History of Clarksburg, (Harrison County) West Virginia United States of America

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Biographies:

William Lowther Jackson, soldier, was born in Clarksburg, Va., Feb. 3, 1825; son of William Lowther, grandson of Edward, and great grandson of John and Elizabeth (Cummins) Jackson. He studied law with his father; was commonwealth's attorney, member of the house of delegates, second auditor and superintendent of the state literary fund, lieutenant-governor of the state, and judge of the 19th judicial district of the state previous to the period of the civil war. In 1861 he supported the state in its secession and was made colonel of the 31st Virginia troops subsequently attached to the Confederate army. He became a member of the staff of his cousin, Gen. T.J. Jackson, commander of the Valley district, taking part in the campaign of 1862. He was commissioned brigadier-general and recruited a brigade of cavalry which was subsequently attached to the Army of the Valley District commanded by Gen. John D. Imboden. He took a prominent part in the skirmishes at New Loudoun and at the Quaker meeting-house near Lynchburg, Va., June 4, 1864, where he commanded three brigades, holding in check the advance of General Hunter in order to give General Early time to reach Lynchburg with the second (Stonewall Jackson's old) corps from Richmond. He was attached to Early's corps in his march on Washington leaving Lynchburg, June 23, Staunton, June 26, Winchester, July 2, Harper's Ferry, July 4, Boonsboro, Md., July 6, Frederick, July 9, where he burned Gunpowder Bridge on the Baltimore and Washington railroad, Rockville, July 10, and was in sight of Fort Stevens, and the dome of the capitol on July 11. He then retreated across the Potomac into Virginia and was one of the last cavalry officers to give his parole after disbanding his troops at Lynchburg, Va., in May, 1865. He went to Mexico with other Confederate officers and on his return in 1866, practised law in Louisville, Ky., where he was judge of the circuit court, 1872-90. He died in Louisville, Ky., March 26, 1890.

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

Nathan Goff, cabinet officer, was born in Clarksburg, Va., Feb. 9, 1843; son of Waldo P. and Harriet L. Goff; grandson of Job Goff, and a descendant of William Coff. He attended the Northwestern Virginia academy in his native town and Georgetown college. While at the latter institution the civil war opened and he enlisted as a private in the 3d Virginia Union infantry. By 1864 he was promoted major and on January 20 of that year was captured by the Confederates and confined in Libby prison for several months. In March, 1865, he was brevetted brigadier-general and discharged from the volunteer army, after which he was graduated from the law department of the University of the city of New York in 1867, and began practice at Clarksburg, W. Va. The same year he was elected to the state legislature and in 1868 was appointed by President Johnson U.S. district-attorney for West Virginia, to which office he was reappointed in 1872, 1876 and 1880. In January, 1881, he resigned as U.S. district attorney to accept the appointment of secretary of the navy in the cabinet of President Hayes. In March, 1881, he was reappointed U.S. district attorney, resigned in 1882, and was a Republican representative in the 48th, 49th and 50th congresses, 1883-89. He was the Republican candidate for governor of West Virginia in 1876 and again in 1888 but was de feared at both elections. In 1892 he was appointed by President Harrison judge of the U.S. circuit court for the 4th circuit comprising Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.

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

Edward Jackson, representative, was born in Clarksburg, Harrison county, Va.; son of Col. George Jackson. He was educated at the Clarksburg male academy, became a physician and practised in his native county. He was appointed a representative in the 16th congress, to fill the unexpired term of James Pindall, resigned, and was elected to the 17th congress in 1820 as his own successor, serving, 1820-23. He died in Clarksburg, Va., Sept. 8, 1826.

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

Lloyd Lowndes, governor of Maryland, was born in Clarksburg, Va., Feb. 21, 1845; son of Lloyd and Maria Elizabeth (Moore) Lowndes; grandson of Charles and Elizabeth (Lloyd) Lowndes; and great-grandson of Gov. Edward Lloyd and of Christopher Lowndes, who emigrated from England, settling in Bladensburg, D.C., before the national capital was located at Washington, and married Elizabeth, daughter of Gov. Benjamin Tasker. Lloyd attended Clarksburg academy, studied at Washington college, Pa., 1861-63, and was graduated from Allegheny college, Pa., with honors in 1865, and from the University of Tennessee, LL.B., 1867. He was married in December, 1869, to Elizabeth Tasker Lowndes and settled in Cumberland, Md., where his father had started in business. He was a Republican representative in the 43d congress, 1873-75, but was defeated for re-election in 1874 by William Walsh. He was elected president of the Second National bank of Cumberland, Md., in 1873. He was governor of Maryland, 1895-99, and was defeated in 1899 with the entire Republican ticket.

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