My Genealogy Hound

MILTON BROWNING GOFF, chancellor of the University of Western Pennsylvania, is a native of Pittsburgh, born Dec. 17, 1831, to Philo and Prudence (Brown) Goff. His paternal ancestor, Joshua McGoff, lived at Drumsill, County Armagh, Ireland, prior to 1801, and from that date to 1807 at Dublin, where he died in 1817 or 1818. In 1801 John, son of Joshua McGoff, set sail for America, and, dropping the Mc in his name, located in that year six miles north of Portland, Me., at a place now called Goffstown; but removed thence, with his six sons, to Allegheny county in 1820. He soon after located at Sewickley, where he died May 11, 1837. Philo, his son, a carpenter by trade, was married in Allegheny (his wife being a native of Virginia and sister of Benj. N. Brown, of the Baltimore Conference), removed to Sewickley in 1835, and was accidentally killed there in 1852. Up to twelve years of age Milton B. Goff remained in Sewickley, attending the public school and Rev. J. S. Travelli’s academy. He took his degree of A. B. in 1855, from Allegheny College, at Meadville, and was elected the same year professor of mathematics and natural science at Madison College, Uniontown, where he remained two years; was principal of the North Illinois University, at Henry, Ill., for three years, and principal of the academy at Sharpsburg, Pa., and of the Third ward school, Allegheny, four years all together. Jan. 1, 1865, he took the chair of mathematics at the Western University of Pennsylvania, and held this position seventeen years, being pro tem. chancellor in 1881. In 1882 he went to Allegheny College as professor of mathematics and astronomy, remaining two years, and since 1884 has held his present position. Prof. Goff has published six text-books on arithmetic, and frequently contributes essays on astronomy and kindred topics to the periodicals. He has received the following degrees from his alma mater: A. M., in 1858; Ph. D., in 1881; LL. D., in 1884. He is now preparing to add new technical features to the course of the university, and otherwise enlarge its scope. He is a thorough republican. His only civil service was as school director and burgess of Sewickley, where he dwelt from 1867 to 1883. In the M. E. Church Prof. Goff has filled every office. In 1856 he married Emily Virginia, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary Ann Locke, of Baltimore, and they have following named children: Edward Locke, Ella, Anna Mary and Virginia. Mrs. Goff is a sister to Rev. W. H. Locke, D. D., whose grandfather, Nathaniel Locke, was for many years a merchant in the Barbados.