West emigrated to the United States in February 1849 and settled at Ballston Spa, New York in 1860.

"[2] This early trust was highly successful, as each member had access to all of the earliest paper bag patents and agreed not to compete with each other.

The success of his bags compelled West to purchase or build additional paper mills.

[4] He was known as a philanthropist, donating funds to build a museum in Round Lake, New York, a Methodist church in Ballston Spa, and making liberal contributions towards the two soldiers' monuments in Saratoga County, in Ballston Spa and Schuylerville.

In 1901 West died at his mansion in Ballston Spa with a fortune that would today be worth $75 million.

His original residence in Rock City Falls still stands on Route 29 as The Mansion Inn, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.