Robert White (politician)
Encyclopedia
Robert White was the Democratic Attorney General of West Virginia from 1877-1881.
White was born February 7, 1833, in Romney, Virginia
(now West Virginia
) to John B. White and Frances A. Streit. He attended common schools in Virginia, worked six years in his father's county clerk's office, and studied law at Lexington, Virginia
. He was admitted to the bar in 1844.
In 1859, White married Ellen E. Vass and bore six children of whom only one was alive at the time of White's death.
White joined the Virginia volunteer militia in 1860 and, upon the outset of the Civil War, was ordered to the service of Stonewall Jackson by the Virginia Governor. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the C.S.A.
Army.
White became an associate in the practice John J. Jacob
who later became Governor of West Virginia. White successfully lobbied the West Virginia Legislature
for an act to establish the Institution for the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind of West Virginia
and served as one of the institution's directors for several years.
White was elected Attorney General of West Virginia as a Democrat in 1876. As Attorney General, he ardently pressed for the levying of taxes against railroad companies, a practice which had not been established in West Virginia. He argued for the tax before the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
and the United States Supreme Court
whom both affirmed White's tax. White also successfully argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Kitzmiller v. Williams on behalf of former Confederate soldiers.
White was elected to the West Virginia Legislature
(located at Wheeling
) in 1884 and 1890. He was a noted ruling elder for the First Presbyterian Church of Wheeling.
White was born February 7, 1833, in Romney, Virginia
Romney, West Virginia
Romney is a city in and the county seat of Hampshire County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,940 at the 2000 census, while the area covered by the city's ZIP code had a population of 5,873. It is a city with a very historic background dating back to the 18th century...
(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...
) to John B. White and Frances A. Streit. He attended common schools in Virginia, worked six years in his father's county clerk's office, and studied law at Lexington, Virginia
Lexington, Virginia
Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 7,042 in 2010. Lexington is about 55 minutes east of the West Virginia border and is about 50 miles north of Roanoke, Virginia. It was first settled in 1777.It is home to...
. He was admitted to the bar in 1844.
In 1859, White married Ellen E. Vass and bore six children of whom only one was alive at the time of White's death.
White joined the Virginia volunteer militia in 1860 and, upon the outset of the Civil War, was ordered to the service of Stonewall Jackson by the Virginia Governor. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the C.S.A.
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
Army.
White became an associate in the practice John J. Jacob
John J. Jacob
John Jeremiah Jacob was a Democratic politician from Green Spring , West Virginia. Jacob served two terms as the fourth Governor of the US state of West Virginia...
who later became Governor of West Virginia. White successfully lobbied the West Virginia Legislature
West Virginia Legislature
The West Virginia Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of West Virginia. A bicameral legislative body, the Legislature is split between the upper Senate and the lower House of Delegates. It was established under Article VI of the West Virginia Constitution following the state's...
for an act to establish the Institution for the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind of West Virginia
West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind
The West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind were established by an Act of the Legislature on March 3, 1870. The School for the Deaf and the School for the Blind offer comprehensive educational programs for hearing impaired and visually impaired students respectively. There is also a unit for...
and served as one of the institution's directors for several years.
White was elected Attorney General of West Virginia as a Democrat in 1876. As Attorney General, he ardently pressed for the levying of taxes against railroad companies, a practice which had not been established in West Virginia. He argued for the tax before the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is the state supreme court of West Virginia, the highest of West Virginia's state courts. It is located in the state capital, Charleston....
and the United States Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
whom both affirmed White's tax. White also successfully argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Kitzmiller v. Williams on behalf of former Confederate soldiers.
White was elected to the West Virginia Legislature
West Virginia Legislature
The West Virginia Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of West Virginia. A bicameral legislative body, the Legislature is split between the upper Senate and the lower House of Delegates. It was established under Article VI of the West Virginia Constitution following the state's...
(located at Wheeling
Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...
) in 1884 and 1890. He was a noted ruling elder for the First Presbyterian Church of Wheeling.