Peter F. Wanser

Peter Farmer Wanser (January 24, 1849 – January 3, 1918) was the 25th Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey from May 2, 1892 to May 2, 1897.

Peter Farmer Wanser
25th Mayor of Jersey City
In office
May 2, 1892 – May 2, 1897
Preceded byOrestes Cleveland
Succeeded byEdward Hoos
Personal details
Born(1849-01-24)January 24, 1849
near New Brunswick, New Jersey
DiedJanuary 3, 1918(1918-01-03) (aged 68)
Jersey City, New Jersey
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceJersey City, New Jersey

Biography

Wanser was born on January 24, 1849, near New Brunswick, New Jersey.

In 1882, Wanser was elected to the New Jersey State Assembly and again in 1883. In 1885, he was appointed a police judge in Jersey City.

In 1892, Wanser was elected mayor of Jersey City when he defeated Democrat Allan L. McDermott. He was part of a Republican sweep of elections in New Jersey that went along with John W. Griggs' election as governor. He was the fourth ever Republican elected mayor of Jersey City. He was the first mayor to work in the "new" city hall which was completed in January 1896. Wanser served one five-year term (In 1885, the state legislature changed the term of mayor from two years to five years). Elected as a reform mayor, he had many in the Jersey City Democratic Party worried.[1] During his tenure, a major controversy arose over the condition of Jersey City's water supply.[2]

The mayoral election of 1897 was very controversial. The Republican-controlled state legislature passed the McArthur Act which postponed Jersey City and Newark's elections from spring to November to make them coincide with the state elections. The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that this was unconstitutional.[3] The Republicans appealed the Supreme Court's decision to the New Jersey Court of Errors and Appeals. Since the decision was under appeal, the Republicans claimed that the elections planned for April 14 should not be held at that time until the court ruled on their appeal and if they were held then their results would not be valid until after the appeal was ruled on. The Democrats claimed they would be held and their results would be valid.[4] Democrat Edward Hoos won the election against Republican J. Herbert Potts, 15,264 votes to 12,018;[5] however, Wanser refused to vacate the mayor's office claiming the election was not valid until their appeal was heard in court. Hoos had to formally demand Wanser to leave the office on May 3, 1897.[6] The New Jersey Court of Errors and Appeals ruled in September in favor of Hoos.[7][8]

President William McKinley nominated Wanser to be Postmaster of Jersey City in 1898.[9] Wanser served in this position for four years.

Wanser was a 30-year member of the New Jersey National Guard rising to the rank of colonel of the Fourth Regiment and later to major general.

Wanser died of pneumonia in his home in Jersey City on January 3, 1918. He was buried in Milton, New York.[10]

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References
  1. "Much Afraid of Wanser". New York Times. April 25, 1892.
  2. "Wanser's Evasion is Futile; On Him the Responsibility For Jersey City's Bad Water". New York Times. September 6, 1894.
  3. "Will Have Spring Elections. The Law Abolishing Them in Jersey City and Newark Declared Unconstitutional by the Supreme Court". New York Times. April 2, 1897. Justices Garrison and Gummere, in the Supreme Court this morning, practically declared unconstitutional the act passed by the present Legislature abolishing Spring elections in Jersey City and Newark. The Court granted a writ of mandamus directing City Clerk O'Donnell of Jersey City to go on with the printing of the tickets and the preparation for an election in Jersey City on April 13.
  4. "The Jersey City Election; Mandamus Proceedings Before the New Jersey Supreme Court". New York Times. March 28, 1897.
  5. "Hudson County Election; Jersey City Situation Muddled -- Incumbents May Not Vacate -- Legality of Elections Still in Court". New York Times. April 15, 1897.
  6. "Jersey City Mayorality; Hoos Formally Demanded Possession of the Office, and Wanser Protested Against the Action". New York Times. May 4, 1897.
  7. "The Jersey City Election; Formal Decision To Be Made Against the Republican Mayor". New York Times. June 2, 1897.
  8. "In Favor of Mayor Hoos; The New Jersey Court of Errors and Appeals Sustains His Title to Office". New York Times. September 21, 1897.
  9. "Presidential Postmasters; Peter F. Wanser Nominated for the Office in Jersey City. Hoboken's New Official". New York Times. 1898-05-26.
  10. "Gen. Peter F. Wanser of Jersey City Dies. Former Mayor and Postmaster and Active in National Guard. Expires of Pneumonia at 68". New York Times. 1918-01-05.

See also
Political offices
Preceded by
Orestes Cleveland		 Mayor of Jersey City
1892–1897		 Succeeded by
Edward Hoos
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