THE GOBLE FAMILY NEWSLETTER
By Evelyn Goble Steen
Volume 6, Issue 2, June 1999
Copyright (c) 1999 by Evelyn Goble Steen all rights reserved.
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Hello family,
I hope you enjoyed the March issue of the Goble Family Newsletter and will find something of interest in this one too. I thought I would include a little "Association" and "newsletter" history for those of you who may not know how we got started.
In 1993 I began the search into my family's history after a trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania with my husband in search of his roots. I was amazed how readily available the old records were. We located old wills, land records and maps of his Steen ancestor and with the help of a very nice genealogical librarian we were able to locate the old home site on a modern day map. We drove to the location and found the aged two story stone house that had been described in old family writings. I was hooked on genealogy from then on.
I began to question everyone, search libraries and write letters. I took several research trips to meet with elder family members and talked to them about the history. It was enlightening and I was able to tie old family stories to previously written genealogical works. I located a 1952 handwritten study done by Professor George W. Goble in the LDS Family History Library. It contained clues, but nothing I could connect my family to until I received a call from my Uncle Scott Goble in Kansas. He had located some notes in the family Bible about my great great great great grandfather Stephen Goble who was in George Goble's work.
I began a simple letter to family members to ask questions and tell them what I had discovered. As my research progressed so did my mailing list for the newly born "Goble Family Newsletter." In 1996 I published my family history - The Goble Family in America. I continued to search and to make more and more connections. I located many other histories written about the Goble family. I also began the Goble Family Genealogy Homepage. The mailing list grew!
By 1997 my mailing list exceeded 500 individuals and I could no longer keep up with the costs of mailing newsletters several times a year. After considerable discussion with many cousins about the dilemma, the Goble Family Association was born! I want to thank all who support the association and all those who continue to supply information on the many different family lines.
The Goble Family Association's primary interest has been the descendants of Thomas Goble (1590/91-1657) of West Sussex, England and the Massachusetts Bay Colony of which I am a part. We continue to welcome all who are interested in the history of the Goble name.
The major Goble database currently contains over 19,300 names, while additional Goble databases contain unconnected Gobles, German lines, additional English and Irish lines. These now bring our name totals well over 35,000 descendants. Each of our databases grows weekly as connections are made.
If you would like to provide a story about one of your ancestors to be published in this newsletter or on the homepage, or if you have a question for me or our readers, please send them to: Evelyn Goble Steen, 4121 Nantucket Drive, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055, or e-mail: GobleNews@aol.com
Note: The number in parenthesis within the name of an individual indicates the generation of descendant in America in the Thomas (1) Goble tree.
INSIDE
GOBLE GENEALOGY WEB SITE
Visit the GOBLE GENEALOGY HOME PAGE. I am always making changes to the homepage and adding new features. Recently we have obtained additional file space for our data from RootsWeb. Consequently, I've been able to upload a 12 generation searchable database to our homepage. As of May 28th we had received over 9,600 visits to the homepage, many from newly discovered cousins! We, continue to make great progress locating cousins not before known to us. You can access the homepage at: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~goble/homepage/index.htm
GOBLE FAMILY ASSOCIATION
Evelyn Goble Steen
4121 Nantucket Drive
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
717-728-2891
GERMAN GOBLES
Recently we have been able to connect several new branches to the German Goble tree through our web site. The German database contains over 3200 names and is posted on the Goble Genealogy Homepage.
GERMAN HARLESS/GOBLE REUNION
The 3rd Annual HARLESS/GOBLE Family Reunion was to be held at the Jenny Wiley State Park on 22 May 1999. I have not heard from any attendees yet, but will let you know!
100 YEARS OLD
Carolyn Washington Gobble Menges, known as "Jonah" will be 100 years old on October 6, 1999. She will be recognized by Willard Scott of the Today Show, on NBC. Jonah is a member of The German Goble family tree. She is the daughter of Isaac Homer Gobble and Martha Gentry. She was given the nickname "Jonah" because she was so tiny when she was born someone observed that she looked like Jonah in the mouth of the whale.
