Joseph Thoburn, 1825 – 1864

 

Joseph Thoburn was the son of Matthew and Jane Thoburn, residents of Belmont County, Ohio. Joseph’s early education led first to a teaching career. He then studied medicine under Dr. Ephraim Gaston, of Morristown, Ohio and at Starling medical college, Columbus, Ohio. After practicing medicine in Pennsylvania and Ohio, he moved to Wheeling, where he set up a practice in 1853.  There, he married Kate, and the couple had three children – Joseph M. M. (b. 1858), Mary (b. 1860), and Jennie (b. 1862).

 

In May 1861, Thoburn was appointed Surgeon of the First Virginia Infantry (Union), under Colonel Benjamin Franklin Kelley. Both took part in the first land battle of the Civil War at Philippi, (West) Virginia, where Kelley was severely wounded. In addition to attending Kelley, Thoburn distinguished himself as a soldier.  The regiment mustered out on August 27-28, 1861, and the three-year First Virginia Infantry (Union) was formed, with Joseph Thoburn named as Colonel on August 30, 1861. The Regiment saw action on January 7, 1861 on the Winchester Road at Blue’s Gap, fighting with units from Ohio and Indiana, and capturing two artillery pieces and a few prisoners. 

 

For the next three years, Thoburn and his men continued to take part in the Shenandoah Campaign in eastern Virginia. He was wounded on March 23, 1862 in the First Battle of Kernstown, one of the rare defeats of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson. But he recuperated enough to rejoin the First a month later. Throughout his command of the regiment and later a brigade, he is credited with being an outstanding leader.

 

On October 19, 1864, the Battle of Cedar Creek took place, and Thoburn was shot through his left side. He died shortly after the battle.  His body was returned to Wheeling where his funeral was a “magnificent pageant.” He was buried in Mt. Woods Cemetery, where his widow joined him in 1886.