Goble
Willie
Aleen
Goble
(1925 - 20??)
Martin
Luther
Goble
(1888 - 1979)
Jacob
Hedrick
Goble
(1860 - 1929)
Harriett
Lucinda
Goble
(1839 - 1911)
Lewis
Carlan
Goble
(1813 - 1880)
Corban
Goble
(1761 - 1840)
John
Goble
(1724 - 1813)
Daniel
Goble III
(1698 - 1750)
Daniel
David
Goble
(1669 - 1733)
Daniel
Goble I
(1641 - 1676)
Thomas
Goble
(1590 - 1657)
William
Goble
(1540 - 1593)
______
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Martin Luther Goble
Born: 14 May 1888, Alexander County, NC
Died: 09 Apr 1979, Winston Salem, NC
Martin Luther Goble and
Beulah Vernesta "Nessie" Johnson Goble
in 1958Martin Luther Goble was the first child born to Jacob Hedrick Goble and Frances Elizabeth Douglas. Martin was born 14 May 1888 in Alexander County, NC.
Martin Goble’s siblings were:
Eliza Jane Goble (13 Nov 1891)
Otis Caldwell Goble (02 Sep 1894)
Sarah Catherine Rebecca Goble (01 Aug 1896)
Just before Martin turned 18, a tragic event happened in the lives of his family. While returning home from a church meeting in Catawba County, his sister, Eliza Jane (age 16), drowned while crossing the Catawba River from Catawba County into Iredell County on Sunday, 28 Apr 1907. The body of her cousin, Sallie Fulbright, who also drowned in the incident, was found Monday morning. Friends and family continued to look for Eliza Jane’s body, but were having no luck. Many started to give up on the hunt. Martin, however, refused to stop looking for his sister. He was determined to find his sister’s remains. On Tuesday afternoon, he was on the river in a canoe when he saw her clothes floating in the water. The 18-year-old Martin was distraught with the loss of his sister, but knew that at least now she could have a proper burial. Eliza Jane and Sallie were buried at Sharon Lutheran Church in Iredell County.At the age of 21, Beulah Vernesta "Nessie" Johnson took a job as a servant at the home of Jacob Hedrick Goble. She lived with the Goble family who were living in Miller's Township of Alexander County.
According to the 1910 Alexander County, NC Census, Jacob was 49 years old at the time, Fanny his wife was 50, Martin Luther was 20, Otis was 15, Sarah Catherine (Rebecca) was 13, and Nessie, who was listed as a servant living with the family and she was 21.
1910 Millers Township, Alexander County, NC Census
Last Name First Name Relation Sex Race Age Single/
MarriedYrs Married Children Born Children Living Occupation Goble Jacob Head M W 49 M 23 Farm Laborer ------ Fanny Wife F W 50 M 23 5 3 Farm Laborer ------ Martin L. Son M W 20 S Farm Laborer ------ Otis C. Son M W 15 S Farm Laborer ------ Sarah C. Daughter F W 13 S Farm Laborer Johnson Nessie Servant F W 21 M 0 0 None While living at the Jacob Goble farm, Martin and Nessie became romantically involved and she became pregnant.
They were married on 25 Apr 1910 and their first child, Lewis Hubert Goble, was born on 23 Jul 1910.
Tragedy struck the young family and on 18 Jan 1911 when Lewis Hubert died. He was just under 6 months old. He is buried at Sharon Lutheran Church in Iredell County, NC.
(Right) Lewis Hubert Goble's Headstone
Eventually, Nessie would become pregnant again and on 08 Apr 1912 James Henry Goble was born. James Henry was tall and skinny and carried the nickname “Legs” throughout his life.
Martin and Nessie weren’t as fortunate with the next two children. There are several slight discrepancies concerning the birth and death dates of these children, and even the sex. Some sources say “Baby Girl” Goble was born on 09 Jan 1914 and died on 13 Apr 1914 and another “Baby Girl” Goble was born on 09 Jan 1915 and died on 18 Apr 1915.
1920 Millers Township, Alexander County, NC Census
Last Name First Name Relation Sex Race Age Single
MarriedAttended
SchoolCan
ReadCan Write Birth
PlaceOccupation Goble Martin L. Head M W 32 M No Yes Yes NC Farmer ------ Nessie B Wife F W 33 M No Yes Yes NC None ------ Ethel I. Daughter F W 10 S Yes Yes Yes NC None ------ James H Son M W 7 S Yes NC None ------ J. C. Son M W 4 S No NC None ------ Harlee Son M W 1 3/12 S No NC None According to the 1920 Alexander County Census, Martin & Nessie were living in Millers Township. They have three sons and Nessie's daughter Ethel is also living with them. May was still living with her Great Uncle James Blankenship.
