The City of Holland was incorporated 150 years ago on Monday, March 25, 1867, 20 years after Holland was founded on Feb. 9, 1847.

The first city election was held April 1, 1867, and the initial city council meeting was Thursday, April 4, 1867. After the 1847-48 hardships, the settlement steadily grew in numbers and prosperity. During the 20 years, the Holland colony had operated as one unit, known as Holland Township.

About 2,200 people were living “in the city” in the Holland village when the decision was made to sever connections with the township. Holland at that time extended from Fish Street, (Lincoln Avenue) on the east to First Avenue (Washington Boulevard) on the west, and south from the Grand Haven — Holland bridge (Unity today) north to 12th Street.

Isaac Cappon, who became Holland’s most successful businessman in just a decade, was elected the first mayor. The Cappon-Bertsch Leather Company was formed in 1857, and quickly became the largest tannery in Michigan. After learning the tanning trade in Grand Rapids, Cappon met and convinced John Bertsch to join him in the business.

Purchasing an acre of land on West Eighth Street (the Civic Center site today at Maple Avenue), from Holland founder Dr. A.C. Van Raalte for $85, Cappon started the tannery. The Civil War increased his business because the government needed quantities of leather.

Interested in improving the Holland channel and harbor, Cappon was appointed to the Holland Harbor Commission Aug.15, 1861. He wanted to ship leather products from the Holland port. In 1864, Cappon built a second tannery on the original site.

Cappon’s work on the harbor commission and his growing business increased his interest in Holland’s incorporation. Van Raalte, who lived on Fairbanks Avenue in Holland Township, was opposed to incorporation.

Favoring city taxation to fund local projects, Cappon was a Republican and supported President Lincoln during the Civil War. Cappon believed that under the city limits of Holland, the Republicans would have the majority. Van Raalte also supported Lincoln but hoped the colony would remain a township.

In the first mayoral election Cappon was opposed by Holland physician and Democrat Dr. Bernardus Ledeboer who had served as township supervisor for several years. Cappon won 159 to 143. Later, in 1868, Ledeboer was elected and served two years. Cappon returned as mayor in 1870 for a year. Ledeboer served from 1871-1872. Cappon was mayor in 1874-75 and 1879-80.

According to Cappon historian Dr. Elton Bruins, the first mayor was pleased to tell Common Council in 1868 the city had a balance of $91.51 in the treasury. He reported the city was acquiring firefighting equipment and had five good wells in Holland in case of fire (Holland burned in 1871).

Concluding his 1868 report, Cappon said the record books had been collected and all “city officers had worked together harmoniously with the exception of the marshal and the street commissioner.”

In 1867, Henry D. Post was chosen city recorder (clerk established in 1871) and Teunis Keppel was elected treasurer and named first marshal.

Van Raalte never moved into the city, but owned 300 city lots when Holland was incorporated. That same year his township taxes were $659.59. He had given property to the Holland Academy (Hope College) in 1866, First Reformed Church (Pillar) in 1850, and Market Square (Centennial Park) in 1876.
