1884 -1885
HISTORY
Jonathon Scoville
was born in Salisbury, Connecticut on July 14, 1834, the eldest
of six children. The
Scoville family was among the earliest settlers of that
region, and the farm upon which he was born was passed from
generation to generation for more than a century.
The farm contained valuable iron mines that yielded
a substantial income to the family. His father tilled the
farm and manufactured pig iron from the mines, and his sons
followed in the same vocation.
Scoville attended local schools until he was 16 years
old. At that time he began work as a clerk in a country
store. He was the errand boy, and was required to open the
store at six o'clock in the morning and worked until nine
at night, when he closed the store.
After two years Scoville began studies in the scientific
department of Harvard University. Here he studied engineering,
chemistry, geology, and other related subjects.
Upon graduation, he was employed by his father to
run one of the furnaces at the mines. While working here
he made frequent sales trips around the country selling
car wheel iron. It was during one of these trips that Scoville
first came to Buffalo
It was 1856 and he was favorably impressed with the city
for the location of a manufacturing plant.
Four years later he returned, 1860, and established
a foundry for the manufacture of car wheels. Soon after
he was joined by his brother Nathaniel C. Scoville. Together
they built up a business that attained a national reputation.
The firm opened a branch in Toronto, Canada in 1861
that was successful for several years and then closed. In
addition, they opened an extensive blast furnace in Chenango
County, New York that they ran for an unspecified length
of time.
By 1882 they were doing between three and four million
dollars annually in sales.
Scoville was not very active politically, never having
"much taste for politics." He also believed that
Abraham Lincoln
was the greatest
American that ever lived.
In the autumn of 1880 he was induced to accept the
Democratic nomination for Congress in the Erie County district.
He was elected to fill an unexpired term as a member of
the 46th Congress serving in 1881. He was re-elected and served the 47th Congress 1881 - 1883.
Scoville declined a re-nomination bid in 1882, preferring
to attend to his business.
In the fall of 1883 he was again persuaded to accept
the Democratic nomination, this time for the office of mayor.
On October 23, 1883 the Democratic City Convention
was held at
Schwabl's Hall
As was said after Scoville was nominated, "With Mr.
Scoville's name at the head of the city ticket its election
is assured by a large majority."
Scoville was informed and appeared at the Convention,
addressing the crowd. "Upon my return from the 47th
Congress, I resolved never again to participate in any canvass
as a candidate. When the boom in my favor was started during
the summer I looked on it as a thing of the hour...but I
accept now because I understand that it has come unanimously
from a convention representing 50 per cent of the Democratic
vote of the city, or 7,000 out of 14,000 Democratic voters.
"It makes little difference to me whether the
taxpayer, the citizen or the sojourner is a Democrat, Republican,
Protestant, or Catholic. What we want is a fair, honest
square administration of the city's laws and ordinances."
On October 23, 1883 the City Prohibition Convention
met at Temperance Hall to nominate a candidate for Mayor.
Cyrus K. Porter was their choice.
On October 26, 1883 the Republican City Convention
was held at
Turn Hall. Norris Morey of the law firm Sprague, Morey &
Sprague was nominated for Mayor. Also nominated was Asaph
S. Bemis
After a ballot Morey was chosen their candidate.
Saturday, October 27, 1883 a letter was printed in
the local papers from Mr. Morey declining the nomination.
Later that day another ballot was taken and they nominated
Josiah Jewett
Jewett, like Scoville, did not seek the nomination.
Lastly, on October 28,
1883, the 'Regular Democracy' held their convention,
nominating John Baker Manning for re-election as mayor.
LIFE AS A MAYOR
Governor Grover Cleveland
returned from Albany to place his vote in November 1883. When
questioned about the fight between the Democrats stated,
"It has been a bad fight, but I guess it will come
out all right. There ought to be no such trouble when a
candidate has been regularly nominated." And when asked
who he planned on voting for, "I shall vote for Scoville.
He's regular enough for me. I've come 350 miles to vote
for him. I wouldn't do that for an irregular candidate,
would I?" This obviously struck a blow to the Manning
contingent.
