Kellian Whaley
Encyclopedia
Kellian Van Rensalear Whaley (May 6, 1821 – May 20, 1876) was a nineteenth century congressman from Virginia
and West Virginia
and major of the 9th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry
during the Civil War
.
on May 6, 1821. He worked in Point Pleasant, Virginia
(now West Virginia) in the lumber
business until the Civil War
when he became a recruiter for the Union Army
and was major
of the 9th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment
. He was captured by Confederate forces
on November 10, 1861 when the town of Guyandotte, West Virginia
was overrun by Confederate troops, but he escaped from his captors.
Whaley served on the Congressional committee that accompanied the body of President Abraham Lincoln
on the funeral train
as it was returned from Washington
to Springfield
.
Whaley was elected an Unconditional Unionist to the United States House of Representatives
in 1860, representing a Virginia
district, serving one term from 1861 to 1863. He lost his seat due to Virginia's secession from the Union
, but was elected back as one of the first three representatives from West Virginia
, serving again from 1863 to 1867, not being candidate for reelection in 1866.
He was chairman of the Committee on Invalid Pensions
from 1863 to 1865 and of the Committee on Revolutionary Claims from 1865 to 1867. Whaley was a delegate to the Republican National Convention
in 1864 and served as collector of customs at Brazos de Santiago, Texas in 1868. He died in Point Pleasant, West Virginia
on May 20, 1876 and was interred in Lone Oak Cemetery in Point Pleasant.
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...
and 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...
and major of the 9th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry
9th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 9th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Organization:...
during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Biography
Whaley was born in Utica, New YorkUtica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
on May 6, 1821. He worked in Point Pleasant, Virginia
Point Pleasant, West Virginia
Point Pleasant is a city in Mason County, West Virginia, United States, at the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha rivers. The population was 4,637 at the 2000 census...
(now West Virginia) in the lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
business until the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
when he became a recruiter for the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
and was major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
of the 9th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment
9th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 9th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Organization:...
. He was captured by Confederate forces
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
on November 10, 1861 when the town of Guyandotte, West Virginia
Guyandotte, West Virginia
Guyandotte is an historic neighborhood of Huntington, West Virginia and was formerly a small town in Virginia located at the confluence of the Guyandotte River and the Ohio River...
was overrun by Confederate troops, but he escaped from his captors.
Whaley served on the Congressional committee that accompanied the body of President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
on the funeral train
Abraham Lincoln assassination
The assassination of United States President Abraham Lincoln took place on Good Friday, April 14, 1865, as the American Civil War was drawing to a close. The assassination occurred five days after the commanding General of the Army of Northern Virginia, Robert E. Lee, and his battered Army of...
as it was returned from Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
to Springfield
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
.
Whaley was elected an Unconditional Unionist to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1860, representing a 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...
district, serving one term from 1861 to 1863. He lost his seat due to Virginia's secession from the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
, but was elected back as one of the first three representatives from 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...
, serving again from 1863 to 1867, not being candidate for reelection in 1866.
He was chairman of the Committee on Invalid Pensions
United States House Committee on Invalid Pensions
The United States House Committee on Invalid Pensions is a former committee of the United States House of Representatives from 1831 to 1946.The committee was created on January 10, 1831 with jurisdiction over matters relating to pensions for disabled veterans. Originally, the jurisdiction of the...
from 1863 to 1865 and of the Committee on Revolutionary Claims from 1865 to 1867. Whaley was a delegate to the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
in 1864 and served as collector of customs at Brazos de Santiago, Texas in 1868. He died in Point Pleasant, West Virginia
Point Pleasant, West Virginia
Point Pleasant is a city in Mason County, West Virginia, United States, at the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha rivers. The population was 4,637 at the 2000 census...
on May 20, 1876 and was interred in Lone Oak Cemetery in Point Pleasant.
See also
- United States Congressional Delegations from West Virginia