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Dr. James Peterson Goggans & Mary Jane Works
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Dr. JAMES PETERSON GOGGANS was a surgeon of the Alabama Regiment in the Confederate Service. Dr. JAMES PETERSON GOGGANS married MARY JANE WORKS. They lived near Rockford, Alabama. Dr. GOGGANS was educated in Charleston, South Carolina, and New York City. He was an exceptional Christian man who spent his life serving others by riding horseback far and near to treat the sick--often without remuneration. In fact, he treated one family for typhoid fever year after year, finally contracted it himself, and died at his home in Alexander City, Alabama. That family never paid a dime in fees. Dr. GOGGANS was able to educate his three oldest children quite well, but was persuaded to sign a note for a man who never repaid, and as it was for a sizable amount, he was unable to send the three younger children to college. He left a nice estate; however, in settlement, the oldest son, Adrian, appropriated most of it for himself and left with his family for still another year's study in surgery in Germany. MARY JANE WORKS was the opposite of Dr. GOGGANS--a self centered woman who required pampering. She did not have a very good personality. She was kind of haughty. She had everything she needed or wanted. MARY JANE had a lot of money. She came to Texas twice after her daughter Alice died. Tom had remarried. His new wife, Princella was an excellent dressmaker. Princella got some black silk material and made MARY JANE a dress. Princella treated MARY JANE like her own mother and did all she could to entertain her while she was in Texas. On one of her trips Princella gave MARY JANE a dinner. The first course was oyster stew. One of Tom & Princella's wedding gifts was $5 for silverware and they used the silverware set bought with it during this dinner. The guests of honor were old people--in honor of MARY JANE. It was held at noon. MARY JANE was as stingy as could be. Before she was ready to board the train to return to Alabama she lined her dresses with money--bill after bill--and sewed them up. She lived to be 95 years old. MARY JANE became a Christian about the age of 70. She developed cataracts at an early age--also inflammatory rheumatism. She was well taken care of from Dr. GOGGANS' estate, but through the years managed to turn all surplus over to Adrian. There were six children born into the family. James Adrian Goggans was a physician and surgeon, educated in Ann Arbor, Michigan, New York City, and Heidelberg, Germany. For many years he was Chief Surgeon for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. He owned his own sanitarium in Alexander City, Alabama, and was one of the best noted surgeons the state of Alabama has ever known. He married Mittie Hunt. They traveled widely and lived well, but before Adrian died he wrote an apology for mishandling MARY JANE's share of Dr. GOGGANS estate. She wrote forgiveness and he replied thanking her for making his last days more comfortable. He died a poor man in 1920 at his home in Alexander city, Alabama. Dr. GOGGANS and MARY JANE had moved to Alexander City in their later years and built a home adjoining Adrian's and they lived there until they died. Phillip Peterson Goggans was a physician also educated in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and New York City. He was the type to collect every dime owing to him. He married Beatrice Bailey. They moved to Birmingham, Alabama, and he made a small fortune in real estate. ALICE ELIZABETH GOGGANS attended schools in Mobile, Alabama. She married Dr. THOMAS BRYANT. They lived with her family the first few years of their marriage. They have 4 babies (boys) buried there. They moved to Chandler, Texas. Ira Thaddeus Goggans married Pollie Bay and they lived in Birmingham, Alabama. Kate Goggans married Doc Woods of Birmingham police force. He had TB. They came to Texas for his health, then went to Rogers, Arkansas, in the Ozarks and he died. Kate and the kids moved to Denver, Colorado. Sallie Ruth married Will Davis and they lived at Goodwater, Alabama. ---------- JAMES