William Stokley

William Strumberg Stokley was an American politician from Pennsylvania. He served as the 72nd Mayor of Philadelphia from 1872 to 1881.

Biography

Stokley was born on April 25, 1823, in Philadelphia. His father died when he was young, leaving him and his mother to care for his younger brother and sister.

Career

Stokley built a confectionery business and later entered the Franklin Hose Company, a volunteer fire company. As the treasurer and representative to the city's Fire Association, he became exposed to the politics of Philadelphia. In 1860, he won a seat on the Common Council, the lower house of the city council, representing the Ninth Ward. He became the president of the Common Council in 1865.

In 1867, he won a seat on the Select Council and became its president in 1868. On the council, he sought to make reforms of the volunteer fire companies and the Gas Trust. Volunteer fire companies often were a source of violence in the city. Stokley introduced legislation that would eventually lead to a professional fire department in the city. He later worked to shift control of the Philadelphia Gas Works to a city department from the local “gas trust”.

As the president of the Select Council, he became involved in the construction of a new city hall. At the time, there was a considerable dispute as to whether the new building should be constructed at Penn Square, which was in Stokley’s ward or in Washington Square near Independence Hall, which was closer to the commercial center of Philadelphia. In addition, the construction of the building would generate significant government expenditures, which many local businessmen sought to share in. Through his control of the Public Buildings Commission, and the help of Wilson Henszey