The following is from a series written by James P. Newcomb appearing on 30 and 31 December 1900 in the San Antonio Light. Newcomb spent most of his life as a newspaper man.
He began his career at about age fourteen, when he was orphaned in San Antonio; his family having moved here from Nova Scotia, Canada. He was a staunch Unionist during the Civil War, a Republican during Reconstruction and after, postmaster here for a while, a farmer, and a founder of the Light.
Although they appeared originally in December, because of the recent local elections, it was felt that they might be of interest as a look at antecedents to the current City Council.
Short Stops
What the People Are Saying
During this season of peace on earth and good will, it may be churlish to criticize the many foolish and harmless acts performed by ordinarily sensible people. To those who have abundance much is given, well illustrated by the case of President McKinley and in a smaller way by our own local executive, Mayor Hicks.
A “Mutual Aid” club, reputed to be composed of city employes, who draw their substance from the tax payers’ purse, presented through their president a portrait of the mayor to the mayor as a Christmas gift.
In presenting this portrait our Republican street commissioner, Mr. Scott, gave utterance to the laudation that Mr. Hicks was the only mayor San Antonio ever had.
This assertion, no doubt, applies very aptly to Street Commissioner Scott and the club he spoke for, but there has been a long line of city executives dating back to the year 1837, in whose memory it would be appropriate to say they were all, or nearly all, good citizens, worthy officials and honest men.
John W. Smith, the first mayor, served from September 19th 1837 to March 9th 1838. He served a second term from January 8, 1840 to January 9, 1841; and a third term from April 18, 1842 to March 30, 1844. John W. Smith was an able, upright mayor, and conducted the city government well, especially considering the trying times of Mexican and Indian invasions. He was the grandfather of the Tobin boys. It cannot be said of him that he was not the mayor of San Antonio, notwithstanding the assertion of Street Commissioner Scott.
William H. Dangerfield was mayor from January 8, 1839 to January 8, 1840. Mr. Dangerfield seems to have been a man well approved by his fellow citizens, although no portrait has been preserved of him.
S. A. Maverick was mayor from January 8, 1839 to January 8, 1840. Mr. Maverick was a distinguished citizen, a man of wealth, culture, and refinement; and a patriot. He served in trying times. He had no mutual admiration club to tell him that he was the only only, but he cast his lot here and stood by the town to the end of his long, honorable career.
Juan N. Seguin was mayor from August 17, 1841 to September 7 1841. Colonel Seguin was a distinguished Texan patriot, and a man of ability. His descendants are still among us.
Edward Dwyer was mayor from March 30, 1844 to February 18, 1845. He served a second term from February 18, 1845 to January, 1846. Mr. Dwyer was not only a leading citizen in his day, but a man of marked character and there is no doubt that his fellow citizens appreciated his [word illegible] worth. His grandchildren and a numerous relationship are here today, and need feel no slight to his memory if they are told that our present may or mayor is the only mayor our city has ever had.
Bryan Callaghan, the father of our distinguished ex-mayor Bryan Callaghan, was mayor from January 1, 1846 to January 1, 1847. I remember Mr. Callaghan well. He was a bluff, sturdy Irishman, a man of strong character and business ability; he was of the type of men who build up new countries--the pioneers of the world. There is no doubt of his being one of the mayors of San Antonio.
Bryan Callaghan, Sr., was succeeded by Charles F. King, from January 27th 1847 to January 1, 1848. Mr. King served a second term from April 1848 to January 1849. He was a courtly, educated gentleman who had served in the Mexican War.
We might here close the first chapter of mayors, as distinguished from their successors in office. All these men served the city as patriots with little or no remuneration. Politics such as we know of today, were unknown. Things gradually became different as the city began to grow, and greed for office and the ambition for place took the foreground.
