Chief and Assistant Engineers
Volunteer Era
From 1821 to 1838 the wardens appointed the chief and assistant engineers. In 1838 and 1839 the wardens appointed upon nominations made by the firemen, and from 1840 down to the present time they have elected their officers with the exception of James Radcliffe, who was appointed assistant engineer by the board of aldermen in the spring of 1869.
ORDINANCE OF 1875
That the election for Chief Engineer and two Assistant Engineers of the fire department should be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in May, 1875, between the hours of 7 and 9 o'clock in the afternoon, at the house of each company, and the person so elected Chief Engineer should hold office for the term of two years from the 20th day of May, 1875, and his successor should be elected, in the manner above provided, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in May, every two years thereafter. And the two Assistant Engineers so elected should one of them hold his office for the term of two years; and there should be elected one Assistant Engineer on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in May every year thereafter; and the two Assistant Engineers so to be elected should determine by lot which should hold the office for the term of two years.
In May, 1889, appointed David I. Trumbull chief and John F. Murphy assistant engineer. During that year the department was reorganized by a special committee consisting of Aldermen Macdonald, Miller and Kearney, and a paid department succeeded the volunteer system on March '20th, 1890, with four permanent men in nine engine and three hook and ladder companies, and eight call men to each. John Gillmer succeeded John Crotty as assistant engineer in May, 1890. Chief Turnbull resigned May 5th, 1890, and Assistant John Murphy was appointed to fill vacancy of term, John Struck succeeding Assistant Murphy. The Legislature, in the spring of 1891, passed a law making the office of chief and assistant engineers during good behavior, and in May, 1891, John Stagg was elected chief and James Mills assistant engineer. In June, 1891, Assistant John Gillmer resigned and was reappointed under the law of 1891.
27 CHIEF ENGINEERS and years of service
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1821-26, 1834, 1838-40, 1843-44, 1847: Timothy B. Crane
1827: Andrew Parsons 1829-1830, 1832: John Bates 1831: Josiali M. Crismond 1832, 1837: John Bates 1833: John Sloat 1835: Cornelius Speer 1836: Horatio Moses 1840-1842: William Cundell - First Chief elected by members 1845: John Ackerson 1848-1852: Thomas O. Smith 1853: Patrick Curran 1854: Thompson Titus 1855-1856: William Sykes 1857-1858 John Bowering 1859 James King 1861 James McKiernan |
1862: Peter Fields
1863-1864 William Killen 1865: Edward Swift 1866: Daniel McClorey 1867: Andrew Moser 1868: John McKiernan 1869: Patrick Sweeney 1870: Edward Gore 1871: James Atchison 1872: William Martin 1873-1874: James I. King - first elected for a two-year term 1875: John Regner 1877, 1888: David I. Turnbull 1879: Bartholomew Reilly 1881: Leonard Garrison 1883: John MacDonald 1885: James Kearney 1887: John Stagg |
CHIEF ENGINEERS AND ASSISTANT ENGINEERS per appointment dates
The following is a list of the chief and assistant engineers of the Volunteer Paterson fire department, with date of appointment:
1821, February 7th, Timothy B. Crane, chief; pictured below
1821, February 7th, Timothy B. Crane, chief; pictured below
Courtesy Jim Eifler
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Courtesy Jim Eifler
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1821, December 28th, Samuel Colt, chief. At the same meeting Mr. Colt's election was reconsidered.
1822, January 4th: the wardens voted to serve as chief monthly in alphabetical order.
1823, March 22: Timothy B. Crane, chief;
1824, January 5th: Timothy B. Crane, chief;
1825, December 9th: Timothy B. Crane, chief;
John Rutan and Andrew Parsons, assistant engineers.
1826, December 6th: Timothy B. Crane, chief
1827, December 10th: Andrew Parsons, chief
John Rutan, assistant engineer.
1828, November 14th: Andrew Parsons, chief; John G. Bates
First assistant; David Reid, second assistant. As Mr. Bates declined to serve, Dec. 1st, Mr. Reid was appointed first assistant and Cornelius S. Post second assistant.
1829, November 2: John G. Bates, chief
Peter F. Merselis, assistant engineer. Mr. Merselis declining, November 9th,
John Garrison was appointed first assistant and Charles D. Clinton second assistant.
1830, No record of appointments. John Bates remains chief
1831, November: Josiali M. Crismond, chief
Horatio Moses, first assistant; John II. Ryerson, second assistant.
1832, November 23: John G. Bates, chief
Alexander Paul, first assistant; Albert Hopper, second assistant.
1833, November 5: John Sloat, chief
Cornelius II. Post, first assistant; Nathaniel Lane, second assistant.
1834, November 4th: Nathaniel Lane, chief (Lane resigned March 9th, 1835)
Cornelius H. Post, first' assistant; Henry Tan Houten, second assistant.
1835, November 18: Cornelius Speer, chief
Giles Van Ness, first assistant; Henry Tan Houten, second assistant.
1836, December 30: Horatio Moses, chief.
1837, January 9: John G. Bates, chief
Nathaniel Lane, first assistant; Albert I. Hopper, second assistant.
