James Cowgill | |
|---|---|
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| 39thMayor of Kansas City | |
| In office 1918 – January 20, 1922 | |
| Preceded by | George H. Edwards |
| Succeeded by | Sam B. Strother |
| State Treasurer of Missouri | |
| In office 1908–1912 | |
| Preceded by | Jacob F. Gmelich |
| Succeeded by | Edwin P. Deal |
| Member of theMissouri House of Representatives from theCaldwell County district | |
| In office 1891–1892 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1848-04-02)April 2, 1848 |
| Died | January 20, 1922(1922-01-20) (aged 73) |
| Resting place | Elmwood Cemetery |
| Party | Democratic |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | Army |
| Years of service | 1864–1865 |
| Unit | 9th Indiana Infantry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
James Cowgill (April 2, 1848 – January 20, 1922) was an American politician. He served asState Treasurer of Missouri from 1908 to 1912, and asMayor of Kansas City, Missouri from 1918 until his death in office.
Cowgill was born on April 2, 1848, inHenry County, Indiana, to William M. Cowgill and Roda Cowgill.[1] A Unionist, he enlisted with the9th Indiana Infantry Regiment during theAmerican Civil War, serving from October 7, 1864, to September 28, 1865. He married Ella Myers on September 22, 1867, with whom he had four children. In August 1868, he moved onto a farm in unincorporatedCaldwell County, Missouri; his property and the surrounding area was eventually developed into the cityCowgill, Missouri. He was elected Caldwell County's judge in 1882, then its treasurer in 1900.[2]
ADemocrat, Cowgill served in theMissouri House of Representatives from 1891 to 1892, representing Caldwell Countywell County. From 1893 to 1897, he served as the Missouri Railroad and Warehouse Commissioner.[1] He served as State Treasurer of Missouri from 1908 to 1912, a position he was paid $3,000 annually to perform.[2]
Cowgill was a board member of the Democratic State Central Committee, then a board member of the Kansas City Board of Elections, in 1916 and 1917, respectively. On November 22, 1916, he was charged with bribery after he sent letters to mailmen to obtain money from them, in exchange for the passage of law benefitting mail services.[3]
Beginning in 1918, Cowgill served as mayor ofKansas City, Missouri; he had moved to the city in 1913 and previously worked as an insurance executive. He died while at his desk while giving a conference at Kansas City Hall, on January 20, 1922,[2] aged 73,[4] from anintracerebral hemorrhage.[1] One hour prior, a City Clerk clerk also died of a ruptured organ.[4] Cowgill is the only Mayor Of Kansas City to have died in office.[5] He is buried inElmwood Cemetery.[1]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forState Treasurer of Missouri 1904, 1908 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | State Treasurer of Missouri 1909–1913 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri 1918–1922 | Succeeded by |
