail. Some time in 1870 Perry Hannah opened a correspondence with Gen. George W. Cass, President of the Continental Improvement Company, in reference to the matter. Facts bearing upon the importance of Traverse City, as a railroad terminus, were collected and laid before Gen. Cass, and subsequently Mr. Hannah had several interviews with him in relation to the matter. The result was that Gen. Cass became convinced of the merit of the enterprise, and entered heartily into the project. Col. J. O. Hudnutt, at that time engineer of the G. R. & I. R. R., was directed to report to Mr. Hannah, and proceed to make a survey of the route. The survey was commenced the 8th of August, and completed on the 15th of September, 1871. An easy and favorable route was reported. The junction with the G. R. & I. Road was made on the northeast quarter of Section 33, Town 25 north, of Range 9 west. Length of road a little less than twenty-six miles.

August 2, 1871, articles of association were prepared, and the work of procuring local subscriptions commenced. The sum of $40,000 was required, and by diligent efforts the amount was. secured. October 7th the directors, except Gen. Cass, viz.; Perry Hannah, M. Bates, E. W. Hulburd, S. Barnes, J. D. Harvey and D. C. Leach, met and completed the organization by the election. of the following officers: President, Perry Hannah; secretary, Thos. T. Bates; treasurer, C. A. Crawford. Negotiations were at once opened with the Continental Improvement Company, for the building of the road, which were concluded, and the contract made in January, 1872. By the terms of the contract the road, station houses, side tracks, &c., were to be completed by the 15th of October, 1872. The contract for grading was let to Messrs. H. O. Rose, then of Northport, and W. W. Barton, of Leland. Nov. 15th, 1872, the last rail was laid, and at ten o'clock that evening the first car from outside arrived at Traverse City. By the beginning of 1873 trains began to run regularly. The stations given on the first time card were Traverse City, Mayfield, Kingsley, Walton.

The road is still operated by the same company, and has been an important agency in enlarging the general prosperity of the county. The cost of its construction was about $260,000. The