Charles Fremont Goff ^{2 3 4}

  General Notes:

"History of Humboldt County, California With Biographical Sketches of The Leading Men and Women of the County Who have been Identified with its Growth and Development from the Early Days to the Present"

History by Leigh H. Irvine; Illustrated; Complete in One Volume
Historic Record Company
Los Angeles, California
1915

CHARLES FREMONT GOFF.-Among the pioneer families in the region around Petrolia, in the Mattole valley, the Goffs have been well known for over fifty years, the family having resided there since 1859. Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Goff, parents of Charles F. Goff, the present postmaster at Petrolia and otherwise prominently associated with public affairs at that place, lived to see the locality reach its modern state of development, both having attained the ripe age of ninety years, passing away only a few years ago. They were widely known among the early residents, and even in the days when hospitality . was almost a necessary virtue were noted for the cheer and kindly welcome given to all who came to their door, their generosity and liberality reflecting the best sentiments which prevailed in the locality.

Stephen Goff was a Southerner, born in Guilford county, N. C., 17 Jan 1811. When a young man he moved out to Wisconsin, where he lived until some time after his marriage, and during that period he served in the Black Hawk war, from the time of his enlistment to the end of the trouble ; in his later years he received a pension for this military service. By occupation he was a carpenter. In the year 1849 he came across the plains to the Pacific coast with a train of ox wagons, leaving his family in Wisconsin. Going up to Oregon, he was engaged in the stock business there for the next five years, and returned to the east by way of the isthmus. The voyage from Aspinwall (now Colon) to New York City was made in a United States mail steamer, and was marked by at least one exciting incident. A Spanish war vessel fired two shots across the bow of the ship to halt her, and a Spanish officer came aboard and made a hasty examination, the ship being allowed to proceed as soon as he retired. Mr. Goff rejoined his family in Wisconsin and in 1855 set out with them for the west by the plains route. Their first stop in California was in Shasta county, and in 1857 they came to Humboldt county, living about one year at Rohnerville before removing to Petrolia, in the Mattole valley, where they settled in 1859. The Indians were active and hostile at the time, and after several white men had been killed the government troops at Eureka were sent down to protect the settlers. The Goffs were here throughout the primitive period, and have done their share toward the opening up and improvement of the country, not only from a material point of view, but through their support and encouragement of the best influences set on foot in the vicinity. Mr. Goff bought the property on the Mattole river known as the old Goff ranch, and there he made his home to the end of his long life. He worked industriously to rear his large family in comfort and to provide them with the best the times afforded. His progressive spirit made him the recipient of public honors in the early days. Even during his short residence in Oregon he had been elected to represent his district in the state legislature, and about 1862 he was elected assessor of Humboldt county, serving two successive terms ; his deputy was William H. Wallace. He always took an interest in the welfare of the county and in seeing good men in office.

At White Oak Springs, Wis., Mr. Goff met Miss Mary Deborah Hinton (born 3 Apr 1818), whom he married there, 3 Apr 1837, and who survived him six years, his death occurring 11 Mar 1902, hers in 1908, at their home place on the Mattole river. As previously mentioned, both lived to be over ninety years old. Airs. Goff was a famous nurse in the early days, and probably as popular and well known for her kindliness and sweet disposition as for her more practical qualities. In her professional capacity she was called upon to minister among all classes, and never lost an opportunity to relieve suffering and pain, or to do a generous or gracious act, especially among the poor and needy. She attended many births, and being a woman of intelligent mind realized the necessity for records and their value and took the pains to record births and deaths in the valley for a long period. Her benign and helpful character endeared her to a wide circle which appreciated the good she did in her unselfish life, and she is held in loving memory all over the territory where so many years of her life were spent. To Mr. and Mrs. Goff were born twelve children : Elender married William Edington, of Sioux Falls, S. Dak., and died leaving three sons : Anna A., the widow of Joel Benton, lives at Oakland, Cal.; James H. married Mary Patrick, and died leaving five sons; Silas M., a stockman, of Baker City, Ore., married Miss Sarah Crank ; Stephen T., who lives at Heppner, Ore., married Clara Patterson ; Thomas H. married Sarah Goodman, and both are deceased ; John B., a stockman, is located at Lone Rock, Ore. ; Mary is the wife of Frank Gouthier, of Coquille, Ore., a stockman ; Charles F. is mentioned below ; Harry C., deceased ; Lillie M. died when sixteen years old ; the eldest child was a son that died in infancy.

