City Civil Positions

 
 
The following is a list of the principal village officers, commencing with 1838, and ending with 1861:
1838.- Trustees, Suel Wesson, president, Charles W. Harback, Willard M. McConnell, M. La Mont Bagg, Seth Beach, Elkanah B. Comstock, Abel H. Peck; Treasurer, G. O. Whittemore; Clerk, James A. Weeks.
1839. — Trustees, Amasa Bagley, president, W. M. McConnell, Abel H. Peck, Suel Wesson, Schuyler Hodges, Alphonso B. Newcomb, Samuel Sherwood; Treasurer, G. O. Whittemore; Clerk, Joseph R. Bowman.
1840.-Trustees, G. O. Whittemore, president; Benjamin Phelps, Horatio N. Howard, Schuyler Hodges, Benjamin Davis, Amasa Bagley, James A. Weeks; Treasurer, Julius Dean; Clerk, Joseph R. Bowman.
1841.-Trustees, E. B. Comstock, president, Willard C. Palmer, Barber Egleston, Jacob Hendrickson, Samuel Brotherton (buried at Pontiac, July 14, 1877),  J. G. Bishop, H. B. Elliott; Treasurer, Julius Dean; Clerk, Joseph R. Bowman.

 CHANGED TO COMMON COUNCIL.
1842.-President, Pierce Patrick; Trustees, Francis Darrow, Rufus Hosmer, Willard M. McConnell; Recorder, Warren J. Nelson; Treasurer (appointed by council), Julius Dean.
1843.-President, William S. Henderson; Trustees, Archibald Spear, Benjamin Phelps, Julius Dean; Recorder, Warren J. Nelson.
1844.-President, John P. Le Roy; Trustees, Alfred J. Boss, S. B. Comstock, Abel H. Peck; Recorder, Charles Draper; Treasurer, Warren J. Nelson.
1845. -President, Rufus Hosmer; Trustees, William Barbour, Stephen Raymond, Francis Darrow; Recorder, J. W. Crain.
1846.-President, Joseph R. Bowman; Trustees, William S. Henderson, Thomas Whitefield, James Andrews; Recorder, James S. Carpenter. James S. Carpenter died and James A. Risdon was elected at a special election to fill the vacancy.
1847.-President, Rufus Hosmer; Trustees, Horatio N. Howard, James Andrews, David Paddock; Recorder, James A. Weeks.
1848. — President, Horace C. Thurber; Trustees, Solomon W. Denton, William Gilmour, E. H. Budington; Recorder, Peter Hogan.
1849.-President, Horace C. Thurber; Trustees, George R. Hixson, S. B. Comstock, William M. Thompson; Recorder, Edwin H. Whitney.
1850.-President, Alfred Treadway; Trustees, S. B. Comstock, Levi Bacon, Jr., Richard R. Hixson; Recorder, Edwin H. Whitney.
1851.-President, William M. Thompson; Trustees, Levi Bacon, Jr., Charles Pittman, John Snyder; Recorder, Edwin H. Whitney.
1852.-President, M. La Mont Bagg; Trustees, Reuben H. Slayton, Charles W. Wadsworth, Samuel Chamberlin; Recorder, Edwin H. Whitney.
1853.-President, Alfred Treadway; Trustees, R. H. Slayton, Levi Bacon, Jr., Alfred Williams.
1854.-President, Alfred Treadway; Trustees, R. H. Slayton, C. W. Wadsworth, David Swan.
1855. —President, James A. Weeks; Trustees, Don Carlos Buckland, Benjamin A. Rice, James Ogle; Recorder, George R. Hixson.
1856.—President, Samuel E. Beach; Trustees, A. P. McConnell, M. G. Spear, John P. Foster; Recorder, Charles C. Waldo.
1857. —President, Julius Dean; Trustees, Daniel Jewell, George R. Hixson, Robert B. Morris; Recorder, Charles J. Fox.
1858.-President, Julius Dean; Trustees, G. R. Hixson, Daniel Jewell, Thos. Turk; Recorder, Charles J. Fox.
1859.-President, R. W. Davis; Trustees, Charles Pittman, M. G. Spear, R. L. Handlin; Recorder, Charles J. Fox.
1860.-President, A. B. Mathews; Trustees, Levi Bacon, Jr., David I. Pratt, Charles Draper; Recorder, Zephaniah B. Knight.
The principal officers of the city of Pontiac, from 1861 to the present year (1877), inclusive, have been as follows:
1861.—Mayor, Erastus Thatcher; Clerk, George R. Hixson; Marshal, James A. Patterson; Aldermen, first ward, Henry J. Going, one year; Hosea Woodward, two years; second ward, H. C. Linabury, one year; David J. Prall, two years; Supervisors, first ward, George J. Griffing; second ward, E. W. Peck; Justices of the Peace, first ward, short term, Joseph R. Bowman; long term, Samuel E. Beach; second ward, short term, Clark Beardsley; long term, Clark Beardsley. Total vote cast in 1861, 453.
1862. —Mayor, Erastus Thatcher; Clerk, Daniel D. Thurber; Marshal, James A. Patterson; Aldermen, first ward, Peter Hogan; second ward, Oliver R. Adams; Supervisors, first ward, George J. Griffing; second ward, E. W. Peck. Total vote, 467.
1863. — Mayor, Theron A. Flower; Clerk, John L. Dawson; Marshal, James A. Patterson; Aldermen, first ward, B. V. Gardner; second ward, Abram Parker; Supervisors, first ward, Isaac I. Voorhies; second ward, E. B. Comstock. Alderman Adams died in 1863. Mr. Voorhies resigned and Peter Hogan appointed in his place. A special election was held November 7, to fill vacancies in first and second wards. Horace Gray was elected alderman in first ward, and George R. Herrington alderman in second ward.
1864. — Mayor, A. B. Cudworth; Clerk, Henry M. Look; Marshall, James A. Patterson; Aldermen, first ward, B. V. Gardner, held over; Horace Gray, held over; second ward, Daniel J. Prall, Marcus Sloat, elected.
1865. —Mayor, Robert W. Davis; Clerk, Henry Mi. Look; Marshal, James A. Patterson; Aldermen, first ward, Horace C. Thurber, Lorenzo M. Woodward, to fill vacancy; Supervisors, first ward, P. Hogan; second ward, E. W. Peck.
1866. —Mayor, Levi Bacon, Jr.; Clerk, S. S. Mathews; Marshal, Stephen Phelps; Aldermen, first ward, D. Henry Solis; second ward, E. B. Comstock; Supervisors, first ward, P. Hogan; second ward, E. W. Peck.

