1832-33, 1834-35
HISTORY
Ebenezer Johnson
was born in New England on November 7, 1786, the second of thirteen
children. He studied medicine in Cherry Valley, New York
with Dr. Joseph White
, a well-known physician of the time.
In 1810 he came to Buffalo
, carrying a letter of introduction from Hezekiah Granger
to Judge Erastus Granger
Erie County was non-existent, with Buffalo
being part of what was known as Niagara County. The population
at the turn of the century was approximately twelve men
and their families. Johnson fully intended to start his
own practice. Unbeknownst to him, Dr. Cyrenius Chapin
already had a monopoly on the market in Buffalo
Dr. Johnson knew he couldn't compete without capital, so
he applied to Joseph Ellicott
, the Buffalo
agent of the Holland Land Company
, for a loan. He planned on starting his own practice and
charging less for prescriptions and medical services than
Dr. Chapin did.
It cannot be told with any certainty whether he received
the needed financial help from Ellicott, but it is believed
he didn't. It is known that he began a medical practice
and eventually opened a drug store to accompany his practice
by some other means. He was very successful at his practice
and continued working at it until the war erupted.
In 1812, in anticipation of the British invasion,
a law was passed by Congress to establish an army of 25,000
men. About a year or so later a group calling themselves
"Democratic Republicans" was formed. Ebenezer
Johnson
found his way into this militia which was being prepared for
war by securing enough officers. He accepted a position
and was appointed "surgeon's mate," or assistant
surgeon. He abandoned his medical practice during this time
to serve his country. During the time he was gone, on December
30, 1813, the village of Buffalo
was burned by the British.
Upon his return to the town, believed to be at the
end of the war, he engaged in the drug business, presumably
his drug store. It is reported that he was elected Surrogate
of Erie County in 1815. Since Erie County was not yet created,
we can assume it was actually Niagara County.
On April 5, 1816, Buffalo
was incorporated as a village formed from parts of Clarence,
Tonawanda, Grand Island, Amherst, Cheektowaga, and West
Seneca. The structure of the village government included
trustees, clerk, treasurer, and collector. In 1821 Erie
County was officially formed, taking most of Niagara County
with it. At that time The Medical Society
of Erie County
was created. The Society had twenty-five physicians in its
original membership, including Cyrenius Chapin
and Ebenezer Johnson
Some of the 25 were originally part of the Niagara County
medical society
In 1819 Johnson was an original member of the Buffalo
Harbor Company
In 1822 he was elected as a
village trustee. He held that position again in 1825.
From 1823 on, Johnson had many business dealings
including banking, and associations with H. H. Sizer, Philander
Hodge
, his nephew Mortimer F. Johnson, and Judge Samuel Wilkeson
Together with Judge Wilkeson they bought property throughout
the city. The firm of Johnson & Wilkeson worked on a
project that was associated with the building of the canal
in Tonawanda - they had a dam built at the mouth of Tonawanda
creek. In addition, they played an important part in developing
the canal-forwarding trade.
Dr. Johnson was again elected in 1828, as the Erie
County Surrogate.
In 1829 the Jubilee Waterworks
company began to extend its service to Buffalo
The company had been incorporated in 1827, laying log pipes
from the Jubilee spring on Delaware Avenue near Ferry Street,
which was outside the city limits at the time.
In the late 1820's a group of flour mills sprang
up at the foot of Ferry Street and at Amherst Street. About
seven or eight mills were there. 1827 saw the formation
of the Buffalo
Hydraulic Association. It built the Hydraulic canal, tapping
the Buffalo
river near Gardenville, and brought the water to the junction
of Seneca and Swan Streets. By 1832 about six mills were
in operation at this location and a village of 500 had grown
around them.
The year 1832 saw great changes occur in Buffalo
The population was 10,119, up from 8,668 in 1830. The village
had grown to the proportions of a city. It was time for
a change. The state Legislature acted to create the "City
of Buffalo
" corporation. The city was broke up into five wards.
All males who were 21 years of age and met residence requirements
were qualified to vote. The inhabitants of each ward could
elect two aldermen for a one year term.
LIFE AS A MAYOR
On May 28, 1832 the first election in Buffalo took
place.
Under the first city charter, the Common Council
had the power to elect the mayor. Dr. Ebenezer Johnson
was elected the first mayor of Buffalo
with a salary of $250 per year. At the time of his election,
Dr. Johnson was one of the wealthiest citizens in Buffalo
His political affiliation was Democrat-Republican.
In addition to the mayor, the Common Council
had the power to appoint "a city clerk, treasurer, city
attorney, street commissioner, collector of taxes
, clerk of the markets, police
constables, pound masters, porters, carriers, cartmen, packers,
beadles, bellmen, sextons, criers, scavengers, measurers,
surveyors, weighers, and gaugers." The Council also
given the power to "raise not more than $8,000
per year for lighting streets, maintaining a night watch,
making and repairing roads and bridges," and any other
city expenses.
The Mayor presided over the Common Council
proceedings.
There was less than 80 rods of sidewalk in Buffalo
, and no pavement at this time.
His first year as mayor was a busy one. In addition
to his duties as mayor, Johnson also held the honorable
position of President of the Buffalo
Literary and Scientific Academy.
