Mayor William E. Dever Biography

Mayor of Chicago, 1923-1927

  • Democratic Party
  • Won primary election February 27, 1923; ran unopposed
  • Elected 42nd mayor of Chicago April 3, 1923; defeated William A. Cunnea (Socialist) and Arthur C. Lueder (Republican) in general election
  • Inauguration: April 16, 1923

Biographical

  • Born March 13, 1862 in Woburn, Mass.
  • Married Miss Katherine E. Conway of Olean, N.Y. in 1885; they adopted two sons.
  • Employed as a tanner while attending law school
  • Graduated from Chicago College of Law in 1890
  • Elected alderman of the 17th Ward in 1902
  • Elected to the Superior bench in 1910, re-elected twice
  • During his term, Wacker Drive was completed, and he sponsored and pushed through legislation to straighten the Chicago River.
  • After mayoral term, he served as vice president and trust officer of the Bank of America.
  • Died September 3, 1929 in Chicago
  • Buried in Calvary Cemetery, Chicago

Sources

  • "Former Mayor Dever Dead." Chicago Daily Tribune, September 4, 1929, p. 1.
  • Grossman, James R., Ann Durkin Keating and Janice L. Reiff, editors. Encyclopedia of Chicago. University of Chicago Press, 2004.
  • "Throngs Honor Dever at Simple Funeral Service." Chicago Daily Tribune, September 7, 1929, p. 4.
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