McMullin, Fayette, 1805-1880

Fayette McMullin was the second Washington Territorial Governor. He was a politician, coach driver, teamster, farmer, banker from Virginia and Washington State. Lafayette "Fayette" McMullin was born on May 18, 1805 in Bedford Co., VA. Fayette's father had established a successful wagon train and coach line from Bedford to Estillville (now Gate City), VA which transported passengers, mail and goods along the line. Fayette became a coach driver for the line and settled in Scott County, VA. He married Mary (Polly) Wood and began to accumulate acreage to establish himself. In 1826 he joined the Virginia State militia and won election to his first local office at age 21. This would be the beginning of a long series of elected offices held by Fayette McMullin. He was a representative in the VA legislature for 15 years. In 1857 he was appointed Governor of Washington Territory, when the former appointee did not qualify. His marriage was very tumultuous, he and his wife filed several separation papers from 1843 to 1853. In 1853 the last separation was filed and provisions were made for his wife until a divorce could be arranged. This was the time in Washington Territory of legislative divorces and in 1858, the Washington Territorial Legislature granted a divorce to Fayette and Polly McMullin. Shortly after the divorce, McMullin married Mary Wood, a native of Thurston County, WA. This created the impression that his chief objective to becoming governor was to obtain a divorce from his first wife. Shortly after his marriage he was removed from office and they returned to VA. McMullin was elected to the Confederate House of Representatives in 1863 and served until the Confederacy crumbled in 1865. Afterwards he engaged in agriculture and banking pursuits and unsuccessfully ran for Governor of VA in 1878. He died in a train accident on November 18, 1880 and was buried in Marion, VA.