57 Birthday, the Year of Trials

Sept 3, 1902                My 57th birthday rolled around finding me in moderate good health and living in Monroe.  My Wife in Richfield waiting upon Sarah, my eldest daughter in her confinment with her first child which was born Sep 9 1902 in Richfield.  My daughters Mary and Ida were at Kimberly, Piute Co. Utah.  My eldest son William and his newly wedded Wife Miss Ellen Swindle Goold were also at Kimberly (or Gold Mt. as it is commenly called).  My daughter Luella was also at Richfield with her sister Sarah in her sickness.  My daughter Effie and sons Franklin and Leo were with me and my daughter Mrs. Emma Nilsson Goold was also living in Monroe. 

This was the trial year of my life up to date.  Very nearly at the beginning of this year I was called to the office of Bishop of Monroe ward in the Sevier Stake of Zion things went along modertely fair until June 6 1902 when my son William came come with a bad case of Small Pox, my daughter Effie also followed with a bad case, and my sons Franklin and Leo also developed the same dread disease,but only in a light form, in consequence of which sickness we were quarentined as a family for nearly 5 weeks this was a great detriment to me in my position as Bishop.  Besides my financial affairs much neglected and our priviledge very much curtailed.  Some of our former friends visited us in our affiction and some did not.  Shortly after the quarenteen was raised by eldest daughter, Mrs. Sarah Goold Fraser visited us and being in a weakly condition physically contracted the desease (small pox).  It was very difficult however to determine how she caught the desease as we were all extreamly carefull.  It took some time however for the disease to develope in her case, in the meantime my Wife and daughter Luella went over to Richfield to visit Sarah, when she broke out with small pox.  Luella also took the same dread desease and my Wife and daughter were again quaranteened and away from home.  This trouble had not entirely passed by when another trouble broke out with my son‑in‑law Joseph Nilsson, which caused us great anxiety and sorrow.  We had not reciever this troubly when another one came.  This time in the form of a runaway.  I had just purchased a nice new buggie and harnes and a nice buggie horse.  My daughter Mrs. Emma Nilsson and her five months old baby and Effie went out for a ride with this new outfit.  They rode a short distance and tied up and left the buggie, returning Mrs. Nilsson and babe again got into the buggie, at this moment (Effie not yet having gotten in to buggie) the horse being improperly tied up ,by some means got the bridle off, became frightened and ran away with Emma and baby in the buggie. No bridle on the horse.  The horse ran quit fast for four blocks crossing bridges and ditches in a very dangerous maner finally coliding with a tree capsized the buggie.  This threw the ocupants out to the ground in as unconsious condi­tion and baddly breaking up the new buggie, and the horse ran for home.  Emma and baby were not seriousely hurt however, though it was conseeded by all that saw the accident to be nothing short of a miracle that their lives were spared at all, and this occured on my fifty‑­seventh birthday.  Besides many other minor adverse conditions which took place on this day.  It was a day long to be remembered by myself and those immediately concerned.

Short sketch of the life and labors of Samuel William Goold

Son of Robert Franklin and Emma Watts Goold

Born Sep 3rd 1845 in Pontneuindde Co. Monmouthshire Wales Great Britan.  He received early religious training training from his parents who were then Baptist.  He also attended the Sunday Schools and religeous services of that sect until he was ten years old.  Then about the year1855 or 6 in connection with his parents he joined the Church aof Jesus Christ of latter Day Saints in Wales and became a member of the Abersychan Branch of the Hereford Confirance.

1857                            Was Ordained a deacon in the a for said Branch which position he filled for some time.  When he was ordained a Teacher and later on a Priest and finaly an Elder.  He also led the singing for a number of years in Abersychan Branch.

June 20, 1867              Emigrated to America, journyed across the plains to Great Salt Lake City by ox teams arriving

Oct the 5th 1867          Then journed to Washington, Washington Co. 300 miles by tram became identifyed with the Ward.  Joined the Elders Quourm became Secartary of the same, Labored as Ward Teacher, Sunday School teacher and member of ward choir.  Lived here about 3 years.  Then moved to St. George where he resided for the next ten years, laboring for the most part a gardener for President Brigham Young.

