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The Political Graveyard: A Database of American History
Muskegon, Michigan
Mayors, Village Presidents, Postmasters

Mayors of Muskegon, 1870-2008 (may be incomplete!)
Chauncey Davis 1870-71 Joseph Ireland 1871-72 Chauncey Davis 1872-73 Henry H. Getty 1873-74 Samuel H. Wagner 1874-75 William Glue 1875-76 Oliver P. Pillsbury 1876-77 Torrent 1888-89 James Balbirnie 1899 John Campbell 1907-09 Harry A. Rietdyk 1909-13 John H. Moore 1913-15 Arnt Ellifson 1915-17 T. B. Bennett 1920 George Vanderwerp as of 1937 Edwin J. Quick as of 1952 John E. Medendorp as of 1953-54 William E. Steiner as of 1955-56 Don F. Seyferth 1958-60 Donald E. Johnson as of 1967 Stephen J. Warmington 2002-

Events and Candidates (may be incomplete!)

  • 1870 Apr 4: Chauncey Davis, elected.
  • 1880 Apr 5: Jiroch (Dem), elected.
  • 1889 Apr 1: Martin Waalkes (Dem), elected; Torrent (Rep), defeated.
  • 1899 Apr 3: James Balbirnie (Rep), elected.
  • 1899 Jun 29: James Balbirnie, died in office.
  • 1900 Apr 2: Frank Alberts (Rep), elected.
  • 1903 Apr 6: Leonard Eyke (Dem), elected.
  • 1904 Apr 4: Leonard Eyke (Dem), elected.
  • 1906 Apr 2: Norman B. Lawson (Dem), elected.
  • 1907 Apr 1: John Campbell (Dem), elected.
  • 1908 Apr 6: John Campbell (Dem), elected; G. R. Ross (Rep), defeated.
  • 1909 Apr 5: Harry A. Rietdyk (Dem), elected.
  • 1910 Apr 4: Harry A. Rietdyk (Dem), elected; Henry E. Langlenad (Rep), defeated.
  • 1912 Apr 1: Harry A. Rietdyk (Dem), elected.
  • 1913 Apr 7: John H. Moore (Progressive), elected; Norman B. Lawson (Dem), defeated; Lee H. Trott (Rep), defeated; Edward O. Foss (Socialist), defeated.
  • 1914 Mar 4: George S. Stanley (Dem), nominated unopposed.
  • 1914 Mar 4: Arnt Ellifson (Rep), nominated unopposed.
  • 1914 Mar 4: Ray A. Cottrell (Socialist), nominated unopposed.
  • 1914 Mar 4: John H. Moore (Progressive), nominated unopposed.
  • 1914 Apr 6: John H. Moore (Progressive), elected; Arnt Ellifson (Rep), defeated; George S. Stanley (Dem), defeated; Ray A. Cottrell (Socialist), defeated.
  • 1915 Mar 3: Norman B. Lawson (Dem), nominated unopposed.
  • 1915 Mar 3: Arnt Ellifson (Rep), nominated; John H. Moore (Rep), defeated in primary.
  • 1915 Mar 3: John J. Castenholz (Progressive), nominated unopposed, but withdrew.
  • 1915 Apr 5: Arnt Ellifson (Rep), elected; Norman B. Lawson (Dem), defeated.
  • 1916 Mar 1: William J. Smith (Dem), nominated unopposed.
  • 1916 Mar 1: Arnt Ellifson (Rep), nominated unopposed.
  • 1916 Mar 1: D. L. Garver (Socialist), nominated unopposed.
  • 1916 Apr 3: Arnt Ellifson (Rep), elected; Norman B. Lawson (Dem), defeated; D. L. Garver (Socialist), defeated.
  • 1917 Mar 7: Harry A. Rietdyk (Dem), nominated; Norman B. Lawson (Dem), defeated in primary.
  • 1917 Mar 7: Arnt Ellifson (Rep), nominated; William H. Smith, Jr. (Rep), defeated in primary.
  • 1917 Mar 7: Peter Volmari (Prohibition), nominated unopposed.
  • 1917 Mar 7: Bert Leach (Socialist), nominated unopposed.
  • 1917 Apr 2: Arnt Ellifson (Rep), elected; Harry A. Rietdyk (Dem), defeated; Bert Leach (Socialist), defeated; Peter Volmari (Prohibition), defeated.
  • 1918 Apr 1: James L. Smith (Dem), elected.
  • 2001 Nov 6: Stephen J. Warmington, elected; Jane Clingman-Scott, defeated.
  • 2005 Nov 8: Stephen J. Warmington, elected; Ric Scott, defeated.

    Village Presidents of Muskegon, 1861-70 (may be incomplete!)
    Lyman G. Mason 1861-62 Samuel B. Peck 1862-64 Joseph H. Hackley 1864-67 Elias W. Merrill 1867-68 Benjamin L. Piper 1868-70

    Events and Candidates (may be incomplete!)

  • 1861 Jul 8: Lyman G. Mason, elected.

    Postmasters at Muskegon, 1838-1971 (may be incomplete!)
    Henry Pennoyer 1838-39 Christopher Fryzine 1839-40 Henry Pennoyer 1840-47 George W. Walton 1848-55 Daniel W. Holbrook 1855 John B. Wheeler 1855-57 William P. Odell 1857-59 Charles P. Bigelow 1859-61 Elias W. Merrill 1861-63 Joseph D. Davis 1863-65 William W. Owen 1865-69 Elias W. Merrill 1869-75 Luther Whitney 1875-87 Frank H. Holbrook 1887-91 Samuel H. Stevens 1891-95 Leigh B. Smith 1895-99 Sylvester H. Gray 1899-1903 Horace L. Delano 1903-07 Phillip P. Schnorbach 1907-15 Benjamin G. Oosterbaan 1915-23 Lincoln Rodgers 1923-24 Lincoln Rodgers 1924-36 Stanley J. Risk 1936-55 Walter B. Steele 1955-56 Walter B. Steele 1956-71

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