This month we bid farewell to Francis G. Slay, St. Louis’ 45th and, at 5,845 days, longest-serving mayor. Sixteen years is a long time to occupy any job, to say nothing of the constant pressure of being the top executive of a city of more than 300,000. Though no previous mayor held up for as long, some came closer than others.
Arthur Barret, our 22nd mayor, only made it one week. Barret was originally from just outside Springfield, Illinois, but attended Saint Louis University and went on to raise livestock on a farm near Hermann, Missouri. Eventually he married into St. Louis high society and became a leader in the St. Louis Agricultural and Mechanical Association in the years just after the Civil War. He ran for mayor four times, losing the Democratic primaries in 1869, 1871, and 1873 (with the last two defeats coming by a combined four votes). Barret finally broke through in 1875, winning by a wide margin.
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At the time, the city that Barret was to preside over was on the rise. Work on the Eads Bridge—as well as O’Fallon, Tower Grove, and Carondelet parks—was just wrapping up. The grand Forest Park was also on its way. More than a few locals believed that St. Louis should be the nation’s next capital.
But alas, on Saturday, April 17, 1874—just four days after he was elected—Barret began complaining of a mysterious stomach condition. “They couldn’t figure out what was wrong,” says Andrew Wanko, public historian at the Missouri History Museum.
“During all of that day, a continuous stream of visitors poured in upon him offering congratulations,” wrote the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Eventually, he told his secretary that “he could not stand the constant strain upon him required to entertain so many visitors.” The next day, he was “unable to rise from his bed. Medical aid was summoned, but nothing serious was apprehended,” and his condition had improved by midweek. Just a few days later, however, he again grew seriously ill.
That Friday evening, after a “slight improvement,” his doctor “prescribed rest and quiet,” wrote the Post. But at 3 a.m., “the physicians announced that the mayor was dying,” and his family and ministers were summoned to his bedside. “He evinced no fear of death whatsoever,” wrote the Post. “During his last hours, he talked to himself incoherently, but when any member of his family addressed him, his looks indicated that he recognized the speaker.”
Barret was pronounced dead at 4:18 a.m. on Saturday, April 24—just 11 days after taking office. His death was attributed to ulcers and a swollen small intestine.
After his death a special election was held, and James Britton, a former merchant and longtime politician, was elected. But two days later, Britton’s opponent, Henry Overstolz, contested the election, claiming that Britton had stuffed the ballot box. The votes were recounted and, sure enough, Overstolz prevailed.
On February 9, 1876, Britton was unseated after less than nine months in office, making him the mayor with the second-shortest tenure in St. Louis history.
Other Short Terms
In 1864, an ill Chauncey Filley resigned after just a year. In 1943, William Becker was among those who died in a glider crash. During such unforeseen circumstances, when mayors have left office earlier than expected, the next-ranking officials have temporarily stepped in, including Wilson Primm (in 1837), Ferdinand Cronenbold (in 1864), Herman Rechtien (in 1875), and George Allen (in 1889). After Becker’s death, then-aldermanic president Aloys Kaufmann filled in—before being elected for another term.
