WILLIAM IRA PRINCE 1913-1917

(From the Wednesday, November 12, 1941 Duluth News-Tribune)

W.I.Prince, Ex-Mayor, Dies At 74

A prominent banking official, Republican and civic leader, William Ira Prince, 74 years old, died early yesterday at his residence, 16 East St. Andrews street. He was Duluth's first mayor under the commission form of government.

Born in Camden, Ohio, Oct. 11, 1867, he was educated in schools at Amherst, Ohio, and Oberlin Business university. He worked in banks at Oberlin and Escanaba, Mich., before accepting the cashier's post of the Bessemer, Mich., First National bank.

After serving three terms as mayor of Bessemer he came to Duluth and assisted in organizing the City National bank, of which he was the director and cashier a number of years. He was a vice president and a president of the Minnesota Bankers' association during the time.

He was instrumental in establishing the commission form of government in Duluth in 1913 and served four years as the first mayor under commission rule.

He was president of the Duluth Commercial club, forerunner of the Duluth Chamber of Commerce, in 1909-10 and served as its executive secretary from 1917 to 1921. He was a member of the Minnesota State Safety commission under Governor J. A. A. Burnquist.

One-time director of the Christmas Seal campaign, he was a member of the St. Louis County Health association. He was active in the Duluth and Eighth district GOP organizations.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in Endion Methodist church. Surviving are his wife; two sons, William I. Prince, Jr., St. Johns, Newfoundland, and Milton H. Prince, Duluth; a grandson, Robb Lincoln Prince, Duluth; a brother, Clarence G. Prince, New York City; three sisters, Mrs. Harry R. Hazel, Cleveland, Ohio, and Miss Sara Prince and Mrs. Ira Shaw, both of Oberlin, Ohio.