Warren Olney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Warren Olney
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| Mayor of Oakland | |
| In office 1903–1905 |
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| Preceded by | Anson Barstow |
| Succeeded by | Frank K. Mott |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 11, 1841 |
| Died | June 2, 1921 (aged 80) |
Warren Olney, Sr. (March 11, 1841 – June 2, 1921) was an American lawyer, a person who works to protect nature (called a conservationist), and a politician in California.
He helped start the famous Sierra Club with John Muir and botany professor Willis Linn Jepson. From 1903 to 1905, he served as the 34th Mayor of Oakland, California.
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Warren Olney's Early Life
Olney was born near the Fox River in Iowa. His family moved often, and he had little formal schooling when he was young. His education mostly came from his father and short times in small schoolhouses.
His mother taught herself to read and write so she could write to him during the Civil War. By age 17, Olney had learned enough to become a teacher in Pella, Iowa. He also became the superintendent of schools there.
While in Pella, he was also a college freshman at Central University (now Central College). One of his students was Wyatt Earp, who later became a famous figure in the American West. In 1860, Olney left Pella to teach in Missouri.
Warren Olney's Civil War Service
When the Civil War began in April 1861, Olney quickly returned to Pella and joined the army. He enlisted in the 3rd Iowa Infantry for three years. For their first year, his unit guarded rail lines in Missouri. They mostly dealt with small groups of fighters but saw no major battles.
In the spring of 1862, Olney's unit joined General Grant's forces in Tennessee. He fought in the Battle of Shiloh. His unit fought bravely but eventually had to retreat. Olney was hit in the chest by a bullet that did not break his skin but knocked him out. He woke up and joined the retreat to avoid being captured. The next day, he was too sore to fight.
Later, Olney became a clerk in the army, working in St. Louis, Missouri. This ended his time in combat.
In 1864, he became a captain leading a company in the 2nd Missouri Volunteers of Colored Infantry. This unit was later called the 65th United States Colored Infantry. Olney stayed with this unit until the war ended. They served in Louisiana but did not fight in any battles. Olney often struggled with illness during his service.
Warren Olney's Career and Public Service
After the war, Olney returned to Iowa. He married his college sweetheart and then studied law at the University of Michigan. In 1868, he and his wife sailed to San Francisco, California. There, he joined a respected law firm. Later, he opened his own law office in San Francisco.
Olney loved California's beautiful mountains and countryside. He met John Muir, Willis Linn Jepson, and other people who also cared about nature. Together, they founded the Sierra Club. The first meetings were held in Olney's law office. He wrote the club's first rules and served as its vice president.
In 1903, Olney became the 34th Mayor of Oakland, where he lived. He served one term until 1905. He strongly believed that California cities needed their own secure water supply, not relying on private companies.
This belief led to the building of the O'Shaughnessy Dam in 1923. This dam flooded the Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park, creating the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Olney supported this project. However, John Muir and the Sierra Club strongly opposed it because it harmed the environment. This disagreement caused a bitter split between Olney and his conservationist friends. The project remains a debated topic today.
Warren Olney's Later Life and Family
Warren Olney, Sr. passed away on June 2, 1921, at 80 years old, due to pneumonia. He is buried in the Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, California.
Olney's son and grandson, who were also named Warren Olney, followed in his footsteps as lawyers. His son, Warren Olney, Jr., served on the Supreme Court of California from 1919 to 1921. His grandson, Warren Olney III, was appointed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to oversee the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice.
His great-grandson, Warren Olney IV, is a well-known broadcast journalist in Los Angeles.
See Also
