City Council
List of city officers, 1838 to 1877 in 1877-1878 City Directory.
The Houston Age on the candidates for city offices proposed by the “Radicals” in 1875.
1866
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Mayor | William Anders |
| 1st Ward | William Burnett |
| 1st Ward | R. O. Love |
| 2nd Ward | M. Reichman |
| 2nd Ward | S. Geiselman |
| 3rd Ward | H. Fleishman |
| 3rd Ward | J. Geiselman |
| 4th Ward | T. M. Bagby |
| 4th Ward | L. C. Stanley |
| Assessor | R. Brewster |
| Marshal | I. C. Lord |
| Physician | J. F. Moody |
| Secretary | George Ewing (before May 31) |
| Secretary | George H. Bringhurst (after May 31) |
1867
Election held December 1866. (Officers after Recorder appointed by Aldermen.)
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Mayor | A. McGowen |
| 1st Ward | W. A. Daly |
| 1st Ward | M. McNally |
| 2nd Ward | J. E. Schrimpf |
| 2nd Ward | H. F. Hurd |
| 3rd Ward | Chas. J. Grainger |
| 3rd Ward | Ed. Riordan |
| 4th Ward | T. B. Howard |
| 4th Ward | A. C. Baker |
| 5th Ward | A. M. Brooks |
| 5th Ward | M. Conway |
| Assessor | R. Brewster |
| Sexton | H. G. Pannell |
| Marshal | I. C. Lord |
| Recorder | B. Pu. Feller |
| Attorney | James Masterson |
| Surveyor | W. H. Griffin |
| Pub. Works | Wm. Williams |
| Physician | J. F. Moody |
| Secretary | George H. Bringhurst |
By Special Order 214 of J. J. Reynolds, commander Fifth Military District, on November 27, 1867 (according to merseburger1950, 1), new changes made on December 5, 1867 …
1868
Same as 1867? Except …
| Position | Old | New |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Ward | M. McNally | J. F. Miller |
| 3rd Ward | Chas. J. Grainger | George Dumble |
| 3rd Ward | Ed. Riordan | F. Stellbauer |
| 4th Ward | T. B. Howard | Wm. R. Fayle |
| 4th Ward | A. C. Baker | James Bailey |
| 5th Ward | A. M. Brooks | J. B. Sawyer |
| 5th Ward | [vacancy] | R. G. Rawley |
| Assessor | R. Brewster | J. M. Kaumheimer |
According to merseburger1950, 2-3, Dumble, Sawyer, and Stellbauer all decline appointment, and Fayle’s qualifications were rejected. Only four meetings were held in February and March. And in April, R. G. Rawley was tried for malfeasance by the council and resigned.
Harris County sheriff A. B. Hall writes Reynolds, who passes on to Governor Pease on June 19, a message that “recent difficulties” necessitate new appointments. On July 17, Reynolds issues Special Order 158 appointing J. S. Bachelder mayor, E. A. Metcalf marshal, and J. De Bajlegathy recorder. A public meeting on July 20 protested the appointment and drafted a letter to Reynolds, and the Telegraph also protested the removals as politically motivated.1
On August 8, 1868, by order of military (Buchanan Special Order 168?) …
| Position | Old | New |
|---|---|---|
| Mayor | A. McGowen | Joseph R. Morris |
| 3rd Ward | [vacancy] | T. H. Scanlan |
On August 22, by resignation and military appointment …
| Position | Old | New |
|---|---|---|
| 4th Ward | James Bailey | H. R. Allen |
| 5th Ward | [Rawley] | R. B. Baer |
According to merseburger1950, 14, Morris then appointed Howard to head the Finance and Bayou Committees, Schrimpf to head Market Committee, and Daly in charge of Street and Bridge Committee. Subsequently, a “meeting of city taxpayers” was called on August 25 at Perkins’ Theatre, with George Goldthwaite as chairman and John Shearn as secretary.
In or around September, by order of military …
| Position | Old | New |
|---|---|---|
| Recorder | Judge Fuller | James G. Tracy |
| Marshal | I. C. Lord | A. K. Taylor |
Lord relinquished his position, according to merseburger1950, 19, only if his police officers were retained. There are some other switches she reports that were not in the City Directory.
