Rebel E. Goddard
Photo courtesy of Faeylyn Wylder.
Rebel E. Goddard
Photo courtesy of Faeylyn Wylder.
The Western Star, February 4, 1921. LETTER FROM R. E. GODDARD
Former Coldwater Citizen
Writes Interestingly from His Home in Kentucky.Every old-timer in Comanche-co. will remember R. E. Goddard, who was one of the pioneer settlers in Coldwater and a resident here for seven years, beginning with the year 1884, the year the town was started. Mr. Goddard was elected clerk of the district court of this county in 1888 and served in that office for one term. His home has been in Harrodsburg, Ky., since 1891. The Western Star is in receipt of the following interesting letter from Mr. Goddard:
Camp Knox, near Stithton, Ky.,
January 25, 1921.Editors Western Star,
Coldwater, Kansas:How strange things sometime happen. Yesterday I was at my home at Harrodsburg looking through some papers, and among them I found a copy of the Western Star of September 12, 1885, and was much interested in seeing there the names of so many people who were so dear to me. When the mail man came and brought your letter and the copies of the Star you so kindly sent, and which I enjoyed, as I saw mention of many people whom I knew. It was certainly very kind of you to send the papers, and I am very glad to know that I am still remembered by my old friends, as you mention that you and Dave McIntire were talking of me and former days in Coldwater. I often think of my life in Coldwater and of my friends out there and wonder who among them are left. No part of my life has been happier than that spent in Coldwater from 1884 to 1891, and I thank God I can say my entire life has been a happy one. Of course I have had unpleasant occurrences, but they only made the happy days happier. I never knew a finer bunch of people than I knew in Coldwater, and I thought that I had many friends there and but few enemies, and I hope that I was right. I never regretted anything in my life more than the failure of the Reunion I tried to have of the old timers in Coldwater, but you know the war came on, Ben Eaton, God bless him, died, and many others things prevented.
As to myself since then: My only boy, now 15 years old (I have three daughters, two married - all beautiful women). My boy, when he was nine years old was playing with three little cousins about the same age. He was siting on a 50 gallon tank of gasoline, when one of the boys unscrewed the cap and dropped a lighted match in it, causing it to explode, and came near burning him to death. His face and hands were terribly burned. The shock, wrecked his nerves and heart rheumatism followed, and for three years it looked like we would lose him. When the boys of my brothers, sisters and friends were being taken to war I thought my case, to have a boy who could not go, was saddler than to have a boy who could go, so I determined to go myself, but as my hair was going a little frosty and my age was over the line I had some trouble, but just then this camp, the largest artillery camp in the world, was ordered built, and I was made superintendent of the Remount Depot here, there being about 35,000 horses and mules and 2500 men under me, and we built this camp for 60,000 men in a year. Every morning by 7:30 I had out from 750 to 1000 teams - from two up to sixteen horses to a grader. And the best part of it all was that my boy came down to visit me May 18, 1920. He then weighed only 60 pounds and had to be helped up when sitting. Today he weighs 135 pounds and is as fine looking as any boy on earth, has a fine position in the post canteen in the forenoon and goes to a fine military school in the afternoon. The scars are almost gone and he is in almost perfect health. I feel as well and as young as I ever did. No man has a finer family than I, or a nicer home. I go up from here, 125 miles, every two weeks and stay for two or three days or a week. My oldest daughter married five years ago as fine a man as lives, and the second daughter married October 20, 1920, just as fine a fellow, and I have the prettiest one left, and just as fine a boy as the others is just begging for her. My wife is the prettiest and finest woman on earth, I think. I would not give a cent for a fellow who does not think the same of his wife. Mrs. Goddard does not have the best of health, but I take the best possible care of her, and I am going to quit my job before long and go home and live with her the rest of our lives and get all the pleasure we can out of life the rest of the time, and I do not know of anything which would add more to our pleasure than a visit to our friends at Coldwater, and I hope and pray we may have that pleasure.
