Erastus Sabinus Prosser (September 2, 1809 – May 11, 1888) was an American politician from New York.
Early life
Prosser was born on September 2, 1809, in the area which was separated as the Town of Westerlo, Albany County, New York in 1815.[1] His father was a physician with a country practice.[2]
At an early age he removed to Albany, New York, and served as a clerk in the forwarding house of Dows & Cary there.[2]
Career
In 1845, Prosser moved to Buffalo, New York, and continued his business there until about 1858 when he retired. He remained involved in canal matters, including the Erie Canal, throughout his life.[2]
Senator Prosser is rather prepossessing in his personal appearance, being about medium in height, with an active frame, sharp, grey eyes, and a bushy, iron-grey beard; and wears a cheerful good-natured, though dignified and somewhat reserved expression upon his countenance which, at once, gives assurance of the real man.[3]
Biographical Sketches of the State Officers and Members of the Legislature of the State of New York, 1859
Prosser was married three times and in 1877 was sued by Anna A. Hickey, a woman who claimed he proposed but refused to marry her.[6] In 1834, he married Lucy Wilbur, and they had four children, including:[2]
After the death of his first wife, he married Kate Muldary, a native of Brooklyn, New York. They lived at 786 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo. In 1880, Kate committed suicide by jumping from the roof of a five-story tenement at 430 East 14th Street in New York City.[11][12] He married, thirdly, to Mary A. Finnegan of Buffalo.[2]