George Cookman Sturgiss
Encyclopedia
George Cookman Sturgiss was a lawyer
and Republican
politician
from West Virginia
who served as a United States Representative. He was a member of the 60th
and 61st United States Congress
es
in Mahoning County and attended country schools. In 1859, he moved to Morgantown, West Virginia
(then Virginia). He attended and then taught at Monongalia Academy in Morgantown. He was admitted to the bar
in 1863 and entered practice at Morgantown. During the Civil War
he served as a clerk under Maj. James V. Boughner, paymaster of United States Volunteers. After the war, he became superintendent
of free schools for Monongalia County
and served in that capacity from 1865 to 1869.
From 1870 to 1872, he was a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates
. He then served as prosecuting attorney from 1872 to 1880. He became Republican nominee for Governor in 1880 but lost to Henry M. Mathews
. Subsequently, he was appointed by President Benjamin Harrison
as United States Attorney
for the district of West Virginia in 1889 and served four years. He was the first president of the State board of trade and of the State association for the promotion of good roads.
In 1906, he was elected as a Republican to the Sixtieth and then to the Sixty-first Congress (March 4, 1907-March 3, 1911). His candidacy for re-election in 1910 to the Sixty-second Congress
was unsuccessful. He then became a trustee of American University
in Washington, D.C.
. He was instrumental in the construction of the Morgantown & Kingwood Railroad. He served on the bench as a judge of the circuit court
from 1912 to 1920. He practiced law at Morgantown until his death on February 26, 1925, and was buried at Oak Grove 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 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...
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. He was a member of the 60th
60th United States Congress
The Sixtieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1907 to March 4, 1909, during the last two years of...
and 61st United States Congress
61st United States Congress
The Sixty-first United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1909 to March 4, 1911, during the first two years of...
es
Biography
He was born in Poland, OhioPoland, Ohio
Poland is a village in Mahoning County, Ohio, United States. The population was 26,866 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
in Mahoning County and attended country schools. In 1859, he moved to Morgantown, West Virginia
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...
(then Virginia). He attended and then taught at Monongalia Academy in Morgantown. He was admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in 1863 and entered practice at Morgantown. During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
he served as a clerk under Maj. James V. Boughner, paymaster of United States Volunteers. After the war, he became superintendent
Superintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
of free schools for Monongalia County
Monongalia County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 81,866 people, 33,446 households, and 18,495 families residing in the county. The population density was 227 people per square mile . There were 36,695 housing units at an average density of 102 per square mile...
and served in that capacity from 1865 to 1869.
From 1870 to 1872, he was a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates
West Virginia House of Delegates
The West Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the West Virginia Legislature. Only three states—Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia—refer to their lower house as the House of Delegates.-Historical:-Current:-District organization:...
. He then served as prosecuting attorney from 1872 to 1880. He became Republican nominee for Governor in 1880 but lost to Henry M. Mathews
Henry M. Mathews
Henry Mason Mathews was the fifth Governor of West Virginia from 1877 to 1881. Matthews was a Democrat from Greenbrier County.-Earlier life:...
. Subsequently, he was appointed by President Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
as United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
for the district of West Virginia in 1889 and served four years. He was the first president of the State board of trade and of the State association for the promotion of good roads.
In 1906, he was elected as a Republican to the Sixtieth and then to the Sixty-first Congress (March 4, 1907-March 3, 1911). His candidacy for re-election in 1910 to the Sixty-second Congress
62nd United States Congress
- House of Representatives :* Democratic : 230 * Republican : 162* Socialist : 1* Independent : 1TOTAL members: 394-Senate:* President: James S...
was unsuccessful. He then became a trustee of American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. He was instrumental in the construction of the Morgantown & Kingwood Railroad. He served on the bench as a judge of the 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...
from 1912 to 1920. He practiced law at Morgantown until his death on February 26, 1925, and was buried at Oak Grove Cemetery.
See also
- United States Congressional Delegations from West Virginia