Photograph of Jonah Gobble Menges
Jonah says she is a cousin of Emmett Kelly, Jr. (the clown). She is a rabid fan of the Cincinnati Reds, and loves Pete Rose. She still loves to go to the games in Tampa when the Reds are in town. She also enjoys spending hours on her front porch swing.
There will be a celebration and reunion on October 9 and 10 in Brookville, Florida. For more information please contact Bill Menges, 1150 Commonwealth Road, Pensacola, FL 32504, 850-477-4475 (home) or 850-438-2279 (office) (RSVP must be received no later than September 1, 1999.)*1
UPDATE - THE GRAND OLD "GOBLE" FLAG
In Volume 5, Issue 4, December 1998 we told you the story about the old Goble Flag submitted by Andrew Boyd - 4th great grandson of Sarah Goble and Josephus Gard. Recently I received additional information on the flag from Toni Wolf. She provided a story written by William H. Gard of Loveland, Colorado and included a photograph of the patterned cloth.
Photograph of the Goble Flag
John Brookfield, a revolutionary soldier convalescing from wounds in Philadelphia, purchased a patriotic design on homespun and hand-woven cloth to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. John Brookfield gave the cloth to his niece, Sarah Goble, who made it into a quilt, 90 inches by 79 inches. It probably became a part of her trousseau when she married Josephus Gard.
The designs on the cloth are carefully done in shades of brown on a white background and predate the official US flag by about a year. General Washington is represented standing in a chariot. Preceding this vehicle are two figures carrying flags; one flag is the rattlesnake emblem and the other has thirteen stripes for the thirteen colonies. There are also "thirteen" eight-pointed stars on a shield carried by a figure. The US flag was adopted on 14 June 1777, about a year after this cloth was purchased.
Sarah gave the quilt to her son John Brookfield Gard who was named after his soldier uncle. After moving to Colorado, John Brookfield Gard had the spread reinforced with a strong muslin backing and loops attached so that he could exhibit it. The family called it the "Old Flag". In 1889 Gard gave it to his grandson William H. Gard of Loveland, Colorado. William H. Gard recalled his grandfather, John Brookfield Gard, saying many times. "It was intended to be used by patriotic citizens for bedspreads, window curtains and so forth, to show their loyalty to the American Colonies." In the 1930's the quilt had been mended in worn spots but was still a well preserved piece of history. *2
William H. (9) Gard, Columbus Franklin (8) Gard, John Brookfield (7) Gard, Sarah (6) Goble, Ephraim (5), Robert (4), Daniel/David (3), Daniel (2), Thomas (1), Willmi (William) Goble
TALENTED AND ARTISTIC GOBLES
Anthony Goble, who has been compared to Chagal and Picasso, is from Newtown, Powys and currently lives in Cardiff and South Wales. He has spent most of his life as a painter and educator, achieving many awards, grants and commissions, from a large list of exhibitions in London and other European venues. Anthony has been featured in news articles in the press and on television. His artwork is displayed at BBC Wales, Welsh Arts Council, Brecon Jazz Museum and the University College at Cardiff. For more information go to: http://www.shopwales.co.uk/abulafia/goble.htm and http://www.shopwales.co.uk/abulafia/start.htm
Dale Nigel Goble, artist. This 26-year-old artist from California prefers to create his work in an organic manner. His work includes computer paintings, laser-cut wood, acrylic paintings on canvas, photo silk-screens and painted wood cutouts. For more information go to: http://www.greatwest.ca/See/Issues/1998/0521/art.html
Danney Goble, writer and actor. The author of Tulsa, a biography of the American City, Danney Goble, has wowed Tulsa audiences as Clarence Darrow, James Longstreet, Huey P. Long and Thomas Paine. For more information go to: http://www.tulsalibrary.org/chautauqua/scholarhtm.htm#Danney Goble as Thomas Paine
Graham Goble, songwriter and performer. Since the mid 70's, the Australian Little River Band has been known as one of the finest soft-rock bands in the world. They've sold over 20 million copies of their records, hence became one of the five greatest rock acts to come from Australia. For more information go to: http://www.lrb.net/frames/index.html
Paul Goble, author-and illustrator of books about American Indians. Some titles include Crow Chief: A Plains Indian Story; Hau Kola: Hello Friend; I Sing for the Animals; Iktomi and the Buzzard: A Plains Indian Story; Love Flute; and The art of Paul Goble, author-illustrator: an exhibition produced by the Center for Great Plains Studies, Great Plains Art collection, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Myron Goble, screenwriter. Myron Goble adapted Serpent on the Rock for HBO in 1993. His script Down In The Delta was released in December 1998, directed by Maya Angelou.
