Ralph Lazier Berkshire (born April 8, 1815[1] or 1816;[2] died November 8, 1902) was a lawyer, judge, and Republican politician who helped found the state of West Virginia and became the first chief justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia (from June 20, 1863 to December 31, 1866). Although defeated for re-election, Berkshire again served from September 10, 1868 until December 31, 1872, and later represented Monongalia County in the West Virginia Senate (1874-1878) as well as continued practicing law.
Berkshire's grandfather John Berkshire had been a Monongalia County pioneer. In 1817 his father, farmer William Berkshire moved his young family across the Ohio River from what had become Maryland to Monongalia county (then in the state of Virginia). William Berkshire would marry three times; only Ralph and his brother Edmond C. Berkshire, who moved westward on the National Road to Addison, Champaign County, Ohio would survive of the ten children born to his second wife, the former Ruth Bradget. His father was a Whig and Patriot and a devout Methodist, and against his will was once written in by friends in opposition to Sherrard Clemens.[3] When he was 18, the home-schooled Ralph Berkshire left his family's farm, moved to Morgantown and apprenticed himself to a carpenter.[4] In 1838, he began to read law with Guy R.C. Allen in Morgantown,
In 1842 Ralph Berkshire married Maria L. Chadwick, daughter of James Chadwick. Three children survived their parents (Jane Ann Berkshire Wagner, Mary R. Berkshire and Charles B. Berkshire); another daughter died as an infant and another after marrying.[5]
Careeredit
Judges Joseph L. Fry, Edwin S. Duncan and Daniel Smith admitted Berkshire and Waitman T. Willey to the Virginia bar in Morgantown in 1840.[6] In 1847, the local judges appointed Berkshire as Monongalia county's prosecuting attorney. He succeeding Matthew Gay (who had held that position for 24 years) and won election to that position in 1852 (the Virginia Constitution as amended the previous year transforming the commonwealth's attorney's position into an elective office). Berkshire ran as the Whig candidate for circuit court judge in 1861, but George W. Thompson was elected instead. Meanwhile, Berkshire ardently opposed secession and the resolutions he helped draft after the Virginia Secession Convention of 1861 were published by the National Intelligencer and other newspapers as the "first loyal voice from West Virginia".[7]
Berkshire won election as one of Monongalia County's delegates to the first and second Wheeling Conventions of May and June 1861, although other professional commitments prevented him from attending the first convention. When Judge Thompson refused to take the oaths required by the Wheeling Conventions, Berkshire was elected in his place (defeating Major Good, who later became a judge). He became circuit judge of the 19th Judicial Circuit of Virginia, until resigning as discussed below on June 20, 1863.
As West Virginia became a state in its own right, the Union Convention nominated Berkshire as one of the first judges of the new Supreme Court of Appeals. He resigned his trial post and accepted the appellate position on June 20, 1863. The new appeals judges drew lots and he drew the shortest term of office, four years, but was also chosen to lead the body. He was defeated for re-election in 1866 by fellow republican Edwin Maxwell (then the new state's attorney general), but was appointed to serve out the remainder of William A. Harrison's term after that judge resigned in September 1868, and Berkshire won election in 1868 for a new term. However, new elections were held in 1872 under the new state constitution adopted that year, and Democrats replaced all Republicans, including Berkshire.[8] Upon leaving the bench, Berkshire practiced law with George C. Sturgiss, who for a time served as U.S. Attorney and later became a U.S. Congressman. Monongalia County voters elected Berkshire to represent them in the state senate in 1874. In 1888 and 1892 he strongly supported Benjamin Harrison for President and was a delegate-at-large to the Republican national convention of 1888.
