Recalling pleasant things and taking the time to dwell on them.
Meet Iowa City’s Mayors – 1853 To Today – Volume III.
This is the third page in a series of six – covering the long history (1853 to today) of the mayors of Iowa City. You might want to return to the introductory page to read all of the preliminary information before proceeding here with Volume III…
At the time of this writing (2025), Iowa City – over our 172-year-history as an incorporated city – has had 65 different mayors serving 73 separate terms. Our three main resources for these webpages are 1) Irving Weber’s articles from March 1985 (above left), which at that time, covered 56 different mayors, 2) the listing of city mayors found in the records of the Iowa City Library (above right top), and 3) a list of mayors (1853-1882) taken from The History of Johnson County -1882 (above right bottom).
So here, for your reading enjoyment, are some updated facts and figures on each of our 65 illustrious city leaders – continuing on this page three…
Iowa City Mayor #25 (#22) – Mayor John Jacob Holmes was first elected mayor of Iowa City in 1882 on the Republican ticket – and served for two years (1882-1884).More on Holmes first election here.After a three year hiatus, Holmes was re-elected for two more years (1887-1889). Below (left and center) the March 2, 1887 edition of The Daily Republican announces the Republican City Ticket, and (right) the March 8, 1887 Republican gives readers the 1887 election results…
On February 25, 1889 – just two weeks before he could be nominated for a third consecutive year, Mayor J.J. Holmes, shockingly, dies from a self-inflicted gun shot wound. The local newspapers offer all the gory details that we’ll spare you here, but, below, is The Daily Republican’s obituary which ran in the newspaper on February 26, 1889.John Jacob Holmes (1833-1889) is buried with his wife Sarah in Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City.Iowa City Mayor #26– On February 27, 1889, The Iowa State Press announced that the City Council had appointed David Smith (D.S.) Barber (1830-1908) as the temporary mayor – filling in for the late Mayor Holmes. As you can read from that report (below), two other names – Republican Charles Lewis and Democrat Frederick Theobald – were first considered, but Barber, who was seen as a less politically-minded candidate, won the vote.On June 12, 1908, The Iowa City Citizen announced (below) that 77-year-old D.S. Barber had passed away as he was traveling in Texas. Called a “grand old man”, Barber had won the respect of many Iowa Citians over his 30 years in public service. Barber is buried in Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City.Iowa City Mayor #27, #29, (#23) – Charles Morgan (C.M.) Reno (1846-1918) – the son of Iowa City’s fifth mayor, Morgan Reno – served as mayor for eight years, spread out over three different periods: 1884-1886, 1889-1893, and 1895-1897. You can read more about his first term (1884-1886) here. Below, the March 6, 1889 edition of The Iowa State Press announces Reno’s return to the mayor’s office after a three-year hiatus – defeating the Republican candidate – Former Mayor (1878-79) Jacob Ricord.Below – The March 20, 1889 edition of The State Press reports on the transition of the mayor’s office – from acting Mayor D.S. Barber to Mayor Reno…Iowa City Mayor #28 – Charles W. Lewis (1832-1903) – a Republican – served as Iowa City’s mayor for two years (1893-1895). A grain dealer on Capital Street, Lewis was born November 25, 1832, in Oneida County, New York, and settled in Iowa in 1862. Prior to opening his grain business in 1872, he was in the grocery business with his brothers (Lewis Brothers). Lewis held several public offices, was a member of city council, and member of the school board.The May 17, 1893 edition of The Daily Citizen reports that Mayor Lewis was appointed the chairman of “one of the most extraordinary business enterprises in our history” – The Iowa City Street Car Soliciting Committee – which raised $15,000 toward the endeavor. Sadly, it wasn’t until 1910 when the Iowa City Electric Railway finally brought street cars to Iowa City. You can read more here.Iowa City Mayor #29 (#23, #27) – This is Charles Morgan (C.M.) Reno’s third term as mayor (1895-1897) – see #27 earlier. Reno – at age 20 – opened China Hall on Washington Street in 1866, selling china, glass and crockery for nine years, and later, selling What Cheer coal, and running a real estate business. Below are ads for China Hall and C.M. Reno’s Real Estate Exchange – taken from the June 30, 1893 edition of The Iowa City Daily Citizen…Reno’s home was located at 530 N. Dubuque Street. Reno Street – which is named for both his father – Morgan – and himself – runs from Bloomington Street north into Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City.Lolly Eggers writes “In his last day in office, as one of his final official acts, Mayor Reno appointed all members of the Iowa City Public Library Association Board of Directors to the first board of trustees of the newly approved municipal library. On March 15, 1897, it officially became the Iowa City Public Library.” Charles Morgan Reno died, at age 71, on January 16, 1918, and is buried in Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City.
