Among
the residents of Colusa County who have gained a State reputation is W. F.
Goad, now living in San Francisco. He
is a native of Hopkins County, Kentucky, and a son of Peter Goad, a Virginian
by birth. His father was a farmer, and
on the parental acres young Goad learned the honorable occupation of tilling
the soil. His education was obtained in
the schools of his native State. He
remained on his father’s farm until twenty years of age, when he made up his
mind to seek his fortune in the gold mines of California. Accordingly, on April 3, 1852, he set out
overland with an ox-train for this State, accompanied by his brother, J. C.,
now a resident of Tulare County.
Arriving at Beckwith Pass, August 22 of the same year, in the Sierra
Nevadas, he engaged in mining for one year, meeting with fair success. This life, however, was not to his liking,
and in the following winter he came to Colusa County, where he purchased a
farm, and once more engaged in tilling the soil. He took a deep interest in public affairs, being a prominent
Democrat. In 1857 he was elected County
Clerk, which position he held three successive terms. In the meantime he took up the study of law, and in 1863 he was
admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the State. He engaged in the practice of his profession
in Colusa, and in 1867 he was elected to the office of District Attorney. In 1870 he assisted in organizing the Colusa
County Bank, of which he was president for twelve years, and is still a
director and stockholder. In 1876 he
made a visit to his old home in the Blue-grass State, the Centennial celebration
at Philadelphia, and the national capital.
While in Washington he was admitted to practice before the United States
Supreme Court. In 1880 he made a tour of
Europe, accompanied by his wife, visiting the principal places of interest in
England, Scotland, Egypt, Palestine, and the Continental countries. Upon his return he located in San Francisco
in the practice of his profession. He
was not to settle down to private life, however, as the people recognized his
ability, and he was twice elected a member of the Board of Education of that
city, during each term of which he was president of that body. He has ever been a warm friend of the public
schools, and he took a leading interest in building up the schools of that city
to their present high standing.
April
27, 1863, he was married, at Colusa, to Miss Mary C. Cook, a native of the same
county in which he was born. He is the happy father of four children, one son
and three daughters, and enjoys domestic life in his palatial residence on the
corner of Washington and Gough Streets, surrounded with the comforts which a
refined taste could suggest and ample wealth provide.
“Colusa
County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 404-405.
Transcribed
by Kathy Sedler, August 2004.
© 2004 Kathy Sedler