{"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Waitman+T.+Willey+Papers%2C+1820%2F1917\u0026facet.page=2\u0026page=4","prev":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Waitman+T.+Willey+Papers%2C+1820%2F1917\u0026facet.page=2\u0026page=3","next":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Waitman+T.+Willey+Papers%2C+1820%2F1917\u0026facet.page=2\u0026page=5","last":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Waitman+T.+Willey+Papers%2C+1820%2F1917\u0026facet.page=2\u0026page=13"},"meta":{"pages":{"current_page":4,"next_page":5,"prev_page":3,"total_pages":13,"limit_value":10,"offset_value":30,"total_count":122,"first_page?":false,"last_page?":false}},"data":[{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01_c14","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"Item Nos. 260-280, 1859/1860","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01_c14#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eTopics include:\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01_c14#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01_c14","ref_ssm":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01_c14"],"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01_c14","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01","parent_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01","parent_ssim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840/1898"],"parent_ids_ssim":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01"],"title_filing_ssi":"Item Nos. 260-280","title_ssm":["Item Nos. 260-280"],"title_tesim":["Item Nos. 260-280"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Item Nos. 260-280, 1859/1860"],"text":["Item Nos. 260-280, 1859/1860","Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840/1898","Box 1","Folder 14","Topics include:","Politics: Items 260-267, 269, 279-280 (Virginia election of 1859; invitations to speak about the election; WTW's views on dividing Virginia with free state in the west [item 261]; invitation to Henry Clay birthday party in Alexandria [item 280])","Family and Friends: Items 268, 273, 275-277 (temperance; church; son's suspension from college [items 273, 275])","Law/Business: Items 270-272, 274, 278 (how to build a telegraph line, railroad land obtained by condemnation of land)"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840/1898"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1a. 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For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"date_range_isim":[1859,1860],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eTopics include:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Politics: Items 260-267, 269, 279-280 (Virginia election of 1859; invitations to speak about the election; WTW's views on dividing Virginia with free state in the west [item 261]; invitation to Henry Clay birthday party in Alexandria [item 280]) \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFamily and Friends: Items 268, 273, 275-277 (temperance; church; son's suspension from college [items 273, 275]) \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eLaw/Business: Items 270-272, 274, 278 (how to build a telegraph line, railroad land obtained by condemnation of land)\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Topics include:","Politics: Items 260-267, 269, 279-280 (Virginia election of 1859; invitations to speak about the election; WTW's views on dividing Virginia with free state in the west [item 261]; invitation to Henry Clay birthday party in Alexandria [item 280])","Family and Friends: Items 268, 273, 275-277 (temperance; church; son's suspension from college [items 273, 275])","Law/Business: Items 270-272, 274, 278 (how to build a telegraph line, railroad land obtained by condemnation of land)"],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#13","timestamp":"2026-09-01T16:09:24.514Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/WVU/repositories_2_resources_2345.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/196411","title_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers"],"title_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1820-1917"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1820-1917"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1820/1917"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"text":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","A\u0026M 0003","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/2345","Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government","Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries","No special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department.","Waitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.","Willey's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.","In 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.","Willey settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.","Waitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.","Willey returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).","Willey remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.","Waitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.","Notes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.","2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.","Bibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; Waitman Thomas Willey, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.","2. Corson, L.D.; Legislative Career of Waitman T. Willey, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in Dictionary of American Biography, p. 426.","4. Obituary, Morgantown Weekly Post, Thursday, May 10, 1900.","5. Ware, A.F.; A Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","6. White, L.C.; West Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.","8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.","9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.","10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.","Prepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000.","1361","Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.","Series include:","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed","Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.","Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note.","West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)","English\n."],"collection_title_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"collection_ssim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["A\u0026M 0003","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/2345"],"unitid_tesim":["A\u0026M 0003","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/2345"],"repository_ssm":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"geogname_ssm":["Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"geogname_ssim":["Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"places_ssim":["Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"creator_ssm":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900"],"creator_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900"],"creator_persname_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"creators_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"access_terms_ssm":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["9.2 Linear Feet Summary: 9 ft. 2 1/4 in. (22 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 oversize folder, 1/4 in.)"],"extent_tesim":["9.2 Linear Feet Summary: 9 ft. 2 1/4 in. (22 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 oversize folder, 1/4 in.)"],"genreform_ssim":["Diaries"],"date_range_isim":[1820,1821,1822,1823,1824,1825,1826,1827,1828,1829,1830,1831,1832,1833,1834,1835,1836,1837,1838,1839,1840,1841,1842,1843,1844,1845,1846,1847,1848,1849,1850,1851,1852,1853,1854,1855,1856,1857,1858,1859,1860,1861,1862,1863,1864,1865,1866,1867,1868,1869,1870,1871,1872,1873,1874,1875,1876,1877,1878,1879,1880,1881,1882,1883,1884,1885,1886,1887,1888,1889,1890,1891,1892,1893,1894,1895,1896,1897,1898,1899,1900,1901,1902,1903,1904,1905,1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eNo special access restriction applies.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eResearchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the \u003ca href=\"https://westvirginia.libanswers.com/wvrhc\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center reference department\u003c/a\u003e. \u003c/p\u003e  "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["No special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eWaitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWaitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWaitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNotes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eBibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eWaitman Thomas Willey\u003c/emph\u003e, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e2. Corson, L.D.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eLegislative Career of Waitman T. Willey\u003c/emph\u003e, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eDictionary of American Biography\u003c/emph\u003e, p. 426.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e4. \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eObituary\u003c/emph\u003e, \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eMorgantown Weekly Post\u003c/emph\u003e, Thursday, May 10, 1900.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e5. Ware, A.F.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eA Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement\u003c/emph\u003e, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e6. White, L.C.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eWest Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson\u003c/emph\u003e, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003ePrepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["Waitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.","Willey's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.","In 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.","Willey settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.","Waitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.","Willey returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).","Willey remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.","Waitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.","Notes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.","2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.","Bibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; Waitman Thomas Willey, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.","2. Corson, L.D.; Legislative Career of Waitman T. Willey, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in Dictionary of American Biography, p. 426.","4. Obituary, Morgantown Weekly Post, Thursday, May 10, 1900.","5. Ware, A.F.; A Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","6. White, L.C.; West Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.","8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.","9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.","10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.","Prepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Waitman T. Willey Papers, A\u0026amp;M 0003, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Waitman T. Willey Papers, A\u0026M 0003, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e1361\u003c/p\u003e  "],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related A\u0026M Collections"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["1361"],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePapers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSeries include:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSeries 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed\u003c/p\u003e  "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.","Series include:","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed"],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePermission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/visit/permissions-and-copyright\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePermissions and Copyright page\u003c/a\u003e on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_18cd3685d4dadbc9e748f60d929a78ab\"\u003ePapers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note.\u003c/abstract\u003e\n    "],"abstract_tesim":["Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_5cf97afe325843f43df11ef15816113b\"\u003eWest Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/physloc\u003e\n    "],"physloc_tesim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center"],"corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"names_coll_ssim":["United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"persname_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"names_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. 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Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840/1898"],"parent_ids_ssim":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01"],"title_filing_ssi":"Item Nos. 281-300","title_ssm":["Item Nos. 281-300"],"title_tesim":["Item Nos. 281-300"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Item Nos. 281-300, 1860"],"text":["Item Nos. 281-300, 1860","Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840/1898","Box 1","Folder 15","Topics include:","Politics: Items 281, 286-288, 290, 292-298, 300 (invitations to speak for Bell and Everett, and their success in Virginia; newspapers in Virginia)","Family and Friends: Items 282, 299 (son and Francis H. Pierpont)","Law/Business: Items 283-285, 289, 291 (legal matters with clients)"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840/1898"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840/1898"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1860"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1860"],"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":16,"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"collection_ssim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"containers_ssim":["Box 1","Folder 15"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["No special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"date_range_isim":[1860],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eTopics include:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Politics: Items 281, 286-288, 290, 292-298, 300 (invitations to speak for Bell and Everett, and their success in Virginia; newspapers in Virginia) \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFamily and Friends: Items 282, 299 (son and Francis H. Pierpont) \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eLaw/Business: Items 283-285, 289, 291 (legal matters with clients)\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Topics include:","Politics: Items 281, 286-288, 290, 292-298, 300 (invitations to speak for Bell and Everett, and their success in Virginia; newspapers in Virginia)","Family and Friends: Items 282, 299 (son and Francis H. Pierpont)","Law/Business: Items 283-285, 289, 291 (legal matters with clients)"],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#14","timestamp":"2026-09-01T16:09:24.514Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/WVU/repositories_2_resources_2345.