USA > West Virginia > Prominent men of West Virginia: biographical sketches, the growth and advancement of the state, a compendium of returns of every election, a record of every state officer; > Part 11
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145
WEST VIRGINIA.
Ferguson, James H.
Lawyer.
Flanagan, Richard A
Farmer.
Garrett, John
Farmer.
Griffin, Isaac H.
Farmer.
Hassler, Ferdinand R.
Civil Engineer.
Hervey, James
Lawyer.
Hovermale, John H.
Mechanic. .
Jackson, James M.
Lawyer.
Jones, John P.
Merchant.
Keever, Wesley C.
Physician.
Lough, John B.
Farmer.
Love, Byron
Farmer.
Lynch, William
Farmer.
Martin, Lewis A.
Lawyer.
McGraw, John
Farmer.
McGinnis Benjamin
Farmer.
McLean, James L.
Lawyer. Dentist.
Rollyson, William D.
Merchant.
Shannon, William
Farmer.
Sheppard, Samuel
Farmer.
Simmons, David Smith, Anthony
Farmer. Physician.
Stephenson, Benjamin L.
Farmer.
Stubbs, C. E.
Attorney. Attorney. Farmer.
Sturgiss, George C.
Upton, Sylvester
Webster, William H.
Manufacturer.
Wyatt, Benjamin F.
THE NAYS WERE :
CRACRAFT, E. G., Speaker, Barr, R. G.
Davisson, Reuben
Faris, John Heiskell, Francis W.
Horner Charles
Keys, Jno W.
Langfitt, Valentine 13
Farmer. Total yeas, 38.
Lawyer. Lawyer. Farmer. Farmer. Farmer. Farmer. Plasterer. Farmer.
Stehley, John A.
Farmer.
Nelson, James L.
146
PROMINENT MEN OF
Lewis, Charles S.
Lawyer.
McDonald, William R.
Engineer.
Morrow, James, Jr.
Lawyer.
Nadenbousch, M. C.
Farmer.
Newman, Lewis, S.
Farmer.
Prichard, Alpheus
Lumber Merch'nt.
Smith, A. W.
Merchant.
West, Thomas J.
Farmer.
Wilson, E. Willis
Lawyer.
Total nays, 17.
VOTE ON THE FLICK AMENDMENT. ELECTION APRIL 27, 1871.
COUNTIES.
For Ratifi- For Rejec- cation.
tion.
COUNTIES.
tion. For Ratifi- For Rejec- cation.
Barbour.
483
220
Mineral
248
35
Berkeley
975
28
Monongalia
756
186
Boone.
209
17
Monroe
618
1
Braxton.
524
3
Morgan.
189
76
Brooke.
320
38
Nicholas
362
26
Cabell
431
9
Ohio
434
368
Calhoun
266
10
Pendleton
324
161
Clay
127
3
Pleasants
211
73
Doddridge
218
231
Pocahontas
349
57
Fayette
316
18
Preston
863
138
Gilmer
303
2
Putnam.
380
18
Grant.
304
329
Raleigh.
166
59
Greenbrier
1,044
108
Randolph
380
30
Hampshire
521
61
Ritchie ..
626
98
Hancock
181
77
Roane
505
33
Hardy
58
336
Summers.
255
10
Harrison
485
790
Taylor
364
349
Jackson
570
144
Tucker.
133
9
Jefferson
438
215
Tyler .
330
160
Kanawha
1,164
24
Upshur
327
318
Lewis
713
79
Wayne
608
1
Lincoln
459
15
Webster
124
Logan*
Wetzel
386
94
McDowell*
Wirt
381
13
Marion
1,114
177
Wood
1,494
167
Marshall
385
587
Wyoming
110
8
Mason
702
281
Mercer
313
3
23,546
6,323
Maj. for Ratifica'n ...
17,223
*No returns.
147
WEST VIRGINIA.
STATEMENT OF THE VOTE ON DIVISION OF STATE.
ELECTION HELD MAY 23, 1861.
COUNTIES.
FOR
AG'NST.
COUNTIES.
FOR
AG'NST.
Barbour
31
7
Preston
1,764
9
Braxton
22
Putnam
209
Boone.
68
Pleasants
198
14
Brooke
357
154
Raleigh
32
Clay
76
Randolph
171
2
Cabell.
209
5
Roane.
131
6
Calhoun
Ritchie
603
10
Doddridge.
