William Bebb
Encyclopedia
William Bebb was a Whig politician from Ohio
. He served as the 19th Governor of Ohio, he was the third native Ohioan to be elected to the office.
Bebb was born in Butler County, Ohio
to Welsh
immigrants. He is the son of Edward Bebb. They were early residents of Paddy's Run, now known as Shandon, Ohio
. In 1826 the Paddy's Run school was organized under the new state law, a new building was erected, and William Bebb was employed as the first teacher. On 16 Oct 1824 he married Sarah Shuck, later Bebb and his wife opened a boarding school for boys. While he taught school he studied for the bar. He began practicing law in 1831. He was a devoted campaigner for William Henry Harrison
in 1840 and for Henry Clay
four years later, and a Presidential elector in 1844 for Clay
/Frelinghuysen
. Bebb was nominated by the Whigs in 1846 for the governorship. Bebb served a single term beginning in December 1846. His term technically expired in December 1848, but was extended into January 1849 due to a number of close statewide elections which necessitated delaying the inauguration of a successor.
Bebb and wife later moved to Rockford, Illinois
. He died there on 23 Oct 1873. She died on Jan 10, 1892.
Circuit Court in 1858. One of his defense council summarized the case thusly:
A fable grew out of the trial, which had Tom Corwin coming to the county anonymously before the trial, and charming its occupants to the point that, when he represented Bebb, his good will with the residents assured an acquittal. A later examination of the trial record showed the story to be fanciful, with Corwin and Johnston winning acquittal through competent representation.
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. He served as the 19th Governor of Ohio, he was the third native Ohioan to be elected to the office.
Bebb was born in Butler County, Ohio
Butler County, Ohio
Butler County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of 2010, the population was 368,130. Its county seat is Hamilton. It is named for General Richard Butler, who died in 1791 fighting Indians in northern Ohio. Butler's army marched out of Fort Hamilton, where the city of...
to Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
immigrants. He is the son of Edward Bebb. They were early residents of Paddy's Run, now known as Shandon, Ohio
Shandon, Ohio
Shandon is an unincorporated community in southeastern Morgan Township, Butler County, Ohio, United States. It is located on Paddys Run, a tributary of the Great Miami River, about four miles west of Ross at the intersection of State Routes 126 and 748 in section 25 of R1ET3N of the Congress...
. In 1826 the Paddy's Run school was organized under the new state law, a new building was erected, and William Bebb was employed as the first teacher. On 16 Oct 1824 he married Sarah Shuck, later Bebb and his wife opened a boarding school for boys. While he taught school he studied for the bar. He began practicing law in 1831. He was a devoted campaigner for William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
in 1840 and for Henry Clay
Henry Clay
Henry Clay, Sr. , was a lawyer, politician and skilled orator who represented Kentucky separately in both the Senate and in the House of Representatives...
four years later, and a Presidential elector in 1844 for Clay
Henry Clay
Henry Clay, Sr. , was a lawyer, politician and skilled orator who represented Kentucky separately in both the Senate and in the House of Representatives...
/Frelinghuysen
Theodore Frelinghuysen
Theodore Frelinghuysen was an American politician, serving as New Jersey Attorney General, United States Senator, and Mayor of Newark, New Jersey before running as a candidate for Vice President with Henry Clay on the Whig ticket in the election of 1844...
. Bebb was nominated by the Whigs in 1846 for the governorship. Bebb served a single term beginning in December 1846. His term technically expired in December 1848, but was extended into January 1849 due to a number of close statewide elections which necessitated delaying the inauguration of a successor.
Bebb and wife later moved to Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
. He died there on 23 Oct 1873. She died on Jan 10, 1892.
Trial of William Bebb
In 1857, Bebb fired a weapon and a man died. He was accused of manslaughter, and tried in Winnebago County, IllinoisWinnebago County, Illinois
Winnebago County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 295,266, which is an increase of 6.1% from 278,418 in 2000...
Circuit Court in 1858. One of his defense council summarized the case thusly:
A fable grew out of the trial, which had Tom Corwin coming to the county anonymously before the trial, and charming its occupants to the point that, when he represented Bebb, his good will with the residents assured an acquittal. A later examination of the trial record showed the story to be fanciful, with Corwin and Johnston winning acquittal through competent representation.
