1847-48
HISTORY
Elbridge G. Spaulding
was born in Summer Hill, New York, in Cayuga County, on February
24, 1809. He was the first of nine children of Edward and
Mehitable, pioneers of Central New York. He received a fair
education, growing up in moderate circumstances.
In 1829, when he was 20 years old, he began the study
of law in the office of Fitch & Dibble of Batavia. During
this time he served as recording clerk in the county clerk's
office to meet his expenses. In 1832 he completed his studies
in Attica, New York under Hon. Harvey Putnam. Later that
year he was admitted to practice in Genesee County in the
Court of Common Pleas.
It was in 1834 that Elbridge moved to Buffalo
Here he became a clerk in the office of Potter & Babcock,
leading attorneys in the city.
In March, 1836 he was appointed city clerk of Buffalo
under Mayor Wilkeson.
Spaulding was admitted to practice in the Supreme
Court of New York and solicitor in the court of chancery
in 1836. Later that year he formed a partnership with George
R. Babcock. Afterward, he formed a partnership with Herman
B. Potter
, continuing with him until 1844, when he took over the
business.
In 1841 Spaulding was elected alderman of the Third
Ward under Mayor Harrington
by a "flattering majority." He served as chairman
of the executive committee.
In 1846 Spaulding formed a business partnership with
John Gannon, who had moved to Buffalo
from Canandaigua, New York. The practice of Spaulding &
Gannon lasted three years, until Spaulding retired.
Spaulding was one of the original men that helped
to get the University at Buffalo
established in 1846.
LIFE AS A MAYOR
On March 2, 1847, the local election for mayor was
held. Elbridge G. Spaulding
was the Whig
candidate and Isaac Sherman
the Democratic candidate for the second year in a row. When
the balloting was done, Spaulding won 2,192 to 2,013, a
margin of 179 votes. The Whig
's swept the local elections taking three of the five supervisors,
and six of the ten aldermen.
At the March 9th, Common Council
meeting, three aldermen were appointed to wait upon Mayor-elect
Spaulding. upon his appearance, ex-Mayor Haven
administered the oath of office and declared the old council
dissolved. Mayor Spaulding
then addressed the new council:
"It
is a cause of congratulations that our predecessors in office
have not embarrassed the city the past year, by over-taxation
and that no local improvement has been ordered or contracted,
without first providing a fund for its payment. I trust
that the same wise policy will be pursued the coming year,
and that we may be able to leave to our successors all matters
relating to local taxation as free from embarrassment as
we now find them.
"The moral and intellectual character of our
city depends upon the" flourishing condition of the
Free School. "My sympathies arising from early associations,
are strongly enlisted in its favor, and I shall give it
the cordial support which its importance demands.
"In a commercial point of view there is no subject
of greater importance to the future growth and prosperity
of our city than the enlargement of our harbor...an extension
of its facilities is so national and important in its character,
that it is the duty of the general government to make the
necessary appropriations from the National Treasury."
President Polk stated that no more money would be coming
from the federal government, and an appropriation that was
already approved was later defeated. The city was left with
no choice but to look elsewhere "for means to meet
the demands of commerce which press so strongly upon our
insufficient harbor."
Mayor Spaulding
said that taxing the city was not what he wanted to do, but
he felt it was a necessity to have the harbor enlarged,
since other ports may take the shipping commerce. "Despite
resorting to local taxation it is our duty to continue to
urge upon Congress the necessity and importance of improving
our harbor from the National Treasury."
He knew the importance of "the lighting of streets
and supply of pure water." He suggested a "Lamp
District extending through the important streets...Experience
will suggest improvements and each year a new section may
be added."
"A system of Sewerage must be adopted, and no
street should be paved until sewered."
Many important measures were adopted during Spaulding's
term, including the enlargement of the harbor and docking
and the first general sewage system was begun.
PERSONAL LIFE
On September 5, 1837, Elbridge G. Spaulding
was married to Antoinette Rich, daughter of Gaius B., president
of the Bank of Attica, where Spaulding was attorney and
legal advisor. On August 6, 1841 Mrs. Spaulding died. E.G.
moved to the corner of Washington and South Division Streets,
marrying on September 5, 1842, Nancy Selden Strong. They
had three children.
The second Mrs. Spaulding died on May 4, 1852 and
E.G. soon moved to Main and Goodell Streets into a great
mansion. "It was a homey brick mansion and included
all the latest comforts and luxuries of the time."
On May 2, 1864 he was married for a final time, to Mrs.
Delia Strong, his second wife's sister. In addition to the
mansion on Main Street, Spaulding also owned "River
Lawn," his country villa on Grand Island, which was
even larger than his city home.
In November 1847 Spaulding was elected to serve as
a member of the State Assembly, and left his position as
mayor several months early. He served on the Committee on
Canals during his term in the House of Representatives.
While in the Legislature, he secured passage of a law authorizing
the formation of gas light corporations in the State. The
Buffalo
Gas Light
Company was the first such created. Spaulding took an active
part in its formation, was made director, and was a stockholder
for the rest of his life.
In November 1848 he was elected to serve in the Thirty-first
Congress. He was a member of the Committee on Foreign Relations,
opposed slavery on all occasions, and supported having California
enter the Union as a free state.
