History of Muskegon County, Michigan: with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers.

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HISTORY OF MUSKEGON COUNTY.

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ter a bill in chancery to perfect the title to the lock-up. Staples &
Covell's proposition to give the lumber for a sidewalk to Montague, if
the village would lay it down was accepted. On October 20th the
marshal and Mr. Hopkins were appointed to 'examine defective
chimneys. On December 22, a petition was ordered to be circulated
to ascertain the feelings of those interested in widening Covell street
to 80 feet through Johnson's addition, and changing the name to
" Mears avenue." It appears at this time that there was a suit by
the village against Carleton et al., as $11 was allowed under-Sheriff
E. McCoy for serving subpoenas.
1874.
On March 20th thanks were tendered M. Dodge for " refreshing" the Montague firemen at the recent great fire, and $15 was
voted Mr. Harwood for the same act, and at next meeting an engine, fourth-class, nickel-plated, 1200 feet of hose and two hosecarts were ordered from the Silsby company.
The annual meeting, 214 voters present, resulted in the election of H. E. Staples as president; P. I. Hedges as recorder by 116
to 97 for H. Slater; L. T. Covell, A. Mears, and W. P. Utley for
trustees, and R. M. Hedges, treasurer.
The financial statement shows that the direct tax was $3848;
poll-tax $136; salaries $767; fines, circuses, etc., $65; total $4816,
which was chiefly expended for sidewalks and road improvements.
On June 9th F. Blackmarr, A. GC. Elsworth and K. F. Morse were
appointed a committee to investigate the finances. On June 18th
W. S. Knowles' tender to build engine-house for $328 was accepted
and D. A. Wicks appointed pound-master, but he resigned in a few
weeks. Lot 4, block 10, was purchased for engine-house of C.
Mears, and a fire-bell was bought through A. Mears for $172.
1875.
The sidewalk bill of $42.80 against the Congregational church
was "donated" to the society. It was also resolved that the docket
of A: G. Hopkins, J. P., be searched to see how much he owed the
village for fines, and on the 20th of April it was reported that
"nothing" was due.
The annual election, 216 voters present, resulted in the choice of
H. E. Staples as president, by 132 to 84 for Dr. Wheeler. O. M.
Hedges for recorder received 126 to 90 for P. I. Hedges. R. M.
Hedges became treasurer; Z. Mizner, L. T. Covell, W. P. Utley,
M. Hanson and M. R. Stevens were trustees. The treasurer's bond
was fixed at $4000. The bond for selling liquors was fixed at $1000.
The tax on property for village purposes this year was but I of 1
per cent. On July 8th 0. M. Hedges resigned as recorder and A.
C. Elsworth was appointed at $100 a year, and also made village
attorney. Watson Smart resigned the marshalship and Nelson
Patterson is appointed at $25 per month.
1876.
The annual election, 255 present, resulted in the choice of H.
E. Staples by 156 to 99 for Albert Mears. G. J. Moog became recorder by 158 to 95 for C. W. McConnell; R. M. Hedges, treasurer;
trustees, J. R. McKay, L. T. Covell, H. W. Hill, C. C. Thompson
and W. A. Phelps. The council this year wisely devoted its business into the hands of standing committees, and the Finance com

mittee reported that $2400 was due by July 1st next, and $1000
would be needed for contingencies; that as $1,500 would be the
probable revenue from liquor licenses, that $1,900 should be levied
for general purposes; it was therefore found necessary to raise the
rate to 14 cents on the dollar. F. Hinman was elected engineer at
$360 a year. On August 26 there appears to have been a discussion of the action of the First Baptist church in dividing the profits
of the performance of the Tennessee Jubilee Singers, but the license

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fee of $5 was remitted, with a warning that it would be collected
" next time." On the 15th of September a fierce and sweeping ordinance against houses of ill-fanie was enacted. On December 12
Dallas Johnson was appointed marshal, but we find shortly after D.
W. Covell accepts the office at $15 a month.
1877.
The annual election in May, 117 voters present, of which P. I.
Hedges received 71 and A. Mears 45. B. F. Reed received 72 votes
for recorder, with 43 for G. J. Moag; F. Blackmarr got 44 for treasurer and Dr. Wheeler 37. The trustees were C. G. Alley, H B.
Hinman, W. Flinn, James Ocobock and J. W. Johnson. We
read afterwards that H. E. Staples resigns as president and J. Ocobock is appointed, and K. F. Morse takes Ocobock's place as trustee,
but he having declined John Widoe was appointed. The tax was
this year 1 per cent.
1878.
On motion of Mr. Alley it was resolved that all liquor-sellers
file a bond of $3000.
The annual election, 197 voters present, resulted in the election
of A. Mears unanimously; M. B. Covell was elected treasurer by
119 to 97 for A. T. Linderman; B. F. Reed became recorder; the
trustees were G. M. Smith, K. Frank Morse, J. H. Sholander, M.
Hanson and John Bell; R. W. Norris, pound-master; M. R. Stephens, however, took the place of G. M. Smith, resigned, astrustee,
and F. Hinman was appointed engineer and marshal at $25 a month
for each office. Mr. Morse moved, seconded by John Bell, that a
tax of $250 be levied on each liquor-seller; carried, but at next
meeting Mr. Morse resigns and E. M. Ruggles is appointed, and also
Mr. Hanson resigns and is replaced by A. Hood. It was then moved
by J. Bell, seconded by E. M. Ruggles, and resolved to lay the resolution taxing liquor-sellers $250 on the table. The tax this year
-was of 1 per cent. Charles McKinzie was appointed marshal at
$30 a month on November 23. The inhabitants now petitioned
that measures be taken against " haunts of vice," which was adopted
by the council by the votes of Ocobock, M. R. Stephens and Bell,
against those of Ruggles and Hood.
1879.
The annual election, 176 present, resulted in the choice of H.
E. Staples by 135 to 41 for J. W. Ocobock as president; G. J.
Moog became recorder by 124 to 49 for B. F. Reed; M. B. Covell is
unanimously made treasurer; the trustees were C. C. Thompson,
J. Sholander, R. W. Norris, F. W. Nufer and A. Mears; J. A. Wheeler, health officer. An offer to build an iron bridge to Montague for
$2,640 was received, and accepted. There was on hand May 1st,
$927 91; to be collected from saloons, $1,725; the taxable property
of $190,000 at 3 of 1 per cent would bring $1,425; there was required for engine-house bond, $1126 93; for bridge, $1500; for
salaries, $720. On October 11 it was resolved to permit the Philadelphia Numbering Co. to number the village, and 134 signs at 15
cents each Hyere purchased from Mr. Cheney, having the names of
streets upon them.
1880.
The fire company petition for 50 cents an hour while engaged
in quelling fires, but the petition was laid on the table. A racy mo

tion offered by C. C. Thompson to abate steam-whistles was voted
down. The motion asserted that time spent in whistling by the
eight mills in the village when combined made three hours a day!
The marshal was instructed to spend one whole day lying in wait
for those who drove too rapidly over Mears avenue bridge. The
council, before leaving office, were in a particularly thankful mood
as they passed votes of thanks to the president "and recorder, and
to I" the people for their kindness."

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