The Portland daily press., 1890-05-23
OBITUARY..
Hon. william Coold.


ration, If the failure Of the vital organs, af-
ter long and active life, can be called dis
ease. Mr.. Goold had been falling for some
time past, but he was not confined to his
house and bed for more than few weeks.
The end was peaceful and quiet. He was
surrounded by all but two Of the members
of his family.
The ancestors of both of Mr.. Goods
| grandfathers settled at an early period at
| Kittery, in!that part now known as Eliot.
| Only the width Of the road separates the
| two farms, which are yet owned and occu-
| pied by the descendants of the two families.
| Family tradition says that two brothers
came from England, and both settled in the
| vicinity Of Piscataqha. One of them was
| named Benjamin Goold. He was the great
great-grandfather Of the deceased. He pur-
chased his farm in 1717. His will names five
sons and two married daughters. Alexan-
der, the second son, had the home farm and
cared for his parents He was a soldier at
Bunker Hill, and was on board the ship that
carried DIR. Benjamin Franklin to France In
1776. He was a military pensiOner, and died
about 1850, aged 92, at which time he had In
the house, separate from all other money.
all of his pensions which he had drawn,
amounting to $1,000. With all his American
ancestors he is buried in private enclosure
on the old farm, which is now owned by his
son James. He was the grand-uncle Of the
| deceased.
Benjamin, the youngest son Of the second
| Benjamin, and brother to Alexander, was
born at Kittery In 1749. At the age Of 10 he
went to Falmouth, and worked six years for
Daniel Hall, farmer; after which, in 1774,
he went to Windham and built a log house
on lot of wild land, which he purchased
with his six years earning and scanty patri-
AA a
PRGbe, daughter Of Nathan Noble,
Of New Boston. now Gray. who
was the son Of John Noble. the founder Of
New Milford, Conn, where he was born
| February A. 1772. Nathan Noble served in
the French war and was az the siege and
surrender OF Louisburg In 1745. He after
wards enlisted for three years fin the army
of the Revolution, In 1775, leaving his fami-
ly at Gray. He was In the battles Of Still
water, Hubbardston, and Saratoga where
Gen. Burgoyne surrendered October II, 1777.
In the memorable battle Mr.. Noble was
killed by musket ball while entering the
enemy's works. He was the paternal great
grandfather of the deceased.
Benjamin Goold, the third Of the name Of
successive generations and Phoebe Noble,
his wife, from their lot of wild land made
fruitful farm and frame, house yet stand
ing, took the place Of the log house. In these
houses within the space OF seventeen years,
were born five SONS and two daughters, none
of whom are now living.
Nathan Goold, the second son of the third
Benjamin, and his wife Phoebe Noble, was
born at their homestead in Windham, April
10, 177S. In 1900, being then % years old, he
purchased the farm nearly opposite his
fathers, on which he spent the remainder of
his life. His second wife, whom he married
In 1907 was Betsey. Oldest child Of James
Gowen OF Westbrook, to which he came
from KitterY. where he was born, In 1754.
His father, William Gowen, died In the Pro-
vincial Army in Canada in 1760, and he was
reared by his uncle and godfather, Hon.
tRfg fhfaa~ Sra9sagdttegHs wban As one erJ Sf
Maine from ITO to 1774. He was the grand
| son Of VIM. Gowen, who was a freeholier in
Kittery in 1915. Nathan Goold and his wife.
BetSey, had two sons and one daughter. He
was farmer and trader. He was elected
chairman Of the board of selectmen In 1912
and reelected to that office eight successive
years. He represented his native town In
the legislature of Massachusetts in 1915. He
was Justice Of the peace and a captain in
the militia called for the defense of Portland
in 1914. He died Of consumption in 1923,
aged 40. His widow died in 1866, aged S5.
Nathan and Betsey (GoweD) Goold were
the parents of William Goold. He was born
at the family residence in Windham, April
13. 1909. and died in the house In which he
was born.
When he was IA years old. his mother was
left a widow with three children, his broth
er and sister being very young. William
went on horseback to Portland, at the early
used to walk home every Saturday night to
see his mother. never forgetting to carry her
some remembrance no matter how trifing.
His mother carried on the farm and brought
up her family without infringing on the
property which her husband had left to each
of them. Prior TO his 14th year Mr. GoOld
hadlreceived all the education he could in the
district school, but hadnever studied geogra-
ply OF grammar. AT Il he commenced an
apprenticeship in a cloth and clothing store
In Portland, where during the six
succeeding years, he acquired the
mechanical and mercantile skill necessary to
carry on the business, in which he became
partner with his employer in 1880, who left
this business to him in 1882. In 1884 Mr.
Goold married the only daughter of his first
employer, Mr.. Seth Clark He continued In
business until 1887, when his health became
impaired and he retired to the home farm
which he always retained Regaining his
health seven years after he returned to Port
land and formed a partnership with his
brother in the clothing business. He sold
out to his partner in 1876, and went into the
he returned to the farm. but In 1867 was in
duced to represent his district in the legisla-
ture and was ele ted to the state senate In
1874, and reelected the next year.
nit Is, however, as a historical student that
MIR. Goold will be best remembered. He was
elected member Of the Maine Historical
Society in 1873, and has written many valua-
BILE papers, full of historical research relat-
ing TO the state, while his articles on Port
land have been very numerous and exhaust
i've. His initials. w. G. have been familiar
to the readers of the PRESS for 25 years at
least, and his historical artices-written for
this iournalEalways attracted widespread
the publication Of Portland in the Past"
which Is standark work to be found in all
historical libraries. Some Of his writings
were published in the New England His
toric Genealogical Register" and the "Ar-
chives of the Maine Historical Society,"
Mr.. Goold leaves widow and six children
Abba (Gooldl Woolson, Frank Clark, Will
liam Willis, Nathan, Ellen and George
Mather. Mrs. Woolson, the authoress and
lecturer, is well known throughout New
England. der "Women in American So
ciety" was published by Roberts Bros in
1873. She was at one time essayist for the
Boston Journal. The youngest daughter has
been 10 years teacher in the Portland pub
lie schools. The two Oldest sons are watch
makers in Portland and Boston, and the
third was bookkeeper at the Portland Com
pany for many years. The fourth Is with
Allen & Co. Frank served In the navy on
the HousatOnic during the rebellion, and
took part in the disastrous night attack on
Fort Sumter One daughter Elizabeth, now
deceased, married Mr.. Geo. II. Harding of
Windham.
Mr.. Goold was of modest, quiet, retiring
disposition, but an exceedingly obserVant
man with wonderfully tenacious memory,
which fitted him peculiarly for historical
work, In which he delighted. He was eX-
ceedingly amlable and devoted to his home
and family. He will be greatly missed. es-
pecially by the Historical Society, from
whose meetings he was rarely absent, and
by readers of the PRESS, who will miss the
interesting articles and familiar signature OF
w. G.
The funeral will take place at Windham
| and the remains buried on his farm In the
| family burying ground, where five genera
| tions lie inferred.
Peter a. Sullivan.
Peter A. Sullivan, prominent young
Irish-American, died yesterday morning at
his home at the corner Of South and Free
streets, after an illness of some duration.
He leaves widow and child. He belonged
to the Ancient Order Of Hibernlans, the
Order of Foresters, and was a mem.
Der of the Montgomery Guards Honorary
Association. The funeral will take place
Sunday afternoon, from st. Dominic's.