Son of Salathiel and Margaret Flesher Goff.
Thank you to Florence for finding the Obituary in the Texas Christian Advocate:
GOFF-Benson Goff was born on March 18, 1847, in West Virginia. He came to Texas before the Civil War and settled near Goliad, where he continued to reside until death released him, on Easter Sunday, April 10, 1898. His death resulted from a pistol shot through the heart, inflicted by a young man, whom Bro. Goff had forbidden paying attention to one of his daughters. Bro. Goff had been a member of the Methodist Church about twenty years, having joined under the ministry of Rev. Jas. A. Tucker. He was a quiet, inoffensive man and a faithful member of the Church. His death shocked the community as nothing else has ever done. His loss will be sorely felt. He left a wife, five daughters and a son to mourn their loss. We commend the bereft to the Father of love, and look forward to a home that's eternal. J.C. Wilson, Pastor
Ed Pitts was courting Cora Goff (daughter of Benson Goff) in 1898.
One Saturday night, Mr. Goff came into the living room to announce
that it was getting late and high time Mr. Pitts took his departure.
Pitts argued that it wasn't all that late and the discussion
deteriorated into a "shouting match" which ended by Mr. Goff ordering
Pitts out of the house in positive terms. The young Pitts left,
saying he would be back the next morning, looking for an apology.
That promise was kept. On Easter Sunday morning, Benson Goff and
his 17-year-old son, Walter, were in their store when Pitts walked
in, bristling with anger and demanding satisfaction for what he
considered the insults of the previous night.
No apology was offered and before long, Pitts jerked out a pistol
and fired at Benson Goff, who slumped to the floor.
As Pitts turned away, Walter snatched a pistol and fired from behind
the counter. Pitts staggered out into the street and collapsed.
By the time the doctor arrived, Benson Goff was dead and Pitts was
beyond any medical help available at the time. He died of his wound
several hours later.
Because of his actions, burial of Mr. Pitts was refused in the Fannin cemetery.
Thank you to Florence for finding the Obituary in the Texas Christian Advocate:
GOFF-Benson Goff was born on March 18, 1847, in West Virginia. He came to Texas before the Civil War and settled near Goliad, where he continued to reside until death released him, on Easter Sunday, April 10, 1898. His death resulted from a pistol shot through the heart, inflicted by a young man, whom Bro. Goff had forbidden paying attention to one of his daughters. Bro. Goff had been a member of the Methodist Church about twenty years, having joined under the ministry of Rev. Jas. A. Tucker. He was a quiet, inoffensive man and a faithful member of the Church. His death shocked the community as nothing else has ever done. His loss will be sorely felt. He left a wife, five daughters and a son to mourn their loss. We commend the bereft to the Father of love, and look forward to a home that's eternal. J.C. Wilson, Pastor
Ed Pitts was courting Cora Goff (daughter of Benson Goff) in 1898.
One Saturday night, Mr. Goff came into the living room to announce
that it was getting late and high time Mr. Pitts took his departure.
Pitts argued that it wasn't all that late and the discussion
deteriorated into a "shouting match" which ended by Mr. Goff ordering
Pitts out of the house in positive terms. The young Pitts left,
saying he would be back the next morning, looking for an apology.
That promise was kept. On Easter Sunday morning, Benson Goff and
his 17-year-old son, Walter, were in their store when Pitts walked
in, bristling with anger and demanding satisfaction for what he
considered the insults of the previous night.
No apology was offered and before long, Pitts jerked out a pistol
and fired at Benson Goff, who slumped to the floor.
As Pitts turned away, Walter snatched a pistol and fired from behind
the counter. Pitts staggered out into the street and collapsed.
By the time the doctor arrived, Benson Goff was dead and Pitts was
beyond any medical help available at the time. He died of his wound
several hours later.
Because of his actions, burial of Mr. Pitts was refused in the Fannin cemetery.
