WEST VIRGINIA GOVERNORS
This information is courtesy of the State of West Virginia
and the West Virginia State Archives
- Arthur Ingram Boreman (1863-1869) - He was the first governor of
West Virginia. He presided over the Wheeling Convention when reorganization
occurred at the beginning of the Civil War. He resigned near the end of his
third term to serve in the U.S. Senate
- Daniel Duane Tompkins Farnsworth (26 Feb 1869 - 4 Mar 1869) - He
only served for six days! This was the time between the resignation of Governor
Boreman (who moved to the U.S. Senate) and the inauguration of the newly-elected
Governor Stevenson.
- William Erskine Stevenson (1869-1871) - He encouraged the repeal
of loyalty test oath laws for former Confederates and restored their right
to vote.
- John Jeremiah Jacob (1871-1877) - He tried to bring peace between
Union advocates and Confederate sympathizers. The state constitution was written
and adopted during his first term.
- Henry Mason Mathews (1877-1881) - He had been elected to the U.S.
Senate, but did not take his seat after refusing to take the loyalty test
oath. He had been in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Later, after
the loyalty oath law was repealed, he was elected governor. He called in the
federal and state troops on many occasions to quell mine and rail strikes
in the state.
- Jacob Beeson Jackson (1881-1885) - He was an advocate of tax reform.
He also increased property values to provide funds for state institutions.
- Emanuel Willis Wilson (1885-1890) - He opposed unfair railroad practices
and general monopolies. He served almost a year beyond the end of his elected
term due to an election dispute.
- Aretas Brooks Fleming (1890-1893) - He was one of four who claimed
the governor's seat in a disputed election. During his term the Australian
ballot law was enacted. This law provided for uniform printed ballots.
- William Alexander MacCorkle (1893-1897) - He was elected governor
when only 35 years old. He promoted the state greatly during his term. There
were many labor problems with the railroads and mines at this time.
- George Wesley Atkinson (1897-1901) - He helped to regulate labor
laws in the state by asking the legislature for an eight-hour work day, a
child labor law and proper working conditions for women.
- Albert Blakeslee White (1901-1905) - He worked tirelessly with the
state's faulty tax structure and pushed for reforms.
- William Mercer Owens Dawson (1905-1909) - He had the old capitol
condemned due to fire prevention problems and proposed building a new building.
He also proposed a tax program to increase state revenues.
- William Ellsworth Glasscock (1909-1913) - During the mine wars in
1912, he declared martial law. There was labor unrest during his entire term.
- Henry Hatfield (1913-1917) - He worked personally with mine owners
and laborers to resolve differences. He also pushed for one of the first workmen's
compensation laws in the country.
- John Jacob Cornwell (1917-1921) - He created a state police force
due to violence in the mines. $50 million was allotted to pave dirt roads
in the state.
- Ephraim Franklin Morgan (1921-1925) - He worked hard for highway
safety laws and established a road commission. The mine wars came to an end
during this term in 1923.
- Howard Mason Gore (1925-1929) - Gasoline tax was increased to raise
funds for road construction. An additional $35 million was approved for highways
by the voters.
- William Gustavus Conley (1929-1933) - Because of his tenure during
the depression, much of his administration was concerned with poor economic
conditions in the state.
- Herman Guy Kump (1933-1937) - The state's first consumer sales tax
was enacted during this term to help put the state in good financial standing.
A personal income tax was added and the of the Department of Public Assistance
was also created.
- Homer Adams Holt (1937-1941) - He was anti-labor and stepped in quickly
when strikes were threatened. The economy improved during his term.
- Matthew Mansfield Neely (1941-1945) - A democrat who was a friend
of labor. During his term mine inspections were started, he created a Human
Relations Commission and increased welfare grants.
- Clarence Watson Meadows (1945-1949) - He was instrumental in the
reorganization of many state agencies for more efficiency and less politics.
He also fought for raises for teachers and took more action in resolving strikes
in the state.
- Okey Leonidas Patteson (1949-1953) - He located the state medical
school at Morgantown. He also pledged cash bonuses for veterans and passed
new taxes on beer, wine and cigarettes. The new taxes were levied to provide
funds for these bonuses.
- William Casey Marland (1953-1957) - He introduced a tax on natural
resource industries to fund roads and school programs, but the tax was defeated
in the legislature. He supported school integration.
- Cecil Harland Underwood (1957-1961) - He was the first Republican
governor in 24 years which made it difficult in dealing with the strongly
Democratic legislature. He brought about a temporary employment program for
coal miners as mechanization in the mines brought thousands unemployment.
- William Wallace Barron (1961-1965) - Unemployment declined from 100,000
to less than 45,000 during his term. He also helped the state park system
to expand.
- Hulett Carlson Smith (1965-1969) - He worked for legislation to control
strip mines. The restoration of the Governor's mansion was completed and state
employees were placed under civil service coverage.
- Arch Alfred Moore, Jr. (1969-1977) - He served two terms with advances
in road construction, welfare, education and mental health.
- John Davidson Rockefeller IV (1977-1985) - He eliminated the existing
sales tax on food. He also attracted foreign investors to the state.
- Arch Alfred Moore, Jr. (1985-1989) - He was elected to a third term.
- Gaston Caperton (1989-1997) - He was instrumental in helping the
state educational system to evolve and become improved with a nationally-recognized
education technology program and school building initiative. The state highways
and roads were improved as well as the state experiencing an unprecedented
job growth during his term.
top
This page was created 21 June 1999
This page was last updated 23 September 2006 at 9:44 pm
Return to the West Virginia Facts
& Links page
Return to the West Virginia
State page on Key to the City
To go to another state, go to the States
page
Thanks for dropping by. Be sure to come back soon!!
SEARCH KEY TO THE CITY or anywhere on the web