Gouge Family

James Gouge, born April 25, 1777 in Essex County, Virginia came to Bourbon County as a child along with a brother and their mother, a widow. James and his brother are believed to be grandsons of James Gouge, Gentleman, who migrated to Boston, Massachusetts in 1712 arriving aboard the ship, Sarah, from London.

James may have settled on the dry ridge trace as early as 1798 in then Pendleton County, now Grant County, constructing a cabin at a site identified today as the old Mason High School. On January 22, 1807 he married Ellen Jane/Nelly Juett in Harrison County. She was born March 6, 1789, a daughter of William and Anna (Falkoner) Jewett/Juett.

James and Nelly farmed extensively and operated a tavern in their home. A U. S. post office named "Gouge" was established there in 1858. It operated as such until 1878 when the name was changed to "Mason," following construction of the Southern Railroad through the area.

Nelly died December 20, 1849. She and James are buried in the James Gouge Cemetery at Mason, where James' tombstone lists his death date as November 15, 1858. This is obviously an error as James, age 83, is listed in the 1860 Grant County Census as residing with his son, Lafayette P. Gouge. James' will, written in 1853, was probated January 10, 1861, following a court summons on November 28, 1860 to produce the will. This tends to confirm the month and day, November 15, as being the date of death, but in 1860 rather than 1858. Their children:

1. Louisiana Gouge, 1812-1845, married February 20, 1830, Kavanaugh Williams, 1806-1842, son of John and Elizabeth Betsey (Collins) Williams.

2. Junietta Gouge, 1813-1846, married November 8, 1831, Myrix/Miox Josiah Williams, 1811-1897, son of John and Elizabeth Betsy (Collins) Williams.

3. William Taylor Gouge, 1815-1849, married June 6, 1836, Theodoria Hampton, 1815-August 1889, daughter of James Hampton.

4. Dr. James Gouge, 1816-, married Julia Miller.

5. Marietta Gouge, 1818-1887, married December 19, 1835, Alfred Kendall, 1811-1876, a son of Louis and Phoebe (Nelson) Kendall.

6. Thomas Jefferson Gouge, February 24, 1823-December 24, 1906, married first, January 8, 1843, Sarah Clark, 1824-ca1862, daughter of Thomas and Barbara (Jump) Clark; married second, September 5, 1863, Mary C. Fitch, March 8, 1833-March 1, 1923, sister of Reverend J. W. Fitch.

7. Lafayette P. Gouge, December 29, 1824-March 13, 1903, married March 13, 1846, Calista Clark, May 22, 1826-November 19, 1905, daughter of Thomas and Barbara (Jump) Clark.

8. John Quincy Gouge, May 12, 1828-September 25, 1873, married July 6, 1850, Eliza Ann Clark, October 6, 1830-August 30, 1912, daughter of Thomas and Barbara (Jump) Clark.

9. Henry Clay Gouge, 1829-November 11, 1859, married Mary S./Fanny Snell.

Of the above nine children, Thomas Jefferson Gouge who married first, January 8, 1843, Sarah Clark, and second, September 5, 1863, Mary C. Fitch, had a total of seventeen children, with the eleven listed below living to adulthood:

1. Eleanor/Ellen J. Gouge, 1845-, married December 7, 1865, Hiram E. Williams, 1843-1913.

2. Eliza Gouge, 1847-, married September 6, 1867, Francis M. Littell, 1846-.

3. Barbara Gouge, December 20, 1849-February 25, 1905, married June 17, 1869, James A. Littell, June 18, 1849-March 10, 1922, son of James M. and Sarah (Sipple) Littell.

4. James M. Gouge, July 3, 1852-November 3, 1926, married December 26, 1871, Ada F. Webb, October 29, 1854-May 9, 1930, daughter of George N. and Isabella (Littell) Webb.

5. Millard Filmore Gouge, November 17, 1854-March 28, 1934, married January 27, 1880, Jenetta McGlasson, March 10, 1861-May 2, 1943, daughter of Leonard and Martha (Dillard) McGlasson.

6. Alfred Gouge, 1855-.

7. Marietta Gouge, 1858-, unmarried, resided in 1905 in Alexandria, Indiana.

By second marriage:

8.  Sarah/Sallie Gouge, 1865-, married Mr. Woodly.

9.  Thomas Jefferson Gouge Jr., 1868-, married March 14, 1894, Maud Edward.

10. Lena Gouge, 1870-1947, married March 28, 1894, Nicholas G. Ruhall, 1860-1929.

11. Nora Gouge, 1872-, married Mr. Stroboke; was living in Huntington, West Virginia in 1901.

Of the above eleven children, Millard Filmore Gouge and Jenetta McGlasson, who were married January 27, 1880, had a family of six children:

1. Orval Gouge, 1883-1961, married 1912, Artie M. Osborn, 1893-March 29, 1920.

2. Chlora E. Gouge, December 24, 1885-September 8, 1895.

3. Willie S. Gouge, August 7, 1887-November 17, 1892.

Fred Hutchinson Gouge, March 15, 1889-October 19, 1970, married September 30, 1912, Maude Sarah Simpson, November 23, 1892-December 7, 1967, daughter of William Morgan and Sarah Catherine (Flege) Simpson.

5. Joseph E. Gouge, 1891-1969, married September 7, 1912, Emma B. Rogers, 1891-1958.

6. Harry Gouge, May 20, 1892-May 20, 1892.

If you have information, please contact Janice
Published in Footsteps of the Past, September 23, 1999.
Used with permission.

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