BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Page 647.

HON. WILSON S. KENNON

Hon. Wilson Kennon, a present distinguished citizen of St. Clairsville, is
the only surviving child of the above. He was born at St. Clairsville,
December 15, 1826. After attending the common schools he entered Bethany
college in 1846, where he remained three years. He then entered the law
office of his father, and soon afterward became his partner, continuing
as such until 1861. When the war broke out he and his father espoused the
cause of the Union, and he was elected to the legislature in 1861 by the
Union party, he being the first man to carry the county against a democrat
for that office for many years. After he had served a short time he resigned
to enter the army, but was called by Gov. Todd to the duties of secretary
of state of the state of Ohio. After serving out the term he applied to
Secretary Stanton for a commission in one of the Ohio regiments, but was
appointed by the secretary a paymaster in the army, with the rank of major
of cavalry. In that position he served four years, and then resigned,
remaining in Cincinnati, where he embarked in the practice of law in
partnership with Judge John W. Okey and Hon. Milton Sayler. After five
years' residence in that city he was called home, his father having been
stricken with paralysis. In the fall of 1871 he was elected by the
republicans as state's attorney, an office to which he was three times
elected in succession. He had also served, prior to that, four years as
master commissioner in chancery.