497
10
Taylor
498
Fayette
Tucker.
65
Gilmer
108
Tyler.
699
15
Harrison
1 148
12
Upshur.
614
Hancock
263
67
Wayne.
296
10
Hardy
150
Webster.
Hampshire
195
18
Wetzel
664
50
Jackson
225
16
Wirt
367
11
Kanawha ...
1,039
1
Wood
1,104
48
Logan
Wyoming
Lewis
464
3
3d Reg't Va. Vol's,
Monongalia.
1,610
18
stationed at Beverly
273
Marion
663
35
Marshall
1,371
37
Total.
18,408
781
Mason
804
83
781
Nicholas
Ohio
1,140
139
Maj. for new State ..
17 627
WHITE" AS QUALIFICATION FOR OFFICE.
The following table shows the number of votes cast, at an election held Au- gust 22, 1872, for a clause in the State Constitution making "white" a qualifi cation for holding office. The whole number of votes cast was 83,121; a majority being necessary for ratification, the measure was lost :
COUNTIES.
COUNTIES.
COUNTIES.
Barbour.
918 Kanawha
2,129 Putnam
917
Berkeley
207 Lewis
695 Raleigh
490
Boone
347 Lincoln
125 Randolph.
614
Braxton.
799 Logan
791 Ritchie
283
Brooke
33 McDowell
174 Roane
598
Cabell
500 Marion
1,428 Summers
305
Calhoun
153 Marshall
149 Taylor
855
Clay
220 Mason
14 Tucker
221
Doddridge
237 Mercer
373 Tyler
545
Fayette
647 Mineral
259 Upshur
65
Gilmer
591 Monongalia
141 Wayne
20
Grant
137 Monroe
314 Webster
311
Greenbrier
1,435 Morgan
353 Wetzel
1,175
Hampshire
1,044 Nicholas
490
Wirt
253
Hancock
172 Ohio
247
Wood
403
Hardy
734 Pendleton
590
Wyoming
126
Harrison
1,528 Pleasants
132
Jackson
949 Pocahontas
496
Total
28,333
Jefferson
1,188 Preston
413
148
PROMINENT MEN OF
VOTE ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, NOVEMBER 6, 1888.
.
Sec. 13, Art. 3.
PROHIBITION. Sec. 46, Art. 6.
Sec. 22, Art. 6.
COUNTIES.
Ratifica'n
Reject'n
Ratifica'n
Reject'n
Ratifica'n
Reject'n.
Barbour
610
1.714
457
1,919
379
1,369
Berkeley.
2,006
1,038
975
2,030
317
2,880
Boone ..
332
306
Braxton
822
1 280
1,032
1,240
306
1 817
Brooke
814
353
628
691
543
640
Cabell.
1,250
1,757
1,398
1,877
978
1,938
Calhoun ..
267
939
411
720
181
949
Clay.
373
300
406
29€
240
410
Doddridge.
407
1,444
547
1 431
183
1.663
Fayette ...
2,350
523
1,332
1,850
2,293
543
Gilmer
380
1,061
535
1,007
175
1.327
Grant.
322
698
352
790
208
800
Greenbrier
1,576
1.114
811
1 999
595
1,886
Hampshire
510
1,593
163
1.960
123
1,970
Hancock
495
247
527
321
369
375
Hardy
690
628
247
1,154
515
802
Harrison
487
2 526
1,500
2,329
412
3 070
Jackson
960
1.689
1,069
1,842
370
2.589
Jefferson
982
1,526
1,026
1,939
603
1,891
Kanawha
4,187
1,667
2,729
3,350
3,985
1 865
Lewis.
1,003
1,213
1,075
1 271
569
1.691
Lincoln.
114
930
225
1,062
273
1,023
Logan
158
164
101
266
123
196
McDowell*
1,517
1 878
1,427
2,319
1,109
2,350
Marshall
1,602
1,872
1 504
2,279
1,221
2,288
Mason.
1,224
2,198
1,297
2,367
1 065
2.287
Mercer
380
713
425
780
331
744
Mineral
826
713
610
1,071
738
763
Monongalia
1.391
1,237
1 046
1,732
439
2 161
Monroe.
