Mayor of Chicago from 1923 to 1927. His first job was in his family's leather tanning business which he continued when he moved to Boston. While there, he married and adopted two sons. Hoping to improve the family's fortunes, the family moved to Chicago in 1887. He attended the Chicago College of Law in the evenings and upon graduation in 1890, began to practice law. In 1902, he was elected alderman of the 17th ward. As alderman, he was well liked, considered honest and encouraged to run for mayor in 1905, which he declined. He was re-elected in 1906. He unsuccessfully ran to fill a vacancy on the Superior Court of Court County in 1907, and lost a race to become Cook County State's Attorney in 1908. However, Dever was successfully returned as alderman in 1910. He resigned a year later when elected to the Superior Court of Cook County and served two terms. Several months into his second term, he was appointed to the Appellate Court and eventually became its presiding judge. He was elected mayor in 1923. As mayor, he purchased Chicago Surface Lines and Chicago Rapid Transit Company, bringing them under municipal ownership. He also planned a subway system. In late 1923, the escalating war among bootleggers was becoming publicly violent. He launched what the press called "The Great Beer War" to halt this alarming trend. This campaign became highly successful and drew national attention. However by 1925, another massive bootleg war broke out, and the public lost confidence. He lost his re-election bid in 1927. During his time in office, he oversaw many improvements to the city's infrastructure and the construction of the city's first airport. After leaving politics, he served as a vice-president of a local bank.
Mayor of Chicago from 1923 to 1927. His first job was in his family's leather tanning business which he continued when he moved to Boston. While there, he married and adopted two sons. Hoping to improve the family's fortunes, the family moved to Chicago in 1887. He attended the Chicago College of Law in the evenings and upon graduation in 1890, began to practice law. In 1902, he was elected alderman of the 17th ward. As alderman, he was well liked, considered honest and encouraged to run for mayor in 1905, which he declined. He was re-elected in 1906. He unsuccessfully ran to fill a vacancy on the Superior Court of Court County in 1907, and lost a race to become Cook County State's Attorney in 1908. However, Dever was successfully returned as alderman in 1910. He resigned a year later when elected to the Superior Court of Cook County and served two terms. Several months into his second term, he was appointed to the Appellate Court and eventually became its presiding judge. He was elected mayor in 1923. As mayor, he purchased Chicago Surface Lines and Chicago Rapid Transit Company, bringing them under municipal ownership. He also planned a subway system. In late 1923, the escalating war among bootleggers was becoming publicly violent. He launched what the press called "The Great Beer War" to halt this alarming trend. This campaign became highly successful and drew national attention. However by 1925, another massive bootleg war broke out, and the public lost confidence. He lost his re-election bid in 1927. During his time in office, he oversaw many improvements to the city's infrastructure and the construction of the city's first airport. After leaving politics, he served as a vice-president of a local bank.
Bio by: Winter Birds PA
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