Joseph Sprague was elected Mayor on the Democratic ticket in 1843 and re-elected the following year. He was the first Democrat so elected. After trying storekeeping, farming and school teaching he came to New York and engaged in the business of selling cotton and wool cards and domestic goods.
He came to Brooklyn in the year 1819, and purchased a house on Fulton street, near Main, which house was then a pleasant country residence, surrounded by apple trees, open in front to the East River, and in the rear on vacant lots.
In 1825 he was elected a member of the Board of village Trustees, and chosen two years afterward as president of the Board, which position he filled until 1831. During his first term as Mayor the Whig members of the Common Council refused to attend the meetings of the Board, whereupon he had them arrested for neglect of duty and compelled their attendance. He was elected a Supervisor for several terms.
As a public officer he was prompt, thorough, economical, conscientious in the discharge of h is duties, and at the same time public spirited. He was connected with several of the banks and insurance companies of this city, and his counsels were always looked to as valuable.
The portrait of him in the Common Council Chamber represents him as about fifty-eight years of age, with well shaped head and features, and very pleasant eyes and mouth. He was said to be a good business man and a thorough gentleman.
He came to Brooklyn in the year 1819, and purchased a house on Fulton street, near Main, which house was then a pleasant country residence, surrounded by apple trees, open in front to the East River, and in the rear on vacant lots.
In 1825 he was elected a member of the Board of village Trustees, and chosen two years afterward as president of the Board, which position he filled until 1831. During his first term as Mayor the Whig members of the Common Council refused to attend the meetings of the Board, whereupon he had them arrested for neglect of duty and compelled their attendance. He was elected a Supervisor for several terms.
As a public officer he was prompt, thorough, economical, conscientious in the discharge of h is duties, and at the same time public spirited. He was connected with several of the banks and insurance companies of this city, and his counsels were always looked to as valuable.
The portrait of him in the Common Council Chamber represents him as about fifty-eight years of age, with well shaped head and features, and very pleasant eyes and mouth. He was said to be a good business man and a thorough gentleman.
Joseph Sprague was elected Mayor on the Democratic ticket in 1843 and re-elected the following year. He was the first Democrat so elected. After trying storekeeping, farming and school teaching he came to New York and engaged in the business of selling cotton and wool cards and domestic goods.
He came to Brooklyn in the year 1819, and purchased a house on Fulton street, near Main, which house was then a pleasant country residence, surrounded by apple trees, open in front to the East River, and in the rear on vacant lots.
In 1825 he was elected a member of the Board of village Trustees, and chosen two years afterward as president of the Board, which position he filled until 1831. During his first term as Mayor the Whig members of the Common Council refused to attend the meetings of the Board, whereupon he had them arrested for neglect of duty and compelled their attendance. He was elected a Supervisor for several terms.
As a public officer he was prompt, thorough, economical, conscientious in the discharge of h is duties, and at the same time public spirited. He was connected with several of the banks and insurance companies of this city, and his counsels were always looked to as valuable.
The portrait of him in the Common Council Chamber represents him as about fifty-eight years of age, with well shaped head and features, and very pleasant eyes and mouth. He was said to be a good business man and a thorough gentleman.
He came to Brooklyn in the year 1819, and purchased a house on Fulton street, near Main, which house was then a pleasant country residence, surrounded by apple trees, open in front to the East River, and in the rear on vacant lots.
In 1825 he was elected a member of the Board of village Trustees, and chosen two years afterward as president of the Board, which position he filled until 1831. During his first term as Mayor the Whig members of the Common Council refused to attend the meetings of the Board, whereupon he had them arrested for neglect of duty and compelled their attendance. He was elected a Supervisor for several terms.
As a public officer he was prompt, thorough, economical, conscientious in the discharge of h is duties, and at the same time public spirited. He was connected with several of the banks and insurance companies of this city, and his counsels were always looked to as valuable.
The portrait of him in the Common Council Chamber represents him as about fifty-eight years of age, with well shaped head and features, and very pleasant eyes and mouth. He was said to be a good business man and a thorough gentleman.
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