United States Congressman and Senator, Presidential Cabinet Secretary. The son of a prominent businessman and entrepreneur, Goff left Georgetown College in July 1861 to enlist as 2nd Lieutenant of Company G, 6th West Virginia Mounted Infantry. He was commissioned Major of the 4th West Virginia Cavalry in September 1863 but was captured in battle a few months later. After confinement in various Confederate prisons, he was exchanged in September 1864 and soon was discharged.
After the Civil War, Goff practiced law and was named United States Attorney for the District of West Virginia in 1868. In 1881, he was appointed Secretary of the Navy by President Rutherford B. Hayes but resigned less than a year later. After failing in several attempts to gain election as congressman or West Virginia governor, he was elected in 1888 to represent West Virginia's 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving from 1883 to 1889. President Benjamin Harrison named him a Federal Circuit Court of Appeals judge in 1891. While on the bench, he issued several notable rulings upholding Black citizens' political and social rights. He resigned his seat in 1913 to accept election by the West Virginia legislature as a U. S. Senator and held that post until 1919.
Goff's son, Guy D. Goff, also served as a United States Senator from West Virginia.
After the Civil War, Goff practiced law and was named United States Attorney for the District of West Virginia in 1868. In 1881, he was appointed Secretary of the Navy by President Rutherford B. Hayes but resigned less than a year later. After failing in several attempts to gain election as congressman or West Virginia governor, he was elected in 1888 to represent West Virginia's 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving from 1883 to 1889. President Benjamin Harrison named him a Federal Circuit Court of Appeals judge in 1891. While on the bench, he issued several notable rulings upholding Black citizens' political and social rights. He resigned his seat in 1913 to accept election by the West Virginia legislature as a U. S. Senator and held that post until 1919.
Goff's son, Guy D. Goff, also served as a United States Senator from West Virginia.
United States Congressman and Senator, Presidential Cabinet Secretary. The son of a prominent businessman and entrepreneur, Goff left Georgetown College in July 1861 to enlist as 2nd Lieutenant of Company G, 6th West Virginia Mounted Infantry. He was commissioned Major of the 4th West Virginia Cavalry in September 1863 but was captured in battle a few months later. After confinement in various Confederate prisons, he was exchanged in September 1864 and soon was discharged.
After the Civil War, Goff practiced law and was named United States Attorney for the District of West Virginia in 1868. In 1881, he was appointed Secretary of the Navy by President Rutherford B. Hayes but resigned less than a year later. After failing in several attempts to gain election as congressman or West Virginia governor, he was elected in 1888 to represent West Virginia's 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving from 1883 to 1889. President Benjamin Harrison named him a Federal Circuit Court of Appeals judge in 1891. While on the bench, he issued several notable rulings upholding Black citizens' political and social rights. He resigned his seat in 1913 to accept election by the West Virginia legislature as a U. S. Senator and held that post until 1919.
Goff's son, Guy D. Goff, also served as a United States Senator from West Virginia.
After the Civil War, Goff practiced law and was named United States Attorney for the District of West Virginia in 1868. In 1881, he was appointed Secretary of the Navy by President Rutherford B. Hayes but resigned less than a year later. After failing in several attempts to gain election as congressman or West Virginia governor, he was elected in 1888 to represent West Virginia's 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving from 1883 to 1889. President Benjamin Harrison named him a Federal Circuit Court of Appeals judge in 1891. While on the bench, he issued several notable rulings upholding Black citizens' political and social rights. He resigned his seat in 1913 to accept election by the West Virginia legislature as a U. S. Senator and held that post until 1919.
Goff's son, Guy D. Goff, also served as a United States Senator from West Virginia.
Bio by: Jeffry Burden
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