Bethuel Kitchen
Encyclopedia
Bethuel Middleton Kitchen (March 21, 1812 – December 15, 1895) was a nineteenth century politician from Virginia
and West Virginia
.
Born in Ganotown, Virginia
(now West Virginia
), Kitchen attended the common schools as a child and later engaged in agricultural
pursuits and stock
raising. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates
in 1861 and 1862 and a member of the West Virginia State Senate
in 1864 and 1865. He presented his credentials as a member-elect to the United States House of Representatives
in 1863, but was not permitted because of votes cast from Berkeley County, Virginia
which had succeeded to the recently formed state of West Virginia
. Lewis McKenzie
contested the election. Kitchen was later elected a Republican
to the House in 1866 serving from 1867 to 1869. Afterwards, he resumed engagements in agricultural
pursuits and stock
raising and became president of the Agricultural and Mechanical Association of Berkeley
, Jefferson
and Morgan Counties
, serving from 1869 to 1875. Kitchen was master of the West Virginia State Grange from 1873 to 1879, was a member of the West Virginia State Senate
again in 1878 and 1879 and was president of the Berkeley County, West Virginia
court from 1880 to 1895. He died in Shanghai, West Virginia
on December 15, 1895 and was interned there in Presbyterian Churchyard.
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and 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...
.
Born in Ganotown, Virginia
Ganotown, West Virginia
Ganotown is an unincorporated community on Back Creek in Berkeley County, West Virginia. It is located at the crossroads of County Routes 7 and 7/19....
(now 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...
), Kitchen attended the common schools as a child and later engaged in agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
pursuits and stock
Stock
The capital stock of a business entity represents the original capital paid into or invested in the business by its founders. It serves as a security for the creditors of a business since it cannot be withdrawn to the detriment of the creditors...
raising. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
in 1861 and 1862 and a member of the West Virginia State Senate
West Virginia Senate
The West Virginia Senate is the upper house of the West Virginia Legislature.There are 17 senatorial districts. Each district has two senators who serve staggered four-year terms....
in 1864 and 1865. He presented his credentials as a member-elect to the United States House of Representatives
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...
in 1863, but was not permitted because of votes cast from Berkeley County, Virginia
Berkeley County, West Virginia
Berkeley County is a county located in the Eastern Panhandle region of the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population is 104,169, making it the second-most populous county in West Virginia, behind Kanawha...
which had succeeded to the recently formed state 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...
. Lewis McKenzie
Lewis McKenzie
Lewis McKenzie was a nineteenth century politician, merchant and railroad president from Virginia.-Biography:...
contested the election. Kitchen was later elected 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...
to the House in 1866 serving from 1867 to 1869. Afterwards, he resumed engagements in agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
pursuits and stock
Stock
The capital stock of a business entity represents the original capital paid into or invested in the business by its founders. It serves as a security for the creditors of a business since it cannot be withdrawn to the detriment of the creditors...
raising and became president of the Agricultural and Mechanical Association of Berkeley
Berkeley County, West Virginia
Berkeley County is a county located in the Eastern Panhandle region of the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population is 104,169, making it the second-most populous county in West Virginia, behind Kanawha...
, Jefferson
Jefferson County, West Virginia
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 53,498. Its county seat is Charles Town...
and Morgan Counties
Morgan County, West Virginia
Morgan County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, it's population was 17,541. Its county seat is Berkeley Springs. The county is one of three in Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, serving from 1869 to 1875. Kitchen was master of the West Virginia State Grange from 1873 to 1879, was a member of the West Virginia State Senate
West Virginia Senate
The West Virginia Senate is the upper house of the West Virginia Legislature.There are 17 senatorial districts. Each district has two senators who serve staggered four-year terms....
again in 1878 and 1879 and was president of the Berkeley County, West Virginia
Berkeley County, West Virginia
Berkeley County is a county located in the Eastern Panhandle region of the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population is 104,169, making it the second-most populous county in West Virginia, behind Kanawha...
court from 1880 to 1895. He died in Shanghai, West Virginia
Shanghai, West Virginia
Shanghai is an unincorporated town in Berkeley County, West Virginia. The town is nestled in Back Creek Valley between Leading Ridge and North Mountain. Shanghai lies at the junction of West Virginia Secondary Route 7 and Secondary Route 18 ....
on December 15, 1895 and was interned there in Presbyterian Churchyard.