Fred Kohler | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 40thMayor of Cleveland | |
| In office 1922–1923 | |
| Preceded by | William S. Fitzgerald |
| Succeeded by | William R. Hopkins |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Rowland Hopkins (1864-05-02)May 2, 1864 |
| Died | January 30, 1934(1934-01-30) (aged 67) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
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Frederick Kohler (May 2, 1864 – January 30, 1934) was anAmericanpolitician of theRepublican Party who served as the 40thmayor ofCleveland,Ohio from 1922 to 1923.[1]
Kohler was born in Cleveland to ethnicGerman parents Christian and Fredericka Kohler in 1864. As a teenager, he left school to assist his father in the Kohler Stone Works. The business failed after his father's death and Kohler sought work elsewhere.[2]
In 1889, Kohler joined theCleveland Police and quickly rose to prominence. By 1900, he was promoted to captain and in 1903, MayorTom L. Johnson appointed Kohler as his chief of police.[2] He developed a reputation as a strict disciplinarian, with "all the prototypical traits ofKaiser Wilhelm's favoritefield marshals."[3] He always expected the absolute maximum from all policemen, "demanding a neat appearance and full day's work."[2] While some, such asU.S. PresidentTheodore Roosevelt, lauded him as "the best chief of police in America",[4] he was disliked by established Cleveland politicians of both parties who disapproved of his contempt for the city'smachine politics.[1][3]
After Johnson left the mayor's office in 1909, opposition forces began gathering up to rid the city of Kohler. In 1913, Kohler was fired from his position byCivil Service Commission on charges of neglect of duty and gross immorality, after becoming wrapped up in an ugly divorce suit brought by a salesman against his adulterous wife.[1] A month later, a gang of hired thugs mugged and brutally beat Kohler in an alley off theShort Vincent.[5]
Kohler made it through the tussle and instead of leaving Cleveland, he decided to enter politics. In 1918, he was electedCuyahoga County commissioner as a Republican, serving two terms. His tenure as commissioner served him well when he campaigned and was elected mayor of Cleveland. He served one term from 1922 to 1924. As mayor, Kohler concentrated on the "economy in city government, cutting payrolls and city services, and persuading private agencies to care for families on relief."[2] However, Kohler started becoming unpopular again when he "cleaned up"City Hall by slashing municipal expenses and firing 850 patronage employees.[1] In 1924, the city adopted acity manager plan, Kohler did not seek reelection as mayor and was elected sheriff instead. He left office in 1926, after being accused of underfeeding the prisoners in jail.[2]
Kohler began to suffer from increasingly fragile health in 1930. He considered running for mayor again in 1931, but declined after his physicians advised him that his health would not bear the stress of a campaign. He vacationed inSt. Petersburg, Florida, as usual in the winter of 1931–1932, but was forced to return home to Cleveland after suffering an undisclosed severe illness. Kohler often spent his summers traveling in Europe. On July 7, 1932, he was aboard the SSChamplain, nearing the United Kingdom, when he suffered a severe stroke that left him severely paralyzed. He was transferred to another vessel, and sent home.[6] His entire left side was paralyzed, and he often suffered uncontrollable weeping.[7]
Over the next 18 months, Kohler's health improved slightly. He could sit up, take automobile drives, and be wheeled to appointments. Toward the end of his life, he even attempted to walk again, although he could take only a few halting steps. At 10:30 AM on Monday, January 29, 1934, Kohler suffered a second, severe stroke. He lapsed into unconsciousness and died at 11 PM on January 30, 1934.[7] He was buried atLake View Cemetery in Cleveland.[8]
ThePrussian characteristics that had enabled him to take a disorganized, disheveled mob of comic cops and expertly whip [them] into a smartly dressed, highly disciplined, efficient police department were the same characteristics that won Kohler powerful enemies and kept him continually at odds with the leaders of both political parties.
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Mayor of Cleveland 1922–1923 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