PETERSON GOGGANS & MARY JANE WORKS Marriage Bk B p. 193 J. P. GOGGANS) The State of Alabama to ) Coosa County M. J. WORKS ) To any ordained or licensed minister of the Gospel, Judge at the circuit or county courts or Justice of the peace for said county greeting. You are hereby authorized to celebrate the rites of matrimony between JAMES P. GOGGANS and MARY JANE WORKS and this shall be your sufficient authority for so doing--given under my hand and seal this 2nd day of Nov A.D. 1852 and American Independence the Seventy fourth year. J. W. Suttle Judge of Probate pr John T. Bentley The above named parties were married by me on the 4th day of November A.D. 1852 ?????lpin (unreadable) MG ---------- 1850 Coosa County Alabama Census 045 James Goggans 68 M W SC Cassandra 62 F W SC JAMES 21 M W Med Student Ala Betha Mayfield 20 M W Farmer Ga ---------- 1860 Rockford Coosa County Alabama Census Real Personal 20 Cassandra Goggans wid 72 F W Keeping house 5,000 SC J. P. 32 M W Dr. 2,500 10,000 Ala MARY J. 32 F W House wife Ala J. A. 6 M W Ala Philip 5 M W Ala Alice 3 F W Ala ---------- 1870 Nixburg Coosa County Alabama Census p317 341/362 Real Personal GOGGANS J. P. 41 M W Physician 2,000 15,000 Ala MARY 42 F W Keeping house Ala James 16 M W Working Farm Ala Phillip 14 M W Ala ---------- 1880 Nixburg Coosa County Alabama Census GOGGANS, JAMES P. W M 51 Dr. Ala SC SC MARY J. W F 52 wife Ala Ala Ala Katy W F 15 dau Ala Ala Ala Sallie W F 12 dau Ala Ala Ala Bryant, Alice W F 22 dau Ala Ala Ala bedridden liver complaint ---------- 1900 Henderson County Texas Census Vol 57 ed 58 pg 4 lin 66 72/72 Wood, Elias Head W M July 1858 41 m18 yrs Ala Tenn Tenn owned farm #78 free Mary K wife W F July 1864 35 m18 yrs Ala Ala Ala had 6 children 6 children now living Minnie L dau W F Dec 1883 16 single Ala Ala Ala at school Oliver son W M Jan 1886 14 s Ala Ala Ala " Ira son W M Jan 1888 12 s Ala Ala Ala " James C son W M Apr 1892 8 s Ala Ala Ala " Gorden son W M Jan 1896 4 s Tex Ala Ala Alice dau W F Oct 1898 1 s Tex Ala Ala GOGGANS, MARY J Mother-in-Law W F Jan 1828 72 wid Ala Ga SC ---------- Newspaper Clipping January 4, 1891 Title: "Dr. J. P. GOGGANS Died" Last Sunday at his home in Alexander City at 12 o'clock M. How sad indeed to chronicle the death of so good, kind, true, and noble a man. Our heart swells out with deep emotions for the departed, and follows close after him, as he is borne away from among us, to his last resting place in the silent city of the dead. Dr. GOGGANS was far more in general respects than an ordinary man. His fine sense of honor, dignity, and general character put him far above any of the small things of life, and wrapped in the grand unassuming individuality of his nature, he was a deep thinker, a wise counsellor, a true friend--indeed a philosopher, a theologian--a man whose cultivated brain with logical deductions pointed him to the center of truths with an honesty of purpose and purity of motive that made his ideas valuable because free from the common perversion of self interest, the worst sin of man. The voices of one and all go up with deep and sore regret that Dr. GOGGANS is dead. He left a host of friends on all sides of him--all around him and all about him. Ordinarily the family and nearest relatives gather closest to the dead, and others stand off and away fearing they will invade the tender spot where warm and loving hearts are want to dwell; but in the present case, with the weeping of those nearest and dearest, we ask that they part a moment away that we too may pour out our soul with them, quite, if not so near as they, and bid him a warm farewell. We will remember him during the years of our life for his man sake, there being nothing else that draws us to him. The family and friends of the deceased have our tenderest sympathy in their sad bereavement, with the hope that their life may be as was his. (Clipping in the possession of Phillip Goggans Hughes, Birmingham, Alabama. May 1960) ---------- OUR FOLKS by Maron Summer Eve p 308-9 1Thomas Spratlin Porter remembers the following events about his ancestors -- as they were told to him by his grandmother, Mary Jane Ogletree