The only known photograph of

Jeptha Lewis Goff

He is shown here with his second wife, Sallie Howard Goff.

This photo was discovered in the back of a Fisher Family Bible that belonged to Nora Fisher Goff, wife of Wilbur Walker Goff (son of Jeptha and Sallie). The photograph and Bible are currently in the possession of Jeptha’s great granddaughter, Mrs. Jackie Goff Camden, Rockbridge Baths, VA.

1823	Jeptha Lewis Goff - born (exact month/day unknown) to Joseph (a. 1796 –12/25/1855) and Patience (Polly) Parker Goff (5/22/1793 – 12/15/1859), Bedford Co., VA (Joseph and Patience married 12/6/1821).
12/14/1848	Married to Catharine McCary (a.1824 – 9/13/1862), Amherst Co., VA (Parents – Benjamin and Catharine McCary). Jeptha – age 25, Catharine – age 24.
1850	Birth, Virginia Goff to Jeptha and Catharine McCary Goff
2/2/1853	Birth, Edward Washington to Jeptha and Catharine McCary Goff, (Edward married Clara Cabell Perry, 5/15/1879)
1854	Birth, Richard Goff to Jeptha and Catharine McCary Goff
1857	Birth, Catherine (Kate) Goff to Jeptha and Catharine McCary Goff, (Kate married Will Fitzgerald, Reidsville, NC)
1859	Birth, Jeptha Goff to Jeptha and Catharine McCary Goff
12/15/1859	Burial of “ Mrs. Goff” (Jeptha’s mother, Patience Parker Goff) Spring Hill Cemetery, Sec. M, Lot 29, Lynchburg, VA
6/15/1860	Burial of “child of J.L. Goff”, Spring Hill Cemetery, Lynchburg, VA (possibly son, Richard)
7/21/1860	VA Census, JLG’s (Gough) occupation – “Laborer.” Household consists of 7 Goffs and 3 other adults.
9/1/1860	Burial of “infant of Jeptha L. Goff”, Spring Hill Cemetery, Lynchburg, VA (possibly son, Jeptha)
9/13/1862	Burial of Catharine McCary Goff, Spring Hill Cemetery, Sec. M, Lot 29, Lynchburg, VA
3/19/1863	Married to Sallie Elizabeth Howard (1846 - 1907), Parents – Thomas and Louisa S. Coleman Howard; location: Mrs. S.S. Howard’s, Campbell Co., Va.; H.W. Dodge, Pastor, Baptist Church, Lynchburg, Va.; Occupation of Husband: Grocer. (Jeptha, age 40; Sallie, age 17)
1864	Birth, Louisa F. Goff, to Jeptha and Sallie H. Goff (Louisa married Robert Edward Williamson, 4/11/1885).
CSA Dates
3/5/1864	Conscripted (drafted) as “J.L. Goff,” Camp Lee near Richmond, VA
6/3/1864	Assigned to Co. G, 11^th VA Volunteer Infantry Regiment as Private, Co. Cook
10/10/1864	Appears as J.L. Goff as Prvt. Co. G on 11 Va. Regt.(Inf.) Receipt Roll for clothing
12/5/1864	Present on Company G Muster Rolls: July & August, 1864; paid by Capt. Williams; “To what time – June 30, 1864.” “Remarks – Co. Cook, Person appears in Co. Names Present as J.L. Goaf.”
4/13/1865	Paroled at Lynchburg, VA as POW, “belonging to the Army of the Confederate States, who have been this day surrendered by Gen. Robert E. Lee, C.S.A. to Lieut. Gen. U.S. Grant…..”
1867	Birth, Ann M. Goff to Jeptha and Sallie H. Goff
1869	Birth, Eugene Goff to Jeptha and Sallie H. Goff
7/26/1870	VA Census, JLG’s occupation – “Drives Waggin.” Household consists of 8 Goffs – 2 adults, 6 children.
3/11/1872	Birth, Wilbur Walker Goff to Jeptha and Sallie H. Goff (WWG married Nora Viola Fisher, 1/6/1897, Lynchburg, VA) (WWG committed suicide on 12/7/1912, Madison Heights, Amherst Co., VA)
1874	Birth, Creed Goff to Jeptha and Sallie H. Goff
1/9/1875	Burial of “Son Jeptha Goff,” Spring Hill Cemetery, Lynchburg, VA
1876	Birth, Nathan Goff to Jeptha and Sallie H. Goff
1876	Listed in Lynchburg City Directory, address: 12^th Street, between Monroe and Taylor
8/6/1876	Becomes Charter Member, College Hill Baptist Church, Lynchburg, VA after being dismissed from Lynchburg Baptist Church. JLG was one of 143 charter members, along with daughters, Kate (Catherine) and Lula (Louisa).
8/15/1879	Burial of “Miss Goff,” Spring Hill Cemetery, Lynchburg, VA
1880	Listed in City Directory, address: 12^th St., between Monroe and Taylor
6/9/1880	VA Census, JLG’s occupation – “Laborer”. Household consists of J.L. Gough, Sallie E., and 6 children, residing on 12^th Street, Lynchburg, VA
1881	Listed in City Directory, address: 12^th St., between Monroe and Taylor, occupation: Laborer
a.1882	Births, twin daughters, Bessie G. and Sallie H., to Jeptha and Sallie H. Goff (Sallie married William James Butler, 9/301908, Lynchburg, VA.)
1883	Listed in City Directory as “Jeff” Goff, address: 1108 12^th Street, occupation: Laborer
9/26/1883	Burial of JLG, Spring Hill Cemetery, Sec. M, Lot 29, Grave 9, Lynchburg, VA., age 61 (Sallie, age 37). On Register of Deaths: “Cause of Death – Pneumonia, Occupation – Teamster.”
9/09/1907	Death of Mrs. Sallie Elizabeth Howard Goff, age 65, widow of Jeptha L. Goff, buried at Spring Hill Cemetery, Sec. M, Lot 73, Grave 3, Lynchburg, VA (listed in cemetery records as “Sarah Elizabeth Gough”).

Note:

Not included in the above timeline are four transactions made by Jeptha at the Waugh’s Ferry Store, February 18 – August 25, 1848. The ferry operated on the James River between Amherst and Bedford counties, about one-half mile below the present-day paper mill at Big Island, VA. Jeptha’s account showed a balance brought forward 1/1/1848 of $3.56, with approximately $10 in merchandise purchased during the year. The two volumes of the Waugh’s Ferry Store are housed in the Jones Memorial Library, Lynchburg, VA.

There are also 15 references to Jeptha L. and Catharine Goff, Jeptha L. and Sallie E. Goff, the J.L. Goff Estate, and the Jeptha L. Goff Heirs in the General Index To Real Estate Conveyances, G – H Grantors, From 6/1/1805 To 12/31/1935, City of Lynchburg, VA. These references are dated specifically 8/4/1855 to 7/27/1887, both buying (12 transactions) and selling (3 transactions) property. These documented references to Jeptha L. Goff are not included in the above timeline, but with additional research are bound to shed important light on the relationship of JLG to the City of Lynchburg, where he housed his family, and whether or not he earned substantial income from buying and selling real estate.