658
882
713
1,047
276
1,289
Morgan
319
780
394
800
345
768
Nicholas
1,079
397
1,030
537
210
1,316
Ohio
3,527
4,377
1,620
6,951
1,69l
6,207
Pendleton
661
808
253
1,332
627
841
Pleasants
434
622
413
742
262
837
Pocahontas
382
601
330
813
214
797
Preston
1,306
2,359
1,321
2,538
937
2,737
Putnam
1,014
1,037
970
1,246
508
1,470
Raleigh *
409
1,462
254
1,661
222
1,676
Ritchie ..
595
2,053
1,366
1,543
330
2,429
Roane.
914
1 057
852
1,315
1,083
753
Summers
842
827
492
1,301
279
1,325
Taylor.
594
1 586
684
1,631
373
1,893
Tucker
386
448
385
527
293
432
Tyler.
897
1,216
773
1,435
552
1,519
Upshur.
609
1,478
1.084
1,108
303
1,831
Wayne
767
1,346
835
1,416
670
1.368
Webster.
239
220
230
524
118
552
Wetzel
1,154
2,020
958
2 267
716
2,437
Wirt
610
911
578
1,015
325
1 114
Wood
1,650
2,249
2,057
2,528
974
2,998
Wyoming
322
386
222
386
145
396
Total
47,763
62.443
41.668
76.555
30,445
79,631
349
358
*No returns.
Randolph
Marion
149
WEST VIRGINIA.
STATE CAPITOLS.
The Linsly Institute building, situated on the corner of Eoff and Fifteenth streets, in the city of Wheeling, was the first State Capitol of West Virginia. Just seventy-five years ago, Noah Linsly, an educator of distinguished attainments, came to West Virginia and settled in Wheeling. He procured a lot, erected a building thereon and established a classical academy for the preparation of boys for college. For many years it has been used for that ennobling purpose. In 1863 the State of West Vir- ginia was formed, and the present Institute building was occu- pied as the Capitol up to 1870, when the seat of government was removed to Charleston. In 1875 the Capitol was re-located at
TEMPORARY STATE HOUSE AT CHARLESTON.
Wheeling, and the Linsly Institute building was again made the State House from September 30 of that year to December 4, 1876, when the new Capitol, erected by the City of Wheel- ing, was completed and the archives were transferred to it. The Linsly building is three stories high, is constructed of brick, and its many appointments made it a convenient and comfortable State House.
In May, 1870, the capital archives were taken to Charleston, Kanawha county, where the Legislature had decided, at its 1869 session, the State Capital should be located. A few of the public-spirited citizens of that city furnished the necessary
150
PROMINENT MEN OF
means, and at a cost of $75,000, a handsome and elegant temporary Capitol was erected. The State archives remained in this building until September 30, 1875, when they were again taken to Wheeling in obedience to an edict of the Legis- lature re-locating the seat of government for the period of ten years in that city.
When the question of Capital removal was being agitated by the Legislature, an offer was made on the part of the City of Wheeling to the effect that if the Legislature would send the ' Capital baek to that city for the period of ten years, a large and commodious building would be erected and presented free
TEMPORARY STATE HOUSE AT WHEELING.
of cost to the State for the ten years-or as long as the Capital was allowed to remain there. In the session of 1874-5, an act was passed transferring the State archives to Wheeling for the term of ten years. In accordance with the promise made by Wheeling representatives, a commodious State House was erected on Chapline street, occupying all the space from Fif- teenth to Sixteenth streets. . It cost in the neighborhood of $150,000. During the session of the Legislature of 1877, an act was passed February 21st, submitting the question to the people of the State, at a special election to be held the first Tuesday in August, of that year, to permanently locate the State Capital in the year 1885. Three places were voted for, viz: Charleston, Clarksburg and Martinsburg. Said election
151
WEST VIRGINIA.
resulted in the choice of Charleston by a majority of 3,255 over both Clarksburg and Martinsburg combined. As a matter of historical reference we give the detailed vote by counties :
COUNTIES.
Clarks- burg.
Martins- Charles- burg. ton.
COUNTIES.
Clarks- burg.
Martins- Charles - burg. ton.
Barbour
1,415
4
4
Mineral.
561
160
155
Berkeley
48
3,569
1
Monongalia ..
1,188
4
626
Boone
Monroe.
8
7
1,404
Braxton
293
11
951
Morgan.
40
573
5
Brooke ..
656
40
34
Nicholas
15
965
Cabell.
6
1,832
Ohio
2,615
1,193
218
Calhoun
160
2
587
Pendleton
189
146
280
Clay
1,587
2
39
Pocahontas ..
