{"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Waitman+T.+Willey+Papers%2C+1820%2F1917\u0026f%5Bdate_range%5D%5B%5D=1877\u0026view=list","last":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Waitman+T.+Willey+Papers%2C+1820%2F1917\u0026f%5Bdate_range%5D%5B%5D=1877\u0026page=1\u0026view=list"},"meta":{"pages":{"current_page":1,"next_page":null,"prev_page":null,"total_pages":1,"limit_value":10,"offset_value":0,"total_count":9,"first_page?":true,"last_page?":true}},"data":[{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01_c56","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"Item Nos. 1103-1122, 1876/1877","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01_c56#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eTopics include:\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01_c56#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01_c56","ref_ssm":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01_c56"],"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01_c56","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. 1103-1122","title_ssm":["Item Nos. 1103-1122"],"title_tesim":["Item Nos. 1103-1122"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Item Nos. 1103-1122, 1876/1877"],"text":["Item Nos. 1103-1122, 1876/1877","Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840/1898","Box 4","Folder 7","Topics include:","Politics: Items 1105, 1107, 1109-1110, 1112-1113, 1115-1116, 1118, 1120-1122 (church position and convention held in Cincinnati; West Virginia politics; money for river locks and dams; location of state capitol)","Family and Friends: Items 1106, 1108, 1111, 1117, 1119 (WTW appointed to National Historical Convention; church convention; letter from a cousin)","Law/Business: Items 1104, 1114 (landowner's estate, Wall Street brokers and stock sales)"],"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":[1876,1877],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eTopics include:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Politics: Items 1105, 1107, 1109-1110, 1112-1113, 1115-1116, 1118, 1120-1122 (church position and convention held in Cincinnati; West Virginia politics; money for river locks and dams; location of state capitol) \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFamily and Friends: Items 1106, 1108, 1111, 1117, 1119 (WTW appointed to National Historical Convention; church convention; letter from a cousin) \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eLaw/Business: Items 1104, 1114 (landowner's estate, Wall Street brokers and stock sales)\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Topics include:","Politics: Items 1105, 1107, 1109-1110, 1112-1113, 1115-1116, 1118, 1120-1122 (church position and convention held in Cincinnati; West Virginia politics; money for river locks and dams; location of state capitol)","Family and Friends: Items 1106, 1108, 1111, 1117, 1119 (WTW appointed to National Historical Convention; church convention; letter from a cousin)","Law/Business: Items 1104, 1114 (landowner's estate, Wall Street brokers and stock sales)"],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#55","timestamp":"2026-08-14T23:08:12.086Z","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":"2026-08-14T23:08:12.086Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01_c56"}},{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02_c15","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"Item Nos. 5765-5884, 1870/1879","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02_c15#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eTopics include:\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02_c15#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02_c15","ref_ssm":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02_c15"],"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02_c15","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. 5765-5884","title_ssm":["Item Nos. 5765-5884"],"title_tesim":["Item Nos. 5765-5884"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Item Nos. 5765-5884, 1870/1879"],"text":["Item Nos. 5765-5884, 1870/1879","Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied [boxes 4-16], 1833/1900","Box 14","Folder 22-27","Topics include:","Politics","Government","Family and Friends","Business (folder 22 -- letter charging US District Attorney, General Goff, with fraud [item 5776] and a letter lobbying to reject bill in Congress giving franking privileges to senators on the grounds it will force newspapers out of business [item 5784]; folder 23 -- letter from mayor of Lewisburg, WV, requesting job to get him away from the \"rebels\" in Greenbrier County [item 5786]; a letter lobbying for the government to do something for the railroads in WV since \"all the bridges\" were destroyed by the \"rebels\" [item 5788]; folders 24, 25, 27 -- similar subjects as above; folder 26 -- a letter requesting seeds and bulbs from the Agriculture Department [items 5849, 5851]; letters praising speech by WTW regarding Southern loyalists [items 5847, 5848] and a news article about fraud involving counterfeit money [item 5863])"],"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":["1870/1879"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1870s"],"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":76,"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"collection_ssim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"containers_ssim":["Box 14","Folder 22-27"],"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":[1870,1871,1872,1873,1874,1875,1876,1877,1878,1879],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eTopics include:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Politics\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eGovernment\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFamily and Friends\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eBusiness (folder 22 -- letter charging US District Attorney, General Goff, with fraud [item 5776] and a letter lobbying to reject bill in Congress giving franking privileges to senators on the grounds it will force newspapers out of business [item 5784]; folder 23 -- letter from mayor of Lewisburg, WV, requesting job to get him away from the \"rebels\" in Greenbrier County [item 5786]; a letter lobbying for the government to do something for