Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-29
BON. W. H. TRAxERS,
One of Charles Towns Leading Lawyers.
Died Suddenly in Virginia Yesterday

Died Suddenly in Virginia Yesterday.
Special 70 the Register.
Charles Town, W. Va, March IS
News was received here to-day an
nouncing the sudden death Of Hon. VIM.
II. Travers at noon to-day, at Radford,
Va. Mr.. Travers left this place last
Friday and went to Roanoke on legal
Railroad Company, and was in his usual
health. On Sunday he went to RAD
ford to visit his son-in-law, Mr.. w. W.
Coe, civil engineer of the n. & W.
While with his son-in-law he was taken
suddenly i'll with nervous attack, and
sunk rapidly until his death. Mr.. Trav-
ers was born in Dorchester county, Md,
November 2, 1925, and was in his
seventy-fourth year.
lege in Baltimore and was graduated
in 1S4S. He subsequently studied law
and was admitted TO the bar in Balti-
more in 1851, and at once took rank
as lawyer. He was married in Char
les Town in August, 1858, TO Miss
Elizabeth Pendleton Hunter, daughter
of DR.. David Hunter, and they resided
in Baltimore until 1861, when they re-
moved to this place and he continued
the practice of law as a member OF the
bar of Jefferson county. He soon be-
came one of the leading lawyers of
West Virginia, and in 1879 he was APP
pointed general counsel for the Shen-
andoah Valley railroad, which posi-
ton he held till that road was pur-
chased by the Norfolk & Western, and
this road subsequently made him its
general counsel.
In politics, Mr.. Travers was life
long Democrat, and began his political
career in the city of Baltimore, where
he was elected to the Maryland Legis-
lature in 1856, and was made Speaker
of the House of Delegates, over which
body he presided with fairness. abil-
ity and distinction. After coming to
Virginia in 1861, he identified himself
with the Democratic party, and when
the State of West Virginia was formed
in 1863, he soon became one of her
leading statesmen in shaping the pol
icy of the new State. In 1872, he was
a member of the first Democratic Con-
stitutional Convention held in the new
State, which met at Charleston. As
a member of this convention he was
made chairman of the finance, educa-
ton and corporation committees, and
his services in that body were OF in
estimable value in forming the const-
tuition which was to govern and con-
troll the rights of citizens. He was an
elector at large for the State in the
electoral college in 1876 and also in
1888, in the former Of which he voted
for Samuel j. Tilden. and in the latter
he voted for Cleveland.
He was a great admirer OF Mr.. Cleve-
land and regarded him as one of our
ablest Presidents. In 1861. during the fight
In the Legislature against the reelection
of Senator Camden. Mr.. Travers received
several votes for that office. although he
was not a candidate. While he was always
willing and ready to serve his party. yet
he was never an aggressive candidate for
any political honors. His natural modesty
prevented his pushing himself to the
front. where there was heated contest.
He rendered valuable services in the pro-
motion and organization OF the Shenan-
doah Valley road.
widow and two daughters Mrs. W.
w. Coe, and Miss Bessie H. Travers sur
vive him. His body viii be brought to
this place tomorrow for Intermeut.