As permitted by an act of the New York State legislature which allowed the city of Buffalo to purchase lands and issue bonds in payment for parks to be built within specified sections of the city, a Board of Park Commissioners was established, with a membership of twelve persons as appointed by the mayor and approved by the city’s Board of Aldermen. The mayor would also serve, as an ex officio member. Members of the board were to serve five year terms; they were not compensated, but were eligible to be reimbursed for some of their expenses incurred in the course of their duties. The Board was authorized to select its own officers, and to hire such persons necessary to achieve the stated goals of the body.
Accordingly, the mayor appointed the following men to the Board of Parks Commissioner on __ February 1869:
1869 – 1872
| Name | Profession | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Pascal P. Pratt | Industrialist and banker | President |
| Alexander T. Brush | Mayor | Ex officio |
| Dexter P. Rumsey | Real estate; tannery operator | |
| John Greiner, Jr. | Wholesale grocer | |
| Lewis P. Dayton | Physician | |
| Joseph Warren | Publisher, The Buffalo Courier | |
| Edwin T. Evans | Shipping owner | |
| Sherman S. Jewett | Industrialist, banker, and railroad executive | |
| Richard Flach | Wholesale grocery and liquor | |
| James Mooney | Real estate | |
| John Cronyn, M.D. | Physician | |
| Dennis Bowen | Attorney | |
| William Dorsheimer | Attorney |
On 9 May 1872, as it was recognized that having all of the commissioners terms end simultaneously would cause unwonted disruption to the governance of the parks, the New York State Legislature passed a new Act providing for a 15 member board, plus the Mayor, ex officio, serving six year terms. The initial appointments were made in groups of five members each, serving for two, four and six year terms to achieve the desired staggering of retirements.
On 27 May 1873, therefore, the Mayor proposed fifteen nominees to replace the original board. The Buffalo Board of Aldermen confirmed all but three of his nominees on 20 July. Five of the men appointed were members of the original Board (denoted here with an asterisk following their names). The mayor left the three vacancies unfilled until the following year.
1872 – 1873
| Name | Profession | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Pascal P. Pratt* | Industrialist and banker | President |
| Alexander T. Brush | Mayor | Ex officio |
| Edward Bennett | Real estate; bank president | |
| Britain Holmes | Manufacturer | |
| Cooley S. Chapin | Building contractor | |
| Edwin T. Evans* | Shipping owner | |
| Patrick Smith | Gunsmith | |
| John L. Alberger | Meat packing | |
| Dennis Bowen* | Attorney | |
| John Greiner* | Wholesale grocer | |
| Sherman S. Jewett* | Industrialist, banker and railroad executive | |
| Michael Mesmer | Manufacturer, banker, insurance executive | |
| DeWitt C. Weed | Hardware merchant | |
| (unfilled) | ||
| (unfilled) | ||
| (unfilled) |
1873 – 1874
| Name | Profession | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Pascal P. Pratt | Industrialist and banker | President |
| Lewis P. Dayton | Mayor | Ex officio |
| Edward Bennett | Real estate; bank president | |
| Britain Holmes | Manufacturer | |
| Cooley S. Chapin | Building contractor | |
| Edwin T. Evans | Shipping owner | |
| Patrick Smith | Gunsmith | |
| John L. Alberger | Meat packing | |
| Dennis Bowen | Attorney | |
| John Greiner | Wholesale grocer | |
| Sherman S. Jewett | Industrialist, banker and railroad executive | |
| DeWitt C. Weed | Hardware merchant | |
| Michael Mesmer | Manufacturer, banker, insurance executive | |
| (vacancy) | ||
| (vacancy) |
1874 – 1875
| Name | Profession | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Pascal P. Pratt | Industrialist and banker | President |
| Lewis P. Dayton | Mayor | Ex officio |
| Dennis Bowen | Attorney | |
| Edward S. Bennett | Real estate; bank president | |
| William Dorsheimer | Attorney | |
| Edwin T. Evans | Shipping owner | |
| Joseph L. Fairchild | Attorney | |
| DeWitt C. Reed | Hardware merchant | |
| Sherman S. Jewett | Industrialist, banker and railroad executive | |