Remember us to all our friends, and tell them that we would be glad to hear from them. Do you know the address of Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Kelley? If so, please send it to me. They were dear friends of ours and we would like to hear from them. Wishing you and all our dear friends the best of everything, I am, very truly,
R. E. Goodard.
The Western Star, February 3, 1922.
MEMORIES OF EARLY DAYS.
A few Reminiscences of Pioneer Life in Comanche-co.By R. E. Goddard.
Camp Knox, Ky.; January 18, 1922Mr. H. V. Butcher,
Coldwater, Kansas.My Dear Sir: Your very kind letter, also the copies of the Western Star, were received and read with much pleasure. While many, many names are new, yet I see several names of persons whom I well remember. Of course some of them are the children of my old friends whom I knew so well while I lived there.
It looks like the army is "shot," and that this camp (and as for that, all of them) will have to go. I have been here at Camp Knox for three and one-half years. I lost my health seven years ago and was right on the edge for three very long years, but I pulled through, and now I am like a boy again, only my hair makes me a blonde now, while I used to be a brunette. I am still at Camp Knox, but if I were to leave here, don't you know I would just as soon take a back track for Kansas as anywhere. It may be from just reading the Star - I don't know, but certainly we had royal good times in Coldwater from 1884 to 1891. No part of my life has been more pleasant than those years spent there, and my life has all been pleasant. There were such a lot of good fellows there. I don't know how on earth they all happened to settle in Comanche-co.
As I recall some of the people out there whom I knew, the following names came to my mind: The Powell brothers, The Pyle brothers, the Pepperds, Tommy Wilmore, the Horns, Dave McIntire, Joe Bowers, the Wright boys, the Richs, Cash Cade, Rob Palmer, Geo. Vickers, A. K. Cook, Tom Chambers, Billie Kimple, the McIntyre brothers, Tommy Morrison, Hi Taggart, Ben Eaton, Bob Callaway, Ed Post, Geo. Torry, Wash Mussett, Boardman Smith, J. M. Lobaugh, the Jennings, Dr. Halliday, Dr. McCrory, Dr. Tincher, the Kirks,
H. O. Holderby , Bill Taylor, Doc. Kelly, Perry Johnston, Milt Sultise, Dan Cline, Bill Cash, Ed Youmans, H. C. Barclay, Charles and Billy Beymer, Charley Larsh, E.E. and C.O. Blake, Billie Murray, E. R. Widaman, C. P. Kern, the Sombarts, Schuyler Eckard, Sam Jackson, Park Thornton, Tom Moffett, L. B. Andrews, Shelby P. Duncan and "Old Mounts." What a character the last named personage was. Oh, I wonder how many of them have gone to the "Great Beyond." If we all meet in Heaven (which I hope we will) it is going to be mighty hard for us to act in a manner that our conduct will be becoming to angels. It will be mighty tempting to us to have just one more "dog canning," or a real "runakaboo" as of old. But we would do it in such a pure and noble spirit that it might not be out of place in heaven. I hope, anyway, that we will all meet there, and then we can determine on how we will celebrate the occasion, later.Here is my wish that the year 1922 may prove to all Comanche-co. people the very best year you have ever had, and that all of my old friends and their descendants may be "on top and in the front row" at the finish.
With kindest regards, I am,
Yours truly,R. E. GODDARD.
The Western Star, January 5, 1899. GODDARD -- EDELEN
Reb Goddard, district clerk elect, was married Dec. 27th, 1888, at Danville, Kentucky, to Miss Kate Edelen, daughter of Mr. Leonard Edelen, of Allum Springs, Boyle county, Ky. The gentleman attendants were Messrs. Paul Goddard, Con Bell, Mack Sizer, and John James. The newly married couple arrived home at Coldwater last Monday evening. To the happy couple The Star wishes them unalloyed happiness throughout all time.