CITY DIVIDED INTO FOUR WARDS.
1867. —Mayor, Levi Bacon, Jr.; Clerk, F. B. McGregor; Marshal, ——; Aldermen, first ward, Charles Carey, H. Heitsch; second ward, M. S. Dart, J. A. Patterson; third ward, W. H. Jennings, Mark Walter; fourth ward, D. R. Shaw, John Harris.
1868. —May or, M. L. Bangg; Clerk, L. D. Jenks; Marshal, ——; Aldermen, first ward, H. Heitsch, Charles Carey; second ward, J. A. Patterson, A. W. Hovey; third ward, Andrew Harshaw, Mark Walter; fourth ward, John Harris, James Jemison.
1869. —Mayor, Mark Walter; Clerk, L. D. Jenks; Marshal, ——; Aldermen, first ward, George Pearsall, H. Heitsch; second ward, J. P. Holley, A. W. Hovey; third ward, W. Sloat, H. Dowd; fourth ward, James Jemison, John Foster.
For several of the years between 1863 and 1870 the returns of the various elections have been destroyed, and not being on the record it is impossible to give complete lists.
1870. —Mayor, George R. Richards; Clerk, L. D. Jenks; Aldermen, first ward, John Chase, George Pearsol; second ward, John P. Holley, W. P. Nisbert; third ward, Mark Sloat, Heman Dowd; fourth ward, J. P. Foster, A. S. King.
1871. —Mayor, Daniel D. Thurber; Clerk, Charles J. Fox; Aldermen, first ward, John Chase, J. M. Smith; second ward, W. P. Nisbett, S. H. Norton; third ward, Charles Callow, Mark Walter; fourth ward, G. Jacobs, A. S. King.
1872. —Mayor, A. C. Baldwin; Clerk, C. J. Fox; Aldermen, first ward, J. M. Smith, E. Collingwood; second ward, Fred. Walters, S. H. Norton; third ward, C. Callow, G. Thorpe; fourth ward, G. Jacobs, N. Tyler.
1873.—Mayor, Daniel D. Thurber; Clerk, C. J. Fox; Aldermen, first ward, E. Collingwood, D. Ross; second ward, Fred. Walters, 3. Crawford; third ward, G. Thorpe, Adam Shaft; fourth ward, N. Tyler, J. G. McKinley.
1874.—Mayor, D. D. Thurber; Clerk, C. J. Fox; Aldermen, first ward, D. Ross, E. B. Fisher; second ward, M. Crawford, Alfred Webb; third ward, Adam Shaft, B. Matteson; fourth ward, J. G. McKinley, P. Hitchcock.
1875.—Mayor, Theron A. Flower; Clerk, C. J. Fox; Aldermen, first ward, D. Ross, E. B. Fisher; second ward, Clark Crawford, A. Webb; third ward, B. Matteson, J. O. Hilton; fourth ward, P. Hitchcock, J. J. Green.
1876.—Mayor, Theron A. Flower; Clerk, C. J. Fox; Aldermen, first ward, D. Ross, J. W. Dawson; second ward, C. Crawford, S. H. Norton; third ward, B. Matteson, J. O. Hilton; fourth ward, J. J. Green, G. P. Hungerford.
1877.—Mayor, Thomas Maybley; Clerk, C. J. Fox; Marshal, A. L. Smith; Aldermen, first ward, D. Ross, J. W. Dawson; second ward, S. H. Norton, John Meloy; third ward, B. Matteson, A. Jewell; fourth ward, H. Voorheis, G. P. Hungerford; Attorney, Henry M. Look; Treasurer, J. D. Norton; City Physician, Dr. G. W. Orr; Chief Engineer Fire Department, J. P. Foster; City Printer, E. J. Kelly, of the Bill-poster. The police report direct to the council. Constables, first ward, C. S. Hamlin; second ward, L. Bostwick; third ward, E. G. Sawtell; fourth ward, E. S. Harger; City Sexton, Adam Markley; Police Department; Night Police, E. McLennan, S. H. Giles; Justices, first district, Colonel S. E. Beach; second district, John Fitzpatrick.