Thomas and her sister, Sarah Elizabeth Ogletree Pinson. James Goggans was a cotton farmer in South Carolina. After he married Cassandra Peterson, he decided to go to the Mississippi Delta. At the time, one could grow more cotton there than any other place known. He left South Carolina with his wife and one child. They traveled, riding with two horses and what camping equipment they could carry -- sometimes camping along the road, or stopping with some farmer kind enough to take them in. They traveled through Georgia and Alabama to Mississippi. Soon after arriving in the Delta, they began having chills and fever. After one or two years, they left the Delta and came to Coosa County, Alabama. There he bought a three-hundred acre farm and built a house--about six miles from Nixburg. He became a prosperous farmer and lived there until he died. About one mile from the GOGGANS farm there is a log church known as Shiloh. The cemetery is known now as Old Shiloh. James and Cassandra Goggans are buried in the Old Shiloh cemetery. There is a new church about five miles from the old church known as New Shiloh. The cemetery at Old Shiloh has a stone wall around it which is still standing. The wall was built by slaves. There are oak trees eight feet in diameter--some grown through graves. The Goggans place is now owned by Mrs. Towns, the daughter of my niece, Linnie Bell Lowe, deceased and her husband, E. L. Towns. As the history goes... Cassandra Peterson was said to be a beautiful woman. She had black hair and was small--never weighing as mush as 100 pounds. Somewhere among the relatives there is a bed spread, hand woven by Cassandra before the Civil War. At one time, Sallie and I had this spread. (It is now in the possession of Ruth Conaway Kendrick.) The older Goggans family had black hair and dark complexion. The red or brown hair that showed up in the later generations was inherited from the Works side of the family. ----------- DR. JAMES PETERSON GOGGANS practiced medicine in Coosa County, Alabama--rode horseback and raised his own horses. They were a good breed that could go through woods and over rough roads. He grew his own tobacco and smoked a pipe. One day he happened to see a man near the road, behind a tree. He recognized him as an escaped prisoner. He pulled a twist of tobacco from his pocket and pointed it at the man--telling him to put up his hands. He marched him to Rockford and turned him (the prisoner) over to the Sheriff. The prisoner never knew that the "gun" was only a twist of tobacco. The history was related to Ruth Conaway Kendrick in April, 1966. ----------- p. 310-311 OUR FOLKS by Maron Summer Eve Nixburg, Ala. Nov. 28, 1850 Mail: Mr. JAMES P. GOGGANS Medical Student Charleston, South Carolina Fish Pond, Coosa November 26th 1850 Beloved Son. It is with pleasure that we embrace the present opportunity of writing to you a few lines wishing to inform you that through the goodness of God we all enjoy a reasonable portion of health at this time. Hoping that these few lines may find you enjoying the same blessing. Dear Son, we received your letter of the 5th instant, was glad to hear that you had arrive safe and was in good health. Your letter never reached Nixburg until last Wednesday which was the 20th of the month. I took it out of the office that evening & Mr. Walden informed me that it came that morning. We were sorry that it was so short, but we can look over that knowing you had been so short a time there that you could not have much to write. Things here are about as they were when you left with some few exceptions. Mrs. Brown died next Monday after you left here. The morning before she died she supposed herself much better and requested the doctor to write to her father that she felt like getting well, but about the time the doctor sat down to his dinner she took a violent fit of coughing, which occasioned some large blood vessel to burst in her stomach. She called the doctor and told him she was bleeding and never spoke more but died in less than five minutes. I hear of some other deaths in the county but none very near us. There has also been some marriages in these parts. Elizabeth