Walter C. Flower

Walter Chew Flower was the 44th Mayor of New Orleans (April 27, 1896 – May 7, 1900).

Walter C. Flower was born on his father’s plantation in East Feliciana Parish, near Port Hudson on August 6, 1850, the son of Richard P. Flower and Minerva A. Scott, a daughter of Dr. Scott who had an extensive plantation near Jackson, in the same parish. His father was a well-known planter who was also engaged in the cotton business in New Orleans. As a boy he received the rudiments of an education at home. Later he went to New Orleans where he continued his studies, until the outbreak of the War between the States. His father’s plantation being in the center of Union military operations, he moved with his family to Dr. Scott’s plantation where they remained until the end of the war. He then attended Pass Christian College from which he was graduated as valedictorian of his class.

Being equipped with a good education, he went to New Orleans and embarked on a journalistic career as reporter for the Daily Picayune. After a modest beginning in this field he determined to study law. To accomplish this he was obliged to study during his free time and also had to deprive himself of many luxuries in order to pay for tuition at Louisiana University, which is now known as Tulane University. Again he became valedictorian of his class. He worked for a while as a reporter at the New Orleans Times (another newspaper) and later practiced law for a number of years.

When his father died in 1876, Flower was appointed executor of the estate, and in settling matters incidental to the cotton factoring business, he became very interested in it and decided to relinquish the practice of law to embark upon a commercial career. He started as a clerk in the firm of Edwin Nall & Company. His ability to quickly grasp difficult problems, and his thorough knowledge of the intricacies of trade, put him in the good graces of his employer and soon he was made a partner. The death of Mr. Nall ended the existence of that firm. Walter Flower thereupon formed the firm of Flower Brothers in 1884 with his brother Ivy G. Flower as partner. Four years later, Walter C. Flower and Branch M. King formed the firm of Flower and King; in 1891 the name was changed to Flower, King and Putnam.

In 1895, Flower retired from business due to ill health. Through his energy and ability he had amassed a fortune, which enabled him to retire in comfort. He was president of the Cotton Exchange in 1891 and was unanimously re-elected the following year. This was the only public position ever held by Walter Flower before his election to the mayoralty.

In 1896, he made his entry into politics and was elected to head the reform ticket of the Citizens’ League in that memorable campaign against municipal corruption. He rode into office on the wave of a great upheaval, and the record of his administration (1896-1900) was one of the brightest spots in the history of New Orleans. Important and constructive work was accomplished which bettered the conditions in the city, such as water purification and improved sewerage and drainage. While serving as Mayor he was offered the presidency of a bank at a large salary, but he declined as he felt that resigning would be a betrayal of the trust placed in him by the voters. Mayor Flower was possessed of great executive ability.

In 1885 he married Miss Adele McCall; the couple had four children, of whom two died in infancy and two survived him. He died at his country home in Covington, Louisiana, October 11, 1900, at the age of fifty, from a tubercular affliction and is buried in Metairie Cemetery.^[1][2]

1. ↑ http://www.neworleanspubliclibrary.org/~nopl/info/louinfo/admins/flower.htm
2. ↑ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=101306453 Walter Chew Flower on FindAGrave.com