Not all of the above listed artists have been connected to the family. If you have information about a connection or can provide other information please contact Evelyn Goble Steen. Also, if you are a talented Goble or know of others, let me know!
"VICTIM RUN OVER LYING BESIDE AUTO DIES FROM HURTS"
From the front page of the Peoria, Illinois Journal Star, June 15, 1933. *3
"An inquest will be held this afternoon into the death of Joseph Goble, 36 years old, 334 Westmoreland avenue who was fatally injured Tuesday evening in a strange automobile accident. He died last night at 9 o'clock at St. Francis hospital.
He was lying beside an automobile parked in front of 10th Garten street when he was run over by a car driven by James Joyce, 21 years old. 123 Lydia Avenue. The accident occurred at 6 o'clock in the evening.
Goble and his cousin, Earl T. Ferguson, 1801 Lincoln avenue, were looking at the brakes on Ferguson's machine. The car was parked on the west side of the street and Ferguson was standing behind it. Goble was lying on the east side of the car. Deputy Coroner Louis Davis, Jr. was told.
Joyce was driving south on Garten street with his grandmother, Mrs. Mary Joyce 100 block Livingston street. As the Joyce car came opposite the Ferguson machine witnesses said the first car swerved toward the parked automobile. The machine struck Ferguson about the shoulders but did not injure him and then ran over Goble.
Several of Goble's ribs were fractured and one of his lungs was punctured by a splintered bone. Joyce said he lost control of the car when it struck a hole in the pavement.
Goble was a steel worker but had been unemployed for many months. He married Miss Jesse Beal 14 years ago. She survives him with four daughters, Dorothy, Helen, Josephine and Margaret. He was born here March 29, 1897 and had been a lifelong resident of the city. He also leaves a brother, Roy Goble, a city policeman, a brother William Goble of Clinton, IA and two sisters Miss Alma Goble of Portland, Ore and Mrs. Harvey Kreps of Peoria."
Joseph Goble is currently listed in our unconnected file, but evidence is mounting that he was the son of James K. Goble and Rebecca Still. James K. (8) Goble being the son of Joseph (7) Goble and Mary A. who moved to Illinois west of Springfield with 3 children. *4
OBITUARIES
The green, the gold, the great, the small -
Each one in God's own time He'll call -
With perfect love he gathers all.
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Von W. Goble, 91, a native of Huntington, IN, died Wednesday, February 24, 1999, at Regency Place, a nursing home. He worked at Caswell-Runyon in Huntington, IN for 30 years and Fox Products in S. Whitley, IN for 17 years. He belonged to the American Legion and VFW. Surviving is his wife, Elizabeth Eleanor Goble. Graveside services took place at Covington Memorial Gardens, 8408 Covington Rd., Fort Wayne, IN.