The summer of that year brought sorrow and misfortune
to the city. The Asiatic cholera
had developed in cities along the St. Lawrence River and it
was sure to hit Buffalo
The medical profession had no idea how to battle this disease.
Mayor Johnson
created the first Board of Health and immediately took to the
problem. He established the first hospital, the McHose House
, in an abandoned tavern
between Niagara Street and Prospect Avenue, for the
care of cholera patients. He urged the citizens to purify
their drinking water with brandy. Regardless, 184 cases
were reported, with 80 dying at the height of the epidemic.
"His devoted labors and untiring energy in the
emergency earned for Dr. Johnson the respect and admiration
of all" the citizens of Buffalo
The first meeting of the new Board of Aldermen was
held on June 4, 1832. Mayor Johnson
made appointments to the following committees: Finance; Fire
and Water; Streets, Alleys, Canals and Ferries; Police;
Wharves and Public Lands.
Johnson served as mayor from May 1832 to March 1833.
The new elections were held each March 8. On March 8, 1833
a new board of Aldermen was elected. A total of 2,805 votes
were taken in the city. The new board met at 9 o'clock March
12 to organize the Common Council
At this meeting Ebenezer Johnson
was re-elected Mayor of Buffalo
Aldermen Philander Bennett (4th ward) and John G. Camp (2nd
ward) were appointed "to wait upon Mayor Johnson
and inform him thereof, and receive his pleasure relative hereto."
Although Mayor Johnson
was honored, he declined a second term, saying in a letter sent
to the Council later that day: "At the organization
of our city government last spring, the kindness and courtesy
of the board then elected, was in like manner extended to
me, and I entered upon the duties assigned. Those duties
I discharged, I trust assiduously; and if not to the satisfaction
of all, some latitude, I hope, may be allowed me to plead,
in extenuation, inexperience and the extraordinary character
of many of the official demands upon me, some of which at
least, arising from causes which we may fondly hope, Heaven
will, in future, avert.
"...Allow me respectfully to decline the station
your kindness has assigned me." The Council thanked
the Mayor, especially for saving many from the Asiatic Cholera.
Ebenezer Johnson
did accept his re-election in 1834, serving a second and final
term ending in 1835.
During this period, the city contained six churches,
two banks, two markets, sixteen district and private schools
and three engine houses." Also, the city's first daily
newspaper, the Western Star, began publication, not long
after becoming just the Star. In addition, the city was
now able to raise $14,000 per year for expenses, up from
the original $8,000 during his first term.
PERSONAL LIFE
Dr. Ebenezer
Johnson
was well known throughout the city. "He was a man perfectly
honest and straightforward in all his dealings with men."
He would frequently say, "To do this is clearly my
duty, and when my duty is clear it is peremptory."
He never let his conscience rule over his better judgment.
He helped to bring many enterprises into Buffalo
during the years he lived here.
On January 25, 1811 Ebenezer Johnson
married Sally M. Johnson. they were married in Cherry Valley,
NY by Dr. White, possibly the same one who he had studied
medicine with. They had three children. She died in June
1834. Eighteen months later, on December 7, 1835, he married
Lucy E. Lord, sister of Dr. John C. Lord
, who had married his daughter Mary. They had three children
together.
Dr. Johnson owned a parcel of land on Delaware Street,
from Chippewa to Tupper, to the State Reservation line,
to the South Village of Black Rock
At this time Black Rock and Buffalo
were separate villages, fighting each other for trade and commerce.
His land was approximately 25 acres total. The property
he owned was surrounded by a high fence and he allowed wild
animals to live freely within it's limits. His home, known
as "Johnson Cottage," or just "the Cottage,"
was a well known place for socializing. "Garden parties
were given frequently during the summer months." Included
on the well-cultivated lawns were fruit orchards, vegetable
gardens, flower beds, and elm trees.
"In February 1836, a very elegant ball was given
in the Cottage. It was notable for having engraved invitations,
a fine band of music and a table that fairly groaned with
good things to eat. Dancing was kept up until long after
midnight, and people came in considerable numbers from adjacent
towns to enjoy the hospitality of the first mayor of Buffalo
" A few years later, his property was divided and sold.
The year 1833 was the beginning of the speculation
years. For several years land prices rose and many people
got rich, including Mayor Johnson
, who had made many purchases with Judge Wilkeson. Unfortunately,
by 1836, the market bottomed out, and many people who had
purchased on credit, were bankrupt. The town was in dire
consequences, and many individuals lost their entire fortunes.
Dr. Johnson was one of them. On July 21, 1837 he advertised
his cottage for lease for a term of five or ten years. "All
furniture and personal property is offered for sale with
the lease of the house" the ad stated.
He decided to leave Buffalo
and go to Tellico Plains, Tennessee, where he owned an iron
ore mine with his brother, Elisha Johnson, who was a former
mayor of Rochester, New York. Tellico Plains was his last
stop. He died there on September 23, 1849, at 63 years of
age. There was some confusion as to the actual date of his
death and burial spot, but this is the actual date. His
body was laid to rest in Tellico Plains.
Dr. Ebenezer Johnson
was a man
that any city would be glad to have at it's helm. "In
his person were united in a rare degree those characteristics
of mental and physical energy, which, in a larger sphere
of action, would have gained the admiration of a nation."