259
241
Fayette.
1,760
Preston.
1,798
32
42
Gilmer
653
1
225
Putnam.
5
1,654
Grant.
310
87
116
Raleigh.
2
1,034
Greenbrier ..
5
1 902
Randolph.
859
3
31
Hampshire
160
149
573
Ritchie
1,572
2
145
Hancock.
414
8
95
Roane
2
1,995
Hardy
226
187
594
Summers.
3
1
1,410
Harrison.
3,875
13
Taylor.
1,086
172
141
Jackson
68
1
2 169
Tucker ..
363
1
6
Jefferson.
41
1 340
328
*Tyler ..
8:3
60
163
Lewis
1,426
29
261
Wayne
2
1
2,011
Logan.
1
1
885
Wetzel
1 226
2
51
Marion
2 431
12
140
Wood
1,253
186
1 302
Marshall
1 473
23
206
Wyoming.
2
566
Mason
18
B
3,004
Mercer ..
1 017
Total
29,942
8,046
41,243
Lincoln
1,167
Webster
79
362
McDowell
308
Wirt
238
24
612
Kanawha
42
2
6 140
Pleasants.
446
8
93
Doddridge ..
479
960
(*) No return.
After the people had permanently located the seat of govern- ment at Charleston, the Legislature, at its next session, made an appropriation for the construction of a new capitol, and soon thereafter let the contract and began work on the build- ing. Notwithstanding incident delays necessary to so extensive an undertaking, the magnificent edifice was completed by the spring of 1885, at a cost to the State of about $350,000 ; and in accordance with the provisions of the law of permanent loca- tion, the archives were removed back to Charleston, where they may be regarded as a fixture for all time to come. Reference is made to our frontispiece for a correct cut of the new Charles- ton capitol.
Upshur
152
PROMINENT MEN OF
-> 7121:4
HON. ARTHUR I. BOREMAN.
153
WEST VIRGINIA.
ARTHUR INGRAHAM BOREMAN.
A MONG the distinguished men of this State who were leaders in the period from 1860 to 1870, the subject of this sketch stands at the head and front. The qualities that command the largest measure of success are a clearness of understanding that brings into view from the beginning the definite end and the most available process by which it is to be reached, together with that force of will which is tireless in its persistence and that quickness of decision which utilizes instantly the commanding points in every crisis, that never leaves an enterprise waiting upon doubts until the tide that might have borne it on to fortune has receded and left the nascent victory a helpless wreck. Men with such qualities become the founders or saviors of States and systems and policies; and they are the leaders of men-not from the intrigues of craft and cunning, or the power of wealth or rank or the traditions of a family, but from an innate and rightful sovereignty in human nature.
When the war cloud gathered in 1861, and the pulse of the Nation beat at fever heat, there were others in Western Virginia the equal in reputation and learning of Arthur I. Boreman, yet there were none, seemingly, who possessed that untiring energy, sleepless industry and indomitable will, peculiar to him, and which were in that crisis essential to safe and successful leader- ship. He had the grit that men admire. His backbone was as stiff as Bunkerhill monument. He believed he was right in standing by the flag. His position was the Unity of the Na- tion; and there he stood as firmly as the eternal rocks that based the hills around him. The people saw that there were in his make-up those essentials that mark the leadership of men, so they called him to the front and placed him upon the pedestal of commanding position.
Governor Boreman was a man of positive convictions, and was, as a natural consequence, a devoted partisan. He had no faith in that philosophy of government imputed to Louis Napo- leon when President of France, which led him to suppose that he could dominate all parties by taking ministers for his Cabi- 14
154
PROMINENT MEN OF
net that represented none. He did not believe that the security or permanent peace of the country could be obtained without enacting and enforcing measures of legislation that, if properly observed, should make the liberties we then enjoyed as great a beneficence as without such protection they would be to the poor and downcast a mockery and a snare. So believing and so acting, he was consistently conspicuous in his devotion to the ends he had in view.
