Roswell P. Flower
Encyclopedia
Roswell Pettibone Flower (August 7, 1835 May 12, 1899) was Governor of New York
from 1892 to 1894.
In 1853, he became Deputy Postmaster of Watertown, New York, at a salary of $600 a year, and after six years had saved $1,000 and opened with a partner a jewelry store. Two years later, he bought his partner out, and continued in this business until 1869.
In 1869, Henry Keep, a former President of the New York Central Railroad
, was dying and asked Roswell Flower, whose wife was a sister of Keep's wife Emma, to manage the $4,000,000 estate for his widow. Flower asked Keep for guidance on who he could trust, and named a business associate, Daniel Drew. Keep replied, "He is as honest a man as there is in the State of New York, but for fear that somebody else will cheat, he will always begin first." The business brought Flower to New York City
where he became known as a shrewd financial administrator, and opened the banking house of R. P. Flower & Co.
He was elected as a Democrat to the 47th United States Congress
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Levi P. Morton
upon his appointment as Minister to France
, and served from December 5, 1881, to March 3, 1883. He was also elected to the 51st
and 52nd United States Congress
es, and served from March 4, 1889, to September 16, 1891, when he resigned upon his nomination for Governor.
He was Governor of New York from 1892 to 1894, elected in 1891, the last one to serve a three-year term.
During his term he signed into law the creation of the City of Niagara Falls
.
He died of a heart attack on May 12, 1899 in Eastport, New York
at the Long Island Country Clubhouse.
in 1902, is located on lower Washington Street at Watertown. It is in the Public Square Historic District
, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1984.
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
from 1892 to 1894.
Biography
He was a son of Nathan Monroe Flower and Mary Ann Flower, the sixth of nine children.In 1853, he became Deputy Postmaster of Watertown, New York, at a salary of $600 a year, and after six years had saved $1,000 and opened with a partner a jewelry store. Two years later, he bought his partner out, and continued in this business until 1869.
In 1869, Henry Keep, a former President of the New York Central Railroad
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
, was dying and asked Roswell Flower, whose wife was a sister of Keep's wife Emma, to manage the $4,000,000 estate for his widow. Flower asked Keep for guidance on who he could trust, and named a business associate, Daniel Drew. Keep replied, "He is as honest a man as there is in the State of New York, but for fear that somebody else will cheat, he will always begin first." The business brought Flower to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where he became known as a shrewd financial administrator, and opened the banking house of R. P. Flower & Co.
He was elected as a Democrat to the 47th United States Congress
47th United States Congress
The Forty-seventh United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1881 to March 4, 1883, during the administration...
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Levi P. Morton
Levi P. Morton
Levi Parsons Morton was a Representative from New York and the 22nd Vice President of the United States . He also later served as the 31st Governor of New York.-Biography:...
upon his appointment as Minister to France
United States Ambassador to France
This article is about the United States Ambassador to France. There has been a United States Ambassador to France since the American Revolution. The United States sent its first envoys to France in 1776, towards the end of the four-centuries-old Bourbon dynasty...
, and served from December 5, 1881, to March 3, 1883. He was also elected to the 51st
51st United States Congress
The Fifty-first United States Congress, referred to by some critics as the Billion Dollar Congress, was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C...
and 52nd United States Congress
52nd United States Congress
The Fifty-second United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C...
es, and served from March 4, 1889, to September 16, 1891, when he resigned upon his nomination for Governor.
He was Governor of New York from 1892 to 1894, elected in 1891, the last one to serve a three-year term.
During his term he signed into law the creation of the City of Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
.
He died of a heart attack on May 12, 1899 in Eastport, New York
Eastport, New York
Eastport is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 1,454 at the 2000 census.Eastport straddles the borders of the Towns of Brookhaven and Southampton....
at the Long Island Country Clubhouse.
Legacy
A monument to Flower, designed by noted sculptor Augustus Saint-GaudensAugustus Saint-Gaudens
Augustus Saint-Gaudens was the Irish-born American sculptor of the Beaux-Arts generation who most embodied the ideals of the "American Renaissance"...
in 1902, is located on lower Washington Street at Watertown. It is in the Public Square Historic District
Public Square (Watertown, New York)
Public Square is an open mall that lies in the center of Watertown, New York. The square is listed as Public Square Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. The district encompasses 58 contributing buildings, 1 contributing site, and 3 contributing objects.-Description:The...
, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1984.
External links
- Off-Hand Portraits of Prominent New Yorkers by Stephen Fiske (re-published by BiblioBazaar, LLC, 2009, ISBN 1103167014 , ISBN 9781103167012 , pages 148ff) [gives wrong birthyear "1838", and misstates relation to Keep]