My Genealogy Hound

ROLAND GOOCH, farmer, was born in Maury County, Tenn., August 30, 1830, son of William S. and Alacy (Jones) Gooch, both natives of Granville County, N. C. The father was of Scotch-Irish parentage, and emigrated from North Carolina in about 1820. He was a farmer and a minister of the Baptist Church. After teaching that doctrine for a number of years he became a minister in the Christian Church, in which faith he remained until his death, which occurred June 24, 1852. The mother is still living, at the advanced age of eighty-two. Our subject remained with his parents on the farm until he was twenty-two years of age, securing a good classical education. He then removed to St. Francis County, Mo., where he engaged in the mercantile business as a partner with his brother, P. H. Gooch. They had at that time, charge of the mail route from Farmington, Mo., to Iron Mountain, at St. Genevieve. At the end of eight years he removed to western Canada, and continued the mercantile business. In 1865 he returned to his present neighborhood, where he has been engaged in farming and stock raising ever since. In 1857 he married Nancy E. Jones, a native of Bedford County, and to them were born eight children, two of whom are dead. Those living are Mary C., Rolena, Benjamin E., Thomas R. and Ada and Bertha, who are twins. Mr. Gooch is a Democrat in politics, and himself and family are leading members of the Christian Church. Mr. Gooch has been a Master Mason since 1859.