1822, January 4th: the wardens voted to serve as chief monthly in alphabetical order.
1823, March 22: Timothy B. Crane, chief;
1824, January 5th: Timothy B. Crane, chief;
1825, December 9th: Timothy B. Crane, chief;
John Rutan and Andrew Parsons, assistant engineers.
1826, December 6th: Timothy B. Crane, chief
1827, December 10th: Andrew Parsons, chief
John Rutan, assistant engineer.
1828, November 14th: Andrew Parsons, chief; John G. Bates
First assistant; David Reid, second assistant. As Mr. Bates declined to serve, Dec. 1st, Mr. Reid was appointed first assistant and Cornelius S. Post second assistant.
1829, November 2: John G. Bates, chief
Peter F. Merselis, assistant engineer. Mr. Merselis declining, November 9th,
John Garrison was appointed first assistant and Charles D. Clinton second assistant.
1830, No record of appointments. John Bates remains chief
1831, November: Josiali M. Crismond, chief
Horatio Moses, first assistant; John II. Ryerson, second assistant.
1832, November 23: John G. Bates, chief
Alexander Paul, first assistant; Albert Hopper, second assistant.
1833, November 5: John Sloat, chief
Cornelius II. Post, first assistant; Nathaniel Lane, second assistant.
1834, November 4th: Nathaniel Lane, chief (Lane resigned March 9th, 1835)
Cornelius H. Post, first' assistant; Henry Tan Houten, second assistant.
1835, November 18: Cornelius Speer, chief
Giles Van Ness, first assistant; Henry Tan Houten, second assistant.
1836, December 30: Horatio Moses, chief.
1837, January 9: John G. Bates, chief
Nathaniel Lane, first assistant; Albert I. Hopper, second assistant.
1837, November 8: John G. Bates, chief
Nathaniel Lane, first assistant; Cornelius V. W. Post, second assistant.
1838, November 14: Nathaniel Lane, chief
Edward McKeon, first assistant; Robert Fields, second assistant.
1839, November 15: Nathaniel Lane, chief
John Bentley, first assistant; Giles Van Ness, second assistant. On March 27th, 1840,
Messrs. Bentley and Van Ness resigned and the wardens appointed William Masters first assistant and Jacob Van Houten second assistant.
1840, Nathaniel Lane, chief, no date of election.
Nathaniel Lane, first assistant; Cornelius V. W. Post, second assistant.
1838, November 14: Nathaniel Lane, chief
Edward McKeon, first assistant; Robert Fields, second assistant.
1839, November 15: Nathaniel Lane, chief
John Bentley, first assistant; Giles Van Ness, second assistant. On March 27th, 1840,
Messrs. Bentley and Van Ness resigned and the wardens appointed William Masters first assistant and Jacob Van Houten second assistant.
1840, Nathaniel Lane, chief, no date of election.
1840, November 11: William Cundell, chief (First Chief elected by FD members)
Titus Ward, first assistant; Cornelius H. Post, second assistant.
1841, May 26: William Cundell, chief
1842, May 22: Nathaniel Lane, chief
John Benson, first assistant; Cornelius Westervelt, second assistant.
1843, Nathaniel Lane, chief; Alfred Westervelt, first assistant; Peter B. Westervelt, second
assistant.
1844, May: 15: Nathaniel Lane, chief
Austin McCloud, first assistant; Robert Smith, second assistant.
1845, May 12: John W. Ackerson, chief
1847, May 17: Nathaniel Lane, chief
1848, May 26: Thomas O. Smith, chief; Michael B. Murphy, first assistant; Richard B.
Chiswell, second assistant.
1849, 1850, 1851, May 26th, 29th, 20th respectively: Thomas O. Smith, chief
Patrick Curran, first assistant. There being a tie vote no election was had for second
assistant.
1852, May 27: Thomas O. Smith, chief; Patrick Curran
First assistant; Griffith King, second assistant.
1853, May 10: Patrick Curran, chief
William Douglass, first assistant; Thomas Farnon, second assistant.
1854, May 17: Thompson Titus, chief
Thomas Farnon, first assistant.
1855, May: William Sykes, chief
John Bowering, James A. King, assistants.
1856, May; William Sykes, chief
John Bowering, James A. King, assistants.
Titus Ward, first assistant; Cornelius H. Post, second assistant.
1841, May 26: William Cundell, chief
1842, May 22: Nathaniel Lane, chief
John Benson, first assistant; Cornelius Westervelt, second assistant.
1843, Nathaniel Lane, chief; Alfred Westervelt, first assistant; Peter B. Westervelt, second
assistant.
1844, May: 15: Nathaniel Lane, chief
Austin McCloud, first assistant; Robert Smith, second assistant.
1845, May 12: John W. Ackerson, chief
1847, May 17: Nathaniel Lane, chief
1848, May 26: Thomas O. Smith, chief; Michael B. Murphy, first assistant; Richard B.
Chiswell, second assistant.
1849, 1850, 1851, May 26th, 29th, 20th respectively: Thomas O. Smith, chief
Patrick Curran, first assistant. There being a tie vote no election was had for second
assistant.
