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

Joseph G. Masten

1843-44, 1845-46

HISTORY

                Joseph Griffiths Masten was a man "a woman would call handsome." He was "courteous" and "wore the most pleasant of smiles." Born in Red Hook, New York on June 24, 1809, he was the first of three boys.

                He attended school in Granby, Connecticut. He was accepted to Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut but attended Union College in Schenectady, New York at his father's wish. He graduated from Union College in 1828 at 19 years of age.

                From there he went to Kingston, New York to study law in the office of A.B. Hasbrouck and Judge Ruggles. In addition, he apparently studied in the law office of Henry Vanderlyn of Oxford, New York for two or three years.

                Once being admitted to the bar he began his first practice in partnership with Henry W. Rogers in Bath, New York.

                In 1836 Masten moved to Buffalo  and joined in partnership with Rogers once again. This partnership lasted about one year.

                Through the years he practiced his profession with Evert Van Buren, and Thos. J. Dudley, Jr.

                "Although devoted to his profession, he has ever displayed the deepest interest in political affairs." So, when he was brought forth as a Democratic candidate for Mayor in 1843, he accepted.

                In February 1843 the Daily Mercantile Courier newspaper chose Masten as it's candidate. The Buffalo  Commercial chose his opponent, Walter Joy

LIFE AS A MAYOR

                On March 6, 1843 the nominations for Locofoco  and Whig  candidates were announced and on March 7 the city election took place. Masten won, defeating Whig  candidate Walter Joy  1,639 to 1,197 votes. "The contest was unusually warm and altogether political," stated an editorial in the Courier on March 9. It continued, "This is the first instance of a Democratic ticket succeeding at a charter election...since the incorporation of the city." Two aldermen were appointed by outgoing Mayor Clinton  to wait upon Mayor-elect Masten, after which he administered the oath of office. So, at 34 years old Joseph Masten  became Buffalo 's thirteenth mayor. His inaugural speech began: "Gentlemen of the Council. In entering upon the discharge of the duties which by the free suffrage of this city, I have been appointed to perform...I beg your cordial support and hearty cooperation.

                "The outstanding liabilities of our city are comparatively far less than those of any other city of importance in the Union, but like them we are burdened with debt.

"Regarding city improvement I would respectfully admonish you against all such as are not imperatively demanded by necessity, and consonant with the principles of economy...with which an empty treasury, burdened with a funded and floating debt, would incur new liabilities."

                He stated that tax collection was lax and building on the previous year.

                "Ours is a commercial city and whatever tends to promote and facilitate commerce and shipping tends to the increase of our wealth and prosperity.

                "Let the claims of the Fire Department  meet with a prompt and kind response." Mayor Masten  went on to state that more emphasis should be spent on the school system.

                The election created a split council of five Democrats and five Whigs. Later in the day the council met and salaries were fixed for several officers of the board, including: Superintendent of Schools, $500, School teachers, male, not to exceed $600, and female, not to exceed $200. Captain of the watch, the early police  of the city, $1 per day. Mayor Masten  appointed a new watchman in place of one being appointed Captain.

                The Buffalo  Daily Courier and Economist was designated as the public newspaper in which "should be published all ordinances and other proceedings and matters required in any case by the City Charter  or by the by-laws and ordinances of the Common Council "

                At the March 13 council meeting, a resolution "giving permission to the Attica & Buffalo  Railroad Co., to locate their road on Exchange Street , was rescinded and laid on the table." It seems the City Charter  had a provision that railroads could not locate within the city without "consent of the Council." On March 22 the resolution was voted on and vetoed. 

                In 1843 the office of comptroller was created, but no appointment was made until 1848. The year also brought a new celebration to the city. The Irish were beginning to settle in Buffalo  and the Buffalo  Irish Repeal Association took St. Patrick's day to celebrate the 1379th anniversary of Ireland's patron saint at a dinner at the Mansion House.

                Interesting happenings include the sighting of a comet on the evening of March 22. Also, "Buffalo  had a colony of Millerites, who, in preparation for the day of ascending, sold all they possessed, donned white garments, and awaited the hour of departure on High Street Hill." After realizing they weren't to be saved, they all trudged back to town, "sadder and wiser men and women."

