My Genealogy Hound

GARVIN H. GOULD. The subject of this sketch is one of the leading farmers of Harlan county, and although not an old man is nevertheless an old settler. He is a native of Maine, as were also his parents, Joseph and Mary E. (Hamilton) Gould. His father, after residing successively in Maine, Pennsylvania and Iowa, moved in 1871 to Nebraska and located in Harlan county where he died in 1882. He was a successful farmer and a highly esteemed citizen. He served with credit in the late war, being a member of the Eighty-sixth New York volunteer infantry. He never aspired to anything like a public life, but filled some positions of prominence in connection with the administration of local affairs. He was the first probate judge elected in Harlan county, but, owing to the unsettled condition of affairs, he, with most of the other officers, refused to qualify. A pleasing recognition of his worth and prominence may be found in the fact that Gould Post, No. 216, G. A. R., of Republican City, was named in his honor. Mr. Gould’s mother was a daughter of James and Mary E. Hamilton, of Maine, the latter of whom was one of the first white women to settle in Harlan county. There were four children in the family to which the subject of this sketch belonged, he being the second one.

Garvin H. Gould was born December 19, 1845. He was only about a year old when his parents moved to Pennsylvania, so that his earlier years were spent in the Keystone State. He grew up in a lumbering district and worked when a lad and young man in the lumber business. In 1864 Garvin H. Gould entered the Elmira (N. Y.) Commercial College, from which he graduated April 5, 1865. He then, with ins brother, went into the grocery business, at Elmira, under the firm name of Gould Bros., and so continued until 1869, when they disposed of their business, and Garvin H. Gould moved to Iowa, began farming, and lived in Iowa till the spring of 1872, when he took up the line of travel further west, moving at that date to Nebraska and settling in Harlan county, where he has since resided. On moving to Harlan county he took a homestead in the Republican valley, filing on a quarter in section 6, township 1, range 17 west. He began in the usual primitive style, building a dug-out and breaking up the sod preparatory to putting out a crop. He met with such draw backs and endured such privations and hardships as fell to the lot of most of the old settlers, but he stood steadfastly by his choice and increasing years witnessed a gradual improvement in his condition. After improving his homestead he was enabled in time to purchase other land adjoining, buying one hundred and sixty acres, which had some improvement on it. He now owns three hundred and sixty acres, most of which he has under a splendid state of cultivation and well stocked. He has lived on his farm most of the time since coming to the county, and has at all times given to it his personal attention. His place lies only about two miles from Republican City, being thus convenient to market, schools, churches and the like. Mr. Gould clerked in a general store in Republican City for a number of years, but, as stated, has been interested in his farm at all times. He has taken no part in public matters, having no taste for the wranglings of political life, but has given his attention strictly to his own personal concerns and has met with the reward he has deserved by so doing. In politics, however, Mr. Gould affiliates with the republicans and is well informed on the general history of the country as well as the history of the parties. He has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for about ten years and has given considerable attention to matters connected with that fraternity. During what was known as the grasshopper famine of 1874—75, he was one of the disbursing agents for Harlan county, appointed by the State Aid Society, having supervision of the east half of the county.

Mr. Gould has been twice married. He first married Miss Laura B. Jewell, daughter of Andrew C. Jewell, of Pennsylvania. She died December 2, 1873, leaving only one child, Stanton C., who was born October 11, 1870. Mr. Gould married the second time in 1876, taking to wife Miss Luella M. Skeels, a daughter of Samuel and Amanda M. Skeels, who are natives of Ohio and are now residing in Republican City, this state. To this union have been born six children as follows — Frank J., May, Ethel, Earl, Aggie and Harry.

Mr. Gould has taken great interest in the public schools of his community, having served almost continuously, since living in the county, on the local school board in some capacity. He is a man of liberal views and sound ideas on educational matters, and is enthusiastic in his support of educational enterprises. He is a public- spirited citizen and foremost of those in his vicinity in advancing the welfare of all of that community.