Charles F. Goff was born 9 Feb 1860, at Petrolia, on the old Goff ranch down the Mattole river, and grew up there. He received a good public school education in Petrolia district. Remaining with his parents until after he attained his majority, he went to Oregon in the year 1882 and lived there over ten years, principally in Grant county. In 1893 he returned to his native county and resumed work on the homestead ranch, where he remained until he took the agency of the Pacific Telegraph & Telephone Company at Petrolia, being local manager. He is associated with all such enterprises in the vicinity, being a stockholder, director and manager of the Petrolia Telephone Company, which is the exchange for the Upper Mattole Telephone Company. His duties with the various concerns combine to their mutual advantage, for having a line on all the facilities in the locality he is able to see that it has the best service possible, there being no elements to conflict under the present arrangement. On 1 Mar 1914, he was appointed postmaster at Petrolia, another arm of service in which he has proved very capable, looking after the best interests of his fellow citizens with his customary fidelity. His businesslike methods and executive ability fit him admirably for all his responsibilities, and his prompt attention to every duty has called forth much favorable comment, of which his sincere desire to please makes him worthy.

Mr. Goff was married during his residence in Oregon, 15 Jul 1884, to Miss Mary Lightfoot, born in Salem, Ore., the daughter of Samuel and Maria (Salisbury) Lightfoot, born in Indiana and Ohio respectively. They crossed the plains overland and were married in Oregon. For a time they farmed in Marion county and later were stock-raisers in Umatilla county, where the father died in September, 1913, and the mother in October, 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Goff have a remarkably pleasant home. Of the four children born to them, Agnes died when twelve and Grace when eight years old. The eldest living child is Maude May, now the wife of Gilbert Langdon, a resident of Petrolia, and the mother of two children, Mildred and Charles Elsworth. The other child, Elva Elaine, is now twelve years old. Mr. Goff, although not a member, attends the Methodist Episcopal church at Petrolia. The congregation has just erected a new house of worship and Mr. Goff served very efficiently as a member of the building committee ; he is a trustee of the church and a willing helper in all its activities. Fraternally he is a member of the Woodmen of the World.
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  Noted events in his life were:

• He appeared on the 1880 US Census in Petrolia, CA on 1880. ⁴

1880 US Census
Page 444A, Roll 0066
Petrolia, Humboldt County, California
Charles F. Goff..Son..20..CA..Dairy Man
(Living with parents.)
.

• He appeared on the 1900 US Census in Mattole Township, Humboldt County, CA on 11 June 1900. ²

1900 US Census
Page 147A, District 30, Dwelling 66, Family 66
Mattole Township, Humboldt County, California
house rented
married 16 years
Charles F. Goff..Head..Feb 1860..40..CA..Farm Laborer
(Living with wife and 3 daughters.)
.

Charles married Mary Leon Lightfoot, daughter of Samuel Greenberry Lightfoot and Laura Maria Salisbury, on 15 July 1884 in , Umatilla County, OR.^{2 3} (Mary Leon Lightfoot was born on 15 May 1859 in Salem, OR ^{3 5 6 7} and died on 14 April 1947 in , Humboldt County, CA ³.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• They appeared on the 1900 US Census in Mattole Township, Humboldt County, CA on 11 June 1900. ²

1900 US Census
Page 147A, District 30, Dwelling 66, Family 66
Mattole Township, Humboldt County, California
house rented
married 16 years
Charles F. Goff..Head..Feb 1860..40..CA..Farm Laborer
Mary L. Goff..Wife..Jul 1859..40..OR
Maude M. Goff..Dau..May 1885..15..OR
Agnes A. Goff..Dau..Apr 1889..11..OR
Grace G. Goff..Dau..Aug 1893..6..OR
.