Goff - Charles M. - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

A worthy representative of the GOFF family that has played such an important part in the upbuilding of Montgomery County during the past half century or more is Charles M. GOFF, a prosperous farmer and businessman of Wingate, Coal Creek Township, near where he has a well stocked and equipped farm, which is in a good state of cultivation and its improvements are of a high order and the place is adorned with a neat and well built residence and there are commodious barns and other convenient outbuildings. Grain and all products common in this part of the country thrive on the rich soil of the farm, and our subject raises standard stock of various kinds. He has accumulated his valuable property himself by judicious management of his affairs. Personally, he is very genial with a cheery word for all and his neighbors and associates generally fin din him a warm and steadfast firend, whose many fine traits of head and heart make him thoroughly respected and esteemed throughout the community where his entire life has been spent. Mr. Goff was born on December 23, 1869 in Montgomery County. He is a son of Edward and Mary J SHELLEY Goff. The father was born in NY on June 18, 1834 and there he grew to manhood and received his education in the early schools. He remained in the Empire state a number of years coming to Indiana in 1856 while still single, and here he spent the rest of his life, dying in 1909. In early life he taught school awhile, but later turned his attention to farming which he made his chief vocation through life. He was a man of good intellect, a hard worker and honorable. His wife mother of our subject was born in Montgomery County in 1844 and her death occurred 1888. Five children were born to these parents, four of whom are living. Charles M. Goff received a good common school education, and he grew to manhood on the parental farm where he worked when he became of proper age, during the crop seasons. On Dec. 23, 1891, he married Matie ALEXANDER. She was born Aug 24, 1872. She received a good common school education. Five children have been born to our subject and wife: Pearl, who married Ward GRAVES was born July 18, 1893, and they have one childn, Lois Yvonne, born Feb 11, 1913; Marie was born march 23, 1895; Louis was born May 8, 1896; Gladys was born March 18 1899; Olive on August 6, 1907. These children are all attending school but the oldest an dyoungest and are making excellent grades; Gladys had the honor received the highest grade of any pupil in MOntgomery County in the graded schools and was also next to the youngest to graduate from the Wingate school. She is now in her second year in high school. Mr. Goff began farming for himself when young and this has remained his principal vocation, however, he owned a large lumber yard to Wingate for some time, and is now dealing considerably in real estate there. He has been very successful in whatever line he has directed his efforts and is one of the substantial men of this part of the county. He is the owner of 370 acres of rich land, 160 of which lie in Coal Creek, 210 in Wayne township. It is nearly all tillable and is very productive and valuable. Mr. Goff built his own house. Politically, he is a Democrat and takes an interest in local affairs; however, he is not a seeker after public office. He belongs to the Baptist Church at Elmdale.  -- typed by kbz