According to another Detroit Mayor John C Lodge, William C. Maybury,
was “…likely the most popular Mayor of the city…”
Maybury was born in Detroit on November 20, 1848. His parents were
Thomas and Margaret Cotter Maybury (in whose parlor the parents
of Henry Ford were married). He was one of eight children. He attended
public schools in Detroit and graduated from “Old Capital
High School” in 1866. William attended the University of Michigan
studying law and literature. He graduated in 1870. Upon passing
the bar he joined the firm that later become: Maybury, Lucking,
Emmons and Helfman.
His first elected
position was as Detroit City Attorney in 1876. In 1880 he was elected
professor of jurisprudence for the Michigan College of Medicine.
In 1882 he was elected to the first of two terms in the U.S. House
of Representatives from the 1st Michigan District. During his terms
he sponsored the bills that would build the Bell Isle Bridge and
the 1st Federal building in Detroit. In 1888 Maybury returned to
Detroit and his legal profession.
Maybury was appointed to fill the unexpired mayoral term of Hazen
Pingree (Pingree had also been elected Michigan Governor) in 1897.
In his middle forties he was a heavy-set, thick–mustached,
popular, baby-kissing Democratic politician. He was reelected four
times.
During his term the city celebrated its 200th birthday. Mayor Maybury
was an ardent supporter of the city, its past and its future. As
a tribute, in 1901 Maybury was honored by the French government
with the title Chevalier of the Legion of Honor of France. Other
major accomplishments of his years in office were: greatly expanded
municipal water and sewage programs, public lighting, street and
sidewalk paving, expanded public parks and playgrounds as well as
the Belle Isle Aquarium.
William Maybury returned to private life after completing his terms
as Detroit Mayor. On May 6, 1909 Mayor Maybury died. He was buried
in his family lot at Elmwood Cemetery. In his memory a statue was
erected in Grand Circus Park.
Born: November
20, 1848
Died: May 6, 1909
Buried: Section F, Lot 30