Haynes for instance is married to a man by the name of Ford. Mahala Forbus is married to a plank road Irishman by the name of Sara Dowrey. Patrick Pearson & Elizabeth Martin I understand will marry on Sunday morning next. David Mahan and Samuel Peterson has both sold their land and intend to start for Arkansas about Christmas. David got $1450. for his place and $800. in hand. Sam got $700. and half of it in hand. They are selling off all their other stuff as fast as they can. They both sold their land to the same man, which was Alban Willingham of Swamp Creek. Mr. Shepperd has also sold his place to Parson McKinsie and Shepperd is going with David & Sam to Arkansas. Your mother sends you her best wishes praying the Lord may protect you and keep you from all harm. Mr. Chandler adds the same blessing. My Son, write to us often, write as soon as you receive this as your sister Betsey wants to hear from you before she leaves for Arkansas. Write everything you think we would like to hear - the prices of produce in Charleston and the commodities and inform us all about the Medical School and how you improve. I shall add no more at present, but remain your affectionate father and mother till death. James Goggans, Cassandra Goggans Mr. JAMES P. GOGGANS P.S. Bethel got home Tuesday evening after he left you at Atlanta ---------- December 1883 Deed sale of father's land The State of Alabama) Know all men by these presents that we Coosa County ) Terressa Radford, Abigail Mahan & her husband Alfred C. Mahan, Wm. M. Goggans and his wife Sallie M. Goggans, J. P. GOGGANS & his wife MARY J. GOGGANS, and Nancy Ogletree as heirs of James Goggans Decd and J. P. GOGGANS and his wife MARY GOGGANS in their own and separate rights and interest for and in consideration of the Sum of Twelve hundred Dollars paid to us by D. L. McAllister the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged have bargained Sold, and hereby convey unto the Said D. L. McAllister the following described lands to wit: North half of Section Twenty Seven (27) Township Twenty Two (22) of Range twenty (20). To have and to hold said land unto the said D. L. McAllister his heirs and assignees forever and is understood in the conveying that the Said Terressa Radford; Abigail Mahan, Wm. M. Goggans and Nancy Ogletree and J. P. GOGGANS hereby convey unto the Said D. L. McAllister his heirs and assigns all the rights titles, interest or claim that they have or may have in and to Said lands either in law or equity by reason of their being the children of the Said James Goggans Decd or otherwise - and the Said J. P. GOGGANS conveys to said D. L. McAllister all and every interest he may have or now has, by reason of the provisions of the last will and Testament of the Said James Goggans Deceased or otherwise and we the said parties joining in this conveyance hereby covenant with the said D. L. McAllister his heirs and assigns that we have a good right to Sell Said land and we will warrant and defend the titles to Said land unto them forever. Witness our hands & Seal, this the 27th day of December 1883. Attest JAS. P. GOGGANS (SEAL) C. E. Radford MARY J. GOGGANS (SEAL) E. M. Thomas Terressa Radford (SEAL) J. M. Neighbors Nancy Ogletree (SEAL) J. W. Mahan W. M. Goggans (SEAL) M. J. Mahan Sallie M. Goggans (SEAL) A. C. Mahan (SEAL) Abigail Mahan (SEAL)
State of Alabama) I John W. Johnson an acting Justice of the Coosa County ) Peace in and for Said county hereby certify that J. P. GOGGANS, and his wife MARY J. GOGGANS, Terressa Radford, Nancy Ogletree, W. M. Goggans and his wife Sallie M. Goggans who are known to me acknowledge before me that they Signed the foregoing conveyance voluntarily. In witness whereof I here unto Set my hand, this the 28th day of December 1883. John W. Johnson J.P. State of Alabama ) I T. W. Mahan Justice of the Peace in and for Tallapoosa County) Said county I hereby certify that A. E. Mahan and Abigail Mahan assigned the foregoing conveyance on the Same day - bears date voluntarily on this 27th day of December 1883. T. W. Mahan J. P. Filed for record January 19th 1884 Jno S. Bentley
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