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

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.

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