City Officers of Dallas, Texas, 1856

City Officers of Dallas, Texas, 1856 - 1892

(Transcribed by Dorman Holub)

FIRST ELECTION: 1856-1857

OFFICE	NAME	VOTES
Mayor	Dr. Samuel B. Pryor	58
	A. A. Rice	34
Marshal	Andrew M. Moore	55
	John W. Merrifield	37
Treasurer	William L. Murphy	56
	Z. E. Ranney	36
Recorder	Samuel S. Jones	90
Aldermen	William Burtle	75
	W. Latimer	74
SDFS	William J. Halsell	71
	Burrill Wilkes	68
		59
	George M. Baird	57

April 1857 to April 1858 - John M. Crockett was elected Mayor and Marlin M. Thompson, Marshall

April 1858 to August 1858

Isaac C. Naylor elected Mayor and Andrew M. Moore, Marshal. About the third day after Moore was elected, Alexander Cockrell killed him, in a difficulty. During the following June, the citizens voted to adopt the general act for municipal corporations, which had but a short time previously been passed by the Legislature, and under this act the following officers were elected, August 2:

OFFICE	NAME	VOTES
Mayor	Dr. A. D. Rice	39
	Scattering	11
Marshall	William Marion Moore	57
Aldermen	George W. Laws	24
	Wm. J. Halsell	22
	Isaac C. Naylor	19
	James N. Smith	18
	Wm. W. Peak	12

August 1859 to August 1860:

OFFICE	NAME	VOTES
Mayor	John M. Crockett	38
	George W. Baird	37
Aldermen	William M. Moon	39
	James N. Smith	39
	George W. Guess	39
	Edward W. Hunt	39
	Dr. Samuel B. Pryor	37

August 1860 to August 1861:

OFFICE	NAME	VOTES
Mayor	John M. Crockett	51
Marshal	Marlin M. Thompson	40
Aldermen	Edward W. Hunt	48
	James N. Smith	43
	William W. Peak	43
	George W. Guess	40
	Dr. Samuel B. Pryor	39

August 1861 to August 1862

August 1862 to June 1866

The records of the city government fail to show any election from 1861 to June, 1866; but as an election by authority of the county judge, as the law at that time provided, the county records therefore show:

OFFICE	NAME	VOTES
Mayor	John W. Lane	66
	John W. Crockett	25
Marshal	Matt J. Moore	49
	Henry Hickman	44
Aldermen	John Neely Bryan	91
	Dr. S. S. Sanders	88
	A. W. Morton	88
	Edward W. Hunt	88
	M. M. Morrow	86

Governor Throckmorton, having selected Lane as his private secretary, the latter resigned as mayor, and George W. Guess was elected by the city council to fill out the term.

In 1867, no records appear of any election during this year, and there appears to have been no mayor from August, 1867, till September, 1868, when the following officers were appointed by the Federal authorities at Austin, under Governor Davis' rule:

September 1868 to November 1872:

OFFICE	NAME
Mayor	Benjamin Long
Marshal	John F. Barbier
Treasurer	A. J. Gouffe
Aldermen	J. P. McKnight
	C. R. Miller
	Henry Bole
	Edwin Taylor
	John Tenison

Mr. Bole refused to serve, and Mr. Tenison soon resigned. Samuel S. Jones and J. C. Seydel were appointed in their stead; then Jones resigned, and John Loupot was substituted. Long resigned (to visit Europe) April 1, 1870, when Henry S. Ervay was appointed by the newly installed Governor Davis, and held the office till the four days, November 5, 6, 7 and 8, 1872, under the charter granted in May, 1871. Under Ervay's administration, John M. McCoy was attorney, R. S. Druley, secretary, and G. W. Campbell marshal. the aldermen at different times (some resigning) were F. L. Willemet, Ira B. Conklin, Samuel Crosley, E. H. Kendall, J. C. Seydel, Z. E. Coombes, Dr. E. W. Tucker, and Edwin Taylor.

