By Deb Kitko
As genealogists, we depend a lot on secondary sources to provide data in our family’s history. Often, though, we do not take the next step to verify the information that is given. Such was the case when researching Golden Corners, a little hamlet located in Canaan Township, Wayne County, Ohio. According to E. H. Hauenstein, a columnist for the Wooster Daily Record during the mid-1900s, “The name ‘Golden Corners’ was selected in honor of an early minister, Rev. Gold…” No first name was given, so interest peaked. Evidence reveals that the hamlet of Golden Corners was listed on the 1856 Baker’s Map of Wayne County, Ohio. In the Wayne County Democrat May 22, 1856, on page 3, there is a legal notice about the United States Marshal’s Sale. John R. Caldwell was suing Sidney Vail and William Caldwell, partners in trade in the firm name of Sidney Vail & Co. The marshal was offering for sale by public auction goods and chattels owned by the company. The place of business was at Golden Corners, Wayne County, Ohio. Less than one year later, on March 26, 1857, on page 3, the Wayne County Democrat published the following news item: “B. M. Spencer has been appointed Post Master at Fredericksburg in this county, in the room of W. C. Rheem, resigned. And Mrs. Mary Felger Post Mistress at Golden Corners (in Canaan township) in the place of Dr. Brothers, resigned.” No records to-date show an actual establishment date for Golden Corners; however, in another resource we discover that there was a Post Office established on April 4, 1854, with C. E. Graeter serving as the first postmaster. It was discontinued August 31, 1901. Mail was redirected to the Overton Post Office.
We have established that Golden Corners had a Post Office as early as 1854. Who was Rev. Gold? Reverend Calvin Curtis Gould was born November 28, 1832, to Freeman and Dorcas Lyon (Ward) Gould. Calvin was born near Albion, Illinois. He married Elvira C. Reed on August 27, 1861, in Rockbridge County, Virginia. On his marriage record, it indicates he is listed as a “Theological Student”. On January 1, 1863, Calvin and his wife Elvira welcomed their first son, William Plummer Gould. The son was born in Pennsylvania. Four months later, in May 1863, Calvin Curtis Gould graduated from the Western Theological Seminary, at Allegheny City. Shortly after graduation, Calvin and his small family relocated in Canaan Township, Wayne County, Ohio. In June 1863, Calvin Gould was listed in the Civil War Draft Registration. On July 10, 1865, Rev. Gould and his wife lost an infant daughter. She is buried in the Wayne Presbyterian Church Cemetery. In the 1870 US Census, the family is in Chippewa Township, Wayne County, Ohio. Two years later, on June 5, 1872, Elvira passes away. She is buried in the New Providence Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Raphine, Rockbridge County, Virginia. On June 19, 1874, Calvin married Lydia K. Taylor in Upshur County, West Virginia. They had several children together. Rev. Calvin Gould died on February 25, 1921.
The other question you may ask, “Were there any Gould/Gold families in Golden Corners prior to 1854 when the post office was established? In the 1856 Baker’s Map, there is a G. Gould who owns property near Golden Corners. The only G. Gould found in the 1850 US Census for Wayne County is George Gould. He is residing in Chippewa Township, Wayne County, Ohio as a Coal Miner. By the 1860 US Census, he has relocated to Eldorado, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. A search in the land deed index for 1812-1863 did not show a land transaction either to or from George Gould. Until further evidence can be found, the research to-date implies that Golden Corners was established by 1854 and it probably was not named in honor of Rev. Gold as published in newspaper articles.
Sources, Paragraph 1
Image from the Library of Congress Digital Maps. 1856 Baker’s Map of Wayne County, Ohio. https://www.loc.gov/item/2012592397/ <accessed 18 January 2023>
Hauenstein, E.H. “History of Hamlet Dates Back To Days of Pioneer”. Wooster Daily Record. November 7, 195?.
Hirschinger, Tom. Ohio Postal History Journal. “A Postal History of Wayne County, Ohio.” December 1996, Issue No. 78. p. 10. Journal found in the lateral files at the Wayne County Public Library, Wooster, Ohio.
Legal Notice. “United States Marshal’s Sale. John R. Caldwell, vs. Sidney Vail and William Caldwell, partners in trade in the firm name of Sidney Vail & Co.” Wayne County Democrat. May 22, 1856, p. 3.
Social Notice. “Mrs. Mary Felger Post Mistress at Golden Corners, (in Canaan Township).” Wayne County Democrat. March 26, 1857, p. 3.
Sources, Paragraph 2, Regarding Reverend Calvin C. Gould (in chronological order of event date)
Unless otherwise noted, information compiled on Reverend Calvin Curtis Gould was found through sources on Ancestry Library Edition.
Dismissal Record from the U.S. Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970. Record dates October 27, 1848.
Western Theological Seminary Junior Class catalog, p. 9. Record for 1860.
Calvin C. Gould marriage to Elvira C. Reed. FHL Film Number 33797. Record for 27 August 1861 in Rockbridge County, Virginia.
“Graduates from Theological Seminaries.” Daily Ohio Statesman (Columbus, Ohio). May 14, 1863 p. 2. Image clipped from Newspapers.com.
Calvin Curtis Gould. Presbyterian Ministerial Directory 1898. Abstract indicates he was born near Albion, Il and was ordained in 1863 in Amesville.
“U.S. Civil War Draft Registration Records, 1863-1865.” 14th Congressional District. Calvin C. Gould, age 30 on 1 July 1863, married, born about 1833 in Illinois. Married. Residing in Canaan, Wayne, Ohio.
Infant Daughter Gould. Tombstone inscription: “Infant Daughter of C. C. & E. C. Gold. Died July 10, 1865.” Find a Grave Memorial ID #25377149. Burial in Wayne Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Wooster, Wayne County, Ohio. <accessed 12 January 2023>
Elvira Cynthia (Reed) Gould, s/o Calvin Curtis Gould. Tombstone inscription: “Elvira E. wife of Rev. C. C. Gould Born Feb, 6, 1838 Died June 5, 1872.” Find a Grave Memorial ID #64172695. Burial in New Providence Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Raphine, Rockbridge County, Virginia.
Calvin C. Gould. 1870 US Census, Chippewa Township, Wayne County, Ohio. ED 11 Jul 1870.
C.C. Gould marriage to Lydia K. Taylor. Record for 19 June 1874 in Upshur, County, West Virginia.
Calvin C. Gould. 1880 US Census, Glenville, Gilmer County, West Virginia. ED 3 Jun 1880.
Calvin Gould. 1900 US Census, Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio. ED 7 Jun 1900.
Calvin C. Gould. 1910 US Census, Lincoln, Marion County, West Virginia. ED 7 May 1910.
Calvin C. Gould. 1911 Directory for Fairmont, West Virginia.
Rev. Calvin C. Gould. 1916 Directory for Marietta, Ohio.
Calvin C. Gould. 1920 US Census Watertown, Washington County, Ohio. Residing with the family of his daughter, Ethel G. (Gould) Breckenridge.
Rev. Calvin Curtis Gould. Find a Grave Memorial ID #29087407. Burial in Riverview Cemetery in Williamstown, Wood County, West Virginia.
Notes on Paragraph 3
George Gould. 1850 US Census Chippewa Township, Wayne County, Ohio. ED 29 Aug 1850. Residing with the Andrew Prater family. This could be the same individual as George Gould residing with John and Margaret Gold in Franklin, Summit County, Ohio in the 1850 US Census. In the 1860 US Census, George Gould is the head of the household and residing in Eldorado, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. With him is his inferred mother, Margaret Gould and his inferred older brother, John Gould.