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/196411","title_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers"],"title_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1820-1917"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1820-1917"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1820/1917"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"text":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","A\u0026M 0003","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/2345","Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government","Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries","No special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department.","Waitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.","Willey's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.","In 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.","Willey settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.","Waitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.","Willey returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).","Willey remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.","Waitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.","Notes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.","2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.","Bibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; Waitman Thomas Willey, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.","2. Corson, L.D.; Legislative Career of Waitman T. Willey, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in Dictionary of American Biography, p. 426.","4. Obituary, Morgantown Weekly Post, Thursday, May 10, 1900.","5. Ware, A.F.; A Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","6. White, L.C.; West Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.","8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.","9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.","10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.","Prepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000.","1361","Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.","Series include:","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed","Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.","Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note.","West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)","English\n."],"collection_title_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"collection_ssim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["A\u0026M 0003","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/2345"],"unitid_tesim":["A\u0026M 0003","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/2345"],"repository_ssm":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"geogname_ssm":["Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"geogname_ssim":["Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"places_ssim":["Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"creator_ssm":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900"],"creator_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900"],"creator_persname_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"creators_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"access_terms_ssm":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["9.2 Linear Feet Summary: 9 ft. 2 1/4 in. (22 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 oversize folder, 1/4 in.)"],"extent_tesim":["9.2 Linear Feet Summary: 9 ft. 2 1/4 in. (22 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 oversize folder, 1/4 in.)"],"genreform_ssim":["Diaries"],"date_range_isim":[1820,1821,1822,1823,1824,1825,1826,1827,1828,1829,1830,1831,1832,1833,1834,1835,1836,1837,1838,1839,1840,1841,1842,1843,1844,1845,1846,1847,1848,1849,1850,1851,1852,1853,1854,1855,1856,1857,1858,1859,1860,1861,1862,1863,1864,1865,1866,1867,1868,1869,1870,1871,1872,1873,1874,1875,1876,1877,1878,1879,1880,1881,1882,1883,1884,1885,1886,1887,1888,1889,1890,1891,1892,1893,1894,1895,1896,1897,1898,1899,1900,1901,1902,1903,1904,1905,1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eNo special access restriction applies.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eResearchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the \u003ca href=\"https://westvirginia.libanswers.com/wvrhc\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center reference department\u003c/a\u003e. \u003c/p\u003e  "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["No special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eWaitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWaitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWaitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNotes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eBibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eWaitman Thomas Willey\u003c/emph\u003e, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e2. Corson, L.D.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eLegislative Career of Waitman T. Willey\u003c/emph\u003e, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eDictionary of American Biography\u003c/emph\u003e, p. 426.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e4. \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eObituary\u003c/emph\u003e, \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eMorgantown Weekly Post\u003c/emph\u003e, Thursday, May 10, 1900.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e5. Ware, A.F.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eA Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement\u003c/emph\u003e, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e6. White, L.C.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eWest Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson\u003c/emph\u003e, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003ePrepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["Waitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.","Willey's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.","In 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.","Willey settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.","Waitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.","Willey returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).","Willey remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.","Waitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.","Notes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.","2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.","Bibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; Waitman Thomas Willey, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.","2. Corson, L.D.; Legislative Career of Waitman T. Willey, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in Dictionary of American Biography, p. 426.","4. Obituary, Morgantown Weekly Post, Thursday, May 10, 1900.","5. Ware, A.F.; A Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","6. White, L.C.; West Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.","8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.","9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.","10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.","Prepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Waitman T. Willey Papers, A\u0026amp;M 0003, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Waitman T. Willey Papers, A\u0026M 0003, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e1361\u003c/p\u003e  "],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related A\u0026M Collections"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["1361"],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePapers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSeries include:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSeries 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed\u003c/p\u003e  "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.","Series include:","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed"],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePermission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/visit/permissions-and-copyright\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePermissions and Copyright page\u003c/a\u003e on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_18cd3685d4dadbc9e748f60d929a78ab\"\u003ePapers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note.\u003c/abstract\u003e\n    "],"abstract_tesim":["Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_5cf97afe325843f43df11ef15816113b\"\u003eWest Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/physloc\u003e\n    "],"physloc_tesim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center"],"corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"names_coll_ssim":["United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"persname_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"names_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"language_ssim":["English\n."],"descrules_ssm":["Describing Archives: A Content Standard"],"total_component_count_is":121,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-09-01T16:09:24.514Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01_c15"}},{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02_c09","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"Item Nos. 2904-3364, 1862/1863","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02_c09#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eTopics include:\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02_c09#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02_c09","ref_ssm":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02_c09"],"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02_c09","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02","parent_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02","parent_ssim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied [boxes 4-16], 1833/1900"],"parent_ids_ssim":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02"],"title_filing_ssi":"Item Nos. 2904-3364","title_ssm":["Item Nos. 2904-3364"],"title_tesim":["Item Nos. 2904-3364"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Item Nos. 2904-3364, 1862/1863"],"text":["Item Nos. 2904-3364, 1862/1863","Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied [boxes 4-16], 1833/1900","Box 9","Topics include:","Constituents","Family and Friends","Politics and War (e.g. item 2988 -- recommendation to President Lincoln regarding General Rosecrans; e.g. item 3052 -- WTW voted against emancipation; e.g. item 3239 -- Jenkins raid in West Virginia)"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied [boxes 4-16], 1833/1900"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied [boxes 4-16], 1833/1900"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1862/1863"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1862–1863"],"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":70,"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"collection_ssim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"containers_ssim":["Box 9"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["No special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"date_range_isim":[1862,1863],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eTopics include:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Constituents\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFamily and Friends\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003ePolitics and War (e.g. item 2988 -- recommendation to President Lincoln regarding General Rosecrans; e.g. item 3052 -- WTW voted against emancipation; e.g. item 3239 -- Jenkins raid in West Virginia)\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Topics include:","Constituents","Family and Friends","Politics and War (e.g. item 2988 -- recommendation to President Lincoln regarding General Rosecrans; e.g. item 3052 -- WTW voted against emancipation; e.g. item 3239 -- Jenkins raid in West Virginia)"],"_nest_path_":"/components#1/components#8","timestamp":"2026-09-01T16:09:24.514Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/WVU/repositories_2_resources_2345.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/196411","title_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers"],"title_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1820-1917"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1820-1917"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1820/1917"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"text":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","A\u0026M 0003","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/2345","Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government","Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries","No special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department.","Waitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.","Willey's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.","In 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.","Willey settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.","Waitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.","Willey returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).","Willey remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.","Waitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.","Notes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.","2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.","Bibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; Waitman Thomas Willey, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.","2. Corson, L.D.; Legislative Career of Waitman T. Willey, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in Dictionary of American Biography, p. 426.","4. Obituary, Morgantown Weekly Post, Thursday, May 10, 1900.","5. Ware, A.F.; A Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","6. White, L.C.; West Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.","8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.","9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.","10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.","Prepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000.","1361","Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.","Series include:","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed","Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.","Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note.","West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)","English\n."],"collection_title_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"collection_ssim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["A\u0026M 0003","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/2345"],"unitid_tesim":["A\u0026M 0003","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/2345"],"repository_ssm":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"geogname_ssm":["Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"geogname_ssim":["Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"places_ssim":["Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"creator_ssm":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900"],"creator_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900"],"creator_persname_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"creators_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"access_terms_ssm":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["9.2 Linear Feet Summary: 9 ft. 2 1/4 in. (22 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 oversize folder, 1/4 in.)"],"extent_tesim":["9.2 Linear Feet Summary: 9 ft. 2 1/4 in. (22 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 oversize folder, 1/4 in.)"],"genreform_ssim":["Diaries"],"date_range_isim":[1820,1821,1822,1823,1824,1825,1826,1827,1828,1829,1830,1831,1832,1833,1834,1835,1836,1837,1838,1839,1840,1841,1842,1843,1844,1845,1846,1847,1848,1849,1850,1851,1852,1853,1854,1855,1856,1857,1858,1859,1860,1861,1862,1863,1864,1865,1866,1867,1868,1869,1870,1871,1872,1873,1874,1875,1876,1877,1878,1879,1880,1881,1882,1883,1884,1885,1886,1887,1888,1889,1890,1891,1892,1893,1894,1895,1896,1897,1898,1899,1900,1901,1902,1903,1904,1905,1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eNo special access restriction applies.