In 1872, Governor Davis, who had been 'counted in' by General J. J. Reynolds, of the United States Army, headquarters at Austin, concluded that Mr. Ervay was not sufficiently loyal, and issued an order removing him and appointing another in his place; but the civil government had reorganized, and both, under legal advice, and a sense of duty to the people, refused to yield. District Judge Hardin Hart issued a mandate commanding him to surrender the office, Mr. Ervay positively refused to comply, and thereupon he was committed to jail. It so happened, however, just at that crisis, that a decision arrived here made by Davis' own supreme court, ina precisely similar case, ruling that the Governor did not possess the power of removal; whereupon Judge Hart hastened to unlock the prison door, and Mr. Ervay stepped out a free man, to resume his duties as mayor, and enjoy an increased respect of the people. His conduct throughout the affair deserved and received the warmest approval of the people.

November 1872 to April 1874:

OFFICE	NAME	VOTES
Mayor	Benjamin Long, Republican	348
	Edw. H. Hunt, Democrat	246
Marshal	Thomas Flynn
Assessor, Collector	Dr. David King
Treasurer	Henry Boll
Attorney	James H. Field
Secretary	C. S. Mitchell
Aldermen	Ellen P. Bryan, Sr
	C. Cafy
	George M. Swink
	Frank Austin
	William H. Gaston
	Michael Thevenet
	John W. Lane

The election was held, and charter granted, May 22, 1871.

On the 24th of April, 1873, all of the above named aldermen resigned, and the following were elected in their stead:

Henry S. Ervay
Hickerson Barksdale
Alex. Sanger
John H. Bryan
William H. Scales
John Owens
William G. Sterett
James Greer
Olin Welborn was elected city attorney, October 6, 1873.

These held their offices until the first Tuesday in 1874, at which time the following were elected:

OFFICE	NAME
Mayor	W. L. Cabell
Marshal	June Peak
Assessor, Collector	T. J. Keaton
Attorney	Wm. M. Edwards
Treasurer	Robert H. West
Engineer	Wm. M. Johnson
Secretary	W. H. Prather
Aldermen	Henry S. Ervay
	R. E. Burke
	Jos. A. Leonard
	R. D. Coughanour
	J. S. Howell
	A. T. Hensley
	John Owens
	Joseph C. McConnell
	Wm. C. Young
	H. B. McConnell

Elected April 1875:

OFFICE	NAME
Mayor	W. L. Cabell
Marshal	June Peak
Assessor, Collector	T. J. Keaton
Attorney	Wm. M. Edwards
Engineer	Wm. M. Johnson
Treasurer	Robert H. West
Secretary	J. B. Hereford
Aldermen	J. W. Crowdus
	Henry S. Ervay
	W. L. Willemet
	A. T. Obenchain
	Alfred Davis
	Benjamin P. Jett
	D. E. Grove
	W. J. Shone
	R. V. Tompkins
	E. C. McLure

On the 27th day of April, 1875, this council adopted the general incorporation law of the State, and all the officers under this change were elected every two years, except the mayor, one-half to be elected to serve one year, the other half, two years. So, it followed, after this election, that one-half would be elected annually, each holding his office for two years.

April 1876:

OFFICE	NAME
Mayor	John D. Kerfoot, for one year
Marshal	W. F. Morton
Assessor, Collector	J. N. Ogden
Attorney	Barnett Gibbs, for two years
Engineer	Wm. M. Johnson, for two years
Secretary	J. B. Hereford
Aldermen	John W. Crowdus
adfa	Henry S. Ervay
	W. J. Clark
	F. E. Guedry
	Benjamin P. Jett
	E. P. Cowen
	Jacob L. Williams
	Dr. M. M. Newsom

August 9, 1876, there was another change made in the election of officers. The two years' term was changed so as to include that of the mayor and also an amendment afterward adopted so as to allow the council to elect the engineer, treasurer and attorney, instead of the people electing them.

April 1877:

OFFICE	NAME
Mayor	W. L. Cabell
Aldermen	H. S. Ervay
	J. W. Crowdus
	W. M. C. Hill
	F. E. Guedry
	W. J. Shone
	Benjamin P. Jett
	Dr. M. M. Newsom
	Jacob L. Williams

1878:

OFFICE	NAME
Mayor	W. L. Cabell
Assessor, Collector	Julius C. Bogel
Treasurer	John W. Bowen
Attorney	Barnett Gibbs
Marshal	W. F. Morton
Engineer	S. W. S. Duncan
Secretary	J. B. Hereford
Aldermen	John F. Caldwell
	H. S. Ervay
	P. B. Sheldon
	M. D. Garlington
	W. C. Holland
	W. J. Shone
	Dr. M. M. Newsom

