WEST VIRGINIA - Unlike many other states, West Virginia was not founded by a single individual but forged in the crucible of the American Civil War by a collective of determined and principled leaders. The state's creation was a unique and constitutionally complex act of political separation born from the deep divisions between the western and eastern counties of Virginia.
The Founders of a Mountain State: The Men Who Created West Virginia
While several key figures were instrumental, the title of "founder" truly belongs to a group of Unionist leaders who chose loyalty to the United States over secession.
A State Born from Division:
When Virginia voted to secede from the Union in April 1861, the delegates from the mountainous western counties—where slavery was less prevalent and economic ties were stronger with the North—vehemently disagreed. Refusing to join the Confederacy, these leaders convened a series of meetings in Wheeling, known as the Wheeling Conventions. It was here that the movement for a new state was born.
The Key Figures Who Forged a New State:
While many individuals were involved, several key leaders are recognized for their pivotal roles in the statehood movement.
- Francis H. Pierpont, The "Father of West Virginia": A lawyer and politician from Fairmont, Francis H. Pierpont is widely regarded as the "Father of West Virginia." He was a leading voice against secession and was unanimously elected as the governor of the "Restored Government of Virginia"—the Unionist government established in Wheeling that claimed to be the legitimate government of Virginia. It was this Restored Government, under Pierpont's leadership, that provided the necessary constitutional consent for the western counties to break away and form a new state legally.
- Arthur I. Boreman, The First Governor: A lawyer from Parkersburg, Arthur I. Boreman served as the president of the Second Wheeling Convention, the body that formally established the Restored Government. His leadership during this critical period was essential. When West Virginia officially achieved statehood, Boreman was elected as its first governor in 1863, guiding the new state through the final years of the Civil War.
- Waitman T. Willey, The Statesman in Washington: A skilled lawyer and orator from Morgantown, Waitman T. Willey was one of the U.S. Senators representing the Restored Government of Virginia. He was the primary statesman who guided the West Virginia statehood bill through the U.S. Senate. He was also the author of the "Willey Amendment," a compromise on the issue of slavery that called for gradual emancipation in the new state, which was a crucial condition for its admission into the Union.
The Presidential Seal of Approval:
The final and most crucial step in West Virginia's founding rested with President Abraham Lincoln. The statehood bill presented a constitutional dilemma, as the U.S. Constitution does not permit a new state to be formed from an existing state's territory without its consent. However, by recognizing the Restored Government in Wheeling as the legitimate government of Virginia, Lincoln found the legal justification he needed. On December 31, 1862, he signed the bill, and on June 20, 1863, West Virginia officially became the 35th state in the Union.
The founding of West Virginia was a complex and collaborative effort, a bold act of political self-determination during the nation's darkest hour. While no single person can claim the title of founder, leaders like Francis H. Pierpont, Arthur I. Boreman, and Waitman T. Willey stand as the principal architects of the Mountain State, their efforts immortalized by the decisive signature of President Abraham Lincoln.
Sources:
- The West Virginia Encyclopedia (e-WV)
- The National Archives
- U.S. National Park Service
- Encyclopedia Virginia
- The American Battlefield Trust
- The West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information