| Patrick Smith | Gunsmith | |
| Joseph Bork | Real estate and banking | |
| Britain Holmes | Manufacturer | |
| Cooley S. Chapin | Building contractor | |
| Michael Mesmer | Manufacturer, banker, insurance executive | |
| Colgate Gilbert | Manufacturer | Resigned Jan 1875 |
| Daniel D. Hartnett | Vessel agent | From Jan 1875 |
| Augustus F. Fuchs | Wholesale grocery and liquor | From Jan 1875 |
1875 – 1876
| Name | Occupation | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Pascal P. Pratt= | Industrialist and banker | President |
| Philip Becker | Mayor | Ex officio |
| Dennis Bowen | Attorney | |
| Edward S. Bennett | Real estate; bank president | |
| Joseph Bork | Real estate and banking | Resigned Feb 1876 |
| Edwin T. Evans | Shipping owner | |
| Joseph L. Fairchild | Attorney | |
| Britain Holmes | Manufacturer | |
| Edward S. Bennett | Real estate; bank president | |
| Sherman S. Jewett | Industrialist, banker and railroad executive | |
| Cooley S. Chapin | Building contractor | |
| Patrick Smith | Gunsmith | |
| Michael Mesmer | Manufacturer, banker, insurance executive | |
| Daniel D. Harnett | Vessel agent | |
| DeWitt C. Weed | Hardware merchant | |
| Augustus F. Fuchs | Wholesale grocery and liquor | |
| Joseph Warren | Publisher, The Buffalo Courier |
1876 – 1877
| Name | Occupation | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Pascal P. Pratt | Industrialist and banker | President |
| Philip Becker | Mayor | Ex officio |
| Dennis Bowen | Attorney | |
| Edwin T. Evans | Shipping owner | |
| Sherman S. Jewett | Industrialist, banker and railroad executive | |
| Edward S. Bennett | Real estate; bank president | |
| George Urban | Flour milling and banking | |
| DeWitt C. Weed | Hardware merchant | |
| Cooley S. Chapin | Building contractor | |
| Patrick Smith | Gunsmith | |
| Joseph L. Fairchild | Attorney | |
| Michael Mesmer | Manufacturer, banker, insurance executive | |
| Augustus F. Fuchs | Wholesale grocery and liquor | |
| George Urban | Flour milling and banking | |
| James R. Smith | Lumber merchant | |
| Hiram Exstein | Wholesale clothing merchant | |
| James H. Metcalfe | Banker | |
| Frank Perew | Shipping owner |
1877 – 1878
| Name | Occupation | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Pascal P. Pratt | Industrialist and banker | President |
| Solomon Scheu | Mayor | Ex officio |
| Michael Mesmer | Manufacturer, banker, insurance executive | |
| Hiram Exstein | Wholesale clothing merchant | |
| Sherman S. Jewett | Industrialist, banker and railroad executive | |
| Patrick Smith | Gunsmith | |
| James R. Smith | Lumber merchant and banker | |
| George Urban | Flour milling and banking | |
| Abraham Altman | Wholesale clothing and banking | |
| Cyrus Clarke | Grain merchant and banker | |
| George Clinton | ||
| F. Augustus Georger | Bank president | |
| Britain Holmes | ||
| John G. Langner | ||
| Michael Nellany | Dry goods merchant | |
| Thomas F. Rochester, M.D. | Physician | |
| Frank Perew | Shipping owner |
1878 – 1879
| Name | Occupation | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Sherman S. Jewett | Industrialist, banker and railroad executive | President from Sep 1878 |
| Solomon Scheu | Mayor | Ex officio |
| Dennis Bowen | Attorney | |
| Edwin T. Evans | Shipping owner | |
| DeWitt C. Weed | Hardware merchant | Deceased 16 Nov 1878 |
| Patrick Smith | Gunsmith | |
| Joseph L. Fairchild | Attorney | |
| Michael Mesmer | Manufacturer, banker, insurance executive | |
| Augustus F. Fuch= | Wholesale grocery and liquor | |
| George Urban | Flour milling and banking | |
| James R. Smith | Lumber merchant and banker | |
| Hiram Exstein | Wholesale clothing merchant | |
| James H. Metcalfe | Banker | |
| Frank Perew | Shipping owner | Resigned Aug 1878 |
| Edward S. Bennett | Real estate; bank president | Apptd 19 Aug 1878 vice Mr. Perew, resigned |
| F. Augustus Georger | Bank president | |
| Cyrus Clarke | Grain merchant and banker | |
| George W. Clinton | Attorney, Superior Court Judge | |
| Pascal P. Pratt | Industrialist and banker | Reappointed but declined |
| Michael Nellany | Dry goods merchant | |
