The James M. Goad Family
Edited Text from a Letter in the Research Files of June Goad Worland
March 16, 1972

This text  contains some information that differs from current evidence.  Where possible, it is annotated with notes for clarification or correction or links to abstracts or transcripts of applicable documents. 
Except for punctuation and minor editing, the text is unchanged from the original.

Our first known ancestor was James M. Goad, born 1775-1789 in Virginia.  He was married to Margaret Shockley; born in 1792 in Virginia.  (They were) married Oct. 18, 1804 by John Ayers.  William Shockley was surity for their Marriage Bond (“Compendium of Quaker Genealogy,” by Wade Henshaw; vol. VI, p. 922)

The name of William Shockley does not appear for the surity on the page referenced by Mrs. Worland, nor is any other name mentioned for surity for their marriage.  The listing where James and Margaret are found is in a section for marriage bonds for Bedford County, Virginia.   Their marriage is also found in the marriage register for the neighboring Pittsylvania County, Virginia, where the surity is listed as Thomas Shockley.

Margaret Goad was living in Grainger Co., Tenn in 1810 with two sons under ten years old and a daughter under five.  (The Stephen Goads were nearby.)  This fact seems to be a substatial reason to believe the family storey that James M. Goad served in the War of 1812, although we have been unable to locate his military record.

By 1814, Stepehn, Isham, Abraham and James M. Goad were residents of White Co., Tenn.  In 1814, James M. Goad and family were living on a military grant of ten acres of land on Smith’s Cove.  James sold this land to William Sheldon in 1825, but was still paying tax on fifty-three acres along Caney Fork River. He paid tax on this parcel until 1827.  After 1827 the tax was paid by James Goad’s heirs.  The land was sold to James Dillon (Deed Book K, p. 179, Probate Deed Books, County Clerks Office, Sparta, Tenn, Deed recorded May 1, 1837)  This deed lists all of James M. Goad’s children, also the children of his deceased son, Robert P/ Goad and Polly Dotson (Dodson) deceased and her heir (though not actually by name).The deed also reveals that Margaret Goad, widow of James M. Goad, had married John Franklin before the deed was executed and that they were residing beyond the boundaries of Tenn.

It has been told from one generation to another that James M. Goad in the late 1820s joined some of the first pioneers into Arkansas where he was killed by Indians, but we have no proofs.  Alexander S. Goad’s bible is still in existence.  A page of death records is partly torn off.  It reads:  “James M. Goad deceased 23 of May 182_.”

Children of James M. Goad and Margaret (Shockley) Goad:

• Robert P. Goad; born in Virginia in 1805, married   ?
• Mary (Polly) Goad; born in Virginia in 1807, married Eli Dodson, Sr.
• Ephraim Goad; born in Virginia in 1809, living in Campbell Co., Tenn in 1830
• Alexander S. Goad, born in Tenn. Sept. 11, 1810, married (1) Jane Henderson, (2) Jane Womack
• Isabelle Goad, born in Tenn. in 1813; married Nathan Driver
• Thomas Goad, born in Tenn. in 1815
• James Madison Goad, born in Tenn. in 1817; married Rebecca Fisher.  Both were killed during the Civil War by guerillas in Crawford Co., Ark.  Their children were sent to Christian Co., Ill. as war orphans.

Rebecca died Jan 15, 1858, at the age of about 39, probably from complications from related to childbirth.  James was killed by bushwhackers near the end of the war around March 11, 1865.  The children sent to Illinois as war orphans went to the  Home for the Friendless,  Springfield, Illinois.

• Margaret Goad, born in Tenn. in 1819, married George Wood

Alexander S. Goad, John Franklin and families were living in Bowen Township, Madison Co., Ark. in 1840.  They first paid tax there in 1837.  (“Madison Co. Genealogist,” Huntsville, Ark.)  In 1850 - 1860, they were still there; also, Nathan and Isabelle (Goad) Driver, George and Margaret (Goad) Wood, and families.In 1870, only Alexander Goad and Nathan Driver and families remained.  Margaret (Shockley Goad) Franklin died between 1850 and 1860.  John Franklin died 1860 -1870 there in Madison Co.  In 1880, Alexander S. Goad was living near Yellville, Ark., with his second wife.  He died ther Feb. 4, 1889 and is buried a Pleasant Ridge Cemetery.

Alexander Goad raised his nephew, Eli Dodson Jr., after the death of the boy’s mother in Tennessee in 1830.  Three of Alexander’s sons served in the Civil War; first being drafted into the Southern army.  After they learned of the murders of their Uncle and Aunt, and that the people’s plea for help against the guerrillas had been refused by the Confederacy.  Later they joined the Union when the first recruiting office opened at Fayetteville. All were assigned to the First Ark. Inf. Co. G.
They were:

William Henderson Goad, born Ark. 1836; died El Dorado, Texas.
Charles Pinkney Goad, born Ark. 1838, died Apache, Okla.
James Madison Goad, born Ark; died Stringtown, Okla

The brothers joined the regiment at its initial organization.  The regiment was mustered into service March 25, 1863, almost two years before their uncle was killed by the bushwhackers.

