21 Facts About Joel Erhardt

Joel Benedict Erhardt was an American politician, civil servant, lawyer and businessman.

Joel Erhardt served as the police commissioner for the New York Police Department, US Marshal for the Eastern District of New York, the Collector of the Port of New York and was the Republican candidate who ran against Hugh J Grant for the Mayor of New York in 1888.

Joel Benedict Erhardt was born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania and moved with his parents, John Erhardt and Louisa Benedict, to New York City at the age of three.

Joel Erhardt came from a poor background, it being necessary for him to work in order to pay for the costs of public schooling, and was employed as messenger and clerk.

Joel Erhardt continued his studies up until the start of the American Civil War whereupon he volunteered to enlist in the Union Army.

Joel Erhardt initially joined the Ninth Militia Regiment, but reportedly anxious for active duty, he left the unit for the Second and then Seventy-First Regiments until finally leaving for the front lines with the Seventh Regiment.

Joel Erhardt had to borrow the money to pay for his uniform.

Joel Erhardt had reached the rank of Captain by that time and, that summer, he was appointed a provost marshal and assigned to New York City where he would oversee enforcing conscription in the Tenth District.

Joel Erhardt held the men off for three hours while waiting for reinforcements, armed only with his pistol, but was eventually forced to retreat without the names.

In 1876, Erhardt was named as police commissioner of the New York Police Department by Governor Samuel J Tilden after the dismissal of George Washington Matsell and Abram Disbecker by Mayor William H Wickham.

Joel Erhardt was a strong advocate of introducing a style of military discipline within the department.

In 1883, Erhardt was appointed US Marshal for the Eastern District of New York by President Chester A Arthur.

Joel Erhardt became receiver of the New York City and Northern Railroad and, by 1888, the annual receipts of the road had risen from $24,000 to $400,000 when he returned control of the line to its owners.

Joel Erhardt was made its president of the company following its reorganization.

One of seven candidates, it was suggested at the time that Joel Erhardt had merely been placed on the ticket as a political sacrifice for the Republicans.

Partly due to his popularity in the election, Joel Erhardt was made Collector of the Port of New York shortly afterwards.

Joel Erhardt finally resigned in 1891 announcing that "the Collector has been reduced to a position where he is no longer an independent officer with authority commensurate with his responsibility".

Joel Erhardt was a successful businessman in his later years, serving as the president and director of the Public Accountants' Corporation, trustee of the Bowery Savings Bank, director of Echo Lake Ice Company and interested in several other major corporations.

Joel Erhardt was the director for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals until 1906 when he resigned due to a dispute with the management of the society.

Joel Erhardt was a member of the Union League Club, Loyal Legion, New England Society, Saint Nicholas Society, Sphinx and Downtown Clubs.

In September 1909, Joel Erhardt was staying at the Union League Club while his wife, Nora Belle Jewett, was visiting their daughter at York Harbor, Maine for part of the summer.