History of Fincastle, (Botetourt County) Virginia United States of America

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Biographies:

William Clark, Indian Commissioner, was born in Caroline county, Va., Aug. 1, 1770; son of John and Ann (Rogers) Clark; and brother of Jonathan (1756-1811), George Rogers (1752-1818), John (1757-1784), Richard (1760-1784), and Edmund (1762-1815); the six brothers being officers in the army. William removed in 1784 with his father and mother to the falls of the Ohio, taking up their residence on the tract located by George Rogers Clark, where in 1777 he had built a fort. Here the settlers were constantly harassed by the Indians and the boy grew up an adept in Indian warfare. He marched with Col. John Hardin against the Indians across the Ohio in 1789; was appointed an ensign in 1791; served under Scott and Wilkinson against the Indians on the Wabash and was commissioned a first lieutenant in the fourth sub-legion by President Washington in March, 1793. He served under General Wayne, conducted an expedition up the Wabash to Vincennes; returned to Fort Washington (Cincinnati) in the spring of 1794; escorted with a few men valuable trains of supplies and defended them against the Indians, receiving from General Wayne thanks for his good conduct. In July, 1796, continued ill-health compelled him to resign from the army and he resided at the falls of the Ohio for nearly eight years. President Jefferson commissioned him 2nd lieutenant of artillery and ordered him to join Capt. Meriwether Lewis in an expedition across the Rocky mountains to the Pacific ocean at the mouth of the Columbia river. He had the military direction of the expedition and his knowledge of the Indians greatly added to the success of the expedition, which occupied the years 1804-05. He visited the national capital upon his return; was commissioned 1st lieutenant in January, 1806, and was nominated lieutenant-colonel of the 2nd infantry, but his appointment failed of confirmation in the senate. He was appointed Indian agent at St. Louis in 1807, and was commissioned by congress brigadier-general for Louisiana Territory. In 1812 he declined a commission as brigadier-general with command of the army of the northwest as successor to General Hull. In 1813 he was made governor of Louisiana Territory, and upon the organization of the state of Missouri, in 1820, was the defeated candidate for its first governor. In 1822 President Monroe made him superintendent of Indian affairs and he held the office the remainder of his life. He was married at Fincastle, Va., Jan. 5, 1808, to Julia Hancock, who died in 1820, leaving him five children. On Nov. 28, 1821, he was married to Harriet Kennerly Radford of St. Louis, Mo., and their son, Jefferson Kearney, resided in that city in 1895, the only living grandchild of John and Ann (Rogers) Clark. Gov. William Clark died in St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 1, 1838.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

James Breckinridge, statesman, was born near Fincastle, Va., March 7, 1763; son of Robert Breckinridge, and grandson of a Scotch covenanter who escaped to America upon the restoration of the Stuarts. He was educated at William and Mary college, and was admitted to the bar in 1787. He was leader of the Federal party in Virginia, and was a representative in the 11th and three succeeding congresses. He aided Jefferson in founding the University of Virginia, and was one of the leading promoters of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal. His brother, John Breckinridge, was U.S. attorney-general in the cabinet of Jefferson. He died near Fincastle, Va., Aug. 9, 1846.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

William Radford, naval officer, was born in Fincastle, Va., March 1, 1808; son of Harriet Kennerly Radford and stepson of Gen. William Clark . He was warranted midshipman in the U.S. navy, March 1, 1825; served on the Brandywine, when that frigate carried the Marquis de Lafayette to France; was attached to the Mediterranean squadron, 1827?28, and to the sloop Erie of the West India squadron, 1830?31. He was promoted passed midshipman, June 4, 1831; served on the John Adams of the Mediterranean squadron in 1835; was promoted lieutenant, Feb. 9, 1837, and served on the Warren of the Pacific squadron, 1845?47. He was stationed on the western coast of Mexico, 1847?48; commanded the party that cut out a Mexican war vessel at Mazatlan in 1847, and was attached to the store ship Lexington, 1852?53. He was promoted commander, Sept. 14, 1855; commanded the Dacotah of the East India squadron, 1860?61; was promoted captain, July 16, 1862, and commodore, April 24, 1863. He commanded the Cumberland in 1861, and was on court-martial duty at Old Point Comfort, when that ship was attacked by the ram Merrimac. He made every effort to reach his ship before the fighting was over, but did not arrive at Newport News until the Cumberland was sinking. He was executive officer at the Brooklyn navy yard, 1862?64; commanded the New Ironsides, and the iron-clad division of Admiral Porter's squadron at Fort Fisher in December, 1864, and January, 1865. His ability and services in these two attacks were recognized and praised by Admiral Porter in his report to the secretary of the navy. He commanded the navy yard at Washington, D.C., 1866?68; was promoted rear-admiral, July 25, 1868; commanded the Mediterranean squadron, 1869?70, and was retired, March 1, 1870. He was on special duty in Washington, D.C., 1871?72, and died in that city, Jan. 8, 1890.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor