Through The Mayor's Eyes
The Only Complete History of the Mayor's of Buffalo, New York
Compiled by Michael Rizzo

Lewis P. Dayton

1874-75

HISTORY

                In 1816 the parents of Lewis P. Dayton  moved to Eden, New York, where they purchased a tract of land and became farmers. Dayton was born in 1821, one of nine children, and, as many pioneer settlers, spent his youth working on the farm, and attending school in the winter months.

                Some years later, Dayton was sent to the Springville Academy, in Springville, New York, where he completed his schooling, graduating in 1840. After completing his studies there he moved to Potters Corners, Erie County, New York, where he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Timothy T. Lockwood.

                Dayton was not satisfied with the opportunities, and moved to Buffalo  to study in the office of Dr. James P. White After studying for an unspecified period of time, he entered the Geneva Medical College, in Geneva, New York, and graduated in 1846.

                At this time he returned to the Buffalo  area, and established an office in Black Rock , before it was part of Buffalo He became very successful and very popular in his practice, though not very wealthy. He was of the mindset that all men deserved medical treatment whether they could afford it or not, and he responded to the poor as well as the rich, never worrying about receiving compensation from his less fortunate patients.

                Later in 1845, Dayton was elected school commissioner in Black Rock

                By 1849 he became a member of the Erie County Medical Society

                In 1854, after the annexation of Black Rock , he was elected an alderman for the twelfth ward for 1855 and 1856. He repeated this feat in 1856, serving in 1857 and 1858.

                In 1857 he was chosen President of the Council.

                In 1858 Dayton was elected vice-president of the Erie County Medical Society The following year he was elected president of the Society.

                In November 1863, Dayton was elected to serve as alderman of the twelfth ward, for the years 1864 and 1865.

                In 1864 Dayton was again chosen President of the Council.

                There are indications that Dr. Dayton was elected to serve in the State Assembly for the years 1865 and 1866, but apparently he was serving politically for the county.

                In 1865 and 1866, Dr. Dayton served on the primary board of the Erie County Medical Society

                For the years 1865 through 1867 Dayton served as County Clerk. There was indications that he served as County Treasurer around that time, but there was no figures to support that.

                In 1868 Dayton was appointed to the first Board of Park  Commissioners.

                He was chosen health physician for the City in 1871. He served this position from 1872 through 1874.

                Dayton was a tried and true Democrat, believing in all the "traditions, principles, and policies of the old party." He was not a fair weather Democrat. When the party faced adversity, he was content to share its defeats, but when it ascended, he basked in its glories.

                In the autumn of 1873, the search for candidates for the office of mayor was begun. At the 'Democratic-Republican' city convention, held on October 21, 1873, Sheriff Grover Cleveland  presented the name of Dr. Lewis P. Dayton He spoke highly, and forcible of Dr. Dayton. After the vote, Dayton was nominated by one vote, over J. L. Haberstro.

                The following day, October 22, 1873, the Republican City Convention  was held in the Council Chambers. Frank A. Sears  was chosen by nine votes over Philip Becker So the stage was set for election day 1873.

LIFE AS A MAYOR

                The "campaign of 1873 was a queer one." A committee of 35 Germans, who called themselves outcasts, were opposed to the choice of Frank Sears, obviously wanting fellow German Philip Becker

                Apparently few survived the political clash of that election.

                On November 4, 1873 the citizens made their voice heard, and it was a Republican victory throughout the state, county, and city, except the office of mayor. Dr. Dayton won by a commanding number of votes over Republican candidate Sears, 10,354 to 7,027.

                "Perhaps  no physician in Buffalo  has ever secured a firmer hold on the masses of people, especially the poorer classes.

                On January 4, 1874 the Common Council  met for the first time. A committee was appointed to wait upon Mayor Dayton , and returned with his Inaugural Address

                "Gentlemen - Called by the electors of this city from the walks of professional life to the Mayoralty...it is proper that I should say that I do not regard my election as a personal compliment, nor as a triumph of the political organization with which I have always been identified, but rather as an expression of the determination of a large majority of the people that our municipal business shall be thoroughly investigated; and that, if practicable, greater care shall be exercised in the public expenditures. It will be no easy task to meet the popular expectation in this regard. The city is increasing rapidly in population, and the expenses of some of the departments of the government most necessarily advance in proportion, while those of others may be curtailed, and economy practiced in all.