"R. E. GODDARD: There were two candidates for district clerk at the general election in this county in 1888 - R. E. Goddard, democrat, and Jos. E. Tincher, republican. Goddard won by a vote of 489 to 456. Mr. Goddard served just one term, and, during the early 90s, returned to Kentucky, his native state, where he still makes his home. Mr. Tincher moved from this county about the same time." -- Comanche-co.'s Nine District Clerks, The Western Star, January 28, 1927.
Gravestone of Rebel E. Goddard, 1863 - 1942
Spring Hill Cemetery, Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Kentucky.
Buried Aug 3, 1942, in Section A, 12-9.
Kentucky Death Record Certificate # 18936
Photo courtesy of Yvonne Lay Logue of Mercer County, Kentucky.
The Harrodsburg Herald, Friday, Aug 7, 1942.
Harrodsburg, Mercer County, KentuckyObituary: Rebel E. Goddard
Rebel E. Goddard, 78 years of age, died at his home on Beaumont Ave. about 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug 1, 1942, after several years of declining health. He was one of Harrodsburg's best known and most popular citizens, and was the son of the late W. W. Goddard and Sarah Glave Goddard and was born at "Wildwood", the ancestral home near Harrodsburg. At the time of his birth in 1863 his father, an ardent Confederate, was in a Union prison camp in Ohio. His mother sent a courier to the camp to tell him of the arrival of his son and ask what name he desired for him. Mr. Goddard sent word back to name him Rebel, for the "whole ragged Confederate Army".
Mr. Goddard was a nationally known horseman, horse judge and authority on saddle horses, and up to a few years ago, was called to act as judge in horse shows and fairs all over Kentucky and in many other states. During his active career he was a breeder and distributor of fine horses. He was owner and developed the famous stallion, Red Leaf, which was popular about 1900. For many years he was a writer for magazines published in the interest of saddle horses, and was an authority on the development of fine horses in Mercer County from its early beginning. He contributed to this paper a few years ago, a valuable historical article along this line.
Mr. Goddard's wife, Mrs. Kate Edelen Goddard, died in 1930, and he is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Al McChord, Freeburn, Ky.; Mrs. Lawrence C. Brewer and Mrs. Francis B. Alexander, of Lexington, and one son, W. W. Goddard, of Lexington; one grandson, Robert McAfee Brewer, Lexington; three sisters, Mrs. R. P. Curry, Cincinnati; Mrs. Ina Goddard Watkins, Harrodsburg; Mrs. Howard H. Owen, Laredo, Mo.; two brothers, Mr. Paul Goddard, Ontario, Calif., and Mr. Ralf Goddard, of Pasadena, Calif.
The funeral was at 10 a.m. Monday at the family lot in Spring Hill Cemetery, conducted by his pastor, Dr. John W. Carpenter, of the United Presbyterian Church, assisted by the Rev. T. Hassell Bowen, of the Christian church. The bearers were Robert Jewell, Jessamine County; R. Y. McElroy, Springfield; George Gwinn, Danville; Charles Dedman, Curry Dedman, Jr., and William Veatch, Harrodsburg.
(Contributed by Yvonne Lay Logue).
Reb Goddard�s Obituary (date and source unknown) Rebel Goddard, 78 years of age, nationally known horseman, horse judge, breeder and distributor of Saddle Horses, died in his home in Harrodsburg, KY., Saturday, August 1, after several years of declining health. His death occurred at the time of the Mercer County Fair, the first time he had ever missed attending that horse show in his lifetime.
"Reb" Goddard, Nationally Known Horseman,
Dies at Home in Harrodsburg.Mr. Goddard was the owner of the famous stallion, Red Leaf, which was in the height of his fame around 1900, and had been developed by his owner. Up to a few years ago, "Reb" Goddard was called to act as judge at shows all over Kentucky, and in many other states which included a number of shows in California.
