Now, perhaps it's that he's having just as tough a time with his Native American lines as I am.  Or it could be that somewhere, waaaaay back there, we have a common ancestor or two among the Five Civilized Tribes of the southeastern United States; on a couple different Native related mailing lists, I've seen it said that, "The Blood remembers."

Regardless of all that, Mike's a really good guy, which is why I've given him a page for some of his pesky relatives.

"Gooch, Teal, and Hibdon"
by Mike Hardester
30 April 2000

One of my great grandfathers was Ed GOOCH (according to my grandfather's death certificate).  He and my grandfather were born in Missouri.  A genealogist in Missouri could not locate any Ed GOOCH, but found a Gideon GOOCH that matches what information I have on my family.

Ed GOOCH does not show up on a complete search of the US Census rolls, so I'm wondering if this Ed GOOCH was on a reservation and overlooked?

My grandfather, John W. GOOCH, was born in 1881, and his location in 1900 is believed to be Arkansas (Sevier County).  He married my grandmother, Exie Pearl TEAL, there in 1904.  An uncle and aunt were born there in 1905 and 1907 respectively, and my mother was born in either Caddo, Bryan Co., OK or Caddo Co., OK in 1912.

Whoever Ed GOOCH (my great-grandfather) was, he hasn't been found on any census or land records.  For that matter, I can't locate any files on John W. GOOCH, except that I have a copy of the marriage license, and have found land records for John GOOCH (presumably him) in AR on 9 September 1900.  Maybe wishful thinking, but I do recall my uncle (Granville GOOCH), although I saw him only twice.  He and my aunt's husband, Albert HIBDON -- a non-enrolled Cherokee -- looked like brothers.

I also found information on a NARA file regarding an Ed GOOCH:

But I don't know if he's my great grandfather, and would rather not order the file without knowing for sure.

Do you recognize him?

Wado

Mike Hardester