the railroads in WV since \"all the bridges\" were destroyed by the \"rebels\" [item 5788]; folders 24, 25, 27 -- similar subjects as above; folder 26 -- a letter requesting seeds and bulbs from the Agriculture Department [items 5849, 5851]; letters praising speech by WTW regarding Southern loyalists [items 5847, 5848] and a news article about fraud involving counterfeit money [item 5863])\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Topics include:","Politics","Government","Family and Friends","Business (folder 22 -- letter charging US District Attorney, General Goff, with fraud [item 5776] and a letter lobbying to reject bill in Congress giving franking privileges to senators on the grounds it will force newspapers out of business [item 5784]; folder 23 -- letter from mayor of Lewisburg, WV, requesting job to get him away from the \"rebels\" in Greenbrier County [item 5786]; a letter lobbying for the government to do something for the railroads in WV since \"all the bridges\" were destroyed by the \"rebels\" [item 5788]; folders 24, 25, 27 -- similar subjects as above; folder 26 -- a letter requesting seeds and bulbs from the Agriculture Department [items 5849, 5851]; letters praising speech by WTW regarding Southern loyalists [items 5847, 5848] and a news article about fraud involving counterfeit money [item 5863])"],"_nest_path_":"/components#1/components#14","timestamp":"2026-08-14T23:08:12.086Z","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":"2026-08-14T23:08:12.086Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02_c15"}},{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02_c16","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"Item Nos. 5885-6285, 1870/1879","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02_c16#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eTopics include:\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02_c16#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02_c16","ref_ssm":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02_c16"],"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02_c16","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. 5885-6285","title_ssm":["Item Nos. 5885-6285"],"title_tesim":["Item Nos. 5885-6285"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Item Nos. 5885-6285, 1870/1879"],"text":["Item Nos. 5885-6285, 1870/1879","Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied [boxes 4-16], 1833/1900","Box 15","Folder 1-20","Topics include:","Politics","Government","Family and Friends","Business (after 1871 the incoming letters concern matters of law, business, politics, friends, and family; they do not pertain to governmental activities)","(folder 1 -- letter regarding the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution [items 5885, 5904] and a letter from Elizabeth Ray Willey [WTW's wife] about home, crops, weather, and whether WTW wants another term in Senate [item 5902]; folder 2 -- an invitation for WTW to an excursion on the new Kansas-Pacific Railroad [item 5908] and more on the 15th Amendment [item 5909]; folder 10 -- contains the first postcard among the incoming letters; folder 19 -- letter detailing property values in Missouri and a letter from A.L. Purinton of Morgantown requesting job as agent for the \"civilized tribes\" in Bureau of Indian Affairs; folder 20 -- letter inviting WTW to lay cornerstone for a new building at Waynesburg College [July 1879])"],"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":["1870/1879"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1870s"],"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":77,"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"collection_ssim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"containers_ssim":["Box 15","Folder 1-20"],"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":[1870,1871,1872,1873,1874,1875,1876,1877,1878,1879],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eTopics include:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Politics\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eGovernment\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFamily and Friends\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eBusiness (after 1871 the incoming letters concern matters of law, business, politics, friends, and family; they do not pertain to governmental activities)\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e(folder 1 -- letter regarding the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution [items 5885, 5904] and a letter from Elizabeth Ray Willey [WTW's wife] about home, crops, weather, and whether WTW wants another term in Senate [item 5902]; folder 2 -- an invitation for WTW to an excursion on the new Kansas-Pacific Railroad [item 5908] and more on the 15th Amendment [item 5909]; folder 10 -- contains the first postcard among the incoming letters; folder 19 -- letter detailing property values in Missouri and a letter from A.L. Purinton of Morgantown requesting job as agent for the \"civilized tribes\" in Bureau of Indian Affairs; folder 20 -- letter inviting WTW to lay cornerstone for a new building at Waynesburg College [July 1879])\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Topics include:","Politics","Government","Family and Friends","Business (after 1871 the incoming letters concern matters of law, business, politics, friends, and family; they do not pertain to governmental activities)","(folder 1 -- letter regarding the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution [items 5885, 5904] and a letter from Elizabeth Ray Willey [WTW's wife] about home, crops, weather, and whether WTW wants another term in Senate [item 5902]; folder 2 -- an invitation for WTW to an excursion on the new Kansas-Pacific Railroad [item 5908] and more on the 15th Amendment [item 5909]; folder 10 -- contains the first postcard among the incoming letters; folder 19 -- letter detailing property values in Missouri and a letter from A.L. Purinton of Morgantown requesting job as agent for the \"civilized tribes\" in Bureau of Indian Affairs; folder 20 -- letter inviting WTW to lay cornerstone for a new building at Waynesburg College [July 1879])"],"_nest_path_":"/components#1/components#15","timestamp":"2026-08-14T23:08:12.086Z","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":"2026-08-14T23:08:12.086Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02_c16"}},{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01","type":"Series","attributes":{"title":"Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840/1898","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eThis series includes letters written to Waitman T. Willey (WTW). The letters can be divided into four major categories: politics; governmental service and the Civil War; family and church affairs; and law and business activities. Willey wrote the name of the correspondent and the date on each letter. