Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-02
THE GOVERNOR AND HIS WIFE.
Facts and Interests About His Record and
the Family History of Both.

III WV ~lNl'O'N NV '''~
Facts and Interests About Ills Record and
the Family History of Both.
Governor O'Ferrall was born on n
farm near Brucetown, in Frederick coun-
Is. October q. 1910. and IS therefore, So
years Of age. As his name indicates, he
IS OF Irish lineage. His father was the
late John O'Ferrall, Of Morgan county
mow in West Virginia.. and was very
solid and popular man in his day, having
been for a number Of terms clerk OF the
County and Circuit Courts.
The first one Of this branch Of the
O'Fcrr-4ll family who emigrated u
America was JgnatiUs, who came from
ireland about the close Of the Rcvolu-
tionary war; and his son John, father Of
the Governor, was born IN Berkeley
county. The latter served In ths war Of
1872. and was in the battle OF North Point,
Nd.
Governor O'Fcrralrs Grandmothcr was
also Of Irish lineage. Che came over as
a girl from Ireland. Her maiden name
was Francis MoKiernan. Both the FER
rail- and McKiernan families figured in
Irish hiqtorv. a. shown IN "O'Harts Irish
on the maternal side wqs Rev. John G.
Green. a noted Methodist preacher In his
dav. ana he was also a practicing physl-
clan Of considerable reputation. Or.
Green was q strong man I'm debate. and
the aged people Of the state Will rcmem-
bsr that I'm the 'i0s. when doctrinal dis
cussions were the order Of the nav, he
was always put up by the MethodistS Or
his section 10 speak for that denomina-
ton.
THE FAMILY RECORD.
According 20 90 Hart's Irish Pedigrees'
the name O'Ferrall was originally Fear
gal. meaning the gallant warrior. Fear
gal I'm the course Of time became changed
70 O'Farrcl, O'Ferrall, Farrell, Frcehill,
and Frecl.
In sDeaking Of the portion of ireland In
which the O'Farrells and O'Ferral.s lisel
away back IN former ceEturi,s, O1iart
allulcs 10 Anchaie. or Annually, which
was formed out ~ the ancient territory
Of Teaia. comprising tho whole of tie
County Lougford. and was tn "princi-
pality Of O'FarreU." His chief residence.
OHart further relates. was the town ~
Iongford. anclently called LouThort-
"Ur Fhearghail, or the fortress OF Oar
rcu."
In what tho same historian describes
as "O'FcrralPs country" is mentioned
tho strong Castle of Granarl. called An
na'y. now the county OF Longford.
DHart also gives long list Of OFT
rails who have enjoyed and are SUI
enjoying the honors and emoluments ~
Spain, and II Is curious 10 observe DO"
they have intermarrieI With tho Span
iar1s Iut eth retain the Irish surnlm g.
in the same work the author furnishes
a long list OF O'Farrells ana O'Fcrrali',
who DISTINGUISHED themselves "a war IS
officers 81 'auk.
James Gordon Bennett. ESQ, the pt9-
prletor Of the New York Herald, accord
ing to OIIart, descended from AWlv
OFarrcn. King a Commacne. who Is
No. 1l2 on the O'Farrel Urincess Of
Annally) pedigreo Reference 10 this fact
is made on page a., volume 2.
HIS FIRST OFFICE.
When the Governor was only Is years
OF age he was appointed clerk pro-
tempore Of the Morgan County Court 10
succeed his deceased father. The ap-
piontment was given him by the vener-
able Judge Parker. who died IN NoYem-
Der last at Winchester, IN tho 9th year
of his age. At the age Of Il the voters
Of the county elected the youthful O'For-
rail- clerk for a full term OF six years.
the term the civil war broke out. Nor
gan county was strongly Union in senti-
ment. and only about twenty men from
the county joined the Confederate army,
and only two from the little town n
Berkeley Springs. one Of these was the
present Governor. Entering as private
IN tho cavalry service. he rose step b.
step until he reached the rank Of colo
mel, and at ;h~ close q the war was n
command of all the southern cavalry ".
the Valley of Virginia. His regiment IN
feet, held til. last line and had the lat
fight and captnCI ;ha last prisonaf On
Virginia soil. They were engaged in two
fights after the surrender of General Lee
at Appomattox the Colonel refusing TO
believe that the commander Of the Con-
federate forces had really surrendered.
although under flag OF truce General
Hancock sent him word that General
Lee had surrendered and It would be
well for that regiment 10 follow the ex-
ample Of their commander.
AS \ LAW-MAKER.
Governor OFerralrs first political Of
fee after the war was when be was elect-
ed more than twenty years ago "A menu
Der Of the Legislature from Rockingham
county. subsequently no was elected
judge of his county, and he secured six
nominations for Congress, virtually by
reclamation. During the Forty eighth
Congress he was assigned 10 the Commit.
tee On Commerce; IN the Forty-ninth he
was Chairman Of the Committee on Mines
and Mining. and through three Congresses
v as on the Election Committee, OF Wnich
he was chairman when his resignation
took effect Speaker Crisp was on this
committee for four years with Governor
OF EfTrall and a wa this aaannfatfnv,
caused such d warm and lasting friend
ship TO spring up between the Speaker
ard the Governor. After Judge Crisp be-
came speaker OF the F'ifty-second House
he promptly pppointed Governor O'Ferrall
chairman OF tbs Elections Committee.
Hon. William L. Wilson, chairman OF
the Ways and Means Committee. was all
through the war as a private soldier with
Colonel OFerrsll.. aud was with him In
the SIGHT at UpperVills on the 2lst Of June,
lbs. when tbs Governor was 20 dangerous
" wounded as to be left on the field Tor
deed. The papers few DAYS subsequent
~ printed accounts OF his supposed death.
THE GOVERNORS WIFE.
Mrs. O'FerralI. wife OF the Governor.
was born In Nottoway county. and Is the
daughter OF Colonel w. c. Knight, now
residing in Richmond. Her ancestry on
the fathers side is wholly English. Colo
mel knights great-grandfather and great
grandmother having emigrated from Eng
land 10 Virginia while II was a British
colony Walton was the name Of the
paternal ancestor and emigrant. and he
had TIVE sons--Robert,w who was a general
in the American army, and George, who
had become a resident OF the Georgia
colony before the Revolution. and rep
81 hU Agla a.. he.
Congress. and thus became one OF tho
signers OF the Declaration OF Indepen-
dence. After the adoption Of the FEDERAL
Constitution no served as Governor Of,
Florida, and subsequently, was elected
Governor OF tina State Of Caoryfa Ut