Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1893-09-06
THE GOVERNORS or ONO.
Jefferson County has Furnished Four Of
Them--T Ti1fn, Horthfngtoa, Nor
rotr aud Lucas.

A Gazette reporter dropped into the Office
Of State Superintendent Lewis yesterday
and found him engaged in tabulating the
work of the State normal schools, which he
says have just completed the most prosper
ous year in the history ofiheir existence.
by the way" said Professor Lewis. who
is well-known historian as well as educs-
Ior, II notice that the press of our State
express pride in the fact that Hon. Law
renee T. Neal. candidate for Governor OF
Ohio, is "A West yirginian. Do you know
that if he should be elected he will be the
fifth West Virginian who will have been
chosen to Gil the gubernatorial chair in
that great States"
NO." said the news man, who we're
theys"
'The first of these" said Superintendent
Lewis, "was DR.. Edward Tflin, who was
born in l766, and was resident Of Berke-
ley (now Jetfersonl county, as is shown by
the records of the University of Pennslyva-
MIA, from the medical department Of which
he was graduated when but eighteen years
of age. In 1889 he married Mary Worth
ington of Charles Town, the present seat Of
justice of Jefferson county. aud in 1896 with
his brother-in.law. Thomas Worthington,
and Robert Lucas, he removed to Chilli
cothe, Ohio. then ia the Northwest Terri
tory. He became the first commonwealth
gavernor upon the admission OF the State in
1908, and served two terms, the last being
characterized by the BUR Blennerhassett
conspiracy. Later he became U. S. Sem
ator, and in 1909 President Madison APP
pointed him the chief of the national land
Office, and in 1913 when the British burn
ed the national capitol. ex Governor Tifin
was one Of the lew heads of bureaus who
saved the records Of his office. He died In
1929.
"rhe second WAS Thomas Worthington,
the brother in-law OF the former. with
whom he went to Chilicothe in 1896 =
Young Worthington was born near Charles
Town, Jefferson county, in 1863. He held
many positions Of trust aud honor and be-
came governor of the State in 1916. He
died at Chilicothe in 1927.
"The third was Jeremiah Morrow, who
was born at or near Shepherdstown. then
in Berkeley county. October G. l77i. aud 10
L. - a..
Territory. later becoming resident of what
is now Warren county, Ohio, where he died
in 1852. While governor OF the State in
1925. he entertained the Duke Of SAKE
Weimer who at that year WAS the guest Of
the nation.
"The fourth West Virgnian to become
governor of the great State was Robert Lu-
cas-. the boy who accompanied Edward
'rfTin and Thomas Wonhington 10 Ohio in
1896 He was born near Sbepherdstown,
Jefferson county, April |, 1881. his father
having been captain in the Revolutionary
army and descendant of William Penn
During the war of 1912, Robert Lucas serv.
ed on the northern frontier. He rose to
prominence rapidly. In 1912 be was chair.
man of the National Democratic Conven.
tion which nominated Andrew Jackson for
second presidential term, and the same
year he was elected governor Of Ohio. de-
feating General Macarthur by but one vote.
In lS48 he was appointed governor Of Iowa
and died at Iowa City in 1853.
"And now If Larry Neal Is elected the
fifth West Virginia governor Of Ohio. all
West Virginians will feel a natural State
pride in this administration. - Chorleston
2o.eff<