of the court-house and jail yard, it was therefore resolved that the board authorize Amasa B. Gibson to effect said loan of $5,000 for the accomplishment of said object."

A FIRE-PROOF REGISTER'S OFFICE

was next ordered to be constructed, 24 feet in the clear; to be built of wrought stone, one story high; to be partitioned into four rooms. This order was conditioned on the loan being obtained. The business of the year was concluded in December.

The first meeting of 1838 was held March 6, with Supervisors Thomas McGee, James Ganson, C. M. Chapell, Benj. Davis, E. B. Chapman, S. Patrick, A. Brewer, John Barnum, J. Mills and Hubbard present. The session was continued to March 8, but the only business transacted was the auditing of numerous accounts, aggregating $519.11, and the reception of a petition from Sylvanus Parkinson and other inhabitants of Concord township, asking the alteration of the Monroe (State) road.

The meeting of Oct. 1, 1838, was carried over to the following day for want of a quorum. On the 2d the following members of the board presented themselves: Jerry G. Cornell, Spring Arbor; Henry Aiker, Concord; Benjamin Copeland, Napoleon; Jonathan Woods, Jackson; C. M. Chappell, Sandstone; Daniel Porter, Hanover; John Barnum, Parma; Jesse B. Burrough, Pulaski; Nicholas Townley, Tompkins; E. B. Chapman, Rives; Isaiah Whitman, Springport; A. Brewer, Grass Lake; J. Mills, Leoni; James Preston, East Portage; E. Rumery, Liberty. William R. De Land was appointed deputy clerk by William D.Thompson, County Clerk, and ex-officio Clerk of the Board.

The equalization of assessment-rolls was the principal business before the meeting.

The New Court-House.-The supervisors appointed a committee of three, at their sitting of Oct. 18, to examine and report on the rooms in the court-house, fixing the amount of rent, annually, for each room according to its size, situation and value. This committee reported as follows: "That the north and middle rooms on the west side of the hall, occupied as the registry and probate offices, were worth $75 each; that the south-west room, same side of the hall, occupied by P. Harrand, was worth $100, and that the north and middle rooms, on the east side of the hall, were worth $50 each per annum. A debate ensued, but the report was adopted.

The Board Abolished. The last meeting of the old board of supervisors was held Oct. 19, 1838, when warrants were issued to the several collectors. The following accounts were ordered to be paid: Bildad Bennett, for services as constable, $2.25; A. P. Crowell, bill of costs, $2.44; Bildad Bennett, constable bill, $20.13; O. Russ, constable bill, $1.31; N. Sullivan, printing 50 blank warrants, $2; W. R. De Land, Deputy Clerk of Board for two last sessions, $25.

The board ordered that the clerk do issue orders on the treasurer of the county for the payment of all claims admitted and allowed by the board, prior to that date. The final motion was to adjourn sine die, and the record was signed by W. D. Thompson, Clerk, per W. R. De Land, Deputy Clerk.

New Government.-The first session of the Board of Commissioners of Jackson county was held in the office of the county clerk Nov. 19, 1838. Messrs. Nicholas Townley, of Tompkins, Drusus Hodges, of Spring Arbor, and Alvin Clark, of Grass Lake, the commissioners elect, were present, and having taken the oath of office, proceeded to the classification of the board, with the following result: Nicholas Townley, commissioner for three years; Drusus Hodges, Jun., commissioner for two years; Alvin Clark, commissioner for one year. The organization of the new body was perfected by the election of Nicholas Townley as chairman, W. D. Thompson, clerk, and Wm. R. DeLand, deputy clerk.

These first labors being performed, the members-adjourned to Dec. 3, 1838. On that day the commissioners held their second conference, and their first regular duties were entered upon. Norman Allen, the county treasurer elect, who would have charge of the public moneys from Jan. 1, 1839, to Jan. 1, 1841, received their early attention, so that on motion of Commissioner Alvin Clark, it was resolved, "That Norman Allen be required to execute a bond to said commissioners, with three or more good and sufficient sureties, in the penal sum of $10,000, before entering upon the duties of his office."

Dec. 4, A. B. Gibson, of the court-house, jail and clerk's office building committee, presented his report, in accordance with the request of the commissioners, and also one dealing with the loans. which he was empowered to negotiate.

The board entered upon the work of an important session Jan. 8, 1839. The three commissioners were present. The name of Wm. R. De Land now appears as county clerk, and ex officio clerk of county commissioners. A verbal report of A. B. Gibson showed that the title to the lands on which the county buildings were erected, was full and complete. Mr. Gibson presented to the board the release deeds at the same time. Mr. Perrine, the register elect, applied to the board for blank books for use in his office. Such books A. B. Gibson was authorized to procure.

Norman Allen's bond as county treasurer was signed by Jonathan Wood, David F. Dwight and Henry H. Gilbert, sureties in the sum of $10,000, and was accepted by the board. (See page 53 of old record.)

The first license granted to an auctioneer was issued Jan. 9, 1839, to Charles Derby, in the following form:

We the undersigned, the Board of Commissioners in and for the county of Jackson aforesaid, do hereby license Charles Derby, of the township of Jackson,

in the county aforesaid, to be and act as auctioneer within said township for the term of one year from the date hereof.

Given under our hands at Jackson, this ninth day of January, A. D. 1839.

NICHOLAS TOWNLEY,
DRUSUS HODGES,
ALVIN CLARK.

A true copy of the original. Fee, $2. Paid.
W. R. DELANd, Clerk.

Board of Commissioners of the County of Jackson.

The first licensed auctioneer had to give bonds for the faithful discharge of his duty, prior to the issue of the license.

