Moses Formwalt

Moses W. Formwalt (1820 – May 26, 1852[1]) was the first mayor of the city of Atlanta, which was then in DeKalb County, Georgia.

Formwalt drew a larger share of the 215 votes than Jonathan Norcross and was elected mayor, representing the Free and Rowdy Party.

First meeting of the city council followed on February 2 at the Jonas Smith grocery (site of the Howard Johnson hotel near Five Points).

Things proceeded pretty normally throughout his one-year term: roads were cut, wells dug, law and order somewhat maintained (a jail was built); and on January 17, 1849, Dr. Benjamin F. Bomar succeeded him as mayor.

Two years after leaving office, he began serving as deputy sheriff of DeKalb County; a short time later he was stabbed to death by a prisoner while escorting him from the council chamber.