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eResearchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the \u003ca href=\"https://westvirginia.libanswers.com/wvrhc\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center reference department\u003c/a\u003e. \u003c/p\u003e  "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["No special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eWaitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWaitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWaitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNotes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eBibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eWaitman Thomas Willey\u003c/emph\u003e, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e2. Corson, L.D.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eLegislative Career of Waitman T. Willey\u003c/emph\u003e, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eDictionary of American Biography\u003c/emph\u003e, p. 426.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e4. \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eObituary\u003c/emph\u003e, \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eMorgantown Weekly Post\u003c/emph\u003e, Thursday, May 10, 1900.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e5. Ware, A.F.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eA Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement\u003c/emph\u003e, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e6. White, L.C.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eWest Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson\u003c/emph\u003e, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003ePrepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["Waitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.","Willey's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.","In 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.","Willey settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.","Waitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.","Willey returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).","Willey remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.","Waitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.","Notes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.","2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.","Bibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; Waitman Thomas Willey, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.","2. Corson, L.D.; Legislative Career of Waitman T. Willey, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in Dictionary of American Biography, p. 426.","4. Obituary, Morgantown Weekly Post, Thursday, May 10, 1900.","5. Ware, A.F.; A Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","6. White, L.C.; West Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.","8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.","9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.","10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.","Prepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Waitman T. Willey Papers, A\u0026amp;M 0003, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Waitman T. Willey Papers, A\u0026M 0003, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e1361\u003c/p\u003e  "],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related A\u0026M Collections"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["1361"],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePapers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSeries include:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSeries 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed\u003c/p\u003e  "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.","Series include:","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed"],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePermission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/visit/permissions-and-copyright\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePermissions and Copyright page\u003c/a\u003e on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_18cd3685d4dadbc9e748f60d929a78ab\"\u003ePapers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note.\u003c/abstract\u003e\n    "],"abstract_tesim":["Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_5cf97afe325843f43df11ef15816113b\"\u003eWest Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/physloc\u003e\n    "],"physloc_tesim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center"],"corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"names_coll_ssim":["United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"persname_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"names_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. 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Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840/1898"],"parent_ids_ssim":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01"],"title_filing_ssi":"Item Nos. 301-320","title_ssm":["Item Nos. 301-320"],"title_tesim":["Item Nos. 301-320"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Item Nos. 301-320, 1861"],"text":["Item Nos. 301-320, 1861","Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840/1898","Box 1","Folder 16","Topics include:","Politics: Items 302-303, 305, 307-312, 314-315, 317-318, 320 (the Virginia convention for secession in Richmond, [items 303, 307, 317a]; sentiment in Morgantown regarding Lincoln and the Union; WTW for the Union)","Family and Friends: Items 304, 306, 313, 316 (son in college writes about the war to come; Morgantown activities and gossip)"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840/1898"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840/1898"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1861"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1861"],"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":17,"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"collection_ssim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"containers_ssim":["Box 1","Folder 16"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["No special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"date_range_isim":[1861],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eTopics include:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Politics: Items 302-303, 305, 307-312, 314-315, 317-318, 320 (the Virginia convention for secession in Richmond, [items 303, 307, 317a]; sentiment in Morgantown regarding Lincoln and the Union; WTW for the Union) \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFamily and Friends: Items 304, 306, 313, 316 (son in college writes about the war to come; Morgantown activities and gossip)\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Topics include:","Politics: Items 302-303, 305, 307-312, 314-315, 317-318, 320 (the Virginia convention for secession in Richmond, [items 303, 307, 317a]; sentiment in Morgantown regarding Lincoln and the Union; WTW for the Union)","Family and Friends: Items 304, 306, 313, 316 (son in college writes about the war to come; Morgantown activities and gossip)"],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#15","timestamp":"2026-09-01T16:09:24.514Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/WVU/repositories_2_resources_2345.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/196411","title_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers"],"title_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1820-1917"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1820-1917"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1820/1917"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"text":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","A\u0026M 0003","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/2345","Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government","Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries","No special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department.","Waitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.","Willey's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.","In 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.","Willey settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.","Waitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.","Willey returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).","Willey remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.","Waitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.","Notes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.","2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.","Bibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; Waitman Thomas Willey, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.","2. Corson, L.D.; Legislative Career of Waitman T. Willey, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in Dictionary of American Biography, p. 426.","4. Obituary, Morgantown Weekly Post, Thursday, May 10, 1900.","5. Ware, A.F.; A Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","6. White, L.C.; West Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.","8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.","9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.","10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.","Prepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000.","1361","Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.","Series include:","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed","Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.","Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note.","West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. 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Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["A\u0026M 0003","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/2345"],"unitid_tesim":["A\u0026M 0003","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/2345"],"repository_ssm":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"geogname_ssm":["Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"geogname_ssim":["Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"places_ssim":["Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"creator_ssm":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900"],"creator_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900"],"creator_persname_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"creators_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"access_terms_ssm":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["9.2 Linear Feet Summary: 9 ft. 2 1/4 in. (22 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 oversize folder, 1/4 in.)"],"extent_tesim":["9.2 Linear Feet Summary: 9 ft. 2 1/4 in. (22 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 oversize folder, 1/4 in.)"],"genreform_ssim":["Diaries"],"date_range_isim":[1820,1821,1822,1823,1824,1825,1826,1827,1828,1829,1830,1831,1832,1833,1834,1835,1836,1837,1838,1839,1840,1841,1842,1843,1844,1845,1846,1847,1848,1849,1850,1851,1852,1853,1854,1855,1856,1857,1858,1859,1860,1861,1862,1863,1864,1865,1866,1867,1868,1869,1870,1871,1872,1873,1874,1875,1876,1877,1878,1879,1880,1881,1882,1883,1884,1885,1886,1887,1888,1889,1890,1891,1892,1893,1894,1895,1896,1897,1898,1899,1900,1901,1902,1903,1904,1905,1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eNo special access restriction applies.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eResearchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the \u003ca href=\"https://westvirginia.libanswers.com/wvrhc\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center reference department\u003c/a\u003e. \u003c/p\u003e  "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["No special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eWaitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWaitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWaitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNotes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eBibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eWaitman Thomas Willey\u003c/emph\u003e, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e2. Corson, L.D.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eLegislative Career of Waitman T. Willey\u003c/emph\u003e, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eDictionary of American Biography\u003c/emph\u003e, p. 426.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e4. \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eObituary\u003c/emph\u003e, \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eMorgantown Weekly Post\u003c/emph\u003e, Thursday, May 10, 1900.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e5. Ware, A.F.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eA Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement\u003c/emph\u003e, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e6. White, L.C.