| Asher P. Nichols | Attorney | Appointed 5 Aug 1878 vice Pascal Pratt. |
1879 – 1880
| Name | Occupation | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Sherman S. Jewett | Industrialist, banker and railroad executive | President |
| Alexander Brush | Mayor | Ex officio |
| Edward S. Bennett | Real estate; bank president | |
| Patrick Smith | Gunsmith | |
| Joseph L. Fairchild | Attorney | |
| Asher P. Nichols | Attorney | |
| Cyrus Clarke | Grain merchant and banker | |
| Michael Mesmer | Manufacturer, banker, insurance executive | |
| Augustus F. Fuchs | Wholesale grocery and liquor | |
| George Urban | Flour milling and banking | |
| James R. Smith | Lumber merchant and banker | |
| Hiram Exstein | Wholesale clothing merchant | |
| James H. Metcalfe | Banker | Deceased 5 Oct 1879 |
| Abraham Altman | Wholesale clothing merchant and banking | Apptd 14 Oct 1879 vice Mr. Metcalfe, deceased |
| F. Augustus Georger | Bank president | |
| George W. Clinton | Attorney, Superior Court Judge | |
| Michael Nellany | Dry goods merchant |
1880 – 1881
| Name | Occupation | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Sherman S. Jewett | Industrialist, banker and railroad executive | President |
| Alexander Brush | Mayor | Ex officio |
| Edward S. Bennett | Real estate; bank president | |
| Patrick Smith | Gunsmith | |
| Cyrus Clarke | Grain merchant and banker | |
| George W. Clinton | Attorney, Superior Court Judge | |
| Michael Mesmer | Manufacturer, banker, insurance executive | |
| George Urban | Flour milling and banking | |
| James R. Smith | Lumber merchant and banker | |
| Hiram Exstein | Wholesale clothing merchant | |
| F. Augustus Georger | Bank president | |
| Michael Nellany | Dry goods merchant | |
| John G. Langner | Wholesale grocer | |
| Abraham Altman | Wholesale clothing merchant and banking | |
| Britain Holmes | Manufacturer | |
| Asher P. Nichols | Attorney | Deceased 31 May 1880 |
| Thomas F. Rochester, M.D. | Physician | Appointed 12 Jul 1880 vice Asher P. Nichols, deceased |
1881 – 1882
| Name | Occupation | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Sherman S. Jewett | Industrialist, banker and railroad executive | President |
| Grover Cleveland | Mayor | Ex officio |
| Edward S. Bennett | Real estate; bank president | |
| Cyrus Clarke | Grain merchant and banker | |
| George W Clinton | Attorney, Superior Court Judge | |
| Michael Mesmer | Manufacturer, banker, insurance executive | |
| George Urban | Flour milling and banking | |
| James R. Smith | Lumber merchant and banker | |
| Hiram Exstein | Wholesale clothing merchant | |
| F. Augustus Georger | Bank president | |
| Michael Nellany | Dry goods merchant | |
| John G. Langner | Wholesale grocer | |
| Abraham Altman | Wholesale clothing merchant and banking | |
| Britain Holmes | Manufacturer | |
| Thomas F. Rochester, M.D. | Physician | |
| Bronson C. Rumsey | Tannery owner, banker, real estate investor |
1882 – 1883
| President Buffalo Electric Light Co., railroad president, and lumber dealer Name | Occupation | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Sherman S. Jewett | Industrialist, banker and railroad executive | President |
| Harmon S. Cutting | Mayor | Ex officio |
| Edward S. Bennett | Real estate; bank president | |
| Cyrus Clarke | Grain merchant and banker | |
| George W Clinton | Attorney, Superior Court Judge | |
| George Urban | Flour milling and banking | |
| James R. Smith | Lumber merchant and banker | |
| F. Augustus Georger | Bank president | |
| Michael Nellany | Dry goods merchant | |
| John G. Langner | Wholesale grocer | Deceased 2 Jul 1882 |
| Henry C. Persch | Furniture dealer | Apptd 31 Jul vice John G. Langner, deceased. |
| Britain Holmes | Manufacturer | |
| Thomas F. Rochester, M.D. | Physician | |
| Bronson C. Rumsey | Tannery owner, banker, real estate investor | |
| John F. Moulton | President Buffalo Electric Light Co., railroad president, and lumber dealer | |
| Augustus F. Fuchs | Wholesale grocery and liquor | |
| Paul Goembel | Butcher |
1883 – 1884
| Name | Occupation | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Sherman S. Jewett= | Industrialist, banker and railroad executive | President |
