Today in Wheeling History: April 26—A county convention of Union and New State men met at the Ohio County Courthouse to organize Ohio County’s official participation in the formation of West Virginia, appointing key committees and naming delegates for the upcoming Parkersburg Convention (1863).
On April 26, 1863, the Ohio County Courthouse in Wheeling hosted a major political convention of Union and “New State” supporters at a pivotal moment in West Virginia’s creation. Only six days earlier, President Abraham Lincoln had issued his proclamation admitting West Virginia into the Union as the 35th state, effective June 20. The convention was called to ensure that Ohio County would send a unified slate of unconditional Union men to the upcoming Parkersburg Convention, where candidates for the first state government would be nominated.
Samuel Irwin was elected chair, and Robert S. Irwin served as secretary. Delegates from every district except West Liberty were present, and Prof. A. F. Ross was soon admitted to represent that district. A debate followed over how to select delegates for Parkersburg. After discussion led by Dr. Logan, E. M. Norton, and A. B. Caldwell, a compromise was adopted, appointing a committee of one from each precinct: D. Frazier, Prof. Ross, James M’Culloch, E. M. Norton, A. B. Caldwell, A. H. Britt, A. G. Robinson, and H. W. Fisher.
A second committee—Ross, Caldwell, Robinson, Norton, and William North—drafted resolutions praising Lincoln’s proclamation, condemning Eastern Virginia’s “tyrannical oppressors,” and affirming loyalty to the Federal Union. The convention then appointed a large slate of delegates, including A. W. Campbell, J. L. Stifel, Daniel Lamb, Henry K. List, and many others, instructing them to support only unconditional Unionists. Additional county and district conventions were scheduled for May.
To learn more: West Virginia Sesquicentennial Timeline – April 26, 1863 (https://tinyurl.com/44jme8jp) (https://tinyurl.com/mszrv5vu), Wheeling Intelligencer (https://tinyurl.com/43hmvhrv)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Find a Grave, West Virginia Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Commons
On April 26, 1863, the Ohio County Courthouse in Wheeling hosted a major political convention of Union and “New State” supporters at a pivotal moment in West Virginia’s creation. Only six days earlier, President Abraham Lincoln had issued his proclamation admitting West Virginia into the Union as the 35th state, effective June 20. The convention was called to ensure that Ohio County would send a unified slate of unconditional Union men to the upcoming Parkersburg Convention, where candidates for the first state government would be nominated.
Samuel Irwin was elected chair, and Robert S. Irwin served as secretary. Delegates from every district except West Liberty were present, and Prof. A. F. Ross was soon admitted to represent that district. A debate followed over how to select delegates for Parkersburg. After discussion led by Dr. Logan, E. M. Norton, and A. B. Caldwell, a compromise was adopted, appointing a committee of one from each precinct: D. Frazier, Prof. Ross, James M’Culloch, E. M. Norton, A. B. Caldwell, A. H. Britt, A. G. Robinson, and H. W. Fisher.
A second committee—Ross, Caldwell, Robinson, Norton, and William North—drafted resolutions praising Lincoln’s proclamation, condemning Eastern Virginia’s “tyrannical oppressors,” and affirming loyalty to the Federal Union. The convention then appointed a large slate of delegates, including A. W. Campbell, J. L. Stifel, Daniel Lamb, Henry K. List, and many others, instructing them to support only unconditional Unionists. Additional county and district conventions were scheduled for May.
To learn more: West Virginia Sesquicentennial Timeline – April 26, 1863 (https://tinyurl.com/44jme8jp) (https://tinyurl.com/mszrv5vu), Wheeling Intelligencer (https://tinyurl.com/43hmvhrv)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Find a Grave, West Virginia Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Commons
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