Von/Vaughn W. (9) Goble was the son of George O. L. (8) Goble and Mary Elizabeth Nicholson. Grandson of James W. (7) Goble and Mary Westall/Westfall and great grandson of Peter Roy (6) and Mary Weller. He was born in 1918. *5
Peter Roy (6), Matthias (5), Robert (4), Daniel/David (3), Daniel (2), Thomas (1), Willmi (William) Goble
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Wooster - Wayne E. Hostetler, 72, 1652 Barbara Drive, died Tuesday, January 19, 1999 at Smithville-Western Care Center.
Services were held at McIntire, Davis & Greene Funeral Home in Wooster, with the Rev. J. William Lofgren officiating. Burial was to be at Wooster Cemetery.
Those who wish may make contributions to the Wayne and Carolyn Hostetler Fund at the College of Wooster for the purchase of music and chemistry books; or to American Cancer Society, Wayne County Branch, in care of Wooster Clinic, 1740 Cleveland Road, Wooster 44691.
He was born January 14, 1927 in Elkhart, IN, to Perry and Helen (Goble) Hostetler and married Carolyn Wilcox on January 12 1947. She survives.
He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Bluffton College and masters degree from Western Reserve University. He was a U. S. Army veteran of World War II and had been a chemistry teacher at Wooster High School for 26 years. He had also worked part-time at Smith Grocery Store since 1974. For 12 years, he had served on the Wooster City School Board.
Surviving in addition to his wife are sons, Wayne E. Hostetler of Tyler, Texas, Mark S. and Brian J. Hostetler of St. Louis, MO, and Karl D. Hostetler of St. Louis, MO, and Karl D. Hostetler of Lincoln NB; seven grandchildren; a brother, James Hostetler of Naples, FL; and a sister, Mr. L. Paul (Mary Ellen) Miller of Elkhart, IN.*6
Wayne Eldon (11) Hostetler, Helen Audrey (10) Goble, Perry "Ed" (9), Joseph (8), Abraham (Abram) (7), Caleb (6), Daniel (5), Daniel (4), Daniel/David (3), Daniel (2), Thomas (1), Willmi (William) Goble.
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Lois Mildred (10) Goble Moore died 1 November 1998 in Starwood Nursing Home in Nepean, Ontario, Canada in her 83rd year. She was born 3 October 1916 near Waterford, Ontario to Harold Newton (9) Goble and Mary Anderson. On 15 July 1940 she married Raymond Hyslop Moore. They had one son John Newton Moore presently living in Nepean. Lois was a descendant of Reverend Jacob Goble - her grandfather George Washington Goble was a grandson of Jacob. *7
Lois Mildred (10) Goble Moore, Harold Newton (9), George Washington (8), John Philip (7), Jacob "Elder" (6), Jacob (5), Robert (4), Daniel/David (3), Daniel (2), Thomas (1), Willmi (William) Goble.
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Margaret Grace (11) Hulick, daughter of Franklin Sherman (10) Hulick, died April 24, 1999 in Portland, Oregon. Margaret was born Aug 21, 1922 in Keating, Baker Co., Oregon and married Cyril John Miles Aug 18, 1939. Her husband "Sparkey" Barksdale and two daughters survive. They are Darlene Miles Ratliff and Marilyn Miles Hunt. Burial was in Oakridge, Oregon. *8
Margaret Grace (11) Hulick, Franklin Sherman (10) Hulick, Margarett Ann (9) Goble, David Jr. (8), David H. (7), Stephen (6), Stephen (5), Daniel (4), Daniel/David (3), Daniel (2), Thomas (1), Willmi (William) Goble.
