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Stephens (WILLIAM DENNISON an American)

WILLIAM DENNISON, an American public official, born at Eaton, O., in 1859. He was educated in the public schools of his native city and then taught school and read law.

From 1880 to 1887 he did engineering work in connection with railway construction in Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, and Louisiana. In 1887 he removed to Los Angeles, Cal., where he engaged in business. From 1906 to 1907 he was a member of the Los Angeles Board of Education, in 1909 mayor of Los Angeles, and in 1910 president of the board of water commissioners. He was elected to Congress in 1911, serving until 1916, when he resigned upon being appointed lieutenant-governor of California by Governor Johnson. Upon the latter's resignation in 1917, he became governor and was elected for another term in 1919, in which year he was also admitted to the bar.

From 1903 to 1917 he was a commissioned officer in the California National Guard.