Mr. Goddard for many years was a contributor to magazines published in the interest of show horses, among them being his county paper, to which he sent a few years ago a valuable historical article on Saddle Horses, the Saddle and Show Horse Chronicle and the Farmers Home Journal. In the latter he ran a monthly contribution under the head of "Doings of Horse People and Their Horses." Which was eagerly read and will be remembered by horse people all over the country. His father, the late W.W. Goddard, was the owner of the black, 16-hand stallion, Sumpter Denmark 65, By Gains Denmark-Mag, by Drenmon, noted in his day as a successful sire and show horse.
Mr. Goddard was born at Wildwood, the ancestral home near Harrodsburg. At the time of his birth in 1863, his father, and ardent Confederate, was in a Union prison camp in Ohio. His mother sent a courier to the camp to tell him of the arrival of his son and to ask him what name he desired for him. Mr. Goddard sent back word to name him "Rebel" for the "whole ragged Confederate Army."
During World War No. 1, Mr. Goddard was in charge of the Remount Service at Ft. Knox, KY., And won much commendation for his services there.
He leaves three daughters, Mrs. Al McChord, of Freeburn, KY; Mrs. Lawrence C. Brewer and Mrs. Francis B. Alexander, of Lexington, and one son, W.W. Goddard, who is now in the service. Among the pall bearers at the funeral were several well-known horsemen -- Robert B. Jewell, R.Y. McElroy, and George Gwinn. Funeral services were conducted by his pastor, Dr. John W. Carpenter, of the United Presbyterian Church, at Harrodsburg.
(Thanks to Yvonne Lay Logue for the following information: "Rebel E. Goddard died 8/1/1942 in Mercer Co, Kentucky. He was 78 years old, which matches the birth year given on your web page. His Kentucky Death Record Certificate number is 18936.")
A Short Biography of Rebel E. Goddard
From an article about Sumpter Denmark
(publication and author unknown).Sumpter Denmark was owned by W.W. Goddard of Mercer County. He was known as "Wild Wood" Goddard, the name given his farm.
R.E. Goddard was a brother-in-law of the late Allen S. Edelen of Glenworth Farm, Burgin, KY., Also in Mercer County. He took over the active showing of the colts bred at that farm. Mr. Edelen patronized Montgomery Chief liberally. The youngsters bred by Mr. Edelen shown by Mr. Goddard helped get Montgomery Chief started on his successful career as a sire. Later the same thing was true of the get of Bourbon King that were bred at Glenworth. Later Mr. Edelen brought Bohemian King, two-year-old son of Bourbon King, paying for him the record sum, up to that time, of $3,000 as a sire. Bohemian King did not live up to his reputation as a show horse, but sired one of the greatest of all three-gaited mares in Bohemian Actress, bred at Glenworth.
It may be of interest to know how Rebel Goddard came by his rather unusual name. His father was a staunch supporter of the Confederacy. His sharp temper and sharp tongue had caused his arrest by the Union forces and he was in a Northern prison when this son arrived. His wife wrote him, after the arrival of the youngster, to know whether the boy was to be named for Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, John H. Morgan or what other stalwart of the Confederacy. The answer was that he wanted the boy named for the entire Confederacy and wanted him called "Rebel".
A former close friend in the adjoining county of Boyle was an equally strong supporter of the Union. Not to be outdone he named a son, Union Worthington. The old friends fell out as a result of the War but the two sons, Rebel and Union got to know each other well and remained good friends until parted by death.
In his almost 80 years of life, Reb Goddard made and retained a host of friends. Possessed of a soft voice and a nice easy manner he was a welcome addition to any group. He was a raconteur of the first order always having a fund of jokes and stories on hand. His like has not been seen and we will not likely again see one in this generation."
(Contributed by Faeylyn Wylder.)
Gus Onesan, R.E. Goddard and S. J. Thompson
Photo courtesy of Faeylyn Wylder.
Photo caption: Messrs. Gus Onesan, R.E. Goddard and S. J. Thompson are portrayed, left to right, at the fair at Hodgenville, Kentucky, where Mr. Goddard was the judge. Mr. Thompson was the father of Jack and Ann Thompson. (Date and publication unknown)
Rebel Goddard
by Faeylyn Wylder(Each of the following external links will open a new browser window.)
