John W. Willey

John Wheelock Willey (1797 – July 9, 1841) was an American politician of the Democratic Party who served as the first mayor of Cleveland, Ohio from 1836 to 1837.

John W. Willey
1st Mayor of Cleveland
In office 1836–1837
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Joshua Mills
Personal details
Born	John Wheelock Willey 1797 New Hampshire
Died	July 9, 1841(1841-07-09) (aged 43–44) Cleveland, Ohio
Resting place	Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Profession	Lawyer

Born in New Hampshire, Willey was educated in Dartmouth, Massachusetts and studied law in New York. In 1822, he settled in Cleveland and began practicing law. He soon gained recognition as a witty debater, which earned him three years in the Ohio House of Representatives (1827–1830) and three more in the Ohio Senate (1830–1832) as a Jacksonian Democrat. Willey quickly became attached to Cleveland and was subsequently elected mayor for two terms after the city was chartered in 1836. Willey was responsible for writing the municipal charter as well as many of the original laws and ordinances.

References

• The Encyclopedia Of Cleveland History by Cleveland Bicentennial Commission (Cleveland, Ohio), David D. Van Tassel (Editor), and John J. Grabowski (Editor) ISBN 0-253-33056-4
  • COLUMBUS STREET BRIDGE
  • WILLEY, JOHN WHEELOCK

Political offices
Preceded by None	Mayor of Cleveland 1836–1837	Succeeded by Joshua Mills