The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1911-02-07
SOME EMINENT MEN.
List of Those Who Have Represented our State
BraXton Central. !

Gratis as senators will break the
tie that existed prior to the death
of Senator Elkins as to the term
of service of Democratic and Re-
publican senators respectively.
For in the fortyeight years of the
states existence, the aggregate
term of Republican senator's has
been just fortyeight years and
and the aggregate term of Dem
ocratic senators has been the
same.
While their terms have been of
equal length, the Democrats
have had seven senators while
the Republicans have had but
five, making the average length
of service of the Republican SEN
ators longer than the average for
the Democrats.
Senator Elkins, with sixteen
years of service to his credit,
lacking a few weeks, and two
wears more to serve when he
died, had the longest term Of Of
flee of any of the senators this
state has had. Senators Davis,
Faulkner and Scott, with twelve
years of service. rank next to
Senator Elkins in length of serv-
ice. Senator Kenna served ten
years, his career being ended,
like that of Senator Elkins, by
death when he had two more
years to serve. Senators Cam
den and Wiley had eight years
each of service. Senators Van
Wrinkle and Foreman served six
years each, while Senators Cap,
erton, Price and Hereford each
served part of the same six year
term. Mr.. Caperton. who was
elected to the senatorship, died.
Mr.. Price was appointed to fill
the vacancy for the rest of the
term.
When the state was formed, in
1868, the first senators chosen
were Peter G. Van Wrinkle, of
Parkersburg, and Waitman T.
Wiley, of Morgantown. Mr..
Wiley drew the snort term of
two years and was elected for a
full term as his own successor in
1865, serving until March a,
1871. Mr.. Wiley, who was
reckoned as one of the greatest
lawyers of his period, was a
member Of the constitutional
convention of 1861, and the West
Virginia convention, which
framed the states first ctnstitu-
ton. He was a senator from
Virginia under the restored gov
eminent and when the new state
was formed was a senator from
it He died on May 3, 1900.
Serving with Mr.. Wiley was
Mr.. Van Wrinkle. He, too, was
considered one of the best law
yers of his period and territory.
He was a member of the Virgin
ia constitutional convention of
1850 and assisted in framing
West Virginja's first constitution,
as a member of that convention.
He was a member of the reor-
ganization convention at Wheel
ing in 1861, and took an active
part in the formation of West
Virginia. He died April Is,
1872.
Arthur l. Boreman, of Parkers-
burg, succeeded Senator Van
Wrinkle in the Senate in 1859
being elected to the place while
he was serving as governor of
West Virginia. He took an act
i've part in the formation Of the
state and was president of the
Wheeling convention of 1861 to
reorganize the government of
Virginia. He died on August
10, 1896.
Henry Gassaway Davis. then
Of Piedmont, now of Elkins, was
the first Democratic senator.
| He succeeded w. Z. Wiley in
1871. Starting life as a poor
boy, working, on a farm and
afterward as brakeman on the
| Baltimore and Ohio railroad. he
gradually engaged in coal min
ing, banking and railroad con-
struction. He served twelve
years in the senate, retiring in
| 1893 Size which time he has de-