Viewing Governor Boreman as a partisan leader in "those times that tried men's souls " even his opponents in atter years conceded that he possessed many high and generous qualities of both head and heart. If he struck hard blows, he did not shrink from receiving hard blows in return; and when the strife was ended he was ever ready to extend a hand, and to sink, if not forget the past. And while he never gave up a partisan advantage, he was ever ready to perform a personal act of kindness and friendship to a political adversary as well as to a political friend; and the admiration, love and affection of those who stood nearest to him in those dark days of the past could then as now attest the warmth and strength of his own affections. His record is before the people of the State. From it no fair-meaning man would blot out a single page. It is easily understood-bold, fearless, direct, distinct. There is no evasion or darkness in the definitions of his principles or policies. As the bold, fearless, loyal President of the Wheeling Convention that reorganized the Government of Virginia, and as the first Governor of the new State of West Virginia, his heroic, manly conduct gave him a place in the affections of the Union people of the State that will not soon be forgotten.
Arthur I. Boreman was born in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, July 24, 1823. In his childhood he came to Tyler county, this State, where, after receiving a common school education, he engaged in the study of law with his brother and brother-in- law at Middlebourne. He was admitted to the bar in May, 1843. In November following he commenced the practice of his pro- fession in Parkersburg, Wood county, soon attaining a high reputation as a jurist and an able advocate. He has ever since continued the practice of his profession in that city. In 1855 he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates from Wood county and was successively re-elected until 1860. He was a
155
WEST VIRGINIA.
member of the Virginia Legislature which, amid the intense popular excitement of the hour, held an extra session, in 1861, to discuss the propriety of seceding, and his efforts against that movement were very conspicuous. During the same year he presided over the Convention assembled at Wheeling to reor- ganize the State Government; and, in the ensuing Octo- ber, was elected Judge of the Circuit Court, exercising the functions of that office until his unanimous election in 1863 as first Governor of the new State. He was re-elected in 1864 and 1866, and wielded the executive power with a rare concep- tion of the urgent needs of that trying period. In 1868 he declined to be a candidate for the same high office, and was then honored in the Legislature by an election to the United States Senate, taking his seat March 4th, 1869. He served with great efficiency on the committees on Manufactures, Territories and Political Disabilities, and, during the Forty-third Congress was chairman of the Committee on Territories, as well as a member of the Committee on Claims.
When his six years term as Senator had ended, the State having become Democratic, he resumed the practice of law in the city of Parkersburg, and was not long in building up a large and lucrative practice. He applied himself to his profes- sion with a zeal that surpassed a young man just starting out in business. His explanation was that twelve years of public life and absence from his law office, threw him out of the line of the later decisions, and unless he became familiar with the decisions and the newest methods of practice, he could not command that position at the bar of the State to which his abilities and reputation entitled him.
Without solicitation, or even intimation on his part, the dis- tinguished ex-Senator was nominated and elected by his party admirers as Judge of the judicial circuit over which he had pre- sided, with dignity, ability and fairness, nearly thirty years before. In this capacity he is now acceptably serving the term to which he was elected, being eight years from January 1, 1889.
Ex-Governor Boreman has for many years been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was honored by the West Virginia Conference, in 1888, by an election as a lay-delegate to the General Conference which held its quadrennial session in New York that year.
1.56
PROMINENT MEN OF
He was married November 30, 1864, to Mrs. Laurane Bullock, widow, daughter of the late Dr. James Tanner, long a physician of high standing in the city of Wheeling, a native of Balti- more, Maryland, and of Trish descent.
Judge Boreman is a clear and incisive speaker, with a rare power of analysis, which is often exercised in debate. He is an industrious worker, a strict adherent to principle, and a man of liberal sentiment. He enjoys the confidence and respect of all who know him.
157
WEST VIRGINIA.
.1117,1
HON. WAITMAN T. WILLEY, LL. D.
158
PROMINENT MEN OF
WAITMAN T. WILLEY.
H ONOR and truth are not mere idle abstractions. They are the living and practical realities upon which men and women found their best reliance for personal happiness, and that constitute the real bulwarks of a Nation's welfare and safety, without which written constitutions are mockeries and laws mere pitfalls. In the life of the modest, manly man, whose per- sonal history I am now briefly writing, these qualities were con- stantly exemplified, and from our contemplation of them and their exercise we cannot do otherwise than pay them due re- spect, and at the same time call for their recognition and prac- tice in the intercourse of men and women everywhere.
