William W. Wick
Encyclopedia
William Watson Wick was a U.S. Representative
from Indiana
.
The son of Presbyterian Minister the Rev. William Wick, and his wife Elizabeth (née McFarland) the daughter of an officer in the Continental Army
; the younger Mr. Wick (or simply "W" as he was known during his career; was born in Canonsburg, Washington County, Pennsylvania
, where his father was then a student at what is now Washington & Jefferson College
. In 1800 Wick moved with his family to the Western Reserve following his father's acceptance of missionary work in the region.
He completed preparatory studies. After his fathers' death in 1815, He moved to Cincinnati, Ohio
, and amongst other endeavors taught school and dabbled in the study of medicine. Deciding upon a career in the law he undertook study in a law office (as was customary for the time) and was admitted to the bar
at Franklin, Indiana
, in 1819. He served as Clerk of the State House of Representatives in 1820 and the State Senate in 1821. Appointed to a state judgeship, he served as President Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit from 1822–1825, 1834–1837 and 1850-1853 notably presiding over the trial resulting from the Fall Creek Massacre
, which resulted in the first recorded case of a white man being sentenced to death for crimes against Native Americans. In between judicial assignments he served as Indiana's Secretary of State
(1825–1829) and as the Prosecuting Attorney for the same circuit from 1829-1831.
In 1838, Wick was elected as a Democrat
to the Twenty-sixth
Congress (March 4, 1839-March 3, 1841). Failing in his bid for re-election he returned to private practice in Indianapolis. In 1844, Wick was re-elected to congress serving until the expiration of the Thirtieth
Congress in 1849, not having been a candidate for renomination. While in congress, Wick offered an amendment to the Wilmont Proviso that would have extended the Missouri Compromise
line to the pacific coast. Viewed from the perspective of our time, Wick was openly racist - He feared free blacks flooding the urban northeast. He also served on the Board of Directors of the American Colonization Society
the body that helped set up Liberia
as a homeland for free blacks.
Wick did not take himself too seriously, as he noted (speaking of himself in the third person) in the following excerpt of a letter to a friend:
In 1853, President Franklin Pierce
appointed him Postmaster of Indianapolis, Indiana
in which capacity he served until 1857. Later he served as Adjutant General in the State Militia. He sat as a judge of the Circuit Court
for a fourth time for less than two months in the Autumn of 1859.
He moved to Franklin, Indiana
, in 1857, where he continued the practice of law, and died there May 19, 1868.
He was interred in Greenlawn Cemetery.
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...
from Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
.
The son of Presbyterian Minister the Rev. William Wick, and his wife Elizabeth (née McFarland) the daughter of an officer in the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
; the younger Mr. Wick (or simply "W" as he was known during his career; was born in Canonsburg, Washington County, Pennsylvania
Washington County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .* Democratic: 89,027 * Republican: 49,025 * Other Parties: 14,482...
, where his father was then a student at what is now Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
. In 1800 Wick moved with his family to the Western Reserve following his father's acceptance of missionary work in the region.
He completed preparatory studies. After his fathers' death in 1815, He moved to Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, and amongst other endeavors taught school and dabbled in the study of medicine. Deciding upon a career in the law he undertook study in a law office (as was customary for the time) and was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
at Franklin, Indiana
Franklin, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,463 people, 6,824 households, and 4,872 families residing in the city. The population increased by more than 50% during the 1990s , with new residents attracted by jobs in the community, as well as some people commuting to Indianapolis for work. The...
, in 1819. He served as Clerk of the State House of Representatives in 1820 and the State Senate in 1821. Appointed to a state judgeship, he served as President Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit from 1822–1825, 1834–1837 and 1850-1853 notably presiding over the trial resulting from the Fall Creek Massacre
Fall Creek Massacre
The Fall Creek Massacre was a slaughter of nine Indians of uncertain tribal origin in 1824 by white settlers in Madison County, Indiana. Seven white men participated in the crimes. Four were captured and charged with murder...
, which resulted in the first recorded case of a white man being sentenced to death for crimes against Native Americans. In between judicial assignments he served as Indiana's Secretary of State
Secretary of State of Indiana
The Secretary of State of the U.S. state of Indiana is one of five constitutional officers originally designated in Indiana's State Constitution of 1816. Since 1851 it has been an elected position. The Secretary of State has authority of several state departments, and is considered to be the...
(1825–1829) and as the Prosecuting Attorney for the same circuit from 1829-1831.
In 1838, Wick was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Twenty-sixth
26th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Leadership :- Senate :*President: Richard M. Johnson *President pro tempore: William R. King - House of Representatives :*Speaker: Robert M.T. Hunter -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
Congress (March 4, 1839-March 3, 1841). Failing in his bid for re-election he returned to private practice in Indianapolis. In 1844, Wick was re-elected to congress serving until the expiration of the Thirtieth
30th United States Congress
The Thirtieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1847 to March 3, 1849, during the last two years of...
Congress in 1849, not having been a candidate for renomination. While in congress, Wick offered an amendment to the Wilmont Proviso that would have extended the Missouri Compromise
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was an agreement passed in 1820 between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the United States Congress, involving primarily the regulation of slavery in the western territories. It prohibited slavery in the former Louisiana Territory north of the parallel 36°30'...
line to the pacific coast. Viewed from the perspective of our time, Wick was openly racist - He feared free blacks flooding the urban northeast. He also served on the Board of Directors of the American Colonization Society
American Colonization Society
The American Colonization Society , founded in 1816, was the primary vehicle to support the "return" of free African Americans to what was considered greater freedom in Africa. It helped to found the colony of Liberia in 1821–22 as a place for freedmen...
the body that helped set up Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
as a homeland for free blacks.
Wick did not take himself too seriously, as he noted (speaking of himself in the third person) in the following excerpt of a letter to a friend:
In 1853, President Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States and is the only President from New Hampshire. Pierce was a Democrat and a "doughface" who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Pierce took part in the Mexican-American War and became a brigadier general in the Army...
appointed him Postmaster of Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
in which capacity he served until 1857. Later he served as Adjutant General in the State Militia. He sat as a judge of the Circuit Court
Circuit court
Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...
for a fourth time for less than two months in the Autumn of 1859.
He moved to Franklin, Indiana
Franklin, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,463 people, 6,824 households, and 4,872 families residing in the city. The population increased by more than 50% during the 1990s , with new residents attracted by jobs in the community, as well as some people commuting to Indianapolis for work. The...
, in 1857, where he continued the practice of law, and died there May 19, 1868.
He was interred in Greenlawn Cemetery.