Edgar P. Rucker
Edgar Parks Rucker (December 23, 1861 – April 21, 1908) was an American lawyer, politician, and businessman in the U.S. state of West Virginia. He was a Republican who served as the 12th attorney general of West Virginia from March 4, 1897, until March 3, 1901.
Honorable Edgar Parks Rucker | |
|---|---|
Portrait of Rucker, published in 1905 | |
| 12th Attorney General of West Virginia | |
| In office March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1901 | |
| Governor | George W. Atkinson |
| Preceded by | Thomas S. Riley |
| Succeeded by | Romeo H. Freer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 23, 1861 Covington, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | April 21, 1908 (aged 46) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Resting place | Old Stone Church Cemetery, Lewisburg, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Maude Applegate Rucker |
| Relations | William W. Rucker (brother) |
| Children | Margaret Clarke Rucker |
| Parent(s) | William Parks Rucker (father) Margaret Ann Scott Rucker (mother) |
| Alma mater | West Virginia University Department of Law (LL.B.) |
| Profession | Lawyer, politician, and businessperson |
Rucker was born in Covington, Virginia, in 1861 and was raised in Lewisburg, West Virginia, where he attended school at Lewisburg Academy. He briefly worked as a schoolteacher in Greenbrier County public schools then earned a Bachelor of Laws from West Virginia University's Department of Law in 1887. He returned to Lewisburg and practiced law with his father William Parks Rucker. In July 1887, Rucker engaged in a duel with Lewisburg deputy postmaster Bedford Beirne, resulting in serious injuries to Beirne. Rucker relocated to Princeton, where he practiced law for three years; then to Bramwell, where he was editor of the Flat Top Monitor. He then moved to Welch and established a law firm in which he served as senior partner with Benjamin Franklin Keller among his firm's partners.
In 1888, Rucker unsuccessfully ran for the 8th Senate district seat and in 1892 for the 3rd congressional district seat. He served on the West Virginia University board of regents from 1895 to 1897. In 1896, Rucker was elected state attorney general, and during his tenure, his office was involved with cases resulting in increased tax revenue for the state. In addition to his political career, Rucker served as an incorporator and the president of several companies in Welch. After suffering poor health in his later years, Rucker died in 1908 in Washington, D.C. following surgery.