Joseph Marcellus McWhorter
Encyclopedia
Joseph Marcellus McWhorter (born near Jane Lew
in what was then the state of Virginia
, April 30, 1828; died Lewisburg
, West Virginia
, August 18, 1913) was a West Virginia lawyer, politician, educator, and judge.
Born the eldest son in a farming family, McWhorter supplemented his public school education with extensive reading, becoming at times a school teacher himself. In 1856 he was appointed county clerk of newly organized Roane County
and was later elected to that post twice. He was elected to the first West Virginian legislature. After serving as superintendent of the state penitentery, he was elected State Auditor in 1864 and 1866. He was elected secretary of the West Virginian Insurance Company in 1869, but was appointed judge of the Seventh judicial circuit in 1870. McWhorter moved to Lewisburg and made that his residence for the rest of his life. After his term as judge expired at the end of 1872, he was appointed superintendent of schools for Greenbrier County
. He was elected mayor of Lewisburg in 1887. In 1892 he ran unsuccessfully for judge of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. He was elected to an eight year term on the circuit court in 1896, the same year his brother Henry C. McWhorter
was elected to the Supreme Court of Appeals.
McWhorter was married twice. His first wife was Julia Stalnaker (died 1869) and they had ten children. He married Julia Kinsley (1837-June 1913) in 1870 and they had four children. His son Louis E. McWhorter also became a lawyer and served in the West Virginia House of Delegates
in 1905, representing Kanawha County
.
Jane Lew, West Virginia
Jane Lew is a town in Lewis County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 406 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Jane Lew is located at , along Hackers Creek....
in what was then the state of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, April 30, 1828; died Lewisburg
Lewisburg, West Virginia
Lewisburg is a city in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 3,830 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Greenbrier County.-Geography:Lewisburg is located at ....
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, August 18, 1913) was a West Virginia lawyer, politician, educator, and judge.
Born the eldest son in a farming family, McWhorter supplemented his public school education with extensive reading, becoming at times a school teacher himself. In 1856 he was appointed county clerk of newly organized Roane County
Roane County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,446 people, 6,161 households, and 4,479 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile . There were 7,360 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
and was later elected to that post twice. He was elected to the first West Virginian legislature. After serving as superintendent of the state penitentery, he was elected State Auditor in 1864 and 1866. He was elected secretary of the West Virginian Insurance Company in 1869, but was appointed judge of the Seventh judicial circuit in 1870. McWhorter moved to Lewisburg and made that his residence for the rest of his life. After his term as judge expired at the end of 1872, he was appointed superintendent of schools for Greenbrier County
Greenbrier County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,453 people, 14,571 households, and 9,922 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile . There were 17,644 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
. He was elected mayor of Lewisburg in 1887. In 1892 he ran unsuccessfully for judge of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. He was elected to an eight year term on the circuit court in 1896, the same year his brother Henry C. McWhorter
Henry C. McWhorter
Henry Clay McWhorter was a lawyer, judge, and politician in West Virginia....
was elected to the Supreme Court of Appeals.
McWhorter was married twice. His first wife was Julia Stalnaker (died 1869) and they had ten children. He married Julia Kinsley (1837-June 1913) in 1870 and they had four children. His son Louis E. McWhorter also became a lawyer and served in the West Virginia House of Delegates
West Virginia House of Delegates
The West Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the West Virginia Legislature. Only three states—Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia—refer to their lower house as the House of Delegates.-Historical:-Current:-District organization:...
in 1905, representing Kanawha County
Kanawha County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 200,073 people, 86,226 households, and 55,960 families residing in the county. The population density was 222 people per square mile . There were 93,788 housing units at an average density of 104 per square mile...
.