Son of Salathiel and Margaret Flesher Goff.
Thank you to Florence for finding the Obituary in the Texas Christian Advocate:
GOFF-Benson Goff was born on March 18, 1847, in West Virginia. He came to Texas before the Civil War and settled near Goliad, where he continued to reside until death released him, on Easter Sunday, April 10, 1898. His death resulted from a pistol shot through the heart, inflicted by a young man, whom Bro. Goff had forbidden paying attention to one of his daughters. Bro. Goff had been a member of the Methodist Church about twenty years, having joined under the ministry of Rev. Jas. A. Tucker. He was a quiet, inoffensive man and a faithful member of the Church. His death shocked the community as nothing else has ever done. His loss will be sorely felt. He left a wife, five daughters and a son to mourn their loss. We commend the bereft to the Father of love, and look forward to a home that's eternal. J.C. Wilson, Pastor
Ed Pitts was courting Cora Goff (daughter of Benson Goff) in 1898.
One Saturday night, Mr. Goff came into the living room to announce
that it was getting late and high time Mr. Pitts took his departure.
Pitts argued that it wasn't all that late and the discussion
deteriorated into a "shouting match" which ended by Mr. Goff ordering
Pitts out of the house in positive terms. The young Pitts left,
saying he would be back the next morning, looking for an apology.
That promise was kept. On Easter Sunday morning, Benson Goff and
his 17-year-old son, Walter, were in their store when Pitts walked
in, bristling with anger and demanding satisfaction for what he
considered the insults of the previous night.
No apology was offered and before long, Pitts jerked out a pistol
and fired at Benson Goff, who slumped to the floor.
As Pitts turned away, Walter snatched a pistol and fired from behind
the counter. Pitts staggered out into the street and collapsed.
By the time the doctor arrived, Benson Goff was dead and Pitts was
beyond any medical help available at the time. He died of his wound
several hours later.
Because of his actions, burial of Mr. Pitts was refused in the Fannin cemetery.
Thank you to Florence for finding the Obituary in the Texas Christian Advocate:
GOFF-Benson Goff was born on March 18, 1847, in West Virginia. He came to Texas before the Civil War and settled near Goliad, where he continued to reside until death released him, on Easter Sunday, April 10, 1898. His death resulted from a pistol shot through the heart, inflicted by a young man, whom Bro. Goff had forbidden paying attention to one of his daughters. Bro. Goff had been a member of the Methodist Church about twenty years, having joined under the ministry of Rev. Jas. A. Tucker. He was a quiet, inoffensive man and a faithful member of the Church. His death shocked the community as nothing else has ever done. His loss will be sorely felt. He left a wife, five daughters and a son to mourn their loss. We commend the bereft to the Father of love, and look forward to a home that's eternal. J.C. Wilson, Pastor
Ed Pitts was courting Cora Goff (daughter of Benson Goff) in 1898.
One Saturday night, Mr. Goff came into the living room to announce
that it was getting late and high time Mr. Pitts took his departure.
Pitts argued that it wasn't all that late and the discussion
deteriorated into a "shouting match" which ended by Mr. Goff ordering
Pitts out of the house in positive terms. The young Pitts left,
saying he would be back the next morning, looking for an apology.
That promise was kept. On Easter Sunday morning, Benson Goff and
his 17-year-old son, Walter, were in their store when Pitts walked
in, bristling with anger and demanding satisfaction for what he
considered the insults of the previous night.
No apology was offered and before long, Pitts jerked out a pistol
and fired at Benson Goff, who slumped to the floor.
As Pitts turned away, Walter snatched a pistol and fired from behind
the counter. Pitts staggered out into the street and collapsed.
By the time the doctor arrived, Benson Goff was dead and Pitts was
beyond any medical help available at the time. He died of his wound
several hours later.
Because of his actions, burial of Mr. Pitts was refused in the Fannin cemetery.
Family Members
Siblings
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