William Smith O'Brien (Congressman)
Encyclopedia
William Smith O'Brien (January 8, 1862 — August 10, 1948) was a lawyer
and Democratic
politician
from West Virginia
who served as a United States Representative (1927-29).
, near Philippi
in Barbour County
, Virginia (now West Virginia). He attended the common schools, the Weston
Academy, and the West Virginia University
at Morgantown
. He worked as a laborer on farms, in brick yards, and on public works. He also taught school and worked as an editor. He graduated from the law school of the University of West Virginia at Morgantown in 1891. He was admitted to the bar
the same year and commenced the practice of law in Buckhannon, West Virginia
in Upshur County
in 1892.
O'Brien served as a captain in the West Virginia National Guard
in 1894 and 1895. He served as judge on the twelfth judicial circuit court
of West Virginia from 1913 to 1919. In 1926, he was elected as a Democrat to the 70th United States Congress
(March 4, 1927-March 3, 1929). He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election in 1928 to the
Seventy-first Congress
and resumed the practice of law. He was elected to four successive terms as Secretary of State of West Virginia
starting in 1932. He served as West Virginia Secretary of State until his death in Buckhannon, West Virginia
in 1948 and was buried at Heavner Cemetery.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and Democratic
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from 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...
who served as a United States Representative (1927-29).
Biography
O'Brien was born in AudraAudra, West Virginia
Audra is an unincorporated community in Barbour County, West Virginia, USA.Audra State Park is located at Audra on the Middle Fork River....
, near Philippi
Philippi, West Virginia
Philippi is a city in — and the county seat of — Barbour County, West Virginia, USA. The population was 2,870 at the 2000 census. In 1861, the city was the site of the Battle of Philippi, known as "The Philippi Races"...
in Barbour County
Barbour County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there are 15,557 people, 6,123 households, and 4,365 families residing in the county. The population density is 46 people per square mile . There are 7,348 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile...
, Virginia (now West Virginia). He attended the common schools, the Weston
Weston, West Virginia
Weston is a city in Lewis County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 4,317 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lewis County, and home to the West Virginia Museum of American Glass.-History:...
Academy, and the West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
at Morgantown
Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown is a city in Monongalia County, West Virginia. It is the county seat of Monongalia County. Placed along the banks of the Monongahela River, Morgantown is the largest city in North-Central West Virginia, and the base of the Morgantown metropolitan area...
. He worked as a laborer on farms, in brick yards, and on public works. He also taught school and worked as an editor. He graduated from the law school of the University of West Virginia at Morgantown in 1891. He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
the same year and commenced the practice of law in Buckhannon, West Virginia
Buckhannon, West Virginia
Buckhannon is the only incorporated city in, and the county seat of, Upshur County, West Virginia, United States, and is located along the Buckhannon River. The population was 5,725 at the 2000 census. Buckhannon is home to West Virginia Wesleyan College and the West Virginia Strawberry Festival,...
in Upshur County
Upshur County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 23,404 people, 8,972 households, and 6,352 families residing in the county. The population density was 66 people per square mile . There were 10,751 housing units at an average density of 30 per square mile...
in 1892.
O'Brien served as a captain in the West Virginia National Guard
West Virginia National Guard
The West Virginia National Guard consists of the:*West Virginia Army National GuardTwo units of the West Virginia Army National Guard, the 150th Cavalry and the 201st Field Artillery, are among the nineteen Army National Guard units with campaign credit for the War of 1812.-External links:* *...
in 1894 and 1895. He served as judge on the twelfth judicial circuit court
Circuit court
Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...
of West Virginia from 1913 to 1919. In 1926, he was elected as a Democrat to the 70th United States Congress
70th United States Congress
The Seventieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1927 to March 3, 1929, during the last two years of...
(March 4, 1927-March 3, 1929). He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election in 1928 to the
Seventy-first Congress
71st United States Congress
The Seventy-first United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1929 to March 4, 1931, during the first two years...
and resumed the practice of law. He was elected to four successive terms as Secretary of State of West Virginia
Secretary of State of West Virginia
The Secretary of State of West Virginia is one of the elected constitutional officers of the U.S. state of West Virginia.The current Secretary of State, Natalie Tennant , was elected in November 2008 and assumed the office in January 2009....
starting in 1932. He served as West Virginia Secretary of State until his death in Buckhannon, West Virginia
Buckhannon, West Virginia
Buckhannon is the only incorporated city in, and the county seat of, Upshur County, West Virginia, United States, and is located along the Buckhannon River. The population was 5,725 at the 2000 census. Buckhannon is home to West Virginia Wesleyan College and the West Virginia Strawberry Festival,...
in 1948 and was buried at Heavner Cemetery.