There is also a wonderful book, Uncle Will of Wildwood (Nineteenth Century Life in the Bluegrass) written by Frances Jewell McVey and Robert Berry Jewell, in the 1930s. It was published in 1974, by the University Press of Kentucky, ISBN: 0-8131-0206-5. I was able to find a copy of this easily on the Internet. "Uncle Will" was Reb's father and I highly recommend this brilliant book for anyone interested in the life and times of Rebel Goddard.
Seven years ago I began researching my family�s history for a book I wanted to write about my grandmother and her sister, Dorothy Gatley, who became stage and Hollywood Golden Era film actress, Ann Harding. The most engaging aspect of their history was in my grandmother's recounting of their days at Camp Knox, which their father, a U.S. Army officer, had been commissioned to organize into an army post.
Rebel Goddard was a prominent figure in Edith and Dorothy Gatley�s lives at Camp Knox. He taught them that horsemanship involved more than just being able to stay on a horse, imparting a love and respect of horses that they would pass down to successive generations.
One of the first things I found in an Internet search was reference to a legendary American Saddlebred broodmare by the name of Edith Gatley, -- my grandmother�s name! The mare was born in 1914, which was when my grandmother was at Camp Knox. This was the beginning of additional research into Rebel Goddard, to hopefully find out if the horse had been named by Rebel for my grandmother.
I wrote to the American Saddlebred Museum, who sent me a detailed history of Edith Gatley, and a photo of a paving brick inscribed with her name. I also spoke with a relative of Reb�s who related that Reb always used to tell his friends that Ann Harding was the "sweetest angel" who�d ever lived, and recommended the book, Uncle Will of Wildwood -- but no one could help me determine the origin of the horse�s name until I heard from the researcher who sent me the photos of Rebel, his obituary, and the additional page of information about Sumpter Denmark. (The name of the researcher will be added to this history once I have found the box of research that contains it, but for now I can only apologize that I don�t have it at hand.)
Edith Gatley�s grand sire was Montgomery Chief, who Reb�s brother-in-law, Mr. Edelen had patronized. "The youngsters bred by Mr. Edelen shown by Mr. Goddard helped get Montgomery Chief started on his successful career as a sire." That would be the last connection I�d need to satisfy any doubt that Edith Gatley was indeed named for my wonderful grandmother.
Of all the research I�ve done for the book, I have to say that without question, my favorite time spent was learning about "Old Reb" and talking to members of his charming family. If it were possible to go back in time and meet any one of the characters I�ve encountered on this project, it would be Rebel Goddard, hands down. Aside from wishing to meet this man for the sole purpose of being in his presence, he was the one person who seemed to understand my great aunt in all of her complexity. As the writer of the Short Biography said, "His like has not been seen and we will not likely again see one in this generation."
(Contributed by Faeylyn Wylder.)
Gravestone of Kate E. Goddard, 1863 - 1930
"Her children arise up and call her blessed."
Spring Hill Cemetery, Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Kentucky.
Buried: March 28, 1930, Section A, 12 E 1/2, Grave 8
Kentucky Death Record Certificate # 10211
Photo courtesy of Yvonne Lay Logue of Mercer County, Kentucky.
