Wilson S. Kennon
Encyclopedia
Wilson Shannon Kennon was a Republican politician who was in the Ohio House of Representatives
and was appointed Ohio Secretary of State
from 1862-1863.
Wilson S. Kennon was son of William Kennon, who represented Ohio
in the U.S. House of Representatives and sat on the Ohio Supreme Court. He was born in St. Clairsville, Ohio
, where he continued to reside. He was educated at the "St. Clairsville Institute" and at Bethany College
at Bethany, Virginia
(now West Virginia). He studied law in his father's office, and was admitted to the bar
in 1850.
In 1861, Wilson Kennon was elected to represent Belmont County, Ohio
in the Ohio House of Representatives
for the 55th General Assembly, convening January 6, 1862. Before the American Civil War
, Kennon was a Democrat, but was nominated to the legislature by the Unconditional Union Party
of Belmont County. In May 1862, fellow Belmont Countian Benjamin Rush Cowen
resigned as Secretary of State after a few months in office to go to war. Kennon was appointed to the office by Governor David Tod
. Election of Secretary of State was then moved to even numbered years, and Kennon was nominated by the Republican Party on the second ballot for the 1862 election. In the General Election of 1862, Kennon lost to Democrat William W. Armstrong
in an election where out of state soldiers were not allowed to vote.
After his term in office expired, Kennon became a Paymaster in the United States Army
, and served throughout the American Civil War
.
After the war, Kennon engaged in private practice of law at Columbus, Ohio
for five years, until he moved back to Belmont County after his father's death in 1871. He served as Belmont County Prosecuting Attorney for six years.
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
and was appointed Ohio Secretary of State
Ohio Secretary of State
The Secretary of State is responsible for overseeing elections in the State of Ohio. The Secretary of State also is responsible for registering business entities and granting them the authority to do business within the state, registering secured transactions, and granting access to public...
from 1862-1863.
Wilson S. Kennon was son of William Kennon, who represented Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
in the U.S. House of Representatives and sat on the Ohio Supreme Court. He was born in St. Clairsville, Ohio
St. Clairsville, Ohio
St. Clairsville is a city in Belmont County, Ohio in the United States. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 5,057 at the 2000 census. This county seat of Belmont County has been nicknamed "Paradise on the Hill." St. Clairsville was named after...
, where he continued to reside. He was educated at the "St. Clairsville Institute" and at Bethany College
Bethany College (West Virginia)
Bethany College is a private liberal arts college located in Bethany, West Virginia, United States. Founded in 1840, Bethany is the oldest institution of Higher Education in West Virginia.-Location:...
at Bethany, Virginia
Bethany, West Virginia
Bethany is a town in Brooke County, West Virginia, United States. It is part of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 985 at the 2000 census. The Town of Bethany is home to Bethany College.-History:...
(now West Virginia). He studied law in his father's office, 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...
in 1850.
In 1861, Wilson Kennon was elected to represent Belmont County, Ohio
Belmont County, Ohio
Belmont County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 70,400. Its county seat is St. Clairsville...
in the Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
for the 55th General Assembly, convening January 6, 1862. Before the American 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...
, Kennon was a Democrat, but was nominated to the legislature by the Unconditional Union Party
Unionist Party (United States)
The Union Party was a fusion political party conceived by Republicans in 1861 to combine people of all political affiliations into a single movement committed to the preservation of the Union and to war. Republicans wanted to project an image of wartime nonpartisanship and they also expected to...
of Belmont County. In May 1862, fellow Belmont Countian Benjamin Rush Cowen
Benjamin R. Cowen
Benjamin Rush Cowen was Union Army general and a Republican politician who was Ohio Secretary of State....
resigned as Secretary of State after a few months in office to go to war. Kennon was appointed to the office by Governor David Tod
David Tod
David Tod was a politician and industrialist from the U.S. state of Ohio. As the 25th Governor of Ohio, Tod gained recognition for his forceful and energetic leadership during the American Civil War....
. Election of Secretary of State was then moved to even numbered years, and Kennon was nominated by the Republican Party on the second ballot for the 1862 election. In the General Election of 1862, Kennon lost to Democrat William W. Armstrong
William W. Armstrong (journalist)
William Wallace Armstrong was an American journalist and politician born in Columbiana County, Ohio. He served as a Democratic Ohio Secretary of State from 1863-1865 and was later publisher of the The Plain Dealer and postmaster of Cleveland.-Biography:William W...
in an election where out of state soldiers were not allowed to vote.
After his term in office expired, Kennon became a Paymaster in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, and served throughout the American 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...
.
After the war, Kennon engaged in private practice of law at Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
for five years, until he moved back to Belmont County after his father's death in 1871. He served as Belmont County Prosecuting Attorney for six years.