Deathedit
Berkshire died of pneumonia in 1902. He was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Morgantown.[9]
^"Judge Berkshire Dead", West Virginia Argus, November 13, 1902, p. 2
January 01, 1970
ralph, lazier, berkshire, born, april, 1815, 1816, died, november, 1902, lawyer, judge, republican, politician, helped, found, state, west, virginia, became, first, chief, justice, supreme, court, appeals, west, virginia, from, june, 1863, december, 1866, alth. Ralph Lazier Berkshire born April 8 1815 1 or 1816 2 died November 8 1902 was a lawyer judge and Republican politician who helped found the state of West Virginia and became the first chief justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia from June 20 1863 to December 31 1866 Although defeated for re election Berkshire again served from September 10 1868 until December 31 1872 and later represented Monongalia County in the West Virginia Senate 1874 1878 as well as continued practicing law Ralph Lazier BerkshireMember of the Wheeling ConventionIn office May 13 1861 May 15 1861Judge West Virginia Court of AppealsIn office June 20 1863 December 31 1866Preceded byn aSucceeded byEdwin MaxwellJudge West Virginia Court of AppealsIn office September 10 1868 December 31 1872Preceded byWilliam A HarrisonSucceeded byJames PaullWest Virginia Senate from Monongalia CountyIn office 1874 1878Personal detailsBorn 1815 04 08 April 8 1815Bedford County Pennsylvania USDiedNovember 8 1902 1902 11 08 aged 87 Morgantown USPolitical partyRepublicanProfessionPolitician lawyer judge Contents 1 Early and family life 2 Career 3 Death 4 ReferencesEarly and family life editBerkshire s grandfather John Berkshire had been a Monongalia County pioneer In 1817 his father farmer William Berkshire moved his young family across the Ohio River from what had become Maryland to Monongalia county then in the state of Virginia William Berkshire would marry three times only Ralph and his brother Edmond C Berkshire who moved westward on the National Road to Addison Champaign County Ohio would survive of the ten children born to his second wife the former Ruth Bradget His father was a Whig and Patriot and a devout Methodist and against his will was once written in by friends in opposition to Sherrard Clemens 3 When he was 18 the home schooled Ralph Berkshire left his family s farm moved to Morgantown and apprenticed himself to a carpenter 4 In 1838 he began to read law with Guy R C Allen in Morgantown In 1842 Ralph Berkshire married Maria L Chadwick daughter of James Chadwick Three children survived their parents Jane Ann Berkshire Wagner Mary R Berkshire and Charles B Berkshire another daughter died as an infant and another after marrying 5 Career editJudges Joseph L Fry Edwin S Duncan and Daniel Smith admitted Berkshire and Waitman T Willey to the Virginia bar in Morgantown in 1840 6 In 1847 the local judges appointed Berkshire as Monongalia county s prosecuting attorney He succeeding Matthew Gay who had held that position for 24 years and won election to that position in 1852 the Virginia Constitution as amended the previous year transforming the commonwealth s attorney s position into an elective office Berkshire ran as the Whig candidate for circuit court judge in 1861 but George W Thompson was elected instead Meanwhile Berkshire ardently opposed secession and the resolutions he helped draft after the Virginia Secession Convention of 1861 were published by the National Intelligencer and other newspapers as the first loyal voice from West Virginia 7 Berkshire won election as one of Monongalia County s delegates to the first and second Wheeling Conventions of May and June 1861 although other professional commitments prevented him from attending the first convention When Judge Thompson refused to take the oaths required by the Wheeling Conventions Berkshire was elected in his place defeating Major Good who later became a judge He became circuit judge of the 19th Judicial Circuit of Virginia until resigning as discussed below on June 20 1863 As West Virginia became a state in its own right the Union Convention nominated Berkshire as one of the first judges of the new Supreme Court of Appeals He resigned his trial post and accepted the appellate position on June 20 1863 The new appeals judges drew lots and he drew the shortest term of office four years but was also chosen to lead the body He was defeated for re election in 1866 by fellow republican Edwin Maxwell then the new state s attorney general but was appointed to serve out the remainder of William A Harrison s term after that judge resigned in September 1868 and Berkshire won election in 1868 for a new term However new elections were held in 1872 under the new state constitution adopted that year and Democrats replaced all Republicans including Berkshire 8 Upon leaving the bench Berkshire practiced law with George C Sturgiss who for a time served as U S Attorney and later became a U S Congressman Monongalia County voters elected Berkshire to represent them in the state senate in 1874 In 1888 and 1892 he strongly supported Benjamin Harrison for President and was a delegate at large to the Republican national convention of 1888 Death editBerkshire died of pneumonia in 1902 He was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Morgantown 9 References edit date on gravestone Prominent Men of West Virginia George Wesley Atkinson Alvaro Franklin Gibbons Wheeling WV W L Callin 1890 p 253 Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Monongalia County 1895 p 43 Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Monongalia County 1895 p 42 Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Monongalia County 1895 p 44 Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Monongalia County 1895 p 44 Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Monongalia County 1895 p 43 http www courtswv gov public resources press Publications 2016 CourtBrochure pdf The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia Drawing Lots A Historical Perspective of the West Virginia Supreme Court Rory L Perry II Morgantown Printing and Binding 2016 p 15 16 Judge Berkshire Dead West Virginia Argus November 13 1902 p 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ralph Lazier Berkshire amp oldid 1216880066, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