REUNION
The Shininger Family Reunion Picnic is to be held on Aug. 7, 1999 in Boring, Oregon at the Hillyard Family Park. The gathering will be from 12:00 to 6:00. If you are interested please contact Sally Paulson (503) 786-1728, email scotsalnick@earthlink.net or Scott Gray (503) 666-6030. Information and maps will be mailed. If you can not attend Sally and Scott would like to have a current photo of yourself or your family with a letter or note for all to read. Please contact them for an address. (Descendants of Dora Adell (10) Goble)
VISIT TO GOBLE OREGON by Wayne Goble
I had to give a speech in Portland, Oregon, a couple of years ago. While perusing a map of the area, I happened to note the name Goble. A little town maybe 45 minutes to the north. So I knew then that I had to have my picture made by the sign (if there was one). My speech was over at 3:30 in the afternoon. After the question and answer session, I hauled it back to my hotel (a few blocks away), changed out of my suit, and jumped in the rental car. It was already approaching sunset, and since my plane left early the next morning, I knew I'd have to hurry if I wanted to get the picture. So I really moved it along. Coasting into a place named Goble, Oregon was kinda nice until I realized there was nothing there. No one to stop and ask: "would you mind taking my picture?" But I drove on down maybe a mile or so, and noticed a bar on the left-hand side of the road. Much to my angst, it was filled with --- bikers. Yep, bandanas, beards, chains and lotsa lotsa leather. I didn't know what to do, but the sun was going down fast. So I went inside, and produced my Alabama driver's license to prove I was a Goble. Raised my voice so everyone could hear, and made my plea. Well, the lead guy examined my license (which was wrapped in a ponytail band with my American express, diners and healthcare card). He decided to have some fun. Tossed it around to another guy, and it quickly became a game of keep the ball from its owner. Jeez. Then one of the guys announced: "omigod. He's from the Florida board of pardons and parole." Which caused one of the bikers to --- no joke --- jump through a window. Long story short . . . one of them sallied forth, and volunteered to hop in the rental car so I could get my picture taken at the sign.
Photograph of Wayne Goble in Goble, Oregon.
Wayne Eugene (11) Goble, Robert Earl (10), Hollis Glen (9), Lawrence (8), Henry Washington (7), Abner (6), Henry (5), Jonas (4), Daniel/David (3), Daniel (2), Thomas (1), Willmi (William) Goble.
FAMOUS QUOTES
"There is a history in all men's lives."
William Shakespeare, 1564-1616, "King Henry IV"
BELIEVE IT OR NOT
Life in the 1500s . . *9
Anne Hathaway was the wife of William Shakespeare. She married at the age of 26, which was unusual for the times. Most people married very young. Prior to marriage Anne Hathaway lived with her parents in a 3-bedroom house with a small parlor, a kitchen, and no bathroom. Mother and Father shared a bedroom. Anne had a queen sized bed, but did not sleep alone. She had two sisters and they shared the bed with her along with six servant girls. They didn't lie in the bed as we do today - head to foot. To accommodate more people they all laid on the bed cross-wise. Those that had a bed were fortunate. Anne's six brothers and ten field hands shared the third bedroom. They didn't have a bed. Everyone wrapped up in their blanket and slept on the floor, sometimes on straw mats. They slept head to foot, to make the best use of the room. They slept with their boots on because to take them off would create an unacceptable smell for the other men in the opposite position. They had no indoor heating so all the extra bodies kept them warm.
Most people of the time got married in June. The traditions of June brides began because May was the first month of spring warm enough for the yearly bath! A few weeks later nuptials would occur while they still smelled acceptable. Just in case, the bride would carry a bouquet of flowers to maintain a fresh sent.
The yearly bath was just a big tub that they would fill with hot water. The man of the house would get the privilege of the nice clean water; then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last were the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water".
Houses had thatched roofs. Thick straw piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the pets... dogs, cats and other small animals, mice, rats, bugs lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying, "It's raining cats and dogs."
There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could really mess up your nice clean bed. So, they found that if they made beds with big posts and hung a sheet over the top, it addressed that problem. Hence those beautiful big four poster beds with canopies.
The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt, hence the saying "dirt poor." The wealthy had slate floors, which would get slippery in the winter when wet. So they spread thresh on the floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on they kept adding more thresh until when you opened the door it would start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed at the entryway, hence a "thresh hold."