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01","ref_ssm":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01"],"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","parent_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","parent_ssim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"parent_ids_ssim":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345"],"title_filing_ssi":"Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4]","title_ssm":["Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4]"],"title_tesim":["Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4]"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840/1898"],"text":["Series 1a. Incoming Correspondence -- Transcribed/Copied [boxes 1-4], 1840/1898","Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Box 1","Box 2","Box 3","Box 4","Folder 1-10","This series includes letters written to Waitman T. Willey (WTW). The letters can be divided into four major categories: politics; governmental service and the Civil War; family and church affairs; and law and business activities. Willey wrote the name of the correspondent and the date on each letter.","The letters have been previously divided into \"copied\" (Series 1a.) and \"not copied\" (Series 1b.) categories; the former refers to a select number of the letters for which transcripts were made, apparently in connection with research by Ambler for his biography of Willey. These transcripts are filed in the Charles H. Ambler Collection (A\u0026M 122, boxes 10-12). In general, the \"copied\" letters are more pertinent to Willey's political career, especially his senate tenure during the Civil War, and his Methodist Church activities. Although the \"not copied\" letters also include material regarding his political and church activities, they are more concerned with his law and business interests, and family and friends. \n\"Copied\" (transcribed) letters are found in boxes 1 through 4, are numbered 1 through 1181, and date from 1833 to 1898.","\"Not copied\" (not transcribed) letters are found in boxes 4 through 16, are numbered 1182 through 7008, and date from 1833 to 1900.","The incoming letters encompass a variety of topics:","Everyday life in rural United States in the 19th Century (e.g., West Virginia); life in newly developed urban centers (e.g., St. Louis, Missouri, and Washington, D.C.); political life before the Civil War in Virginia and later in West Virginia; the plight of citizens and communities resulting from war (e.g., battle casualties and damage, reparation requests, loyalty \"disabilities\"); new territories and foreign countries visited by Willey's correspondents (e.g., the Western Territories of the USA, China, Japan, Central America, and Australia in the 1860s); the Methodist Church, temperance movement, school activities and needs (e.g., those of his sons and of the early years of West Virginia University).","The letters represent the opinions, observations, requests, and activities of Willey's correspondents, and Willey himself is seen only through their writings. Willey's thoughts and commentaries can be found in his two-volume diary (see Series 4, W.T. Willey's Diary, boxes 21-22).","Selected correspondents include:","Robert Anderson; \nW.W. Arnett; \nJames Barns (WTW's uncle); \nGordon Battelle; \nAlfred Beckley; \nJudge Berkshire; \nJacob Blair (Minister to Costa Rica); \nGovernor Arthur I. Boreman of West Virginia; \nR.M. Brown (U.S. Navy); \nGideon D. Camden; \nArchibald W. Campbell; \nJohn S. Carlile; \nSecretary of Treasury [Salmon P.?] Chase; \nSchyler Colfax; \nJohn J. Davis; \nSpencer Dayton; \nH.C. Dean; \nM.M. Dent; \nH. Dering; \nT.J. Evans; \nHarrison Hagans; \nJ. Marshall Hagans; \nGranville D. Hall; \nAlpheus F. Haymond; \nT. and L. Haymond; \nRichard Garrett; \nNathan Goff; \nUlysses S. Grant (autograph); \nJohn J. Jackson; \nGovernor John Letcher of Virginia; \nAlexander Martin (West Virginia University President); \nJohn L. Pendleton; \nFrancis H. Pierpont (governor of loyal Virginia); \nT.P. Ray; \nGeneral Winfield Scott (copy of letter); \nF.W. Seward; \nW.M. Shinn; \nEdwin M. Stanton; \nGovernor William E. Stevenson of West Virginia; \nDavid Hunter Strother; \nGeorge W. Summers; \nPeter G. Van Winkle (U.S. Senator with Willey); \nAlexander L. Wade; \nJames O. Watson; \nWilliam J. Willey (regarding Virginia legislature, 1830s); \nWilley's sons (William, John, Ray), daughters, and wife.","The letters are generally in good condition and legible. Many letters have the original franking information and/or stamps; envelopes are few in number. Many letters have embossed watermarks or printed letterheads, and typewritten letters appear during the late 1800s."],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1840/1898"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1840–1898"],"level_ssm":["Series"],"level_ssim":["Series"],"component_level_isim":[1],"sort_isi":1,"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"collection_ssim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"containers_ssim":["Box 1","Box 2","Box 3","Box 4","Folder 1-10"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":59,"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":[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],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThis series includes letters written to Waitman T. Willey (WTW). The letters can be divided into four major categories: politics; governmental service and the Civil War; family and church affairs; and law and business activities. Willey wrote the name of the correspondent and the date on each letter. \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe letters have been previously divided into \"copied\" (Series 1a.) and \"not copied\" (Series 1b.) categories; the former