Emily
"Hessie" (White) Goff
(1870-1919)
Emily
Hester "Hessie" (White) Goff was born on April 15, 1870, in
Hopwood, Fayette County, PA, the daughter of Perry G.
and Mariah (Minerd) White. Hessie was only 15 years old when her father died
suddenly at home. She was proud of her father's "wonderful Christian
heritage" that he left to his large family of two sets of children, and
passed these things down to her own children.
On March 14, 1888, Emily married Simeon Thomas Goff (1867-1940), the son of James E. and Ellen (Varndell) Goff. Their daughters were Maude A. Oliver and Leah Guyton, both of whom taught music.
Simeon was profiled in the 1912 book, the Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette and Greene Counties, authored by John W. Jordan and James Hadden. The text reported that Simeon:
...was educated in the public schools and after completing his studies became a stationary engineer; later a clerk, and since 1900 has been manager of the general store of W.A. Stone. He was appointed postmaster of Hopwood in 1909 and is still filling that position [in 1912] in connection with his duties as manager. In politics he in an independent voter, selecting the candidates for fitness, rather than party.
Simeon served as superintendent of the Sunday School of the Hopwood Methodist Episcopal Church. He and other members of his wife's family are mentioned in an online history of the congregation. He also was chaplain of the Fayette Lodge of the Masons.
In 1908, Simeon led a fundraising effort and presented the pastor "with a nice sum of money for Christmas." In 1907, he and daughters Maude and Leah "played at the celebration of the 88th anniversary of Odd-fellowship, given by Pine Knob lodge of Brownfield. The program ... was excellent."
That August, the Chronicle reported that at the re-opening service of the Hopwood Methodist Church, "The special music rendered by the choir under the efficient leadership of S.T. Goff, was a pleasing feature, while the violin solo by Miss Leah Goff was well rendered and uplifting."
Simeon
was an assistant editor and manager of a small monthly newspaper, The Hopwood
Chronicle, in circulation between 1907 and 1909. Also joining him in
the effort were his niece and nephew, Bertha and William A.
Stone. When the federal census was taken in 1900, Simeon's occupation was
given as "engineer" -- possibly on the railroad.
The May 1907 issue of the Hopwood Chronicle reported that "Mr. S.T. Goff invited a number of friends to his home Monday evening ... to help celebrate his wife's birthday. It came as a complete surprise to Mrs. Goff but nevertheless she enjoyed it." The February 1908 issue said she and her nephew Raymond White led a prayer meeting "Ministering to prisoners and the poor."
At age 49, on Oct. 8, 1919, Emily was found unconscious on the kitchen floor, a victim of a fatal brain hemorrhage. The Uniontown Daily News Standard said hers' was one of:
...the most sudden and regretted deaths of the year.... Today the entire Hopwood community is shocked over the loss, as never was there a better known or more liked woman in the little mountain town.... A lifelong resident of Hopwood and a consistent and faithful member of the Methodist Protestant church, [she] was always prominent in church and patriotic work. As a member of the Aid society of the church she has devoted many hours to good work from week to week.
The next day's paper said her death "still shocks the community." The Oct. 13, 1919 Daily News Standard said:
No Hopwood funeral in years has occasioned such a widespread expression of sorrow and sympathy.... Held in particular esteem by everyone with whom she has ever come in contact, [she] was loved by her neighbors with a sincere regard and respect that came from years of congenial association. Untiring in every good work, always cheerful and inspiring, Mrs. Goff occupied a place in the Hopwood community that will never quite be filled.
Hymns sung at her funeral were "Servant of God," "Asleep in Jesus" and "Christian, Good Night." Pallbearers were her 6 nephews, George, John and Albert Roby and Charles, Daniel and Albert White.
Daughter Maude married John P. Oliver and resided
in Uniontown. By the start of World War II, Maude was apparently a single
parent. Her son Sgt. Thomas E. Oliver enlisted in the US Army Air Force just 3
weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served in three campaigns, including in
Australia, and is pictured (seen here) in the book, Heroes All: A
Service Album of North Union Township.
Daughter Leah was living at home in 1912, at age 21. Later, she married Mr. Guyton. She is believed to have written a manuscript history of the family, and a copy is in the Minerd-Minard-Miner-Minor Archives.
Copyright © 2000-2005, 2008 Mark A. Miner