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eWest Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson\u003c/emph\u003e, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003ePrepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["Waitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.","Willey's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.","In 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.","Willey settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.","Waitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.","Willey returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).","Willey remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.","Waitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.","Notes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.","2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.","Bibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; Waitman Thomas Willey, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.","2. Corson, L.D.; Legislative Career of Waitman T. Willey, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in Dictionary of American Biography, p. 426.","4. Obituary, Morgantown Weekly Post, Thursday, May 10, 1900.","5. Ware, A.F.; A Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","6. White, L.C.; West Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.","8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.","9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.","10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.","Prepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Waitman T. Willey Papers, A\u0026amp;M 0003, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Waitman T. Willey Papers, A\u0026M 0003, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e1361\u003c/p\u003e  "],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related A\u0026M Collections"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["1361"],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePapers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSeries include:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSeries 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed\u003c/p\u003e  "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.","Series include:","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed"],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePermission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/visit/permissions-and-copyright\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePermissions and Copyright page\u003c/a\u003e on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_18cd3685d4dadbc9e748f60d929a78ab\"\u003ePapers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note.\u003c/abstract\u003e\n    "],"abstract_tesim":["Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_5cf97afe325843f43df11ef15816113b\"\u003eWest Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/physloc\u003e\n    "],"physloc_tesim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center"],"corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"names_coll_ssim":["United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. 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Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"containers_ssim":["Box 1","Folder 17"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["No special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"date_range_isim":[1861],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eTopics include:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Politics: Items 321-324, 326, 328-329, 331-334, 336-341 (Richmond convention for secession; Union sentiment in western Virginia; confusion in several areas; upcoming Wheeling convention) \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFamily and Friends: Items 325, 327, 330, 335 (son in Carlisle, PA, writes of Southern students expelled from Dickinson College, the activities of the Army, riots in Carlisle, and Union sentiments)\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Topics include:","Politics: Items 321-324, 326, 328-329, 331-334, 336-341 (Richmond convention for secession; Union sentiment in western Virginia; confusion in several areas; upcoming Wheeling convention)","Family and Friends: Items 325, 327, 330, 335 (son in Carlisle, PA, writes of Southern students expelled from Dickinson College, the activities of the Army, riots in Carlisle, and Union sentiments)"],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#16","timestamp":"2026-09-01T16:09:24.514Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/WVU/repositories_2_resources_2345.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/196411","title_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers"],"title_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1820-1917"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1820-1917"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1820/1917"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"text":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","A\u0026M 0003","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/2345","Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government","Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries","No special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department.","Waitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.","Willey's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.","In 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.","Willey settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.","Waitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.","Willey returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).","Willey remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.","Waitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.","Notes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.","2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.","Bibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; Waitman Thomas Willey, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.","2. Corson, L.D.; Legislative Career of Waitman T. Willey, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in Dictionary of American Biography, p. 426.","4. Obituary, Morgantown Weekly Post, Thursday, May 10, 1900.","5. Ware, A.F.; A Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","6. White, L.C.; West Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.","8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.","9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.","10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.","Prepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000.","1361","Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.","Series include:","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed","Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.","Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note.","West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)","English\n."],"collection_title_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"collection_ssim":["Waitman T. 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Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"geogname_ssim":["Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"places_ssim":["Monongalia County (W. 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(Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"creators_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"access_terms_ssm":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["9.2 Linear Feet Summary: 9 ft. 2 1/4 in. (22 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 oversize folder, 1/4 in.)"],"extent_tesim":["9.2 Linear Feet Summary: 9 ft. 2 1/4 in. (22 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 oversize folder, 1/4 in.)"],"genreform_ssim":["Diaries"],"date_range_isim":[1820,1821,1822,1823,1824,1825,1826,1827,1828,1829,1830,1831,1832,1833,1834,1835,1836,1837,1838,1839,1840,1841,1842,1843,1844,1845,1846,1847,1848,1849,1850,1851,1852,1853,1854,1855,1856,1857,1858,1859,1860,1861,1862,1863,1864,1865,1866,1867,1868,1869,1870,1871,1872,1873,1874,1875,1876,1877,1878,1879,1880,1881,1882,1883,1884,1885,1886,1887,1888,1889,1890,1891,1892,1893,1894,1895,1896,1897,1898,1899,1900,1901,1902,1903,1904,1905,1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eNo special access restriction applies.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eResearchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the \u003ca href=\"https://westvirginia.libanswers.com/wvrhc\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center reference department\u003c/a\u003e. \u003c/p\u003e  "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["No special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eWaitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWaitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWaitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNotes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eBibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eWaitman Thomas Willey\u003c/emph\u003e, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e2. Corson, L.D.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eLegislative Career of Waitman T. Willey\u003c/emph\u003e, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eDictionary of American Biography\u003c/emph\u003e, p. 426.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e4. \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eObituary\u003c/emph\u003e, \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eMorgantown Weekly Post\u003c/emph\u003e, Thursday, May 10, 1900.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e5. Ware, A.F.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eA Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement\u003c/emph\u003e, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e6. White, L.C.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eWest Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson\u003c/emph\u003e, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003ePrepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["Waitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.","Willey's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.","In 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.","Willey settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.","Waitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.","Willey returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).","Willey remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.","Waitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.","Notes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.","2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.","Bibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; Waitman Thomas Willey, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.","2. Corson, L.D.; Legislative Career of Waitman T. Willey, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in Dictionary of American Biography, p. 426.","4. Obituary, Morgantown Weekly Post, Thursday, May 10, 1900.","5. Ware, A.F.; A Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","6. White, L.C.; West Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.","8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.","9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.","10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.","Prepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Waitman T. Willey Papers, A\u0026amp;M 0003, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Waitman T. Willey Papers, A\u0026M 0003, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e1361\u003c/p\u003e  "],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related A\u0026M Collections"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["1361"],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePapers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSeries include:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSeries 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed\u003c/p\u003e  "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.","Series include:","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed"],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePermission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/visit/permissions-and-copyright\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePermissions and Copyright page\u003c/a\u003e on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_18cd3685d4dadbc9e748f60d929a78ab\"\u003ePapers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note.\u003c/abstract\u003e\n    "],"abstract_tesim":["Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_5cf97afe325843f43df11ef15816113b\"\u003eWest Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/physloc\u003e\n    "],"physloc_tesim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center"],"corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"names_coll_ssim":["United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"persname_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"names_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. 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For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"date_range_isim":[1863,1864],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eTopics include:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Family and Friends\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003ePolitics\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eGovernment\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWar\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eOther Topics (e.g. item 3696 -- list of IRS fees for legal services; e.g. item 3703 -- translation of a letter in French)\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Topics include:","Family and Friends","Politics","Government","War","Other Topics (e.g. item 3696 -- list of IRS fees for legal services; e.g. item 3703 -- translation of a letter in French)"],"_nest_path_":"/components#1/components#9","timestamp":"2026-09-01T16:09:24.514Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/WVU/repositories_2_resources_2345.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/196411","title_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers"],"title_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1820-1917"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1820-1917"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1820/1917"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"text":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","A\u0026M 0003","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/2345","Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government","Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries","No special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department.","Waitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.","Willey's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.","In 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.","Willey settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.","Waitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.","Willey returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).","Willey remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.","Waitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.","Notes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.","2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.","Bibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; Waitman Thomas Willey, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.","2. Corson, L.D.; Legislative Career of Waitman T. Willey, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in Dictionary of American Biography, p. 426.","4. Obituary, Morgantown Weekly Post, Thursday, May 10, 1900.","5. Ware, A.F.; A Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","6. White, L.C.; West Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.","8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.","9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.","10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.","Prepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000.","1361","Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.","Series include:","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed","Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.","Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note.","West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)","English\n."],"collection_title_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"collection_ssim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["A\u0026M 0003","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/2345"],"unitid_tesim":["A\u0026M 0003","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/2345"],"repository_ssm":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"geogname_ssm":["Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"geogname_ssim":["Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"places_ssim":["Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"creator_ssm":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900"],"creator_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900"],"creator_persname_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"creators_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"access_terms_ssm":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["9.2 Linear Feet Summary: 9 ft. 2 1/4 in. (22 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 oversize folder, 1/4 in.)"],"extent_tesim":["9.2 Linear Feet Summary: 9 ft. 2 1/4 in. (22 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 oversize folder, 1/4 in.)"],"genreform_ssim":["Diaries"],"date_range_isim":[1820,1821,1822,1823,1824,1825,1826,1827,1828,1829,1830,1831,1832,1833,1834,1835,1836,1837,1838,1839,1840,1841,1842,1843,1844,1845,1846,1847,1848,1849,1850,1851,1852,1853,1854,1855,1856,1857,1858,1859,1860,1861,1862,1863,1864,1865,1866,1867,1868,1869,1870,1871,1872,1873,1874,1875,1876,1877,1878,1879,1880,1881,1882,1883,1884,1885,1886,1887,1888,1889,1890,1891,1892,1893,1894,1895,1896,1897,1898,1899,1900,1901,1902,1903,1904,1905,1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eNo special access restriction applies.