BENJAMIN FRANKLIN GOGGAN

The following bio was taken from page 211 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Shirley Koym

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Cemeteries of TX

Benjamin Franklin Goggan, born in Gogganville, Georgia, on July 31, 1857, came to Henderson via Italy, Texas, where he owned a drug store, in the latter part of the 19^th century. In 1890 he and Clara Neal, a milliner, were married, and she died childless in 1906. On February 3, 1907, Frank, as he was called, and Laura Ethelia Gibens, daughter of Francis Marion and Georgia Black Gibens of south Rusk County, were married by the Reverend L. D. Elrod, minister of the First Methodist Church of Henderson.

To this union were born five children: B. F., Jr., on December 22, 1907; George Claude, on August 10, 1909; Laura Sue Marguerite, on January 13, 1917; Joseph Morgan, on April 8, 1919; and Duncan Chapman, on April 15, 1921.

Frank Goggan, active in several lodges, was also a member of the First Christian Church and owned a livery stable across the street from the family home at 202 South Main. With the advent of the automobile, he turned the livery stable into a jitney service (cars for hire), having a fleet of automobiles. Later he managed one of the first gasoline service stations in town, built on his property in the garden space next door to the home. In 1930 the Goggan's built a two-story home on West Elk and leased the home place for an ice plant. Frank Goggan died September 6, 1931, and Mrs. Goggan died October 25, 1966.

B. F., Jr. became an electrician for E. J. Teller & Sons. He and Ida Dee Oppelt were married in Shreveport, Louisiana on June 23, 1931, and they had two children: Laura Ann (Laurie), born November 27, 1932, and James Clinton, born May 15, 1937.

B. F., Jr. went into business for himself after working for Creshams and in partnerships with Willard Wright and Howard Dennis. He built the oldest continuously operating radio station in Henderson – KGRI, call letters K-Goggan-Radio-Inc., which went on the air in September 1947. Jim Reeves served as one of the announcers, who in the 1950’s became a famous country singer.

B. F., Jr. was a member of Clinton Lodge Number 23 A.F. and A.M., serving as Worshipful Master, Secretary and District Grand Master. He was a thirty-second degree Mason. In addition he was a member of the Chapter and Council of the York Rite and was a Noble of the Mystic Shrine of Hella Temple of Dallas, Texas. He and his wife, Ida, were members of the Henderson Chapter number 597 Order of the Eastern Star and served the chapter as Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron. Ida was also a member of the Henderson Garden Club and a choir member of the First United Methodist Church in Henderson. Ida died as the result of a car wreck near Bastrop, Texas, on June 4, 1979, in which her older sister, Annie Oppelt Reynolds, was also fatally injured. B. F. Jr. died April 21, 1978.

James married Marilyn Warren of Lubbock, February 17, 1962, and they have two children, Laura Ellen, born August 15, 1963, and William Kent, born December 20, 1965. James, an electrical engineer, is currently with Southwestern Bell in St. Louis, Missouri.

Laurie and Horace Franklin Wharton were married November 19, 1971, in Dallas. Horace, born in Powderly, Bounds Community, Lamar County, Texas, grew up in Buckner’s Orphans’ Home in Dallas with his two sisters and three brothers after the deaths of both their parents. He died October 1, 1978 after a three-month bout with cancer.

George Claude Goggan and Faye Cox of the Pirtle Community were married April 4, 1931. He is employed in Kilgore as a well service technician. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with a reception given by their only child, George Claude, Jr., and his wife, Patricia (nee Whisenhunt). George, Jr. is a computer programmer for Penzoil in Houston. He and Pat are parents of Joe David (born April 28, 1961) and Wesley Patrick (June 6, 1964).

Marguerite and Fermon Eugene Lessley of Ozark, Arkansas were married November 11, 1950. He is a retired plant foreman for Atlantic Richfield Company. She is an artist. They live in Kilgore and have no children.

Joseph Morgan Goggan and Audra Corley Davis of Tyler were married November 15, 1952, and now live in Houston where he is with United Gas Company. They have no children.

Duncan Chapman (Chat) Goggan and Mary Ellen McQuaid of Niles, Michigan were married October 6, 1944 in Washington State where both were serving in World War II. He retired in 1981 as comptroller for the Tyler Corporation in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is city secretary. They have three children: Thomas Patrick (December 3, 1945), married Jane Baer in 1971; Patrick Joseph (August 17, 1947), married Helen Berthelotte; and Paul Chapman (February 27, 1950), married Earin Miller of Ft. Worth. Tom and Jane have one son, John Duncan (February 3, 1973). Pat and Helen have two sons, Christopher Patrick (March 6, 1975) and Benjamin Ryan (February 14, 1979). Paul and Earin are childless at this date.

Submitted by Marguerite Lessley