Lewis P. Dayton
Encyclopedia
Lewis P. Dayton was Mayor
of the City of Buffalo, New York
, serving 1874–1875. He was born at Eden, New York
on the family farm in 1821. He studied medicine in the office of Dr. Timothy T. Lockwood
and moved to Buffalo. He graduated in 1846 from the Geneva Medical College
, in Geneva, New York
. He returned to Buffalo as a physician in the Black Rock
section. Around 1846 he married Grace Webster Holley, who died at a young age. Dayton first remarried Mrs. Alice Maud Hayes, who died about a year after their marriage, then in 1892, he married Margaret Vogt.
He was first elected an alderman
for the twelfth ward for in 1855. For the years 1865 through 1867, he served as Erie County
County Clerk. In 1868, Dayton was appointed to the first Board of Park Commissioners and was chosen health physician for the City in 1871. On November 4, 1873, Dayton was elected mayor as the Democratic
candidate. He did not seek a second term and retired to his private medical practice. He died on May 14, 1900, and was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery
His brain was preserved in alcohol, possibly for medical research.
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 1874–1875. He was born at Eden, New York
Eden, New York
Eden is a town located south of Buffalo, in Erie County, New York, USA. The population was 8,076 at the 2000 census. The basis for choosing the town's name is unknown....
on the family farm in 1821. He studied medicine in the office of Dr. Timothy T. Lockwood
Timothy T. Lockwood
Timothy T. Lockwood was Mayor of the City of Buffalo, New York, serving 1858–1859. He was born in North East, New York in 1810. In the early 1830s, he studied medicine at Philadelphia Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He returned to Buffalo around 1842 and became a member of the...
and moved to Buffalo. He graduated in 1846 from the Geneva Medical College
Geneva Medical College
Geneva Medical College was founded on September 15, 1834, in Geneva, New York, as a separate department of Geneva College, currently known as Hobart and William Smith Colleges. In 1871, the medical school was transferred to Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York...
, in Geneva, New York
Geneva, New York
Geneva is a city in Ontario and Seneca counties in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 13,617 at the 2000 census. Some claim it is named after the city and canton of Geneva in Switzerland. Others believe the name came from confusion over the letters in the word "Seneca" written in cursive...
. He returned to Buffalo as a physician in the Black Rock
Black Rock, Buffalo, New York
Black Rock, once an independent municipality, is now a neighborhood of the northwest section of the city of Buffalo, New York. In the 1820s, Black Rock was the rival of Buffalo for the terminus of the Erie Canal, but Buffalo, with its larger harbor capacity and greater distance from the shores of...
section. Around 1846 he married Grace Webster Holley, who died at a young age. Dayton first remarried Mrs. Alice Maud Hayes, who died about a year after their marriage, then in 1892, he married Margaret Vogt.
He was first elected an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
for the twelfth ward for in 1855. For the years 1865 through 1867, he served as Erie County
Erie County, New York
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 919,040. The county seat is Buffalo. The county's name comes from Lake Erie, which in turn comes from the Erie tribe of American Indians who lived south and east of the lake before 1654.Erie...
County Clerk. In 1868, Dayton was appointed to the first Board of Park Commissioners and was chosen health physician for the City in 1871. On November 4, 1873, Dayton was elected mayor as the Democratic
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...
candidate. He did not seek a second term and retired to his private medical practice. He died on May 14, 1900, and was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery
Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo
Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, New York was founded in 1849 by Charles E. Clark. It covers over 250 acres and over 152,000 are buried there. Notable graves include U.S. President Millard Fillmore, singer Rick James, and inventor Lawrence Dale Bell...
His brain was preserved in alcohol, possibly for medical research.