History of Greene County, Pennsylvania

EAGON GOODEN, a retired farmer of Rutan, Penn., was born in Wayne Township, this county, February 22, 1823. He is a son of William F. and Mary (Shields) Gooden, who were natives of Greene County, where they were married. Mrs. Gooden is deceased. Her husband is now a resident of Guernsey County, Ohio. The subject of this sketch was united in marriage September 19, 1850, with Elizabeth Wells. Mrs. Gooden was born in Greene County August 20, 1829, and is a daughter of James and Rhoda (Orndoff) Wells, also natives of this county, where they were married and remained until the death of Mrs. Wells. Mr. Wells is still living and resides in Center Township. Mr. Gooden and wife are the parents of eleven children, of whom ten are living—William T., Margaret J., wife of Reasin Davis; Mary, wife of James Morris; James B., John J., Rhoda, wife of Henry Luellen; Eliza A., wife of Thomas L. McKerrian; Sarah A., wife of Charles N. Marsh; Harriet F., Flora B., and Jesse (deceased). In early life Mr. Gooden taught school for about nineteen years, he would teach in the winter and work as a farm hand through the summer. His first purchase of land was in Wayne Township. It consisted of eighty-two acres which he sold, and in 1869 bought his present farm of 162 acres. In politics Mr. Gooden is a Democrat. He has served as judge and inspector of elections, and has been school director of his township.

Page 581

Samuel P. Bates

Nelson, Rishforth & Co., Chicago. 1888

Transcribed by Annette Bame Peebles

The Greene County, Pennsylvania Biographies Project – http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~arkbios/Greene/index.html.

Date of Transcription: 7 June 2007