A
Concise Mayoral History
Name: Ebenezer Johnson
(1786-1849) (DR)
Number: 1, 3
Term: 1832-33, 1834-35
Occupation: Doctor
Important facts: First Mayor of Buffalo
; Johnson Park named for him.
Common Council
President: Ebenezer Johnson
Name: Major Andre Andrews
(1792-1834) (DR)
Number: 2
Term: 1833-34
Occupation: Lawyer
Common Council
President: Major Andre Andrews
Name: Hiram Pratt
(1800-1840) (W)
Number: 4, 9
Term: 1835-36, 1839-40
Occupation: Merchant and Banker
Important facts: Pratt Street was named after the
Pratt family. Gave city Prospect Park
Common Council
President: Hiram Pratt
Name: Samuel Wilkeson
(1781-1848) (W)
Number: 5
Term: 1836-37
Occupation: Merchant, ship builder
Important facts: Father of the Buffalo
Harbor; Wilkeson Street is named after him; helped get Erie
Canal
to Buffalo
Common Council
President: Samuel Wilkeson
Name: Josiah Trowbridge
(1785-1862) (W)
Number: 6
Term: 1837 (resigned December 22)
Occupation: Doctor
Important facts: Resigned office when he feared political
unrest in the city; Trowbridge Street is his namesake
Common Council
President: Josiah Trowbridge
Name: Pierre A. Barker (1790-1870)
(W)
Number: 7
Term: December 1837-38 (elected to fill vacancy made
by Trowbridge)
Occupation: Land owner
Important facts: Mayor during "Patriot War
"; Served a four month term
Common Council
President: Pierre A. Barker
Name: Ebenezer Walden
(1777-1857) (W)
Number: 8
Term: 1838-39
Occupation: Lawyer, Judge, Politician
Important facts: Built first brick dwelling in Buffalo
; Walden Avenue named for him
Common Council
President: Ebenezer Walden
Name: Sheldon Thompson
(1785-1851) (W)
Number: 10
Term: 1840-41
Occupation: Lake forwarder, ship builder
Important facts: First mayor elected by the people;
Opposing Candidate: George P. Barker
(D)
Common Council
President: Sheldon Thompson
Name: Isaac R. Harrington (1781-1851)
(W)
Number: 11
Term: 1841-42
Occupation: Postmaster, land owner
Common Council
President: Isaac Harrington
Opposing Candidate: Ira A. Blossom
(LF)
Name: George W. Clinton
(1806-1888) (D)
Number: 12
Term: 1842-43
Occupation: Lawyer, Judge
Important facts: Created Clinton Herbarium at Buffalo
Science Museum.
Common Council
President: George W. Clinton
Opposing Candidate: Isaac Harrington
(W)
Name: Joseph G. Masten
(1809-1871) (LF)
Number: 13, 15
Term: 1843-44, 1845-46
Occupation: Judge, Lawyer
Important facts: Masten Park, Masten Avenue, and
the old Fosdick-Masten
School all named for him.
Common Council
President: Joseph G. Masten
Opposing Candidates: Walter Joy
(W), Hiram Barton
(W)
Name: William Ketchum
(1798-1876) (W)
Number: 14
Term: 1844-45
Occupation: Merchant
Important facts: Documented much of Buffalo's early
history in comprehensive history books.
Common Council
President: William Ketchum
Opposing Candidate: Oliver G. Steele
(LF)
Name: Solomon G. Haven
(1810-1861) (W)
Number: 16
Term: 1846-47
Occupation: Lawyer, politician
Common Council
President: Solomon G. Haven
Opposing Candidate: Isaac Sherman
(LF)
Name: Elbridge G. Spaulding
(1809-1897) (W,R)
Number: 17
Term: 1847 (resigned late 1847 to take position in
state Assembly)
Occupation: Lawyer, politician
Important facts: 'Father of the Greenback', our current
money system; Spaulding Avenue named for him.
Common Council
President:Elbridge G. Spaulding
Opposing Candidate: Isaac Sherman
(D)
Name: Orlando Allen
(1803-1874) (W,R)
Number: 18
Term: 1847-49 (elected to fill position left by Spaulding)
Occupation: Merchant, politician
Important facts: Orlando and Marilla streets named
for him and his wife; The town of Marilla named for Mrs.
Allen; Allendale in West Seneca named for the Allen's.