                "...While there shall be no check upon legitimate enterprise, there shall be no scheme prosecuted designed for private advantage.

                "The credit of the city remains unimpaired, and should be strengthened rather than strained. The best test of the importance of a public improvement is to ascertain whether the people are willing to pay for it now; and if this test be applied, the Council will act more nearly in accord with public opinion. There are public enterprises, such as construction of Water Works, Parks, and possibly Trunk Sewers, to which this general proposition should not apply; but the exception to the rule cannot be too clearly defined in matters of local legislation.

                "If property was assessed at anything near its market or rental value, the city taxes  would not exceed one per cent.

                "Prominent among the measures which should receive the early attention of the Council, is that of providing for the equalization of the value of the real estate within the city limits. During the past five years there has been a great change in the market value and the rental value of real property, which the Assessors have endeavored to represent properly on the assessment rolls; but their duties are so arduous that it is impracticable for them to revise the rolls thoroughly.

                "I am persuaded that it is an act of justice to the tax payers to ask the Legislature to create a Commission, to...equalize the value of the real property...and report to the Common Council  - the new rolls, when they are confirmed.

                "The Police Force is made up of two hundred and four men.

                "The number of arrests made...was 11,525. The number of patrolmen was increased during the year by fourteen. A new station-house has been erected on Niagara Street for the Fifth Police Precinct...and a new station-house established on William Street for the Eighth Precinct.

                "The working of the [Fire] department has been satisfactory and the city has enjoyed comparative immunity from destructive fires. For the present, I am satisfied that the organization of the department, [volunteer and paid], should remain undisturbed.

                "The expense of [the Health Department ] has increased very rapidly in the past three years. These physicians have made six hundred and ten visits during the year, under orders given by the Overseer of the Poor, at a cost to the city of nearly $15 a visit. Without doubt, a large amount of gratuitous service has been performed by these medical gentlemen which does not appear on the official record; but no well-informed person who is not profiting by this generous distribution of patronage doubts that the indigent poor can be well cared for more economically, I commend this subject to the immediate attention of the Council.

                "During the past year new schoolhouses were opened in Districts No. 25 and 33; the house in District No. 35 was enlarged by the construction of wings; and a new building commenced in No. 18. There will continue to be a demand for increased accommodations in our schools, and I recommend that when practicable these should be furnished by the construction of detached primaries, rather than the building of costly edifices designed for full-graded schools. Sooner or later the system of districts as now established will require modification, and when this is done the commodious houses can be used for the higher grades of scholars in three or more districts, and primaries built in convenient locations as the increase of population may require. This plan would be more economical, better for the health of the pupils, and not prejudicial to their proper tuition.

                "Our system of parks has been steadily and deservedly growing in popular favor. The Lake and its surroundings present a contrast with its former condition so great that the cost of construction is lost sight of in the grace and beauty which as a landscape feature it presents, aside from the benefit it has conferred as a sanitary measure. I am persuaded that each year will add to the interest taken in their improvement and embellishment.

                "To maintain order in the parks, and enforce the ordinances adopted by the Commissioners, a larger number of police  will be required.

                "The work upon this edifice [the City and County Hall ] was constantly prosecuted during the past season, and the close of this year, provided the necessary appropriations are authorized, will see the walls completed, the roof in its place, and the building ready for its interior finish.

                "It is the popular opinion, in which I share, that the time has come when the fares on our Street Railroads should be reduced to a price more nearly approaching the rates in other cities, and that more attention should be paid to the accommodations of passengers. If it be necessary that the cash fare remain at eight cents on the long routes, and that tickets on these routes shall remain at six cents, there can be no excuse for compelling a passenger who holds a ticket for a short route...to pay an additional cash fare of eight cents. Many of our citizens are unable to discover the difference between the practice of the Street Railroad Companies and extortion.

                "If under occasion we must differ upon matters of political opinion, let us never forget that as guardians of the property and general welfare  of our citizens we have a common interest of higher importance than either personal advancement or political success."

                On January 4, 1875 the Common Council  met and Mayor Dayton 's Annual Address was read.

