- CAPT. JAMES C. GOOCH, a prominent farmer residing on section
34, Center Township, is
- a native of Vermont, born March 26, 1810, and was the second
in order of birth in a family of three children. The eldest,
Thomas, born March 26, 1908, and has been twice married, first
wedded Miss THOMAS, by whom he had two children, a son and daughter,
both living, and for his second wife married Mrs. NOYES, who
is now living in Brooklyn, N.Y., with their only child; Thomas
died at Morceana, N.Y.; Samuel, the youngest child, died at Boston,
Mass., many years ago.
- The father of this family died during the war of 1812, when
our subject was but two years old.
- His mother then removed to Boston and remained there until
James was twelves years of age. He then spent one year at the
home of an uncle in Boston, where he attended school, and at
the age of thirteen shipped on the sea as a cabin boy on board
a vessel bound for Havana, Cuba, and return. After about two
months he again reached Boston and went as cabin boy on the ship
"Jasper," Capt. Crocker, commanding. The vessel made
two voyages per year, loading at Boston with a general cargo,
discharging the same at Charleston, where a cargo of cotton was
received and taken to Liverpool, where the ship was again re-ladened
for Boston. On the retirement of Capt. Crocker, Mr. GOOCH, then
nineteen years of age, was promoted third officer of the ship
"Emerald," his first voyage after promotion being between
Boston and Havre, by way of Charleston. He was then promoted
to first mate and shipped on the bark "Ruble," under
Capt. Davis, making a voyage to Russia, which occupied about
four months. His next voyage was on the great "Neptune,"
which sailed to Sweden, returning in four months, when he again
went on the same vessel to Holland, and subsequently made a trip
to Hamburg in the same ship. He then made another voyage on the
"Neptune," to Sweden, but was nearly wrecked off the
coast of Scotland, the crew experiencing the various hardships
incident to seafaring life. The next voyage was from Boston to
the Cape Verde Island, and at Buenos Ayres [Buenos Aires] the
cargo of salt was exchanged for one of hides, horns and tallow.
The salt was bought at four cents per bushel and sold at $1.00
per bushel. After returning to Boston, he shipped aboard the
"Marathon," making a trip to France with cotton, discharging
the cargo at Havre, receiving a cargo of general merchandise.
His next voyage was in the "Albra," from Boston to
Savannah, where they loaded with cotton, which they took to Liverpool,
and returned to Boston loaded with general merchandise. They
then made a second voyage to Liverpool, but first going to Richmond,
where they loaded with tobacco for the Liverpool market, and
again returned to Boston with a cargo of merchandise. The next
trip was to Santos, with general merchandise, and after discharging
their freight at that place, they went to Rio Janeiro [Rio de
Janeiro] and loaded with coffee, which was consigned to Philadelphia.
While anchored in the Delaware Bay, a storm arose which drove
the vessel to sea again, and they landed at New York and there
discharged their cargo, the consignees accepting it at that port.
After landing at New York, Capt. Davis left the ship and Mr.
GOOCH was promoted first officer. His first trip as Captain,
was to New Orleans, where he was quarantined on account of the
yellow fever, but at length receiving a cargo of cotton he returned
to Boston. That was his last trip on the ocean.
- Capt. GOOCH was united in marriage at Boston, March 7, 1836,
with Miss Maria T.
- STOCKBRIDGE, of Hanover, Mass. Mrs. GOOCH was a daughter
of David STOCKBRIDGE, and was the fourth in order of birth in
a family of four children. Her mother was also a native of the
Bay State, and a descendant of Puritan ancestry. Caroline, the
oldest, married Benjamin WHITE, and is living in Long Plain,
Mass., John STOCKBRIDGE, whose whereabouts is unknown, is the
eldest of the family; and George is a resident of Montana.
- Eight children were born unto Captain and Mrs. GOOCH - Helen
M., born Dec. 7, 1836,
- married Jehial T. SELONTHOM, of Center Township; James A.,
born Aug. 10, 1840, is now a resident of Colorado; Francis, born
Feb. 16, 1842, died in infancy; Fred T., born Dec. 9, 1843; George
M., Aug. 16, 1845; Emma, Nov. 4, 1847; Charlie, Nov. 26, 1849;
and Henry T., Sept. 22, 1852.
- After his marriage, Capt. GOOCH, at the request of his wife,
gave up going to sea, but with the
- intention of commanding a vessel on the lakes. He made on
trip but became disgusted on account of a want of discipline
among both officers and sailors, and therefore abandoned that
life. He first settled in Chicago, but later went to Boston,
where he formed the acquaintance of two young men, Messrs. Gray
and Parker, and with them went to Chicago in the fall of 1836,
and opened a stock of merchandise on Lake street, under the firm
name of Gray & Co. Their stock was valued at $30,000, but
at the end of one year, Capt. GOOCH sold his interest, and in
1837, went to Belvidere, Ill., where he entered land from the
Government, for which he paid $1.25 per acre, and there resided
for eighteen years.
- On the 10th day of October, 1852, he was called upon to mourn
the death of his wife, but, one
- year later, Oct. 10, 1853, was again united in marriage,
Miss Catherine BURNETT, a native of Massachusetts, becoming his
wife. By this union three children have been born - Arthur L.,
born Aug. 20, 1854, is unmarried and resides with is parents;
Thomas DeWitt, born Sept. 13, 1859, is a resident of San Burno,
Cal.; Jennie L., born Sept. 30, 1867, died when one year old.
- In 1855, Capt. GOOCH became a resident of Rock County, purchasing
a farm on which he yet
- resides. He also owns eighty-five acres of land in Green
County, Wis., and also 160 acres in Bremer County, Iowa. He has
taken a leading interest in the affairs of the community, and
for ten years served as a member of the School Board, during
which time he labored earnestly for the advancement of the cause
of education. In political sentiment, he is a Republican, having
voted with that party since its organization, while prior to
that time he supported the Democratic party but in 1840, cast
his first presidential vote for Gen. William Henry Harrison.
Capt. GOOCH and his wife are members of the Congregational Church,
but as there is no organized society of that denomination in
their immediate neighborhood, they attend and support the Methodist
Episcopal Church, of Footville. They are people highly respected
in the community in which they reside and hold an enviable place
in the esteem of their many friends.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 987-988.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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