| John B. Manning= | Mayor | Ex officio |
| Edward S. Bennett= | Real estate; bank president | |
| Augustus F. Fuchs= | Wholesale grocery and liquor | |
| Paul Goemble= | Butcher | |
| Cyrus Clarke= | Grain merchant and banker | Deceased 1 Mar 1884 |
| John F. Moulton= | President Buffalo Electric Light Co., railroad president, and lumber dealer | |
| George W. Clinton= | Attorney, Superior Court Judge | Resigned ca. 31 Dec 1883 |
| John C. Graves= | Attorney, Clerk of U.S. District Court | Apptd ca. 1 Jan 1884 vice George W. Clinton, resigned |
| George Urban= | Flour milling and banking | |
| James R. Smith= | Lumber merchant and banker | |
| F. Augustus Georger= | Bank president | |
| Michael Nellany= | Dry goods merchant | |
| Britain Holmes= | Manufacturer | |
| Thomas F. Rochester, M.D.= | Physician | |
| Bronson C. Rumsey= | Tannery owner, banker, real estate investor | |
| Henry C. Persch= | Furniture dealer |
1884 – 1885
| Name | Occupation | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Sherman S. Jewett= | Industrialist, banker and railroad executive | President |
| Jonathan Scoville= | Mayor | Ex officio |
| James Ash= | Coal dealer, vessel owner | |
| Edward S. Bennett= | Real estate; bank president | |
| Cyrus Clarke= | Grain merchant and banker | Deceased 1 Mar 1884 |
| Augustus F. Fuchs= | Wholesale grocery and liquor | |
| Paul Goemble= | Butcher | |
| John C. Graves= | Attorney, Clerk of U.S. District Court | Appointed Jan 1884, vice G. W. Clinton, resigned |
| Henry C. Persch= | Furniture dealer | Resigned Dec 1884 |
| William Hengerer= | Clothing merchant | Apptd 29 Dec 1884 vice Mr. Persch |
| George Urban= | Flour milling and banking | |
| James R. Smith= | Lumber merchant and banker | |
| F. Augustus Georger | Bank president | |
| Michael Nellany= | Dry goods merchant | |
| Britain Holmes= | Manufacturer | |
| Bronson C. Rumsey= | Tannery owner, banker, real estate investor | |
| John F. Moulton= | President Buffalo Electric Light Co., railroad president, and lumber dealer | |
| Solomon Scheu= | Maltster, former mayor | |
| James Mooney= | Real estate |
1885 – 1886
| Name | Occupation | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Sherman S. Jewett | Industrialist, banker and railroad executive | President |
| Philip Becker | Mayor | Ex officio |
| Edward S. Bennett | Real estate; bank president | |
| Augustus F. Fuchs | Wholesale grocery and liquor | |
| Paul Goemble | Butcher | |
| John C. Graves | Attorney, Clerk of U.S. District Court | |
| William Hengerer | Clothing merchant | |
| George Urban | Flour and milling | |
| John F. Moulton | President Buffalo Electric Light Co., railroad president, and lumber dealer | |
| John Mayer | Real estate and insurance | |
| James R. Smith | Lumber merchant and banker | |
| Solomon Scheu | Maltster, former mayor | |
| Michael Nellany | Dry goods merchant | |
| James Mooney | Real estate | |
| Britain Holmes | Manufacturer | |
| Bronson C. Rumsey | Tannery owner, banker, real estate investor |
1886 – 1887
| Name | Occupation | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Sherman S. Jewett | Industrialist, banker and railroad executive | President |
| Philip Becker | Mayor | Ex officio |
| John C. Graves | Attorney, Clerk of U.S. District Court | |
| Edward S. Bennett | Real estate; bank president | |
| Augustus F. Fuchs | Wholesale grocery and liquor | |
| Paul Goemble | Butcher | |
| William Hengerer | Clothing merchant | |
| John F. Moulton | President Buffalo Electric Light Co., railroad president, and lumber dealer | Deceased 27 Apr 1887 |
| Norman W. Ransom | Livestock dealer | Apptd 6 Jun 1887 vice Mr. Moulton |
| John Mayer | Real estate and insurance | |
| James R. Smith | Lumber merchant and banker | |
| Solomon Scheu | Maltster, former mayor | |
| Michael Nellany | Dry goods merchant | |
| James Mooney | Real estate | |
| Britain Holmes | Manufacturer | |
| Frederick L. Danforth | Bank cashier | |
| Bronson C. Rumsey | Tannery owner, banker, real estate investor |
1887 – 1888
| Name | Occupation | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Sherman S. Jewett | Industrialist, banker and railroad executive | President |
