Abstract Edwin Pettis (1856-1941) was deputy sheriff of Kent County and police captain for the Pere Marquette Railroad. His papers contain photographs, correspondence and genealogy of the Pettis and Ward families. The photographs are of family members, the family home in Ada, Michigan and the Ada area. Of special interest are letters from Edwin Pettis as under sheriff of Kent County, Michigan, to his wife Lettie during the Grand Rapids Water Scandal in 1901. The scandal resulted from bonds issued to...

Abstract George R. Perry (1849-1927) was a Grand Rapids, Michigan businessman and politician. He served as mayor of Grand Rapids from 1898 to 1902. The collection includes letter press books, newspaper clippings, correspondence, account books and accounting files. The material deals mainly with political affairs with the account books relating to Perry's business interests. During Perry's time as mayor he was involved in the Grand Rapids water scandal, relating to bonds issued to fund...