1858-59
HISTORY
Timothy T. Lockwood was born in North East, New York
in 1810. He was the fourth of ten children born in a farming
family. In 1816 the family moved to Hamburg, New York and
purchased a farm where Lockwood spent his youth.
In the early 1830's, Timothy began studying medicine
under Dr. James P. White
at Philadelphia Medical College in Pennsylvania. Upon receiving
his degree, he practiced medicine for ten years at White's
Corners.
He returned to Buffalo
around 1842 and became a member of the Erie County Medical Society
, and as censor in 1845.
In 1851, Lockwood was appointed city health physician
under Mayor James Wadsworth
In November 1854, Lockwood was the Democratic candidate
for State Assembly, but was defeated by the Hindoo candidate.
Lockwood was a stout Democrat and "had faith
in the principles of his party which never wavered from
the time he entered public life until he retired from it."
Early in 1857 the City Charter
of Buffalo
was once again changed. This time it was not the will of the
people that brought about the change. It was "thought
the Mayor should be removed from the temptation to use the
power entrusted him for procuring a renomination and re-election.
...It was unanimously decided [by th State Legislature]
that the Mayor should be non-eligible fpr two consecutive
terms of office."
Democrat-turned-Republican Mayor Frederick P. Stevens
aligned with the Black Republicans, and Know-Nothings to oust
the Democrats from office. In addition to the charter change,
election day was changed to June, as the Republicans hoped
"to obtain possession of the city government by the
absence of the hardy sailors and boatmen" who were
not home during the summer months.
This was an act that was strictly a "party measure,
and was so acknowledged by the Republican leaders."
The "People's movement" as it was called, attempted
to persuade the citizens that they were doing everything
in the best interest of the city. That with the Democrats
in office, property values would decline, taxes
would rise and the citizens would regret their decision. Their
candidates composed a "mongrel ticket" of four
Republicans, four Know Nothings, and the rest purported
to be Republicans. Even the local Republican newspaper,
the Buffalo
Republic, favored the scheme at first, but the 'indifferent
success' of the movement...discouraged that journal"
and they preferred a strictly party arrangement.
On Saturday, May 30, 1857, the Democratic City Convention
was held, and
after several informal ballots, Timothy Lockwood
was chosen their candidate for Mayor. He never served in any
political office, yet was extremely respected throughout
the city and was chosen as the Democratic candidate for
mayor in 1857.
The Black Republicans held their convention on June
1, 1857, where the 'People's' ticket nominated Frederick
P. Stevens
for Mayor.
LIFE AS A MAYOR
The local elections were held on Tuesday, June 9,
1857. "Lockwood's predominating traits were energy,
industry and perseverance, and his reward for putting them
into practice was the civic honor which he received at the
hands of his appreciative citizen-friends, irrespective
of party."
After the ballots were counted, Lockwood defeated
his opponent, Republican candidate Mayor Frederick P. Stevens
5,468 to 4,084. It was a triumph for the Democratic party
as the entire ticket was elected into office.
Dr. Timothy Lockwood
became the third physician to hold the office of Mayor in Buffalo
The Buffalo
Express said on June 10, 1857, "The city is now given over
to the rule of the so called Democracy, which is chiefly
a compound of Irish rowdyism, Catholic intolerance and a
thirst for office and spoils."
The Common Council
met in the morning of January 4, 1858. Mayor-elect Lockwood
was administered the oath of office by Mayor Stevens
After a recess, the Council re-convened at 2 p.m.,
and a committee was appointed to wait upon the mayor, "and
inform him that the Council is ready to receive any communication
he may see fit to make." Apparently the mayor did not
address the council personally, as it was read by the clerk.
"I deem it my duty to call your attention to
the disproportionate amount of taxes
levied upon the city by the [County] Board of Supervisors
Though this matter has been the subject of frequent complaint,
and the injustice of the action of the Board of Supervisors
fairly pointed out, there appears to be no disposition on
the part of the majority of the Board to remedy this continued
oppression.
"Taking the Assessors valuations as the basis
of taxation, the city ought to pay 70.7 per cent of the
taxes
and the county
29.3 percent.
"If the experience of the past furnishes any
ground for future calculation, this unjust taxation of the
city can never be prevented, until the city secures its
proper representation in the Board of Supervisors
The city with a population...of 47,569 and property assessed
at over $87,000,000, has only thirteen members in the Board,
while the county towns, with a...population of 40,900 and
property assessed at about $15,000,000 has twenty-five members.