| Philip Becker | Mayor | Ex officio |
| Edward S. Bennett | Real estate; bank president | |
| Augustus F. Fuchs | Wholesale grocery and liquor | |
| Paul Goemble | Butcher | |
| Norman W. Ransom | Livestock merchant | |
| John C. Graves | Attorney, Clerk of U.S. District Court | |
| William Hengerer | Clothing merchant | |
| John Mayer | Real estate and insurance | |
| James R. Smith | Lumber merchant and banker | |
| Solomon Scheu | Maltster, former mayor | |
| Michael Nellany | Dry goods merchant | |
| James Mooney | Real estate | |
| Britain Holmes | Manufacturer | |
| Frederick L. Danforth | Bank cashier | |
| Bronson C. Rumsey | Tannery owner, banker, real estate investor |
1888 – 1889
| Name | Occupation | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Sherman S. Jewett | Industrialist, banker and railroad executive | President |
| Philip Becker | Mayor | Ex officio |
| James A. Roberts | Attorney | |
| Jacob Hasselbeck | Contractor and builder | |
| Louis Zittel | Grocer | |
| Norman W. Ransom | Livestock merchant | |
| John C. Graves | Attorney, Clerk of U.S. District Court | |
| William Hengerer | Clothing merchant | |
| John Mayer | Real estate and insurance | |
| James R. Smith | Lumber merchant and banker | |
| Solomon Scheu | Maltster, former mayor | Deceased 23 Nov 1888 |
| Jacob Dold | Meat packer | Apptd 31 Dec 1888, vice Mr. Scheu |
| Michael Nellany | Dry goods merchant | |
| James Mooney | Real estate | |
| Britain Holmes | Manufacturer | |
| Frederick L. Danforth | Bank cashier | |
| Bronson C. Rumsey | Tannery owner, banker, real estate investor |
1889 – 1890
| Name | Occupation | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Sherman S. Jewett= | Industrialist, banker and railroad executive | President |
| Philip Becker | Mayor | Ex officio |
| James A. Roberts= | Attorney | |
| Jacob Hasselbeck= | Contractor and builder | |
| Louis Zittel= | Grocer | |
| Norman W. Ransom= | Livestock merchant | |
| John C. Graves= | Attorney, Clerk of U.S. District Court | |
| William Hengerer= | Clothing merchant | |
| John Mayer= | Real estate and insurance | |
| James R. Smith= | Lumber merchant and banker | |
| Jacob Dold= | Meat packer | |
| Michael Nellany= | Dry goods merchant | |
| James Mooney= | Real estate | |
| Britain Holmes= | Manufacturer | |
| Frederick L. Danforth= | Bank cashier | |
| Bronson C. Rumsey= | Tannery owner, banker, real estate investor |
Coming soon – the members appointed during the period 1890 – 1902.
In 1902, there occurred a major Park Board reorganization. The city petitioned the State of New York to amend the law providing for the Buffalo Board of Park Commissioners, changing the composition to 5 members, down from the former 15. The term of service for the Commissioners was decreased from six years to five, with the initial appointments being for 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 year terms, providing thereby for a regular refresh of membership, while ensuring continuity in institutional knowledge. As before, the city Mayor would be an ex officio member of the body. Terms ran from mid-February, rather than from the month of May, as the terms of the old Board were established. Should mid-term vacancy occur, the mayor could appoint another person to fulfill the unexpired portion of the departed member’s term, subject to Common Council approval.
1902 – 1907
| Name | Profession | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| William Hengerer | Retail merchant | President, 1903 – 1905 3 year term, deceased 3 Dec 1905 |
| Erastus C. Knight | Mayor | Ex officio |
| Frank H. Goodyear | Railroad president and lumber dealer | 4 year term |
| William Joyce | Wholesale boot & shoe merchant | 5 year term |
| Charles Mosier | Building contractor | 2 year term |
| George Ginther | Foundry owner, brewer | 1 year term, was member of the Board immediately previous; reappointed 1903 Elected President, 1905 |
| Horace Nobel | Appointed 1904 | |
| Maurice M. Wall | Appointed 1906 | |
| William H. Love | Attorney | Appointed 1907 |
Coming soon – the members appointed during the period 1908 – 1916.
260121