Martin and Nessie had at least twelve children during their marriage. It's possible there might have been one or two more that died at birth.
Name Birth Date Death Date Spouse Lewis Hubert Goble 23 Jul 1910 18 Jan 1911 James Henry "Leggs" Goble 08 Apr 1912 16 Nov 1995 Nina M Eades Baby Boy Goble 09 Jan 1914 13 Apr 1914 "Baby Girl" Goble 09 Jan 1915 18 Apr 1915 Jay Corban Goble 29 Sep 1916 19 Jul 2005 Ada Eades Harlee Goble 06 Sep 1918 05 Nov 1980 Dovie Alean Helms Fannie Elizabeth Goble 10 Apr 1921 18 Sep 1998 Fred Franklin Isenhour Mary Helen Goble 07 Apr 1924 Floyd Eugene Sigmon Willie Aleen Goble 04 Dec 1925 Sam William Loftin Elgevia Goble 24 Nov 1928 William Clifton Eggers, Jr. Estelene Goble 24 Nov 1928 26 Mar 1929 Doris Goble 31 Oct 1933 04 Aug 1934 On 24 Nov 1928, Nessie gave birth to twin girls who she named Elgevia and Estelene. Tragedy struck the family once again and Estelene died at only 4 months old. Estelene is buried at Sharon Lutheran Church. A simple rock marks her grave.
Fanny "Lib", Jay Corban "J.C." and Harlee "Doc" Goble Martin and Nessie’s last child, Doris, was born 31 Oct 1933 and died nine months later. The Goble family was a poor share-cropping farming family and had to borrow clothes for the children to wear to the funeral. Doris is buried at Sharon Lutheran Church with a rock to mark her grave.
(Left) Lib, Willie, Elgevia & Helen
(Right) J.C., Legs (face not shown) & HarleeAccording to the 1930 Iredell County, N.C. Census Martin, Nessie and the kids were living in Shiloh Township.
1930 Shiloh Township, Iredell County, NC Census
Last Name First Name Relation Sex Race Age Married
SingleAge at 1st
MarriageSchool in
1929Read
WriteGoble Martin L. Head M W 44 M 22 No Yes ------ B. Nessie Wife F W 44 M 23 No Yes ------ James H. Son M W 17 S No Yes ------ J.C. Son M W 13 S Yes No ------ Harley Son M W 10 S Yes Yes ------ F. Elizabeth Daughter F W 8 S Yes ------ M. Helen Daughter F W 6 S Yes ------ Willie A. Daughter F W 4 5/12 S No ------ Elgevia Daughter F W 1 4/12 S No At the time of the 1930 Census, Martin’s age was listed as 44, Nessie 44, James H. 17, J.C. 13, Harlee 10, Elizabeth 8, M. Helen 6, Willie A. 4 5/12 and Elgevia 1 4/12 years old. Martin’s occupation was listed as “Farmer”.
The family attended Island Foard Church in Iredell County. Willie remembers the kids would hunt for small bushes of sour blueberries and eat them. Willie added, “There was shouting at the church. We always said, ‘I hope they shout tonight’. When the women would start shouting, the women’s hair pins would fall out and their hair would come down. The Preacher was always eating with Mom and Pop, and frequently they’d even stay overnight.”
Martin and Nessie never owned a home. The family were share-croppers. They lived in a variety of houses in order to grow cotton crops. The owner of the house they lived in got a percentage of the money from the cotton crop. They lived in homes in Alexander, Iredell (the Henry Setzer house) and Catawba Counties.
Martin was also a bootlegger in his younger days.
Willie, Martin's daughter, said that one year when she was small and before they moved to Catawba County, the children had missed a lot of school. Some officials from the school came to see Martin - to see why the kids weren't in school - if they needed "help" - if they needed shoes or clothes so the kids could go to school. The family may have been poor, but Martin had his pride. He told them, "No! We don't need help. I just needed 'help' on the farm."
In approximately 1934, Martin and Nessie moved the family to Catawba County and lived in the old Pump Alley house, a small 3-room-house. Willie was in 3rd grade at the time. The ages of the children were approximately as follows: Legs 20, J.C. 16, Harlee 14, Lib 11, Helen 8, Willie 7 and Gevia 4.
