Today in Wheeling History: October 3–Lewis Steenrod, U.S. Congressman and Virginia State Senator, died in Wheeling (1862).
Lewis Steenrod was a prominent 19th-century politician and lawyer from Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia). Born on May 27, 1810, he was the son of Daniel Steenrod and Nancy Ann Gater. Steenrod grew up in Wheeling and attended private schools as a child. He later studied law and was admitted to the Virginia bar in 1835, establishing his law practice in Wheeling. Steenrod entered politics as a Democrat, serving in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1839 to 1845. He later became a member of the Virginia State Senate from 1853 to 1857. During his political career, Steenrod played a crucial role in securing Congressional authorization for the Wheeling Suspension Bridge, a significant infrastructure project for the region. He married Mary Neldon in 1843, but tragically lost both his wife and infant son shortly after. Steenrod was a successful businessperson, owning substantial real estate and personal property, including slaves. Interestingly, despite earlier opposing Virginia's secession, Steenrod later held outspoken secessionist views, possibly due to opposition to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad reducing National Road traffic. This led to him and his brothers being placed under house arrest during the Civil War. Steenrod died of tuberculosis on October 3, 1862, at age 52, in Wheeling, and was interred in Stone Church Cemetery in Elm Grove.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/9ziJw), Find a Grave (https://shorturl.at/7kkIG), Ohio County Public Archives, Wheeling WV (https://shorturl.at/Y9b1C)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Archives, Wheeling WV; Find a Grave
Lewis Steenrod was a prominent 19th-century politician and lawyer from Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia). Born on May 27, 1810, he was the son of Daniel Steenrod and Nancy Ann Gater. Steenrod grew up in Wheeling and attended private schools as a child. He later studied law and was admitted to the Virginia bar in 1835, establishing his law practice in Wheeling. Steenrod entered politics as a Democrat, serving in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1839 to 1845. He later became a member of the Virginia State Senate from 1853 to 1857. During his political career, Steenrod played a crucial role in securing Congressional authorization for the Wheeling Suspension Bridge, a significant infrastructure project for the region. He married Mary Neldon in 1843, but tragically lost both his wife and infant son shortly after. Steenrod was a successful businessperson, owning substantial real estate and personal property, including slaves. Interestingly, despite earlier opposing Virginia's secession, Steenrod later held outspoken secessionist views, possibly due to opposition to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad reducing National Road traffic. This led to him and his brothers being placed under house arrest during the Civil War. Steenrod died of tuberculosis on October 3, 1862, at age 52, in Wheeling, and was interred in Stone Church Cemetery in Elm Grove.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/9ziJw), Find a Grave (https://shorturl.at/7kkIG), Ohio County Public Archives, Wheeling WV (https://shorturl.at/Y9b1C)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Archives, Wheeling WV; Find a Grave
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