William G. Conley
Encyclopedia
William Gustavus Conley (January 8, 1866 October 21, 1940) was an American
politician who served as the 18th Governor of West Virginia
as a Republican
from 1929 to 1933.
to Major William Conley and Mary Courtney Freeburn. He was a school teacher from 1886 to 1891. In 1892, he married Bertie Ison Martin
. In 1893 he graduated from West Virginia University
with a degree in law. Afterwards, he began a law practice in Parsons, West Virginia
. While there he served as Tucker County prosecuting attorney, and later as the mayor of Parsons. He also founded and was the editor of the Parsons Advocate newspaper. He also served as mayor of Kingwood from 1906 to 1908.
In 1908, Governor William Dawson
appointed Conley to the post of state Attorney General
. After being elected to the same office in 1908, he continued in that role under Governor William Glasscock
. In 1911, he argued before the Supreme Court of the United States
in the case of Virginia v. West Virginia
, which involved Virginia's pre-Civil War debt and West Virginia's share of it. He was also involved in Maryland v. West Virginia
, which involved the border between Maryland and West Virginia.
In 1912, Conley ran for Congress as a Republican but lost by 14 votes. Over the next 12 years he was a lawyer in Charleston
. In 1924, he was appointed to the State Board of Education. He served there until his resignation on March 1, 1929. He was elected as governor of West Virginia in November 1928 and was inaugurated on March 4, 1929. His time as governor was marked by the Great Depression
. His time as governor, limited by the state constitution at the time to one term, ended on March 4, 1933. He remained in Charleston
and organized the law firm of Conley, Thompson, and Neff.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician who served as the 18th Governor of 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...
as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
from 1929 to 1933.
Biography
He was born near KingwoodKingwood, West Virginia
Kingwood is a town in and the county seat of Preston County, West Virginia, United States, and is part of the Pittsburgh DMA. Kingwood was founded in 1815...
to Major William Conley and Mary Courtney Freeburn. He was a school teacher from 1886 to 1891. In 1892, he married Bertie Ison Martin
Bertie Ison Martin Conley
Bertie Ison Martin Conley was the wife of former Governor of West Virginia William G. Conley and served as that state's First Lady, 1929-1933. She was born June 30, 1873, at Preston County, West Virginia. In 1892, she married William G. Conley. As first lady, she redecorated the West Virginia...
. In 1893 he graduated from West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
with a degree in law. Afterwards, he began a law practice in Parsons, West Virginia
Parsons, West Virginia
The town of Parsons is the county seat of Tucker County, West Virginia, in the United States. The population was 1,463 at the 2000 census. The mayor of Parsons is Dorothy Judy and the city administrator is Jason Myers...
. While there he served as Tucker County prosecuting attorney, and later as the mayor of Parsons. He also founded and was the editor of the Parsons Advocate newspaper. He also served as mayor of Kingwood from 1906 to 1908.
In 1908, Governor William Dawson
William M. O. Dawson
William Mercer Owens Dawson was the 12th Governor of West Virginia.-External links:* *...
appointed Conley to the post of state Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
. After being elected to the same office in 1908, he continued in that role under Governor William Glasscock
William E. Glasscock
William Ellsworth Glasscock was an American politician who served as the 13th Governor of West Virginia as a Republican from 1909 to 1913....
. In 1911, he argued before the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
in the case of Virginia v. West Virginia
Virginia v. West Virginia (1911)
Virginia v. West Virginia, 220 U.S. 1 , is a 9-to-0 ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States which held that the state of West Virginia was bound by its constitution to pay one-third of the outstanding debt of the state of Virginia as of January 1, 1861...
, which involved Virginia's pre-Civil War debt and West Virginia's share of it. He was also involved in Maryland v. West Virginia
Maryland v. West Virginia
Maryland v. West Virginia, , is a 9-to-0 ruling by the United States Supreme Court which held that the boundary between the American states of Maryland and West Virginia is the south bank of the Potomac River...
, which involved the border between Maryland and West Virginia.
In 1912, Conley ran for Congress as a Republican but lost by 14 votes. Over the next 12 years he was a lawyer in Charleston
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
. In 1924, he was appointed to the State Board of Education. He served there until his resignation on March 1, 1929. He was elected as governor of West Virginia in November 1928 and was inaugurated on March 4, 1929. His time as governor was marked by the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. His time as governor, limited by the state constitution at the time to one term, ended on March 4, 1933. He remained in Charleston
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
and organized the law firm of Conley, Thompson, and Neff.