Not to be confused with television broadcaster in Pennsylvania Bill Saylor
William Ashford "W. A." Saylor (December 5, 1843 â September 20, 1887) was an American politician, lawyer, businessman, military officer, and civil servant. Saylor was a Republican member of the Texas Senate, a two term Mayor of Austin, and a soldier in the Union army during the American Civil War.
William Ashford Saylor was born on December 5, 1843, in Saylor Township, Polk County, Iowa.
During the American Civil War he served in Company A of the 23rd Iowa Infantry Regiment, in the Union army. He enrolled in August of 1862 as a sergeant, and ended service a year later as a captain.
Saylor and Mary V. Swisher were married. She was the daughter of John Milton Swisher, an early Texas businessman.
Saylor was a lawyer in Bryan, Texas. A Republican, he was elected in the 1869 Texas Senate election, and his term was from 1870 to 1874, representing Brazos, Burleson, and Milam counties. Saylor was elected the Mayor of Austin, serving from 1879 to 1881, and again in 1883 to 1884.
Saylor was a collector of Internal Revenue Service for Texas's second district. He was involved in the mining business in Mexico.
Saylor died September 20, 1887 in Austin and was buried at Oakwood Cemetery.