Iowa City Mayor #30, #34– Frank K. Stebbins (1856-1919) served as Iowa City mayor for a record ten years, divided into two separate terms (1897-1905 and 1917-1919). Stebbins was the owner of The Hawthorne Glove & Novelty Company which was located on S. Gilbert Street.From the February 24, 1897 edition of The Iowa City Weekly Republican, we see the excitement surrounding “The Ticket Sure To Win” – with Frank Stebbins at the head of the Republican ticket. Iowa City Mayor #31– George Washington Ball (1847-1915) was a lawyer-turned-politician born in Fairfield, Iowa. A graduate of SUI, Ball served in the Iowa General Assembly as a representative of Johnson County (1886-1887), and later became a State Senator (1900-1904). He also served on the city council of Iowa City from 1881 to 1883, and was mayor from 1905 to 1909 – serving four years as Iowa City’s mayor.Above (left) The April 6, 1905 edition of The Iowa City Republican announces Ball’s inauguration on page 5, while (right) Iowa City’s Democratic newspaper – The Daily Press – splashes the event on page one – two days earlier – on April 4, 1905!Below – The July 19, 1915 edition of The Daily Press provides a touching obituary for George W. Ball, who died one day earlier.
Iowa City Mayor #32– A local lawyer, Ralph Otto, was elected mayor in 1909 and served for two years. Below left: the March 26, 1909 edition of The Iowa City Citizen announces his election. Otto was actively involved with local business projects, and was one of the promoters of the Hotel Jefferson (1912). Below right: It was during Otto’s time in office when the Iowa City Electric Railway began operations with streetcar service. The November 17, 1910 edition of The Iowa City Citizen announces the good news to Iowa Citians, and Mayor Otto was there, on that first day, speaking on behalf of the city. The Ottos made their home at 314 E. Davenport, with Ralph Otto passing away at the young age of 51 in 1928. The Annals of Iowa offered this obituary that same year.Iowa City Mayor #33 – George W. Koontz (1843-1922) served in the State Legislature seven terms, ending in 1911 when he became mayor of Iowa City. Koontz was also president of a local bank, and made his home at 831 College St., on the southwest corner of College and Governor Streets.Below, the March 27, 1911 edition of The Iowa City Citizen announces that Koontz has won election as Iowa City’s new mayor with a majority of only 720 votes!Below, after six years as Iowa City’s mayor (1911-1917), Kuntz is determined to run again – as announced in the March 7, 1917 edition of The Iowa City Daily Citizen.Iowa City Mayor #34, (#30) – As we discussed earlier, Frank K. Stebbins (1856-1919) served as Iowa City mayor for a record ten years, divided into two separate periods (1897-1905 and 1917-1919).After twelve long years – in 1917 – Frank Stebbins returns to the Mayor’s office. Below, the March 27, 1917 edition of The Iowa City Daily Citizen reports on Stebbins big victory, ending Democrat George Koontz’ six-year run…On February 24, 1919, The Iowa City Citizen reports the sudden death of Frank K. Stebbins – just as he was nearing the end of his tenth year as Iowa City’s mayor. As the report indicates, it was very likely that this popular mayor would have been nominated and re-elected for yet another two-year term had he lived.Iowa City Mayor #35 – Ingalls Swisher (1890-1966) – age 29 – was elected mayor in 1919, the second youngest person to serve as Iowa City mayor. Below: the March 31, 1919 edition of The Iowa City Daily Citizen announces his win. Swisher ended up serving as mayor into his fourth year, before abruptly resigning in June 1922.Ingalls Swisher was a lawyer in Iowa City for 50 years, making his home at 718 Muscatine Ave.(Garden and Muscatine streets). He passed away in 1966 at age 76, and below is Swisher’s obituary from the March 23, 1966 Press-Citizen…
Iowa City Mayor #36 – In April 1921, 51-year-old Emma J. Harvat (1870-1949) ran on the Republican ticket for alderman-at-large and was elected. She served in that position until June 19, 1922, when Iowa City’s mayor, Ingalls Swisher, suddenly resigned and the city council appointed Harvat as standing mayor for the remainder of his term, thus becoming Iowa City’s first woman mayor! The following year (1923), Harvat – running on the platform of cleaning up the city’s bootlegging and gambling problems – set another record by becoming the first woman to be elected mayor of any U.S. city with a population larger than 10,000 residents! Reportedly, everywhere Mayor Harvat went, she was news, quickly becoming one of the most photographed and “written up” officials in the country. A native lowa Citian, Harvat had been in business all her life, and was a business partner in Harvat and Stach – lowa City’s first women’s ready-to-wear clothing store. Emma Harvat and May Stach made their home together at 332 E. Davenport Street.Meet ‘Herzonner’ Emma J. Harvat – Click here to read her full story.
February 25, 1889 – Just two weeks before he could be nominated for a third consecutive year, Mayor J.J. Holmes, shockingly, dies from a self-inflicted gun shot wound.
March 6, 1889 – The Iowa State Press announces C.M. Reno’s first return to the mayor’s office after a three-year hiatus – defeating the Republican candidate – Former Mayor (1878-79) Jacob Ricord.
June 12, 1908 – The Iowa City Citizen announces that the former mayor, 77-year-old D.S. Barber, has passed away as he was traveling in Texas.
March 31, 1919 – The Iowa City Daily Citizen announces that Ingalls Swisher – age 29 – is elected mayor.
June 12, 1922 – Emma J. Harvat is elected as, not only Iowa City’s first female mayor, but also becomes the first woman mayor of a United States municipality with a population exceeding 10,000!
Kudos to the amazing resources below for the many quotes, photographs, etc. used on this page.