They cooked in the kitchen in a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They mostly ate vegetables and didn't get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes the stew had food in it that had been in there for a month. Hence the rhyme: peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old. Sometimes they could obtain pork and would feel really special when that happened. When company came over, they would bring out some bacon and hang it to show it off. It was a sign of wealth and that a man "could really bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and "chew the fat."
Most people didn't have dishes but wooden bowls or boards they called "trenchers." They didn't understand about germs and didn't wash their bowls or boards. Frequently these dishes would be put on the floor for the house or tavern dogs to lick off the residue. The bowls would be put back into use after the dogs were done. Occasionally worms would get into the wood. After eating from a trencher with worms they would get "trench mouth."
A loaf of bread was divided according to status. The workers would get the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family would get the middle and guests would get the top, or the "upper crust."
Lead cups were used to drink ale or whiskey. The combination would sometimes knock a person out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a "wake."
England was old and small, and they started running out of places to bury people. So, they would dig up coffins and would take their bones to a house and re-use the grave. In reopening these coffins, one out of 25 were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse and lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night to listen for the bell. Hence on the "graveyard shift." If they heard a bell someone was "saved by the bell" or was a "dead ringer."
A MYSTERY IN SUSSEX
The Burpham Country House Hotel and Restaurant *10
Previously the manor house of Squire Goble
After World War 2, a Colonel Haywill acquired Burpham Place which is now the Burpham Country House Hotel and Restaurant. It had been commandeered during the war, as many large buildings were in the south of England, and was home for some of the pilots stationed at RAF Tangmere, one of the most famous of the Battle of Britain airfields. The Colonel renamed it Burpham Downs, and, after renovations, opened it as a Bed and Breakfast Hotel. It has 23 guestrooms. The kitchen area dated from the 12th century, but the main part of the building had been built at various times and it had previously been renovated to put a new front facade on it to make it look like it was all built at the same time. During the renovations they discovered an old well that had been boarded up in the front lawn. On opening the well they found the skeleton of a man in armor and the skeleton of a horse. The man had been dead 400/500 years. When they took out the center stairway they found a bricked up area. When they knocked down the bricks to open the area they found a steamer trunk with a woman's body in it. The coroner said she had been dead over 100 years. *11
For more information see: http://www.s-h-systems.co.uk/hotels/burpham.html.
MADAM GOBLE WALKS
By Newall Duke in the West Sussex Gazette 24th Oct 1963.
In the early part of the century a girl completely disappeared from the village of Burpham, and though every effort was made to trace her, no clue was ever found. The girl was French and lived at the Manor House owned by Squire Goble, and was governess to his three little daughters. The Squire had a house at Chichester, which he used in the summer, coming to Burpham for the hunting season, and kept his own pack of foxhounds there. The remains of the wall of the kennels can still be seen and large elm trees, blown down about 50 years ago, contained large iron spikes where pieces of horsemeat were hung to feed the pack. The trees were known as the Rookery.
Madam Goble was fond of the attractive French girl and conversed with her in French. One September evening, soon after their return to Burpham for the hunting season, the girl said, "the children are all asleep, madam. May I go for a walk?" "Certainly" was the reply. Late that evening, when she had not returned, a search was made. Two people had seen her walking towards the Downs, but after that she was never seen again.
One cannot rule out the possibility that the Arun had not claimed another victim, as there had been many drowning accidents at this time near Burpham, the worst being when seven Arundel men from one boat were drowned. There are seven fir trees just outside the churchyard in their memory.
The mystery of the girl who disappeared was just before the arrival of Mr. Foster, the Vicar in 1845; he does allude to it in his notes. In the thatched cottage adjoining the house from where the girl walked out on that fateful night lived a family. The wife was born in the house and reared 14 children there, and lived to a great age. Every September she used to say, "Madam Goble walks," but would never say more, or why.
