 In 1861, Wilson Kennon was elected to represent Belmont County, Ohio in the Ohio House of Representatives for the 55th General Assembly, convening January 6, 1862.Before the American Civil War, Kennon was a Democrat, but was nominated to the legislature by the Unconditional Union Party of Belmont County.In May 1862, fellow Belmont Countian Benjamin Rush Cowen resigned as Secretary of State after a few months in office to go to war.