William Henry West | |
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| 11th Ohio Attorney General | |
| In office January 8, 1866 – January 10, 1870 | |
| Governor | Jacob D. Cox Rutherford B. Hayes |
| Preceded by | Chauncey N. Olds |
| Succeeded by | Francis Bates Pond |
| Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court | |
| In office February 9, 1872 – February 25, 1873 | |
| Preceded by | Josiah Scott |
| Succeeded by | Walter F. Stone |
| Member of theOhio House of Representatives from theLogan County district | |
| In office January 4, 1858 – January 1, 1860 | |
| Preceded by | Samuel M. Allen |
| Succeeded by | James W. Hamilton |
| In office January 6, 1862 – January 3, 1864 | |
| Preceded by | James W. Hamilton |
| Succeeded by | Charles W. B. Allison |
| Member of theOhio Senate from the 13th district | |
| In office January 4, 1864 – December 31, 1865 | |
| Preceded by | John Hood |
| Succeeded by | P. B. Cole |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1824-02-09)February 9, 1824 |
| Died | March 14, 1911(1911-03-14) (aged 87) |
| Resting place | Bellefontaine City Cemetery |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Williams Clara Riddle Gorton |
| Children | four |
| Alma mater | Jefferson College |
| Signature |  |
William Henry West (February 9, 1824 – March 14, 1911) was aRepublican Party politician in theU.S. state ofOhio who served asOhio Attorney General from 1866 to 1868, and a member of theOhio Supreme Court from February 1872 to 1873. His failing eyesight and powerful oration led to the titleBlind Man Eloquent.
William H. West was born in Millsborough,Washington County, Pennsylvania. He was born on the anniversary ofWilliam Henry Harrison's birthday, and was named in his honor.[1] In 1830, his parents settled on a farm inKnox County, Ohio, nearMount Vernon. In 1840 he entered theMartinsburg, Ohio Academy. He taught and studied until enteringJefferson College inPennsylvania in 1844. He graduated second in his class of 58 in 1846.[2]
West taught school inKentucky until 1848, when he accepted a tutorship at Jefferson College, and then a year later an adjunct professorship atHampden–Sydney College. In 1850 he became a law student ofWilliam Lawrence atBellefontaine, Ohio.[3] Afteradmission to the bar, West was law partner of Lawrence from July 1851 to February, 1854.[4] In 1852, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney ofLogan County, Ohio, where he lived at Bellefontaine the rest of his life.[2] He was an important force in the formation of the Republican Party in Ohio, and a prominent speaker at theAnti-Nebraska Party convention inColumbus in 1854.[3] He was elected to represent his county in theOhio House of Representatives for the 53rd General Assembly, 1858–1859, declined nomination in 1859, and was elected to the 55th General Assembly, 1862–1863.[5] West was a delegate to the 1860Republican National Convention which nominatedAbraham Lincoln.[6]
West was elected to theOhio Senate for the 56th General Assembly, 1864–1865.[7] He was elected Ohio Attorney General in 1865 and then re-elected in 1867.[2] In 1869, he was appointed United StatesConsul to Rio de Janeiro by PresidentGrant, and confirmed by the Senate, but declined. In 1871, West was elected a judge on the Ohio Supreme Court, but resigned after about a year due to failing eyesight.[3] In 1873, he was elected a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.[2]
In 1877, West was nominated by his party forgovernor. A railroad strike was in progress at the time of the convention, and West spoke to an assembled crowd. He took the side of labor. This helped contribute to his defeatthat autumn.[6]
West presentedJames G. Blaine for nomination for president at the 1884 Republican National Convention, with the understanding that he would be appointed attorney general if Blaine should be president. Blaine lost.[6] West continued to argue cases at theLogan County Courthouse until his 80th birthday in 1904, with only the steep steps and lack of an elevator leading to his retirement.[8]
West was married twice.[3] His first marriage was to Elizabeth Williams in Lima on June 19, 1851. They had four sons, and Elizabeth died in 1871. In 1872, West married Clara Riddle Gorton. She died in 1901.[8] He died at his home in Bellefontaine on March 14, 1911.[6] West was interred at Bellefontaine City Cemetery, where his wives had been buried.[8]
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