Common Council
President: Orlando Allen
Opposing Candidates: Israel Hatch (LF), C. Coburn
(WP)
Name: Hiram Barton
(1810-1880) (W)
Number: 19, 22
Term: 1849-50, 1852-53
Occupation: Lawyer, politician
Important facts: Last Whig
mayor of Buffalo
(2nd term); Barton Street named for him.
Common Council
President: Hiram Barton
Opposing Candidates: Elijah Ford
(D), and M. Hersee (D), and William Williams
(D)
Name: Henry K. Smith
(1811-1854) (D)
Number: 20
Term: 1850-51
Occupation: Lawyer
Common Council
President: Henry K. Smith
Opposing Candidate: Luman Plimpton
(W)
Name: James Wadsworth
(1819-1891) (D)
Number: 21
Term: 1851-52
Occupation: Lawyer, politician
Important facts: Won first Democratic seat in N.Y.
Senate in over 30 years.
Common Council
President: James Wadsworth
Opposing Candidate: Sherman Skinner (W)
Name: Eli Cook
(1814-1865) (D)
Number: 23, 24
Term: 1853, 1854-55
Occupation: Lawyer
Important facts: 1854 -City annexed Black Rock
, adding 30,000 people. Mayor served for two years. Common
Council
chose its own president.
Common Council
President: 1853-Eli Cook
; 1854-Stephen W. Howell (R); 1855-Charles S. Pierce (D)
Opposing Candidates: LeRoy Farnham
(W) - 1853; James C. Harrison
(W) - 1854
Name: Frederick P. Stevens
(1810-1866) (UR)
Number: 25
Term: 1856-57
Occupation: Lawyer
Important facts: Originator of Buffalo
's streetcar system, pushed for international bridge.
Common Council
President: 1856-Lewis P. Dayton
; 1857-Lewis P. Dayton
Opposing Candidates: William A. Bird
(K), Lewis L. Hodges
(R)
Name: Timothy T. Lockwood (1810-1870)
(D)
Number: 26
Term: 1858-59*
Occupation: Doctor
Common Council
President: 1858-Daniel Deening, Jr. (D); 1859- Alonzo
Tanner
(R)
Opposing Candidate: Frederick P. Stevens
(R)
Name: Franklin A. Alberger (1825-1897)
(R)
Number: 27
Term: 1860-61
Occupation: Butcher
Important facts: Buffalo
's Civil War
mayor.
Common Council
President: 1860- Asaph S. Bemis
(R); 1861-Asaph S. Bemis
Opposing Candidate: Henry K. Viehle
(D)
Name: William G. Fargo
(1818-1881) (D)
Number: 28, 29
Term: 1862-63, 1864-65
Occupation: Express business operator
Important facts: Co-founder of Wells, Fargo &
Co
, and American Express
; Fargo Avenue and Fargo, North Dakota are named for him.
Common Council
President: 1862-Charles Beckwith (D); 1863-Charles Beckwith;
864-Lewis P. Dayton
; 1865-Nelson K. Hopkins (R)
Opposing Candidates: 1864 - James Adams
(R/PM); 1863- Chandler J. Wells
(R)
Name: Chandler J. Wells
(1864-1868) (R)
Number:
30
Term: 1866-67
Occupation: Carpenter and builder
Important facts: Known as "Father of the Waterworks";
Wells Street named for him; reconstruction mayor.
Common Council
President: 1866-Joseph L. Haberstro (D); 1867-William
C. Bryant (R)
Opposing Candidate: William G. Fargo
(D)
Name: William F. Rogers
(1820-1899) (D)
Number: 31
Term: 1868-69
Occupation: Printer
Important facts: Buffalo
's "Father of the Park System"; Famed Civil War
eneral; Rogers Street named for him.
Common Council
President: 1868-Paul Goembel (D); 1869-John Sheehan
(D)
Opposing Candidate: Chandler J. Wells
(R)
Name: Alexander Brush
(1824-1892) (R)
Number: 32, 33
Term: 1870-71, 1872-73
Occupation: Brick builder
Important facts: Grosvenor Library
opened during his term; First Republican mayor to succeed
himself.
Common Council
President: 1870-John Pierce (R); 1871-John Sheehan
; 1872-Edward Storck (?); 1873-
Frank A. Sears
(R)
Opposing Candidates: 1869- Thomas Clark
(D); 1871- Myron E. Brown (D)
Name: Lewis P. Dayton
(1821-1890) (R)
Number: 34
Term: 1874-75
Occupation: Physician
Important facts: Served on the first Board of Park
Commissioners.