                On April 5 the mayor issued a proclamation regarding the "observance of the ordinances requiring the owners or occupants of every building and owners of vacant lots to at all times keep the sidewalks and gutters free from snow and dirt."

                At the end of his term the council thanked him and wished him happiness and prosperity, as it did all outgoing mayors. Mayor Masten  gave a lengthy reply, thanking the citizens "for the high distinction they had conferred upon him." He believed the position was "purely executive" and that when all reports were turned in, the city debt would be lower than in previous years.

                Masten did not seek a second term in 1844. But in 1845 he sought and won a second mayoral term. This time his opposing candidate was Hiram Barton , a Whig  and future mayor. This election was slightly closer than Masten's first, 1,837 to 1,538. The city was bouncing back and forth between the parties at each year's election. Between Masten's two terms, William Ketchum , a Whig , was elected. For this election the Locofoco 's grouped together and defeated the Whig  choice for mayor. Their war cry was "Vote! Vote! Vote!" which should be heeded by all people of every party.

                By 1845 the population of Buffalo  was 29,773 and was steadily increasing each year.  People were migrating to the west while more and more were staying in this city.

                In 1843, Joseph Dart  invented the steam grain elevator  in Buffalo  and two years later it was beginning to show promise as more and more grain vessels began stopping in Buffalo "New streets were laid out and old ones were extended farther into the surrounding country; municipal institutions and departments were improved and extended." This was a promising time of growth for the city.

                It was also during 1845 that the project to create the University of Buffalo  began.

                On March 10, 1846 Masten's last term as Mayor of Buffalo  ended. Addressing the Council at their last meeting, after being thanked by them: "The expression of opinions in relation to the success of my endeavors, which you have just made, fills my bosom with the most grateful emotions. Our official term has now drawn to a close and you will please accept my thanks for the expressions of your opinions, and permit me to express my sincere hope that prosperity and happiness may attend you in your future career through life."

PERSONAL LIFE

                Masten married Christina Cameron while in Bath, New York. They had three children.

                When they moved to Buffalo  they lived on Swan Street and were the first civilian owners of the Wilcox Mansion on Delaware Avenue. They later owned a "spacious stone house, with beautiful gardens about it" at the corner of Elmwood Avenue and North Street, where the current church stands.

                Masten was "fond of halting in his walks to converse with his neighbors and the humble workmen en route to his daily toil."

                He was a founding member of St. John's Episcopal Church and later "took a prominent part in the organization of Christ Church, to which parish he belonged to at his death."

                In 1846 when the medical school in Buffalo  was established, Masten was a member of the council that included Millard Fillmore  and George W. Clinton

                In 1852 Masten was a member of the Council at the University at Buffalo

                Masten was a judge of the recorder's court from 1848 - 1852, "the duties of which...he discharged with great credit."

                From 1856 until his death in 1871, Masten held the position of superior court judge, joining George W. Clinton  and Isaac Verplanck  for the larger portion of that time.

                "Judge Masten was doubtless better acquainted with the current of judicial decisions...than either of the others, and was prompt to apply the latest exposition of legal science to the case before him. Curt, he was, at times severe."

                "It was one of the Judge's old time ideas, that every respectable citizen should serve in his turn as a juryman, as a duty to his peers, and as a guaranty of equal justice to all."

                In 1859, he was appointed by Mayor Lockwood  as one of the three trustees of the Grosvenor Library He was re-appointed in 1864 for a second five-year term.

                In January 1866 Masten was a Lecturer on Commercial Law at Bryant and Stratton's Mercantile College.

                Masten was an influential member of the State Constitutional Convention in 1867, and served on the Judiciary Committee.

                He was founder of the law library of the 8th Judicial District.

                "So eminent and respected as a lawyer and Judge that he was prominently spoken of as a candidate for the Court of Appeals" in the fall of 1870.

                Judge Masten became ill and died Friday, April 15, 1871. He had recently been made a trustee of the law library by the state legislature.