The Squire seemed able to do what he liked, with no one to reprimand him. On occasions he had dinner parties for men guests. When they left in the small hours on horseback the Squire would see them off and blow his hunting horn and hulloa. This would rouse the pack nearby, and the whole village. The noise was "enough to waken the dead" said the old vicar. *12
I wonder if there is a connection between these two stories, and if the missing governess is the skeleton in the trunk.!!!!
DAY OF 100 TORNADOES
Roaring across the land at speeds up to 300 M.P.H., the black killer-clouds struck parts of 11 states and Canada - all on a single, gray, unforgettable afternoon. When it was over, 329 people were dead, 4000 were injured and nearly 24,000 were affected by its wrath. *13
Tornado Kills Seven People, Scores of Homes Destroyed *14
Twenty-five years ago on April 3, 1974 a monster tornado ripped through Gordon County, Georgia killing seven people and destroying property. All those killed where members of two Gordon County families. Trammell Goble, his wife Roberta and daughters Carol, age 7 and Laura, age 1, died when their home on the Resaca Hill City Road was demolished. A son, Randall Goble, age 9, who was also in the house, survived. He was found wandering in a daze, a distance of 200 yards or so from the house, but only several feet from where the bodies of his family lay huddled.
Marvin Trammell Goble was the son of Wallace and Irene (Mealer) Goble from the Southern Goble tree. Trammell was born April 2, 1934 and died 1 day prior to his 40th birthday. Roberta Ellen King was the daughter of Wallace and Una (Chitwood) King. She was born November 18, 1935. Their daughters Carol Elizabeth Goble, born September 15, 1965, and Laura Ellen Goble August 1, 1972. Randall was described in newspaper accounts of the tornado as being 9 years old at the time.
I have been trying to find out what happened to Randall and have written every Randall Goble I could find listed in the United States. In doing so, we've discovered several other Randall Gobles connected to both the Southern Goble tree and the Thomas Goble tree. However the orphaned boy remained elusive until Thursday, May 27, 1999 when Corban Goble of the Southern Goble tree used his reporter's training. He tracked him down by first talking with the editor of the Calhoun Times, who referred him to Jan Goble, who works in the same accounting firm where Randall's father had worked. Jan, who is a cousin of Randall's, referred him to Johnny Goble, who is Randall's uncle. Johnny's wife gave Corban Randall's number. Quite a piece of detective work!
His paternal grandmother in Calhoun, Georgia raised Randall. After high school he graduated from Berry College in Georgia, and for 10 years has been an assistant women's basketball coach at Kennesaw State University in Georgia. He and his wife, Theresa, have two sons, Joseph, 5, and Nicholas, 2.
The recent storm in Oklahoma was a reminder of the tragedy. We are all certainly happy to discover that Randall is well and doing great! Thanks so much to all who helped in the search. *15
We are very happy to welcome Randall and his family into our very large and scattered Goble clan.
A WEB DISCOVERY WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN ANCESTORS!
By Gregory S. Goble
I have had the good fortune of discovering a website sponsored and administered by our friends at Family Tree Maker. These wonderful people have started a site where they actually have resources for the genealogist, for a mere pittance. These records range from actual family histories to census, marriage, birth and death records, periodical articles and indices from the Library of Congress. I sung the praises of this site to our leader and after looking it over she gave her approval and signed up for a year. I dare say that if Evelyn is happy about the find then it's safe to say that you will enjoy it as well. The address is http://www.familytreemaker.com/_glc_/index.html. The records available are amazing. I was perusing my woefully feeble family tree file and noticed that I had two people with the same name, Elijah Pound, not uncommon except there were 50 or 60 years difference in their ages and they were unconnected to each other in my file. Since I source my documentation as well as the rest of the genealogical world, I had not a clue where I had gotten the data. In a desperate attempt to clean up this mess I turned to the genealogy Library.com and found my answer. They were indeed related. A book that had been scanned and made available, filled in the missing dates, spouses, siblings, offspring and locations. The name of the book I found was Allen Kin by Clifford Allen, Detroit MI, 1968.
