William Bell Waddell (September 21, 1828 – June 3, 1897) was an American politician and judge from Pennsylvania. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing Chester County from 1865 to 1867. He also served in the Pennsylvania Senate from 1872 to 1873.
After getting admitted to the bar, Waddell practiced law in West Chester.[1][2] He was elected to the House of Burgess of West Chester in 1857.[4] He served as major of the 10th regiment of the Pennsylvania Emergency Militia in 1862.[5] Union Army officer Robert Cornwell read law under him in 1865–66.[6]
In 1887, Waddell was appointed as "additional law judge" of the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas. He was elected to the role in the fall of 1887 to a ten-year term concluding in 1898. After the death of J. Smith Futhey, he was appointed president judge of the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas. He served in that role from December 4, 1888, to his death.[1][3][5]
Personal life
Waddell married Mary Jane Worthington, daughter of Carver Worthington, on December 27, 1855. They had two children, Robert S. and Ruth R. His son Robert was also a lawyer.[2][5] He was a member of the Presbyterian Church.[2]