James Wadsworth (mayor)
Encyclopedia
James Wadsworth was Mayor
of the City of Buffalo, New York
, serving 1851–1852. He was born in Durham, Connecticut
on August 25, 1819. He graduated from Yale College
in the class of 1841 and came to Buffalo the same year. He then moved to New Haven, Connecticut
and for two years studied literature and then law. He married Rosetta F. Robinson on September 8, 1845; she died in 1866 and on July 9, 1873, he re-married to Virginia C. Conklin of Norfolk, Virginia
. He returned to Buffalo in 1845, and established the law firm of Wadsworth & Cameron. He became involved in real estate and purchased land from Judge Ebenezer Walden
. In 1850, he was chosen Buffalo city attorney.
On March 4, 1851, was elected as the Locofoco
candidate for mayor. During his term, the New York and Erie Railroad
was completed from New York to Dunkirk and the Buffalo Female Academy opened. His term as mayor ended on March 9, 1852.
In 1851, Wadsworth became president of the Buffalo, Brantford and Goodrich Railroad and continued this after his mayoral term ended. In 1855, Wadsworth was elected as a Democrat
to the New York State Senate
for the 31st district. He was re-elected for 1858–1859. He moved to New York City in 1859, and for the next 25 years he was engaged in "various railway, mining, and oil companies." He worked for Wells & Fargo's Overland Express
, and practiced law part of the time. Around 1889, he was placed in an institution in Yonkers, New York
where died May 18, 1891, and was buried at Durham, Connecticut.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the City of Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, serving 1851–1852. He was born in Durham, Connecticut
Durham, Connecticut
Durham is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. Durham is a former farming village on the Coginchaug River in central Connecticut. The population was 6,627 at the 2000 census. Every autumn, the town hosts the Durham Fair, the largest volunteer agricultural fair in New...
on August 25, 1819. He graduated from Yale College
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in the class of 1841 and came to Buffalo the same year. He then moved to New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
and for two years studied literature and then law. He married Rosetta F. Robinson on September 8, 1845; she died in 1866 and on July 9, 1873, he re-married to Virginia C. Conklin of Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
. He returned to Buffalo in 1845, and established the law firm of Wadsworth & Cameron. He became involved in real estate and purchased land from Judge Ebenezer Walden
Ebenezer Walden
Ebenezer Walden was mayor of Buffalo, New York, serving in 1838–1839. He was born in 1777 in Massachusetts. In 1799, he graduated from Williams College, then made his way to Oneida County, New York where he studied law. In 1806, he was admitted to the New York State bar and moved to Buffalo. For...
. In 1850, he was chosen Buffalo city attorney.
On March 4, 1851, was elected as the Locofoco
Locofocos
The Locofocos were a radical faction of the Democratic Party that existed from 1835 until the mid-1840s. The faction was originally named the Equal Rights Party, and was created in New York City as a protest against that city’s regular Democratic organization . It contained a mixture of...
candidate for mayor. During his term, the New York and Erie Railroad
Erie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
was completed from New York to Dunkirk and the Buffalo Female Academy opened. His term as mayor ended on March 9, 1852.
In 1851, Wadsworth became president of the Buffalo, Brantford and Goodrich Railroad and continued this after his mayoral term ended. In 1855, Wadsworth was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
for the 31st district. He was re-elected for 1858–1859. He moved to New York City in 1859, and for the next 25 years he was engaged in "various railway, mining, and oil companies." He worked for Wells & Fargo's Overland Express
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational diversified financial services company with operations around the world. Wells Fargo is the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by assets and the largest bank by market capitalization. Wells Fargo is the second largest bank in deposits, home...
, and practiced law part of the time. Around 1889, he was placed in an institution in Yonkers, New York
Yonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
where died May 18, 1891, and was buried at Durham, Connecticut.