River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-08-12

half past three? Accept my friendly anc
respectful salutations.
eth. JEFFERSON"
To this official note Robert Brent re-
piled as follows:
washington, June 3, 1S02.-Dear Sir: J
have the honor of receiving your favor o.
this date, asking my acceptance of the ap.
pointment of Mayor, under the late act OF
congress for the incorporation of the city
Although ] feel great diifidence in the
talents l possess for executing that duty, in
a manner which may afford general salts
faction, yet feeling it a duty to contribute
my feeble aid for the public service, l will
venture upon its duties.
Il beg you, sir, to accept my thanks for
the honor which you are about to confer
on me, and for the obliging manner in
which you have been pleased TO communi-
cate 1t.
Il will, with pleasure, accept your polite
invitation to dinner on Friday next. With
sentiments of much esteem and respect, |
have the honor to be, sir Your Obt. Ser.
ROBERT BRENT"
There is the formal protfer and ac-
&C ptance of the first mayoralty of the
city of Washington. There is the for
mality, the Difference, the respectful
consideration displayed by the presi-
dent TO the private citizen; and there
we also see the consideration and
esteem of the citizen for the president.
II is a matter of record in the Historical
society that the dinner lasted from
three o'clock until seven o'clock in the
evening. Thomas jefferson was pres
ident of a republic of about 10000
people. Robert Brent was appointed
mayor of city of something like 800
people There was as much courtesy
and consideration displayed as though
Brent were being made minister to
Great Britain.
By the act of congress the appoint
ment of a mayor of Washington was
made annual, and the president con
tinued reappointing Mr.. Brent until
1872, when he declined to serve longer
because of his incumbency of other po-
sitions. He was mayor Of Washington
for ten years, judge of the orphans
court from 1906 to 1914 and paymas-
ter general of the army from 1S0s TO
1919.
Manifestly President jefferson made
no mistake in selecting the first mayor
of Washington city. He was reappoint-
ed by successive presidents until other
official duties of Importance compelled
him to withdraw from the office. He
succeeded Gen. Dearborn as paymaster
general at critical period and full
filed the functions of that office to the
satisfaction of three presidents.
During Mayor Brent's administration
the city market was established. where
i; stands until this day. An ordinance
was passed requiring the maintenance
of leather fire buckets filed with water
in all storehouses and hotels. Appro-
priations were made for the digging
and maintenance of public wells for
drinking purposes and for the use of
fire-bucket brigades.
Mayor Brent maintained an ele-yant
private residence. and Sir Augustus
Foster, the British minister, wrote to
bis country at that time: There are
only three private residences main
tained in this city; they are by Mayor
Brent, Mr. Carroll nd Mr.. Taylor"
The first mayor Of Washington suf-
fered stroke Of paralysis in 1919, when
he was in mis- sixty-sixth year. He
then resigned the position of paymaster
general of the army. Within a few
months thereafter he died at his man.
sion in Washington. September II, 1919.
SMITH ID. FRY.