Jacob practiced law and taught school in Hampshire County before accepting a teaching position at the University of Missouri in 1853. In 1858, he married Jane Baird.[1] Jacob worked as an attorney in Missouri during the American Civil War and returned to Romney after the war in 1865 to establish a law practice. In 1868, he was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates.
Governor (1871–1877)edit
Jacob was elected governor in 1870 to a two-year term making him the first of six consecutive Democratic governors. He supported the elimination of all remaining legislation that discriminated against former Confederates. Jacob also presided over the establishment of new facilities to care for the mentally handicapped and the creation of statewide schools, known as normal schools, to train teachers. Most of these schools still exist as part of the state college system.
During Jacob's tenure as governor, West Virginia's state constitution was re-written. Moderates and former Confederate supporters themselves believed the original 1863 constitution was too biased in favor of pro-Union supporters. A new constitutional convention, controlled by Democrats, met in Charleston in 1872. The new constitution restricted the power of the legislature and expanded the governor's term in office from two to four years, but prohibiting consecutive terms (effective with the 1876 election).
In 1872,Í Jacob was denied re-nomination by the Democratic Party, which was controlled by industrialist Johnson N. Camden. Jacob ran on the ad hoc "People's Independent" ticket with Republican support. He was re-elected by 2,400 votes over Camden, whom the Democrats had nominated in Jacob's place, for a four-year term.[2] Camden's men controlled the legislature, however, and passed "ripper" laws that stripped Jacob of his appointment powers.
In 1875, the state government moved from Charleston and returned the capital to Wheeling in Ohio County. After Jacob left the governor's office, he remained in Wheeling and served once again in the West Virginia House of Delegates, this time from Ohio County, in 1879. He also served as the county's circuit judge from 1881 to 1888. Jacob continued to practice law in Wheeling until his death in 1893, aged 63.
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John Jeremiah Jacob December 9 1829 November 24 1893 was a Democratic politician from Green Spring in Hampshire County in the U S state of West Virginia Jacob served two terms as the fourth governor of West Virginia He was also elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates from Hampshire County in 1868 and from Ohio County in 1879 John J Jacob4th Governor of West VirginiaIn office March 4 1871 March 4 1877Preceded byWilliam E StevensonSucceeded byHenry M MathewsMember of theWest Virginia House of DelegatesIn office 1868 1879Personal detailsBorn 1829 12 09 December 9 1829Green Spring Virginia now West Virginia DiedNovember 24 1893 1893 11 24 aged 63 Wheeling West VirginiaPolitical partyDemocraticSpouseJane BairdProfessionPoliticianSignature Contents 1 Background 2 Governor 1871 1877 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksBackground editJohn Jeremiah Jacob was born in Green Spring Virginia on the Potomac River north of Romney Jacob s Hampshire County roots made him the first of West Virginia s governors to be born within the present day borders of the state He attended the Romney Academy in Romney and Dickinson College in Carlisle Pennsylvania Jacob practiced law and taught school in Hampshire County before accepting a teaching position at the University of Missouri in 1853 In 1858 he married Jane Baird 1 Jacob worked as an attorney in Missouri during the American Civil War and returned to Romney after the war in 1865 to establish a law practice In 1868 he was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates Governor 1871 1877 editThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources John J Jacob West Virginia politician news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2024 Learn how and when to remove this message Jacob was elected governor in 1870 to a two year term making him the first of six consecutive Democratic governors He supported the elimination of all remaining legislation that discriminated against former Confederates Jacob also presided over the establishment of new facilities to care for the mentally handicapped and the creation of statewide schools known as normal schools to train teachers Most of these schools still exist as part of the state college system nbsp Portrait of John Jeremiah Jacob as Governor of West Virginia During Jacob s tenure as governor West Virginia s state constitution was re written Moderates and former Confederate supporters themselves believed the original 1863 constitution was too biased in favor of pro Union supporters A new constitutional convention controlled by Democrats met in Charleston in 1872 The new constitution restricted the power of the legislature and expanded the governor s term in office from two to four years but prohibiting consecutive terms effective with the 1876 election In 1872 I Jacob was denied re nomination by the Democratic Party which was controlled by industrialist Johnson N Camden Jacob ran on the ad hoc People s Independent ticket with Republican support He was re elected by 2 400 votes over Camden whom the Democrats had nominated in Jacob s place for a four year term 2 Camden s men controlled the legislature however and passed ripper laws that stripped Jacob of his appointment powers In 1875 the state government moved from Charleston and returned the capital to Wheeling in Ohio County After Jacob left the governor s office he remained in Wheeling and served once again in the West Virginia House of Delegates this time from Ohio County in 1879 He also served as the county s circuit judge from 1881 to 1888 Jacob continued to practice law in Wheeling until his death in 1893 aged 63 See also edit nbsp Gravestone at the interment site of John J Jacob at Indian Mound Cemetery in Romney West Virginia List of governors of West VirginiaReferences edit West Virginia s First Ladies West Virginia Division of Culture and History June 2007 Richard E Fast The history and government of West Virginia 1901 p 181Further reading editRichard E Fast The history and government of West Virginia 1901 pp 169 81 online editionExternal links edit nbsp Media related to John J Jacob at Wikimedia Commons Biography of Governor John J Jacob Inaugural Address of Governor John J Jacob March 4 1871 Party political offices Preceded byJohnson N Camden Democratic nominee for Governor of West Virginia1870 Succeeded byJohnson N Camden Preceded byWilliam E Stevenson Republican nominee for Governor of West VirginiaEndorsed1872 Succeeded byNathan Goff Jr Political offices Preceded byWilliam E Stevenson Governor of West Virginia1871 1877 Succeeded byHenry M Mathews Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John J Jacob West Virginia politician amp oldid 1219657424, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
