GOAD: Of Geary and Walton Districts. The prominent Goads, as early settlers were John Goad
and James Goad: Squire John of Big Left Hand, now on State Road No. 14, and James Goad of
Big Sandy near Osbornes Mills. All we have of the history of this family is as follows: Aaron
Goad and John Goad, two brothers, born in Floyd County, Virginia, about the years, 1820 and
1822, respectively, arrived in the Big Sandy country about the year 1844, young men seeking
adventures “in the West.” Aaron soon married, ________ a daughter of _______ , and made
their home on lower Big Sandy; to them were born two sons, named Peter and James, the latter
is the Jame Goad mentioned first in this article. We have no further information as to Aaron and
his son, Peter, except that Peter married a Miss Mary Long of Ritchie County, West Virginia.
James Goad, son of Aaron, married Martha Carper, a daughter of Nicholas and Sarah (Nida)
Carper, of Upper Left Hand, and they began their wedded life and conquest of the forest near
Osbornes Mills, and served out all the remainder of their lives at that place. To James and
Martha (Carper) Goad were born three sons and no daughters. The names of these sons are A.
W. (“Week”) who married a neighbor’s daughter, Eva Osborne. The second son of James and
Martha, named C. Ward Goad, as yet has never married, owns most of the home farm, but is an
invalid in a Hospital. The third son, Willet Goad, married Ada Runnion, of the Runnion family
of Spencer. “Week” and Willet are business men of Clendennin, (1926). John Goad, brother of
Aaron, both born in Floyd County, Virginia, as first stated, married Mary J. Taylor, daughter of
William and Mahala (Cromwell) Taylor, and they began their married lives on Big Left Hand,
as stated. Their home and lands soon attracted attention as the best in those parts. John Goad
was a prominent citizen for many years next succeeding the war of 1861-5; was elected by the
people and served one term as Justice of the Peace, about the years 1880 to 1884. John and
Mary J., his wife, lived a bountiful life and ended their days on the farm on which they
commenced. It is now the home of their son, John. To John, Sr., and Mary J. (Taylor), his wife,
were born and grew up the following named children: Sarah J., who married Joseph L. Jackson.
Ballard Preston, married Lena Foss, Minnesota. William also married a lady in Minnesota.
Aaron George married Minerva Stewart, of Reedy. See “Stewart.” Edward Jackson married
Katie Howell. Fannie M. married James K. Robinson, of Walton District. Albert J. married
Nellie Knight, of Iowa. John, Jr., born in 1876, married Mae Lewis, a daughter of Edward and
Mary (McChesney) Lewis, of the southern part of Walton District, in the year 1905. Their home
is the ancestral Goad place. To John and Mae (Lewis) Goad has been born one son and three
daughters, all youths yet at home. George, the youngest of this family, born in 1878, left in the
year 1895, to seek his fortune in the West, settling first in Minnesota.
Source: History of Roane County, West Virginia, 1774-1927 William H. Bishop, Esq. p 531-532
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Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
Sandy Spradling
SSpradling@aol.com
November 28, 1999
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