William Horace Mann was a longtime Hemet resident during the community’s early years, and he contributed to its success in many ways.
Mann was born on Jan. 7, 1872 in Kansas. In 1900, he and his wife, Asenith, were married, while both were still living in Kansas.
Mann and his wife appear to have at least visited Hemet in September 1906, when an unclaimed letter for Mrs. Mann was announced in the Hemet News. In March 1908, it was announced in the paper that W.H. Mann of Toronto, Canada, was a recent hotel arrival in Hemet. Actually, he was from Toronto, Kansas, an easy mistake to make.
The following month it was announced that Mann was partnering with John Shaver, a county supervisor at that time, and a Mr. Ritter, to open the Hemet Hardware Store. This was two years before Hemet incorporated as a city, making Mann one of its early pioneers. In about 1920, he became sole owner of the hardware store.
Mann almost immediately involved himself in the life of Hemet.
He became a volunteer with the Hemet Fire Department in 1908. He was appointed to the city board of health when the city incorporated in 1910. He was active in the Odd Fellows and the First Presbyterian Church, as well as with other groups and activities.
In June 1916, Mann was appointed to a vacancy on the Hemet City Council, then known as the Board of Trustees. He was elected in 1918 with no opposition. He became mayor in 1922 when he was selected president of the Board of Trustees. He remained in that position for four years. He served a total of 10 years as a city trustee.
Mann retired and sold his hardware store about 1941. However, he soon learned that a life of ease didn’t suit him.
According to Homer D. King, editor and publisher of the Hemet News at that time, after Mann retired, and in spite of being over age 70, Mann showed up one day at the Hemet Packing Company, took off his coat, and announced he was going to work there, even without pay. He was given a desk and remained on the job until he had a stroke shortly before his death.
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In the same column, King said Mann’s tenure as mayor was probably the most tranquil in the council’s history (up to that point) due to the confidence people had in Mann and the feeling government was in good hands when he was in charge. King also said Mann was a quiet citizen who won the respect of all who knew him.
Mann died in September 1949. He was survived by his wife, the couple never had children. The former Hemet mayor and his wife are both buried in the San Jacinto Valley Cemetery.
If you have an idea for a future Back in the Day column about a local historic person, place or event, contact Steve Lech and Kim Jarrell Johnson at backinthedaype@gmail.com.
