John B. Weller

As printed in 1882

JOHN B. WELLER.

John B. Weller, who filled more important public stations than any one else who ever lived in this county, was born in the village of Montgomery, Hamilton County, Ohio, on the 22d of February, 1812. He was of German descent, his ancestors originally settling in New York. From that State his parents removed to; Ohio some few years before his birth. He was educated ! at the Miami University, but did not graduate. At the age of eighteen he commenced the study of law in the office of Jesse Corwin, in Hamilton. Lewis D. Campbell, his principal competitor in the politics of this county, came here at the same time, and the two young men slept together in the same bed. They were then of the same politics. Before attaining his majority young Weller was admitted to the bar, and soon after was nominated by the Democrats for the office of prosecuting attorney, his opponent being Jesse Corwin, his old tutor, whom he defeated by a handsome majority.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

After peace was declared, Colouei A eller returned to his home in Hamilton, and took up hi: profession, but was called on by the Democrats of Ohio to lead them in the great gubernatorial tight of 1848. 1 1 is opponent.

the "Whig candidate, was Seabury Ford, and the campaign was the fiercest and most bitter ever known in tlffi Suite. This was virtually a fight to decide the presidential question as far as Ohio was concerned; for it was conceded that if Weller carried the State, Cass would get Ohio's vote. After a canvass carried on in all parts of the State, in which Colonel Weller spoke in seventy-eight counties, and after weeks of doubt as to the final result — for it took the official vote to decide — it was found that Weller had been defeated by a majority of three hundred and forty-five votes out of an aggregate of almost three hundred thousand. In one county over four hundred votes were cast for John Weller, which were thrown out. But the great point was won. after all; for Ohio went for Cass.

In January, 1849, President Polk tendered to Colonel Weller the appointment of commissioner under the treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo, to settle the boundary line between California and Mexico. On President Taylor’s accession to the.office, Colonel Weller was relieved, and proceeded to San Francisco, where he pursued his profession. In 1852 he was elected United States Senator in the place of John C. Fremont, for the long term ending in 1857. Upon his return to California in that year he was elected governor of the State by a large majority. At the termination of his career as governor he settled in Alameda County, near Oakland, but was sent by President Buchanan as minister to Mexico in the fall of 1860. M hen President Lincoln came into office. Colonel Weller was succeeded by his old Ohio friend, Tom Corwin. In 1867 Governor Weller removed to New Orleans, where he was appointed master in chancery for all of the Gaines cases. Here he lived until his death, on the 17th day of August, 1875.

Governor Weller left two children,— John B. Weller, Jr., whose mother was Miss Taylor, and Charles L. Weller, Jr., who was the only child by his marriage with Mrs. G. W. Staunton in 1854 — still living.

As printed in A history and biographical cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio, with illustrations and sketches of its representative men and pioneers (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.