April 1879:

OFFICE	NAME
Mayor	J. M. Thurmond
Assessor, Collector	Julius C. Bogel
Treasurer	John W. Bowen
Attorney	Barnett Gibbs
Marshal	W. F. Morton
Engineer	S. W. S. Duncan
Secretary	J. B. Hereford
Aldermen	John B. Stone
	John F. Caldwell
	L. F. Bohny
	P. B. Sheldon
	W. K. Wheelock
	John S. Witwer
	Charles E. Keller
	W. R. McIntire

April 1880:

OFFICE	NAME
Marshal	W. F. Morton
Assessor, Collector	J. C. Bogel
Engineer	J. S. Thatcher
Attorney	Barnett Gibbs
Secretary	J. B. Hereford
Aldermen	H. S. Ervay
	John B. Stone
	J. S. Ballard
	L. F. Bohny
	Zimri Hunt
	W. K. Wheelock
	E. M. Tillman
	Charles E. Keller

Mayor Thurmond in September, 1880, was removed from office by a vote of the council and John J. Good was elected to fill the vacancy.

April 1881:

For Mayor, John Stone was elected by a majority of thirty-seven votes, but he was declared ineligible because he did not reside in the incorporated limits of the city, as the charter provided, and on the 17th day of May, Dr. J. W. Crowdus was elected. J.B. Hereford resigned as secretary April 30, and G. M. Swink was elected to fill out the unexpired term.

OFFICE	NAME
Aldermen	D. A. Williams
	H. S. Ervay
	W. J. Clark
	J. S. Ballard
	J. D. Carter
	Zimri Hunt*
	Frank G. Moore
	E. M. Tillman
Marshal	James C. Arnold
Assessor, Collector	J. C. Bogel
Treasurer	N. W. Godbold
Attorney	Frank Field
Secretary	G. W. Swink
Engineer	William M. Johnson
Aldermen	Sigmund Loeb
	D. A. Williams
	James Moroney
	W. J. Clark
	C. F. Carter
	J. D. Carter
	E. M. Tillman
	Frank G. Moore

*Alderman Hunt resigned before his term expired and Dr. J. V. Childers was elected.

1883:

OFFICE	NAME
Mayor	William L. Cabell
Aldermen	Frank M. Cockrell
	Sigmund Loeb
	John Spellman
	James Moroney
	J. D. Carter
	C. F. Carter
	C. A. Gill
	E. M. Tillman

In March, 1883, an amendment was adopted dividing the city into six instead of four wards, and providing for two aldermen to be elected from each ward.

April 1884:

OFFICE	NAME
Marshal	J. C. Arnold
Assessor, Collector	J. C. Bogel
Attorney	W. H. Flippen
Engineer	W. H. Johnson
Secretary	W. E. Parry
Health Officer	Dr. J. L. Carter
Aldermen	D. A. Williams
	John Spellman
	James Moroney
	Robert B. Seay
	Jacob Rauch
	E. C. Smith
	Sigmund Loeb
	Robert Gibson
	Charles D. Keller
	John Henry Brown
	J. D. Carter

1885:

OFFICE	NAME
Mayor	John Henry Brown
Aldermen	John B. Louckx
	D. A. Williams
	W. F. Dougherty
	John Spellman
	John Bookhout
	Jacob Rauch
	Sigmund Loeb
	P. W. Linskie (vice E. C. Smith resigned)
	Charles E. Keller
	Robert Gibson
	J. D. Carter
	Samuel Peterman (vice John Henry Brown resigned)

April 1886:

OFFICE	NAME
Mayor	John Henry Brown (held over)
Marshal	J. C. Arnold
Attorney	W. H. Johnson
Assessor, Collector	John F. House
Engineer	J. S. Thatcher
Water Superintendent	Dave Tichenor
Secretary	W. E. Parry
Health Officer	Dr. J. L. Carter
Aldermen	John B. Louckx
	T. J. A. Brown
	W. F. Dougherty
	D. F. Mahony
	Jacob Rauch
	John Bookout
	Sigmund Loeb
	F. R. Rowley
	C. F. Keller
	D. C. Mitchell
	J. D. Carter
	Samuel Peterman