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eResearchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the \u003ca href=\"https://westvirginia.libanswers.com/wvrhc\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center reference department\u003c/a\u003e. \u003c/p\u003e  "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["No special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eWaitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWaitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWaitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNotes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eBibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eWaitman Thomas Willey\u003c/emph\u003e, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e2. Corson, L.D.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eLegislative Career of Waitman T. Willey\u003c/emph\u003e, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eDictionary of American Biography\u003c/emph\u003e, p. 426.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e4. \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eObituary\u003c/emph\u003e, \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eMorgantown Weekly Post\u003c/emph\u003e, Thursday, May 10, 1900.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e5. Ware, A.F.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eA Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement\u003c/emph\u003e, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e6. White, L.C.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eWest Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson\u003c/emph\u003e, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003ePrepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["Waitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.","Willey's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.","In 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.","Willey settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.","Waitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.","Willey returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).","Willey remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.","Waitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.","Notes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.","2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.","Bibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; Waitman Thomas Willey, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.","2. Corson, L.D.; Legislative Career of Waitman T. Willey, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in Dictionary of American Biography, p. 426.","4. Obituary, Morgantown Weekly Post, Thursday, May 10, 1900.","5. Ware, A.F.; A Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","6. White, L.C.; West Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.","8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.","9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.","10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.","Prepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Waitman T. Willey Papers, A\u0026amp;M 0003, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Waitman T. Willey Papers, A\u0026M 0003, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e1361\u003c/p\u003e  "],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related A\u0026M Collections"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["1361"],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePapers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSeries include:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSeries 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed\u003c/p\u003e  "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.","Series include:","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed"],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePermission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/visit/permissions-and-copyright\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePermissions and Copyright page\u003c/a\u003e on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_18cd3685d4dadbc9e748f60d929a78ab\"\u003ePapers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note.\u003c/abstract\u003e\n    "],"abstract_tesim":["Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_5cf97afe325843f43df11ef15816113b\"\u003eWest Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/physloc\u003e\n    "],"physloc_tesim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center"],"corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"names_coll_ssim":["United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"persname_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"names_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"language_ssim":["English\n."],"descrules_ssm":["Describing Archives: A Content Standard"],"total_component_count_is":121,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-09-01T16:09:24.514Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02_c10"}},{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01_c18","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"Item Nos. 342-361, 1861","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01_c18#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eTopics include:\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01_c18#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01_c18","ref_ssm":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01_c18"],"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01_c18","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01","parent_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01","parent_ssim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840/1898"],"parent_ids_ssim":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01"],"title_filing_ssi":"Item Nos. 342-361","title_ssm":["Item Nos. 342-361"],"title_tesim":["Item Nos. 342-361"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Item Nos. 342-361, 1861"],"text":["Item Nos. 342-361, 1861","Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840/1898","Box 1","Folder 18","Topics include:","Politics: Items 342-347, 349, 351, 353, 356 (Wheeling convention, slavery and future of USA, slavery)","Government/War: Items 348, 350, 354-355, 357-361 (Union; battle at Manassas; capture of rebel equipment; Dakota Territory Union men; Camp Chase, Ohio prisoner from Beverley, Virginia [item 361])","Family and Friends: Items 352, 355 (Morgantown events; battle at Laurel Hill)"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840/1898"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840/1898"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1861"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1861"],"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":19,"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"collection_ssim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"containers_ssim":["Box 1","Folder 18"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["No special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"date_range_isim":[1861],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eTopics include:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Politics: Items 342-347, 349, 351, 353, 356 (Wheeling convention, slavery and future of USA, slavery) \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eGovernment/War: Items 348, 350, 354-355, 357-361 (Union; battle at Manassas; capture of rebel equipment; Dakota Territory Union men; Camp Chase, Ohio prisoner from Beverley, Virginia [item 361]) \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFamily and Friends: Items 352, 355 (Morgantown events; battle at Laurel Hill)\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Topics include:","Politics: Items 342-347, 349, 351, 353, 356 (Wheeling convention, slavery and future of USA, slavery)","Government/War: Items 348, 350, 354-355, 357-361 (Union; battle at Manassas; capture of rebel equipment; Dakota Territory Union men; Camp Chase, Ohio prisoner from Beverley, Virginia [item 361])","Family and Friends: Items 352, 355 (Morgantown events; battle at Laurel Hill)"],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#17","timestamp":"2026-09-01T16:09:24.514Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/WVU/repositories_2_resources_2345.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/196411","title_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers"],"title_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1820-1917"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1820-1917"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1820/1917"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"text":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","A\u0026M 0003","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/2345","Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government","Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries","No special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department.","Waitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.","Willey's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.","In 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.","Willey settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.","Waitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.","Willey returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).","Willey remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.","Waitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.","Notes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.","2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.","Bibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; Waitman Thomas Willey, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.","2. Corson, L.D.; Legislative Career of Waitman T. Willey, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in Dictionary of American Biography, p. 426.","4. Obituary, Morgantown Weekly Post, Thursday, May 10, 1900.","5. Ware, A.F.; A Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","6. White, L.C.; West Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.","8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.","9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.","10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.","Prepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000.","1361","Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.","Series include:","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed","Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.","Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note.","West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)","English\n."],"collection_title_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"collection_ssim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["A\u0026M 0003","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/2345"],"unitid_tesim":["A\u0026M 0003","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/2345"],"repository_ssm":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"geogname_ssm":["Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"geogname_ssim":["Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"places_ssim":["Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"creator_ssm":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900"],"creator_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900"],"creator_persname_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"creators_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"access_terms_ssm":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["9.2 Linear Feet Summary: 9 ft. 2 1/4 in. (22 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 oversize folder, 1/4 in.)"],"extent_tesim":["9.2 Linear Feet Summary: 9 ft. 2 1/4 in. (22 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 oversize folder, 1/4 in.)"],"genreform_ssim":["Diaries"],"date_range_isim":[1820,1821,1822,1823,1824,1825,1826,1827,1828,1829,1830,1831,1832,1833,1834,1835,1836,1837,1838,1839,1840,1841,1842,1843,1844,1845,1846,1847,1848,1849,1850,1851,1852,1853,1854,1855,1856,1857,1858,1859,1860,1861,1862,1863,1864,1865,1866,1867,1868,1869,1870,1871,1872,1873,1874,1875,1876,1877,1878,1879,1880,1881,1882,1883,1884,1885,1886,1887,1888,1889,1890,1891,1892,1893,1894,1895,1896,1897,1898,1899,1900,1901,1902,1903,1904,1905,1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eNo special access restriction applies.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eResearchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the \u003ca href=\"https://westvirginia.libanswers.com/wvrhc\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center reference department\u003c/a\u003e. \u003c/p\u003e  "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["No special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eWaitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWaitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWaitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNotes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eBibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eWaitman Thomas Willey\u003c/emph\u003e, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e2. Corson, L.D.