Caleb Walton West

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Caleb Walton West

Caleb Walton West (born May 25, 1844 in Cynthiana , Kentucky , † 1909 ) was an American lawyer, judge and politician ( Democratic Party ).

Life

West attended Millersburg Academy and served in the Confederate Army after the outbreak of the Civil War , spending most of his time as a prisoner of war. After the war he married Nancy Frazer. He worked as a lawyer and community judge. He also served as Territorial Governor of the Utah Territory until 1901 as a special agent for the US Treasury on the West Coast.

Governor of Utah Territory

President Grover Cleveland made him governor of the Utah Territory in 1886. He supported the Edmunds – Tucker Act of 1887, an anti- polygamy law and the separation of church and state. West's first term ended in 1888 with the election of Benjamin Harrison as 23rd US President. The following Woodruff Manifesto of 1890 ended the polygamy sanctioned by the church and national political parties replaced the old Peoples Party (Mormons) and Liberal Party (non-Mormons). As a result, federal government-seized church property was returned to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .

With the re-election of Cleveland in his second term in 1893, West was re-elected. He promoted the creation of associations such as the Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce and provided funding for what is now Utah State University and a training facility in Ogden . Further, Saltair , a resort on the Great Salt Lake opened. West held the office until Utah became the 45th state to join the Union and a new governor was elected.

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personal data
SURNAME West, Caleb Walton
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician
DATE OF BIRTH May 25, 1844
PLACE OF BIRTH Cynthiana , Kentucky
DATE OF DEATH 1909