1. John Seashoal Witcher was an American farmer, politician and soldier from Cabell County, West Virginia, who helped found the new Union state during the American Civil War and served one term in Congress representing West Virginia's 3rd congressional district as a Republican.
John Witcher is sometimes confused with his first cousin, Confederate Col.
John Witcher attended the local private schools as a child, as well as helped on the family farm.
John Witcher, who listed himself as a farmer on the 1860 census, was elected clerk of the circuit court of Cabell County in 1861.
On December 13,1862, John Witcher enlisted in the Union Army as a first lieutenant in the 3rd West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment.
John Witcher was promoted to captain on September 8,1863, major on May 23,1864, and lieutenant colonel on May 6,1865, before being honorably mustered out on June 30,1865.
John Witcher served as West Virginia's 3rd Secretary of State.
John Witcher was a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1865, was Secretary of State of West Virginia from 1867 to 1869 and was elected a Republican to the United States House of Representatives in 1868, serving from 1869 to 1871.
John Witcher served as United States pension agent in Washington, DC from 1878 to 1880 and was major and paymaster of the United States Army from 1880 until his retirement in 1899.
John Witcher was promoted to lieutenant colonel on the retired list on April 23,1904.
John Witcher moved to Salt Lake City, Utah in 1891 where he died on July 8,1906.