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eLegislative Career of Waitman T. Willey\u003c/emph\u003e, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eDictionary of American Biography\u003c/emph\u003e, p. 426.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e4. \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eObituary\u003c/emph\u003e, \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eMorgantown Weekly Post\u003c/emph\u003e, Thursday, May 10, 1900.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e5. Ware, A.F.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eA Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement\u003c/emph\u003e, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e6. White, L.C.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eWest Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson\u003c/emph\u003e, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003ePrepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["Waitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.","Willey's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.","In 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.","Willey settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.","Waitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.","Willey returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).","Willey remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.","Waitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.","Notes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.","2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.","Bibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; Waitman Thomas Willey, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.","2. Corson, L.D.; Legislative Career of Waitman T. Willey, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in Dictionary of American Biography, p. 426.","4. Obituary, Morgantown Weekly Post, Thursday, May 10, 1900.","5. Ware, A.F.; A Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","6. White, L.C.; West Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.","8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.","9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.","10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.","Prepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Waitman T. Willey Papers, A\u0026amp;M 0003, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Waitman T. Willey Papers, A\u0026M 0003, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e1361\u003c/p\u003e  "],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related A\u0026M Collections"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["1361"],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePapers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSeries include:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSeries 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed\u003c/p\u003e  "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.","Series include:","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed"],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePermission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/visit/permissions-and-copyright\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePermissions and Copyright page\u003c/a\u003e on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_18cd3685d4dadbc9e748f60d929a78ab\"\u003ePapers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note.\u003c/abstract\u003e\n    "],"abstract_tesim":["Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_5cf97afe325843f43df11ef15816113b\"\u003eWest Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/physloc\u003e\n    "],"physloc_tesim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center"],"corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"names_coll_ssim":["United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"persname_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"names_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. 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Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840/1898"],"parent_ids_ssim":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01"],"title_filing_ssi":"Item Nos. 362-381","title_ssm":["Item Nos. 362-381"],"title_tesim":["Item Nos. 362-381"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Item Nos. 362-381, 1861"],"text":["Item Nos. 362-381, 1861","Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840/1898","Box 2","Folder 1","Topics include:","Politics: Items 362-369, 371-379, 381 (lists of Union men from counties in western Virginia; state convention in Wheeling; politics in Illinois; a citizen objects to the Navy's ship purchases; slavery issues)","Family and Friends: Items 370, 380-381 (son in Camp Keys, Hampshire County; Morgantown events; thoughts regarding the South)"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840/1898"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840/1898"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1861"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1861"],"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":20,"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"collection_ssim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"containers_ssim":["Box 2","Folder 1"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["No special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"date_range_isim":[1861],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eTopics include:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Politics: Items 362-369, 371-379, 381 (lists of Union men from counties in western Virginia; state convention in Wheeling; politics in Illinois; a citizen objects to the Navy's ship purchases; slavery issues) \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFamily and Friends: Items 370, 380-381 (son in Camp Keys, Hampshire County; Morgantown events; thoughts regarding the South)\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Topics include:","Politics: Items 362-369, 371-379, 381 (lists of Union men from counties in western Virginia; state convention in Wheeling; politics in Illinois; a citizen objects to the Navy's ship purchases; slavery issues)","Family and Friends: Items 370, 380-381 (son in Camp Keys, Hampshire County; Morgantown events; thoughts regarding the South)"],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#18","timestamp":"2026-09-01T16:09:24.514Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/WVU/repositories_2_resources_2345.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/196411","title_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers"],"title_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1820-1917"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1820-1917"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1820/1917"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"text":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","A\u0026M 0003","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/2345","Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government","Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries","No special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department.","Waitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.","Willey's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.","In 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.","Willey settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.","Waitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.","Willey returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).","Willey remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.","Waitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.","Notes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.","2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.","Bibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; Waitman Thomas Willey, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.","2. Corson, L.D.; Legislative Career of Waitman T. Willey, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in Dictionary of American Biography, p. 426.","4. Obituary, Morgantown Weekly Post, Thursday, May 10, 1900.","5. Ware, A.F.; A Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","6. White, L.C.; West Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.","8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.","9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.","10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.","Prepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000.","1361","Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.","Series include:","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed","Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.","Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note.","West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)","English\n."],"collection_title_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"collection_ssim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["A\u0026M 0003","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/2345"],"unitid_tesim":["A\u0026M 0003","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/2345"],"repository_ssm":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"geogname_ssm":["Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"geogname_ssim":["Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"places_ssim":["Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"creator_ssm":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900"],"creator_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900"],"creator_persname_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"creators_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"access_terms_ssm":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["9.2 Linear Feet Summary: 9 ft. 2 1/4 in. (22 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 oversize folder, 1/4 in.)"],"extent_tesim":["9.2 Linear Feet Summary: 9 ft. 2 1/4 in. (22 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 oversize folder, 1/4 in.)"],"genreform_ssim":["Diaries"],"date_range_isim":[1820,1821,1822,1823,1824,1825,1826,1827,1828,1829,1830,1831,1832,1833,1834,1835,1836,1837,1838,1839,1840,1841,1842,1843,1844,1845,1846,1847,1848,1849,1850,1851,1852,1853,1854,1855,1856,1857,1858,1859,1860,1861,1862,1863,1864,1865,1866,1867,1868,1869,1870,1871,1872,1873,1874,1875,1876,1877,1878,1879,1880,1881,1882,1883,1884,1885,1886,1887,1888,1889,1890,1891,1892,1893,1894,1895,1896,1897,1898,1899,1900,1901,1902,1903,1904,1905,1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eNo special access restriction applies.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eResearchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the \u003ca href=\"https://westvirginia.libanswers.com/wvrhc\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center reference department\u003c/a\u003e. \u003c/p\u003e  "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["No special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eWaitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWaitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWaitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNotes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eBibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eWaitman Thomas Willey\u003c/emph\u003e, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e2. Corson, L.D.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eLegislative Career of Waitman T. Willey\u003c/emph\u003e, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eDictionary of American Biography\u003c/emph\u003e, p. 426.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e4. \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eObituary\u003c/emph\u003e, \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eMorgantown Weekly Post\u003c/emph\u003e, Thursday, May 10, 1900.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e5. Ware, A.F.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eA Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement\u003c/emph\u003e, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e6. White, L.C.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eWest Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson\u003c/emph\u003e, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003ePrepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["Waitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.","Willey's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.","In 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.","Willey settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.","Waitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.","Willey returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).","Willey remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.","Waitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.","Notes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.","2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.","Bibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; Waitman Thomas Willey, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.","2. Corson, L.D.; Legislative Career of Waitman T. Willey, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in Dictionary of American Biography, p. 426.","4. Obituary, Morgantown Weekly Post, Thursday, May 10, 1900.","5. Ware, A.F.; A Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","6. White, L.C.; West Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.","8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.","9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.","10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.","Prepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Waitman T. Willey Papers, A\u0026amp;M 0003, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Waitman T. Willey Papers, A\u0026M 0003, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e1361\u003c/p\u003e  "],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related A\u0026M Collections"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["1361"],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePapers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSeries include:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSeries 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed\u003c/p\u003e  "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.","Series include:","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed"],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePermission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/visit/permissions-and-copyright\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePermissions and Copyright page\u003c/a\u003e on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_18cd3685d4dadbc9e748f60d929a78ab\"\u003ePapers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note.