Their next move was into the Murphy Jones house. It was a two-story house and much larger than the Alley house.
(Top Row) Nessie, Martin & James "Legs"
(Bottom Row) Willie, Elgevia holding Bud (Leg's son) and Helen
1942 was a happy year for the Goble family, producing three marriages that year. The family was living in the Murphy Jones house at the time. Willie married Sam Loftin on 21 Mar 1942, J.C. married Ada Eades on 11 July 1942, and Helen married Floyd Sigmon on 5 Sep 1942.
Willie Goble Loftin said, “Daddy didn’t get saved till we moved to Catawba County. He got saved at a revival at Hudson Chapel Baptist Church. Mama and Daddy were living in the Lowrance house on Lowrance Rd. at the time.”
Martin was happiest when he was hunting. He loved to hunt - everything from rabbit, squirrel, opossum, and turtle. He also enjoyed fishing. Dr. Fred Long in Catawba used to buy “Possums” from Martin. According to Willie, Dr. Fred would say, “Martin, put me up some possums to get ‘em fat. I’ll be back to get em.”
(Left) Nessie & Martin Goble
Martin & Nessie at the Murphy Jones property on Alley Rd. in Catawba County
Martin and Nessie lived with their daughter & son-in-law, Lib and Fred Isenhour, in various houses - first the old Lowrance house, then in the older home of Floyd and Helen Sigmon.
The family gathers in May 1954 to celebrate Martin's 66th birthday on Lowrance Rd.
(Left) (Top Row) Nessie, Martin, Harlee, JC, Ethel & Legs
(Bottom Row) Lib, Helen, Elgevia & Willie(Left) The remains of the house Martin & Nessie lived in on Lowrance Rd.
(Right) The last house where Martin & Nessie lived - Floyd & Helen Sigmon's older house(Below) Photo of the complete R. J. Lowrance house that Martin & Nessie lived in on Lowrance Rd.
In June of 2007 I was at the Dr. Q. M. Little House Museum in Catawba researching the history of the stores in Catawba, trying to find out which buildings my Grandfather Alonzo Loftin had built. I mentioned to Helen Rhyne, the propitoress of the museum, that my grandparents Martin & Nessie had lived in the house on Lowrance Rd. She walked away and came back with the above photo. I was really pleased because it is a more complete photo of the house the way it was when Martin & Nessie lived in it. Then Helen really surprised me - she told me that her husband had inherited the property from his parents and had donated the two rooms on the right side of the house as an "add-on" to the Dr. Q. M. Little House Museum, to serve as the Welcome Center - and I was actually standing in part of the house Martin & Nessie had lived in. My mouth dropped open! "I had actually played in those rooms when I was 3 or 4 years old. They had needed additional space at the museum and it seemed more appropriate to move over part of the old house and restore it rather than build two brand "new" rooms to the old Q. M. Little House Museum. To me, as long as the Dr. Q. M. Little Museum stands in Catawba, a part of Martin & Nessie will remain alive.
After Nessie’s death in 1959, Martin lived with most of his children for various periods of time, including Lib, Willie, Helen, Elegevia, and JC. He lived with Willie for several years, before finally returning to Lib’s house when Willie’s husband, Sam, became ill.
(Left) Martin enjoys Balls Creek Campmeeting at
Sam & Willie Loftin's tent in 1966
(Right) Martin at J.C. Goble's tent
(Left) April 8, 1967
(Right) Martin at Fred & Lib Isenhour's houseThis photo has become a favorite by all of Martin's descendants. It was taken by Bob Styles when Martin was living with Sam & Willie Loftin on Hwy 10 in Catawba, during the 1960s.
Martin with part of his children
(Left to Right) J.C., Harlee, Helen, Willie, Martin, James/Legs, Lib and Ethel
“Daddy was in the hospital just before he died,” according to Willie. “He said to me, ‘When I get out of the hospital, can I go and live at your house so I’ll have somebody to talk to?’ "
Martin never got to go back to live with Willie and Sam. Because of his declining health, J.C. felt his father would be better off in a rest home. He died within a few days of being placed there.Martin died on 09 Apr 1979 of heart failure, just a month before he would have turned 91.
Martin and Nessie are buried at Sharon Lutheran Church in Iredell County, NC.If you have additional photos or information on Martin Luther Goble, please contact me.
A special thanks to Willie Goble Loftin, Brenda Isenhour Schronce and Boyd & Becky Goble for the photos of Martin & his family.
