Chapter 38
-- Compiled by the Cumberland Women's Club
and Published by the Cumberland Advocate
1874-1974
(used by permission of the Cumberland Advocate)
Donated by Linda Mott
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Early City Government
The municipal history of Cumberland dates from 1882 when a village organization was perfected with J.F. Fuller as president. He was succeeded by L.Q. Olcott and he by O.A. Ritan. In the winter of 1885 a city charter was obtained and at the Charter Election in the spring of that year, Honorable L.B. Royce was elected the first mayor of Cumberland. He was succeeded by Honorable T.P. Stone, he by Dr. W.C. Pease, who after one year, gladly gave up the reins of government to Mr. Royce for a second term.
The first government on the island was a township government. In January 1876, the township of Lakeland was organized but in September 1878, it was changed to Cumberland at the request of John Humbird, President of the North West railroad, who came from Cumberland, Maryland.
The first town hall was a log structure and located next door to the present new city hall. The first clerk was a young man by the name of George Washington Napoleon Corsar. "People usually had to hunt, if they wanted to find things in his office", said an old settler. He said he kept the papers in a woodbox as they were handier there than any other place.
In the
winter of 1885 an act was passed in the state legislature incorporating
the City of Cumberland which took effect in April of the same year.
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