Common Council
President: 1874-Benjamin Dickey; 1875-Elijah Ambrose
Opposing Candidate: Frank A. Sears
(R)
Name: Philip Becker
(1830-1898) (R)
Number: 35
Term: 1876-77
Occupation: Wholesale grocery distributor
Important facts: First foreign-born citizen to be
elected Mayor of Buffalo
; Centennial Mayor.
Common Council
President: 1876-Asaph S. Bemis
1877-John Auchinvole
Opposing Candidate: A.P. Laning (D)
Name: Solomon Scheu
(1822-1888) (D)
Number: 36
Term: 1878-79
Occupation: Businessman, owned malt house
Important facts: Scheu Parkway named for him
Common Council
President: 1878-John B. Sackett; 1879- Merritt Nichols
Opposing Candidates: Philip Becker
, Edward Bennett
(T)
Name: Alexander Brush
(1824-1892) (R)
Number: 37
Term: 1880-81
Important facts: First mayor to serve three
terms.
Common Council
President: 1880- Milton E. Beebe (R); 1881-Milton
E. Beebe
Opposing Candidate: Solomon Scheu
(D)
Name: Stephen Grover Cleveland
(1837-1908) (D)
Number: 38
Term: 1882 (resigned in November 1882)
Occupation: Lawyer
Important facts: Resigned to become Governor; Went
on to serve two terms as President of the United States.
Common Council
President: 1882-George W. Partridge (D)
Opposing Candidate: Milton Beebe
(R)
Name: Marcus M. Drake
(1835-1907) (R)
Number: 39
Term: 1882 (appointed to take over until special
election in January-resigned December 23, 1882)
Occupation: Ship Captain
Important facts: Served for 40 days; Won third term
to Common Council
as an independent candidate.
Common Council
President: 1882-George W. Partridge (D)
Name: Harmon S. Cutting
(1830-1884) (D)
Number: 40
Term: 1882 (appointed mayor from December 23, 1882
to January 9, 1883)
Occupation: Lawyer
Important facts: Served for 24 days; Served as Mayor's
Clerk to Cleveland, Manning, and Scoville.
Common Council
President: 1882-George W. Partridge (D); 1883-Robert
R. Hefford (R)
Name: John B. Manning
(1833-1908) (D)
Number: 41
Term: 1883 (selected to finish Grover Cleveland
's term through 1883)
Occupation: Business owner
Important facts: Owned possibly the largest malt
house in the world
Common Council
President: 1883-Robert R. Hefford (R)
Opposing Candidate: Robert R. Hefford (R)
Name: Jonathon Scoville
(1830-1891) (D)
Number: 42
Term: 1884 - 1885
Occupation: Iron manufacturer
Important facts: ?
Common Council
President: 1884-Robert R. Hefford (R); 1885-William
Franklin
(R)
Opposing Candidates: Josiah Jewett
(R); John B. Manning
(I)
Name: Philip Becker
(1830-1898) (R)
Number: 43, 44
Term: 1886 - 1887, 1888-1889
Important facts: The only political office he ever
held - three times.
Common Council
President: 1886-George W. Partridge (D); 1887-George
W. Partridge (D);
1888-William Summers
(D); 1889-William Summers
(D)
Opposing Candidates: 1885 -William Perry Taylor
(D); 1887- Solomon Scheu
(D)
Name: Charles F. Bishop
(1844-1913) (D)
Number: 45,46
Term: 1890 - 1891, 1892 - 1894
Occupation: Business owner
Important facts: City Charter
was changed in 1892; Mayoral term was increased to three
years
Common Council
President: 1890,1891-William Summers
(D); 1892,1893-James Hanrahan;1894-Robert K. Smither
Opposing Candidate: James H. Carmichael
(R);
Name: Edgar Boardman Jewett (1843-1924)
(R)
Number: 47
Term: 1895 - 1897
Occupation: President of Jewett Refrigerator Company
Important facts: ?
Common Council
President: 1895-Frederick A. Menge; 1896-Adam Boeckel; 1897-Charles
P. Woltz
Opposing Candidate: Jacob Stern (D)
Name: Conrad Diehl
(1843-1918) (D)
Number: 48
Term: 1898 - 1901
Occupation: Physician
Important facts: Pan-Am Exposition held during his
term, where President McKinley
was killed; First native-son mayor, and first to serve a
four-year term.
