This week's #52ancestors challenge was #voting. I knew that my great grandfather Carl Strand was Watson Township Supervisor. What I didn't know was the convoluted and complicated story that put him in office in the first place.
Carl's younger brother, Howard, ran for Register of Deeds of Allegan County starting back in the late 1930's. He was elected to office in 1941 and held that post until he chose to retire in 1976. He ran as a Republican and was easily reelected every election. He was elected president of the Michigan Register of Deeds Association and his wife was involved in the ladies of the G.O.P. association in Allegan. By this time Carl had had a falling out with his brother Howard and was no longer speaking to him. I'm not sure if there was a rivalry there or not, but at some time Carl began getting involved in county and Watson Township politics. While Howard was a Republican, Carl ran as a Democrat.
In 1949 Jesse Stone, Rep. and Bernard Cavanaugh, Dem. ran for Watson Township supervisor. In a close election, Bernard Cavanaugh won. There was a recount, and Bernard Cavanaugh was still declared the winner. Jesse Stone still disputed the results of the election, alleging fraud in the 9 absentee ballots counted. Bernard Cavanugh, resigned his position. He said he would rather go back to this farm than continue defending his win in the election. Carl Strand, who had won election as a member of the board of review, was then chosen by the other members to be Watson Township Supervisor.
Fast forward now to May 1950. Carl Strand is still Watson Township supervisor, but Jesse Stone, and other defeated Republican candidates have taken their case to court. They want the 9 absentee ballots thrown out. 2 of the voters waived their right to secrecy and told how they voted. The other 7 were still in dispute. The judge decided to throw them out. That made Jesse Stone the winner. But, Bernard Cavanaugh had previously been declared the winner, resigned, and then Carl Strand had been appointed supervisor. Who was the supervisor?
Finally, after going to court, a judge declares that Jesse Stone is the winner of the Watson Township supervisor race. But now there's just one small problem. Carl Strand is refusing to give up the job. He is now going to court to keep his job. He is once again appealing a case to the Michigan Supreme Court.
I haven't found a newspaper article with that outcome but I'm assuming Carl lost. In March of 1951 there is an article mentioning how Carl Strand is running for Watson Township supervisor, against the incumbent Jesse Stone.
So, after 2 years of legal wrangling, did Carl win?
Carl won the election by just 2 votes! This time Jesse Stone accepted the results of the election and didn't contest them. As far as I know. Carl also stayed on as Watson Township supervisor for 22 years, I believe.
I also was sent some correspondence of Carl's wife, Mildred recently. In one of the letters she mentions Carl winning the election by just 2 votes. She only gives it one sentence though, and then goes on to other topics. lol.
When I first found these articles I couldn't believe how closely they mirrored today's news. Contestants contesting election results. Wanting absentee ballots thrown out. Courts and judges deciding winners. I guess what they say is true, history just continually repeats itself.
I wasn't surprised to find Carl involved in another case going to the state Supreme Court. This man never gave up a fight. He was stubborn to the end about everything.