Robert P. Goad, son of James M. Goad, is liste in White Co., Tenn. tax records from 1822 to 1826.  In 1825, he was granted fifty acres of land on the waters of Caney Fork River.  This land, like his father’s fifty-three acres, was in the old 5th civil district, close to the Warren Co. line (White Co., Mountain Land District records, Nashville, Tenn., Grant #1815).  For some reason, this deed was not recorded until Aug. 3, 1830.

We have not been able to find out who Robert P. Goad married.  Family tales say Robert’s wife died “in child-bed”  giving birth to her third son and that Robert then moved to Ark., where he died. (The bible records of  H.B. Stephens indicate that her name was Caroline Julieann Stephens.)

The death of Robert P. Goad, “late of White Co.” was suggested in open court 9 Oct., 1835 (County Court Minutes, 1835 - 1841, p. 24, White County Courthouse, Sparta, Tenn.).  He died without a will and his step-father, John Franklin, was appointed administrator of the estate, which was settled April 23, 1836 (Probate Deed Books of White County, Tenn., Vol. B., p. 8)
Robert P. Goad’s children were:

• Thomas Goad, born Dec. 24, 1821, Tenn.
• James Isham Goad, born Jan. 19, 1824, Tenn
• Ephriam Goad, born 1825/1826 (?) (Date from age in Ark. census records)

Thomas Goad, son of Robert P. Goad, married in Madison Co., Ark., Martha Counts, also born in Tenn in 1825. 
Their children were:

• Rebecca Goad, born 1840 in Ark
• Margaret Goad, born 1843 in Ark
• Patsy Goad, born 1845 in Ark
• Mary Goad, born 1848 in Ark
• Isaac G. Goad, born 1852 in Ark
• Sarah J. Goad, born 1855 in Ark
• James A. Goad, born 1857 in Ark
• Thomas W. Goad, born 1860 in Ark
• Eva Caroline Goad, born 1860 in Mo.

The Thomas Goad family was living in 1850 at Drake’s Creek, Richland Township, Madison Co., Ark. (Ark. State Census 1850, Little Rock.)  Thomas Goad first paid tax in Madison Co. in 1845.

Thomas Goad enlisted Jan 26, 1863 in the Union Army, Civil War, 1st Ark. Inf. Co. G.  He was transferred to Co. B as a Comm. Sgt. July 31, 1864, and was mustered out with his regiment at Fort Smith, Aug. 10, 1865.  The family then moved to Mt. Vernon, Mo., Lawrence Co., where his wife died Jan. 23, 1891, and is buried at Spanish Fort.  Thomas Goad died July 25, 1891.  We know very little of his family.  One daughter married Fred Main.
“Died Saturday night, Thomas Goad, well known as ‘Uncle Tommy’ at the home of his son-in-law, fred main, two miles south of the city, aged 70 years. (“Fountain and Journal , “ Mt. Vernon, Mo., July 30, 1891)

James A. Goad, son of Thomas Goad, was living with the family of his uncle, James I. Goad, in 1875, when the Iowa State census was taken (Iowa State Library, Des Moines, Iowa).  James A. Goad married at Corydon, Iowa, Mollie A. Lancaster.  We are told they moved to Texas and raised a large family.

Thomas Goad and Ephraim Goad, sons of Robert P. Goad moved to Ark with their grandmother and step-grandfather.  James Isham Goad, their brother, was working for Nathaniel Markham at that time and was in love with Nathaniel’s daughter.  He refused to leave Tenn.

Another account, written quite a bit later by June Worland, probably in the early 1990s,  has James Isham Goad going to Arkansas with his family, only to return to Tennessee for his sweetheart.

James I. Goad, son of Robert P. Goad, married Lydia C. Markham, born Dec 30, 1821, White Co., Tenn. They were married by James Knowles Esq.
Their children were:

• Vance Carrick Goad, born White Co., Tenn. Oct. 22, 1842; married Lucinda “Cindy” (Bradshaw) Davis, a widow.  Both died in Osborne County, Kan.; buried Cedar Bluffs Cemetery.
• Nathaniel Perry Goad, born White Co., Tenn. July 16, 1844; maried first Melissa E. Markham, who died in Kan.; married secon Harriet “Hattie” l. Clutter.  Nathaniel Goad died in Washington Co., Ark.
• Jasper I. Goad, born White Co., Tenn. April 7, 1846; died before 1850 in White Co., Tenn.
• Martha Caroline Goad, born White Co., Tenn. April 28, 1848; died Osborne Co., Kan.; buried Cedar Bluffs Cemetery; married Eward Balm.
• Thomas Jefferson Goad, born White Co., Tenn. Dec 3, 1850; married Dora A. Bradshaw; both died Osborne Co., Kan.; buried Cedar Bluffs Cem.
• Lucretia Jane Goad, born Hancock Co., Ill. July 1, 1853;  married Benjamin Goughnour; seconf James a. Boyer; all three died Wayne Co., Iowa.
• Lydia Ann Goad, born Hancock Co., Ill. March 14, 1855; married first John Davidson, second Thomas Slater Jr., J.P., third, Ed Smith.  She died at Roseburg, Ore.
• James Wesley Goad, born Sept. 13, 1857, Corydon, Iowa; married Olive Orabell “Ollie” Wineland.  Both died Osborne Co., Kan.; buried Cedar Bluffs cemetery.
• Robert L. Goad, born May 29, 1860; died May 17, 1862; borne and died Wayne Co., Iowa.
• Mary Catherine Goad, born July 24, 1861, Corydon, Iowa; married Franklin McNeal; both died Osborne Co., Kan.; buried Cedar Bluffs cemetery.
• Lewis Clifford Goad, born Sept. 16, 1863, Wayne Co., Iowa; married Violet Merrick.  He was the mayor of Natoma, Kansas for ten years.  He and his wife both died at Natoma, Kansas, and are buried in the city cemetery.

