John E. McIntosh, Mayor
John E. McIntosh was the mayor of West Liberty at three separate times: 1896, 1902-1910, and 1920-1924.[1] It was through his efforts in corresponding with Andrew Carnegie, that West Liberty received the grant of $7500 in 1904 to build a new library.[2] He was part of the building committee and as mayor, he appointed many of the library trustees. [3]
John E. McIntosh was born October 15,1868 on a farm near Atalissa, IA, the son of Alexander and Mary Dallas McIntosh. He attended rural school, Atalissa High School and the University of Iowa where he earned a degree in law in 1892. After practicing law in Des Moines for a year, he returned to West Liberty to establish his law practice which continued for 51 years.[4] He married Mary Wilshire from Atalissa in 1891. She preceded him in death in 1913.[5] In 1923 he married Agnes McEwan Davis.[6] He had been mayor of West Liberty for more than twelve years at various times. He also was elected to serve as a representative in the state legislature in 1926 and 1928. He was a 50-year member of Mt. Calvary Masonic Lodge, a member of the Shrine at Davenport, and belonged to the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America Lodges.[7] He died from cancer at his home December 19, 1944.[8] He was survived by his widow, one daughter, Mary Dallas McIntosh, a stepdaughter, Mrs. Charles Welch, two brothers and a sister. Burial was at Oak Ridge Cemetery in West Liberty.[9]
– Pam Schnittjer
[1] One Hundred Years of History, Hise, West Liberty, IA, 1938.
[2] Ibid.
[3] West Liberty Index, West Liberty, IA, Jan. 19, 1905, p. 7.
[4] West Liberty Index, West Liberty, IA, Dec. 22, 1944, p. 1.
[5] The Muscatine Journal, Muscatine , IA, June 6, 1913, p. 6.
[6] Ancestry.com. Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1951 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
[7] The Muscatine Journal, Muscatine ,IA, ,Dec.19, 1944, p. 1.
[8] Ancestry.com. Iowa, U.S., Death Records, 1920-1967 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017.
[9] The Daily Times, Davenport, IA, Dec. 19, 1944, p. 15