U.S. Congressman. William Bay served one term in the United States House of Representatives. After attending local schools, he studied law and was admitted to the New York Bar before moving to Union, Missouri in 1836 to commence the practice of law. Beginning a political career, he was a member of the Missouri State House of Representatives from 1844 to 1848. In 1849, he was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-first Congress, serving until 1851. The Hon. W. V. N. Bay, of Missouri made an eight-page speech on February 20, 1850 on the subject of slavery and California. After his term, he resumed the practice of law. During the American Civil War, Missouri was a hotly contested border state populated by both Union and Confederate sympathizers. He became a Missouri State Supreme Court judge from 1862 to 1865 after the prior judge refused to swear the oath to the United States of America. After the war, the governor removed all judges appointed to the bench. He wrote the book "Reminiscences of the Bench and Bar of Missouri," which was published in 1878. After retiring from his practice of law, he relocated to Eureka. Born into a family of well-respected lawyers for generations, his brother, Samuel M. Bay, was a prominent attorney in Missouri, who served as counsel for Dred Scott in the 1847 Scott v. Emerson case. He married and the couple had at least six children.
U.S. Congressman. William Bay served one term in the United States House of Representatives. After attending local schools, he studied law and was admitted to the New York Bar before moving to Union, Missouri in 1836 to commence the practice of law. Beginning a political career, he was a member of the Missouri State House of Representatives from 1844 to 1848. In 1849, he was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-first Congress, serving until 1851. The Hon. W. V. N. Bay, of Missouri made an eight-page speech on February 20, 1850 on the subject of slavery and California. After his term, he resumed the practice of law. During the American Civil War, Missouri was a hotly contested border state populated by both Union and Confederate sympathizers. He became a Missouri State Supreme Court judge from 1862 to 1865 after the prior judge refused to swear the oath to the United States of America. After the war, the governor removed all judges appointed to the bench. He wrote the book "Reminiscences of the Bench and Bar of Missouri," which was published in 1878. After retiring from his practice of law, he relocated to Eureka. Born into a family of well-respected lawyers for generations, his brother, Samuel M. Bay, was a prominent attorney in Missouri, who served as counsel for Dred Scott in the 1847 Scott v. Emerson case. He married and the couple had at least six children.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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