MacVicar, John, 1859-1928.

Des Moines politician. McVicar served Des Moines as a councilman, Superintendent of the Dept. of Public Works and Improvement, Superintendent of Public Safety, and four terms as mayor (1896-1900, 1916-1918,1928). He promoted the commission form of municipal government laid out in the Des Moines Plan of City Government. During his tenure as a public official prominent issues included public vs. private ownership of utilities and the Des Moines Railway Company, relations with labor unions, graft in city government, tax hikes to pay for civic improvements, and police department and vice concerns. During World War I MacVicar served as a quartermaster in the Reserves. He was involved in the election campaigns of Progressive candidates such as Albert B. Cummins and Theodore Roosevelt.

John MacVicar was born on July 4, 1859 in Galt, Ontario, Canada. His parents, John and Mary (McEwan) MacVicar had emigrated from Scotland seven years before and eventually settled in Erie, Pennsylvania. MacVicar went to school and soon began working for a mercantile house in Erie. In 1882 MacVicar moved to Des Moines, Iowa, to manage the wallpaper department of Redhead, Norton, Lathrop & Co. By 1893 he had opened his own wallpaper business, John MacVicar Co. He developed an interest in local politics, serving as town clerk, being elected as mayor in 1896, and later serving on the city council. A proponent of the commission form of city government, while he was mayor Des Moines became the first city of its size to adopt the idea. He served as mayor 1896-1898, 1898-1900, 1916-1918, and again in 1928. He lived and worked in Des Moines until his death on November 15, 1928 while serving his fourth term as mayor.