Waitman T. Willey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Waitman T. Willey
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| United States Senator from West Virginia |
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| In office August 4, 1863 – March 3, 1871 |
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| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Henry G. Davis |
| United States Senator from Virginia |
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| In office July 9, 1861 – March 3, 1863 |
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| Preceded by | James M. Mason |
| Succeeded by | Lemuel J. Bowden |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 18, 1811 Farmington, West Virginia |
| Died | May 2, 1900 (aged 88) Morgantown, West Virginia |
| Political party | Whig (1840-1860) Unionist (1860-1865) Republican (1865-1900) |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Ray Willey |
Waitman Thomas Willey (born October 18, 1811 – died May 2, 1900) was an American lawyer and politician. He was from Morgantown, West Virginia. Waitman Willey was one of the people who helped create the state of West Virginia during the American Civil War.
He served in the United States Senate. First, he represented the part of Virginia that stayed loyal to the Union. Later, he became one of the first two senators for the new state of West Virginia. He is one of only two people in U.S. history to represent more than one state in the U.S. Senate.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Waitman Willey was born in 1811 in a log cabin. This was near what is now Farmington, West Virginia. He grew up on Paw Paw Creek in Monongalia County. He could only go to school for about two months each year. This was because his family needed him to work on their farm.
But Waitman was very determined to get an education. On Christmas Day in 1827, when he was 17, he started walking. He walked from his home to Madison College in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. This college later became Allegheny College. He worked very hard and even tutored other students. He finished college six months early in June 1831.
After college, Willey returned to Virginia. He moved to Wellsburg to study law. He learned from Philip Doddridge, a leader in western Virginia. Later, he received special honorary degrees from Allegheny College, Augusta College, and West Virginia University.
In 1834, Waitman Willey married Elizabeth Ray. They had six children together. Elizabeth passed away a few years before he did.
Political Career Beginnings
Waitman Willey became a lawyer in Virginia in September 1832. He then moved to Morgantown to start his own law practice.
He became very involved in politics. He was a member of the Whig Party. In 1840, he helped campaign for William Henry Harrison and John Tyler. He also tried to become a delegate to the Virginia General Assembly but did not win.
In 1841, voters chose Willey to be the Clerk of the County Court for Monongalia County. He was re-elected many times and served until 1852. He was active in local government and was a popular speaker. He often spoke for groups that promoted reading and against alcohol.
In 1850, Willey was one of four delegates. He represented Marion, Preston, Monongalia, and Taylor Counties. This was at the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1850. He argued that all white men should be able to vote. He also believed that rich people in eastern Virginia had too much political power. His speech, "Liberty and Union," made him well-known.
In 1852, Willey ran for Congress as a Whig candidate but lost. In 1859, he ran for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia but also lost. The next year, he supported Everett and Bell of the Constitutional Union Party in the 1860 Presidential election. They lost, and Abraham Lincoln was elected president.
Role in West Virginia Statehood
In 1861, Waitman Willey was elected to the Virginia Secession Convention. He represented Monongalia County. He warned other delegates about the dangers of a civil war. Willey voted against Virginia leaving the Union many times. However, the decision to secede passed on April 17, 1861.
Even though he was a slaveowner, Willey was active in the First Wheeling Convention in May 1861. This meeting eventually led to West Virginia becoming a state. He did not run for the Second Wheeling Convention in June. This second meeting created the Restored Government of Virginia. Soon after, he was elected as one of the new state's first two U.S. Senators.
In April 1863, Confederate soldiers tried to capture Willey. They were part of a raid to destroy railroad tracks. Willey escaped in a fast buggy into Pennsylvania.
The Restored Government of Virginia chose him to be a U.S. Senator. He filled the spot left by Senator James M. Mason, who joined the Confederacy. Willey, a Republican, became one of the first two U.S. Senators from West Virginia. He served from 1863 to 1871.
On May 29, 1862, Willey asked Congress to create West Virginia. The state was accepted after Willey suggested a change. This change said that enslaved people under 21 years old would become free when they turned 21, starting July 4, 1863. Willey had previously supported paying slaveowners to free their slaves. This agreement helped the West Virginia statehood bill pass.
Because he was a federal senator, Willey did not take a main role in West Virginia's Constitutional Convention. However, he did vote to remove President Andrew Johnson from office. This attempt failed by one vote.
After serving one full term, Willey left Congress in 1871. He then became a delegate to the West Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1872. His political career ended as Democrats gained power in the new state.
In 1872, Willey was chosen for the General Conference of the Methodist Church, but he did not serve. He did attend the National Republican Convention in 1876. He also went to the Methodist General Conference in 1880. In 1882, he temporarily became Clerk of the County Court in Monongalia County. Voters then elected him to a full six-year term in 1884.
Later Life and Legacy
Waitman Willey died on May 2, 1900, at 88 years old. His wife and one of his daughters had passed away before him. He was buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Morgantown.
His son, William, became a professor at West Virginia University. During his life, Waitman Willey taught many men who later became judges and important lawyers in West Virginia.
The Waitman T. Willey House was built by him in 1839-1840. It was once in a quiet, semi-rural area. After his death, the land around it was divided into many lots. This area became part of the growing city of Morgantown. The house still stands today. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and was renovated in 2012.
Images for kids
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Waitman T. Willey
See also
- List of members of the United States Congress from multiple states