1887:

OFFICE	NAME
Mayor	W. C. Connor
Recorder	T. J. A. Brown
Assessor	J. F. House
Assistant	Benjamin M. Melton
Secretary	W. E. Parry
Assistant	William McGrain
Water Superintendent	Dave Tichenor
Health Officer	Dr. J. L. Carter
Attorney	W. H. Johnson
Engineer	J. S. Thatcher
Water Collector	L. M. Targason
Aldermen	John B. Louckx
	Frank Cockrell (vice T.J.A. Brown, resigned)
	D. P. Mahony
	A. M. Cochran
	Jacob Rauch
	W. L. Hall
	F. R. Rowley
	Sigmund Loeb
	D. C. Mitchell
	K. J. Kivlen
	Samuel Peterman
	Darius Webb

April 1888:

OFFICE	NAME
Mayor	W. C. Connor
Mayor, pro tem	Sigmund Loeb
City Secretary	W. McGrain
City Treasurer	W. H. Flippen
Recorder	T. J. A. Brown
City Marshal	J. C. Arnold
City Attorney	W. H. Johnson
Collector	J. C. Bogel
Assessor	Benjamin M. Melton
City Engineer	R. W. Havens
Superintendent Waterworks	David Tichenor
Health Officer	J. L. Carter, M. D.
Chief Fire Department	Tom Wilkerson
Ass't Chief Fire Dep't	John Spellman
Aldermen	John B. Louckx
	W. J. Johnstone
	W. M. Edwards
	A. M. Cochran
	W. L. Hall
	L. S. Garrison
	Sigmund Loeb
	F. R. Rowley
	K. J. Kivlen
	C. H. Howell
	D. Welch
	Benjamin M. Good
	J. M. Wendelken
	G. V. Hughes
School Board	G. A. Gill, president
	T. G. Terry, secretary
	F. M. Ervay
	John H. Jones
	Henry J. Frees
	E. P. Marshall
	O. E. Linderman
	Prof. J. T. Hand, superintendent

April 1889:

OFFICE	NAME
Mayor	W. C. Connor
City Judge	T. J. A. Brown
Aldermen	John Louckx
	J. J. Gannon
	W. C. Holland
	Sigmund Loeb
	K. J. Kivlen
	M. T. Cone
	George V. Hughes
	George Cole
	J. M. Howell
	William Bustrin
	William Harris
School Directors	T. G. Terry
	John Alderhoff
	A. C. Ardrey
	W. H. Lemmon
	M. V. Cole

April 1890:

OFFICE	NAME
Mayor	W. C. Connor
Mayor, pro tem	Sigmund Loeb
City Attorney	A. P. Wozencraft
Ass't City Attorney	Mann Trice
City Auditor	F. R. Rowley
Secretary	W. McGrain
Treasurer	W. H. Gaston
City Judge	T. J. A. Brown
Clerk City Court	John T. Carter
Marshal	J. C. Arnold
Ass't Marshal	G. E. Cornwell
Collector	J. C. Bogel
Assessor	Benjamin M. Melton
Engineer	D. A. Poynor
Sup't Waterworks	D. P. Mahony
Health Officer	W. R. Wilson, M. D.
City Chemist	L. Myers Connor
Chief Fire Dep't	Tom Wilkinson
Ass't Chief Fire Dep't	Charles A. Clapp
Street Superintendent	J. S. Sphar
Aldermen	N. G. Turner
	W. I. Logan
	J. J. Gannon
	J. J. Conroy
	W. C. Holland
	H. Hamilton
	Sigmund Loeb
	Samuel Klein
	K. J. Kivlen
	W. J. Brady
	M. T. Cone
	R. R. Lawther
	George V. Hughes
	B. F. Coffman
	J. M. Howell
	George C. Cole
	William Bustrin
	William Harris
	J. H. Webster
	W. J. Keller
	G. W. Crutcher
	O. K. Harry
	J. H. McClellan
	J. W. Sanders
School Board	T. G. Terry
	J. L. Peacock
	John S. Aldehoff
	W. B. Parry
	D. G. Shelby
	W. White
	L. A. Wilson
	W. H. Lemmon
	M. V. Cole
	John W. George
	F. M. Ervay
	James Ennison

