1909 - the City's government became mayor-commission form of government.

Here is a listing of mayors who served during the years 1871-1916:

• Edwin Bird Allen
• James G. Hope
• George E. Harris
• William Greiffenstein
• Sol H. Kohn
• Benajah W. Aldrich
• Joseph P. Allen
• George W. Clement
• John B. Carey
• Lindley Murray Cox
• Finlay Ross
• Benjamin Franklin McLean
• John H. Graham
• Charles Lock Davidson
• William Walter Minick
• William Jasper Babb
• Orsemus Hills Bentley

Born: Mar 7, 1836
Died: Mar 31, 1908 (interred at Highland Cemetery)

Occupation: physician

Was one of 124 people to sign a petition to the court asking for incorporation of the City of Wichita. Elder brother of Mayor Joseph P. Allen. Sedgwick County Coroner (1870-71). Served on school board. Member of the Kansas State House of Representatives (1872-76, 1883-84). Served as Kansas Secretary of State (Jan 12, 1885 - Jan 14, 1889). The E.B. Allen Memorial Hospital is the home of the KU School of Medicine-Wichita.

Born: 1828
Died: Aug 28, 1886 (interred at Highland Cemetery)

Occupation: liquor business owner, stock, managed Leland Hotel.

Born: 1833 - England
Died: July 9, 1915 (interred at Maple Grove Cemetery)

Occupation: co-owner of Harris & Polk Ice Company, started first bottling works in Wichita.

Served as a City Commissioner (1879-81, 1886-87, Council President 1887, 1891-92, 1894-95).

Born: July 28, 1829 - near Darmstadt, Germany and came to US in 1849
Died: Sept 27, 1899 (interred at Highland Cemetery)

Occupation: mercantile businessman

Also known as "Father of Wichita". Wichita was built upon the allotment secured by the rights of his wife from the Pottwatomie tribe. William Street is named after him.

Born: unknown
Died: Nov 18, 1920 (internment unknown)

Occupation: salesman, banker

Came to Wichita with his brother Morris to establish a dry goods store. Formed the Wichita Savings Bank. After he resigned as mayor, he returned to New York.

Born: July 19, 1846
Died: Feb 17, 1907 (interred at Highland Cemetery)

Occupation: druggist - co-owner of Aldrich & Brown

Served as a City Commissioner (1877-1878). His mansion in College Hill was torn down to build Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.

Born: Oct 9, 1839
Died: Aug 17, 1903 (interred at Highland Cemetery)

Occupation: druggist

Served as a City Commissioner (1884-86, Council President 1885-86). Younger brother of Mayor Edwin Bird Allen. Served in Union Army during Civil War.

Born: Feb 22, 1830
Died: Jan 3, 1896 (interred at Maple Grove Cemetery)

Occupation: unknown

Came to Wichita in 1885.

Born: June 21, 1828 - Ireland, came to America in 1847
Died: Nov 19, 1899 (interred in Texas Township Cemetery, Clinton, IL)

Occupation: lumber dealer

Served as a City Commissioner (1885-86). Owner of the Carey Hotel which would become famous after Carry A. Nation, a female prohibitionist, tore up the bar in 1900. The Carey Hotel would later be renamed the Eaton Hotel.

Born: 1839
Died: Mar 7, 1913 (interred at Maple Grove Cemetery)

Occupation: owner of wholesale confectionery business

Came to Wichita in 1885.

Born: 1847 - Toronto, Canada
Died: Feb 23, 1933 (interred at Highland Cemetery)

Occupation: furniture storeowner

Finlay Ross Park is named after him.

Born: July 6, 1858 - Canada
Died: Oct 13, 1930 (interred at Maple Grove Cemetery)

Occupation: president of the Fourth National Bank, owner of lumberyard, farmer

Served as a City Commissioner (1895, 1896 - president, 1897, 1898 - president, 1899, 1921-22, 1922-23). McLean Boulevard, water fountain memorial, and McLean Science & Technology Magnet Elementary School are all named after him.

Born: Nov 19, 1869
Died: Sept 4, 1950 (interred at Maple Grove Cemetery)

Occupation: worked for the Santa Fe and Missouri Pacific Railroad companies, managed the City Transfer Company, worked for Coleman Lamp & Stove Company

Came to Wichita in 1897. During his term of mayor, he staged a historic cleanup of saloons. After being mayor, he became the manager of the Los Angeles branch of the Coleman Lamp & Stove Company. He later returned to Wichita to become vice-president and general manager of the Wichita branch.

Born: Nov 22, 1859
Died: May 30, 1937 (interred at Highland Cemetery)

Occupation: unknown

Served as City Commissioner (1899 - replacing George T. Cubbon, 1900, 1901, 1902 - council president, 1903). Older brother was J. Oak Davidson, responsible for many of Wichita's accomplishments.

Born: Aug 31, 1868
Died: Jan 31, 1940 (interred at Maple Grove Cemetery)

Occupation: physician

Served as City Commissioner (1905-06). Later moved to Santa Monica, California where he resided until his death.

Born: Oct 28, 1846
Died: June 15, 1923 (interred at Maple Grove Cemetery)

Occupation: attorney, judge

Populist candidate for US Representative from Kansas 7th District (1903).

Born: Dec 19, 1855
Died: Jan 22, 1927 (Entombed in mausoleum at Old Mission Cemetery)

Occupation: lawyer, rancher, railroad promoter, historian.

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