Selma Town Council Actions

From "Selma; Her Institutions, and Her Men" by John Hardy, pub. 1879:

On the first Monday in January 1836, an election was held for five Councilmen, at which election the following vote was cast and the following gentlemen elected: James Cante received 29 votes; Thomas P. Harvey, 24; Gilbert Shearer, 22; Wm. Tredwell, 22; Thomas P. Ferguson, 18. The Council elected James Cante, Intendant, Henry Traun, clerk and Treasurer, and S. J. Elliott, Constable. Henry Traun was paid twelve dollars for his services as Clerk and Treasurer for the past year, S. J. Elliott twenty-five dollars for his service as Constable, and twenty-five dollars to Thos. J. Frow, for printing, for the same time. In August 1836, the election resulted as follows: C. N. Bassett receiving 47 votes; Dr. E. Embree, 36; W. H. Fellows, 21; Henry Traun, 27. This Council elected C. N. Bassett, Intendant, David a. Boyd, Clerk and Treasurer, T. W. Walker, Tax Collector and Assessor, Wm. Chapman, Constable, and James Adams, overseer of roads and streets. The duties of all the officers were clearly set forth in a report of a committee composed of W. H. Fellows and Henry Traun, which was adopted. Henry Traun was fined fifty cents for non-attendance of meeting of the Council. The town Marshal was required to keep the streets clean, and open up Church, Sylvan and Selma streets. W. H. Fellows resigned on the 12th day of October 1836, and Thomas J. Frow was elected to fill the vacancy. Thomas J. Rice was appointed overseer of the roads. Dr. E. Embree resigned on the 18th of October, and John W. Lapsley elected to fill the vacancy.

At the annual election, held on the fist day of January 1837, Thomas P. Ferguson, John W. Lapsley, Henry Traun, Dr. Uriah, Grigsby and Thomas J. Frow were elected councilmen, who proceeded to organize by electing Henry Traun Intendant, D. A. Boyd, Clerk and Treasurer, WT. W. Walker, Collector and Assessor of taxes, Wm Chapman, Marshal, and James Adams, overseer of roads and streets. Henry Traun moved to the country. Thos. J. Frow resigned his seat in the Council and Jeremiah Pittman was elected in his place. Thos, P. Ferguson resigned his seat, and Thomas L. Craig was elected to fill the vacancy. Dr. Uriah Grigsby was elected Intendant to fill the vacancy caused by the removal of Henry Traun from the town. The town Marshal’s salary was fixed at $100 per your. A lot was purchased, at the corner of Water and Washington streets, and a contract entered into which J. W. Jones to build a market house for $350. Wm. Chapman resigned as Marshal, and Willis Brooks was elected to fill his place, and the salary was increased to $150 and fees, amounting to about the same sum. Regular rules were adopted governing the action and business of the Council. An ordinance was passed prohibiting firing of any kind of firearms or fire crackers within the town. Eighty dollars were appropriated to fill up the big pond in Broad street, Wm. Waddill, jr., becoming the contractor. Messrs. Waddill and Pittman were appointed a committee to negotiate for the building of a guard house. Motions to sell the market house lot were offered in the Council during the year. Willis Brooks was dismissed as Marshal and Pressly A. Berry appointed to fill the vacancy, on the 16th day of June 1837, and authorized to collect the taxes for that year. John C. Perry was fined fifty dollars for fighting in the public streets, Wm. Waddill, jr., acting as Intendant Pro tem. David A. Boyd resigned as Clerk and Treasurer, when David C. Russell was elected to full the vacancy, at a salary of fifty dollars per year. Wm. Waddill, jr., was elected Treasurer. A resolution was adopted authorizing the issue of $500 of change bills to be signed by the Intendant, and Wm. Waddill, as Treasurer, provided the Treasurer be individually liable for all sums he may sign.

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