refers to a select number of the letters for which transcripts were made, apparently in connection with research by Ambler for his biography of Willey. These transcripts are filed in the Charles H. Ambler Collection (A\u0026amp;M 122, boxes 10-12). In general, the \"copied\" letters are more pertinent to Willey's political career, especially his senate tenure during the Civil War, and his Methodist Church activities. Although the \"not copied\" letters also include material regarding his political and church activities, they are more concerned with his law and business interests, and family and friends. \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\n\"Copied\" (transcribed) letters are found in boxes 1 through 4, are numbered 1 through 1181, and date from 1833 to 1898. \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"Not copied\" (not transcribed) letters are found in boxes 4 through 16, are numbered 1182 through 7008, and date from 1833 to 1900. \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe incoming letters encompass a variety of topics: \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEveryday life in rural United States in the 19th Century (e.g., West Virginia); life in newly developed urban centers (e.g., St. Louis, Missouri, and Washington, D.C.); political life before the Civil War in Virginia and later in West Virginia; the plight of citizens and communities resulting from war (e.g., battle casualties and damage, reparation requests, loyalty \"disabilities\"); new territories and foreign countries visited by Willey's correspondents (e.g., the Western Territories of the USA, China, Japan, Central America, and Australia in the 1860s); the Methodist Church, temperance movement, school activities and needs (e.g., those of his sons and of the early years of West Virginia University). \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe letters represent the opinions, observations, requests, and activities of Willey's correspondents, and Willey himself is seen only through their writings. Willey's thoughts and commentaries can be found in his two-volume diary (see Series 4, W.T. Willey's Diary, boxes 21-22). \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSelected correspondents include:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eRobert Anderson; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nW.W. Arnett; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nJames Barns (WTW's uncle); \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nGordon Battelle; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nAlfred Beckley; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nJudge Berkshire; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nJacob Blair (Minister to Costa Rica); \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nGovernor Arthur I. Boreman of West Virginia; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nR.M. Brown (U.S. Navy); \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nGideon D. Camden; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nArchibald W. Campbell; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nJohn S. Carlile; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nSecretary of Treasury [Salmon P.?] Chase; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nSchyler Colfax; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nJohn J. Davis; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nSpencer Dayton; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nH.C. Dean; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nM.M. Dent; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nH. Dering; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nT.J. Evans; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nHarrison Hagans; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nJ. Marshall Hagans; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nGranville D. Hall; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nAlpheus F. Haymond; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nT. and L. Haymond; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nRichard Garrett; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nNathan Goff; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nUlysses S. Grant (autograph); \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nJohn J. Jackson; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nGovernor John Letcher of Virginia; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nAlexander Martin (West Virginia University President); \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nJohn L. Pendleton; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nFrancis H. Pierpont (governor of loyal Virginia); \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nT.P. Ray; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nGeneral Winfield Scott (copy of letter); \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nF.W. Seward; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nW.M. Shinn; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nEdwin M. Stanton; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nGovernor William E. Stevenson of West Virginia; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nDavid Hunter Strother; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nGeorge W. Summers; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nPeter G. Van Winkle (U.S. Senator with Willey); \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nAlexander L. Wade; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nJames O. Watson; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nWilliam J. Willey (regarding Virginia legislature, 1830s); \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nWilley's sons (William, John, Ray), daughters, and wife.\u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe letters are generally in good condition and legible. Many letters have the original franking information and/or stamps; envelopes are few in number. Many letters have embossed watermarks or printed letterheads, and typewritten letters appear during the late 1800s.