1840-41
HISTORY
Sheldon Thompson
was born in Derby, Connecticut on July 2, 1785. Thompson was
one of several well-known Thompson's. His grandfather, Jabez,
was an officer in the French and Indian war, was in the
battle of Bunker Hill, and died while fighting during the
Revolutionary war. His father, also named Jabez, was a sailor.
He was lost at sea in 1794 losing much of the family's property
when the ship sank.
At ten years old Sheldon went to sea on a ship captained
by his brother William. In 1798 he was taken captive in
Guadeloupe and held there for several months. Several years
later he became captain of his own ship, Keziah, trading
in the West Indies at 24 years of age. He worked for the
New Haven, Connecticut company of Gillett & Townsend.
In early 1810 he moved to Lewiston, New York where
he immediately began a business partnership with Jacob Townsend
(of Gillett & Townsend) and Alvin Bronson. Townsend,
Bronson & Co. began ship-building, and mercantile trade
along the Great Lakes. Bronson and Thompson each built a
schooner with each in commission by June 1811. Both vessels
were used as gunboats during the War of 1812
The partners set up two stores, one in Lewiston,
and one in Oswego. Their principle trade during the first
two years was salt from the Onondaga salt mines. In April
1811, Sheldon Thompson
married Catharine Barton. Her father, Benjamin Barton of Lewiston,
ran a line of forwarders on Lake Erie
known as Porter, Barton & Co. After the marriage they did
much business together, basically running all the commerce
on the lakes.
When the British and Indians attacked in late December
1813, Thompson attempted to save as much of the partner's
merchandise before the attack. The following is a letter
he wrote:
"Mr. Townsend-Dear Sir:- I am happy to have
it in my power to inform you that our lives are all spared.
They have burnt everything belonging to us except about
one-third of our dry goods. I hope you will make all possible
speed to get to me at this place...I got nothing of any
amount from my house; had I been ten minutes later I should
have fallen into the hands of the Indians together with
my family. You will have the goodness to inform my friends
that we are all well.
Yours in haste, Sheldon Thompson
"
Around 1816 or 1817 the two companies formed a branch
at Black Rock
known as Sill, Thompson & Co. Thompson moved to Black Rock,
and promoted the village which was in direct competition
with Buffalo
They built several schooners, the Michigan and Red Jacket.
The Michigan was the largest merchant vessel on the lakes,
in fact, too big. In 1829 it was sent over the Niagara Falls
after finding it was too large for trade.
In 1817 Thompson was one of the people assembled
to organize St. Paul's Parish.
Townsend, Bronson & Co. continued business until
1821, and Sill, Thompson & Co. until 1823 or 1824. It
was at this time that the Erie Canal
was being built. Thompson was to Black Rock
what Samuel Wilkeson
was to Buffalo
- hoping to attract the canal terminus. In 1824 he was the contractor
for the Black Rock harbor. Thompson was in charge of the
construction of the harbor at Black Rock, spending "days
in directing this work...and the evenings in discussion
of the question with General Porter." Sheldon knew
that "which ever place obtained the victory, must inevitably
win the business supremacy."
The night the decision was made in 1822 for the canal
terminus, Thompson sent his younger brother on horseback
to Batavia to purchase a parcel of land from the Holland
Land Company
Captain Thompson, as he was also known, knew that "he
would need a new base of operations." The land he purchased
was located in Buffalo
Around 1823 or 1824 the firm of Sheldon Thompson
& Co. was formed, with its principal office being in Buffalo
It operated the same type of forwarding business as its
predecessors. In 1823 the third steamboat to navigate the
lakes was built by the company. By 1825 the company owned
one of the first organized canal boat lines, the Troy &
Erie Line.
In 1825 Sheldon Thompson
became treasurer of Barton Lodge No. 442. This was a Masonic
lodge located in Black Rock
By 1830 Thompson moved to Buffalo
In 1836 S. Thompson & Co. and the other principal forwarder
of Buffalo
, Townsend & Coit, consolidated as Coit, Kimberly &
Co.
On April 18, 1832, Thompson was promoted director
of the Buffalo
Fire and Marine Insurance Company.
He was a early developer and co-partner of areas
of Ohio and Wisconsin.
He was one of the seven men who purchased the assets
of the United States Bank, opened in September 1831, his
single largest investment, which did not fare very well.
LIFE AS A MAYOR
By 1840 Buffalo
had grown to a population of 18,234.
"The first election of a mayor by the people
aroused more than a passing ripple in the life of Buffalo
" George P. Barker
, the Democratic nominee, was "one of the most popular
men who ever graced the city." He was originally chosen
for the Assembly at age 24 and was "the people's friend."
On Monday night, March 2, 1840, a "huge Whig
meeting was held at the Court House," ex-mayor Dr. Josiah
Trowbridge
" presided. It was resolved "that in the first
election for mayor by the People...the best interests of
the city" should be supported. Sheldon Thompson
, "the Honest Man, The True Whig
and The Good Citizen," "whose acquaintances and connections
were extensive," was the Whig
nominee. He was also known as the "Federalist of the old
school" by the opposition.
The election was one of the severest and hotly contested.
On March 8, 1840 the election took place. It was definitely
one of the closest races. The final result - Sheldon Thompson
1,135, George P. Barker
1,125. A ten vote race! The first mayor elected by the people
was Sheldon Thompson
, a man who had never had held a public office before.
Thompson "filled the position with credit, and
never again was a candidate for office."
It was during this time that Buffalo
's own Millard Fillmore
resided in Congress.
PERSONAL LIFE
As stated earlier, on April 6, 1811 Sheldon Thompson
married Catharine Barton of Lewiston. She died in 1832. They
had ten children, but only four lived to maturity. His daughter
Sally Ann married Henry K. Smith
, a brilliant young lawyer, and future mayor of the city.
In 1845 Sheldon Thompson
retired from active business life and occupied himself with
the management of his estate. He was a vestry in St. Paul's
Episcopal Church from its founding. His first home in Buffalo
was at the corner of Ferry and Niagara Streets. In 1830 he purchased
a mansion at Washington and Broadway, where the public library
stands.
Thompson died in Buffalo
on March 13, 1851. He is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery
"While not witty, he was full of humor. He carried
himself with loyalty and honesty. Through a long and eventful
life he bore his name without a stain; he did his duty to
himself, his family, and the community.
