Austin B. Witherbee

Austin B. Witherbee
10th Mayor of the City of Flint, Michigan
In office 1867–1868
Preceded by	William B. McCreery
Succeeded by	Samuel M. Axford[1]
Personal details
Relations	Col. E. H. Thomson, father-in-law
Occupation	drugist, banker
Profession	Merchant

Austin B. Witherbee was an American politician who was the 10th mayor of Flint, Michigan.[2]

Early life

Witherbee moved to the Flint area with his parents in 1841.

Occupation

Witherbee ran a self named drug store downtown and sold it to Charles A. Mason, another mayor of Flint and now the name of a new grocery store set to open in spring 2009 to serve the downtown area at the corner of King Avenue and University Drive, the former old Hats by Jake building.[3]

He opened the first legitimate bank in Flint in 1858 with Mr. Meigs of Boston, Massachusetts and Mr. Stone from Sandy Hill, New Jersey. The Exchange Bank management by Witherbee was a success such that in the spring of 1864, he purchased his partners' shares until the organization of the First National Bank in 1865. In the First National Bank, he became the cashier, with H. M. Henderson as president, and O. F. Forsyth as vice-president.[4]

Political life

He was elected as the tenth mayor of the City of Flint in 1867 serving a single 1-year term.[2]

Political offices
Preceded by William B. McCreery	Mayor of Flint 1867-68	Succeeded by Samuel M. Axford

References

1. Chapter XIII: Roster of City Officials. The History of Genesee County, MI.
2. Index to Politicians: Wisner to Witherow -- Witherbee, Austin B. entry
3. Sally York. Witherbee's grocery store set to open in downtown Flint in the spring. November 28, 2008. Flint Journal. Booth Newspapers. Flint, Michigan.
4. Chapter XV: Banks and Banking, Part I. The History of Genesee County, MI.