Norman Bushnell Willey (March 25, 1838October 22, 1921) was the second governor of

Idaho Idaho ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain states, Mountain West subregions of the Western United States. It borders Montana and Wyoming to the east, Nevada and Utah to the south, and Washington (state), ...

from 1890 until 1893.

Early life

Willey was born in

Guilford, New York Guilford is a Administrative divisions of New York#Town, town in Chenango County, New York, Chenango County, New York (state), New York, United States. The town is on the eastern border of the county. The population was 2,922 at the 2010 census. ...

, the son of Hiram and Caroline (Church) Willey. He was educated at the

Delaware Literary Institute The Delaware Literary Institute was a secondary school located at Franklin, New York. In the mid-19th century it was one of the most prominent educational institutions in New York State. It operated from 1835 to 1902. History The Delaware Lite ...

in Franklin, New York. He moved to California at age 20, where he became a gold miner. In 1864, he moved to

Warren, Idaho Warren is an unincorporated community in the remote north central region of the U.S. state of Idaho, near the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. Geography Located within the Payette National Forest in southern Idaho County, Warren ...

, where he continued to work as a miner and became active in local politics, including service as a member of

Idaho County Idaho County is a county in the U.S. state of Idaho, and the largest by area in the state. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,541. The county seat is Grangeville. Previous county seats of the area were Florence (1864–68), Washingt ...

's Board of Commissioners, County Treasurer, and County School Superintendent. Willey also became involved in other business ventures, including owning and operating a sawmill. He later studied law, attained admission to the bar, and practiced in

Career

A Republican, Willey was elected to Idaho's legislative council in 1872, and served until 1873. Elected to another term in 1878, he served until 1889, and was the Council President in 1879. During his legislative career, he was one of the few council members who opposed the effort to reunite North Idaho with Washington State. In 1888, he was defeated for reelection. During his two terms, he became friends with

Milton Kelly Milton Kelly (September 9, 1818 – April 9, 1892) was an American lawyer, politician, jurist and newspaper editor who served on the Idaho Territorial Supreme Court from 1865 to 1870, and as owner and editor of the ''Idaho Statesman'' from 1871 t ...

– a former supreme court justice who had become a prominent newspaper editor. This led to a career in the field of journalism, where his reports as mine superintendent and state correspondent found wide audience. In 1890, another opportunity arose for Willey in politics when Idaho gained admission as a state. George Shoup was chosen to serve as governor; however, he only agreed to do so once he was assured that his service would end as governor in late 1890, and that he would then become a

United States senator The United States Senate consists of 100 members, two from each of the 50 U.S. state, states. This list includes all senators serving in the 119th United States Congress. Party affiliation Independent Senators Angus King of Maine and Berni ...

. Shoup arranged Willey's election as Lieutenant Governor, which ensured that he would succeed to the governorship after Shoup resigned. During his tenure, Willey oversaw the Idaho government's transition from territorial to state, from creation of state agencies to the design for a state seal. He also dealt with a labor-management strike between miners and mine owners in the Coeur D'Alene region, ultimately declaring martial law, and calling in both the militia and federal troops. Willey continued to serve as governor until 1893; he lost renomination in 1892 to

William J. McConnell William John McConnell (September 18, 1839March 30, 1925) was the List of Governors of Idaho, third governor of Idaho from 1893 until 1897. He had previously represented the new state as one of its first United States Senate, United States Senato ...

, who went on to win the general election. After leaving office, Willey accepted a position as a mine superintendent in

Blue Canyon, California Blue Canyon (also, Blue Cañon) is an unincorporated community in Placer County, California. Blue Canyon is located southwest of Emigrant Gap. It lies at an elevation of 4695 feet (1431 m). Blue Canyon was possibly named for the blue smoke of ...

. He never married or had children, and after several business reverses he moved to

Topeka, Kansas Topeka ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, in northeastern Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2020 cen ...

to live with relatives.

Death

In his later years, Willey became a resident of Shawnee County's

poorhouse A poorhouse or workhouse is a government-run (usually by a county or municipality) facility to support and provide housing for the dependent or needy. Workhouses In England, Wales and Ireland (but not in Scotland), "workhouse" has been the more ...

, and the state of Idaho eventually appropriated $1,200 as an unofficial pension to assist him in his old age. He died in Topeka on October 22, 1921, and was buried at Auburn Cemetery in

Auburn, Kansas Auburn is a city in Shawnee County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 1,273. History 19th century In July 1854, John W. Brown came to this area and found it highly suitable for a homestead. He acq ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Willey, N. B. 1838 births 1921 deaths American Protestants Republican Party governors of Idaho Lieutenant governors of Idaho People from Guilford, New York California Republicans Kansas Republicans 19th-century Idaho politicians