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

Hiram Pratt

1835-36, 1839-40

HISTORY

                "While on his way to and from Detroit on a fur-buying trip in 1802-03, Captain Samuel Pratt  was strongly impressed with the commercial advantages of the little log village at the foot of Lake Erie , and he determined to locate there and engage in the fur trade." In September 1804, Captain Pratt made good on his promise and arrived in Buffalo , with several wagons, a coach, and the Pratt clan.

                Hiram Pratt , the 5th of 8 children Captain Pratt had, was born in Westminster, Vermont on June 28, 1800. His father was an esteemed citizen of Buffalo , which provided opportunities to the young Pratt. Dr. Cyrenius Chapin , (Ebenezer Johnson 's competition), had lost a son at a early age and felt a strong attachment to Hiram. Dr. Chapin owned a house on Swan Street and "begged Captain Pratt to allow Hiram to live with him."

                On December 30, 1813 as the British began torching Buffalo , Dr. Chapin was called to military duty. He told Hiram to take his two little daughters to safety at his farm in Hamburg. The three children walked through the deep snow eventually reaching their destination, ten miles away.

                Dr. Chapin had a strong desire for Hiram to follow him into the medical profession. Hiram's mother, Esther Wells, also thought this to be a laudable profession. Unfortunately, Hiram did not feel the same way. "I cannot bear it; I cannot be a Doctor, and I won't be a Doctor." Those were the words he told his mother, and the subject was dropped.

                Hiram was born to be "a merchant prince and banker" and would prove to be "one of the most enterprising citizens of Buffalo " He "was interested in everything that would advance the interests of the place." His career "was not so long as it was brilliant and successful." He "had loyal friends and bitter enemies."

                Pratt was involved in several businesses during his early years. In 1818, Dr. Chapin offered Hiram and (future mayor) Orlando Allen  an opportunity to run his newly acquired general store. They did and built an extraordinary business together.

                Hiram became a partner in a warehouse and forwarding business with Asa B. Meech in 1824.

                In 1827 he was an agent for the Farmers Fire Insurance and Loan Company. When the original Bank of Buffalo  was formed in 1830, he was both a founder and the cashier. He was also an exchange merchant for the Canandaigua branch of Utica Bank. Pratt was the originator of the Frontier Mills, which contributed much to the development of Black Rock

                In 1831 Pratt retired from the firm of Pratt, Allen & Company to assume the position of president of the Bank of Buffalo

                He was a leading Great Lakes shipbuilder. His firm of Pratt & Taylor built some of the earliest steamers to sail the Great Lakes, including the Governor Marcy, the Ohio, and the Daniel Webster , one of the largest on the lakes. The Daniel Webster  was an unnamed ship at the time Daniel Webster  made a political stop in Buffalo  in 1833. He attended the launching while in town and they thereby named the steamer after him.

                One of Hiram Pratt 's greatest disasters was the Delaware and North Street Burying Ground. This was opened around 1832 at the corner of Delaware Avenue and North Street, where the Hotel Lenox , and the residence of Robert K. Root are. The trustees of this property included Pratt, Lewis F. Allen, George B. Webster, Russell H. Heywood, and Herman B. Potter This rundown burying ground received much criticism. "Mark Twain , while a resident of Buffalo , wrote a parody on the condition of this...burying ground." This led to it finally being closed and the bodies moved. 

                In 1828 and 1829 Pratt served as a Trustee of the village of Buffalo

                The summer of 1834 saw the firm of Pratt and Taylor suffer a disastrous fire.

LIFE AS A MAYOR

                In 1835 the population of Buffalo  was 15,661. March 10 of that year saw the Common Council  appoint Hiram Pratt  Mayor of the city. His political affiliation was the same as many of the Buffalonians of the 1830's - Whig

                There was a rift between the council and Pratt immediately after his appointment. At this time the mayor presided over the Common Council The council was split on its decision for police  constable so Pratt cast the deciding vote, which was ruled illegal by the city attorney. The council then reconsidered the vote and cast a majority vote for the other candidate.

                In later 1835, a minority report favored amending the city charter to make the position of mayor elective. Also during this time, one of Mayor Pratt 's great endeavors was to purchase land to be used for a wholesale market. This would later become the Elk Street Market, a place where the likes of Swift, Jacob Dold , Christian Klinck , Danahy , and many other meat purveyors would sell their wares to the public.

