Nathan Barnert

Nathan Barnert
Barnert pictured as mayor of Paterson, circa 1880s
Mayor of Paterson, New Jersey
In office 1883–1886
Preceded by	David S. Gillmor
Succeeded by	Charles D. Beckwith
In office 1889–1890
Preceded by	Charles D. Beckwith
Succeeded by	Thomas Beveridge
Personal details
Born	(1838-09-20)September 20, 1838 Posen, Prussia (modern Poznań, Poland)
Died	December 23, 1927(1927-12-23) (aged 89) Paterson, New Jersey
Party	Democratic
Spouse	Miriam Barnert

Nathan Barnert (September 20, 1838 – December 23, 1927) was an American businessman, philanthropist, and Democratic Party politician who served as the mayor of Paterson, New Jersey from 1883 to 1886 and 1889 to 1890.^[1][2]

Early life and education

Nathan Barnert was born on September 20, 1838, in Posen in the Kingdom of Prussia to Meyer and Ida (née Newfelt) Barnert. The family emigrated to the United States in 1848 or 1849. Nathan was educated in Prussia and New York City.^[1][3][4]

Business career

Barnert followed his father into trade as a tailor before leaving to join the California gold rush at the age of fourteen. While in California, he established business connections in San Francisco and visited the Hawaiian Kingdom and the Fraser River. However, the trip was entirely unprofitable, and he returned to New York City in 1856.^[1][3]

In 1861, the family moved to Paterson, New Jersey, where he opened a merchant tailoring firm with Marks Cohen. They were granted large federal contracts to clothe the Union army during the American Civil War. Barnert also made successful real estate investments, and by 1876, he retired from business to focus on his property holdings.^[3]

In addition to his tailoring and real estate interests, he organized the Annandale Screen Plate Company with Robert A. Healy and William C. Martin. The company provided supplies to paper mills. This grew into an enterprise to build rental buildings for mill operators, the first of which was completed in 1882, followed by several other mills.^[3]

Political career

In 1870, the Paterson board of aldermen commissioned Barnert to audit the city's accounts, which resulted in the prosecution and imprisonment of a number of city officials for breach of trust. The investigation and subsequent prosecutions raised his public profile and led to a career in politics.^[3]

In 1876, the Democratic Party nominated Barnert for alderman in the sixth ward, and he was elected. His success on the board led the Democrats to nominate him for mayor in 1883. Despite the city's typical Republican majority, he was elected to two terms as mayor in 1883 and 1889.^[2][3] Throughout his term as mayor, Barnert had a combative relationship with the board of aldermen, whom he accused of graft.^[1]

Personal life and death

Barnert married Miriam Phillips of London, England on September 2, 1863. Her brother was lord mayor of London George Faudel-Phillips. She died on March 31, 1901; they had no children.^[1][3]

Barnert was a member of B'nai B'rith, the Knights of Pythias, the Freemasons, the Odd Fellows and was president of his temple and the city's Hebrew school. He led the construction of Nathan Barnert Memorial Temple, the cornerstone for which was laid by President William McKinley.^[1][3]

Barnert died in Paterson of pneumonia on December 23, 1927. Pallbearers at his funeral included Nicholas Murray Butler, Louis Bamberger, and Felix Fuld.^[1]

Legacy

Statue of Nathan Barnert in front of Paterson City Hall. Dedicated October 28, 1925.

Barnert is one of three men, along with Garret Hobart and former mayor Andrew McBride, to be honored with copper statues in front of Paterson City Hall. The statute was erected in 1926.^[1]

By the time of his death, Barnert had donated over $1 million dollars (approximately $14 million in 2024) to Paterson charities. Many Jewish institutions in the Paterson area were founded by Barnert, including the Miriam Barnert Hebrew Free School (1904), the Barnert Memorial Hospital (1908), the Daughters of Miriam Home for the Aged and Orphans (1921). Barnert Memorial Temple in Franklin Lakes is also named in his honor.^{[1][2][4][5][6]}

References

1. "Ex-Mayor Barnert of Paterson. Philanthropic Immigrant Last Year Saw a Statue of Himself Raised by City. Millions Given to Charity. Success Came After Several Setbacks. Mayoralty Captured by an Anti-Graft Campaign". New York Times. December 24, 1927. Retrieved September 29, 2011. He was responsible for the Miriam Barnert free school, built in honor of his wife; the Nathan and Miriam Barnert Hospital, the Daughters of Miriam Barnert ...
2. "Famous New Jersey Mason Nathan Barnert". mastermason.com. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
3. Scannell, John James (1917). Scannell's New Jersey's First Citizens and State Guide. Vol. II. Paterson, N.J.: J. J. Scannell.
4. "Nathan Barnert". A History of Paterson. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
5. Cipora O. Schwartz. An American Jewish odyssey: American religious freedoms and the Nathan Barnert Memorial Temple. KTAV Publishing House. The Miriam Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School was dedicated on September 27, 1904. The school offered instruction in biblical and post-biblical history, ...
6. "WANTS HIS MEMORIAL BACK; Ex-Mayor Barnett (sic) Says Jew Congregation Have Violated Deed of Gift". New York Times. January 13, 1908. Retrieved September 29, 2011. Ex-Mayor Nathan Barnert has taken steps to have returned to him the deed of gift under which he presented to the Congregation B'nai Jeshurun the $250,000 temple some years ago as a memorial to his wife.

External links

Media related to Nathan Barnert at Wikimedia Commons