Pickering, William T., 1798-1873

Pickering, a native of England, settled in Albion, Illinois in the 1820s. He served in the Illinois state legislature (1842-1852). Lincoln appointed Pickering territorial governor of Washington in 1862. Pickering served until 1866.

From the description of Telegram, September 1864. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 304436193

William Pickering was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1798 and graduated from Oxford University in 1820. In 1821 he moved to Illinois. He served in the Illinois legislature from 1842 to 1852 and in 1860 he was chairman of the Illinois delegation to the Republican convention, which nominated Abraham Lincoln for the presidency. Lincoln's second appointment to the governorship of Washington Territory was given to his close personal and political friend, William Pickering. Following the resignation of Gov. William Wallace, Territorial Secretary L.J.S. Turney acted as chief executive until the arrival of Pickering in June 1862. One of his first declarations of policy was to place himself firmly against the controversial practice of granting legislative divorce. His opposition was successful and the granting of such divorces was abolished. In addition to general ability, Pickering was especially well-qualified for the post of frontier governor by reason of his training as a civil engineer. He was keenly aware of the need for better transportation facilities in Washington Territory and he worked to secure Federal assistance for roads. During his term communications were greatly improved by the completion of a transcontinental telegraph line. In spite of the extreme frontier conditions existing in the territory, Governor Pickering had abiding faith in the future development of Washington and purchased a farm near Snoqualmie for his family. During Pickering's term, in 1864 and 1866, the first and second boatloads of "Mercer Girls," widows and orphans of the Civil War, arrived in Seattle through the efforts of Asa Mercer, to supply wives for the predominately male population of Washington Territory. After his term as governor, Pickering returned to Illinois. He died there in 1873, while planning to return to the Northwest.

From the description of Correspondence of William T. Pickering [electronic resource], 1862-1864. (Washington State Library, Office of Secretary of State). WorldCat record id: 681412564

From the description of Correspondence of William T. Pickering, 1862-1864. (Washington State Library, Office of Secretary of State). WorldCat record id: 268676101