Common Council
President: 1898-James N. Adam
; 1899-William Summers
; 1900-Henry C. Steul; 1901-Frank
Maischoss
Opposing Candidate: John N. Scatcherd
(R)
Name: Erastus Cole Knight (1857-1923)
(R)
Number: 49
Term: 1902 - 1905
Occupation: Owned produce, real estate, and insurance
businesses.
Important facts:
Common Council
President: 1902-Charles F. Dunbar; 1903-Neil McEachren;
1904-Henry C. Ladd; 1905-Henry Landsheft
Opposing Candidate: Herbert F. Bissell (D)
Name: James Noble Adam (1842-1912)
(D)
Number: 50
Term: 1906 - 1909
Occupation: President J. N. Adam
Important facts: Started J. N. Adam Company
Common Council
President: 1906-John C. Betz; 1907-Henry F. Jerge; 1908-Henry
Adsit Bull; 1909 - Francis T. Coppins
Opposing Candidate: Charles L. Feldman
(R)
Name: Louis P. Fuhrmann
(1868-1931) (D)
Number: 51, 52
Term: 1910 - 1913, 1914 - 1917
Occupation: Meat packer
Important facts: World War I
mayor.
Common Council
President: 1910-Charles L. Willert; 1911-Octave A. Bruso
1912; 1913-1917-**
Opposing Candidates: 1909-Jacob Siegrist
(R); 1913-Thomas Stoddard
(R), John Lord O'Brian
(P, C)
Name: George Sturgess Buck (1875-1931)
(R)
Number: 53
Term: 1918 - 1921
Occupation: Lawyer
Important facts: World War I
mayor
Common Council
President: 1918-1921-**
Opposing Candidate: Louis Fuhrmann
(D)
Name: Francis Xavier Schwab
(1874-1946) (R,D,PP) Number:
54, 55
Term: 1922 - 1925, 1926 - 1929
Occupation: Salesman, brewery owner
Important facts: Airport began during his administration;
stock market crash in 1929
Common Council
President: 1922-1927-**; 1928- 1929 Frank C. Perkins
Opposing Candidates: 1921- George S. Buck
(R); 1925- Ross Graves
(D)
Name: Charles Edward Roesch (1886-1936)
(R)
Number: 56
Term: 1930 - 1933
Occupation: Meat packer
Important facts: Great Depression
Common Council
President: 1930 - 1931 Frank C. Perkins
1932 - 1933 Henry F. Jerge/John A Ulinski
Opposing Candidates: Frank X. Schwab (D), Frank E.
Perkins (S)
** - From 1913 through 1927 'The Council,'
as it was called, consisted of the Mayor, and the Commissioners
of Finance and Accounts, Public Works, Parks and Public
Buildings, and Public Affairs. This comprised the Council.
The Mayor was Chairman of the Board.
Name: George J. Zimmermann
(1881-1938) (D)
Number: 57
Term: 1934 - 1937
Occupation: Owned Zimmermann Lumber yard
Important facts: Tried for $15 million sewer scandal
- found not guilty.
Common Council
President: 1934 - 1935 William M. Eberhardt; 1936 -
1937 George W. Wanamaker
Opposing Candidate: Philip C. Schaefer
(R)
Name: Thomas Leslie Holling (1899-1966)
(D)
Number: 58
Term: 1938 - 1941
Occupation: Owner of Holling Press
Common Council
President: 1938 - 1939 George W. Wanamaker; 1940 - 1941
William P. Fisher
Opposing Candidates: Edwin F. Jaeckle
(R), Joseph Kaszubowski
(E), Frank X. Schwab (PP), Herman Hahn
(S)
Name: Joseph James Kelly (1897-1963)
(D, ALP)
Number: 59
Term: 1942 - 1945
Occupation: Lawyer/Judge
Important facts: World War II
mayor. Started cafeteria court while a judge
Common Council
President: 1942 - 1943 William P. Fisher
; 1944 - 1945 Kneeland B. Wilkes
Opposing Candidate: William P. Fisher
(R)
Name: Bernard Dowd
(1891-1971) (R)
Number: 60
Term: 1946 - 1949
Occupation: Pharmacist
Important facts:
Common Council
President: 1946 - 1947 Kneeland B. Wilkes; 1948 - 1949
Peter J. Crotty
Opposing Candidates: Thomas Holling
(D), Frank X. Schwab (PP), Robert Hoffman
(L), Herman Hahn
(S)
Name: Joseph Mruk
(1903- ) (R)
Number: 61
Term: 1950 - 1953
Occupation: Owned a jewelry store, politician
Important facts: Mayor during Korean War
; pinball machine scandal during administration
Common Council
resident: 1950 - 1951 Peter J. Crotty
; 1952 - 1953 Elmer F. Lux
Opposing Candidates: John Hillery
(D), Robert Hoffman
(L), James Annaccone
(ALP)
Name: Steven Pankow
(1908-1993) (D)
Number: 62
Term: 1954 - 1957
Occupation: Car Salesman - Pankow Motors
Important facts: Tried on several charges stemming
from city's paving contracts.