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["This series includes letters written to Waitman T. Willey (WTW). The letters can be divided into four major categories: politics; governmental service and the Civil War; family and church affairs; and law and business activities. Willey wrote the name of the correspondent and the date on each letter.","The letters have been previously divided into \"copied\" (Series 1a.) and \"not copied\" (Series 1b.) categories; the former refers to a select number of the letters for which transcripts were made, apparently in connection with research by Ambler for his biography of Willey. These transcripts are filed in the Charles H. Ambler Collection (A\u0026M 122, boxes 10-12). In general, the \"copied\" letters are more pertinent to Willey's political career, especially his senate tenure during the Civil War, and his Methodist Church activities. Although the \"not copied\" letters also include material regarding his political and church activities, they are more concerned with his law and business interests, and family and friends. \n\"Copied\" (transcribed) letters are found in boxes 1 through 4, are numbered 1 through 1181, and date from 1833 to 1898.","\"Not copied\" (not transcribed) letters are found in boxes 4 through 16, are numbered 1182 through 7008, and date from 1833 to 1900.","The incoming letters encompass a variety of topics:","Everyday life in rural United States in the 19th Century (e.g., West Virginia); life in newly developed urban centers (e.g., St. Louis, Missouri, and Washington, D.C.); political life before the Civil War in Virginia and later in West Virginia; the plight of citizens and communities resulting from war (e.g., battle casualties and damage, reparation requests, loyalty \"disabilities\"); new territories and foreign countries visited by Willey's correspondents (e.g., the Western Territories of the USA, China, Japan, Central America, and Australia in the 1860s); the Methodist Church, temperance movement, school activities and needs (e.g., those of his sons and of the early years of West Virginia University).","The letters represent the opinions, observations, requests, and activities of Willey's correspondents, and Willey himself is seen only through their writings. Willey's thoughts and commentaries can be found in his two-volume diary (see Series 4, W.T. Willey's Diary, boxes 21-22).","Selected correspondents include:","Robert Anderson; \nW.W. Arnett; \nJames Barns (WTW's uncle); \nGordon Battelle; \nAlfred Beckley; \nJudge Berkshire; \nJacob Blair (Minister to Costa Rica); \nGovernor Arthur I. Boreman of West Virginia; \nR.M. Brown (U.S. Navy); \nGideon D. Camden; \nArchibald W. Campbell; \nJohn S. Carlile; \nSecretary of Treasury [Salmon P.?] Chase; \nSchyler Colfax; \nJohn J. Davis; \nSpencer Dayton; \nH.C. Dean; \nM.M. Dent; \nH. Dering; \nT.J. Evans; \nHarrison Hagans; \nJ. Marshall Hagans; \nGranville D. Hall; \nAlpheus F. Haymond; \nT. and L. Haymond; \nRichard Garrett; \nNathan Goff; \nUlysses S. Grant (autograph); \nJohn J. Jackson; \nGovernor John Letcher of Virginia; \nAlexander Martin (West Virginia University President); \nJohn L. Pendleton; \nFrancis H. Pierpont (governor of loyal Virginia); \nT.P. Ray; \nGeneral Winfield Scott (copy of letter); \nF.W. Seward; \nW.M. Shinn; \nEdwin M. Stanton; \nGovernor William E. Stevenson of West Virginia; \nDavid Hunter Strother; \nGeorge W. Summers; \nPeter G. Van Winkle (U.S. Senator with Willey); \nAlexander L. Wade; \nJames O. Watson; \nWilliam J. Willey (regarding Virginia legislature, 1830s); \nWilley's sons (William, John, Ray), daughters, and wife.","The letters are generally in good condition and legible. Many letters have the original franking information and/or stamps; envelopes are few in number. Many letters have embossed watermarks or printed letterheads, and typewritten letters appear during the late 1800s."],"_nest_path_":"/components#0","timestamp":"2026-08-14T23:08:12.086Z","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":"2026-08-14T23:08:12.086Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c01"}},{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02","type":"Series","attributes":{"title":"Series 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied [boxes 4-16], 1833/1900","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eThis series includes letters written to Waitman T. Willey (WTW). The letters can be divided into four major categories: politics; governmental service and the Civil War; family and church affairs; and law and business activities. Willey wrote the name of the correspondent and the date on each letter. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02","ref_ssm":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02"],"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c02","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","parent_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","parent_ssim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"parent_ids_ssim":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345"],"title_filing_ssi":"Series 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied [boxes 4-16]","title_ssm":["Series 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied [boxes 4-16]"],"title_tesim":["Series 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied [boxes 4-16]"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Series 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied [boxes 4-16], 1833/1900"],"text":["Series 1b. Incoming Correspondence -- Non-Transcribed/Not Copied [boxes 4-16], 1833/1900","Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Box 4","Folder 11-12","Box 5","Box 6","Box 7","Box 8","Box 9","Box 10","Box 11","Box 12","Box 13","Box 14","Box 15","Box 16","This series includes letters written to Waitman T. Willey (WTW). The letters can be divided into four major categories: politics; governmental service and the Civil War; family and church affairs; and law and business activities. Willey wrote the name of the correspondent and the date on each letter.","The letters have been previously divided into \"copied\" (Series 1a.) and \"not copied\" (Series 1b.) categories; the former refers to a select number of the letters for which transcripts were made, apparently in connection with research by Ambler for his biography of Willey. These transcripts are filed in the Charles H. Ambler Collection (A\u0026M 122, boxes 10-12). In general, the \"copied\" letters are more pertinent to Willey's political career, especially his senate tenure during the Civil War, and