William West Harvey (November 21, 1869 – September 27, 1958[1]) was a member of the Kansas House of Representatives and a justice of the Kansas Supreme Court from January 8, 1923, to January 8, 1945, and chief justice from January 8, 1945, to March 1, 1956.[2]
William West Harvey | |
|---|---|
| Chief Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court | |
| In office 1945–1956 | |
| Preceded by | John Shaw Dawson |
| Succeeded by | William A. Smith |
| Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court | |
| In office 1923–1945 | |
| Preceded by | Judson S. West |
| Succeeded by | Harold R. Fatzer |
| Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives | |
| In office 1921–1923 | |
| Member of the Kansas House of Representatives from the 19th district | |
| In office 1917–1923 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 21, 1869 Dickinson County, Kansas |
| Died | September 27, 1958 (aged 88) |
| Political party | Republican |
In 1906 he set up his own practice in Ashland, Kansas, and in the same year became the Clark County attorney for one term.[1] He then went on to be the representative for Clark County starting in 1917 for three terms, including being elected speaker of the house in his third term.[1][3] June 17, 1921, he was made Assistant Attorney General, he was the third member of his family to hold the position.[4]
Harvey stood for the supreme court in 1922 against the incumbent Judson S. West who had already served two terms.[5] Harvey won the number 2 position with 38% of the vote, just beating West who gained 37% of the vote.[6] In 1939 the retirement of Justice William Easton Hutchinson caused a shuffle of the court with only Justice Harvey and Chief Justice John Shaw Dawson keeping their places.[7] He then became the Chief Justice in 1945 filling the position vacated by the retirement of Chief Justice Dawson.[8]
Harvey resigned as Chief Justice as of March 1, 1956, before the end of his full term with Justice William A. Smith being promoted to the Chief Justice position.[9] The vacant No. 2 position on the court was filled by Harold R. Fatzer.[10]
Both Harvey and his brother Alexander Miller Harvey were thought to have been members of the Ku Klux Klan.[11]
Life and education edit
He was born November 21, 1869, in Madison County, Kansas, moving to a farm near Berryton, Shawnee County, Kansas, in 1877.[1] He graduated in 1896 from Emporia State Teachers College, going on to teach in rural schools and becoming the superintendent of Ellsworth city schools for two years.[1] He studied law privately and was admitted in 1898 to he Kansas Bar.[1] He owned a large ranch near to Ashland, Kansas.[3]
Death edit
He died of a heart attack on the way to hospital after collapsing in his home in Topeka, Kansas, on Saturday September 27, 1958.[1] His wife Marie had died a few years before him in 1952. He left behind a daughter Helen Righter and a son Howard S. Harvey. He was buried in Ridgeway cemetery near Carbondale.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h "W.W. Harvey b. 21 Nov 1869 Madison County, Kentucky d. 27 Sep 1958 Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas: Rossville Kansas area genealogy". genealogy.rossvillelibrary.org. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- ^ "KS Courts - Historical Listing of Supreme Court Justices". www.kscourts.org. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- ^ a b "6 Jan 1921, Page 1 - The Topeka Daily Capital at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- ^ "18 Jun 1921, Page 1 - The Leavenworth Times at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- ^ "29 Apr 1922, 3 - The Topeka State Journal at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- ^ "15 Sep 1922, 3 - The Western Spirit at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- ^ "23 Jan 1939, Page 5 - The Emporia Gazette at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- ^ "10 Dec 1944, Page 1 - The Hutchinson News at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- ^ "24 Jan 1956, Page 1 - The Iola Register at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- ^ "26 Feb 1956, 12 - The Manhattan Mercury at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- ^ Rives, Tim (2019). Ku Klux Klan in Kansas City, Kansas, The. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 100–101. ISBN 978-1-4671-4204-5. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