Common Council
President: 1954 - 1955 Elmer F. Lux
; 1956 - 1957 William B. Lawless, Jr.
Opposing Candidates: Harold J. Becker (R), Richard
Lipsitz (L)
Name: Frank Albert Sedita (1907-1975)
(D)
Number: 63
Term: 1958 - 1961
Occupation: Lawyer/judge
Important facts: First mayor elected to three four-year
terms
Common Council
President: 1958 - 1959 William B. Lawless, Jr.; 1960 - 1961
Chester C. Gorski
Opposing Candidates: Chester Kowal
(R), Elmer Lux (I), James Peck (L)
Name: Chester Kowal
(1904-1966) (R)
Number: 64
Term: 1962 - 1965
Occupation: City comptroller, ran family businesses
Important facts: Tried on conspiracy charges during
his term regarding city's refuse disposal system.
Common Council
President: 1962 -1965 Chester C. Gorski
Opposing Candidates: Victor Manz
(D), Frank Sedita
(C), Peter Carr
(I)
Name: Frank Albert Sedita (1907-1975)
(D)
Number: 65, 66
Term: 1966 - 1969, 1970 - 1973
Important facts:
Common Council
President: 1966 - 1973 Chester C. Gorski
Opposing Candidates: 1965- Roland Benzow
(R), Bernard Kurtz
(C); 1969- Alfreda Slominski
(R), Ambrose Lane
(U)
Name: Stanley Makowski
(1923-1981) (D)
Number: 67
Term: 1973 - 1977
Occupation: Grain miller, politician
Important facts: Blizzard of
77
Common Council
President: 1973 - March 24, 1974 - Chester C. Gorski
; March 24, 1974 - 1977 - Delmar L. Mitchell
Opposing Candidates: Stewart M. Levy
(R), John A. Westra (C), Patrick Giagnacova (L), Ira Liebowitz
(LP)
Name: James Donald Griffin (1929-
) (D, R, C, RTL, I)
Number: 68 - 71
Term: 1978 - 1993
Occupation: Grain miller, railroad engineer, politician
Important facts: Only mayor to serve four terms
Common Council
President: 1978 - 1983 Delmar L. Mitchell; 1984 -
1994 George K. Arthur
Major Opposing Candidates: 1977- Arthur Eve
(D), John J. Phelan
(R), Donald L. Turchiarelli
(L), Kushra Ghandi
(LP), Rev. Bob Lily
(SP); 1981- Alfred T. Coppola
(L); 1985 - George K. Arthur (D), Nicholas C. Constantino
(L); 1989 - Wilbur P. Trammell
(WI), William B. Hoyt
(L)
Name: Anthony M. Masiello
(1947- ) (D,R)
Number: 72-73
Term: 1994 - Present
Occupation: Politician
Important facts:
Common Council
President: 1994- 1995 George K. Arthur; 1995-Present
James Pitts
Major Opposing Candidates: 1993-Richard A. Grimm
III (R); Eugene M. Fahey (C); 1997-James D. Griffin (RTL),
James Pitts(L), Sharon Caetano(C); 2001-
KEY TO POLITICAL
PARTIES
ALP- American
Labor Party
C - Citizen's Party
D - Democrat
DR - Democrat- Republican
E - Ecpole
I - Independent
IBB - Independent Better Buffalo
K - Know Nothing
L - Liberal
LF - Locofoco
LP - Labor Party
PM - People's Movement
PP - People's Party
PR - Progressive
R - Republican
RTL - Right to Life
S - Socialist
T - Taxpayer's
UR - Union Republic
W - Whig
WP - Workingman's Party
U - Unity Independent Party
