W. W. Moreland

Candidate Biography:

William Walter Moreland
Born: April 14, 1845 in Clarksville, Arkansas
Married: Alice E.
Child: Esther
Died: May 2, 1922 in Alameda Co., CA

1879: Delegate, Second Constitutional Convention (Sacramento)
1883-1886: Private Secretary, Governor George Stoneman
1886-1890: California Bank Commissioner

• CONTROVERSY: During the 1879 Constitutional Convention, "Moreland presented a resolution that addressed the "suggested" vacancy caused by the "insanity" of delegate Jehu Berry. Moreland moved that "on Friday the 25th day of October, 1878 at 11 o'clock A.M.," the convention "proceed to the election of some qualified person to fill said vacancy." On motion of WPC delegate Henry Larkin, the delegation tabled the resolution and did not attempt to fill the vacancy at any later date. On October 23, the minute clerk recorded that Berry, who had been absent since October 14, had been granted indefinite leave of absence "on account of sickness." Jehu Berry did not return for the remainder of the convention, and was not present at the signing of the constitution on March 3. Perhaps thinking Moreland's resolution in poor taste, and out of respect for Berry's privacy and illness, the convention did not fill his vacancy or address the issue further in the debates." [Source: "Inventory" by Pat Ooley; see below]

Source: Inventory of the Working Papers of the 1878-1879 Constitutional Convention by Pat Ooley, California State Archives (1993) [ONLINE]