Michigan historical collections. [Vol. 17]

550

LAYING CORNER STONE OF THE

Streeter, Milo Winslow, Ebenezer Parkhurat, Eber Sherwood, James
Preston, William Finn, Dahartus Willard, Royal Sherwood, James
Hawks, Martin W. Rowe, Chandler Hollister, Hiram Sabins, William
Dibble, Samuel Weeks, Lloyd FitzGerald, James Bracelin and Alfred
Mann.
Silas F. Littlejohn was appointed foreman of the grand jury by the
court and, after being sworn and having received their charge from the
court, retired under the charge of Hiram Bassett to consider the business before them.
A list of petit jurors then being called, the following persons answered
to their names, viz.: L. Wilcox, John Sweezy, David D. Davis, Philip
Davis, Jason Torry, Alanson Weeks, Isaac Dexter, George Hollister,
Benjamin Foster, William C. Jenner, James Nelson, Orsamus Eaton,
Aldrich Atwater, Corydon rEaton, Daniel Bracelin, James McCormick.
Seneca Peak, John Peabody and Joseph Rogers.
Geo. Y. Warner then made application to the court to be admitted
to the bar, as an attorney and counselor at law. On being examined
by the judges he was duly admitted to practice.
The grand jury then returned into court and announced that no
business had been submitted to.them; that none had come to their
knowledge. Whereupon they were discharged from further attendance
upon the court. And, there being no business for the petit jury, they
were also discharged by the court. There was but one case upon the
calendar-the parties being Isaac Aldrich, plaintiff, vs. William Forbes,
defendant. This case was put over the term, and the court
adjourned sine die. This was all the business transacted by the circuit court, for the county of Allegan, at its first session, November,
1836.
The building in which this session of court was held was. located in
the western part of the village, near the foot of what is now called
Seminary hill, and was built for a school house, and used as a school
house, church and court house. It now stands in plain view of us all,
on the south side of Hubbard street, directly across from this public
square, and is now occupied by James Forward as a salesroom for
agricultural implements. Its age is an excuse for its appearance, and
its size compares with that of its new rival, relatively as the amount
of business to be transacted therein. It has outlived many of the
pioneers who built and used it, and is one of the few landmarks
remaining, that reminds us of the early history and struggles of the
heroic little band that located the site of our beautiful village.
Several terms of the circuit court were held in that old building and