WILLIAM MARION GOFORTH

William, son of Charles Andrew Goforth and Lavina Grisham, was born at Dandridge, Tennessee. He died at the Wadsworth Soldiers Home on September 10, 1910 located at Wadsworth, KS. He has a veterans stone at Leavenworth National Cemetery (in Leavenworth, KS).

His mother, Lavina Grisham. was born about 1803 and died in 1884 California. She was the daughter of John Thompson Grisham [also spelled Gresham], born 1753 in NC & died 1841 in TN, and Katie Vaughn, daughter of Frederick Vaughn. Lavina was one of nine children of John and Katie: Lavina, Joseph Grisham, Richard Grisham, Michael Thompson Grisham, Mary Grisham, Collins Grisham, Elijah Grisham, John Grisham, and Elizabeth Grisham.

His father, Charles Andrew Goforth was born about 1801 in Tennessee to Preston Goforth and Hetty Gibson. Charles died in Missouri in 1859. His father, Preston Goforth, (Wm. Marion's grandfather), was born 1780 at Kings Mountain, Cleveland, North Carolina. Preston and Hetty Gibson had only four children who lived, three sons and one daughter.

William Goforth was one of eight children of Charles Andrew Goforth and Lavina Grisham: William, James Harvey Goforth, Susan R. Goforth, Jasper Grisham Goforth, John T. Goforth, Martha E. Goforth, Tennessee F. Goforth, and Louisa [Luiza] Goforth. William probably outlived all but one of his siblings, James. James had about 13 children with wife Mary Ann Davidson. Sister Susan married Hiram and had three children. Brother John T. married Mary Ann McMasters. Sister Martha married Ben Franklin Clopto and had 8 children. Sister Louisa married John Folks and they had a daughter.

William married twice and he had a family with both Elizabeth and Martha. His first child (Thurza) was born in 1855.

Known children with first wife Elizabeth Ann Dodson were Thurza Jane Goforth, Mary Amazon Goforth, Luna M. Goforth, Marion S. Goforth, Levina Goforth, and James M. Goforth. Possibly others who may have died young. Children with 2nd wife Martha Jane Strother: Eva Ann Goforth, Ellis Goforth, Ella Goforth, Bessie Goforth, John Woodson Goforth, Wm. Marvin Goforth and Lola M. Goforth, ranging in birth from 1855 to 1886.

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1850 Dade Co., MO
September 9, 1850
Spelled "Gofourth"

Gofourth, Charles, 49, farmer, Tennessee
Gofourth, Luvina, 47, Tennessee
Gofourth, William, 26, carpenter, Tennessee
Gofourth, John, 24, laborer, Tennessee
Gofourth, James,17, laborer, Tennessee
Gofourth, Martha, 15, Tennessee
Gofourth, Susan, 14, Tennessee
Gofourth, Tennessee, 11, Tennessee
Gofourth, Jasper,9, Tennessee
Gofourth, Louiza, 7, Tennessee

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1890 Surviving Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines, and Widows, etc.
Morgan Township
Enumeration Dist. 28
Dade County, Missouri

William M. Goforth
Rank: Pvt.
Company: I
Regiment: 15 MO CAV
Date of Enlistment: Nov. 1, 1863
Date of Discharge: June 30, 1865
Length of Service: One Year 8 Months

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You can find Missouri pension applications at many libraries including those in MO and elsewhere, in addition to the National Archives in D.C. Also, like others we have placed several online for those who cannot make the trip.

William gave the following information on his application, but you will enjoy seeing copies of the original on microfilm at one of the above locations and the National Archives is set up to search for and mail copies. Some spelling below corrected, but not names or important wording.

1. Are you a married man? If so, please state your wife's full name and her maiden name. REPLY: Yes, Martha Jane Goforth, maiden name Strother.

2. When, where, and by whom were you married? REPLY: July 15, 1877. Dade County, MO, by Squire Haron Barnet.

3. What record of marriage exists? REPLY: (blank, nothing written here)

4. Were you previously married? If so, please state the name of your former wife and the date and place of her death or divorce. REPLY: Elizabeth Dodson and myself married April 6. 1854. Died near Dadeville Dade County, MO. Oct 6, 1876.

5. Have you any children living? If so, please state their names and the dates of their birth. REPLY: By former wife. Levina C. Christian, Mary Amazon McMasters, Marion S.
Goforth, Luna M. Goforth, James M. Goforth. My present wife, John W. Goforth, born Sept 20, 1878. Ellis K. Goforth July 30, 1880, William Marvin Goforth March 30, 1883, Ella A. Goforth June 17, 1884. Lola M. Goforth Nov 18, 1886, Eva Ann Goforth Born Aug 23, 1889.

Signed: William M. Goforth
April 4, 1899
Mountain Grove, MO. William

Paul Grisham's notes:

Re: application lists 2 wives, 11 children

A 12th child, Bessie E. born Sept 24, 1893, was listed on a questionnaire William answered in 1898. Since she wasn't listed on the 1899 questionnaire, she probably died about the age of 5. There appear to have been other names
listed on the back of the 1898 questionnaire, but the back was not copied by the archives so I can only see the "ghost" of the handwriting reversed. What a
shame.

William didn't marry Elizabeth Dodson until 1854, making him age 31 at the time.I suppose he could have had a previous marriage that he wasn't willing to
acknowledge.

William first enlisted in Company I, 7th Regt Enrolled Missouri Militia (EMM) on November 1, 1863. The 7th Regt. EMM was Federalized on November 1, 1864 as the 15th Regt Missouri Volunteer Cavalry. William served in Company I, 15th MO CAV until his discharge on July 1, 1865. His pension was awarded for disease of back from general disability from old age and exposure.

William's first disability claim was filed on August 2, 1890. He was living in Dadeville, Dade, MO so he must have moved to Wright Co. between 1891 - 1898.

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U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865:

William M. Goforth 15th Regiment, Missouri Cavalry Union Missouri.

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William M. Goforth had land records in Dade County, Missouri dated September 15, 1854, September 1, 1858, and June 1, 1859 located at 32N, 25W, Section 32.
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