The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-01-09
non. Waitman I. Wiley.


Al
pnNmuafy LIST, Hon. Waitman L.
Wiley teIinqaished the cares Of his
Office and retired to private life after
half a century spent in the service
of the people. No man has ever been
more often or more highly honored
by the people Of the two Virginias
than be and in all the positions Of
trust which he occupied, the same
steady, persistent and faithful dis
charge of duty marked his every ac-
ton. Born of poor and humble par
entage his early education was mea-
gre and his entire success is due
largely to his indomitable perseyer-
ance. No obstacle daunted him, and
his career will ever remain as a
glowing monument of what can be
accomplished by all in this land of
equality. Few men in the two Vir-
ginias are better known than he to
the country at large.
He is eighty-five years old and
retires from public life because of
physical infirmities. His first po-
| litical honor came in 1910, when he
was an elector on the Harrison and
Tyler ticket. He was clerk of the
Circuit Court Of Monongalia county
from 1910 to 1852, was member of
the constitutional convention of Vir-
ginia, wing candidate for congress
in 1852 and whig candidate for
Lieutenant-Governor of Virginia In
1859. He was member of the Vir-
ginia convention Of 1861, and voted
against secession. In that year he
was elected to the United States Sen
ate by the Legislature or what was
known as the Restored Government
of Virginia" taking the place OF
Hon. James NJ. Mason. He was a
member of the constitutional con-
vention at Wheeling which framed
the first constitution of West Vir-
| ginia, and framed the present State
constitution of 1872 He was elect.
ed one Of the first senators from the
new state in 1868. drawing the shor,
term, but in 1865 was reelected for
a full term. In 1876 he was dele
gate at large to the Republican ma
tional convention, and in 1882 hi
was elected Clerk of the County
Court of Monongalia, which position
he has since filled.
Besides his political career Mr.
Wiley has been prominent in church
work. He was several times dele
gate TO the General Conference o
the Methodist Episcopal Churcl
and always took an active part in
the state conferences. He was con
sidered one of West Virginia great
. est orators, and even in his old ag,
warns up with fiery eloquence whel
, talking upon theme dear to hi
heart.
The temperance cause has always
found him staunch advocate ant
several pamphlets and speeches writ
ten by him ON this subject hav,
t brought him national reputation
f His well known ability as an orato
has several times been the means o
his receiving invitations to address
the better class of colleges and oncs
: this took him to Connecticut wher
he addressed the students of Yves
leyan College.
: He retires to private life full o
years and Of honors beloved by al
who know him. The memory of hi
kindly deeds has erected a monu
: ment in the hearts of his fellow citi
zens which will endure while life en-
dures. Rarely is such great low
, and affection experienced for an,
/ man as for the subject of this incom
f plete sketch and never has one s.
thoroughly deserved the enconium
! well done thou good and faithful
servant May his declining year
be as full of peace as his meridian
was full Of honors,