Election day was on November 6, 1883. Scoville won
a close victory over his two candidates, Josiah Jewett
and John Manning
, 13,845, 13,683, and 1,400, respectively. Apparently Cyrus
K. Porter made very little showing in the polls.
The only other Democrats elected were city attorney
and superintendent of education. The Common Council
favored the Republicans 14 to 12.
At the first meeting of the Council on January 7,
1884 several aldermen were appointed to wait upon Mayor
Scoville
, who delivered his Inaugural Message to the Common Council
"In the annual message of last your attention
was called to some serious defects in the system of making
assessments for small sums to defray the expenses of local
improvements. As no change was made during the year, and
as the subject was not considered by the Common Council
, I venture to bring it again to your notice.
"I desire...to call your attention to the paving
of streets with asphalt. It appears that there are now so
paved 5.77 miles of streets. The paving of other streets
in the same manner is projected, and some portion of it
is already begun.
"It may be that the durable character of this
pavement is established beyond all questions but it is not
impossible that it may still be within the region of experiment.
I recommend great caution in extending the system, and I
am strongly of opinion that for the present no street should
be so paved without the consent of substantially all the
owners of property abutting upon it. I submit that, to your
discretion, you may impose such condition. The subject is
commended to your careful consideration.
"Complaints are made that all the streets are
not kept in equally good condition. If the contractor has
failed in his duty, a remedy for this is provided in the
contract itself. I repeat the recommendation of last year,
that on proper occasion your honorable body will see that
this remedy is rigorously applied.
"The system of taxation for street improvements
was long ago [seen] to be the most imperfect and unjust,
and in many cities has been abandoned. Thoroughfares in
cities are peculiarly a matter of public concern, and when
they have once been furnished by the owners of the land
along the street it would seem to be an injustice that they
should be called upon to repair the damages and supply the
wear caused solely by the public use.
"The [Fire Department
] Commissioners call my attention to the very urgent need
of placing water mains on the island across the river.
"The Commissioners have also renewed their recommendations
as to the purchase of a 'Fire Boat
' This subject has been before you on more than one occasion.
After a careful examination I do not
hesitate now
to recommend it to your favorable consideration.
"My attention is also directed to the necessity
of additional fire apparatus in the northern and eastern
portion of the City. This district is assuming such importance
and is growing so rapidly in population that the subject
should receive your immediate attention.
"I deem it necessary that your attention should
be again called to the condition of that part of the City
called 'The Island,' south of Buffalo
River, with reference to the extinguishment of fires. It was
earnestly urged by my predecessor that some measure should
be taken to remove the danger from fire to which that region
is exposed. As I understand...nothing has been done, and
the place remains in the same exposed condition as when
your attention was first called to the subject.
"The number of patrolmen is 243, including 20
patrolmen appointed by authority of the Common Council
during the past year.
"In determining the character and extent of
the police
force, the extension of the business of the City and its rapid
growth in population should not for a moment be lost sight
of. All parts of the City are alike entitled to protection.
The present force is entirely inadequate to afford such
protection, and I submit it to you, gentlemen, that the
duty of the City government, no less than the interests
of the whole community, require that some step be taken
without delay to extend our police
department.
"I am informed that there is a special necessity
for establishing a police
station, with the proper accompanying force, at east Buffalo
The unprecedented rate at which population in that district
is increasing and the great number of railroads centering
there, render an increase of the police
force a matter of pressing necessity.
"It is represented to use by the department,
that Police Station House, No. 9, on the south side of the
river, is utterly unfit for the purpose for which it is
used.
"I am also informed that Police Station House
No. 8 is wanting in all the essential requirements for such
a building and should be replaced by a new one.
"It appears that in the new police
building provision is made for placing the Morgue. I cannot
give this arrangement my approval. The care of the subjects
that are taken to such a place should be a county charge,
and the place itself should be in a more remote situation
and nearer the water, and where the removal to it of dead
bodies would not be offensive to an entire neighborhood.
"Many of our large cities have reaped material
advantages for a Board
of Public Works made up of taxpayers and experts.
"Taxpayers are not in favor of small and useless
economics that result in a saving of today, but in the immediate
future make increased outlay a positive necessity, the whole
resulting in disappointment and double loss of time and
money. As examples of these small economics, our pavements
and water supply are notable instances.