To date there are 1767 records that are available. They add three new records each business day. Here is a sample of the surnames and their hits.
GOBLE.....327 records KESTER ......249 records STOUT.....861 records STEEN .......316 records POUND.....610 records DOUD ........223 records
The books are not downloadable but you can save the pages as text files on your PC and read them at your leisure. I would recommend that you download the title page FIRST as a text or html file to get your sources correct and number the pages according to their position on the original book. The one problem that I encountered was that the surname POUND would show up as currency as well as a surname. If you are lucky enough to have the title of a reference, you can also use that title as a lookup parameter. Not all the books available are there, but I wouldn't put it past them not to eventually have it.
There are three separate databases that are also on the GLC page
1. Social Security Index (I don't know how often it is updated, my father's name is not there and he passed away in May of 1998. It allows you to break the search down to state, surname, and social security number if you have it.)
2. The U.S. Geographical Names Information System (You can get the "exact" location of landmarks, rivers, cemeteries, buildings etc. in the U.S. I haven't tried this but if you're going on the road a'huntin relatives alive or otherwise this might be a valuable asset.)
3. The Internet Family finder. (It's just that. It looks all over the www (world wide web) for the surname you are interested in. This includes FTW sites and indices all the CDs they have. There is a Vital Records assistant that will teach you how to order government records, military and the like, all you have to do is decide which letter will work, print it out and throw it in the mail, along with any required data and fees.
The site is easy to use and they even offer a money back guarantee. If you cannot find a relative they will refund your money. There is one caution that I would like to point out. If and when you decide to sign on and subscribe, do it from the PC you will use most often. A cookie is downloaded to your system to identify you as a subscriber and if you try to log in on another PC the cookie will not be there and the site will not let you enter. No ticket, no movie. A cookie is a small identifier file that is nestled in the web browser of your choice. It contains your name account number and password. If you cancel your subscription and then renew, the cookie will be overwritten.
You will be surprised at what you might find. You will be surprised at what you might find. It will cost $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year. My recommendation is buy one month and see for yourself. If it isn't worth the 10 clams then don't renew the subscription. They will stop the automatic credit card withdrawal if you call them, otherwise it will continue until you tell them to stop. I have told several Goble researchers about it and not one has said that it wasn't worth it.
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PERSONAL NOTE
Warren and I have found a house in Mechanicsburg, which is just about 15 miles from our present location, and across the Susquehanna River from Harrisburg. We will be moving to our new home by the end of June. Please note our new address! This summer is going to be a full and busy one for our family. After we get settled into our new home our son, Robert will be visiting for a few weeks in July before he begins a 2-year tour in Thailand. The grandchildren will also be visiting a week or two. We will be doing some traveling and visiting with cousins and I'll be sure to let you know in advance if we'll be in your area! Boston and Morristown are on my list!
I am still way behind in answering the mail and I apologize again. Sometimes life gets hectic and time for my favorite hobby is hard to come by.
There has been some discussion on the GOBLE RootsWeb mailing list about a trip to Sussex. There has not been a great deal of interest yet, but if anyone else is interested and would like to help organize such an effort please get in touch with me. It might be interesting if we could stay in the old Burpham County House B&B.
Our best wishes and prayers for our cousins, Joede and Mel Karsten as Joede battles cancer. Please keep her in your thoughts as she undergoes surgery June 8th.
We've all been saddened by the tragic events of this spring. The shooting at the LDS Library in Salt Lake City makes up wonder where we are safe. The school shootings in Littleton, Colorado and Conyers, Georgia have made us want to reevaluate our priorities to see where we are failing our children. I hope the terrible tornado in Oklahoma City did not affect any of our cousins or loved ones. The war in Kosovo is continuing and many lives have been changed forever. This is a time for reflection, prayer and love.
My best to all of you.
Love, Evelyn
PLEASE ADVISE US OF ANY ADDRESS CHANGES!
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