U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Goff, Nathan (1842-1920) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 746-748 HON. NATHAN GOFF, LL. D., a soldier, jurist and statesman of national eminence, was born February 9, 1842, at Clarksburg, West Virginia, his present home. He is a son of Waldo P. Goff, who bequeathed to him a perfect physique and a virile constitution. He received his education in the Northwestern Academy at Clarksburg, and at Georgetown College, District of Columbia. At the opening of the Civil War he entered the service of his country as a private in Company G, 3rd Regiment, Virginia Infantry, and took part in the battles of McDowell, Port Republic, Winchester, Droop Mountain, second battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Rockey Gap, Cross Keys, Rappahannock Station and others of minor note. Private Goff did not remain a private long, being promoted first to the rank of lieutenant and then, for bravery, to the rank of major. On January 20, 1864, Major Goff was taken prisoner at Moorefield, West Virginia, and for four months he endured the horrors of Libby Prison. Finally his release was secured and he rejoined his regiment with which he was actively engaged until the close of the war, when he was made a brevet brigadier-general, at the age of 23 years. Entering the University of New York, in two years General Goff was graduated as a Bachelor of Laws and immediately began the practice of his profession at Clarksburg. He soon entered the political field, and in 1867 he was elected a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, from Harrison County, and was re-elected in 1868. In 1869 he was appointed by the President to the office of United States District Attorney for the District of West Virginia. For 13 years he filled this office with distinction and won universal commendation. On January 6, 1880, General Goff was invited by President Hayes to be his Secretary of the Navy and on the following day he was confirmed by the Senate and served in that office during the continuance of President Hayes' administration. In 1882 he was elected, by a large majority. Member of Congress from the First Congressional District, although that district had gone overwhelmingly Democratic at the previous election. He was re- elected in 1884 and in 1886. These six years in Congress he filled with valuable service to the nation, attaining to high rank as a parliamentarian. In 1888 General Goff was made the candidate of his party for the gubernatorial chair of his native State. Official records show the results of a hard-fought campaign, but the inside history which was made during that period reflects anything but honor upon his political opponents. For several terms General Goff served as chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, being elected to that position in 1884 and again in 1888. He was the nominee in the Republican caucus in the State Senate for United States Senator. Through a long and monotonous deadlock, his friends loyally cast their vote 100 times, but were finally defeated by a Democratic majority of one, on a joint ballot. On March 17, 1892, General Goff was appointed by President Harrison to the high judicial position of judge of the United States Circuit Court of Appeals, for the Fourth Circuit and in this position he has displayed his profound legal learning and unquestioned powers of judgment, and has won the unqualified praise and earned the profound respect of even his political opponents. In 1867 Judge Goff married Laura Despard, of Clarksburg, and two sons have been born to this congenial union. One of these sons, Nathan P., is engaged in medical practice in Clarksburg. In 1888 Columbian University conferred the title of LL. D. upon Judge Goff. ------------------------------------------------------------------- DEATH CERTIFICATE, Harrison County WV, #2496 FULL-NAME: Nathan Goff BIRTH-DATE: 1842 DEATH-DATE: April 23, 1920 AGE-AT-DEATH: 78 years DEATH-PLACE: 463 W. Main St., Clarksburg, Harrison County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Married CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Paralysis INFORMANT: B. Despard (of Clarksburg, W.Va. BURIAL: I. O. O. F. Cemetery ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Harrison County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/harrison/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------