Nancy H. Vest, Writer

Sharing Stories and Wisdom from Generation to Generation

  • Home
  • About Nancy
  • Growing Up Years Journal
  • Blog
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Marking Your Milestones

in Gladys Martin Family

Born on a Harvest Moon

Share

This week’s prompt for 52 Ancestors in 52 Week is: Harvest. I’m writing about my 2nd cousin, twice removed William Hinson Goff.

Photo of a full moon against pine trees. The moon is bright yellow-orange.
http://Photo by Ganapathy Kumar on Unsplash

Early years

William Hinson GOFF, known as Willie, was born 12 Sept 1874 in Kershaw County, South Carolina. He was the firstborn child of Eli Hinson GOFF (1849-1910) and Nancy HENDRIX GOFF (1851-1938). Eli, called Hinson, was a farmer.

In 1900, 25-year old Willie was living in Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina. He boarded at 1611 Marion Street. His occupation on the census is unclear, but I think he was teacher.

Color photo of a vintage box of school crayons with color pencils, all on a slate table.
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

Willie marries and starts a family

Willie married Carrie Martin WATTS in 1903. Between 1904 and 1915, Carrie gave birth to five children – four daughters and one son. Willie first worked as a secretary, and the family lived at 1227 Harden Street in Columbia.

In the 1910 U. S. Census, Willie was a manager at a shoe sale gallery in Columbia. The family continued living on Harden Street until about mid-decade when they moved to 721 First Street.

Tragedy strikes

In September 1918, Willie filled out his World War 1 draft registration. He was now 44 years old. I expect it was rather sobering to be filling that out at his age. On his draft registration, his occupation is salesman at Kirkland Distribution Company. Willie is tall and slender at this time, and has brown eyes and hair.

Carrie became ill in October with Spanish Influenza, and sadly died on 11 Oct 1918 leaving behind Willie and their five children. Willie was the informant on her death certificate. Having to do that myself for my late husband, I can imagine the shock he felt at this time.

Color photo of an old cemetery with 5 gravestones visible.

 The oldest children were old enough to care for the younger ones, but I don’t know if that’s what happened. I do know they appeared with him on the 1920 U.S. Census. In 1920, he was a grocery salesman and he and the children lived at 707 Wayne Street in Columbia.

Willie marries again

About 1922, Willie married Sidney SHULER who was 21 years his junior. Sidney was a schoolteacher in Orangeburg County, South Carolina in 1920 according to the U.S. Census. People marry for lots of reasons. I think it might have been for necessity in this case. Sidney’s mother died in 1922, and her father would die 3 years later from heart trouble. Sidney had 2 siblings, but in that day and age she needed a husband. And Willie needed a wife. I want to believe they fell in love and married, but I’ve done enough family research to know they may not have been the case.

Color photo of white flour in a brown wooden bowl with a metal spoon in the flour.

Willie and Sidney together

 In 1923, 49-year old Willie was a salesman for the Sensation Flour Co. He and his family lived at 2205 Logan Terrace (or Court) in Columbia. Willie and Sidney had two daughters together in the 1920’s. They lost an infant son in 1930, and had another son in 1932.

Willie continued working in the 1930’s despite the Depression. At least he did from what I can tell in the records I found. He started the 1930’s as a traveling salesman of dry goods. Within a few years, he was a salesman with Allen Bros. Milling. I don’t when they moved from 2205 Logan, but they did move to 205 Wayne Street in Columbia.

I can often provide links to Google maps that show people’s homes as they appear now but not so with Willie. He lived downtown, and all of the homes he lived in have been replaced with newer construction.

Willie dies

In 1943, 68-year old Willie died from aortic insufficiency secondary to chronic nephritis. On his death certificate his occupation is listed as salesman for the Allen Milling Co. Sidney was 47 when Willie died. Their two daughters were 20 and 16.

Willie was a member of Main Street Methodist in Columbia where he had served on the board of stewards. The funeral was likely there. Willie was buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Columbia which is where Carrie was buried. Later Sidney would be buried there, too.

From all the information I gathered about Willie, I can’t tell you much about the man personally. The records don’t usually enlighten in that way. I can say that he seemed to be a hard-working man who provided for his wives and children.

Do you have ancestors born during the Harvest Moon? Please comment and tell me about them!

Copyright © 2019 Nancy H. Vest   All Rights Reserved

Share
Click here to subscribe to my nearly weekly newsletter and receive a free e-book, Write Your First Life Story Today
« Book Review: Before We Were Yours
William K. Heiser Sr. – National Roadeo Champion »

Comments

  1. David P. Goff says

    August 12, 2022 at 11:51 am

    This was quite a find! This is my Grandfather. You missed mentioning my father Sidney S. Goff Born June 15, 1932 (still alive).

    Reply
    • Nancy H. Vest says

      August 12, 2022 at 1:39 pm

      Nice to meet you, Cousin! Thanks for commenting! At the time that I wrote that blog post, I didn’t have info about your father because the most recent census I could find was the 1930. Your father hadn’t been born yet. That part of mm tree is more fleshed out now, so it sounds like I need to update that blog post or write a new one about your grandfather with updated information. 🙂 I will do one or the other before long. 🙂

      Reply
  2. David P Gofg says

    August 12, 2022 at 12:18 pm

    They also lived on Park St just before the church, that house is still there.

    Reply
    • Nancy H. Vest says

      August 12, 2022 at 1:40 pm

      Cool that the house is still there. 🙂

      Reply
      • David Goff says

        August 12, 2022 at 1:48 pm

        Many thanks to you! That side of my family is mostly unknown to me. I plan on showing it to my Dad he will probably learn some things he didn’t know. I have already shared it with my brother.

        Reply
        • Nancy H. Vest says

          August 12, 2022 at 5:31 pm

          That’s wonderful! If you’d like I can send you some family group sheets from your dad’s side. Then you’d have names and dates and such. IF you’re interested in that, please email me at nancyhvest@gmail.com.

          Reply
  3. David Goff says

    August 12, 2022 at 5:51 pm

    Actually there is a book on the Goff family only goes back to my great grandparents.

    Reply
    • Nancy H. Vest says

      August 12, 2022 at 9:10 pm

      How nice!

      Reply
  4. Sid says

    August 16, 2022 at 10:52 am

    I am Sidney Shuler Goff Jr. David is my brother. David does this better than me.
    Very interesting article. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Nancy H. Vest says

      August 16, 2022 at 11:16 am

      Another cousin! Nice to meet you, Sid! I’m glad you liked the article. 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to my nearly weekly newsletter via email and receive a free e-book, Write Your First Life Story Today.

Most Used Tags

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Baltimore Carroll County Chesterfield County Christmas Civil War Columbia Cotton mill farmer Farming Fort Jackson Frederick Frederick County Ft. Jackson grandparents Keeping Grandma Alive Keepsakes Kershaw County Lexington County Marlboro County Maryland Monocacy Cemetery Montgomery County North Carolina Pennsylvania Photos Richland County South Carolina Surname: Burroughs Surname: Davis Surname: Futrell Surname: Grant Surname: Griffin Surname: Heiser Surname: Hillard Surname: Jeffords Surname: Lee Surname: Martin Surname: Price Surname: Pyles Surname: Terry Surname: Thomas Virginia World War 1 World War 2

Archives

Categories

GeneaBloggers

Share:

Share

Copyright © 2023 · Market theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 · Created and maintained by Bakerview Consulting