1852, May 27: Thomas O. Smith, chief; Patrick Curran
First assistant; Griffith King, second assistant.
1853, May 10: Patrick Curran, chief
William Douglass, first assistant; Thomas Farnon, second assistant.
1854, May 17: Thompson Titus, chief
Thomas Farnon, first assistant.
1855, May: William Sykes, chief
John Bowering, James A. King, assistants.
1856, May; William Sykes, chief
John Bowering, James A. King, assistants.
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1857, May: John Bowering, chief James A. King and Thomas Farnon, assistants. 1858, May: John Bowering, chief William Killen and Thomas Farnon, assistants. |
John Bowering
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1859, May: James A. King, chief
Jonathan W. Hockett and William Killen, assistants.
1860, May: James A. King, chief
John Gillespie and James McClory, assistants.
Jonathan W. Hockett and William Killen, assistants.
1860, May: James A. King, chief
John Gillespie and James McClory, assistants.
Courtesy Jim Eifler
1861, May: James McKiernan, chief
George J. Bunce and Peter Fields, assistants.
1862, May: Peter Fields, chief
John McKiernan and John Hinchliffe, assistants.
1863, May: William Killen, chief
John Schoonmaker and Jacob Pfitzmeir, assistants.
1864, May: William Killen, chief
Edward Swift and Jacob Pfitzmeir, assistants.
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1865, May: Edward Swift, chief (at right); George W. Steed and Lawrence Ryan, assistants. |
Chief Swift with Octagonal Trumpet & Parade Belt
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1866, May: Daniel McClory, chief
Andrew Moser and Charles Reed, assistants.
Andrew Moser and Charles Reed, assistants.
Chiefs seen in front row. On right appears to be Andrew Moser
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1867, May; Andrew Moser, chief Joseph Bousseleth and Dewitt C. Simonton, assistants. |
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1867, May; Andrew Moser, chief
Joseph Bousseleth and Dewitt C. Simonton, assistants.
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1868, May: John McKiernan, chief Patrick Sweeney and George Young, assistants. |
John McKiernan
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1869, Patrick Sweeney, chief Edward Gore, William E. Heimlich and James Radcliffe, assistants |
James Radcliffe
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1870, May: Edward Gore, chief
James Doherty, George Burton and James Atchison, assistants.
1871, May: James Atchison, chief
Patrick Chapman, William Martin and Thomas Mullen, assistants.
James Doherty, George Burton and James Atchison, assistants.
1871, May: James Atchison, chief
Patrick Chapman, William Martin and Thomas Mullen, assistants.
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1872, May: William Martin, chief Edward Fanning, George M. Case and Thomas Mullen, assistants. |
Chief Martin with helmet, trumpet and parade belt
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1873, May: James I. King, chief for two years (first chief elected for a term of two years.
Assistants, William Bailey, two years; Joseph Buckley, one year. Bailey and Buckley,
assistant engineers elect, drew lots to see who would have the two-year term. Bailey was the fortunate man. Thereafter the chiefs and assistants were elected for two years.
1874, Bartholomew Reilly became assistant chief (his photo is below)
1875 Election
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1875, May: John E. Regner, chief; Fredrick Wieler, assistant. |
John Regner
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L-R: Assistant Chief Bartholomew Reilly, Chief John Regner and Assistant Chief Frederick Wieler
1876, Lambert Romaine, assistant.
1877, May: David I. Turnbull, chief (below)
William Bland, assistant.
David Turnbill 1877
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David Turnbull 1890
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May 8, 1879: Chiefs celebrate election victory
1878, Patrick Morrison, assistant.
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1879, May: Bartholomew Reilly, chief; Gustave Specht, assistant. 1880, James Kearney, assistant chief |
Bart Reilly as an assistant chief
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Helmet shield of Bartholomew Reilly
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September 1886 Morning Call drawing
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James Kearney Assistant Chief
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1881, May: Leonard Garrison, Chief (seen below standing in center) Daniel W. Leonard, assistant at right 1882, Louis Brandt, assistant. |
Assistant Chief Daniel Leonard
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Chief Leonard Garrison in Center. Other two firemen of Vigilant VI wearing "Jockey Style" helmets
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1883, May: James MacDonald. Chief (in center), Peter Zeluff, assistant (at left). 1884, Samuel S. Pounds, assistant (seen at left and below) |
Zeluff. MacDonald and Pounds
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Samuel S Pounds
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Shield and Helmet
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1885, May: James Kearney, chief
Charles Carroll, assistant.
Charles Carroll, assistant.
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1886 News clip
Asst Chief Frank King shield & helmet
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1885, May: James Kearney, chief
Charles Carroll, assistant.
1886, Frank W. King, assistant.
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1887, May: John Stagg, chief John Struck, assistant. 1888, John Crotti, assistant. 
John Stagg
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1888, May: Board of Aldermen took from Fire Companies the privilege of electing Chief and
Assistants
Assistants
1888, May 20: David I. Turnbull (First Chief elected by Board of Aldermen).
Assistant was John F. Murphy
Assistant was John F. Murphy
David Turnbull
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John Murphy
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