"The project of erecting the city into a county
by itself has been frequently broached, but there are grave
objections growing out of the fact that the city and the
country derive mutual advantages from the association.
"The City of Buffalo
is unquestionably one of the best paved, sewered and lighted
in the Union. For the large expenditure for local improvements...we
have something valuable and substantial to show. There are
251-1/2 miles of located streets within the city limits:
37-1/2 miles of paved streets...38-1/2 miles of sewers...there
are 205,000 lineal feet of stone side walks...the city is
lighted with 1,950 lamps.
"Public attention is directed to this subject
of taxation, and it is a matter for your consideration whether
the city has not, of late, pressed forward too rapidly in
its improvements. Our most wealthy citizens find it difficult
to meet their liabilities, and many of our mechanics and
laboring men have been obliged to suffer their property
to be sold to pay their taxes
, and are unable, at the present time, to redeem it. I earnestly
recommend that no more works involving increased expenditures
be ordered...The discretionary power of the Common Council
should be exercised for the protection of the rights of the
minority.
"It is for the best interest of the city to
retain [police
] men in the department who have become qualified for the
discharge of its duties...by their fidelity and sobriety.
A continual change of men and a frequent alteration of the
system of selecting and organizing the police
force must necessarily tend to its demoralization and to impair
its efficiency.
"The Charter of the city...was so amended at
the last session of the Legislature, as to place the appointment
of the police
force in the hands of the Mayor, and to throw upon him the entire
responsibility of its control. While the Mayor should be
the recognized head of the police
and prescribe rules for its government, it is not desirable...that
he should be charged with the selection of men.
"The streets and alleys should be thoroughly
cleansed as early in spring as possible, and before the
heat of the sun causes...vapors to arise from the accumulated
filth of the winter, and should be regularly swept thereafter,
once in each week.
"The Fire department
was never in a more prosperous condition. These men numbering
in all about six hundred, serve without pay, and at very
considerable expense to themselves.
"The supply of Niagara Water to the city, although
in extent more limited than could be wished, is to be regarded
as of the greatest importance; for security against fire...aiding...business
and industry, as well as promoting the convenience, comfort
and health of
our citizens.
The Democrats were virtually swept out of city, county,
and state offices in November 1858, as the Republicans took
control.
The Common Council
met the morning of January 3, 1859. Future mayor, Alderman Chandler
J. Wells
, moved that a resolution be passed thanking the outgoing
city officers, which was. The old Council was dissolved,
at which time Mayor Lockwood
administered the oath of office to the incoming aldermen.
Alderman, and another future mayor, Franklin Alberger
, offered a resolution that a special committee should be
appointed regarding the building of an international bridge
from Buffalo
to Canada. Included on the committee were Chandler Wells, with
Alberger as chairman. Upon assembling after recess, the
Council President, Alonzo Tanner
, appointed three aldermen to wait upon Mayor Lockwood
for his annual address
The Mayor delivered his annual address
of 1858 to the Common Council
"Gentlemen - The recurrence of our Municipal
New Year is always an occasion of interest to our fellow-citizens.
It affords an opportunity to review the past, and to gain
additional light to direct our future conduct. The year
just closed will stand out prominently in the history of
the country. A commercial embarrassment and a financial
revulsion, unparalleled in the annals of trade, arrested
the strong arm of industry, and laid a partial embargo on
every avenue of commerce, and as an inevitable consequences,
trade was in a measure prostrated, and destitution and want
ensued. But during this trying season, the City of Buffalo
has suffered comparatively less than other commercial cities.
"In my first communication to your Honorable
body, I called your attention to the importance of well-timed
and judicious measures to relieve our citizens from excessive
taxation. It is with pleasure that I am able to state that
the expenses of the municipal government have been materially
reduced during the past year.
"It is important to state that of the present
indebtedness, $409,000 was incurred from the years 1852
and 1853...and during the past year, $27,268 of the City
debt has been paid, and not one cent of additionally liability
incurred.
"Our streets well paved and sewered as they
are would lack completeness and beauty, were it not for
the superior manner in which they are lighted. The general
favor with which its introduction has been received has
induced rapid extensions, amounting to between four and
five miles of conducting pipe each year.
"The total extent of streets lighted by the
Public Lamps is now about forty-seven miles, and the number
of lamps is 2,062, which is an increase of 102 over the
year 1857.
