William A. Massey
Encyclopedia
William Alexander Massey (October 7, 1856 March 5, 1914) was a United States Senator from Nevada
. Born in Trumbull County, Ohio
, he moved with his parents to Edgar County, Illinois
in 1865. He attended the common schools, Union Christian College
in Merom, Indiana
, and the Indiana Asbury University (now De Pauw University) in Greencastle, Indiana
. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar
in 1877, commencing practice in Sullivan, Indiana
. He moved to San Diego, California
in 1886, and to Nevada in 1887, where he prospected and mined, and later took up the practice of law in Elko, Nevada
.
Massey was a member of the Nevada Assembly
from 1892 to 1894, and was district attorney
from 1894 to 1896. He was a justice of the Nevada Supreme Court from 1896 to 1902, when he resigned. He moved to Reno, Nevada
and resumed the practice of law, and was appointed as a Republican
to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of George S. Nixon
by Governor Tasker Oddie
.
Massey served in the Senate from July 1, 1912 to January 29, 1913. He was defeated for election to the remainder of Nixon's term by Democrat
Key Pittman
. While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Mines and Mining.
After his time in the Senate, he resumed the practice of law in Reno, and died on a train near Litchfield, Nevada in March 1914. His interment was in Mountain View Cemetery in Reno.
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. Born in Trumbull County, Ohio
Trumbull County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 225,116 people, 89,020 households, and 61,690 families residing in the county. The population density was 365 people per square mile . There were 95,117 housing units at an average density of 154 per square mile...
, he moved with his parents to Edgar County, Illinois
Edgar County, Illinois
Edgar County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 18,576, which is a decrease of 5.7% from 19,704 in 2000...
in 1865. He attended the common schools, Union Christian College
Union Christian College, Merom
Union Christian College was a small co-educational college located in Merom, Indiana, USA. Founded by the denomination called the Christian Church which eventually merged with the Congregational denomination which later joined with the Evangelical and Reformed Churches to form the United Church of...
in Merom, Indiana
Merom, Indiana
Merom is a town in Gill Township, Sullivan County, Indiana, United States. The population was 294 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Terre Haute Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, and the Indiana Asbury University (now De Pauw University) in Greencastle, Indiana
Greencastle, Indiana
Greencastle is a city in Greencastle Township, Putnam County, Indiana, United States, and the county seat of Putnam County. It was founded in 1821 by Scots-Irish American Ephraim Dukes on a land grant. He named the settlement for his hometown of Greencastle, Pennsylvania...
. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1877, commencing practice in Sullivan, Indiana
Sullivan, Indiana
Sullivan is a city in Hamilton Township, Sullivan County, Indiana, United States. The population was 4,617 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Terre Haute Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is the county seat of Sullivan County...
. He moved to San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
in 1886, and to Nevada in 1887, where he prospected and mined, and later took up the practice of law in Elko, Nevada
Elko, Nevada
Elko is a city in Elko County, Nevada, United States. The population was 18,297 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Elko County. The city straddles the Humboldt River....
.
Massey was a member of the Nevada Assembly
Nevada Assembly
The Nevada Assembly is the lower house of the Nevada Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Nevada. The body consists of 42 members, elected to two-year terms from single-member districts. Each Assembly district contained approximately 47,400 people as of the 2000 census, although...
from 1892 to 1894, and was district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
from 1894 to 1896. He was a justice of the Nevada Supreme Court from 1896 to 1902, when he resigned. He moved to Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
and resumed the practice of law, and was appointed as 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 United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of George S. Nixon
George S. Nixon
George Stuart Nixon was a United States Senator from Nevada.He was born in Placer County, California. He went to work for a railroad company and studied telegraphy. Later, he was transferred in 1881 to Nevada and organized and became cashier of a bank at Winnemucca, Nevada...
by Governor Tasker Oddie
Tasker Oddie
Tasker Lowndes Oddie was an American politician. He was the 12th Governor of Nevada and a United States Senator. He was a member of the Republican Party.-Biography:...
.
Massey served in the Senate from July 1, 1912 to January 29, 1913. He was defeated for election to the remainder of Nixon's term by Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Key Pittman
Key Pittman
Key Denson Pittman was a United States Senator from Nevada. He was a Democrat.Pittman was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, in 1872 and was educated by private tutors and at the Southwestern Presbyterian University in Clarksville, Tennessee. He studied law, then later became a lawyer...
. While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Mines and Mining.
After his time in the Senate, he resumed the practice of law in Reno, and died on a train near Litchfield, Nevada in March 1914. His interment was in Mountain View Cemetery in Reno.