Obituary: Kate Edelen Goddard GODDARD - Harrodsburg - Mercer Co. - The sudden death of Mrs. Kate Edelen Goddard, wife of Mr. R. E. Goddard Tuesday has saddened the community and many join the family in their sorrow. Her health had not been normal for a number of years, and it was known by those closest to her that the summons might come any time, but she seemed so much better that her passing was a shock. Apparently as well and cheerful as usual, a cerebral hemorrhage came without warning, rendering her unconscious and she died a short time afterward, just following the noon hour. Mrs. Goddard was a descendant of aristocratic lineage, prominent in Kentucky for generations. She was the daughter of the late Leonard Edelen and Mary Tarkington Edelen, and possessed many lovable traits of character. Her graciousness and kindness to everyone was very marked, as was her uncomplaining cheerfulness in the face of ill health that limited her activities in her home and church, and her social life. Her funeral will be held this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the residence on Beaumont Avenue, conducted by the Rev. J. W. Carpenter, of the United Presbyterian church, of which she had long been a member. Rev. T. Hassell Bowen, of the Christian church will take part in the service. Burial at Spring Hill Cemetery. Surviving are her husband, Mr. R. E. Goddard, and the following children: Mrs. Al McChord, of Lebanon; Mrs. Lawrence C. Brewer, of Lexington; Miss Mary Goddard, Harrodsburg, and Mr. W. W. Goddard, who is in business in Birmingham, Ala., and who arrived home yesterday. She also leaves one grandchild, little Bobbie Brewer, and a brother, Mr. Allan Edelen, of this place.
Source: http://www.rootsweb.com/~kymercer/archived/01obits1.html
(Thanks to Yvonne Lay Logue of Mercer County, KY, for looking up Kate Goddard's obituary and providing the publication date and source: Harrodsburg Herald, Friday, Mar 28, 1930. She also noted: "Kate Goddard was 66 when she died on 3/26/1930 in Mercer County, Kentucky, so she was born in 1863 or 1864. Her Kentucky Death Record Certificate number is 10211.)
"Probably nowhere in the United States were feelings so divided over the Civil War and slavery as they were in Kentucky. All during the Civil War Uncle Will (Goddard) was the most rampaging Rebel you could imagine. One morning, as he was walking up the main street of Harrodsburg, a squad of Union soldiers stopped him and told him he was under arrest for aiding and abetting the enemy. He was taken to Camp Chase and incarcerated for almost a year. A few weeks after his imprisonment, a son was born to Sarah Eliza. When she asked what the boy should be named, Uncle Will responded "Rebel Goddard." About this same time, a neighbor who was a Union sympathizer named his son �Union.� Union became a great friend of Rebel Goddard in later years and the families intermarried."
-- Source: andersoncirclefarm.com
Comments by Reb Goddard's Friends: "I roomed with Reb Goddard who was a man of regular habits. I'll say "regular habits." One of them was his habit of reading every patent medicine ad. and he was also in the habit of discovering that he had every symptom described in them. He believed the ads., bought the dope and took it. I have helped administer to him everything from cough drops to knock-out drops; from Lydia Pinkham to shellac. Once he really was sick. He had the itch because everyone else had it and he couldn't bear to be slighted. He consulted me professionally. I knew a lot about itch, because I once had a dog that had it, or the mange or something else that required scratching. I recommended Wolford's Sanitary Lotion, a positive specific - if the patient could live thru the treatment. I painted him from head to feet with the medicine. It cured him, but I was forced into hiding for two weeks, but I made a new man of him. He peeled off like a banana." -- Robert Henkel: "A Few Reminiscences of Pioneer Life in Comanche-co.", The Western Star, April 22, 1922.
"I enjoyed Bob Henkel's article very much. He is a good writer and has the faculty of giving wings to his imagination. By the way, Reb Goddard, whom he so effectually peeled in his article, has been in this neighborhood about three months. He is training a string of fine saddle horses for a sale to be held in Chicago during the early summer. Reb is looking well and I can see that he loves horse-flesh just as well as in the young days." -- J.M. Lobaugh: "A Few Reminiscences of Pioneer Life in Comanche-co.", The Western Star, April 22, 1922.
"There were several nicknames bestowed upon me there in Coldwater that remain with me yet with some people. One of the first names I was called was "Squint," then "Comiskey" and R. E. Goddard used to call me "Sitting Bull." -- Frank C. Jones: "A Few Reminiscences of Pioneer Life in Comanche-co.", The Western Star, February 17, 1922
Harrodsburg Historical Society Yvonne Lay Logue of Mercer County, Kentucky, wrote: "The Harrodsburg Historical Society more than likely has a bunch of info. on R.E. Goddard. Their telephone number is 859-734-5985. On Tuesdays they're open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; on Wednesday through Saturday they're open from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. They're all volunteers.
