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Submitted: 3/22/16 • Approved: 3/23/16 • Last Updated: 3/27/18 • R789364-G0-S3
PRIVATE Company K 4 Regiment
Missouri Militia
Civil War Union
1844 - 1932
Dr. G. A. Goben, was born in Livingston County, Mo., April 7, 1844. He was reared and educated in that county, and graduated in medicine at the Kentucky School of Medicine, at Louisville, also graduating from the Bellevue Medical College of New York City. He practiced in his native county previous to locating in Daviess County, Mo., where he continued about nine years, and spent a year in Texas. Since January, 1880, he has been permanently located in Kirksville. He is a member of the Pension Board and of the State Board of Health, besides his membership in the American and State Medical Societies. In 1885 he was made president of the Grand River Medical Association. He was elected mayor at Kirksville. His marriage occurred May 20, 1873, to Ora B., a daughter of Elder Rozelle, who is the minister of the Methodist Church. As to the ancestry of our subject, the father was a native of Jefferson County, Ky., born in 1810. He grew to manhood there, and married Catherine Crist. About 1832 or 1833 the paternal grandfather, William, immigrated to Ray County, Mo., but soon after entered land in Livingston County, Mo. Goben’s Ford takes its name from the family. The parents are still living in that county, and have reared a large family of nine children.
The History of Adair, Sullivan, Putnam, and Schuyler Counties, Missouri published in 1888 by Goodspeed Publishing Co.
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DR. G.A. GOBEN, a native of Livingston County, Missouri, was born April 2, 1844, being a son of Levi F. and Catherine (Crist) Goben. His father was the first white settler in Livingston County, settling at what is now known as Cohen's Ford, on Grand River, in 183l. Dr. Goben was born on a farm near Spring Hill and lived there till 1871. He attended the public school there, then attended the Kentucky School of Medicine, graduating in 1870. After his graduation he spent one year at his old home at Spring Hill, then went to Jameson, Daviess County, where he practiced nine years. Since that time he has made his home in Kirksville and engaged in active practice of general surgery and diseases of women. In 1883 he went to Bellevue Hospital, New York, graduating the second time in 1884. Besides this, he has done much post-graduate and clinical work, receiving a great deal of special training from Dr. Senn of Chicago. Governor John S. Marmaduke appointed him a member of the State Board of Health, and he was re-appointed by Governor D.R. Francis, serving in all about eleven years. For thirty years he was a member of the American Medical Association, and was also a member of the Missouri State Medical Association.
Dr. Goben was married May 20, 1872, to Ora Bell Roszelle, daughter of Edward and Mary (Jackson) Roszelle. They have no children.
During the Civil War he was a member of Company K., Fourth Provisional Missouri Militia, later being elected captain of his company, serving one year.
Dr. Goben owns considerable property in Kirksville, also 1011 acres of land, 540 acres being in Adair County and 471 acres in Texas County, Missouri. He is a Democrat, a member of the Masonic and K. of P. fraternities, having taken all the high degrees in Masonry. Three times he has served as Councilman and has three times been elected Mayor, which office he is holding at present.
The question, "What is your Religion?" was answered by a quotation from John Stuart Blackie, viz.:
"Creeds and confessions? High Church or Low?
I cannot, say; but you would vastly please us
If, with some pointed Scripture, you could show
To which of these belonged the Savior, Jesus.
I think to all or none. Not curious creeds
Or ordered forms of churchly rule He taught,
But soul of love that blossomed into deeds,
With human good and human blessings fraught.
On me nor priest nor presbyter nor Pope.
Bishop nor dean, may stamp a party name;
But Jesus, with His largely human scope,
The service of my human life may claim.
Let prideful priests do battle about creeds;
The church is mine that does most Christ-like deeds."
History of Adair County, 1911
By Eugene Morrow Violette
Page 771
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Dr. G.A. Goben, 88 Year Old Physician, Dies at Home Here
Dr. Grandison A. Goben, former mayor of Kirksville, died at his home here Saturday night about midnight at the age of 88 years. Death was attributed directly to a heart ailment but he had been in declining health for several months.
Dr. Goben was born in Livingston county, Missouri, April 2, 1841, a son of levi F. and Catherine Crist Goben. His father was the first white settler in Livingston county, settling at what was known as Goben's Ford, on Grand River, in 1831. Young Goben attended the public school there, then studied in the Kentucky School of Medicine, graduating in 1870. After graduation, he spent one year at his old home at Spring Hill, then went to Jameson, Daviess county, where he practiced nine years. Since that time he has made his home in Kirksville. In 1883 he went to Bellevue Hospital, New York, graduating there in 1884. Besides this training for his profession, he did post graduate and clinical work many times subsequently to keep abreast of progress in healing science.
He was appointed a member of the State Board of Health by Governor John S. Marmaduke and was re-appointed by Governor D.R. Frances [should be Francis], serving in all about 11 years.
Dr. Goben had been a practicing physician in Kirksville for 52 years and maintained his office here until the last. He served as councilmen for the city of Kirksville several terms and was elected mayor here four times. During the Civil War he was a captain in the provisional Missouri Militia.
Dr. Goben lived an active life, in his profession and in hobbies. He owned fine horses and hunting dogs. A few years ago a friend in Ireland sent him two Irish fox hounds and he built a modern home for them, with hardwood floors and electric lights. He still kept horses here. He owned large acreages of land in Adair and Texas county and about two years ago turned one tract near Kirksville into a game preserve.
His interest in politics also furnished him great enjoyment. When William Jennings Bryan spoke here in 1902, he welcomed him to Kirksville. He was chairman of the Democratic Central Committee here when Cleveland was elected president. Dr. Goben also was musically inclines, playing the violin and guitar, and even in his latter years was the life of many social affairs with his rendition of old-time favorites.
Funeral services for this well-known man were held at the home Wednesday morning at 10:30 with the Masonic lodge in charge, and burial was made in Maple Hills cemetery.
Weekly Graphic
Kirksville, Missouri
November 11, 1932
Parents:
Levi Fredrick Goben (1810 - 1901)
Catherine Crist Goben (1810 - 1892)
Spouse:
Ora Belle Roszelle Goben (1849 - 1937)
Sibling:
Grandison Algonon Goben (1844 - 1932)
Levi Cass Goben (1850 - 1855)
Photo contributed by Larry and Susan Olson lolson60@cableone.net
Contributed on 3/22/16 by hawkinsdonna48
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Record #: 789364