Charles E. Storrs—Man about town
The following article noting the contribution of Charles Storrs was published on the front page of the Muskegon Daily Chronicle, October 11, 1902.
"Charles E. Storrs, of North Muskegon, has the unique distinction of having served three counties of the state of Michigan as supervisor. He was first sent as a member to the Ottawa county board, later as a supervisor from Mason county and finally as a supervisor from Muskegon county. His military career was also unusual. He enlisted as supernumerary lieutenant and before the close of the Rebellion rose to the rank of major.
Maj. Storrs was born in Essex county, New York, September 3, 1833. He was brought up in Summit, Cuyahoga county, Ohio. In 1854, he migrated to Illinois and in 1858 came to Michigan and located in Ottawa county, where he served his township as clerk and supervisor.
In October 1862, Mr. Storrs enlisted at Grand Rapids in the Sixth Michigan Cavalry and was made supernumerary second lieutenant. In March, 1863, at Washington, he was made second lieutenant. While a member of Custer's Michigan cavalry brigade in the Army of the Potomac operating in Virginia, he was made captain of Company G, 6th Michigan Cavalry, on July 17, 1863. July 24, 1863, he was wounded in a cavalry fight at Newby's cross roads, Va. In January, 1865, he was promoted to the rank of major and served in that rank during the rest of the war and at Appomattox.
The policy now pursued in that department is the one which Maj. Storrs inaugurated, and the law under which it now operates is identical with the one he drafted and attempted to have passed by the Michigan legislature in 1895.
After the war Maj. Storrs returned to Ottawa county. In 1876 he went to Mason county and remained until 1882, In that year he moved to Muskegon county and located a North Muskegon, where he became bookkeeper for the Storrs Lumber Co. and later its vice president.
In 1886 Mr. Storrs purchased the famous Peninsula fruit fame and he and his son Frank have since conducted it. It has produced as many grapes as most entire townships.
Maj. Storrs has served North Muskegon as supervisor when the town was a part of Laketon township and as mayor, alderman, and assessor since it has become a city. In 1893 when the office of dairy and food commissioner of the state of Michigan was created by the legislature, he was appointed the first commissioner and served two terms, getting the work of that department started.
Maj. Storrs was a member of the general court martial for eight months and when he mustered out at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, October 10, 1865, was president of the court martial there.
In the G.A.R., Maj Storrs has long been an active member. For nine years he has been commander of Amos El Steele Post, G.A.R. and in 1887 he was department inspector of the G.A.R. His live has been one of remarkable activity and his civic and military service has been distinguished. Major Storrs was in between five and sixty fights, during the war, including Gettysburg, Winchester, Cedar Creek, Sailor's Creek, and Appomattox. He was wounded in the shoulder at Newby's cross roads, near White Sulphur Springs, Va.
The three townships which Maj. Storrs has serves as supervisor are Blendon township, Ottawa county; Eaton township, Mason county; Laketon township, Muskegon county."
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Updated January 17, 2006