Murray Seasongood (October 27, 1878 – February 21, 1983) was an American lawyer and politician.[1] He led a government reform movement in Cincinnati, founding the Charter Party and served as the Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio from 1926 to 1930. He was the first mayor under the city's 1925 charter.
He was born in Cincinnati on October 27, 1878, the son of Emily (née Fechheimer) and Alfred Seasongood.[2] He had three siblings, Martha, Rose, and Edwin.[2] His father was a wealthy clothing merchant[3] who worked for Heidelbach, Seasongood & Co., co-founded by his great-uncle Jacob Seasongood and Philip Heidelbach (later J. & L. Seasongood after the departure of Heidelbach and then Seasongood, Menderson & Co after the retirement of Jacob). He graduated from Harvard University and Harvard Law School and began a career in the law with Warrington & Paxton.[4]
Mayor of Cincinnatiedit
Cincinnati had a notoriously corrupt government under George B. Cox, also known as “Boss” Cox. Lincoln Steffens called Cincinnati of the two worst governed cities in the United States.[3] In 1905, then-Secretary of War William Howard Taft delivered a speech in Akron that attacked the corruption under Cox.[5]
Although Cox's candidate was defeated in that election, his political machine continued to dominate the city. In 1921, Republicans controlled 31 out of 32 seats on the city council. Seasongood, himself a Republican, founded the City Charter Committee and placed a reform agenda to break the bosses' control of city politics.[3]
The new Charter passed in 1924 and reorganized the city council from 32 members to nine with non-partisan elections. It created a civil service system to eliminate political patronage and made Cincinnati the first large city with a council-manager administration. With the new charter in place, Seasongood was elected to the Cincinnati City Council. His colleagues on the council elected him as the first mayor under the new system.[6]
As Mayor, Seasongood was instrumental in the establishment of a county park board, after visiting and admiring the Emerald Necklace that is Cleveland Metroparks.[7] He is the namesake of the Murray Seasongood Pavilion in Eden Park, Cincinnati.[8]
Later lifeedit
After leaving the mayor's office, he continued his legal practice and was appointed as a law professor at Harvard Law School. In the 1930s he founded a committee to end Republican control of Hamilton County. He fought against attempts to reverse his reforms and wrote articles on municipal governance. When once asked what his hobby was, he responded by saying, "Good government."
He maintain his legal practice at Paxton & Seasongood even at the age of 100. Seasongood died February 21, 1983, at the age of 104.[4] He was survived by his wife, Agnes Senior, whom he married in 1912 and their daughter, Janet Seasongood Hoffheimer.[4]
murray, seasongood, october, 1878, february, 1983, american, lawyer, politician, government, reform, movement, cincinnati, founding, charter, party, served, mayor, cincinnati, ohio, from, 1926, 1930, first, mayor, under, city, 1925, charter, seasongood, circa,. Murray Seasongood October 27 1878 February 21 1983 was an American lawyer and politician 1 He led a government reform movement in Cincinnati founding the Charter Party and served as the Mayor of Cincinnati Ohio from 1926 to 1930 He was the first mayor under the city s 1925 charter Murray SeasongoodSeasongood circa 192536th Mayor of CincinnatiIn office January 1 1926 January 2 1930Preceded byGeorge CarrellSucceeded byRussell WilsonPersonal detailsBorn 1878 10 27 October 27 1878Cincinnati OhioDiedFebruary 21 1983 1983 02 21 aged 104 Cincinnati OhioPolitical partyCharter PartyAlma materHarvard UniversityHarvard Law SchoolProfessionLawyer Politician Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Mayor of Cincinnati 3 Later life 4 ReferencesEarly life and career editHe was born in Cincinnati on October 27 1878 the son of Emily nee Fechheimer and Alfred Seasongood 2 He had three siblings Martha Rose and Edwin 2 His father was a wealthy clothing merchant 3 who worked for Heidelbach Seasongood amp Co co founded by his great uncle Jacob Seasongood and Philip Heidelbach later J amp L Seasongood after the departure of Heidelbach and then Seasongood Menderson amp Co after the retirement of Jacob He graduated from Harvard University and Harvard Law School and began a career in the law with Warrington amp Paxton 4 Mayor of Cincinnati editCincinnati had a notoriously corrupt government under George B Cox also known as Boss Cox Lincoln Steffens called Cincinnati of the two worst governed cities in the United States 3 In 1905 then Secretary of War William Howard Taft delivered a speech in Akron that attacked the corruption under Cox 5 Although Cox s candidate was defeated in that election his political machine continued to dominate the city In 1921 Republicans controlled 31 out of 32 seats on the city council Seasongood himself a Republican founded the City Charter Committee and placed a reform agenda to break the bosses control of city politics 3 The new Charter passed in 1924 and reorganized the city council from 32 members to nine with non partisan elections It created a civil service system to eliminate political patronage and made Cincinnati the first large city with a council manager administration With the new charter in place Seasongood was elected to the Cincinnati City Council His colleagues on the council elected him as the first mayor under the new system 6 As Mayor Seasongood was instrumental in the establishment of a county park board after visiting and admiring the Emerald Necklace that is Cleveland Metroparks 7 He is the namesake of the Murray Seasongood Pavilion in Eden Park Cincinnati 8 Later life editAfter leaving the mayor s office he continued his legal practice and was appointed as a law professor at Harvard Law School In the 1930s he founded a committee to end Republican control of Hamilton County He fought against attempts to reverse his reforms and wrote articles on municipal governance When once asked what his hobby was he responded by saying Good government He maintain his legal practice at Paxton amp Seasongood even at the age of 100 Seasongood died February 21 1983 at the age of 104 4 He was survived by his wife Agnes Senior whom he married in 1912 and their daughter Janet Seasongood Hoffheimer 4 References edit CINCINNATI Jewish Virtual Library a b Hall Henry ed 1896 America s Successful Men of Affairs The United States at large The New York Tribune p 697 a b c Murray Seasongood at 100 Cincinnati Magazine September 1978 a b c Murray Seasongood Lawyer Ex Cincinnati Mayor was 104 New York Times 1983 02 23 Hunt of Cincinnati Munsey s Magazine Vol 48 1912 What s Next for the Charter Committee City Beat 2012 08 01 Pender Linda Jul 1983 Pick a Park Pack Up and Go Cincinnati Magazine Jul 1983 p 66 Retrieved 2013 05 08 Felix Winternitz amp Sacha DeVroomen Bellman 2007 Insiders Guide to Cincinnati Globe Pequot p 189 ISBN 9780762741809 Retrieved 2013 05 08 Political offices Preceded byGeorge Carrel Mayor of Cincinnati Ohio1926 1929 Succeeded byRussell Wilson Non profit organization positions Preceded byRichard S Childs President of the National Municipal League1931 1934 Succeeded byHarold W Dodds Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Murray Seasongood amp oldid 1213435156, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
