Sacramento County
Biographies
WILLIAM M. AHERN
It would be scarcely possible to
overestimate the importance and the magnitude of the duties developing upon the
chief of police in a city whose commercial and legislative activities, handled
by men of wealth and conspicuous success, attract to the civic environment
thousands whose sojourn is of brief duration, but whose welfare must be wisely
guarded by the sleepless vigilance of those upholding the majesty of the
law. The fact that Mr. Ahern has made good as chief of
police indicates the possession of certain fundamental attributes, unbounded
energy, sagacious discrimination, and industry that never fails and a courage
that never falters. Combined with his energy he possesses the tact
and good humor characteristic of the Celtic race and these qualities bring him
a host of friends outside of the immediate circle of his business
associates.
Into the home of John and Mary Ahern in
Passage East, County Waterford, Ireland, William M. Ahern was born November 10,
1861, and from that same home he started out when the time came for him to earn
his own way in the world. John Ahern was head constable of the
constabulary at Waterford, holding the position until he was pensioned.
When a young lad William M. attended the Christian Brothers school, but after
he was thirteen years of age he earned his own livelihood and had little
leisure for study. Taking up the trade of a lithographer, he spent five
years as an apprentice to that business and afterward worked as a journeyman
lithographer, being employed for two years at Dublin, Ireland, and for a
similar period in London, England, where he became proficient in the
trade. He came to California in May, 1884, his brother Thomas Ahern
having arrived here a few years previous and written letters back home which
interested his brother in the Golden West and encouraged him to make the
trip. Thomas Ahern is now superintendent of the coast division of the
Southern Pacific Railroad Company. When he landed in this country he came
at once to Sacramento, Cal., and spent three months as a lithographer with
Crocker & Co., of San Francisco, and then engaged with the Southern Pacific
Railroad and soon became foreman of a construction crew at Sacramento.
But in 1892 he resigned this work to become an officer under John B. Rogers,
chief of the police of Sacramento.
A service of two years as an officer
proved the adaptability of Mr. Ahern to such work. However, he did not
continue after 1894, but then resigned in order to enter the employ of the Southern
Pacific Railroad as a special agent. In that position he proved diligent,
resourceful and trustworthy and he filled the same post continuously until he
resigned to enter the service of the city of Sacramento, having been appointed
chief of police January 29, 1910, by Mayor Beard. While an officer with
the railroad mention should be made of Mr. Ahern's work in concluding the final
prosecution of Brady, the companion of Browning, who was killed by Sheriff Bogard of Tehama county.
Brady and Browning were desperate train robbers who held up the Southern
Pacific and robbed the Wells Fargo strongbox, obtaining in all $73,000.
The robbery occurred at a sheep camp crossing, between Davisville
and Sacramento. Chief Ahern comes by his ability as a successful officer
of the peace naturally, as his father served thirty-six years as a police
officer and head of the department in his home country. Shortly after he
accepted the chief's office he showed a familiarity with every detail, which
proved his quickness of comprehension and accuracy of judgment, and from the
outset of his official duties he has been diligent in the work, resolute in
action and firm in decision. While strong in his devotion to the
Republican party his selection for the position was
not a political measure, but came in recognition of his inherent worth and his
fitness for the position. Ever since he came to this country he has made
Sacramento his home and in this city in February of 1908 he was united in
marriage with Miss Ethel Morrison, by whom he has a son, Frederick Morrison
Ahern.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 809-810. Historic
Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.