                "I beg leave...to call your attention to the fact that we are entering upon a new era in public affairs. The citizens of Buffalo , in common with those of all cities, demand of their official servants strict economy in expenditures and fidelity to the interests of the masses of the people. They are impatient of carelessness and corruption  and intolerant of abuses of public confidence and trust. While they neither ask nor expect that general enterprises shall be neglected or local improvements abandoned, they do insist that their money shall not be expended for private advantage of lavished upon partisans. For the first time in years the questions of government, municipal, state and national, are now considered as ones of finance and political economy. Men everywhere are debating measures on their merits and governing their actions by business principles. They are willing to be taxed for proper purposes; but they no longer recognize the right of any party to maintain itself on the pretext of protecting persons and property.

                "The increase of the valuation of property in the city...does not keep pace with the growth in population nor the market price of real estate, and I renew the recommendation in my previous message that a re-valuation of property is made.

                 "Under the present system of providing for the repair of paved streets the public thoroughfares are becoming constantly more disgraceful and impassable. Many of the older pavements are ruined. Hereafter, no pavement should be ordered until the street is sewered, and the gas and water pipes, with connections for every lot, properly laid. This precaution would make it unnecessary to pay for the paving of a street more than once, and secure our citizens reasonably comfortable transit from one part of the city to another.

                "I renew the suggestion...that the Superintendent of Education, in connection with the School Communities, consider whether the classes in the Latin and Greek languages and possibly in other studies in the Central School may not be advantageously transferred to the Buffalo  State Normal  School.

                "It appears...that neither the new tunnel nor the inlet pier and shaft are completed. The work on the pier is substantially done; but the shaft which is to connect it with the tunnel has not been commenced. The tunnel is yet some seventy feet from the pier, and work upon it has been abandoned for several months, for what reasons I am not officially informed.

                "I learn from the [Fire Department ] Superintendent that ten alarm signal boxes were added in the past year, and that a talking telegraphic circuit connecting the paid branch with head-quarters has been constructed. Additional fire alarm signal boxes will be required from time to time.

                "...Public order has never been more perfectly preserved, and crime never more swiftly detected and punished than during the present year.

                "Among the necessities of the city which must be provided for at an early day is that of a system of sewerage adequate to the sanitary demands of a population of at least one-quarter of a million. The rapid increase of dwellings in the eastern portion of the city, and the constant opening of new streets intersecting the Park avenues, render trunk sewers of a larger capacity imperative.

                "The general sanitary condition of the city has been good. No disease has prevailed as an epidemic except scarlet fever, which has been present to a greater or less extent during the whole year. Buffalo  still maintains the reputation of being one of the most healthy cities in the Union."

                Mayor Dayton  did not seek a second term.

PERSONAL LIFE

                After leaving office, Dayton retired to his private medical practice.

                Around 1846 Dr. Dayton married Grace Webster Holley. They had four children, the two eldest dying within one week of each other during an epidemic. Their two younger children became affluent citizens of Buffalo Mrs. Dayton died at a young age, and Mr. Dayton married Mrs. Alice Maud Hayes, who died about a year after their marriage. In 1892, at least four years after his previous wife's death, he married Margaret Vogt. He was sixty-eight years old.

                The Dayton's lived in Black Rock  until 1871 or 1872 when Dr. Dayton decided to move closer to the inner city. They moved to 15 Niagara Street where he operated his office out of the basement of his home.

                Dayton was a highly esteemed member and past master of Parish Lodge 292, F. & A. M. He was the second master of that lodge in 1855 - 1857.

                In 1892 Dr. Dayton suffered a heat stroke. Despite the best medical treatment, and a change of climate, his health never fully recovered.

                On May 14, 1900, Dayton died at the family home, 325 Bryant Street. The funeral was held from his house, as it was in those days. Apparently, a carriage driver strike was in full swing, and many strikers lingered around the house to catch a glimpse of the scabs doing the driving.

                Dr. Dayton was buried with Masonic  rites by the members of the Parish Lodge in Forest Lawn Cemetery His brain was preserved in alcohol, possibly for medical research.

                On May 16, 1900 the Erie County Medical Society  held a special meeting to prepare resolutions of sorrow for their departed friend. He had been recognized as the "dean of the fraternity."