E-mail from Yvonne Lay Logue to Jerry Ferrin, 8 Aug 2006: Jerry: made it to the cemetery, here's the pics of Rebel & wife Kate, it was raining, hope you can see o.k. I'm sorry they're so large, just have a new picture program & I haven't quite figured out how to reduce yet. Let me know if you can't pull them up, o.k.? I also took a pic of his mom & dad's & also Rebel's son W.W. & their dau. Mary Eliza Alexander's. Do you want those also?
I went in the office to get a little more info off the cemetery cards. Not much on Kate's but her parents are Leonard Edelen & Mary Tarkington. She died Mar 26th per the death cert., but her stone has died Mar 25th. She was buried on Mar 28th in Section A, 12 E 1/2 Grave 8. Her 1900 census said she was born Sep 1864 but I think that is wrong as her age in the 1870 & 1880 census showed she was born in 1863, same as her husband. She was 6 in 1870 in Casey Co. & 16 in 1880 in Marion Co., so if she was born in September, would mean she was born in 1863, not 1864.
Rebel's card said born Sep 1863 in Harrodsburg, Mercer Co. Parents W.W. Goddard & Sarah Glave. Buried Aug 3rd in Section A, 12-9. Died at his residence. Bruner & Sims Funeral Home handled his funeral. So, both Rebel & his wife were born in September of 1863, interesting!
Info on Rebel's parents from tombstones:
W.W. Goddard b: Feb 8, 1820 d: Jan 27, 1901
Sarah E. b: Jan 24, 1832 d: Dec 1, 1918Info on Rebel's 2 kids from tombstones & 1900 census:
William Wirt Goddard III: 1906 - 1943
Mary Eliza Alexander: May 1900 - 1967There are lots more Goddards in this cemetery, where the parents are located. Possibly their other children & maybe grandchildren, etc.
Yvonne in Mercer Co.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news articles from The Western Star to this web site!
Thanks to Faeylyn Wylder for the photographs of R.E. Goddard, his obituary and the information contributed by her about him.
Thanks to Yvonne Lay Logue for her prompt response to my posting on the Mercer County, Kentucky, RootsWeb message board, which gave me the death dates for Reb Goddard and his wife and other important information as credited on this page. Thanks also to Yvonne for sending the photos of Rebel and Kate Goddard's gravestones which you see on this web page.
Yvonne Logue also sent photos of the gravestones in Spring Hill Cemetery for Rebel Goddard's father, mother, son and daughter which webmasterly time constraints prohibit adding to this page. The gravestones for Reb Goddard's family members are of a similar material and style to Reb and Kate's gravestones.
Shirley Brier wondered about the practice of "dog canning" mentioned by R.E. Goddard. I believe it was what was described by Evelyn Reed in Coldwater Centennial Notebook: "The Canning Club earlier used tin cans as a means of stray dog control. Stronger measures were taken after a mad-dog scare in June of 1894. A rabid dog bit nine or ten dogs, probably more, before it was discovered and killed. The dogs it bit were also shot. All dogs running around without muzzles were to be shot by the marshal. Records show others too were paid for killing stray dogs for a while; the going rate seems to have been fifty cents apiece."
Rebel E. Goddard's middle name is unknown to me, but I think it may have been Edelen, which was his mother's maiden name. Faeylyn Wylder wrote on 08/10/06, in response to my question to her about it: "I have no idea what his middle name was, sorry. There is no reference to it in the book. My guess is that it may have been Edward, after Robert E. Lee, which was one of the names his mother had chosen. I will keep a lookout and let you know if I find anything." -- Jerry Ferrin.
Keywords: Rebel E. Goddard; R.E. Goddard; Rebel Goddard; Reb Goddard; Reb E. Goddard; Goddard, Rebel E.; Goddard, R.E.; Goddard, Reb; Goddard, Reb E.; Goddard, R.
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