"In the annual message of my predecessor a recommendation
was made as to a general revision of the charter and ordinances,
and I repeat the recommendation. I can add no force to the
recommendation by referring to my own experience, but I
am informed by those who are familiar with the subject that
both the charter and ordinances are in such condition as
to produce doubt and embarrassment. I need not point out,
here, the particular subjects to which a revision should
extend.
"I would request and ask your earnest attention
to the suggestion that some mutual arrangement be entered
into between the various railroad companies interested and
the citizens for railroad street crossings. ...The topography
of the City is especially adapted to overhead crossings.
The street and railroad traffic is constantly increasing,
and will soon reach such proportions as to make some provisions
a necessity.
"[The] auditing of accounts is a most important
duty, the faithful performance of which will save the City
yearly many thousands of dollars. The City has been fortunate
in the administration of the office during the last two
years, and I concur in the commendations of my predecessor
upon the additional faithfulness with which the duties have
been performed by the present incumbent.
"I am informed that milk sellers applied very
promptly for their licenses under the new ordinance, and
that the whole number of licenses issued to them (340) were
issued in the three months prior to December 24th last.
"I have thus laid before you such information
in regard to the affairs of the City as may assist you in
the intelligent discharge of your important duties. It is
my earnest purpose to be influenced by no pride of opinion,
and to be governed by no motive other than the desire to
promote the interests and prosperity of all our people.
I must appeal to you, gentlemen, with your larger experience,
to determine how far any suggestion or recommendation I
have made may merit your approval.
"While we contemplate with satisfaction our
present prosperity, we must not forget how much is yet to
be done to make our local government what every good citizen
would wish it to be. And I beg to remind you that the accomplishment
of an object so desirable and so earnestly sought must depend
mainly upon the energy and good intentions of the Common
Council
"
On January 5, 1885 Mayor Scoville
's Annual Address was delivered to the Common Council
"Another year has passed, and our advancement
and success have in no way decreased, lest in spite of a
year's stagnation in manufacture, commerce and trade, we
have increased in population and wealth and in all things
that make a community prosperous and happy. Pestilence and
disaster have passed us by. Our country is blessed with
an abundant harvest, and, in the near future we see a revival
of commerce and manufacturing industries, and while thankful
for the past we can look forward to the dawning of a still
brighter day.
"For myself and for every member of this and
the former council I can truthfully assert that considerations
of partisanship have had no place in the administration
of our municipal affairs; and that it has been and will
continue to be our first and constant endeavor to discharge
whatever public duties may be assigned to us, with entire
independence and with the sole object of securing to the
people such measures of good government as they are entitled
to and have a right to expect and to demand at our hands.
"...It appears that the whole amount of property
in the city exempt from taxation is the very large sum of
$12,921,670. This sum is nearly 11 per cent of the entire
property, real and personal of the city.
"I again call the attention of your honorable
body to the recommendation in my former message in regard
to the paving of street. I trust you will give this subject
earnest consideration.
"That something should be done to change the
current state of affairs [of the Street Department] is sufficiently
evident. The ordinances relating to the streets are most
imperfectly enforced, if enforced at all, and the condition
of many portions of our streets and sidewalks are a reproach
to the city. On the busiest and most conspicuous districts
the sidewalks are so incumbered as to be well nigh impassable.
They are often occupied on both sides for the exhibition
and sale of commodities, or for the purpose of storage,
and the object of their construction seems to be entirely
lost sight of. I commend the subject to your attention in
the belief that by amended ordinances, or otherwise, you
will be able to find some remedy for this evil.
"If policemen were required to perform the duties
now required by the street inspectors, and that office abolished,
it would result in a saving to
the city yearly of over $7,000.
"Since my former message the two school buildings
which were then in process of construction in districts
No. 16 and 31 have been completed.
"District No. 17 has never owned a school building,
but a new building has been ordered and is in process of
construction.
"As many wells are now closed, and as many more will
be, inasmuch as all should be, I would recommend...the propriety
of placing self closing faucets on the hydrants nearest
those districts in which the wells have been, or shall hereafter
be closed, as a measure of temporary relief, for supplying
water to those districts.
"I also recommend that water mains should be
laid in all streets where [none now exist].
"No city in the country should have cheaper
and better water than our own. Nature has done for us all
that can possibly be required. It remains for the people
to improve these advantages, and to have an abundant and
cheap water supply.
