Jonathan Child
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Child was the first Mayor of Rochester, New York and son-in-law of Colonel Nathaniel Rochester
. Child was born in New Hampshire
, and in 1805, at the age of 20, he moved to Utica, New York
. In 1810, he moved to Charlotte, New York
, and then during the War of 1812
, he moved again to Bloomfield, New York
, where he met Sophia, the oldest daughter of Col. Rochester.
In 1816, Child was a representative to the New York State Assembly
in Albany
. In 1820, he moved to Rochester and opened a store at the Four Corners there. When the Erie Canal
was completed, he operated a fleet of canal boats on those waters. He later helped organize and build the Tonawanda Railroad
, the first in Rochester. In 1824, he became a trustee of the First Bank of Rochester, and in 1827, became a village trustee.
In June 1834, the Whig
majority of the first Rochester city council, selected Child to be the first mayor – Rochester mayors were not elected by popular vote until 1840. He resigned the next spring after newly elected Democrat
s in the city council authorized granting liquor licenses in Rochester. After his resignation, Child built a mansion of Washington Street in Rochester, and using some of his canal boats, became an early importer of coal.
After his wife Sophia died in 1850, Child moved to Buffalo, New York
, where he was to die ten years later. His Rochester house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1971 as part of the Jonathan Child House & Brewster-Burke House Historic District
.
Nathaniel Rochester
Nathaniel Rochester was an American Revolutionary War soldier and land speculator, most noted for founding the settlement which would become Rochester, New York.-Early years:...
. Child was born in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, and in 1805, at the age of 20, he moved to Utica, New York
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
. In 1810, he moved to Charlotte, New York
Charlotte, New York
Charlotte is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 1,713.The Town of Charlotte is centrally located in the county, north of Jamestown and south of Dunkirk.- History :...
, and then during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, he moved again to Bloomfield, New York
Bloomfield, New York
Bloomfield is a village in Ontario County, New York, United States. The population was 1,267 at the 2000 census.The Village of Bloomfield is in the Town of East Bloomfield and is west of Canandaigua, NY.- History :...
, where he met Sophia, the oldest daughter of Col. Rochester.
In 1816, Child was a representative to the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
in Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. In 1820, he moved to Rochester and opened a store at the Four Corners there. When the Erie Canal
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is a waterway in New York that runs about from Albany, New York, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, New York, at Lake Erie, completing a navigable water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The canal contains 36 locks and encompasses a total elevation differential of...
was completed, he operated a fleet of canal boats on those waters. He later helped organize and build the Tonawanda Railroad
Tonawanda Railroad
Yet another of the bewildering array of small and impermanent rail companies of the nineteenth century, the Tonawanda Railroad was Rochester's first...
, the first in Rochester. In 1824, he became a trustee of the First Bank of Rochester, and in 1827, became a village trustee.
In June 1834, the Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
majority of the first Rochester city council, selected Child to be the first mayor – Rochester mayors were not elected by popular vote until 1840. He resigned the next spring after newly elected Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
s in the city council authorized granting liquor licenses in Rochester. After his resignation, Child built a mansion of Washington Street in Rochester, and using some of his canal boats, became an early importer of coal.
After his wife Sophia died in 1850, Child moved to Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, where he was to die ten years later. His Rochester house was 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 1971 as part of the Jonathan Child House & Brewster-Burke House Historic District
Jonathan Child House & Brewster-Burke House Historic District
Jonathan Child House & Brewster–Burke House Historic District is a national historic district containing a set of two historic homes located at Rochester in Monroe County, New York. The Jonathan Child House, located at 37 S. Washington St. was constructed 1837-1838 by Jonathan Child , Rochester's...
.