Jamesport Affairs
The first meeting of the board of trustees of which
a record is found occurred on the 24th of April, 1873, and at this
meeting the following officers were appointed for the ensuing year:
P. H. Lilly, chairman; C. E. Orcutt, clerk and collector; C. M.
Hutchison, assessor; William Wineland, marshal; George H. Smith,
treasurer.
At the next meeting of the board of trustees, May 5, 1873, the first
town ordinances were passed.
The next election for town officers, etc., was on April 7th, 1874,
and the following named gentlemen were elected as the board for the
ensuing year; to-wit, W. K. P. Allen, F. J. Carman, I. Mann, A. C.
McCord and F. Callison. The board met April 13, and appointed the
following officers to serve for one year: N. G. Cruzen, clerk; P. H.
Lilly, collector and treasurer; II. B. Briggs, marshal; and A. C.
McCord, street commissioner.
In 1874 the fiat of civilization declared that if
saloons were to flourish in Jamesport, there should also be found a
jail. The people accepted the ultimatum and October of the year 1874
found this very necessary adjunct of progress and civilization
completed and ready to receive all those who failed to live up to
the laws man had made to secure peace and order.
The improvements continued steadily and Jamesport became a town of
some 400 inhabitants in 1875. The improvements were substantial and
business continued to grow and the business men to prosper. The
post-office business improved so much that a request was made to
make the office at Jamesport a money order office. The request was
granted, and from July 5, 1875, Jamesport post-office has been a
money order office.
The election for town officers in 1875 took place April 1, and there
were a few changes to record. The board of trustees was composed as
follows: Franklin Callison, O. Taylor, W. K. P. Allen, F. J. Carman,
and G. W. Hutchison. The appointments were N. G. Cruzen, clerk and
assessor; R. Y. Miller, treasurer; I. H. Jones, collector; C. A.
Carman, marshal and flue inspector: A. C. McCord, street
commissioner; W. G. Callison, attorney.
The board of trustees this year took upon themselves- to inaugurate
general improvements in the town, and among the most important were
the laying of sidewalks and putting down new street crossings. There
were other needed improvements which were carried out, but the
sidewalks and crossings were the most important and met with the
cordial approval of the citizens.
Notwithstanding these extra expenses of the year
1875 and the winter of 1875-76, the treasurer, I. Mann, reported
April 10, 1876, $221.37 in the town treasury.
The election in the spring of 1876 seems to have been as fortunate
as the selection of the board the year previous. The new board of
trustees proved to be one of progress, a majority of three of the
five having been on the board the previous year. The board was made
up as follows: Franklin Callison, O. Taylor, H. Bunker, A. C.
McCord, and G. W. Hutchison. N. G. Cruzen was appointed clerk;
Independence Mann, treasurer; R. M. Hutchison was appointed to take
charge of the assessor's books; A. C. McCord held his position of
street commissioner, and W. G. Callison that of attorney. William H.
Banker added to his duties of trustee the important trust of flue
inspector. This now was a position of responsibility. New buildings
were going up and not always was the proper care given to the safety
of the flues. The board of trustees, at this meeting, April 15,
1876, defined the fire limits, among other acts passed for the
permanent improvement of the city. There was a commendable prudence
exercised in. these matters, but still Jamesport saw the benefit
arising from the action of the board, and a. generous approval was
given.
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