John Sheshol Witcher – Brevet Brigadier General, United States Army

by

John Sheshol Witcher of Virginia

  • Appointed from West Virginia, First Lieutenant, 3rd West Virginia Cavalry, 13 December 1862
  • Captain, 8 September 1863
  • Major, 23 May 1864
  • Liutenant Colonel, 6 May 1865
  • Breveted Colonel, United States Volunteers, 13 March 1865, for gallant and meritorious service during the Shenandoah Campaign of 1864 and the final Campaign around Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia, in the Spring of 1865, and especially at the Battle of Fords Station, Virginia
  • Beveted Brigadier General, United States Volunteers, 13 March 1865 for gallant and meritorious service during the Shenandoah Campaign of 1864 and in the final Campaign aroung Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia in the Spring of 1865
  • Honorably mustered out 30 June 1865
  • Major, Paymaster, 30 June 1880
  • Retired 8 September 1899

WITCHER, John Seashoal, a Representative from West Virginia; born in Cabell County, Va. (now West Virginia), July 15, 1839; attended the public schools; elected clerk of the circuit court of Cabell County in 1861; enrolled in the Union Army as a first lieutenant, Third Regiment, West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry, December 13, 1862; promoted to captain September 8, 1863, major May 23, 1864, lieutenant colonel May 6, 1865; honorably mustered out June 30, 1865; member of the State house of delegates in 1865; secretary of state of West Virginia 1866-1869; elected as a Republican to the Forty-first Congress (March 4, 1869-March 3, 1871); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1870 to the Forty-second Congress; appointed by President Grant as collector of internal revenue for the third district of West Virginia and served from April 1, 1871, to October 1, 1876; served as United States pension agent at Washington, D.C., from July 7, 1878, to October 3, 1880; major and paymaster, United States Army, from October 5, 1880, until he retired September 8, 1899; moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1891, and died there July 8, 1906; interment in Mount Olivet Cemetery. (This is incorrect, see below for gravesite information in Arlington National Cemetery).

During the 1880 United States Census Genreal Witcher was residing in Washington, D.C. and was employed as a Pension Agent.  Residing with him were his wife, Flora Witcher, age 41 and born in West Virginia; their daughter, Alice Witcher, age 18 and born in West Virginia; their son, William Witcher, age 17 and born in West Virginia; their son, Phil Witcher, age 15 and born in West Virginia; their son, John Witcher, age 12 and born in West Virginia; their son, Arthur Witcher, age 9 and born in West Virginia; and their son, Edgar Witcher, age 7, and born in West Virginia.

jswitcher-photo-01

WITCHER, JNO S

  • LT COL RET U S ARMY
  • DATE OF DEATH: 07/08/1906
  • BURIED AT: SECTION OFC W  SITE 156A
  • ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

WITCHER, MAHOLA FLORE W/O JOHN S

  • DATE OF DEATH: 03/26/1918
  • BURIED AT: SECTION W W  SITE 156-A
  • ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
  • WIFE OF JS WITCHER, LT COL USA RET

Read our general and most popular articles

Leave a Comment