1853, 1854-55
HISTORY
Eli Cook
was born in Palatine Bridge, New York, in Montgomery County,
on January 23, 1814. In 1824 the family moved to Manilus,
New York, in Oneida County, where Cook was raised.
Sometime between then and 1830, Cook began to study
in the ministry under Rev. Dr. Nichols of Manilus, to please
his father. He abandoned that study and took up law in 1830,
entering the office of John Fleming, and finishing in the
office of Wittemore & Denio of Utica, New York.
Upon the passing of his bar exam, he began working
as a clerk in the law office of Judge Denio, later becoming
his partner. Several years later, he began a partnership
with Mr. Beardsley, and in 1837 he practiced in Tennessee
and Mississippi with rebel General Simon B. Buckner.
In 1838 Mr. Cook moved to Buffalo
where he "took at once a commanding position at the bar
of Erie County, and for many years (was) regarded as one
of the leading criminal lawyers of the state."
He had power over the feelings of juries, which came
from his natural eloquence, not from scripted arguments.
Yet, he had few superiors "in the art of presenting
a case clearly and without unnecessary rhetoric."
Cook was appointed city attorney in 1845, and again
in 1851 under democratic mayors both times.
The Whig
City Convention was held on February 18, 1853, nominating LeRoy
Farnham
, former sheriff, for mayor and C. T. Shattuck, incumbent,
for Justice of the Peace.
The Democrats also held their convention on February
18, 1853, nominating Eli Cook
for mayor and Cornelius A. Waldron for Justice of the Peace.
On February 23, Whig
candidate Farnham was involved in an accident while driving
his horse, causing a head injury. "No doubt this accident
hindered Mr. Farnham during the campaign."
LIFE AS A MAYOR
On March 1, 1853, the local elections were held in
Buffalo
Eli Cook
won a resounding election over LeRoy Farnham
, 3,138 to 2,389. Soon-to-be ex-Mayor Barton
would be the last Whig
to occupy the mayor's seat in Buffalo
The Common Council
of Mayor Barton
met on March 8, 1853, Barton appointing two aldermen to wait
upon Mayor-elect Cook. When Cook arrived, he was sworn in,
and he in turn swore in the newly elected councilmen.
After thanking his fellow citizens for the high honor
they have given him, Cook addressed the
Council. "I
recommend, as is my duty, that despite the growth of the
city, I hope for a watchful caution in the expenditure of
the public moneys. Not that I advocate a narrow or parsimonious
economy, but that I hope we shall not permit those expenses
to exceed a point not demanded by the prosperity of our
city, and the rights and interests of our city, which debt
should not be increased unless that increase is demanded
by imperious necessity.
"The amount of assessments for local improvements
ordered and completed during the past year are stated in
the comptroller's report at $268,920. This amount, taken
in consideration with other taxes
, must bare with considerable severity on taxpayers, especially
the laboring classes, who are struggling to obtain comfortable
homes. I therefore recommend such local improvements only
be undertaken the present year as are demanded by the growth
of our city.
"The school expenses this last fiscal year were
$38,787.56, and I am not prepared to say that it can be
materially diminished without injury to that noble system
which is at once the pride and boast of our city. Popular
education is essential to this country and to the stability
of our republican institutions. Elevating, purifying and
enobling its influences.
"The Fire Department
..is again assuming that order and discipline so necessary
to the protection of our property."
The Council re-convened at two o'clock that afternoon
and the appointed city officials were elected by the Council.
"As so many holding office under Mayor Barton
were re-elected it showed that their popularity came from competent
service and not from party politics."
The movement for expansion and reorganization of
the city led to the City Charter
being revised on April 3, 1853. The act, entitled, "An
act to revise the Charter of the City of Buffalo
and Enlarge its Boundaries," Chapter 230 of the Laws of
1853, provided for the major changes that took place. The
city would now hold its elections in November, to coincide
with the county and state elections. Mayor Cook
would, therefore, only serve until November, an eight month
term. The mayor's term would now be two years in length,
and the Common Council
would elect its own presiding officer, the mayor would no longer
be president. Additionally, many of the city offices that
were filled by Council appointment were now to be elective
by the people. These included the street commissioner, treasurer,
surveyor, superintendent of schools and others.
