James Edward Goff History

HISTORY OF JAMES EDWARD GOFF

Text submitted by Judy Goff Cook, descendant

James E & Margaret E Clayton Goff ca 1870 James E & Margaret E Clayton Goff<br>Photo courtesy of<br>J Goff Cook & H D Goodwin
James Edward & Margaret Clayton Goff
Wedding Photo

Photo courtesy of Judy Goff Cook
James Edward & Margaret E Clayton Goff
Photo courtesy of J Goff Cook & H D Goodwin

James Edward Goff was born in Nauvoo, Illinois on September 22, 1845, and he died July 22, 1913 at Minersville, Utah in Beaver County, Utah. He married Margaret Ellen Clayton on March 30, 1870. James Edward was the seventh child of James Goff and Mary Elizabeth Kimbrough. James Edward, as a young child, lived in Council Bluff, Iowa and traveled with his parents, brothers and sisters across the plains in the Milo Andrus Company to the Salt Lake Valley. On Christmas day in 1851 he lost his mother to death, and as a six year old was at a great loss for his mother. He endured two polygamous mothers who left by 1856. His father married Margaret Birch in 1856, and she was the mother figure he had during his teenage years. He spent time in school at Provo, Utah, and in his youth went with his older brother, Elijah, to farm in Minersville, Utah. Farming in an agricultural community had many facets. Farms produced 80-90% of a family's needs. If a family didn't farm, they at least had gardens.

Margaret Ellen Clayton Goff<br>Photo courtesy of J Goff Cook & H D Godwin Margaret Ellen Clayton Goff



Photo Courtesy of
J Cook Goff & H D Goodwin

Agricultural methods in farming required 24 work days (10 hours per day) to plow, seed and harvest 10 acres of wheat and 44 work days to plow, plant, cultivate, and harvest 10 acres of corn. Mature corn reached 10 to 12 feet in heigh and yielded one or two ears per stalk. No part of the corn was wasted in any way. The husks were used to stuff mattresses. The cobs were used to kindle fires and smoke meat or as stoppers for jugs. Besides corn, the Saints raised oats, some upland rice and such crops as melons, squash, pumpkins and cucumbers. Herds of pigs were found on almost every farm. A large assortment of peach, apple and other fruit trees were planted. Fruit was sliced and dried in the sun for winter use. Crops consisted of potatoes, grapes, berries, geese, turkeys, chickens and poultry that provided eggs, meat and feathers. Living was hard work for a farmer and his family.

James and Margaret Ellen Clayton lived their lives in Minersville and labored to squeeze out a living to provide a home, food and safe haven for the families they were given stewardship over to raise.

James Edward Goff & Family - photo courtesy of J Goff Cook & H D Godwin Margaret E Clayton Goff, Wilford George Goff & James Edward Goff II - photo courtesy of J Goff Cook & H D Goodwin
Back Row l-r: James E III, Isabelle,
Wilford George

Front Row l-r: James E Goff, Jr, Lorin Elisha,
Alfred Aaron,
& Margaret E Clayton Goff

Photo courtesy of J Goff Cook & H D Goodwin
Margaret Ellen Clayton Goff
with sons
Wilford George & James Eugene Goff



Photo courtesy of J Cook Goff & H D Goodwin

James and Margaret Ellen didn't go to the temple, and it is unknown if they were active in the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are buried in the Minersville Cemetery. Margaret Ellen Clayton was the daughter of Richard Clayton and Isabelle Peet. Margaret and James had eight children. A description of Margaret and James' life is reflected in a history written by Violet G. Goodwin on August 19. 1968. Margaret Ellen died on August 27, l906, and James Edward Goff died on July 22, 1913. They are both buried in the Minersville Cemetery.


Goffe-Goff-Gough Family Pages

Richard Clayton Biography

Goff Biographies and Photo

Text prepared for website by:
Gwen Goff Hobbs
15 Jun 2000