July 1873                     Made the trip of 300 miles by team to Salt Lake City met Miss Sarah Ann Lewis of the Abersychan Branch, and on

July 28, 1873               were married in the Endowment House Salt Lake City.  Returning again to St. George.  About the year 1874 joined the School of the Prophets located in St. George located in St. George.  He did considerable donation work on the building of the St. George Temple.  Was present at the Decation of the Temple and did considerable vicarious work therein.  While living in the 3rd ward St. George.  He served as a ward teacher, Sunday School teacher and leader of the ward choir.

July 15, 1877               was appointed Superintendant of the 3rd ward Sunday School St. George which position he filled for 2½ years He then moved into the 4th ward St. George served as 1st assist. Superintendant Sunday School, ward teacher and member of ward choir.  In the spring of 1880 moved to Bellevue, remain­ing there three years.  Here he performed his first baptisms having baptised nine into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  In the spring of 1883 he moved to Graves Valley (which was afterwards called Hanksville) being one of the Pioneers to this place remaining there only until Nov of the same year.

Dec. 1883                    Moved to Monroe in Sevier Co. State of Utah and at once became identified with the ward.

June 11, 1884              he was appointed a Sunday School Teacher.

May 5, 1885                he was appointed teacher of the Theological Class.

Dec 2, 1889                 he was appointed 1st assistant Super. Sunday School which position he filled for 5 years.

June 1893                    he was appointed Superintentdant of the Ward Sunday School which position he filled for 8 years.  Serving at the same time as ward teacher and menber of the ward and Sunday School Choirs for about 15 years.

Oct. 26, 1884              was ordained a seventy in the 41 Quorum.

Oct. 26, 1884              was appointed assistant secretary of the 41 Quorum of Seventys.

Mar. 28, 1885              was ordained a high priest and was set apart as first councilor to Bishop Orson Magleby.  Which postion he filled for 7 years, when Bishop Orson Magleby resigned, and he was appointed acting Bishop Dec. 15 1901

Dec. 29, 1901              Was ordained Bishop of Monroe Ward by the Apostle Rudger Clawson.  He has labored as a Sunday School worker for 40 years; has officated extencively in many of the Ordinances in many of the ordinances of the gospel; such as baptisms, confirmations ordainations blessings of children, solomnizing marriages, have been judges of election on two presidential elections,have also been judge of election of county and municaple elections.  He has served as school trustee and in many other ways has been engaged as a public servant for 45 years.  He has a family of 9 children, 3 sons and 6 daughters.

Sept. 22, 1902             age 57.

1902                            I presided at the joint funerals of Rudolph Nayer aged‑‑‑ and Mary Anderson Barney aged___ and her still born child also a still born child of John and Ellen Jane Barney.  The former babe was in the mothers arms but the latter was not brought into the meeting house being to late for the service.  But joined the funeral cortage to the Cemetary (which was a very large one indeed).  The services throughout were very impressive.  Speakers Bengt Larson, Orson Magleby, Mrs. Wilardson and A.Bohman.  Singing lead by my brother Frederick B Goold was very appropriate and inspiring.  the services were largly attended by reletives and sympathising friends. 

1902                            I presided at the joint funerals of Hans Brown age___ and the child of Lewis and Sarah Jones age__ this was also a large and impressive service.  Speakers Robert F. Goold and A. W. Bohman appropreate singing led by F. B. Goold.

Sept 27 and 28             attended the Sevier Stake Conferance held at Richfield.  Weather fine attendance good subjects timely and appropri­ate.  All the speakers (which were many) spoke with much ferver and earnstness and general good time was had.