\u003c/abstract\u003e\n    "],"abstract_tesim":["Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_5cf97afe325843f43df11ef15816113b\"\u003eWest Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/physloc\u003e\n    "],"physloc_tesim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center"],"corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"names_coll_ssim":["United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"persname_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"names_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. 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Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840/1898"],"parent_ids_ssim":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01"],"title_filing_ssi":"Item Nos. 382-401","title_ssm":["Item Nos. 382-401"],"title_tesim":["Item Nos. 382-401"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Item Nos. 382-401, 1862"],"text":["Item Nos. 382-401, 1862","Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840/1898","Box 2","Folder 2","Topics include:","Politics: Items 382, 384, 387, 389-400 (new state constitution, slavery issues, politics in Iowa)","Government/War: Items 390, 393, 394, 397 (Congressional action on a commission; destruction of property by rebels, David Hunter Strother [item 393]; pay for volunteers)","Family and Friends: Items 383, 401 (Farmington newspaper and copies of WTW speeches)","Law/Business: Items 385-386, 388 (licenses, arrest, government claims)"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840/1898"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1a. 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For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"date_range_isim":[1862],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eTopics include:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Politics: Items 382, 384, 387, 389-400 (new state constitution, slavery issues, politics in Iowa) \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eGovernment/War: Items 390, 393, 394, 397 (Congressional action on a commission; destruction of property by rebels, David Hunter Strother [item 393]; pay for volunteers) \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFamily and Friends: Items 383, 401 (Farmington newspaper and copies of WTW speeches) \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eLaw/Business: Items 385-386, 388 (licenses, arrest, government claims)\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Topics include:","Politics: Items 382, 384, 387, 389-400 (new state constitution, slavery issues, politics in Iowa)","Government/War: Items 390, 393, 394, 397 (Congressional action on a commission; destruction of property by rebels, David Hunter Strother [item 393]; pay for volunteers)","Family and Friends: Items 383, 401 (Farmington newspaper and copies of WTW speeches)","Law/Business: Items 385-386, 388 (licenses, arrest, government claims)"],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#19","timestamp":"2026-09-01T16:09:24.514Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/WVU/repositories_2_resources_2345.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/196411","title_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers"],"title_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1820-1917"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1820-1917"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1820/1917"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"text":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","A\u0026M 0003","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/2345","Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government","Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries","No special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department.","Waitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.","Willey's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.","In 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.","Willey settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.","Waitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.","Willey returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).","Willey remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.","Waitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.","Notes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.","2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.","Bibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; Waitman Thomas Willey, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.","2. Corson, L.D.; Legislative Career of Waitman T. Willey, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in Dictionary of American Biography, p. 426.","4. Obituary, Morgantown Weekly Post, Thursday, May 10, 1900.","5. Ware, A.F.; A Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","6. White, L.C.; West Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.","8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.","9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.","10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.","Prepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000.","1361","Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.","Series include:","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed","Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.","Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note.","West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. 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Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["A\u0026M 0003","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/2345"],"unitid_tesim":["A\u0026M 0003","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/2345"],"repository_ssm":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"geogname_ssm":["Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"geogname_ssim":["Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"places_ssim":["Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"creator_ssm":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900"],"creator_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900"],"creator_persname_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"creators_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"access_terms_ssm":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["9.2 Linear Feet Summary: 9 ft. 2 1/4 in. (22 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 oversize folder, 1/4 in.)"],"extent_tesim":["9.2 Linear Feet Summary: 9 ft. 2 1/4 in. (22 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 oversize folder, 1/4 in.)"],"genreform_ssim":["Diaries"],"date_range_isim":[1820,1821,1822,1823,1824,1825,1826,1827,1828,1829,1830,1831,1832,1833,1834,1835,1836,1837,1838,1839,1840,1841,1842,1843,1844,1845,1846,1847,1848,1849,1850,1851,1852,1853,1854,1855,1856,1857,1858,1859,1860,1861,1862,1863,1864,1865,1866,1867,1868,1869,1870,1871,1872,1873,1874,1875,1876,1877,1878,1879,1880,1881,1882,1883,1884,1885,1886,1887,1888,1889,1890,1891,1892,1893,1894,1895,1896,1897,1898,1899,1900,1901,1902,1903,1904,1905,1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eNo special access restriction applies.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eResearchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the \u003ca href=\"https://westvirginia.libanswers.com/wvrhc\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center reference department\u003c/a\u003e. \u003c/p\u003e  "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["No special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eWaitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWaitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWaitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNotes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eBibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eWaitman Thomas Willey\u003c/emph\u003e, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e2. Corson, L.D.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eLegislative Career of Waitman T. Willey\u003c/emph\u003e, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eDictionary of American Biography\u003c/emph\u003e, p. 426.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e4. \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eObituary\u003c/emph\u003e, \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eMorgantown Weekly Post\u003c/emph\u003e, Thursday, May 10, 1900.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e5. Ware, A.F.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eA Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement\u003c/emph\u003e, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e6. White, L.C.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eWest Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson\u003c/emph\u003e, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003ePrepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["Waitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.","Willey's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.","In 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.","Willey settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.","Waitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.","Willey returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).","Willey remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.","Waitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.","Notes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.","2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.","Bibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; Waitman Thomas Willey, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.","2. Corson, L.D.; Legislative Career of Waitman T. Willey, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in Dictionary of American Biography, p. 426.","4. Obituary, Morgantown Weekly Post, Thursday, May 10, 1900.","5. Ware, A.F.; A Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","6. White, L.C.; West Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.","8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.","9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.","10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.","Prepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Waitman T. Willey Papers, A\u0026amp;M 0003, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Waitman T. Willey Papers, A\u0026M 0003, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e1361\u003c/p\u003e  "],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related A\u0026M Collections"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["1361"],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePapers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSeries include:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSeries 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed\u003c/p\u003e  "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.","Series include:","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed"],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePermission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/visit/permissions-and-copyright\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePermissions and Copyright page\u003c/a\u003e on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_18cd3685d4dadbc9e748f60d929a78ab\"\u003ePapers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note.\u003c/abstract\u003e\n    "],"abstract_tesim":["Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_5cf97afe325843f43df11ef15816113b\"\u003eWest Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/physloc\u003e\n    "],"physloc_tesim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center"],"corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"names_coll_ssim":["United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. 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For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"date_range_isim":[1864,1865],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eTopics include:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Family and Friends\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003ePolitics\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eGovernment\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWar\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eOther Topics (e.g. item 3641 -- advertising and testimonials by Professor Lacknow, \"only liver and blood physician of the age;\" e.g. item 4112 -- a prisoner in Camp Chase, Ohio, claims wrongful imprisonment)\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Topics include:","Family and Friends","Politics","Government","War","Other Topics (e.g. item 3641 -- advertising and testimonials by Professor Lacknow, \"only liver and blood physician of the age;\" e.g. item 4112 -- a prisoner in Camp Chase, Ohio, claims wrongful imprisonment)"],"_nest_path_":"/components#1/components#10","timestamp":"2026-09-01T16:09:24.514Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/WVU/repositories_2_resources_2345.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/196411","title_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers"],"title_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1820-1917"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1820-1917"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1820/1917"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"text":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","A\u0026M 0003","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/2345","Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government","Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries","No special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department.","Waitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.","Willey's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.","In 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.","Willey settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.","Waitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.","Willey returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).","Willey remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.","Waitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.","Notes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.","2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.","Bibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; Waitman Thomas Willey, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.","2. Corson, L.D.; Legislative Career of Waitman T. Willey, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in Dictionary of American Biography, p. 426.","4. Obituary, Morgantown Weekly Post, Thursday, May 10, 1900.","5. Ware, A.F.; A Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","6. White, L.C.; West Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.","8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.","9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.","10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.","Prepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000.","1361","Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.","Series include:","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed","Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.","Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note.","West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)","English\n."],"collection_title_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"collection_ssim":["Waitman T. 