Blackburn B. Dovener

Who was Blackburn B. Dovener?

Blackburn Barrett Dovener was a Republican politician from West Virginia who served as a United States Representative. Dovener was born in Tays Valley, West Virginia, in Cabell County. on April 20, 1842. He served as a member of the 54th, 55th, 56th, 57th, 58th and 59th United States Congresses. He died in 1914.

Dovener taught school from 1858 to 1861. When he was nineteen, he raised a company and served as captain of Company A, 15th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He became captain of an Ohio River steamboat in 1867. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar in 1873 and entered practice in Wheeling, West Virginia.

He served as member of the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1883 and 1884. His candidacy for the for election to the Fifty-second Congress was unsuccessful. In 1894, he won election as a Republican to the Fifty-fourth and to the five succeeding Congresses. His candidacy for renomination was unsuccessful, and he returned to his legal practice in Wheeling. He retired to Glen Echo, Maryland, until his death on May 9, 1914. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.