But the greatest change that occurred with this Charter
revision was the addition of the entire town of Black Rock
"It was not a mere amalgamation of the rival villages
of historic canal-building days that occurred." Black
Rock stood in the way of expansion, beginning at North Street
and Jefferson Avenue, from the Niagara River clear around
to the lake shore. This annexation added 23,710 acres, real
estate valuation of $3,333,000, and nearly 30,000 people
into Buffalo
's limits.
The city wards were also altered, from five there
was now fifteen. Each ward could elect two aldermen, one
supervisor, a street inspector, and a commissioner of excise.
The Common Council
"earnestly commended" the council of the University
of Buffalo
to establish an Agricultural Department in the University, since
there was no institution in the United States that taught
this. This happened on April 4, 1853.
On April 11, 1853 Mayor Cook
became incensed with a decision made by the Council, and read
the following communication:
"Gentlemen-The removal of persons appointed
by me as temporary constables was an exercise of power conferred
on you by the charter of our city; but the advice you give
me in the preamble to the resolution removing these officers,
while it may be a fair expression of your honest convictions,
differing as it does, from my own views, you will excuse
me from adopting. The Charter requires that when, in My
Opinion, it is necessary, for the preservation of peace
and good order, I shall appoint temporary constables.
"An ordinance was enacted by the Council last
year authorizing the mayor to designate special constables...The
same day a like ordinance was enacted for the appointment
of one or more special constables to preserve order...The
power thus seemingly conferred existed independent of these
ordinances. it is derived directly from the Legislature
of the State and the mayor, as the head of the police
Is responsible for such outrages...It is my duty to guard
the public against imposition and to see that the laws of
the State and city are not violated...In my opinion (it)
can be done only by the maintenance of a police
force proportionate to the exigencies that may arise...While
I might entertain great respect for your opinion, my sense
of duty compels me to differ from you."
In July 1853, bids were accepted for the Terrace
Market, where the Council had met since the 1830's. A new
City and County Hall
was built on Franklin Street. Utilizing the residences that
were already on that property, the City Hall
was reconstructed into what stands today as the old Court House.
When
October 1853 arrived, it was time to have the party conventions
and prepare for the new elections. The Whigs held theirs
on October 18 at the old Court House, and, after balloting,
they chose James C. Harrison
as their candidate for mayor.
The National Democratic City Convention
was held on
October 20 at the same location, with future-mayor Harmon
S. Cutting
as secretary. This delegation nominated Hon. Albert H. Tracy
for mayor, but Mr. Tracy, said "under no circumstances"
would he accept. After re-balloting, they then chose Elijah
D. Efner as their candidate.
That same day another Democrat faction held their
City Convention and, after balloting,
nominated current Mayor Eli Cook
, over Charles S. Pierce and Elijah D. Efner, as their candidate.
A fourth party, The City Temperance Ticket, was entered
in the running for mayor, placing George Palmer as their
candidate. This party drew most of their support from the
Whig
faction.
Also on the ballot for November's elections were
several other prominent Buffalonians, including George Wm.
Clinton, Joseph G. Masten
, and Elbridge G. Spaulding
, all running for various county and state positions.
The first city elections to be held in November in
Buffalo
were on Tuesday, November 8, 1853. A drizzling, cold, and disagreeable rain prevailed throughout
the day, as the elections were held outdoors. The many choices
for office caused a split in the voting, for "friends
were friends" when it came to voting.
The final counting finished, Eli Cook
was again elected mayor. He defeated Whig
James C. Harrison
in a close race, 3,093 to 3,021, with the other candidates totaling
just 586 votes.