April 1891:

OFFICE	NAME
Mayor	W. C. Connor
Mayor pro tem	O. K. Harry
City Attorney	A. P. Wozencraft
Assistant City Attorney	Mann Trice
City Auditor	J. F. Caldwell
City Secretary	W. McGrain
City Treasurer	W. H. Gaston
City Judge	Kenneth Foree
Clerk City Court	John T. Carter
Chief of Police	J. C. Arnold
Assistant Chief of Police	G. E. Cornwell
City Collector	J. C. Bogel
City Assessor	Benjamin M. Melton
City Engineer	D. A. Poynor
Supt. Water Works	D. P. Mahoney
Health Officer	C. M. Rosser, M. D.
City Chemist	G. W. Grove, M. D.
Chief Fire Department	Thomas Wilkinson
Street Superintendent	J. S. Sphar
President City Council	Samuel Klein
Secretary	W. McGrain
Aldermen	N. G. Turner
	W. J. Logan
	J. J. Conroy
	George T. Lack
	H. Hamilton
	G. A. Night
	Sigmund Loeb
	Samuel Kline
	K. J. Kivlen
	C. H. Howell
	M. T. Cone
	R. R. Lawther
	B. F. Coffman
	H. P. Lawther
	S. J. Potter
	E. P. Holland
	William Bustrin
	William Harris
	J. H. Webster
	W. J. Keller
	G. W. Crutcher
	O. K. Harry
	J. H. McClellan
	J. R. Riggs
School Board	T. G. Terry
	J. L. Peacock
	John S. Aldehoff
	W. E. Parry
	C. P. Smith
	W. White
	L. A. Wilson
	John H. Yeargan
	M. V. Cole
	John W. George
	F. M. Ervay
	John Ennison

April 1892:

OFFICE	NAME
Mayor	W. C. Connor
Mayor pro tem	J. H. McClellan
City Attorney	A. P. Wozencraft
Assistant City Attorney	Mann Trice
City Auditor	J. F. Caldwell
City Treasurer	W. H. Gaston
City Judge	Kenneth Foree
Clerk City Court	John T. Carter
Chief of Police	J. C. Arnold
Assistant Chief of Police	G. E. Cornwell
City Collector	J. C. Bogel
City Assessor	Joe Blakeney
City Engineer	D. A. Poynor
Supt. Water Works	J. M. Strong
Health Officer	V. P. Armstrong, M. D.
City Chemist	G. W. Grove, M. D.
Chief of Fire Dept.	Thomas Wilkinson
Street Superintendent	J. S. Sphar
Electrician	J. M. Oram
City Council	H. P. Lawther, president
	W. McGrain, secretary
Aldermen	W. J. Logan
	Patrick O'Keefe
	J. J. Conroy
	George T. Lack
	G. A. Knight
	Custis P. Smith
	Neal Starke
	Charles Kahn
	K. J. Kivlen
	M. B. Loonie
	M. T. Cone
	M. J. P. Lacey
	H. P. Lawther
	C. A. Cour
	George C. Cole
	T. L. Lawhon
	William Bustrin
	J. C. Woodside
	J. H. Webster
	W. J. Keller
	Y. B. Dowell
	O. K. Harry
	J. H. McClellan
	J. R. Briggs
Board of School Directors	T. G. Terry, president, first ward
	C. A. Gill, vice-president, fifth ward
	J. P. Vaughan, secretary, seventh ward
	J. L. Peacock, second ward
	J. S. Aldehoff, third ward
	W. E. Parry, fourth ward
	W. White, sixth ward
	J. H. Yeargan, eighth ward
	M. V. Cole, ninth ward
	J. J. Collins, tenth ward
	C. O. Wood, eleventh ward
	H. G. Putman, twelfth ward
	T. G. Harris, superintendent

Taxable values - $32,000,000
Number of school buildings - 14
Number of school buildings in course of construction - 5
Value of school properties - $325,000
Number of teachers employed - 96
Number of scholastic months - 9
Number of school children - 7,886

(Transcribed by Dorman Holub from John Henry Brown's Memorial & Biographical History of Dallas County, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago,, 1892, pp. 278 - 285. Permission to reproduce this transcription must be obtained from Dorman Holub)