1869
Reynolds still filling vacancies as they occur. According to merseburger1950, 46, there were some other appointments in this period not reflected in the directory’s listing: D. O. Allen, e.g. And there was controversy over Young. Taylor resigns.
| Position | Old | New |
|---|---|---|
| 1st ward | [vacancy] | Sam W. Young |
| 2nd ward | [vacancy] | H. Engelke |
| Marshal | A. K. Taylor | M. E. Davis |
1870
A new change on August 18, 1870, by order of Governor E. J. Davis. Officials marked as Black by the city directory are in italics.
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Mayor | T. H. Scanlan |
| 1st Ward | Adam Huebner |
| 1st Ward | Johnson Rice |
| 2nd Ward | Eugene Pillot |
| 2nd Ward | Gustave Meyer |
| 3rd Ward | Jacob Binz |
| 3rd Ward | Sandy Parker |
| 4th Ward | J. W. McDonald |
| 4th Ward | Richard Brock |
| 5th Ward | Thomas F. Hailey |
| 5th Ward | Willis Hitte |
(Note this listing has Sandy Parker in 3rd Ward, though he is later identified as alderman for Fourth. Similarl, Rice is listed in 1st ward, though he is later placed in 2nd.)
That same day, the council elected:
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Marshal | Joe Smallwood |
| Assessor | Jacob Binz |
Then, on December 15, the council elected:
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Sexton | R. F. Pannell |
| Secretary | W. B. Bonner |
| Attorney | A. R. Masterson |
| Streets | J. E. Whittlesey |
1871
Davis appoints A. C. Rogers to replace Jacob Binz as 3rd ward alderman.
On February 9, new aldermen are seated:
| Position | Old | New |
|---|---|---|
| 4th Ward | Sandy Parker | R. O. Love |
| 1st Ward | Adam Huebner | Taylor Burke |
| 5th Ward | T. F. Hailey | Hilliard Taylor |
| 2nd Ward | Johnson Rice | H. D. Johnson |
On February 23, by resignation and then election by council:
| Position | Old | New |
|---|---|---|
| Streets | J. E. Whittlesey | James Snowball |
April 15: A. C. Baker elected “Health Officer.”
On May 16, W. B. Bonner impeached, tried, and convicted by council. William H. Allen elected to fill the vacancy, “but failed to qualify,” and W. A. Daley served as pro tem secretary until November 16, when a new election occurred …
1872
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Mayor | T. H. Scanlan |
| 1st Ward | James Flynn |
| 1st Ward | Richard Brock |
| 2nd Ward | Isaac Coleman |
| 2nd Ward | H. D. Johnson |
| 3rd Ward | Wm. Pulliam |
| 3rd Ward | Henry Henricks |
| 4th Ward | W. D. Alexander |
| 4th Ward | J. E. Whittlesey |
| 5th Ward | Allen Fitzgerald |
| 5th Ward | John Trentem |
And other positions:
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Recorder | E. L. Leonhardt |
| Marshal | R. Van Patten |
| Sexton | R. F. Pannell |
| Secretary | W. A. Daly |
1874
Under new City Charters of January 20, 1874, new officers appointed:
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Mayor | J. T. D. Wilson |
| 1st Ward | N. P. Turner |
| 1st Ward | W. Harral |
| 2nd Ward | Charles Gehring |
| 3rd Ward | W. C. Wagley |
| 3rd Ward | F. A. Rice |
| 4th Ward | Wm. Christian |
| 4th Ward | D. C. Smith |
| 5th Ward | I. C. Lord |
| 5th Ward | S. F. Noble |
And this board elected:
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Assessor | M. J. Massie |
| Marshal | H. C. Thompson |
| Attorney | A. R. Masterson |
| Streets | Thos. Hennessey |
| Sexton | Charles Behring |
| Secretary | W. A. Daly |
Results of a subsequent election recorded in city directory.
merseburger1950, 9-11.↩
