History of Wellsburg, (Brooke County) West Virginia United States of America

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Biographies:

Isaac Harding Duval, soldier, was born in Wellsburg, Va., Sept. 1, 1824; son of Isaac Duval, and great-great-grandson of Maurice Duval, who emigrated from France to America about 1685, on account of the religious persecutions, and settled in Maryland. Isaac Duval, father of Isaac Harding, removed from Maryland in 1812 and built in Wellsburg, Va., the first glass factory in the Ohio valley. In 1837 Isaac Harding left home and became a traveller, hunter and trapper in the Rocky mountains, Mexico, Central and South America and California. In 1847 he accompanied the Butler and Lewis commission, sent out by President Polk to collect and make treaties with the Indians living on the borders of Texas and Mexico. He was sent by the commissioners to visit the tribes and induce representatives to meet and treat with the commission, and successfully carried out the plan. He led the first company that crossed the plains from Texas to California in 1849; was in the Lopez insurrection in Cuba in 185l, barely escaping execution; and returned to Wellsburg, Va., where he remained until the breaking out of the civil war in 1861. He then entered the United States volunteer service, as major of the first three-months regiment of volunteer infantry sent out from western Virginia. On the expiration of his term of service he became major of the first three-years regiment, was promoted to the colonelcy of 9th West Virginia volunteer infantry and was subsequently colonel of the 1st veteran regiment of West Virginia infantry. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general of volunteers in 1864 and commanded the 2d division, 8th army corps. He was brevetted major-general of volunteers, March 13. 1865, for gallantry and meritorious service on the battlefield. He was in thirty-two battles; was wounded three times, and had eleven horses killed or wounded under him. He was both a representative and senator in the West Virginia legislature, was adjutant-general of the state two years; a representative in the 41st U.S. congress, 1866-71; was U.S. assessor for the district of West Virginia, 1882-84, and collector of internal revenue, 1884-98.

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

John Overton Pendleton, representative, was born in Wellsburgh, Brooke county, Virginia, July 4, 1851; son of Maj. Joseph H. (C.S.A.) and Margaret (Ewing) Pendleton; grandson of Dr. Joseph Winston and Elizabeth (Goodwin) Pendleton and of Albert G. and Jane (Campbell) Ewing, and a descendant of Philip Pendleton, New Kent, Va., 1674; of Maj. James Goodwin, York, Va., 1648; of William Ewin, Rockingham, Va., 1761, and of Alexander Campbell, Bethany, Va., 1810. He removed with his parents to Wheeling and attended Aspen Hill academy, Louisa county, Va., 1865-69, and Bethany college, West Va., 1869-70. He established a law practice in Wheeling in April, 1874, and became active in politics. He was the Democratic nominee for state senator in 1886, but was defeated; was given a certificate of election as representative from the first congressional district of West Virginia in the 51st congress in 1888 and took his seat which was successfully contested by George W. Atkinson, who succeeded him on Feb. 27, 1890. He was re-elected to the 52d and 53d congresses, serving, 1891-95.

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