Spaulding gave a speech at a Whig
ratification meeting on October 19, 1850.
Upon his recommendation, the Bank of Attica moved
to Spaulding's Exchange on Terrace and Main Streets in 1852,
having been in operation in Attica since 1840. He was the
first president of the bank. In 1864 Spaulding secured the
moving of the Farmers' & Mechanics National Bank from
Batavia, New York. The bank was an important fixture in
Buffalo
business until it was closed in 1897.
In 1853 he was elected treasurer of New York State
and became an ex-officio member of the Canal Board, serving
for two years. Also that year, Spaulding was an incorporator
and director of the Fire Insurance Company which was organized
on June 23, 1853.
During period
of 1854 - 1856 Spaulding was instrumental in the creation
of the Republican party
in New York, as it evolved from the "free soil" elements
of the Whig
and Democratic parties.
Another interesting thing occurred in October 1854.
That was the year that the International Bank released bills
with prominent local citizens on them. The two dollar bill
had Spaulding on one side and George Palmer on the other.
The fifty had Josiah Trowbridge
on it.
In 1859 Spaulding served in the Thirty-sixth Congress,
and was re-elected to the Thirty-seventh Congress, beating
Solomon G. Haven
, and serving in 1861. He served four years on the important
Ways and Means Committee. Spaulding was instrumental in
setting up our current form of currency, as the following
paragraph will show.
The Civil War
"was desolating the country, and the finances of the nation
were in critical condition." "Our army and navy
must have what is more valuable to them than gold or silver,"
he said. "They must have food, clothing and the material
for the war."
Every man had a theory or a scheme for relief, "but
practical, financial knowledge was essential in the emergency.
Mr. Spaulding was not only a banker but he had made the
subject of finance a specialty, and had mastered the banking
laws of New York in the management of his private business.
He was therefore made chairman of the sub-committee of Ways
and Means, and entrusted with the duty of preparing the
necessary bills to meet the needs of the government. The
result was the presentation and passage of the Greenback
or Legal Tender Act, and the National Currency Bank Bill.
Both of these bills were drawn by Mr. Spaulding. These were
offered and urged as war measures, and they answered the
purpose admirably, and proved to be the best financial system
ever conceived or adopted by any government. Mr. Spaulding
is justly entitled to the credit of formulating these measures
and of securing their adoption. He has been called the 'Father
of the Greenbacks' for his connection with the legislation
that gave the country this, then popular currency."
In 1860 Spaulding was an active member of the Congressional
Executive Committee, which conducted the successful campaign
for the election of Abraham Lincoln
as President.
Spaulding was an "earnest supporter of the Government
in its efforts to suppress the rebellion." Abraham
Lincoln
would have chose him for Secretary of the Treasury, when Secretary
Chase resigned to become Chief Justice of the Supreme Court,
but New York was already represented in his Cabinet.
In November 1862, Spaulding lost a bid for another
term in Congress by a vote of over 3,500.
After the close of the Civil War
, he retired from public life.
In 1869 he published "History of the Legal Tender
Paper Money issued during the Great Rebellion." This
was regarded as the "standard authority" on the
subject.
Senator Charles Sumner wrote to Spaulding: "In
our early financial trials, while the war was most menacing,
you held a position of great trust, giving you opportunity
and knowledge. The first you used at the time most patriotically,
and the second you use now, (in preparing the Legal Tender
publication) for the instruction of the country."
Spaulding was forever involved in local affairs.
In 1852 he was again a member of the Council for the University
at Buffalo
In 1854 and 1855 Spaulding was a trustee of the Buffalo
City Hospitals. "His ample means, generous heart, and cultivated
taste have done much to build up the city, endow its institutions
and add to its attractions." He was president of the
Young Men's Association
, Buffalo
Historical Society
, the Society of Natural Sciences, the Buffalo
Club
, and other "literary, social and charitable organizations.
In addition, he was president of the Buffalo
Gas Light
Company for 25 years, the International Bridge Company, and
a stockholder in most of the banks in the city. He formed
the Buffalo
chapter of Sons of the American Revolution.
Mr. Spaulding took an active interest in the organizing
of the Buffalo
Street Railroads. Much of his work came after 1875, including
perfecting their system of management. He was director of
both roads and his son S.S. Spaulding was president of the
East Side Street Railway.
On June 17, 1875, the 100th anniversary of the Battle
of Bunker Hill, he unveiled a monument in Forest Lawn Cemetery
dedicated to "Nine Spaulding's who participated in the
conflict to achieve American Independence-the first great
battle of the American Revolution." Elaborate ceremonies
were held and in the evening Mr. and Mrs. Spaulding hosted
an elaborate reception in their mansion.
On May 5, 1897 Elbridge G. Spaulding
died in his sleep at 88 years old. His funeral was an unostentatious
affair, much like the life he lived. He is buried in Forest
Lawn Cemetery
After his death, (the last Mrs. died in 1895), the mansion
on Main street was razed to the ground in conformity with
his will. He left an estate valued at $2,500,000.
"Wise in the councils of the nation, the friend
of the poor man and the oppressed, a great legislator and
a remarkably distinguished financier, the 'Father of the
Greenback,' a man who is self-made and who has climbed to
the top notch of fame and fortune, esteemed by his fellow
citizens of this great city."