A citizen of the State is a citizen of the United States. Like single drops of water in the mighty stream of population every one may freely run and mingle in the great flow of human life which pours in unbroken flood throughout the Union. In the makeup of a model citizen, to honor and truthfulness should be added culture and refinement. Indeed, it may be truly said that the fate of a nation depends largely upon the education of its citizens. The voyage of life begins with enthusiasm. Its bark floats by banks covered with flowers, arched by the calm, blue sky, and fanned by the balmy breath of spring that warms everything into beautiful activity. But as the voyage hastens shadows gather and warn one of coming dangers. Hence the necessity of training in early life which prepares men to become true citizens and be able to preserve the liberties in a Republic like ours that may be committed to their charge. For a full half century the subject of this sketch stood forth in Western Virginia not only as a leader of men, but in all respects, both in publie and in home life, a cultured, honorable, model citizen. It can rarely be said of any one that everybody who knows him has confidence in and respect for him, but of Waitman T. Wil- ley, of Monongalia, all this and more can be truthfully written.
Mr. Willey was born on Buffalo creek, Monongalia county (now Marion county), October 18, 1811. He was reared on a farm until he reached his seventeenth year, when he entered Madison College (now Allegheny College), Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in June, 1831. Commenced the study of law at Wellsburg, Va., under the distinguished Philip Dodd- ridge, in the spring of 1832, and was admitted to the bar in
159
WEST VIRGINIA.
September, 1833. He immediately settled at Morgantown, in his native county, where he has ever since resided. In 1834 he married Miss Elizabeth Ray, daughter of Patrick Ray, of Wheeling, with whom he lived in happy wedlock until her death, which occurred a few years ago; was an elector on the Harrison and Tyler ticket in 1840; was clerk of both county and circuit courts of law and chancery of Monongalia county from 1841 to 1852; was a member of the Constitu- tional Convention of Virginia in 1850-51; was the Whig candidate from his district for Congress in 1852, and was de- feated; was the Whig candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia-in 1859, and was defeated. In 1860 he was a delegate to the Convention that nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice-President; was a member of the Virginia Conven- tion of 1861, and voted against the ordinance of secession; was elected by the Legislature of what was called the " Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling" to a seat in the Senate of the United States to take the place of James M. Mason, who seceded with the mother State; was a member of the Consti- tutional Convention at Wheeling which framed the first consti- tution for West Virginia, but being at the same time a United States Senator he did not take an active part in the proceedings of the Convention ; was a member of the second Constitutional Convention at Charleston in 1872, that framed the present con- stitution of the State; was elected one of the first United States Senators from West Virginia in 1863, and drew the short term of two years. At the expiration of the term he was re- elected to the same position for the full term of six years, which expired March 4, 1871.
For more than half a century Senator Willey has been a con- spicuous member of the M. E. Church. In 1872 he was elected the first lay-delegate from the West Virginia Conference to the General Conference of that denomination, but owing to pres- sure of business declined to serve. In 1880 he was again elected to that responsible position and took an active part in the pro- ceedings of the General Conference; was a delegate-at-large to the National Republican Convention at Cincinnati in 1876. In November, 1882, he was appointed clerk of the county court of Monongalia county to fill a vacancy occasioned by the death of the then incumbent. In October, 1884, he was elected by
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the people to said office for the term of six years, which office he is now efficiently filling.
Madison College, from which Mr. Willey graduated, was merged into Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa., and the latter conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts. Some years later the honorary degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by Augusta College. While Mr. Willey was a Senator in Congress, Allegheny College conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. A few years ago the West Virginia University conferred upon him the same degree.
It is impossible in the limited space at my command to more than allude to the life work of such a man as ex-Senator Willey. For a quarter of a century before the late civil war, he and the late George W. Summers, of Kanawha county, were universally regarded as the Whig wheel-horses of Western Virginia. In a majority of the counties that now compose West Virginia, Mr. Willey, during his entire public career, was the acknowl- edged champion of his party. He was a man of great industry. But few publie men delivered a greater number of addresses and lectures on subjects of general interest. Besides, he wrote much for newspapers and periodicals on both political and re- ligious subjects. He was for a half century almost constantly "on the go." He was a great orator. The writer has heard him in his prime when the sweep of his power was utterly irre- sistible. Rising to the magnitude of his subject, the electric current could almost be seen to scintillate from the ends of his long, bony fingers, as his high genius illumined his kindling eyes. His great oratorical triumphs on the platform, in the halls of Congress, and at the bar are scattered over a period of more than fifty years, and alone would furnish material for a large and interesting volume. At his home in Morgantown, the seat of the West Virginia University, and now nearly eighty years old, he is kindly spoken of as "the old-man-eloquent," and all classes admire him with that degree of esteem that reaches absolute reverence.
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