Milton Browning Goff (95) was born 17 Dec 1831 in Allegheny City (now northside Pittsburgh), Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, a son of Philo Goff (58) and Prudence Marie Brown (76). In 1856, he married Emily Virginia Locke (94), a daughter of Nathaniel (153) and Mary Ann (154) Locke of Baltimore and sister of Rev. W.H. Locke (155), D.D. Milton and Emily together had six children: Mary D. Goff (89), born in 1862, who married an unknown Johnston (85); Ella Goff (93), born in 1856; Edward Locke Goff (90), born 6 January 1857 and who married his first cousin, once removed, Emma Goff (91); Virginia Locke (92), born in 1866; Anna Mary (96), born after 1870, who married Sion B. Smith (143); Charles W. (452), born 26 May 1871 and died 26 Apr 1874;

Milton lived in Sewickly, Allegheny County, PA from 1835 to 1843 and was educated in the Sewickly public schools and Rev. J.S.Traveli's academy. He learned the printing trade, which he worked at until 1851, working as a compositor on the Commercial Gazette. Later, he lived in Meadville, Crawford County, PA, where he earned an A.B. degree in 1855 from Allegheny College. Later he earned an A.M. degree in 1858, a Ph.D. degree in 1881 and an LL.D. degree in 1884.

From 1855-1857 he was professor of mathematics and natural science, Madison College, Uniontown. Later he was Principal, North Illinois University, Henry, IL for three years, then Principal of the academy at Sharpsburg, PA, and Principal, Third Ward school, Allegheny City, for four years. On 1 Jan 1865, he became chair of mathematics of Western University (now University of Pittsburgh), Pittsburgh, PA, which position he held for 17 years. In 1881, he was appointed pro tem chancellor, Western University. From 1882-1884, he was Kingsley professor of mathematics and astronomy, Allegheny College, and from 1884-1890, he was Chancellor, Western University, Pittsburgh, PA.

The Goff family seems to have been interested in their family genealogy. A letter survives written by Milton while on vacation in Europe in 1890 to his aunt, Mary Swier Goff (47), detailing his attempts to look up Goff relatives in Ireland.

Later that same year, he attended an ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) conference, which hosted a tour of the Homestead Steel Mills for foreign engineers. After the tour, wishing to return to his home in Allegheny City, he left the riverboat and set off on foot. He fell into a drainage ditch, severely injuring himself. Initially, he seemed on the road to recovery, but took a turn for the worse and died unexpectedly on 8 Nov 1890. He is buried with other members of his family in Sewickly Cemetery, Sewickly, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

[GOFF: L&SSewicklyLife, SewicklyCemRecs]