Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Joseph Rodman WEST
From the National Cyclopaedia of American Biography,Vol IX, Copyright 1899 & 1907 by James T. White Co., published by University Microfilm, 1967, page 233. "WEST, Joseph Rodman, soldier and senator, was born in New Orleans, La., Sept. 19, 1822. He entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1836, but withdrew before graduation. He served as a captain of the volunteers in the Mexican war, and in 1849 emigrated to California, where he became engaged in commercial pursuits, and at the outbreak of the civil war he was proprietor of the San Francisco 'Prices Current.' He at once entered the army as lieutenant of the 1st California infantry, and saw service in New Mexico, Arkansas, and the Southwest. He became a brigadier-general of volunteers, Oct. 25, 1862, and on being mustered out, Jan. 4, 1866, was brevetted major-general. At the close of the war he settled for a short time in Texas, and then went to New Orleans, where he served as chief deputy U.S. marshal and auditor of the customs and afterwards as administrator of improvements. He was elected U.S. senator from Louisiana on the Republican ticket, and served for seven years (1871-77). He was on the committees on appropriations and railroads. At the close of his term he settled in Washington, where he engaged in business. He was commissioner of the District of Columbia during 1882-85. He died in Washington, D.C., Oct 31, 1898."
!Additional information from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress: "West, Joseph Rodman, a Senator from Louisiana; born in New Orleans, La., September 19, 1822; moved with his parents to Philadelphia in 1824; educated in private schools; attended the University of Pennsylvania 1836-1837; moved to New Orleans in 1841; captain attached to Maryland and District of Columbia Volunteers in the Mexican War 1847-1848; moved to California in 1849 and engaged in newspaper work in San Francisco; proprietor of the San Francisco Price Current; during the Civil War entered the Union Army as lieutenant of the First Regiment, California Volunteer Infantry, in 1861; promoted to the rank of colonel and brigadier general, and was brevetted major general in 1866; returned to New Orleans, La.; deputy United States marshal; auditor for customs 1867-1871; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1871, to March 3, 1877; was not a candidate for reelection; chairman, Committee on Railroads (Forty-fourth Congress); member of the Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia 1882-1885; retired from public life in 1885; died in Washington, D.C., October 31, 1898; interment in Arlington National Cemetery, Fort Myer, Va."
!From the California State Military Museum, Californians and the Military: " ... in early manhood took up his residence in California, and from there enlisted as a soldier in the Mexican war. He became a private in the mounted volunteers July 17, 1847; was promoted to captain July 25; was later attached to the Maryland and District of Columbia volunteers, and was honorably mustered out of the service on August 10, 1848. He then returned to Califonia, in which state he was residing at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. On August 5, 1861, he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the 1st California Volunteer Infantry which was organized in pursuance of the president's first call upon the State of California for troops. On the completion of the organization the regiment moved to Camp Latham, between Los Angeles and Santa Monica. On June 1, 1862, Lieutenant Colonel West was promoted to the position of colonel and the regiment became part of the California column, under the command of Brigadier General Carleton, which marched from San Pedro to the Rio Grande and assisted in the recapture of New Mexico. Colonel West was warmly commended in Carleton's officail report of the expedition, and was recommended for promotion. Said Carleton, 'I send you a set of colors which have been borne by this column. They were hoisted by Colonel West on Forts Breckinridge and Buchanan, and over Tucson, Ariz,' etc. On Oct. 25, 1862, West was commisioned brigadier-general of volunteers and continued to serve in that capacity until the close of the war, being honorably mustered out on Jan. 4, 1866, when he was given the brevet rank of major-general of volunteers. Brigadier General West died October 31, 1898."
!The Arlington National Cemetery website has a bio of West and a photograph of his tombstone, which reads Joseph R. West BREVET Major Gen'l, U.S. Volunteers 1822--1898 Jeanne J. West 1827 -- 1896
!Appears in the 1860 California census in San Francisco, occupation, editor; and in the 1880 District of Columbia census living at 815 15th Street NW, occupation, lawyer. This census also identifies his parents as having been born in Pennsylvania. He does not appear in the 1870 census in Louisiana, although he must have been living there. No will listed for Joseph West in Index to DC Wills 1801-1920, by Dorothy S. Provine. No marriage record in Index to Marriages in Orleans Parish, LA.
!"Born in New Orleans but brought up in Philadelphia, West had served as a major-general in the Union army." from "Those Terrible Carpetbaggers" by Richard Nelson Current, Oxford University Press, 1988.
!Genealogy from "The Ancestry and Posterity of John Lea of Christian Malford, Wiltshire, England, and Of Pennsylvania in America, 1503-1906," by James Henry Lea and George Henry Lea, Lea Brothers & Co., Philadelphia and New York, 1906.
!West Family Register, found on the internet, gives Caleb West of Philadelphia and His Descendants from which some additional genealogical details have been selected. However, there are evident errors in this listing. From West Family Register, Caleb West of Philadelphia and His Descendants: "Charles Shute West, son of Caleb West and Sarah Shute, was born in Philadelphia May 15, 1796. He was married three times: 1st, to Annie Edwards Smith, who was born Oct. 4, 1795, the daughter of James and Jennie (Russell) Smith; 2nd, to Isabelle Leavitt Howard who died in the District of Columbia, leaving Charles Henry West, who died in the Mexican War, and Rosalie West; 3rd, to Adeline Driver, who died in 1857 without issue. Mr West moved to New Orleans, where his family was reared. He died in Washington, D.C., leaving; 11. George W. West b. July 26, 1818 12. Elizabeth West b. July 26, 1820 13. Joseph Rodman West b. Nov. [sic] 19, 1822 14. Rosalie West b. Sept. 27, 1834"
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