"The tax for public lighting has become large
and is deemed by some of our citizens oppressive; but when
it is considered that the lamp district now embraces a large
proportion of the city, and contributes so materially to
the comfort and convenience of our population, and to the
protection of life and property, its expense will be found
to be justified by its indispensable necessity.
"The Fire Department
of the city has never been more efficiently conducted than during
the past year. The constant supervision of the Fire Marshal
over the details of the Department, and his watchful care
of the property of the city, have save thousands of dollars,
and at the same time, added to the energy and value of the
Department.
"There are now attached to the Department 750
firemen, 12 Engines, five Hose and two Hook and ladder companies.
the extension of the Water District has given the city increased
protection from fire. The city now has 807 hydrants and
20 reservoirs.
"The anticipation expressed in my last Annual
Message that the negotiations then pending between the city
and the Water Works Company would be conducted in a liberal
spirit and concluded on terms just and mutually beneficial,
I am happy to say have been entirely realized.
"There are ten [school] districts in each of
which only one teacher is employed, at salaries varying
from $325 to $400.
"The total number of pupils taught for the year
has been fourteen thousand seven hundred and fifty, which
is somewhat less than for the year previous, owing to the
decrease of population incident to the "hard times,"
and the sickness which prevailed so extensively during the
last term.
"The experience of the past year shows that
the policy of charging from $20 to $50 for Butcher's Licenses,
is not a wise one. The result has been that very few licenses
have been issued and the city has derived no revenue from
this source.
"In conclusion, gentlemen, you will allow me
to say that with a position so central, commanding avenues
of business so numerous, and with a population so thriving,
industrious and law-abiding, it is impossible that Buffalo
should retro-grade. When the enlargement of the Erie Canal
shall have been completed, and boats are propelled by steam
to tide-water; when the projected Pittsburgh Railroad shall
bring us into nearer proximity to the coal mines and by
cheapening coal secure increased facilities for manufacturing;
and when the noble Niagara shall be spanned by a permanent
bridge, inviting the trade of Canada, our city will rapidly
increase, real estate will rise in value, and the problem
of the future will be satisfactorily solved."
Lockwood did not seek a second term, but the city
was on its way to fiscal recovery by the time he left office.
On January 2, 1860 the Common Council
met to close its affairs. The first communication that day was
from Mayor Lockwood
"Gentlemen of the Common Council
:
"It will afford me pleasure to see the members
of the outgoing and incoming councils, the retiring and
incoming city officers, and the clerks in the several departments
of the city government, at my residence this afternoon.
"Respectfully submitted,
"T. T. Lockwood., Mayor."
The invitation was accepted and probably attended
by many of the gentlemen.
PERSONAL LIFE
After his term expired, Lockwood resumed his medical
practice.
Lockwood was Secretary of the Board in 1862 of the
Erie County Medical Society
At the annual meeting of the society in April 1863,
Lockwood was made a member of the fee committee which was
in favor of raising visitor fees from $1.00 to $1.50 and
prescription fees to $1.00 from $.50. This was eventually
adopted and passed.
He was a member of the Council for the University
at Buffalo
Medical Department from 1863 to 1870.
In April 1864 Lockwood was voted treasurer of the
Erie County Medical Society
and vice president
in 1868.
Timothy Lockwood
was a genuine person. "He never stopped to consider the
question of whether he was likely to receive compensation
for his services. Rich and poor alike received prompt attention
and
the best aid
he could afford them, without reference to their ability
to pay, and this, in a large measure, accounted for his
popularity."
Lockwood was married to Charlotte of Hamburg, and
had two daughters. She died sometime later, as Lockwood
was again married, on October 25, 1869, this time to Louise
C. Francher. She bore him two daughters also. She also preceded
him in death.
The Lockwood's lived at 91 Niagara Street, which
was later renumbered and became 64. It was located between
Franklin Street and Niagara Square
The house was a four story brick building, the first story
was used for offices and waiting rooms, the rest for living.
Years later, it was used as a fashionable boarding house.
In the winter of 1866 Lockwood fell while stepping
out of his sleigh and suffered an injury to his spine, which
disabled and blinded him. He was stricken an invalid, and
was unable to continue his profession, but lived several
more years. On December 23, 1870 Lockwood passed away in
Utica, New York, and was buried between the bodies of both
his wives in Forest Lawn Cemetery
The Erie County Medical Society
met at a special meeting to pay tribute to the memory of Mr.
Lockwood on December 24, 1870.
"He came into the world to play the role of the
worker, and his career was one of usefulness and honor."
