William Strother Cowherd (September 1, 1860 – June 20, 1915) was a Democratic Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri in 1892–1893 and Congressman from Missouri in 1897–1905.

He was born near Lee's Summit, Missouri

Lee's Summit, Missouri

Lee's Summit is a city in the U.S. state of Missouri, and is contained within the counties of Jackson and Cass. As of the 2010 census found the population at 91,364 making it the sixth-largest city in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area and the sixth-largest city in Missouri...

 and attended schools there. He graduated from the University of Missouri

University of Missouri

The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...

 in 1881 and from the law school there in 1882. He was prosecuting attorney of Jackson County, Missouri

Jackson County, Missouri

Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. With a population of 674,158 in the 2010 census, Jackson County is the second most populous of Missouri's counties, after St. Louis County. Kansas City, the state's most populous city and focus city of the Kansas City Metropolitan...

 in 1885–1889. He became first assistant city counselor of Kansas City in 1890; mayor of Kansas City in 1892; elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-fifth and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1905).

After failing to be re-elected to Congress he ran unsuccessfully for Governor in 1908.

He is buried in Lee's Summit Historical Cemetery

Lee's Summit Historical Cemetery

Lee’s Summit Historical Cemetery is a cemetery in Lee's Summit, Missouri. There are many local notable people resting here, including Nicholas B. Langsford, Dr. Pleasant Lea, William B. Howard, William S. Cowherd, and former mayors from Lee’s Summit and surrounding areas...

.