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Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"geogname_ssim":["Monongalia County (W. Va.)","United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government"],"places_ssim":["Monongalia County (W. 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(Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"creators_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"access_terms_ssm":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Politics and government.","Secession","Temperance","Politicians -- United States","Statehood politics -- West Virginia","Diaries"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["9.2 Linear Feet Summary: 9 ft. 2 1/4 in. (22 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 oversize folder, 1/4 in.)"],"extent_tesim":["9.2 Linear Feet Summary: 9 ft. 2 1/4 in. (22 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 oversize folder, 1/4 in.)"],"genreform_ssim":["Diaries"],"date_range_isim":[1820,1821,1822,1823,1824,1825,1826,1827,1828,1829,1830,1831,1832,1833,1834,1835,1836,1837,1838,1839,1840,1841,1842,1843,1844,1845,1846,1847,1848,1849,1850,1851,1852,1853,1854,1855,1856,1857,1858,1859,1860,1861,1862,1863,1864,1865,1866,1867,1868,1869,1870,1871,1872,1873,1874,1875,1876,1877,1878,1879,1880,1881,1882,1883,1884,1885,1886,1887,1888,1889,1890,1891,1892,1893,1894,1895,1896,1897,1898,1899,1900,1901,1902,1903,1904,1905,1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eNo special access restriction applies.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eResearchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the \u003ca href=\"https://westvirginia.libanswers.com/wvrhc\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center reference department\u003c/a\u003e. \u003c/p\u003e  "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["No special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access digitized materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eWaitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWaitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilley remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWaitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNotes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eBibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eWaitman Thomas Willey\u003c/emph\u003e, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e2. Corson, L.D.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eLegislative Career of Waitman T. Willey\u003c/emph\u003e, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eDictionary of American Biography\u003c/emph\u003e, p. 426.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e4. \u003cemph render=\"italic\"\u003eObituary\u003c/emph\u003e, \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eMorgantown Weekly Post\u003c/emph\u003e, Thursday, May 10, 1900.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e5. Ware, A.F.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eA Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement\u003c/emph\u003e, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e6. White, L.C.; \u003cemph render=\"underline\"\u003eWest Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson\u003c/emph\u003e, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003ePrepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["Waitman Thomas Willey, West Virginia pioneer, lawyer, Methodist churchman, and United States Senator, was born October 18, 1811, at Buffalo Creek, Virginia (near Fairmont in Marion County, West Virginia), the son of William Willey, Jr., former Revolutionary War soldier under General Anthony Wayne, and Sarah Barnes, a member of a prominent family of northwestern Virginia.","Willey's first twelve years were spent at Buffalo Creek where his father's farm was a frontier homestead isolated from the few towns in the area. In 1823, the family (which now included stepmother, Mary McCormack Willey) moved to a farm on the Monongahela River in Monongalia County near present-day Rivesville. Here, Willey received a rudimentary formal education with readings from the classics and the Bible.","In 1827, Willey walked the forty miles from his home to Uniontown, Pennsylvania to attend Madison College (later Allegheny College) where he excelled in classical studies and mathematics. After three and one half years he received a B.A. degree, and then read law in the office of Philip Doddridge and John Campbell in Wellsburg, Brooke County, Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; in addition, he received an M.A. degree from Augusta College in Kentucky in 1834.","Willey settled in Morgantown, Monongalia County, Virginia, in 1832, with his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick Ray, a prominent citizen of Morgantown who was Clerk of the Court and a founder of the Morgantown Female Academy (to which he gave his home). The Willey family subsequently included seven children: Mary Ellen, wife of Dr. M.L. Casselberry of Morgantown; Sarah Barnes, wife of J. Marshall Hagans, distinguished judge; William Patrick, professor of law at West Virginia University; Julia, wife of Major William McGrew, Union Army officer, West Virginia state senator, and Morgantown banker; Thomas Ray, United States government clerk in the Interior Department; Louisa, unmarried, who remained at home; and John Byrne, deputy clerk of Monongalia County.","Waitman T. Willey maintained a successful and lucrative law practice in Morgantown for 67 years. He served as Monongalia County Clerk and clerk of the Circuit Superior Court from 1841 to 1852, and was Morgantown's first Superintendent of Schools. Willey had an early interest in politics and was an active member of the conservative Whig Party: he served as an elector for the Harrison-Tyler election of 1840, was an unsuccessful Whig candidate for Congress in 1852, an unsuccessful Opposition (Whig Party) candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1859, and a delegate to the Constitutional Union Party convention which nominated Bell and Everett for President and Vice President in 1860. In 1850, Willey had been a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention where he championed western Virginia interests, white manhood suffrage, and governmental reforms. Again, in 1861, he was a delegate to the Virginia Convention that voted for secession (Willey voted against it). In the subsequent, Pro-Union, reorganized legislature (the \"Restored Government of Virginia at Wheeling\"), Willey was elected to Congress to complete the term of James M. Mason for two years. While in the Senate, Willey actively introduced legislation to admit West Virginia into the Union. The Reorganized Government proposed a new state Constitution that Willey supported in Congress in 1862. Following revision of the proposal to include emancipation of slaves and a favorable referendum by the West Virginia voters, statehood was achieved in 1863.","Willey returned to the Senate in 1863 and was elected to the full six-year term in 1865. During his tenure, he initially opposed Republican lawmakers over issues involving the war, confiscation of rebel property, and slavery. But because of his \"ardent support\" of the Union, Willey's political views evolved through the years to support Republican aims, including national emancipation of slaves and disenfranchisement of disloyal citizens. He considered the latter appropriate in order to keep \"southern sympathizers\" from gaining control of West Virginia and perhaps reuniting the state with Virginia. Although Willey was aligned with conservative Republicans in the Senate, he did vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Reconstruction Acts, the removal of President Johnson, and the 14th and 15th Amendments. He opposed the Freedman's Bureau and the Enforcement Acts of 1870. Many in West Virginia opposed Republican Party policies, and in 1870 the party lost control of state government. Willey left the Senate in 1871 and returned to his Morgantown law practice and the County Clerkship (1882-1890).","Willey remained active in politics throughout his later life. He served in the 1872 State Constitutional Convention and supported Republican Party policies and candidates, and was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the GOP National Convention in 1876. He also continued his active service in the Methodist Church where he was an advocate for lay participation in the national conference and served as delegate from West Virginia in 1880. Willey was much in demand as a public speaker throughout his life -- he was called, \"old man eloquent\" -- because of his commanding appearance, \"thrilling\" voice, evident sincerity, and knowledge. He spoke frequently on Temperance, Methodist beliefs, politics, the classics, and history. He collected a large library, wrote numerous articles and a biography of Philip Doddridge. He received several honorary degrees, including LLD from Allegheny College and West Virginia University. Willey's last public appearance was at the funeral of Governor Pierpont when he gave a \"stirring\" eulogy. He was 88 years of age.","Waitman T. Willey, \"Grand Old Man of West Virginia,\" died May 2, 1900, at his home, Chancery Hill, in Morgantown. His funeral was the largest ever held in Morgantown to that time. He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.","Notes:\n1. In June, 1861, Willey was not present at the second convention in Wheeling at which the Reorganized Government of Virginia was established in preparation for statehood. His father and stepmother were fatally ill at the time and he was at home.","2. Willey never wrote a history of the statehood deliberations, politics, or conventions. He felt he was too biased to do justice to the history. No history was ever written by the participants.","Bibliography:\n1. Ambler, C.H.; Waitman Thomas Willey, 1954, Standard Printing and Publishing C., Huntington, W. Va.","2. Corson, L.D.; Legislative Career of Waitman T. Willey, 1942, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","3. Moore, J.T.; \"Waitman T. Willey,\" in Dictionary of American Biography, p. 426.","4. Obituary, Morgantown Weekly Post, Thursday, May 10, 1900.","5. Ware, A.F.; A Study of the Rhetoric of Waitman T. Willey in the West Virginia Statehood Movement, 1952, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","6. White, L.C.; West Virginia and Her U.S. Senators in the Impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, 1928, master's thesis, West Virginia University.","7. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Liberty and Union,\" 1854, Wheeling, J.E. Wharton, publisher. A speech.","8. Willey, Waitman T.; address delivered before the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia in the City of Wheeling, 12 February 1863.","9. Willey, Waitman T.; \"Historical Address,\" Celebration of the Municipal Centennial of Morgantown, 1885.","10. Willey, William P.; The Formation of the State of West Virginia, 1901, The News Publishing Co., Wheeling, W. Va.","Prepared by Carole B. Boyd, M.D., 2000."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Waitman T. Willey Papers, A\u0026amp;M 0003, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Waitman T. Willey Papers, A\u0026M 0003, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e1361\u003c/p\u003e  "],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related A\u0026M Collections"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["1361"],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePapers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSeries include:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSeries 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed\u003c/p\u003e  "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material.","Series include:","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied, 1840–1898, boxes 1-4\nSeries 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied, 1833–1900, boxes 4-16\nSeries 2. Financial Records, 1837–1869, boxes 17-18\nSeries 3. Legal Papers, 1820–1856, boxes 19-20\nSeries 4. W.T. Willey's Diary, 1830–1908, boxes 21-22\nSeries 5. Miscellaneous, 1827-1917, undated, box 22 and unboxed"],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePermission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/visit/permissions-and-copyright\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePermissions and Copyright page\u003c/a\u003e on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_18cd3685d4dadbc9e748f60d929a78ab\"\u003ePapers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note.\u003c/abstract\u003e\n    "],"abstract_tesim":["Papers of Waitman T. Willey (1811-1900), lawyer, senator, and founding father of West Virginia. A resident of Monongalia County, Willey was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1850, the Secession Convention of 1861, the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, and the Constitutional Convention of 1871. He was U.S. Senator from the Restored Government of Virginia (1861-1863) and Senator from West Virginia (1863-1871). Includes several thousand pieces of incoming correspondence to Waitman T. Willey dating from 1833 to 1900 (bulk 1859-1869) concerning political, social, and economic affairs. There is much material on the temperance movement in Virginia (1845-1860), the Civil War, and the statehood movement in West Virginia. Also includes miscellaneous financial records (1837-1869) and legal papers (1820-1856); Willey's diary (entries from 1830-1899, posthumously added clippings through 1908); and other material. For more information about Willey, see the Historical Note."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_5cf97afe325843f43df11ef15816113b\"\u003eWest Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/physloc\u003e\n    "],"physloc_tesim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center"],"corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)"],"names_coll_ssim":["United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"persname_ssim":["Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. (William Patrick)"],"names_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate","Virginia (Reorganized government : 1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1861-1863)","West Virginia. Constitutional Convention (1872)","Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","Battelle, Gordon.","Boreman, Arthur Inghram, 1823-1896","Camden, Gideon Draper, 1805-1891","Campbell, Archibald W., 1833-1899.","Carlile, John S. (John Snyder), 1817-1878","Davis, John J. (John James), 1835-1916","Dayton, Spencer","Goff, Nathan, 1843-1920","Hagans, John Marshall, 1838-1900","Hall, Granville Davisson, 1837-1934","Haymond, Alpheus F.","Jackson, John J.","Pendleton, John L.","Pierpont, Francis Harrison, 1814-1899","Stanton, Edwin M. (Edwin McMasters), 1814-1869","Summers, George W. (George William), 1804-1868","Van Winkle, P. G. (Peter Godwin), 1808-1872","Wade, Alexander L. (Alexander Luark), 1832-1904","Watson, James O.","Willey, William P. 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