Frank Hereford

Who was Frank Hereford?

Frank Hereford was a United States Representative and Senator from West Virginia. Born near Warrenton, Virginia, he completed preparatory studies and graduated from McKendree University in 1845. He studied law and was admitted to the bar and practiced. He moved to California in 1849 and was district attorney of Sacramento County from 1855 to 1857. He moved to West Virginia and was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-second, Forty-third, and Forty-fourth Congresses and served from March 4, 1871, until January 31, 1877, when he resigned. As a Representative, he was chairman of the Committee on Commerce.

Hereford was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate on January 26, 1877, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Allen Taylor Caperton and served from January 31, 1877, to March 4, 1881. As a Senator, he was chairman of the Committee on Mines and Mining. He resumed the practice of law and died in Union, West Virginia in 1891. Interment was in Green Hill Cemetery.