Franklin Edson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 85thMayor of New York City | |
| In office 1883–1884 | |
| Preceded by | William Russell Grace |
| Succeeded by | William Russell Grace |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 5, 1832 Chester, Vermont, U.S. |
| Died | September 24, 1904(1904-09-24) (aged 72) New York City,New York, U.S. |
| Resting place | Albany Rural Cemetery |
| Spouse | |
| Parent(s) | Soviah Wilson Opher Edson |
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Franklin Edson (April 5, 1832 – September 24, 1904) was an American merchant who served as the 85thMayor of New York from 1883 to 1884.[1]
Edson was born inChester, Vermont on April 5, 1832, where his father had a farm.[2] A descendant of thePuritans, he was the son of Soviah (née Wilson) Edson and Opher Edson.[3]
He was educated at the local schools and at the Chester Academy in Vermont.[3]
At age twenty, Edson moved to Albany to work in his brother Cyrus' distillery, becoming a partner three years later.[2]
He left the distillery after his brother's death and started a produce business, which he relocated to New York City in 1866. His venture proved successful during theAmerican Civil War,[2] making Edson wealthy and enabling him to engage in civic, religious and charitable causes. He was an activeEpiscopalian and a member ofSaint James Church, Fordham, in theBronx.[1]
In 1873, he became one of the city's most important business leaders when he was appointed President of theNew York Produce Exchange.[1]
An anti-Tammany Democrat, in 1882 he was nominated for Mayor through the efforts ofTammany Hall boss John Murphy to avoid aDemocratic Party split between organization loyalists and reformers. Upon taking office in 1883, he angered reformers by appointing Tammany men to key jobs, but he soon embraced civil service reform and other honest government measures.
During his term theBrooklyn Bridge was dedicated, theManhattan Municipal Building was constructed, and work was completed on the city's new water supply, theCroton Aqueduct. He appointed the commission responsible for the selection and location of public lands for parks in the Bronx, which came to includeVan Cortlandt,Bronx,Pelham Bay,Crotona, Claremont and St. Mary's Parks, and theMosholu,Bronx River,Pelham, and Crotona Parkways.
After Edson split with Tammany the 1884 Democratic nomination for Mayor went toWilliam Russell Grace, who had also preceded Edson as Mayor, and Edson retired from politics at the completion of his term in 1885.[3]
After leaving the mayor's office, Edson returned to his business interests and continued his philanthropic activities.[4]
In 1856, Edson was married to Frances Cameron "Fannie" Wood (1835–1893), the daughter of Benjamin Howland Wood. Fannie was the granddaughter ofJethro Wood, inventor of the cast-ironmoldboard plow.[1] They owned a homestead inMorris Heights, Bronx that consisted of three acres, a stately residence, stable and barn, which he exchanged for 247Central Park West, two doors south of the corner of85th Street, in 1893.[5] Together, Fannie and Franklin were the parents of:
He died at his home inManhattan on September 24, 1904.[1] He was buried in Section 15, Lot 16 atAlbany Rural Cemetery,Menands, New York.[8]
Edson Avenue inThe Bronx is named for him.[9]
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Mayor of New York City 1883–1884 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
