Owen McAleer

Owen McAleer (born February 3, 1858 in Liscard , Province of Canada , †  March 7, 1944 in Los Angeles , California ) was an American politician . Between 1904 and 1906 he was mayor of Los Angeles.

Career

In 1863, Owen McAleer and his parents came to Youngstown , Ohio, from his home in Canada . Two years later his father died. In order to earn money, he worked for the WB Pollock company as a young boy . From 1888 he lived in Los Angeles, where he received American citizenship in 1897. He worked in the iron and steel industry and was head of the Baker Iron Works company until 1905 . He made the first steam boiler in Los Angeles. He also bred racehorses.

Politically, McAleer joined the Republican Party . Between 1902 and 1904 he was a member of the Los Angeles City Council . He was also a member of a committee to improve the city's water supply. In 1904 he was elected mayor of Los Angeles. He held this office between December 8, 1904 and December 13, 1906. During this time, the first municipal playground was opened. He also organized relief efforts for the city of San Francisco , which was hit by an earthquake and subsequent fire in 1906 . In addition, the school system was expanded and the previously independent parish of Vernon was incorporated into Los Angeles.

After the end of his time as mayor, he founded the company Republic Iron & Steel Co , of which he was Vice President and General Manager until 1914. After the company was dissolved in 1914, McAleer took professional retirement. Politically he was still active. Between 1916 and 1920 he was a member of the Board of Public Works . He died on March 7, 1944.

Web links

• Owen McAleer in the database of Find a Grave (English)
• The Political Graveyard
• The Mayors of Los Angeles