Background
William H. West was born in Millsborough, Washington County, Pennsylvania. He was born on the anniversary of William Henry Harrison"s birthday, and was named in his honor.
attorney general lawyer politician
William H. West was born in Millsborough, Washington County, Pennsylvania. He was born on the anniversary of William Henry Harrison"s birthday, and was named in his honor.
He taught and studied until entering Jefferson College in Pennsylvania in 1844. He graduated second in his class of 58 in 1846.
His failing eyesight and powerful oration led to the title Blind Manitoba Eloquent. In 1840 he entered the Martinsburg, Ohio Academy. West taught school in Kentucky until 1848, when he accepted a tutorship at Jefferson College, and then a year later an adjunct professorship at Hampden-Sidney College.
In 1850 he became a law student of William Lawrence at Bellefontaine, Ohio.
In 1852, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Logan County, Ohio, where he lived at Bellefontaine the rest of his life. He was an important force in the formation of the Republican Party in Ohio, and a prominent speaker at the Anti-Nebraska Party convention in Columbus in 1854.
He was elected to represent his county in the Ohio House of Representatives for the 53rd General Assembly, 1858–1859, declined nomination in 1859, and was elected to the 55th General Assembly, 1862-1863. West was a delegate to the 1860 Republican National Convention which nominated Abraham Lincoln.
West was elected to the Ohio Senate for the 56th General Assembly, 1864-1865.
He was elected Ohio Attorney General in 1865 and then re-elected in 1867. In 1869, he was appointed United States Consul to Rio de Janeiro by President Grant, and confirmed by the Senate, but declined. In 1871, West was elected a judge on the Ohio Supreme Court, but resigned after about a year due to failing eyesight.
In 1873, he was elected a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention.
In 1877, West was nominated by his party for Governor. A railroad strike was in progress at the time of the convention, and West spoke to an assembled crowd.
He took the side of labor. This helped contribute to his defeat that autumn.
West presented James G. Blaine for nomination for President at the 1884 Republican National Convention, with the understanding that he would be appointed Attorney General if Blaine should be President.
Blaine lost. West continued to argue cases at the Logan County Courthouse until his 80th birthday in 1904, with only the steep steps and lack of an elevator leading to his retirement. West was married twice.
They had four sons, and Elizabeth died in 1871.
In 1872, West married Clara Riddle Gorton. She died in 1901. He died at his home in Bellefontaine on March 14, 1911.