Peter Van Winkle
| Peter G. Van Winkle | |
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United States Senator from West Virginia |
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In office August 4, 1863 – March 3, 1869 |
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| Preceded by | office established |
| Succeeded by | Arthur I. Boreman |
| Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates | |
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In office 1863 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
September 7, 1808 New York, New York |
| Died | April 15, 1872 (aged 63) Parkersburg, West Virginia |
| Political party | Unionist |
| Other political affiliations |
Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Julia Rathbone |
Peter Godwin Van Winkle (September 7, 1808 – April 15, 1872) was an American lawyer, businessman and politician. For many years a leading officer of the Northwestern Virginia Railroad, he became one of the founders of West Virginia and a United States Senator.
Born in New York City to an established family, Van Winkle completed preparatory studies, studied law, and was admitted to the bar. He married Juliet Rathbone, the eldest daughter of William Palmer Rathbone (1784 - 1862) and his wife Martha Ming Valleau Rathbone (1793 - 1846), an influential family in West Virginia. Four years later, the Van Winkles had moved to Parkersburg, Virginia (now West Virginia). They had three children who survived to adulthood before Julia Van Winkle's death: Rathbone Van Winkle (1834 - 1870), Godwin Van Winkle (1836 - 1883), and Mary Van Winkle Blackford (1838 - 1927).
After further studies locally with lawyer and General John J. Jackson, Van Winkle began his legal practice in Parkserburg in 1835. He was president of the town board of trustees from 1844 until 1850. In 1850, Wood County voters also elected him to represent at the Virginia State constitutional convention in 1850. He was treasurer and later president of the Northwestern Virginia Railroad Co. beginning in 1852.
After Virginia seceded from the Union, much to the distress of many in its northwestern corner, Wood County voters elected Van Winkle to the second Wheeling Convention in 1861. He helped organize the Restored Government of Virginia and also served in 1862 as an influential delegate to the convention which framed the constitution of West Virginia. He was also elected to the first session of the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1863. When West Virginia was admitted as a State into the Union, voters elected Van Winkle as a Unionist to the U.S. Senate, where he served from August 4, 1863, to March 3, 1869. While in the Senate, Van Winkle was chairman of the Committee on Pensions (Fortieth Congress).
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