(Bible of Lewis Clifford Goad;  Census record White Co., Tenn., 1850, Nashville; State census records of Iowa, 1860, 1870, 1875, Des Moines Iowa; State census records of Kansas, 1880, Topeka, Kan.; Marriage records of Wayne Co., Ia. at Corydon;  Marriage records of Osborne Co., Kan., at Osborne.  Tax records of Hancock Co., Ill., Tax recorders office, Garner, Ill.;  State census of Ill., 1855, Springfield, Ill.  Cemetery records of all cemeteries listed.)

James I. and Lydia (Markham) Goad remained in White Co., Tenn. until 1850 and then joined a group of people traveling north. Some of the families in this party were Clark, Vance, Goad, Markham, Shepherd, Jenkins, Harris, Bradshaw, and Lincoln, and others now lost to us in time.

From 1853 - 1855, James I. and Lydia Goad resided in Hancock Co., Ill., Fountain Green township, where their closest two neighbors were the families of James Lincoln and Mordecai Lincoln, cousins of our later President, Abraham Lincoln.

In 1856, they moved on to Iowa, where James I. Goad purchased eighty acres of land in Monroe township, Wayne Co. (Land Patent #14665, recorded Cariton, Iowa May 3, 1856).

The Goads were nonconformists and of a very positive nature.

Neither James I. Goad nor his sons, Vance Carrick Goad and Nathaniel Perry Goad, were accepted by the Union Army.  “Too southern in their beliefs,” was the reason given.  The family suffered some persecution during the war as “copperheads,” but in time, this too passed.

James I. Goad died in Wayne Co., Ia. Oct. 6, 1873, without making a will.  Ava Rockwell was appointed administrator of the estate, J. W. Freeland guardian of the minor children (Probate Deeds of Wayne Co., Ia., Corydon, Record D, p. 508, 523, 527, Docket E, p. 5 and 10)

In 1879 Lydia, widow of James I. Goad, sold the land to Issac Bone and with her children married and unmarried, with the exceotions of Nathaniel Perry Goad and Lucretia Jane (Goad) Goughnour, joined a wagon trainrolling west. She died in Osborne Co., Kan., April 7, 1885; buried Cedar Bluffs Cemetery.

Ephraim Goad, son of Robert P. Goad, born in Tenn. in 1825, married Eda M. “Edie” Henderson, born in 1829 in Warren Co., Tenn., daughter of James Henderson and Susan D. Webb.  They were married in Madison Co., Ark. in 1845.
Their children were:

• Delilah Goad, born 1846 in Ark.
• James E. Goad, born 1847 in Ark.
• Wiley Thomas “Talar” Goad, born 1848 in Ark.
• Robert Goad, born 1851 in Ark.
• Alexander Goad, born 1853 in Ark.
• Susan Goad, born 1857 in Ark.
• Isaac Goad, born 1861 in Ark.
• Margaret, born 1864 in Ark.
• Caroline, born 1867 in Ark.

Ehpaim Goad served in the Confederate Army, enlisting Aug. 31, 1863 at Kingstown, Ark. as a Private, under Col. Hill, in Co. G. 7th Cav.  The family were at War Eagle, Bowen township, Madison Co., 1850 -1860.  In 1870, they were in Kings River temp. and in 1880 Ephraim, his wife Edie and daughters Susan, Margaret and Caroline were living in Sebastian Co., Ark., Center township.  Also there was James E. Goad, son of Ephraim Goad, who had married Mary A. “Sis” Reeves in 1872.  She was the daughter of James D. Reeves and Margaret (Goad) Reeves (daughter of Alexander S. Goad and Jane (Henderson) Goad).  In 1880, the children of James E. Goad were listed as Manda E Goad, age 7, Delia E. Goad, age 6, Rosa Goad, age 3, and Robert Newton Goad, one year old son...

The text ends at the bottom of a typed page with indications that it originally consisted of more pages.

E-mail comments                                        

Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2001  by Michael Goad. All rights reserved.
The pages of this site may be freely linked to. Information from this site may be freely used by individuals. None of the following may be duplicated without consent:

• The entire compilation and arrangement of information located on this web site or any major portion thereof.
• The HTML Code for any page or major portion thereof.
• Any original graphics unless otherwise stated.

The copyrights of any contributor’s material remains with the contributor.