Oct. 2, 1902                I left my home in Monroe to attend the general conferance of the Church of Jesus Christ held in Salt Lake City com­memcing Oct. 4 and continuing to Oct.6.  1st session very good attended but the attendance increased throughout the entire conferance Sunday afternoon the attendance was so large that the large Tabernacle and the Assembly Hall would not hold the people and an out door meeting was held with 1500 people in attendance.  Many mission Presidents and Confererance Presidents and Presidents of Stakes spoke at the Conferance.  The reports given and the testimonies born were very encouraging and edifying and inspiring.  Subjects spoken upon Tithing, Fast offering, temple work, missionary work The lesser priesthood, Ward teachers.  The brothern encour­aged to stay with their old home in the old settlements and many other valuable subjects in short the conferance on a whole was one long to be remembered.  While in the City at this time, I had the distinction of making the acquanintence of a Senetor Kearns also his Wife and of being escorted through his beautiful Mansion.  The Grandest residence in Salt Lake City.  I also visited my Wifes' sister Mrs. Lizzie Williams also Mrs. Mary Pettegrew.  I also met many of my old time friends from St. George.  I also visited the state fair which was grand indeed.  I also visited my sister Annie Knapp and Family and found them all well and living.

Oct. 18, 1902              I was invited to attend a session of the High Council of the Sevier Stake of Zion which was quit a school of me.  They met of try the case of James Leaisit versus Cora Birdsall.

Nov. 1, 1902               Attended the Sevier Stake Priesthood meeting and reported the Monroe Ward as Bishop of the Ward.

Nov. 3, 1902               I presided over the first Bishops court that came under my jurisdiction as Bishop of Monroe Ward.  It being the case of Samuel Haycock versus Joseph A. Smith and George A. Smith, parteners.  The parties were all present the case was heard and meeting dismissed in one and a half hours all passed of peaceable.  Bishopric remained a short time after the dismissal of the meeting and formulated their decision which was to the effect that the Smith Brothers were owing Samuel Haycock $600,00 ($600.00) with 10% intrest for 15 months to date and that they be asked to make payment at as early a date as possible.

Nov. 19, 1902             Monroe received one of the heavest snow storms in the History of the place.  The snow being over a foot deep and of a very wet nature.  A very cold snap followed.

Nov. 23, 1902             Met with and presided over the ward Priesthood meeting held in the meeting house.

Nov. 30, 1902             First Ward conferance held in Monroe after my Appointment to the  to the office of Bishop of Monroe Ward.  It was well attended by the menbers of the Ward and there were present of the Sevier Stake Presidency, Wm H. Seegmiller, Pres. and James Christenson 2nd Counciler it will be a time long to be remembered by me, in consquence of the person namely Parley Nielson voting in opersition to me as Bishop.  This created quite a sensation and stir as it came so unexpected to my self, and the great majority of the people.  There were only a few who formed a ring or cleike who sustained Parley Neilson in the course that he took their names.  I know but will not mention them here.  My feelings was sorley tried on this ocassion so much that sleep departed from me entirly the following night and I felt about 10 years older the next morning.  Such trying conditions soon brings on old age.  One pecular feature of the affair was that my name was put up twice to be voted upon for the same office with however the same result one oppositing vote.  At this meeting.  John E Magleby was sustained as my second counciler in the Bishopric of Monroe Ward.  He however accepted of the office very reluctantly.

Dec.25 (Christmas Day)  All the members of my family except my son William met at my home in Monroe, and we ate dinner together, my son‑in law Alexander Fraser was also with us.  My son‑in‑law Joseph Nilsson was up on Gold Mt. at work as was also my son William and his Wife.  My father and his Wife were also with us and we had quiet an enjoyable time together.  The weather was pleasent but the ground was quiet soft and what we call muddy.  Services were held in the meeting house on Christmas day under the direction of the Sunday School and a good time was had.  Preiuos to the Christmas Holiday my daughter Mary, Emma and Ida had been upon Gold Mt. working but came down to pay us a visit and returned again before New Years day.

The year 1902 was indeed an eventful year for me.  It was fraught with many important changes for me and some of them of rather an unpleasent nature and none of the a very flatering nature.  Especially so from a financial stand point.  As the year had been one of great drough and unsefuent shortage of crops and an unusal number of deaths.