his Methodist Church activities. Although the \"not copied\" letters also include material regarding his political and church activities, they are more concerned with his law and business interests, and family and friends. \n\"Copied\" (transcribed) letters are found in boxes 1 through 4, are numbered 1 through 1181, and date from 1833 to 1898.","\"Not copied\" (not transcribed) letters are found in boxes 4 through 16, are numbered 1182 through 7008, and date from 1833 to 1900.","The incoming letters encompass a variety of topics:","Everyday life in rural United States in the 19th Century (e.g., West Virginia); life in newly developed urban centers (e.g., St. Louis, Missouri, and Washington, D.C.); political life before the Civil War in Virginia and later in West Virginia; the plight of citizens and communities resulting from war (e.g., battle casualties and damage, reparation requests, loyalty \"disabilities\"); new territories and foreign countries visited by Willey's correspondents (e.g., the Western Territories of the USA, China, Japan, Central America, and Australia in the 1860s); the Methodist Church, temperance movement, school activities and needs (e.g., those of his sons and of the early years of West Virginia University).","The letters represent the opinions, observations, requests, and activities of Willey's correspondents, and Willey himself is seen only through their writings. Willey's thoughts and commentaries can be found in his two-volume diary (see Series 4, W.T. Willey's Diary, boxes 21-22).","Selected correspondents include:","Robert Anderson; \nW.W. Arnett; \nJames Barns (WTW's uncle); \nGordon Battelle; \nAlfred Beckley; \nJudge Berkshire; \nJacob Blair (Minister to Costa Rica); \nGovernor Arthur I. Boreman of West Virginia; \nR.M. Brown (U.S. Navy); \nGideon D. Camden; \nArchibald W. Campbell; \nJohn S. Carlile; \nSecretary of Treasury [Salmon P.?] Chase; \nSchyler Colfax; \nJohn J. Davis; \nSpencer Dayton; \nH.C. Dean; \nM.M. Dent; \nH. Dering; \nT.J. Evans; \nHarrison Hagans; \nJ. Marshall Hagans; \nGranville D. Hall; \nAlpheus F. Haymond; \nT. and L. Haymond; \nRichard Garrett; \nNathan Goff; \nUlysses S. Grant (autograph); \nJohn J. Jackson; \nGovernor John Letcher of Virginia; \nAlexander Martin (West Virginia University President); \nJohn L. Pendleton; \nFrancis H. Pierpont (governor of loyal Virginia); \nT.P. Ray; \nGeneral Winfield Scott (copy of letter); \nF.W. Seward; \nW.M. Shinn; \nEdwin M. Stanton; \nGovernor William E. Stevenson of West Virginia; \nDavid Hunter Strother; \nGeorge W. Summers; \nPeter G. Van Winkle (U.S. Senator with Willey); \nAlexander L. Wade; \nJames O. Watson; \nWilliam J. Willey (regarding Virginia legislature, 1830s); \nWilley's sons (William, John, Ray), daughters, and wife.","The letters are generally in good condition and legible. Many letters have the original franking information and/or stamps; envelopes are few in number. Many letters have embossed watermarks or printed letterheads, and typewritten letters appear during the late 1800s."],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1833/1900"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1833–1900"],"level_ssm":["Series"],"level_ssim":["Series"],"component_level_isim":[1],"sort_isi":61,"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"collection_ssim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"containers_ssim":["Box 4","Folder 11-12","Box 5","Box 6","Box 7","Box 8","Box 9","Box 10","Box 11","Box 12","Box 13","Box 14","Box 15","Box 16"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":20,"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":[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],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThis series includes letters written to Waitman T. Willey (WTW). The letters can be divided into four major categories: politics; governmental service and the Civil War; family and church affairs; and law and business activities. Willey wrote the name of the correspondent and the date on each letter. \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe letters have been previously divided into \"copied\" (Series 1a.) and \"not copied\" (Series 1b.) categories; the former refers to a select number of the letters for which transcripts were made, apparently in connection with research by Ambler for his biography of Willey. These transcripts are filed in the Charles H. Ambler Collection (A\u0026amp;M 122, boxes 10-12). In general, the \"copied\" letters are more pertinent to Willey's political career, especially his senate tenure during the Civil War, and his Methodist Church activities. Although the \"not copied\" letters also include material regarding his political and church activities, they are more concerned with his law and business interests, and family and friends. \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\n\"Copied\" (transcribed) letters are found in boxes 1 through 4, are numbered 1 through 1181, and date from 1833 to 1898. \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"Not copied\" (not transcribed) letters are found in boxes 4 through 16, are numbered 1182 through 7008, and date from 1833 to 1900. \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe incoming letters encompass a variety of topics: \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEveryday life in rural United States in the 19th Century (e.g., West Virginia); life in newly developed urban centers (e.g., St. Louis, Missouri, and Washington, D.C.); political life before the Civil War in Virginia and later in West Virginia; the plight of citizens and communities resulting from war (e.g., battle casualties and damage, reparation requests, loyalty \"disabilities\"); new territories and foreign countries visited by Willey's correspondents (e.g., the Western Territories of the USA, China, Japan, Central America, and Australia in the 1860s); the Methodist Church, temperance movement, school activities and needs (e.g., those of his sons and of the early years of West Virginia University). \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe letters represent the opinions, observations, requests, and activities of Willey's correspondents, and Willey himself is seen only through their writings. Willey's thoughts and commentaries can be found in his two-volume diary (see Series 4, W.T. Willey's