Jan. 10, the board received the statement of the former county treasurer, Oliver Russ: Amount of receipts, $12,038.26; amount of disbursements, $6,972.15; balance in treasury, $5,066.11. Oliver Russ received the sum of $90 in full compensation for his services in receiving and disbursing the sum of $6,972.15.

A board of superintendents of the poor was appointed during the same sitting, composed of W. R. De Land, Jackson; Thomas Cotton, Napoleon; and Elihu M. Goold, Parma.

Jan. 11 the board resolved that A. B. Gibson should be authorized to pay L. S. House $400, the sum to apply on his bill of extra work on the court-house; and also $100 to David Porter to purchase materials for the clerk's and registrar's office. The sum of $25 was also voted to the judge of probate, L. Chapman, to purchase blank books for his office.

The board ordained that H. Acker be authorized "to procure the following weights and measures, scales and beams, to be purchased in the city of Detroit, for to be the standard measures of said county, viz.: One half bushel, one peck measure, one half peck-one measure to contain two quarts, one ditto, one quart, one ditto one pint, said measures to be made of copper, in a substantial manner. The weights to be of cast iron, of good workmanship, the scale and beam such as are usually furnished, and a complete set of wine measures, made of copper." Subsequently Mr. Acker applied to the State for standards, but on account of the State being minus such, the agent of the board in the matter could not procure the same.

The prison cells occupied the attention of the commissioners on the 12th. L. S. House, the builder under Mr. Porter, was directed to make the door in the partition of the hall of the jail in the following manner : "Of iron bars 11 inches wide, the bars crossing at right angles, and firmly riveted at each angle. The open space of the squares shall not exceed 5 inches square. The hangings and fastenings of said door shall be similar to those now used on the doors of the cells of the State's prison now building at Jackson. This door to be made in lieu of a door which said House was bound to make by contract for the finishing of said jail, and that Mr. House, for complying with the above, shall receive the sum of $32.50 as entire pay for making said door."

A similar instruction was given him in regard to the doors of cells, and so far the labors of the commissioners may be considered of a most precise character.

The new Board of Superintendents of the Poor took the oath of office on the 21st, and was duly organized

At the meeting of the board, held Feb. 4, 1839, Leander Chapman, Judge of Probate of the county of Jackson, by virtue of his said office, took the oath of a commissioner, as required by law, and was constituted one of the board. On the 5th Judge Chapman's resolution, asking A. B. Gibson to show by certificate of deposit or otherwise the amount of public money he has in his control, was carried, and a statement of the result was submitted. May 7, 1839, the board abolished all distinctions between town and county poor. James M. Goold, of Tompkins, was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board of Superintendents of the Poor.

The first county poor-house was the work of the commissioners. A resolution of theirs says: "In view of the resolution abolishing the distinction between town and county poor, the board is of opinion that it is necessary and expedient to carry into effect the provisions of law in regard to the erection of a county poor-house; therefore, it is resolved that the superintendents of county poor are hereby authorized to purchase for the use of the county a tract of land, not exceeding 320 acres, and to erect one or more suitable buildings for the reception and accommodation of the county poor."

The board resolved "That E. Higby, Esq., be charged $20 for the rent of room No. 4, from the time he first occupied it up to the 1st day of April, 1839; that P. Farrand be charged $40 for rent of room No. 5 prior to said 1st day of April, 1839; that Joseph C. Barley, Esq., be charged for the use of room No. 1, from the 9th day of January, 1839, to the 1st day of April, 1839, nine dollars, it being at the rate of $40 per annum, and that the rent of said room (No. 1) be fixed and rated at $40 per year, provided the treasurer's office shall be continued and kept in the same

room."

The clerk of the board was directed to open accounts with each occupant of the rooms, and to prohibit all gambling and card playing. Sheriff Jas. A. Dyer was authorized to rent the court-room to religious societies for Sabbath services only.

On June 24 the following statement was pronounced correct by the board:

The object of these statistics was to afford such information to the auditor general as would enable him to impose upon the county a share of the new tax, ordained March 29, 1838.

On June 27 the resignation of Thomas Cotton, one of the superintendents of the county poor, was accepted, and Chester C. Čarpenter, of Napoleon, and Daniel Parkhurst, of Jackson, were appointed to fill the vacancies then existing.

The appeal of Abram F. Bolton and others from a decision rendered by the commissioners of highways of the town of Columbia, came before the board for final hearing July 9, 1839. Messrs. Farrand and Higby represented the appellants, and Samuel H. Kimball the respondents. After the examination of 40 witnesses, the board deliberated, and finally rendered the following judgment.

In the matter of appeal of Abram F. Bolton and others from the decision of the road commissioners of the town of Columbia to the county commissioners of the county of Jackson, the said road commissioners having discontinued the following described road, viz.: The Napoleon and Michigan Center road, so-called, or so much of the same as is within the town of Columbia, commencing on the section line about 50 rods east of the northeast corner of section 36, in T. 3 S., R. 1 E., and running in nearly a northwest direction until it intersects the north line of the town of Columbia.

Now, therefore, we, the commissioners in and for the county of Jackson, having heard the proofs and allegations of the parties, and all the testimony of witnesses offered under oath, and upon due consideration of the whole matter, do hereby adjudge that said road is necessary and for the public convenience, and we hereby reverse the decision of the said commissioners of highways discontinuing said road, and establish the same according to the survey of said road on record.

NICHOLAS Townley,
ALVIN CLARK,

DRUSUS HODGES, JR. )

Committee.

July 9, A. D. 1839.