"A careful inspection...shows that our police
are doing good duty and that the efficiency of the force is
constantly improving, and I am proud to state that from
a careful personal observation of the police
management is compared with that in the cities of Boston, New
York and Philadelphia, especially in looking after the welfare
of large masses of people in meetings and processions. The amount
of stolen property recovered is a remarkably good showing,
and while good order is maintained on our streets and public
places, no complaint comes of harshness or incivility. During
the year last past, the new police
headquarters on the Terrace have been completed, where ample
accommodations is afforded to the various departments occupying
the same.
"There has been a special necessity for a police
station at East Buffalo
"Great care has been taken in the investigation
of all applications for assistance [from the Poor Department],
each case being investigated by our own officers and by
the investigators of the Charity organization who have reported
to this department, as well as to the organization, all
unworthy cases.
"The death reports for the year are, in the
opinion of the health physician, nearly complete and exact
for the first time in the history of the city.
"As no permits for burial were issued in 1884,
unless [first] was first filed in the office of the health
physician a proper certificate of death, this will partly
account for the apparent large increase of the death rate
for 1884 over that of 1883. [595 more reported in 1884 over
1883].
"The ordinances in respect to the issuing of
licenses should be attended as to cover peddling of all
kinds. No one peddling should be exempt from taking out
a license. It is to a certain extent a voucher for the owner's
honesty and respectability.
"In my former message I suggested the consideration
by your Honorable body of the expediency and wisdom of creating
a board of public works. I can only reiterate what I then
stated.
"I am more than ever convinced that the recommendation
in my former message [regarding overhead grade crossings]...is
both proper and necessary, and I again invite your attention
to it. In any event gates with attendants, or simply attendants
should be placed at all crossings.
"I respectfully submit that [the office of Gas
Inspector] should be abolished at once. It is worse than
useless, it is vexatious and annoying. The returns, even
when made, are disputed by the gas companies. The office
calls for an expenditure that is burdensome to taxpayers;
and the same amount of money can be more profitably expected.
"In conclusion it would seem both fit and proper
that I pay a passing tribute of remembrance and affection
to my long time friend, my clerk and legal adviser during
the early months of my administration of the duties of this
office, Hon. Harmon S. Cutting
"Mr. Cutting performed the same office duties
for two of my predecessors and for a time filled the office
of mayor, and need I say that all his duties were performed
faithfully and well.
"Mr. Cutting was one of my earliest acquaintances
in Buffalo
, I knew him long and intimately. I always found him a ripe
scholar, a faithful friend, an honest, truthful man, and
one of nature's gentlemen. Fitted by scholastic attainments
and natural ability to tread the highest and noblest walks
of life, he of his own volition spent a life of nearly three
score years and ten treading the path of patient industry
and toll. 'A blameless life was his.'
"Of his religious belief I know nothing, but
of him it can be truly said
"'An honest man here lies at rest,
"åAs o'er God with his image blessed;
"åThe friend of man, the friend of truth,
"åThe friend of age, the guide of youth.
"åFew hearts like his with virtue warmed,
"åFew heads with knowledge so informed;
"åIf there's another world, he lives in bliss;
"åIf there is none he made the best of this.'
"åIn the month of April last his toilsome journey
ended.
"'God's finger touched him and he slept;
"åThe gates were opened and he entered in.'"
Mayor Scoville
's administration was noteworthy for the first steps he
took toward the introduction of the merit system in the
city civil service.
After Mayor Scoville
's term was ended he retired from politics.
PERSONAL LIFE
The Scoville brothers were for years Buffalo
's most famous bachelor's. Unlike his friend Grover Cleveland
, Jonathon never married.
During his mayoralty he lived in apartments over
315 Main Street, near South Division Street. Shortly before
his death he began construction on a mansion that was being
built on Delaware Avenue, opposite Barker Street. The stables
were erected, but the home was never built.
Scoville never participated in any social organizations.
He was an 'easy mark' for charitable organizations, but
gave unostentatiously.
Jonathon retired from his business around 1886 and
died on March 4, 1891. In his will he left $5,000 to the
Buffalo
Academy of Fine Arts
which was received in 1892
