Re: Gen. William Mackey Wherry
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In reply to:
Re: Gen. William Mackey Wherry
David Wherry 1/07/01
All -
Here is a tidbid I picked up from a website discussing the history of law enforcement in the St. Louis area:
"In 1808, just five years after Saint Louis became a part of the United States, the city's first police force was organized. Although only comprised of four men, it served the early settlers well. There was no salary paid to the officers. Even more unusual was the fact that every male over the age of eighteen was required to serve four months each year. Anyone who refused to obey his call to duty was subject to what was then considered a stiff fine - 'the sum of one dollar.'
"For ten years this four man militia served the needs of the settlers, but in 1818 it was necessary to enlarge the force to six men. Two of the officers were then assigned to the night watch, with one of them being a one armed man named Gabes Warner, who was considered by many to be better qualified for the job than most two armed men. At the same time the force was enlarged, a man by the name of MACKEY WHERRY was named captain and was paid $400.00 annually. WHERRY held two distinctions, as he became the first command rank officer of the force and the first officer to receive a salary."
Hope you liked that!
The source is here:http://www.stlouiscitypolicedept.org/HISTORY1.htmlhttp://www.stlouiscitypolicedept.org/HISTORY1.html
Happy hunting cousins,
Mike