                On March 5, 1839 General Herman B. Potter  was elected mayor by the Common Council . General Potter respectfully declined, and after several ballots the Council voted 6 to 4 in favor of Hiram Pratt The Common Council, during this second term, was comprised of seven Whig  aldermen out of ten. Together they sought to improve the city by levying taxes  on many projects, including "education, parks, the militia, and fire protection." The opposition party took exception to this and attacked the mayor and the council. In addition, Mayor Pratt  sought "more rigid economy in managing the finances of the City." The amount of taxes the city was allowed to collect from the citizens was raised from $8,000 to $14,000 per year.

                The City was booming. The summer of 1839 saw seventeen steamers in Buffalo  Harbor at one time. They included the Constitution, Clinton, Chautauqua, and Robert Fulton.

                During the summer of 1839 six new school buildings were erected and competent teachers hired. There was some opposition to the work because of the high cost, but for the most part it was welcomed.

                In 1839, a Recorder's Court was created for the City of Buffalo The Recorder was appointed by the Governor for a four year term.

                One major event took place during Pratt's second term. In January 1840 the New York State legislature passed a law requiring all mayors in New York to be elected directly by the people. His second term was the end of an era.

PERSONAL LIFE

                On February 22, 1836, at 7 p.m., a meeting for the "founding of a Young Men's Association , for mutual improvement in literature and science" was held at the Court House. Mayor Hiram Pratt  presided over the meeting, in which a constitution was adopted, based on that of the Albany Y.M.A. The citizens were all feeling wealthy at this time and a subscription amounting to $6,700 was raised.

                A large number of books were purchased and "the surviving collections of the old Buffalo  Library and Lyceum were turned in." By year end over 2,700 volumes lined the shelves of the Y.M.A. library. In addition, there were "44 weekly, 10 monthly and 6 quarterly publications" available. After the Civil War  the Y.M.A. would be merged with the Grosvenor Library , the Fine Arts Academy , the Buffalo  Historical Society , and the Society of Natural Sciences. 

                Hiram Pratt , "in accordance with the rules of romance," should have married one of Dr. Chapin's daughter's he helped save. Instead he married Maria Fowle on November 3, 1825. They had three daughters. The Pratt's were members of the First Presbyterian Church. Chief Red Jacket was a frequent visitor to the Pratt household.

                Mayor Pratt  suffered great financial depression during the years 1836-38. Much of it can be contributed to Benjamin Rathbun Rathbun  was the wealthiest citizen in Buffalo , worth over $3,000,000. He controlled the construction industry, building hundreds of properties. (Look at 110 Franklin Street, still standing in 1993.) In one year he built 99 buildings worth $500,000, including businesses, dwellings, a jail, and a theater. He employed 2,500 men and had his brother, Lyman, running the financial side of the business. When it became apparent that many notes he had borrowed money on were forgeries, he was arrested. All the parties who held notes out in his name called them due. Rathbun 's estate was sold, but the profits did not cover the notes. The citizens who co-signed the notes were then obligated to pay them. Many of the city's most wealthy people were found to have signatures on forged notes, including Ebenezer Johnson , Pratt, and more. After two trials Rathbun  was found guilty and spent nearly five years in prison. In 1957 a document was found that would have exonerated Benjamin, the original deposition signed by his brother Lyman, who was ultimately responsible.

                The Rathbun  episode, and the financial panic of 1836-37 created a great financial depression for Mayor Pratt , causing him to lose his entire estate. 

                He never fully recovered from the emotional strain he incurred. He was "traveling for his health" on his way to Saratoga, New York, when he died in Utica on April 27, 1840. His body was returned to Buffalo  and the funeral held May 1. There are several disputes in the history books as to his date of death, but this appears to be the correct one. His body was laid to rest in Forest Lawn Cemetery

                 It appears only one announcement was made of his death, in the Buffalo  Daily Republican. The Common Council  passed resolutions of regret and the council and current mayor, Sheldon Thompson , attended the funeral.

                Hiram Pratt  owned a large area of land on Porter Avenue, bounded by Seventh and Connecticut Streets, and Porter and Prospect avenues. In 1835 he built a "fine Medina stone mansion" that he never occupied. Instead, his family continued to live in their house which stood at the corner of Swan and Center Streets.