[or-roots] Looking for my ggggf

[Beth Perry Johnston]

dgoodma02 at comcast.net wrote:

> There is evidence that the entire Goodman Family moved west in 1861 or 
> so on the Oregon Trail

[snip]

Bob,

This won't help you much with George Washington Goodman, Sr. or Jr., but 
maybe has something for you about other Goodmans moving in the early 
1860s. This is from recollections of Nancy Angeline Gerking, who in 1862 
traveled by ox train with her family from from Sullivan Co., MO. It is 
taken from the book /The Gerking Family in America/, 3rd edition, by 
Florence (Chappelle) Bowe, granddaughter of "Angie."

" . . . . This was early in the spring of 1862. Father Gerking 
immediately sold his farm, loaded his wagons with household goods and 
supplies and about April 1st started for Oregon. He was acompanied by 
his sons and daughters and others. They were joined at Twin Springs, 
Nebraska by an ox train from Iowa. A Mr. Yont was selected captain of 
the expedition that included Mr. Williamson, Mr. McIntyre, Mr. Joe 
Goodman who was driving a team of mules, Mr. Enos Goodman and Miss Emma 
Goodman who was blind. There were others whose names are unknown. . . .

"The party arrived in due time and settled on Howell's Prairie in what 
is now the Bethany District near Silverton in Marion County. Father 
Gerking at first rented the Tom Shaw place, later buying a tract of land 
on the road to Silver Creek (now Silverton). This is near the present 
Bethany Church and Cemetery. . . . This land was sold in 1871/2 and the 
family moved to the vicienity of Centerville (now Athena) in Umatilla 
County, Oregon. Father, sons and sons-in-law settled on adjacent claims 
in an area now known as Gerking Flat."

[snip]

Beth Johnston