The supervisors for the different wards of the city not included in the foregoing list have been as follows:
1867.—First ward, P. Hogan; second ward, E. C. Martin; third ward, Charles Baldwin; fourth ward, Clark Beardsley.
1868.—First ward, P. Hogan; second ward, E. C. Martin; third ward, Charles Baldwin; fourth ward, Clark Beardsley.
1869.—First ward, P. Hogan; second ward, E. C. Martin; third ward, Charles Baldwin; fourth ward, Clark Beardsley.
1870. —First ward, Charles Dawson; second ward, S. E. Beach; third ward, C. Baldwin; fourth ward, James Jemison.
1871. — First ward, Charles Dawson; second ward, B. V. Gardner; third ward, John L. Dawson; fourth ward, James Jemison.
1872.—First ward, Charles Dawson; second ward, B. V. Gardner; third ward, A. G. Comstock; fourth ward, James Jemison.
1873. —First ward, Charles Dawson; second ward, B. V. Gardner; third ward, Charles Baldwin; fourth ward, James Jemison.
1874. —First ward, Charles Dawson; second ward, B. V. Gardner; third ward, Charles Baldwin; fourth ward, James Jemison.
1875. —First ward, Robert Brown; second ward, Servetus Dart; third ward, Charles B. Hunt; fourth ward, James Jemison.
1876. —First ward, Robert Brown; second ward, B. V. Gardner; third ward, Charles B. Hunt; fourth ward, L. J. Herrick.
1877.—First ward, Robert Brown; second ward, William P. Nisbett; third ward, C. B. Hunt; fourth ward, L. J. Herrick.
  
 Source:  History of Oakland County, Michigan by Durant, Samuel W. Philadelphia: L. H. Everts & co., 1877.