Early
Memories of
Author: Heath, May Francis
Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company;
JAMES
GOSHORN
While the early history
of Newark and Singapore was in the making, came the Goshorn
brothers, James, John, Samuel and Perry; they were natives of Pennsylvania, and
entered into many activities, settling on farms near the lake which bears their
name, Goshorn Lake. The remainder
of their lives were spent here and now all rest under the evergreens at
James Goshorn was born in 1825 and in 1830 his parents moved to
Ohio from which state he enlisted in the Mexican War, serving three years and
soon after came to Allegan County and settled on the land north of "The
Flats," built a log house, hewing the timbers from his own land and made
shingles for the roof — during the first years here he was a bookkeeper for T.
W. Ferry (afterward Senator Ferry) of Grand Haven and often he walked back and forth
to his work, through the woods as that was long before the era of good roads,
or hardly any roads at all.
Mr. Goshorn
was married in 1857 to Miss Margaret Barager and
there were born three sons, Lintsford B. (named for Lints Coates) who died in 1926, William Seward, George W.
and Josephine, now Mrs. Burlingham of Otsego, Mich.
Mr. Goshorn
was also interested with Stephen D. Nichols in shipping wood and stave bolts to
Shortly after James Goshorn came, his brothers also came to live. John married
Julia Welch in 1867, and he ran a grocery store on the public square in what is
now known as the Woodworth home, he later moved to a farm northeast of town,
and one daughter, Maude (Mrs. Chas. Robinson, now deceased) was born. John Goshorn died in 1883 at the age of 68 years,
and his wife was laid to rest in 1924.
Perry bought part of
James' farm at
Samuel was an expert
boot maker. All were
splendid exemplary citizens.