There were many new faces in the city government
now that the citizens had a say in who was elected for many
of the positions. Henry Lovejoy, a Whig
, had been city surveyor from 1841 to 1853, and was defeated,
as were many others as the people made their choices heard.
On Monday morning, January 2, 1854, the new Buffalo
was ushered in. The Common Council
was now free to choose its own president and wasted no time
in doing so. When the Council met on January 4, balloting
included candidates from all thirteen wards, with Stephen
J. Howell, Whig
, of the twelfth ward finally chosen.
A resolution was passed thanking Mayor Cook
for his "prompt, courteous, and impartial manner in which
he discharged the duties of presiding officer." When
the Council reconvened in the afternoon, Mayor Cook
gave his Annual Address to the Common Council
"My duty under the Charter, to recommend such
measures as I may deem necessary or expedient, can be performed
at any other time, and many subjects upon which my opinion
should be expressed, cannot now be brought before you in
consequence of the unavoidable inability of the Comptroller
to [produce] his annual report.
"The location of the Police Station Houses and
the division of the city into Police districts, requires
your immediate attention. The stations should be fixed at
such places as will ensure a watchful care of property...There
has been just cause for complaint that...the principal streets
have been patrolled by the watch, while other parts of the
city have been without this protection.
"To you is confided the care and protection
within our city, of its Free Schools
, institutions of incalculable importance to us and those
who shall fill our places hereafter. The free school system
extending its blessings to all, places the child of poverty
beside the off-spring of the wealthy, and is a
beautiful
illustration of our republican institutions.
"The expense of these institutions is counterbalanced
in the decrease of crime...the substitution of education
in the place of ignorance and although your predecessors
have done much for the advancement of popular education,
much yet remains to be done by you.
"There are other subjects upon which recommendations
will be made by me at a future time. I shall at all time
be found ready and willing to unite with you in such measures
as the interests and prosperity of our city may require."
So Mayor Cook
began his second term in office, the first two-year term for
a Buffalo
mayor, and the first mayor to serve consecutive terms.
In 1854 the Recorder Court was reorganized and merged
with the Superior Court.
An interesting statistic was found for the year 1854.
Two thousand two hundred forty-three
arrests were made in 1854 by the police
department. Of that number 1,792 were chargeable to drunkenness
and disorderly conduct; a full 80% of the arrests.
The elections of November 1854 proved to be quite
impressive. Many of the aldermen were reelected, and some
new ones were added. When the Common Council
convened in January 1855, there were four aldermen who would
later become mayors, and the comptroller was replaced by
a former mayor when he died. In total, there were six mayors,
previous or future, on the city's payroll in one year. Not
before, and not for many years after would there be that
many outstanding citizens together in the city government.
During 1855 William Wallace presented to the Common
Council
a plan to build a tunnel under the Niagara River from Buffalo
to Canada. He originally proposed this idea in 1852. The total
cost in 1855 was $853,000.
At the end of Mayor Eli Cook
's second term he declined to run for another, instead desiring
to return to private life.
PERSONAL LIFE
After his successful years as mayor of Buffalo
, Eli Cook
returned to his law practice. His last known partner was Charles
J. Thomas, in the 1860's.
In January 1866 we find Mr. Cook, Hon. George Clinton,
Elbridge Spaulding
, and Solomon Haven
as directors of Bryant, Lusk and Stratton's Mercantile College.
Eli Cook
married around 1838, but his wife died soon after. He remarried
in 1843, to Sarah L., but they had no children. Up until
1861 they lived at 170 Franklin Street. After that, it is
believed he lived at the American Hotel
Mr. Cook died on February 25, 1865 after a long illness.
For several of his last years his health was poor, possibly
attributed to the dropsy. A meeting of the bar was called
on February 27, and tributes to his memory were paid by
many of Buffalo
's leading men, including Judge George W. Clinton
, Judge Masten, and George R. Babcock. He is buried in Forest
Lawn Cemetery
