William Wier: Difference between revisions
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'''William Elvin Wier''' (born | '''William Elvin Wier''' (born [[1865]] in Pickens County - died [[February 11]], [[1931]] in [[Etowah County]]) was [[List of Birmingham police chiefs|Chief]] of the [[Birmingham Police Department]] from [[1901]] to [[1910]], a period when the position was elected at-large by city voters. | ||
Wier was the youngest of five children born on a farm in Pickens County to James Stewart and Sarah Louisa Horton Wier shortly before their divorce in [[1865]]. His older brother Thomas became a prominent Tampa, Florida businessman and was present at the assassination of President William McKinley. | Wier was the youngest of five children born on a farm in Pickens County to James Stewart and Sarah Louisa Horton Wier shortly before their divorce in [[1865]]. His older brother Thomas became a prominent Tampa, Florida businessman and was present at the assassination of President William McKinley. | ||
Wier married the former Eula Vance and had two children, William V. and Aileen. | Wier married the former Eula Vance and had two children, William V. and Aileen. He arrived in [[Birmingham]] about [[1888]] with nothing but the clothes he wore and a letter from the Pickens County sheriff attesting that he was honest, sober and industrious. Upon presenting that letter to then Chief [[A. O. Pickard]] he was given a job as a patrolman. Within a few years he was elected Captain and then was elected Birmingham Police Chief in [[1901]]. | ||
Wier | Wier was re-elected in [[1903]] and [[1905]]. He was returned to office by only a narrow margin in the [[1907 Birmingham mayoral election|1907 municipal election]]. In that race he allied himself with successful mayoral candidate [[George Ward]] and identified liquor and sporting interests as supporters of his opponents. | ||
Wier did not run in the [[1910 Birmingham mayoral election|1910 election]] which was won by [[Goerge Bodeker]]. He retired to [[Etowah County]] where he died in [[1931]]. | Wier did not run in the [[1910 Birmingham mayoral election|1910 election]] which was won by [[Goerge Bodeker]]. He retired to [[Etowah County]] where he was elected Mayor died in [[1931]] of colon cancer. He is interred at Forrest Cemetery in [[Gadsden]]. | ||
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* "Statements from some of the successful candidates" (February 19, 1907) ''Birmingham News'' | * "Statements from some of the successful candidates" (February 19, 1907) ''Birmingham News'' | ||
* Florida Historical Society (1909) ''Makers of America: An Historical and Biographical Work by an Able Corps of Writers''. A. B. Caldwell | * Florida Historical Society (1909) ''Makers of America: An Historical and Biographical Work by an Able Corps of Writers''. A. B. Caldwell | ||
==External links== | |||
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=30231604 William Wier] on Find-A-Grave | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wier, W. E.}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Wier, W. E.}} | ||
[[Category:1865 births]] | |||
[[Category:1931 deaths]] | [[Category:1931 deaths]] | ||
[[Category:Birmingham Chiefs of Police]] | [[Category:Birmingham Chiefs of Police]] | ||
[[Category:Cancer deaths]] | |||
Revision as of 21:41, 27 January 2010
William Elvin Wier (born 1865 in Pickens County - died February 11, 1931 in Etowah County) was Chief of the Birmingham Police Department from 1901 to 1910, a period when the position was elected at-large by city voters.
Wier was the youngest of five children born on a farm in Pickens County to James Stewart and Sarah Louisa Horton Wier shortly before their divorce in 1865. His older brother Thomas became a prominent Tampa, Florida businessman and was present at the assassination of President William McKinley.
Wier married the former Eula Vance and had two children, William V. and Aileen. He arrived in Birmingham about 1888 with nothing but the clothes he wore and a letter from the Pickens County sheriff attesting that he was honest, sober and industrious. Upon presenting that letter to then Chief A. O. Pickard he was given a job as a patrolman. Within a few years he was elected Captain and then was elected Birmingham Police Chief in 1901.
Wier was re-elected in 1903 and 1905. He was returned to office by only a narrow margin in the 1907 municipal election. In that race he allied himself with successful mayoral candidate George Ward and identified liquor and sporting interests as supporters of his opponents.
Wier did not run in the 1910 election which was won by Goerge Bodeker. He retired to Etowah County where he was elected Mayor died in 1931 of colon cancer. He is interred at Forrest Cemetery in Gadsden.
| Preceded by: C. W. Austin |
Chief of Birmingham Police Department 1901–1910 |
Succeeded by: George Bodeker |
References
- "Statements from some of the successful candidates" (February 19, 1907) Birmingham News
- Florida Historical Society (1909) Makers of America: An Historical and Biographical Work by an Able Corps of Writers. A. B. Caldwell
External links
- William Wier on Find-A-Grave