Diary, boxes 21-22). \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSelected correspondents include:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eRobert Anderson; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nW.W. Arnett; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nJames Barns (WTW's uncle); \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nGordon Battelle; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nAlfred Beckley; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nJudge Berkshire; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nJacob Blair (Minister to Costa Rica); \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nGovernor Arthur I. Boreman of West Virginia; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nR.M. Brown (U.S. Navy); \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nGideon D. Camden; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nArchibald W. Campbell; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nJohn S. Carlile; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nSecretary of Treasury [Salmon P.?] Chase; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nSchyler Colfax; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nJohn J. Davis; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nSpencer Dayton; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nH.C. Dean; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nM.M. Dent; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nH. Dering; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nT.J. Evans; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nHarrison Hagans; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nJ. Marshall Hagans; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nGranville D. Hall; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nAlpheus F. Haymond; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nT. and L. Haymond; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nRichard Garrett; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nNathan Goff; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nUlysses S. Grant (autograph); \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nJohn J. Jackson; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nGovernor John Letcher of Virginia; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nAlexander Martin (West Virginia University President); \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nJohn L. Pendleton; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nFrancis H. Pierpont (governor of loyal Virginia); \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nT.P. Ray; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nGeneral Winfield Scott (copy of letter); \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nF.W. Seward; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nW.M. Shinn; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nEdwin M. Stanton; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nGovernor William E. Stevenson of West Virginia; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nDavid Hunter Strother; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nGeorge W. Summers; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nPeter G. Van Winkle (U.S. Senator with Willey); \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nAlexander L. Wade; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nJames O. Watson; \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nWilliam J. Willey (regarding Virginia legislature, 1830s); \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nWilley's sons (William, John, Ray), daughters, and wife.\u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe letters are generally in good condition and legible. Many letters have the original franking information and/or stamps; envelopes are few in number. Many letters have embossed watermarks or printed letterheads, and typewritten letters appear during the late 1800s.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["This series includes letters written to Waitman T. Willey (WTW). The letters can be divided into four major categories: politics; governmental service and the Civil War; family and church affairs; and law and business activities. Willey wrote the name of the correspondent and the date on each letter.","The letters have been previously divided into \"copied\" (Series 1a.) and \"not copied\" (Series 1b.) categories; the former refers to a select number of the letters for which transcripts were made, apparently in connection with research by Ambler for his biography of Willey. These transcripts are filed in the Charles H. Ambler Collection (A\u0026M 122, boxes 10-12). In general, the \"copied\" letters are more pertinent to Willey's political career, especially his senate tenure during the Civil War, and his Methodist Church activities. Although the \"not copied\" letters also include material regarding his political and church activities, they are more concerned with his law and business interests, and family and friends. \n\"Copied\" (transcribed) letters are found in boxes 1 through 4, are numbered 1 through 1181, and date from 1833 to 1898.","\"Not copied\" (not transcribed) letters are found in boxes 4 through 16, are numbered 1182 through 7008, and date from 1833 to 1900.","The incoming letters encompass a variety of topics:","Everyday life in rural United States in the 19th Century (e.g., West Virginia); life in newly developed urban centers (e.g., St. Louis, Missouri, and Washington, D.C.); political life before the Civil War in Virginia and later in West Virginia; the plight of citizens and communities resulting from war (e.g., battle casualties and damage, reparation requests, loyalty \"disabilities\"); new territories and foreign countries visited by Willey's correspondents (e.g., the Western Territories of the USA, China, Japan, Central America, and Australia in the 1860s); the Methodist Church, temperance movement, school activities and needs (e.g., those of his sons and of the early years of West Virginia University).","The letters represent the opinions, observations, requests, and activities of Willey's correspondents, and Willey himself is seen only through their writings. Willey's thoughts and commentaries can be found in his two-volume diary (see Series 4, W.T. Willey's Diary, boxes 