52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks
Week 22 – May 27 – June 21, 2024
Creativity

The word creativity has a number of synonyms, the usual are imagination, inventiveness, talent, and originality. But it can also mean resourcefulness. While I have several ancestors that I can think of who possessed the “creativity” gene, if there is such a thing, I chose to write about my maternal 3X great-grandfather, grandmother, and their family. They were what I considered resourceful, among other creative characteristics.
Joseph C. Goble, b. 29 November 1814 in Orange County, New York, from where my maternal lineage with the surname of Goble originated.
Joseph C. Goble 1860s

After leaving New York around 1828, as a teenager with his parents and extended family, Joseph relocated to Northmoreland Township in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. With its glistening streams, gently rolling hills and tranquil valleys, Wyoming County is one of the most scenic in Pennsylvania. The name “Wyoming” is derived from an Indian word meaning “extensive meadows.” Wyoming County was also a farming community as was Orange County, New York. It is presumed that Joseph C. Goble, his parents, siblings, and extended family came to Northmoreland County through chain migration, that is to say they followed other family members, acquaintances, and friends to settle in a specific geographical area.
On 27 January 1835 Joseph married his wife Catherine M. Weaver, a 19-year-old native of Centermoreland, Pennsylvania, whose roots went back to Dutchess County, New York during the 18th century. Both counties in New York and Pennsylvania were predominately
Catherine M. Weaver Goble 1860s

agricultural locations.
Life in agricultural communities was at times difficult and families often had to move elsewhere to continue their farming or other important occupations related to farming. I believe this was the case with Joseph C. Goble’s family, with his parents, and then with his own family. However, I did discover that Joseph’s occupation varied between farmer and at times stonemason.
In the 1860 United States Federal Census Joseph, his wife and four of his at least eight children appeared to be living in Florence, Carver County, Minnesota Territory, originally named Farmington and later, in 1863 was changed to the name Young America. In fact, my
2X great-grandfather James Goble was
born there in 1857. In 1860, Joseph was 45 years old, his Catherine was 43 years old, and the children are ages 14, 12, 6, and 3 years old. Joseph’s occupation was recorded as “farmer.” Besides the younger four children of
James Goble 1900s

Joseph and Catherine was one of their older daughters, Angeline Goble Croff, age 22, married to John P. Croff and their two children who migrated to Minnesota Territory. Angeline and her family lived in Minnetonka, Hennepin County, Minnesota Territory.
The Minnesota Territory was formed on March 3, 1849, encompassing the entirety of the present-day state of Minnesota and the majority portions of modern-day North and South Dakota east of the Missouri and White Earth Rivers.[2] At the time of formation there were an estimated 5,000 settlers living in the Territory. There were no roads from adjoining Wisconsin or Iowa. The easiest access to the region was via waterway, of which the Mississippi River was primary. The primary mode of transport was the riverboat. Minnesota Territory became the 32nd state of Minnesota of the United States of America on 11 May 1858 during the time that my ancestors resided there.
It appears that the Goble families traveled by Conestoga wagon to their destinations west during the 1850s. Just imagine how incredibly difficult that was! We’ve all seen the old television shows about settlers traveling west in their wagon trains. Besides having to deal with Mother Nature, there was also the presence of Native American tribes as they traveled into the Indians’ ancestral territory.
I will save further discussion of settling in Native American territory and The Homestead Act of 1862 for later blog posts as those topics in my family history will require much attention.
To the residents of the Eastern United States and those of Europe, Minnesota was a place where the dream of owning land could become a reality. The possibilities it offered for employment in the timber and mining industries, along with farming opportunities, enticed people to leave their birth countries and states. For many, the unknown landscapes of the Minnesota river valleys, prairies, and forests at times offered better conditions than their homelands, where overcrowding, land competition, and famine were chronic problems.
In addition to Joseph’s daughter, Angeline, some of his brothers also migrated west to Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, and Iowa. At least two of his brothers, Chauncey F. Goble and Lewis
Chauncey F. Goble

Smith Goble served in the U.S. Civil War for the Union. At this point in my research, I am not certain of Joseph’s or any of his other brothers’ military service during the Civil War. I do know that all men of military service age were required to register for the draft. My research will continue. As all family historians and genealogists are aware, our research is never done. But that’s some of the fun of it, always something new to be discovered through
archival searches or online searches.
Lewis S. Goble headstone

Lewis S. Goble Headstone
Joseph and Catherine stayed in Minnesota for at least fifteen years, returning to Wyoming County, Pennsylvania in their later years to reside separately with two of their children’s families. Joseph died in about 1880 and is buried in the Evergreen Woodlawn Cemetery in Factoryville, Pennsylvania. Catherine resided with her daughter Dyantha Goble Beam until her death in 1893. She is buried in Orcutt Cemetery, Noxen, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania.

And so, why did I choose Joseph C. and Catherine M. Weaver Goble to highlight in this blog post? It was their resourcefulness, a.k.a., creativity, in reshaping their family's destiny. And for the most important reason: If they were not no so resourceful and perseverant, I, my children, my mother, grandfather, great-grandfather, my uncles, aunts, and cousins would not be here today! That's an awesome thought to ponder!
Catherine M. Weaver Goble headstone
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