21-22).","Selected correspondents include:","Robert Anderson; \nW.W. Arnett; \nJames Barns (WTW's uncle); \nGordon Battelle; \nAlfred Beckley; \nJudge Berkshire; \nJacob Blair (Minister to Costa Rica); \nGovernor Arthur I. Boreman of West Virginia; \nR.M. Brown (U.S. Navy); \nGideon D. Camden; \nArchibald W. Campbell; \nJohn S. Carlile; \nSecretary of Treasury [Salmon P.?] Chase; \nSchyler Colfax; \nJohn J. Davis; \nSpencer Dayton; \nH.C. Dean; \nM.M. Dent; \nH. Dering; \nT.J. Evans; \nHarrison Hagans; \nJ. Marshall Hagans; \nGranville D. Hall; \nAlpheus F. Haymond; \nT. and L. Haymond; \nRichard Garrett; \nNathan Goff; \nUlysses S. Grant (autograph); \nJohn J. Jackson; \nGovernor John Letcher of Virginia; \nAlexander Martin (West Virginia University President); \nJohn L. Pendleton; \nFrancis H. Pierpont (governor of loyal Virginia); \nT.P. Ray; \nGeneral Winfield Scott (copy of letter); \nF.W. Seward; \nW.M. Shinn; \nEdwin M. Stanton; \nGovernor William E. Stevenson of West Virginia; \nDavid Hunter Strother; \nGeorge W. Summers; \nPeter G. Van Winkle (U.S. Senator with Willey); \nAlexander L. Wade; \nJames O. Watson; \nWilliam J. Willey (regarding Virginia legislature, 1830s); \nWilley's sons (William, John, Ray), daughters, and wife.","The letters are generally in good condition and legible. Many letters have the original franking information and/or stamps; envelopes are few in number. Many letters have embossed watermarks or printed letterheads, and typewritten letters appear during the late 1800s."],"_nest_path_":"/components#1","timestamp":"2026-08-14T23:08:12.086Z","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. 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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":[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],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThis series includes two volumes of Waitman T. Willey's personal diary. Volume 1 covers the years 1830-1899. Volume 2 includes clippings added posthumously and covers the years 1899-1908.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["This series includes two volumes of Waitman T. Willey's personal diary. Volume 1 covers the years 1830-1899. 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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. 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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. 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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":[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],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThis series includes a folder of miscellaneous material (1827-1917); and an account book for \"Line Ferry,\" operator George Frankenberry, with entries for 1830-1856. The oversize folder includes an envelope, Willey's diploma from Madison College (1832), Willey's diploma from Augusta College (1834), and Willey's license to practice law (1832).\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["This series includes a folder of miscellaneous material (1827-1917); and an account book for \"Line Ferry,\" operator George Frankenberry, with entries for 1830-1856. The oversize folder includes an envelope, Willey's diploma from Madison College (1832), Willey's diploma from Augusta College (1834), and Willey's license to practice law (1832)."],"_nest_path_":"/components#5","timestamp":"2026-08-14T23:08:12.086Z","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":"2026-08-14T23:08:12.086Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c06"}},{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c05_c01","type":"Box","attributes":{"title":"Volume 1, 1830/1899","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c05_c01#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c05_c01","ref_ssm":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c05_c01"],"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c05_c01","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c05","parent_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c05","parent_ssim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 4. W.T. Willey's Diary [boxes 21-22], 1830/1908"],"parent_ids_ssim":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c05"],"title_filing_ssi":"Volume 1","title_ssm":["Volume 1"],"title_tesim":["Volume 1"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Volume 1, 1830/1899"],"text":["Volume 1, 1830/1899","Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 4. W.T. Willey's Diary [boxes 21-22], 1830/1908","Box 21"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 4. W.T. Willey's Diary [boxes 21-22], 1830/1908"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","Series 4. W.T. Willey's Diary [boxes 21-22], 1830/1908"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1830/1899"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1830–1899"],"level_ssm":["Box"],"level_ssim":["Box"],"component_level_isim":[2],"sort_isi":87,"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"collection_ssim":["Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917"],"containers_ssim":["Box 21"],"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":[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],"_nest_path_":"/components#4/components#0","timestamp":"2026-08-14T23:08:12.086Z","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":"2026-08-14T23:08:12.086Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345_c05_c01"}},{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345","type":"collection","attributes":{"title":"Waitman T. Willey Papers, 1820/1917","creator":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345#creator","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"Willey, Waitman T. (Waitman Thomas), 1811-1900","label":"Creator"}},"abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"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.","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_2345#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"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":"2026-08-14T23:08:12.086Z","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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(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. 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